DAMON.

　　As I begin to slip into consciousness, all I can feel is the incessant pounding of my head. It felt like countless bricks had bashed into it. My eyes felt heavy as I opened them, squinting at the brightness I wasn’t used to. I forced myself to keep them open despite the harsh sensitive nature. It all pays off as a few seconds later, the brightness wanes off and I am able to see clearly. All I could see was…a ceiling?

　　I find my limbs equally heavy to move and they tremble as I lift myself up. It was all I could do to sit up and look at my surroundings. The house I was in looked wooden, with little to no furniture. With the cobwebs I could see at the corner, it was obvious that this house was old and practically uncared for, or in this case, inhabited.

　　I was focused more on the surroundings that I was surprised to see a flash of blue at the corner of my eye. Heart skipping a beat, I turned to my side to see a girl sitting on a stool and resting on the wall opposite where I was. Her head was tilted to the wall and her eyes were closed, judging by the slow movement of her chest, she was asleep.

　　I could not recognize her from anywhere and was confused as to who she was. The main question niggling in my mind was

　　Where was I?

　　Soon all the memories of what I did came back. How I was so full of despair, the journey to the forbidden tree. How I had tried to kill myself.

　　At recollecting all those memories I felt my anger and despair arise again. I was supposed to be dead. I couldn’t take any of the pain any longer. Why was I still alive?

　　Suddenly I came to a realization and looked back up to see the sleeping girl. I could finally remember her, albeit in hazy bits and pieces. The blue hair in a braid, the bow and arrow, the smirk. She was in the forest, the one who landed a punch to my mouth, the one I could feel lifting me up and carrying me as I fell unconscious.

　　She was the one who saved me.

　　Suddenly I feel my anger aimed at her. If she didn’t meddle with my plan I would have been successfully in oblivion.

　　Somehow in less than a few seconds she wakes up. Her eyes open and reveal startlingly emerald ones which took my breath away. I stopped myself. What was I doing? I felt the rage come back.

　　She looked lethargic for a moment and after noticing me, her eyes widened and all traces of sleepiness were gone. In them I could see relief and concern. Lifting herself off the stool.

　　“Thank god, you’re awake, I was so afraid you weren’t going to make It.” she voiced out, crouching closer to me.

　　“Damon? Is there something wrong?”

　　How did she know my name? I brushed that thought off. “Why did you save me?” I spat out.

　　“I saw you there with the forbidden leaf. I couldn’t just leave you there, why were you there in the first place? The forbidden leaf is so dangerous, even staying in proximity with it can harm you. You could have died."

　　“That was the point!!” I snapped, watching her reel back in shock.

　　For a moment I felt apologetic but fueled with rage I continued. “Nobody asked you to meddle with anybody’s business. Of course it wasn’t an accident that I was there. You should have just left me alone. You should have let me die…”

　　The rage in me turned into despair as I looked down at the wooden floors, feeling the slight burn of tears.

　　“…you wanted to kill yourself.” I heard her whisper and I could hear the horror in her tone. Unable to say anything I simply nodded my head, closing my eyes as a tear slipped out.

　　I heard shuffling beside me, and soon warm hands cupped my face. I turned to see her staring at me. Even though she didn’t speak I could practically see the ‘why? in her eyes.

　　Despite seeing her for the first time, I couldn’t help but feel like I could trust her. And so, I began to spill everything. From my mate rejecting me horribly and leaving with the wizard, to the pack elders who pressure me to return with her. I talk about the despair I felt at her rejection and even spill out the red- stripper incident and how I know she is never going to forgive me.

　　“Everybody is looking up to me in finding my mate, yet my mate rejected me so harshly, and I know she won’t ever take me back.” I speak, feeling the burn of tears as I do.

　　“What kind of alpha gets his mate stolen from him? I’m so worthless, such a worthless alpha.” I say in a tear laden voice, looking down in shame.

　　I feel her pull my head up in shock; I had expected to see her eyes swimming with pity or sadness. I did not see any of that. Instead, her eyes looked like they were burning with rage.

　　“Don’t you dare say you’re worthless? You have a whole pack that looks up to you, one which will not hesitate to die to protect you. You have a family, a mother and a sister who loves you a lot. Don’t you dare belittle their cause by demanding that your life is worthless.

　　And sure, you made several mistakes. People make mistakes, and it doesn’t matter if you’re an alpha or not, you’re still human. You are remorseful for them and that’s what matters. I’m sorry for losing your mate. I have no idea how painful it must be, but you have to stay strong. There’s always someone out there for everybody.”

　　I cannot help but bury my face into her neck as I cry quietly. She comforts me by running her hand through her hair.

　　Somehow with her words I feel like a weight is lifted off my chest, and rather than the despair I was so used to, I felt a bit of hope spring up in me. Maybe I could get through this.

　　After a minute, I let go of her and lifted my face. My tears were dry as I looked at her with a small smile on my face.

　　“Thank you.” I said.

　　She reciprocated the smile and was about to speak when a resounding growl came out of nowhere. She flushed a bit as the noise came out from her stomach.

　　“I’m sorry. I don’t think I’ve had anything to eat.” She pouted slightly. Somehow I felt the emptiness in my stomach and realized that I have not eaten either.

　　She stood up, arching her back for a stretch. My traitorous eyes could not help but admire her curves.

　　I try to stand up, and my limbs seem easier to move. In a few moments, I am on my feet, and although I feel a bit dazed, I am okay.

　　“Why are we here anyway?” I asked, looking around the abandoned wood interior. Why should she be here then?

　　“Well, when I found you I went to the nearest place I could, where I found this abandoned house. You’re pretty heavy by the way.” She says offhandedly, like carrying me and saving my life was something light.

　　“Oh.” I nodded. That made sense. I reached out to touch my cheek and groaned, finally noticing the pain in my jaw.

　　She noticed and looked a bit flushed. “T-That was.”

　　“I remember.” I cut her off and saw her nod, looking down awkwardly. I felt guilt at her having to go through all this stress to help me. I turned away. Maybe I should get off her back and find my way back to the pack.

　　“I should go.” I voiced out.

　　She looked astonished as she turned to me “What? No way. It’s too late to go such a far distance and until you get better, I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

　　She walks towards me. “Look, please stay. I can’t bear to see you leave in this condition. At least for tonight?” she looked up at me with a pleading look in her eyes.

　　I looked at her and after a moment, could not refuse anymore. I nod “okay.”

　　She turns to get her bow and arrow which I didn’t notice was at the corner of the door. “Where are you going?” I cannot help but ask.

　　“I’ve got to hunt. It’s obvious none of us can leave here tonight, and we need something to eat.” She supplied the answer.

　　“Wait, I’ll come with you.” I said, stretching a bit.

　　She looked unsure as her eyes scanned my bodies “are you sure? You’re still recovering from the poison. Shouldn’t you rest?”

　　I nodded. As time went on, my body felt lighter and easier to move. It may not feel like it usually is in my top condition, but I could work through it.

　　I saw her sigh. “alright.” She conceded “but you have to be near me. You could be my eyes and ears."

　　We both entered the forest, her bow and arrow ready to strike and I was right behind her, eyes and ears on the hunt for the unfortunate animal we were going to have to kill.

　　I hear a slight shuffle of leaves at my side and I can tell the direction it was coming from. I could smell the slight scent of meat.

　　“I can hear something from that direction.” I stated, pointing in the direction.

　　Looking at her, I could see her face shift a bit in worry “don’t worry, It’s definitely not human.”

　　She aimed and shot her arrow in the direction and soon there was a slight squeal followed by a thump. We quickly rushed forward in that direction and looked in awe of what we had captured. A dead antelope with an arrow in its neck lay twitching and dead before us.

　　“Seems like we make a pretty good team.” She looked at me smiling and I smiled with her.

　　We came back with our game in tow. She used her magic to make a fire which was used to roast the antelope. Together we ate the delicious food as we kept talking, shifting from one topic to another in our conversation.

　　A previous thought from hours ago came into mind and I took the chance to revisit the topic “by the way, I never asked how you knew my name.”

　　She stiffened for a moment giving a smile,

　　“How on earth will anybody in this region, forget it in this entire city not know about the Alpha of this pack?” she teased before looking down at the ground despite her teasing words. I felt like she was hiding something.

　　She sighed and swallowed the meat she was eating, “your sister and I…Annabelle. We’re friends.”

　　“Really?” I asked, I didn’t talk to my sister as much as I wished but I was surprised at this piece of information.

　　“We’ve met before, but you never noticed me. I guess.” She shrugged, looking a bit miffed.

　　I was shocked. How could I have never noticed her before?

　　I watch the firelight dance across her eyes and I cannot help but feel something new was happening to me. I couldn’t help but enjoy this new change.

　　Once the food was finished it was already night. Tired and full, we both went into the abandoned house and lay on the wooden floors as we fell asleep.

　　“Goodnight Damon.” I heard her whisper. I heard her heartbeat slow down as she fell into slumber. When I was sure that she was asleep, I looked at her and admired her sleeping face.

　　I fell asleep watching her.