DAMON.

　　I sit up from my position on the couch, unable to keep still anymore so I begin my usual method of pacing around the room with the aim of clearing my thoughts, but nothing seems to work. I can't help but feel surprised and distressed at the way things are going, and I wonder if the goddess is trying to tell me something.

　　Even in the midst of war, I have never faced this many issues all at once, especially without the guidance of the elders and my chief guards who all seem to be avoiding the problem. I sigh in tiredness and perch at a position on the large window sill. However, I can't blame them as my issues concern the affairs of the heart, and it would be nearly impossible for anyone to convince me.

　　None of them have suffered what I'm going through, and the only person who has an inkling of how I feel is my mother. However, she still can't help much and I'm slowly growing weary with the problem. I turn to the transparent window and stare at my reflection in it, aware of how sunken my eyes have become as well as the amount of eye bags underneath my eyes.

　　I look like a shadow of my past self, and I bitterly remember how robust and well-fed I was two months ago. Suddenly, I recall when my father told me that things could go horribly wrong in such a short frame of time, and here I am – a living testimony of it. Once again, I wonder if everything I'm going through is worth it. Maybe the moon goddess is trying to tell me something, but at the same time I cannot bear to give up.

　　I know, deep in my heart, that Carlisle is waiting for me and I cannot let her down. No matter what anyone says. At this thought, I lift my chin and turn my face away from the sad reflection as I begin to ponder on my next steps. I am caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, but it is time to show my power as Alpha.

　　As I move towards the bed, someone knocks twice on my door and I groan. Just when I'm about to take a rest and wake up with a fresh mind, someone has to disturb me. I stroll towards the ornate door and open it, only to see one of my guards standing there. He is looking at the ground with a woeful expression, and I instantly begin to worry.

　　"What's wrong?" I ask, motioning for him to raise his head and he lifts his chin as he meets my eyes. "Did anything happen in the pack?"

　　"No, Alpha. Nothing happened," he hurriedly says and I let out a large gulp of breath, while he continues to look between me and the rug with downcast eyes. "Only that the council elders are requesting your presence at the Conference Hall."

　　"Hmm. Did they say why?" I can't help but ask again, as I'm very confused about their sudden request for a meeting. Usually, I'm the one who calls them and not the other way around. However, the guard shakes his head with no further words, so I quietly dismiss him while entering my room with a troubled mind.

　　The council elders only call for meetings when there is foreseen danger, a new Alpha is about to be elected or someone important has committed a crime. I know for certain that no other pack can come against us for now, neither is anybody being elected so the remaining option is for a crime. As I shed my clothes and head for the bathroom, I continue to wonder about the reason for their meeting which leaves me curious.

　　However, the thought doesn't linger in mind as I quickly wash up and exit the bathroom, eager to get the meeting over with. I'm sure they want to ask a few questions surrounding the situation of my mate, and I offer a prayer that there is not a greater issue at hand. I quickly get dressed and leave my room, heading for the Conference Hall. On my way, my ears pick a significant amount of noise coming from the room and I realize that all ten elders are there.

　　Soon I get to the room, and when I enter, everything goes quiet. I scan each of the faces present, and my eyes grow wide when I spot my mother. She is usually absent during such meetings, so I begin to wonder her purpose here as I advance further into the hall. She meets my eyes and slightly shakes her head, before looking down at her hands.

　　My beta is sitting beside her with a similar expression on his face and I frown at the both of them, but none looks my way again. I sigh and move towards the high seat in the middle of the hall, which I plop into and adjust myself as I wait for the elders to speak. However, they give a brief nod and continue to talk in hushed whispers amongst themselves.

　　They continue at it for a while and I begin to grow annoyed at their obvious disrespect for my presence, but just as I'm about to act on it, the head elder gets up and bows his head. That signals the end of their discussion as the rest of them look up and sit forward in their chairs as their head begins to talk.

　　"Alpha Damon, you already know we hardly call for meetings since that power is reserved for you. However, it was urgent that we request your presence today as there is an important issue on ground," he says and then pauses as he begins to violently clear his throat.

　　I sit and watch, amazed and curious at his words as two other elders get up and begin to run his back in circular motions. However, he continues to cough and my mother sighs and tells them to allow him to sit for a while so he can rest. The men glance at her with an expression I am unfamiliar with, but she stares them down and reluctantly they move the man back to his seat.

　　He soon stops coughing and eagerly nods when they ask if he is alright. I watch with mild disinterest and growing annoyance as he walks to stand in front of me again and holds up a hand. "I'm sorry, Alpha, for the mild interruption. As you can see, I'm getting old and thus, have reduced strength compared to before."

　　I nod my head, impatient to get to the purpose of the meeting so I sit forward and reply, "That's fine, head elder. However, I would like to know the reason for this meeting as I was busy with something when a guard informed me about this."

　　The man's expression turns serious as he clasps his hands together and fixes me with an unfamiliar cold stare. "We made an investigation on the reason for the death of a few guards, and found out that it was caused by your mate, Carlisle."

　　He pauses again, but this time I know it is for effect so I nod slightly and wait for him to continue, which he does after a moment. "We are also aware that she did this heinous act to run away from the pack...again. At this point, we are not sure if she wants the progress or destruction of this great pack."

　　He looks at me as if he wants to say something more, but he quickly shakes his head and drops his arms by his side. "The elders want to know if you have anything to say in her defense."

　　All I can do is stare at all of them blankly, as different thoughts run through my head. A part of me knew that the elders would eventually address the situation in which Carlisle placed herself, and I have no idea on what to say. I know that if I were in their shoes, I would think the same way about her. Their concerns only show me that they have given up on anything working between the both of us, and I bend my head in sadness.

　　"I am also aware of everything that has happened, but I assure you that she is not interested in destroying our pack. She just has to deal with...internal issues," I answer, hopeful that they will see reason with me but I notice the other elders earnestly shake their heads.

　　The head elder stares at me for a moment, and slowly shakes his head. "I'm sorry Alpha, but we have made a decision. We need you to bring your mate back to the pack within three moon days or we have no choice but to expel you from this pack."

　　Murmurs instantly rise among the people in the Conference Hall, and my eyes widen in surprise. I cannot believe my ears and I nearly ask for him to repeat his earlier words, but his stoic face shows me that I heard right. Three moon days is only two weeks away from today, and the pack I have sacrificed so much for is threatening to expel me.

　　My eyes start to brim with tears, and I glance at my mother who is looking at me with sad eyes. She whispers a small apology to me, but I look away from her and turn to my beta who has the same expression as I do. I have the inkling that unlike my mother, he also had no idea about the elders' decision.

　　I cannot help but turn back to the elders with an incredulous look. "Are you threatening to expel me out of my own pack?"

　　The head elder hesitates to respond, and one of the other ones stands up and walks towards me with a stern expression on his face. "We are sorry for this, Alpha, but this is the only way we know to preserve our pack. We cannot be sure of your mate's true intentions, so we would like to have her here to ask ourselves."

　　I look at him for a long while and the place is quiet until I sigh loudly and nod my head. I get up from my seat and begin to head down the elevated platform with my face held high. I try to look proud as I exit the Conference Hall, but my mind is in turmoil. I find it hard to believe that the elders of my pack would go so far as to threaten my existence in the pack.

　　On a second thought, I recall that they have always been strict with their principles, right from when I was a boy. I struggle to understand their reason for placing such an ultimatum on my shoulders, but I sigh and continue to walk till I'm at the edge of the pack. I turn back, but see no one in my direct line of sight so I focus on the forest ahead of me.

　　I call out to my wolf and let him take charge as we move into the forest. I allow myself to howl loudly at my frustration with everything that has happened, and begin to slash at trees with all my might. Their barks crack with the brunt force of my claws, before my wolf suddenly stops. It sniffs the air and slowly makes its way towards an animal backing us.

　　It appears to be the pup of a lion, and my wolf grins as it fiercely pounces on it. Within seconds, its spleen is ripped out and with a bit of disgust, I begin to chew on it. However, I feel no relief from it so I decide to chew on some of the leaves in the forest. I sigh and pick out some which appear to be forbidden, hopeful that they will rid me of all my troubles and grant me rest.

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