Chapter 24
The aftermath of the battle clung to me like a storm I couldn’t shake. Standing alone at my father’s grave, I felt the weight of his absence press down on my chest, as if trying to crush me from within. The ground beneath my fingers was cold and unyielding, much like the harsh reality I was forced to accept. He’s gone. The words echoed in my mind, each syllable more painful than the last. I closed my eyes, breathing in the scent of the earth as if it could somehow bring me closer to him.
“Goodbye, Father,” I whispered, my voice so soft it barely escaped my lips. I didn’t even recognize the sound of my own words. -they were shattered, fragile. How am I supposed to go on without you?
A warm hand settled on my shoulder, grounding me in the moment. Damon. He knelt beside me, his gaze focused, steady, a
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silent strength that anchored me when I felt as though I might drift away into the emptiness of my grief. His presence was my only solace, a reminder that I wasn’t completely alone in this dark void. The weight of my sorrow was still suffocating, but Damon’s touch reminded me that I
didn’t have to bear it alone.
“We’ll avenge him,” he murmured, his voice like a steady promise that cut through the pain. “I swear it on my life. Those rogues will pay.”
I looked at him, searching his face, needing to see the truth in his eyes. And there it was—a fierce, unyielding resolve. He wasn’t just saying words to comfort me. He meant every syllable, every heartbeat. There was no hesitation, no doubt. Damon would follow through on his promise, even if it cost him everything.
Maybe there’s still justice left in this world.
A shiver ran down my spine as I nodded,
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the slightest glimmer of hope breaking through the darkness. “I believe you, Damon,” I whispered, my voice thick with the weight of my father‘ s memory. “He was… the kindest man I’ve ever known.”
Damon’s eyes darkened with something close to anger, a cold fury that mirrored my own. “And he’ll have the justice he deserves.”
We fell into silence after that, and as Damon took charge, his commands ringing out with clarity and purpose, I realized that his strength was exactly what this broken place needed. His warriors moved seamlessly, helping the Shadow Pack rebuild, their movements a tribute to my father’s memory. They didn’t stop, honoring the ground that had witnessed so much bloodshed. It was as if they knew my
father deserved more than words.
Hours passed, the sorrow hanging in the air like a mist that refused to lift. But there was work to be done. Eventually, Damon‘ s
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call to prepare for departure sliced through the quiet, reminding me that I had a new life to return to, even if my heart was still trapped among the ruins of my old one.
Just as we readied ourselves, Alpha Nathan appeared, his presence as somber as the graveyard that surrounded us. He
approached Damon, his face etched with gratitude and loss, and extended his hand. with a deep bow. “Thank you, Your Majesty, Alpha King Damon,” he said, his voice formal, respectful, reverent.
“You’ve done us a great service today.”
My breath caught, my gaze snapping to Alpha Nathan and then to Damon. Your Majesty? I’d known Damon was powerful, that much was evident in everything he did. But to see Alpha Nathan—the very leader I’d once bowed to–lower his head in respect to Damon? It was a revelation that hit me like a thunderclap. I glanced around, noting the shock mirrored in the faces of the others.
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Francis, usually so composed, looked as if he’d been struck speechless. “Alpha… King?” he breathed, eyes wide, staring at Damon with newfound awe. Kayden stood beside him, equally stunned, and I could see him exchanging looks with Francis, their expressions a blend of shock and something close to reverence. Even Sharon had lost her usual calm, her eyes wide,
mouth slightly open as she gazed at Damon with disbelief.
But Damon? He was unwavering, his gaze meeting mine for the briefest moment before he turned back to Alpha Nathan. “The Shadow Pack has suffered a great loss, but you’ll rebuild. My mate and I will ensure the rogues responsible pay for their crimes.”
My heart skipped at his words. My mate. The way he said it held a promise, a silent vow that felt like an unbreakable bond
between us.
Alpha Nathan nodded, his voice heavy with
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emotion. “Thank you. The Shadow Pack owes you a great debt, Alpha King. And to you, Malinda,” he added, his eyes. softening as he looked at me with a quiet respect. “Your father was one of the best. You carry his legacy now, and he would be proud.”
My throat tightened, and I fought back the tears threatening to spill. Proud? Could I live up to that? Could I carry my father‘ s memory with the same strength he‘ d shown in life? I took a shaky breath, grounding myself. “I’ll make him proud,” I said, each word a promise.
“And I’ll make sure his sacrifice wasn’t in vain.”
