I woke up to complete silence. The kind of silence that feels wrong after so much noise and fighting. My body hurt everywhere. My shoulder burned, my ribs ached with every breath, and my head felt heavy. Damien was lying beside me, completely still. His eyes were closed and his breathing was shallow. "Damien?" I whispered, nudging him with my nose. "Please wake up." He did not move at first. Panic rose in my chest. I pressed closer, licking his face desperately. "Damien, please. Do not leave me. I cannot do this without you." After what felt like forever, his eyes slowly opened. He looked at me, pain clear in his gaze, but there was still that familiar fire behind it. "Elara… you are okay," he said through our bond, voice weak. "That is all that matters." I stayed pressed against him, sharing what little warmth I had left. "We are both alive. That is enough for now." The pup’s voice came through, very faint. "Mama… Dad… I am still here. But I need to sleep for a long time."
Last Updated : 2026-06-11 Read more