Page 9 of His Blue Moon Princess (The Silver City #1)

Nathaniel took us back to the city, and a car is waiting for us. Almost all the other wolves have already dispersed one after another, leaving only a few of us. Tonia changes into her human form as soon as she retrieves her clothes from the trunk. Visibly pissed, she quickly puts on her jeans and a tank top and takes the driver’s seat without a look for me. Bobo, who was busy licking the blood off his face and cleaning himself, goes to lay on the back seats. Liam takes his backpack back and changes to his human form, too. The whole time, Nathaniel’s eyes won’t leave him. It seems like I’m not the only one in trouble...

“Nora, you get in the car with Tonia. Liam, you come with me.”

Liam and I exchange a look, but we don’t dare protest. He rolls his eyes and obeys his brother’s, following him to another car. I bet he’s going to get scolded...

I take the first car’s passenger seat and notice a cream wolf with mesmerizing amber-colored eyes jumping in Nathaniel’s car behind us. Aside from Bobo, she’s the only wolf left from the ones that came with Nathaniel. She naturally stands close to him, so I assume she is a member of the Blood Moon pack. So pretty... Who is she? I don’t think I’ve ever seen her before.

I try to get a look at the trio, but Tonia starts the engine, and I lose sight of the other car in a few seconds. We drive for a while, clearly aiming back to the apartment, but a heavy silence as taken over the vehicle. She doesn’t even put the radio on, and the oppressive atmosphere is unsettling. After a while, I decide to give it a go.

“Tonia, Bobo, I’m sorry...”

“Oh, really?”

She sounds pissed. She must be. I did sneak out of the apartment while Bobo was sleeping... What can I say now? She seems focused on the road, but I’m sure she is boiling inside. Everyone stays silent for a couple of minutes, but suddenly, Tonia explodes and starts yelling.

“Nora, what did you think you were doing! Do you have any idea how mad the Boss is now? Nathaniel could barely keep him from coming! And you know what would have been the result of him coming to get you? Do you know? A slaughter! And you! Do you have any idea how dangerous and stupid of you that was? This idiot Alpha of yours could have hurt you! Or any of those wolves! Do you want to go back to the hospital again? That was a foolish idea to go there alone, Nora!”

“I wasn’t alone...”

She hits the dashboard, making me jump.

“Don’t mention that idiot Liam! This brat is no better than you! Always getting into trouble, why does it have to be the two of you now? Two weeks ago, he got into a fight with five rogues! And now he is skipping school and helping you in getting yourself killed? If he’s still alive once Nathaniel is done, I’m going to teach him a good lesson, too! I’m so mad about you two! What is wrong with teens!”

I’m feeling sorry for Liam. I think I can handle being scolded by Tonia, but I bet Nathaniel might be giving him a hard time right now. Judging by their interactions earlier, he really respects his brothers.

Tonia keeps talking and goes on about my recklessness, but I’m not listening anymore; I’m thinking about what happened today. This is crazy...

My brother made me guilty of everything that happened in the Clan’s eyes. Then, Nathaniel’s intervention... I see Peter, Amber, Marc, and his sister’s corpses. Four people died within ten minutes before my eyes. I knew the Blood Moon Clan lived up to its reputation, but...

I’m well aware this kind of thing happens with werewolf Clans. We are not gentle creatures; our instincts push us to use our strength to mark our territory and fight for more. I’ve seen people die before. Rogues we killed, other Clans members fighting to death... But now, I know what they mean when they say the Black brothers are ruthless. Nathaniel didn’t even sweat or blink while killing Marc’s sister. Liam and Bobo both attacked to kill from the start. None of them showed the slightest hint of hesitation.

They have nothing in common with the Jade Moon Clan, which is always avoiding trouble. The Blood Moon takes what it wants. That makes me think about Nathaniel’s words. How could they possibly have been looking for me? They couldn’t have known who I was to Damian back then! Now that I think about it...

“Nora, are you listening to me?”

“Sorry, Tonia, I was... thinking. But why did you save me that night?”

She looks taken aback by my sudden question, and her angry expression vanishes as quickly as that. She looks at me, confused. Behind us, Bobo stopped pretending to sleep and has raised his head and ears to listen.

“What do you mean? You were attacked and...”

“No, I mean, why me? You didn’t know I was Damian’s mate. It was cold and pouring, nobody was out in the streets that night, but you guys were there. Not only were you there at the right time to save me, but you also took me straight to a hospital and treated me like... like a princess from the start. It doesn’t seem like something someone from the Blood Moon Clan would do at all. Not for a random stranger, some unknown girl you found in the street.”

This time, she goes silent. Tonia seems hesitant, and I can see her exchanging glances with Bobo through the mirror. Are they talking using their telepathic bond? Hard to tell. The siblings stay silent for a long moment before Tonia finally sighs.

“Okay, you’re right, baby girl. We were looking for you.”

“But you didn’t know me!”

“No, but... We were looking for a seventeen-year-old girl with blue eyes, black hair, and a scar on her face. We knew you were in danger. Bobo smelled your blood, and we tracked you all the way to that street. It’s not just us, Nora, all of the Blood Moon Clan was roaming the streets looking for someone fitting your description that night.”

What? How could that be? This is nonsense...

“The Boss knew you were in danger. He felt your panic and sent everyone out to find someone fitting your description. I don’t know how he knew precisely what you looked like, Nora. He just said his mate was in danger before we all went.”

This is impossible! First, how could he have known I was in danger that night? To know our mate is in danger or hurt, we need to have met him or her at least once and made eye contact, to awaken the bond between our wolf-selves! How could Damian possibly have known I was his mate before having met me first?

Moreover, even if, somehow, he could feel our bond, how did he know what I looked like? The description Tonia gave me is too precise to be luck. He even knew how old I am and about my scar. And why couldn’t I know about our bond? My wolf recognized Damian for the very first time as her mate when we were at the hospital. I’m positive she had never felt any connection like this before; she never met him. None of this makes sense!

“I don’t get how this could be possible... Tonia, Damian and I met for the first time at the hospital. I didn’t even know I had a mate before that.”

“Me neither, baby girl. The Boss didn’t explain anything, you know. He just confirmed it was indeed you when he saw you lying in the hospital bed after that. He never told us how he knew about your bond. From what I saw, the only other person who might have known about the Boss even having a mate is Nathaniel, since he wasn’t surprised at all. He acted as if he knew about you right from the start. I am not sure about Liam, though.”

I take my head in my hands, trying to process everything. That is way too much happening in one day for me to handle. Not only everything going on with my Clan, but now even my bond with Damian is... I sigh. Behind us, Bobo lets out a whimper.

“He wants to know if you’re okay,” explains Tonia.

“I’m fine, Bobo. Sorry again for sneaking out on you...”

Tonia seems about to scold me again, but she exchanges a look with her brother and rolls her eyes.

“He says he’s not really mad. He understands you wanted to go out, but he was anxious something might have happened to you. He says next time you ought to bring him, too. And that I... Hey, I don’t nag too much, shut up!”

“Aren’t you guys supposed to stop me?”

“Well if you’re going to sneak out anyway, we would rather come along, though it’d be better for you not to.”

I smile at Bobo, thankful to him for being so understanding. He probably felt as trapped as I was in that apartment. I don’t get why Damian is so persistent in having me locked in. I’m done with the golden prison.

We finally arrive back at the building, and by the time the elevator takes us upstairs, most of my confidence has vanished like snow under the sun. Liam is standing next to me, pouting and avoiding Nathaniel’s gaze. Guess the Big Brother talk really had some effect on him... Now that I see them, it seems like they are several years apart. If Liam’s my age, I would guess Nathaniel is around 22 or 23... But he might be even older, I’m not sure. What about Damian then? I need to ask Tonia later.

With the two wolves and four people standing in the elevator, space is quite crowded, but I wish we stayed there longer. As soon as it stops, I feel a pain in my stomach starting. I’m so nervous, I can barely breathe.

The door opens, but only Nathaniel, Liam, and the pretty she-wolf exit the elevator. This is two floors beneath mine. Is one of the brothers living here, too? Or both?

“We will see you later, princess.”

The door closes again, and this time, the siblings and I exit the right floor. How can I be so tense already? I feel like a storm is waiting for me behind the door. Tonia opens it for me, but both siblings flee to the kitchen, leaving me alone to face Damian.

I take a deep breath and step in. I take out my sweater to leave on one of the chairs, as it got tainted with blood somehow, and I feel way too hot. When I finally enter the main room, Damian is standing against the glass wall, looking right at me with his silver eyes, arms crossed.

Even when he is fuming like this, I find him breathtakingly handsome. I feel scared, but not as much as I was before. I slowly walk up to him, and his eyes won’t leave me. I stop when I’m within arm’s reach from him.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?” He asks with that cold tone again.

“For leaving the apartment without warning anyone or saying where I went.”

I really am. I should have at least left a note for them to know. I realized it while speaking with Bobo in the car. I only wanted to exit the apartment, but I didn’t think about how much it would make Bobo or Tonia worry. Or Damian.

“You could have been killed.”

I sigh. “Liam was with me.”

“Liam is an eighteen-year-old brat!”

“An eighteen-year-old lead Hunter. And what choice did I have?”

“You should have stayed right where you were!” He suddenly yells with a bang on the wall.

“Don’t get mad, please,” I whimper, taking a step back.

“I am already mad, Nora! You knew I didn’t want you to go out, and you still did! You put yourself in danger, and you told no fucking one!”

His voice echoes on the wall, and I can’t help but step back again. This situation is much scarier than the one before. I find myself defenseless facing him, and he so furious right now I have no idea what he is capable of. I have flashbacks, no good memories. Damian breathes heavily, his fists are clenched. Why does it have to be like this?

Well, I’m not giving in to him. I feel like if I don’t step up to him right now, I will never be able to express myself ever again.

“You can’t keep me locked here forever, Damian. I will go out again, with your permission or not. I shouldn’t even need to ask you!”

“Why won’t you listen!”

He suddenly steps forward and grabs my shoulders.

“Nora, you could have been hurt or killed! You went out there, and if anything had happened to you... If anyone had put a hand on you, I swear I would have slaughtered each one of that wretched Clan! The only reason I stayed back is that Liam said you were with him, Nathaniel was coming, and you were finally taking them to your Clan!”

I grab his shirt and try to push him back, but he just won’t let go. I use all my strength to repel him, but he won’t move an inch. Why is he so strong! Though his hands are not hurting me, I hate to feel trapped like this! I can’t help but start tearing up, exhausted from everything that happened, from yelling and fighting with him.

“Let go of me! Why are you so interested in finding my Clan in the first place? You don’t know anything about me, yet all you talk about is getting to those people! Let me go! I hate this!”

“They hurt you, Nora! Those people abused you for years! I will never forgive them for what they did to you! And they are going to pay for every single time they dared to touch you!”

His voice is so cold I get the chills. Why is he so mad? I try to push him away from me again, ignoring my stupid crying. I understand that he saw my scars, but that’s not enough for this murderous intent I can feel from him!

...No, there is something else. I remember what Tonia said in the car, and suddenly, the reason for Damian’s anger becomes so clear. I stop trying to push him away, slowly realizing the truth.

“...You felt it.”

I look up into his eyes to see if I’m right, and he suddenly releases me, his arms falling to his sides. I stare at him, completely stunned by what just hit me. I would never have imagined such a thing a few hours ago, but now that explains it all. Everything about Damian’s actions towards me. His eagerness to know where I come from. His hatred for my Clan, and even his extreme protective attitude towards me. My hands tighten on his shirt, and I whisper in a breath.

“You felt it all, didn’t you? Every single time I was hurt, you felt it through our... bond.”

A long silence follows my words.

I was right. Damian is avoiding my gaze, but that is way too late. I... I feel like crying again. How did he feel, all those years? I remember each hit I took, every slap I got unfairly. Feeling my pain through his wolf and being unable to do anything about it, how could he endure it? That’s the worst feeling!

“I’m so sorry...”

“Don’t.”

He stops me, putting his hands on mine and holding them tight. He looks down at me, and even if he is still angry, I can tell he is trying hard to hold it in.

“I don’t want to hear you apologize, Nora. What I want is to make sure those bastards never approach you again. I’ll never forgive what they did to you. That night... My wolf was going crazy. Someone was trying to take my mate by force, Nora! Do you have any idea how I felt back then? Why won’t you tell me anything!”

I’m crying for good now, reminiscing what happened. Marcus’ grin, his dirty hands on me. My screams, my wolf begging for help. I never imagined my mate could have been... hearing me, feeling my despair. I understand his anger. He is not just mad for no reason. It’s not like he wanted any of this. I get it. Damian had to endure it for years. Not being able to do anything, feeling my wolf’s suffering day after day. And now, this... He must have been mad, so mad... But not mad at me. At them. Once I realize that, I shake my head. He is boiling with anger, but all I can feel is sadness. I’m feeling guilty that he had to endure all my hardships with me. How can he not hate my Clan? All of this, everything that happened is so wrong! And with what happened... I shiver, overthrown by disgust. Alec tried to sell me to Marcus. I fought all I could, and I escaped somehow. What if I didn’t make it? If I didn’t protect myself, what if Marcus had...? I would have been destroyed entirely inside, and Damian would have felt it, too.

I’m the one being unfair to him. He’s been powerless, in the dark for years, and all I’ve done is push him away every time he wanted answers. Protecting my pack from Damian’s wrath seemed right until now, but they deserve his anger and payback as much as mine. I look up to him and try to stop my frenetic sobbing.

“...Marcus Sickels.”

“Who?” Asks Damian with a frown, putting his hands on my shoulders again, more gently this time.

“The guy who assaulted me. His name is Marcus Sickels, from my Jade Moon pack, but... Damian, I think he might be dead.”

The fog is clearing up. The blood on my dress, on my hands... Oh, my goddess. I think I... Suddenly, I feel nauseous, like I’m about to collapse. Black and white dots cover my vision. I stagger, but Damian notices it right away, and his hands catch me before I fall.

“Nora? Nora, what’s wrong? You... Nora! Nora! Shit, Tonia!”

All my strength has left me at once. I hear rushing steps and panicked voices around me. They grab my wrist, and I lean against someone’s chest. Damian’s reassuring smell gets to me, and I wish I could get even closer to my mate, where my wolf could feel safe.

“Her blood pressure is low, Boss; she needs to lie down.”

I feel him carrying me, and a loud growl. Then, I feel something soft beneath me as he lays me cautiously on my bed.

“Bobo, go grab some of yesterday’s leftovers, she needs to eat something. And some water.”

“I’ll call the hospital.”

“No need, Boss, Nora just fainted from fatigue. That’s too many emotions for her today, and Bobo said she barely ate anything this morning. She just needs some rest. If anything, you could ask Nathaniel to have something nutritious delivered.”

“Okay.”

I feel cold hands on my arms, palpating me, and I feel a bit better from lying down. I somehow manage to open my eyes, and Tonia smiles at me. She is putting some blood pressure monitor on my wrist.

“Hey, baby girl. Stay with us, okay? Let’s see your tension.”

The device makes some weird beeping sounds, and Tonia doesn’t look too satisfied with the result while she takes it off.

“Yeah, not in top shape today. You are staying in bed for the rest of the day, baby girl.”

I don’t feel too good, either. My head is not spinning anymore, but it’s like all strength has left my body. I want to close my eyes again, but I’m worried about Damian. I don’t know where he is, I can only hear him, somewhere not far, speaking French. I feel something large and fluffy, hopping on the bed next to my legs.

“It’s just Bobo, baby girl, he’s going to keep you warm.”

I manage to nod, feeling a bit better. At least, I can stay awake without too much effort or feeling numb all over. I feel Tonia’s hand patting my head, and Damian comes back into my vision field.

“How’s she?”

“She is okay, Boss, just tired a bit. Nora, you think you can eat something?”

The three of them help me get a bit of yesterday’s dinner, and then Tonia insists they let me rest. I do feel tired...

When I wake up, I immediately realize I’m not alone. Someone’s arms are wrapping me, and another pair of legs are on top of the sheets. I feel warm, and this is the first time I ever woke up and instantly felt so secure. I recognize Damian’s smell, and vaguely remember collapsing in the living room.

“How do you feel?”

His mouth is close to my ear, I can’t help but blush a little. I wish I could hide somewhere, but I feel his chest against my back, and there’s no way I could even move a toe without him knowing. At least I’m glad he can’t see my face. Is it okay for him to hold me like this? He even avoided seeing me before, and know we are, well, sleeping on the same bed...

“Much better.”

It’s true. I’m still a bit numb, but my head isn’t spinning, and I don’t feel too tired anymore. However, I don’t really want to get up right now. Lying next to my mate feels so warm, so right, and my wolf is almost purring. I wonder how he is holding up, being so close.

“Is this... really okay?” I ask, hoping he understands what I mean.

“...Don’t ask.”

I can’t help but giggle a little, hearing his grumble. He must be fighting against his instincts like crazy right now. I’m grateful for that. It feels so good to be lying next to him... Being close to my mate feels like I will never feel incomplete again... And it makes me want more.

I don’t want to act greedy now; I know it’s not the moment. But that closeness with Damian is something I will want more of again. I remember how I sometimes envied the mated couples of my pack... The girls always looked so loved and happy whenever their loved ones were in the same room. It’s so rare for a fated couple to be able to find each other–most werewolves live their whole life hoping to find their mate. Some give up at some point and get married anyway, and others run miles to search for the One. And some just don’t get the ending they hoped for...

“What is it?” He asks.

“I was just thinking... You could have rejected me. If you did, our bond would have been severed and ...You could have lived your life normally.”

“No.”

His firm tone surprises me, and I wonder why he was so set on not abandoning me. I am still missing pieces of this puzzle... A long silence follows, but I must ask.

“Damian... How did you know about me? Tonia told me. It’s not only that you felt our bond, but you already knew exactly what I looked like. How come?”

He sighs, and I feel him move to bury his face into my hair, his forehead on my shoulder. One of his arms is under my head, the other around my waist, and both suddenly hold me tighter against him. This closeness makes me blush even more, and I can feel my wolf getting agitated. She likes it, but she somehow wants more. Hush girl, we are talking about some serious stuff right now!

“...We’ve met before,” he whispers.

“It can’t be. My wolf didn’t feel anything like a bond before I saw you at the hospital, she had never met you.”

“That’s because you were too young. Your wolf wasn’t awakened yet. Mine was. He recognized you right away, even if our bound was one way at that time.”

The age gap. I hadn’t thought about that... Most werewolves only start feeling their wolf-self for the first time around seven to ten-years-old, a few months before they begin shapeshifting. Before then, we are just like humans. No enhanced sense of smell, no night vision, no mind-linking to our pairs... And no way to recognize our mates even if they’re right in front of us. But I didn’t know we could bond even if our mate isn’t awakened yet. Doesn’t that mean the bond is that strong? How impressive...

“How old were we then?”

“I was fourteen... You were about to turn seven.”

“We have a seven-year-old difference?” I ask, surprised.

I did guess he was twenty-four or older since he was older than Nathaniel, but still, it’s amusing to hear it! He growls, a bit annoyed.

“Six years and three months.”

“...You even know my birth date?”

“December third. You told me back then.”

Then why can’t I remember it at all? Well, I was young, indeed, but... I would have sworn I had never seen his silver eyes before. Moreover, it somehow explains the digit code...

“How did we meet?”

I wait a long moment, but he doesn’t answer. Did he fall asleep? I try to turn around to face him, but he stops me, still holding me tight in his embrace.

“Damian?”

“I’ll tell you some other time.”

“...Why?”

“It’s... It’s not a happy memory. For neither of us. I just don’t want to reminisce now, Nora. Some other time, I’ll tell you, I promise.”

Not a happy memory? But I want to know! Why can’t I simply remember it... I thought my “unhappy” memories started when I was seven, when we lost our parents... I wonder what Damian would say if he knew about that tragedy. My worst memory so far... with Marcus’ episode. I shiver.

“What is it?”

“Nothing, I just thought about the man that tried to...”

“Don’t worry, I swear we’ll get him. Liam sent the hunters to get him, wherever he is hiding. Alive or not, we will find him.”

I had forgotten I finally gave Marcus’ name to Damian. I am aware that by doing so, I basically condemned the guy to death, but I have no pity for that rapist. And I will feel safer once he’s caught. I wish we could at least know for sure if he’s dead or alive... The memories from before I fainted come back to me, and I move my hands to find Damian’s. I weave my fingers with his, looking for some strength.

“Damian, I... I think I stabbed him.”

“...What do you remember?” He asks softly.

“I tried to defend myself. He grabbed me and tore my dress. I remember scratching his face, and him slapping me. We fought, my wolf was going nuts, and I almost lost control. I think... I think he grabbed me by the hair at some point; he wanted to take me away from the entrance because... because I screamed. I... I think he took me to a kitchen, and I took a... a knife and I...”

I stop, unable to say one more word. I felt Damian’s anger on the rise as I was reminiscing, but I didn’t stop. I feel like if I didn’t tell him now, I would never be able to talk about it again, to anyone. He holds me tight, breathing in with his face buried in my hair. His closeness is the most comforting thing I have ever experienced, but that doesn’t wash away the guilt.

Moon Goddess, I really stabbed someone. I’m a criminal. I could be charged for assault, or punished by the packs... Feeling my distress, his thumb gently caresses my skin.

“Nora, it’s okay. It’s okay. I swear, I won’t let anything like this happen ever again to you, Nora. I swear to you.”

I feel Damian’s lips on my shoulder, but I can’t help but cry bitterly. I don’t want to be a murderer; I didn’t mean to hurt him. I just didn’t want him to touch me. I keep crying silently, soothed by Damian’s voice, whispering to me until I go back to sleep again.

I drowsily wake up, but it doesn’t feel like that much time has passed since I talked with Damian. What time is it? I turn my head to my bedroom window, and it’s dusk. I slept the whole afternoon, how embarrassing... And now there’s no way I’ll go back to sleep tonight. I realize that Damian’s gone, but Bobo is there, sleeping on the floor.