Chapter 450
Damien’s POV
I couldn’t put off returning home anymore and finally walked in through the door. I felt like hell, and I was sure that I looked like it too. The only sleep I’d found since I had left had been when I’d curled up into a ball in the shadow of a tree, resting my bones in wolf form for only a moment or two before it was time to continue the
hunt.
For all my exhaustion, I hadn’t found any trace of Claire and Sienna. Truly it was as if they had disappeared, which was impossible, even if they had help from the rogues.
I was at my wit’s end, mentally and physically at my limit, and still, walking into this house, I knew I was going to face a different kind of battle. It was one I had put off for far too long, but I still wasn’t ready.
Honestly, I missed my mate and my kids. They had been at the forefront of my thoughts this entire time, and part of the reason I had pushed myself so hard, wanting to protect them. Even now, knowing Amelia would be angry with me, I couldn’t wait to see her face. To hear her voice.
Comforts were rare these days, and things were only going to get worse for me now that I’ve run out of time.
The event was in a handful of hours. Alpha King Benedict was already in the pack.
He wasn’t going to be pleased with the lack of the fugitives’ capture. He’d already threatened that he might take over the investigation, and even my role as Alpha of this pack.
That Amelia was so angry with me only made things worse.
I could lose everything today. My pack. My mate. My family.
Dread made my footsteps slow and heavy as I entered into the living room from the foyer.
Amelia was already there, her arms crossed, a scowl ready and fixed on her face. When she looked at me though, those eyes of hers softened. I must have really looked horrendous for just the sight of me to thaw some of her ice.
Emboldened by this melt in her, I approached her without a word and pulled her into my arms. She allowed it for a moment, though she was stiff in my arms. Even so, holding her helped recharge some of my inner depleted batteries.
So near her, I could remember why I was searching so hard, why I was doing any of this.
This was the woman I loved, and I needed to protect her.
She stayed near me for a moment, until my body started to relax against hers. Then, she pulled back, putting a couple of feet of distance between us.
“I am angry with you,” she said, though by now, she just looked sad.
“I know,” I told her.
She gave me a hard look for a moment, then sighed. “However, this is a big day, and for the sake of what we need to do, I’m willing to put aside our personal problems for now.”
Immediately, I straightened a bit in relief. Even if she was angry with me, to know that she would stand beside
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me as I face Alpha King Benedict’s condemnation was a great relief.
“That is, assuming you will actually allow me to attend this banquet,” Amelia said, the hurt raw in her voice.
Gods, I hated myself in this moment, for breaking my promise to her even if it had been for her own safety. I didn’t want her to feel pain and neglect, but lately, that was all I seemed to give her.
I had to do better, and I could start with tonight.
“Of course, we are going,” I said. “I will stay by your side and escort you.”
She looked at me like she didn’t quite believe me, but then nodded. “We should both clean up then. I would like to get there a little early to check on things, since I hadn’t been able to see the banquet hall in person for a while.”
I agreed and started to follow her upstairs.
She didn’t turn toward our room, but instead, turned toward a familiar guest room – when she had been Annette.
I froze, my blood chilling in my veins.
“Don’t you want to get ready?” I asked.
the one she had stayed in
“I’ve moved some of my things into one of the guest rooms,” Amelia said. “I’m sure you have your own preparations to make. Some space for each of us might not be such a bad thing.”
She went into the guest room then and shut the door.
My heart ached, realizing just how many miles stretched now between our hearts. I had damaged our relationship terribly. Gods, I just hoped that I could fix it.
Claire’s POV
After taking fresh potions and changing into our servants’ clothes, Sienna, Ruth, Ian, and I were ready to head toward the banquet hall to start to assimilate while also making our preparations for the evening.
With Pack Councilman Davis and his wife Regina as our escorts, we found no problems being accepted into the servant workforce.
“We thought you might need some extra help tonight,” Regina said to the head servant for the evening. “So we are sparing some of our servants to assist you tonight.”
“That is most generous, thank you.”
Separating from Davis and Regina, the head servant led us into the backrooms where many of the other servants were milling about.
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