Chapter One Hundred and Three - Rhythm - Damian's POV

Days pass and we fall into a rhythm. We sleep, wake up, go train, then find breakfast. After we've eaten, we normally come back to the room and I'll take care of a few things for the pack before lunch. Then, it's afternoon training and dinner. That cycle repeats and though we see each other, we don't talk about the other night. The silence between us isn't heavy. Not yet. It's more like a fragile agreement that we are both a bit broken, but we do care and want each other. The space we are giving each other is only temporary. It's on the seventh morning when everything breaks. We're walking back from the training grounds to head to breakfast. Sweat is still drying on my skin and my muscles are sore, but nothing terrible. It seems like everything has healed appropriately. Right as we're almost to the dining hall, some of the younger pack members find me. 'Hey, alpha. We need to talk to you," the boy says. He's barely an adult and I know it's over training. They're working so hard to be ready for the next attack. 'Sure, that's fine. Give me a second, please." Maya looks over at me, her stomach rumbling out loud. 'I guess I'm starving." I chuckle low beneath my breath. 'Go in and sit beside my normal chair, okay? Stay there where I can see you and see anyone who might approach. Evelyn is close, so no one should bother you." Maya only nods and slips inside before I turn my attention back to the boys. 'What is it?" I ask, my gaze never leaving her as she walks to the table and takes a seat. As they ask me about some of their routines and how they feel inadequate, I keep looking back at Maya. It's hard to pay attention to them when I don't like leaving her alone for too long. Sure, I'm at the door, but so many things could go wrong with me being away from her. Even at this distance. I give them a few words of encouragement, assuring them that everything they are doing is fine. It's not like I plan to send them to the front lines as it is. They're young, inexperienced, and would probably be dead or require saving, costing more lives in the long run. With one last nod, I look at the back of Maya's chair, only to see Simon nearby. Evelyn is nowhere near and from the side of Maya's face, she looks scared. I head over there, not even dismissing the boys. All my mind is on is getting to the bottom of Simon's plans. But when I arrive, his expression changes and he smiles. 'Oh, there you are, alpha. We were just talking about her training." When my eyes meet Maya's, I know that's a lie. She looks more terrified than anything. 'Is that so?" I ask as I cross my arms over my chest and shoot him a look. 'Why would you need to know about that?" Simon shrugs. 'It's just good to see that you two are making progress." 'That we are," I say, my voice low and dangerous. 'Go eat something. I'll have business with you later." Simon laughs and turns to leave before saying another word. Once he's gone, I lean down closer to Maya and sigh. 'What did he want?" 'He was checking to see how my training was going," she lies. I don't say anything. Instead, I grab two plates and load both up with so much food they are heaping over. When I have both, I nod toward her and she stands. She follows me out of the dining hall without me ever having to tell her to. We are quick as we make our way across the estate to the bedroom. Once we are inside, behind closed doors, I put the plates down at the foot of the bed and turn toward her. 'What did he say?" She sighs heavily, looking at the door. 'He did ask about the training and other things, like if we were going to officially mate soon. But he also reminded me of what he said before." 'Is that it or something else?" For some reason, I have this feeling that there is more to the story than she is letting on. 'He also mentioned there may be another way to satisfy the prophecy, but he wouldn't tell me what it was. I have to meet him at the cliffs tonight to find out what it is." My brows furrow. 'He wants you to meet him at a spot you have never been to tonight? That's to the west of us and pretty far away. Still within territory range, though. What is he thinking? Someone could come around and attack you both while you're out there." Not only that, he's having her go far away to where I probably wouldn't think to look. But I don't admit that out loud. 'What do you want me to do?" She asks, almost choking on a sob. 'I don't know what to do. If there is another way, shouldn't we know about it?" 'It's just a trap," I reassure her. 'He knows you want to save the pack and live. Of course, he'd play with your emotions and go this way about it." 'But what if parts of the prophecy have been lost? What if both of your ways are wrong? Sure, there is your grandfather's letter, but he wasn't around when the curse was cast, was he?" 'Technically, no. It happened centuries ago," I whisper underneath my breath. 'But I know his way is right. Don't worry about what everyone else says. We're going to be fine." Fine. It's a word that I hate using, especially at times like this. What is the meaning of fine? Would we really be fine or will there be a fallout after? Who knows? Even if we save the wolves, I'm sure tensions will be tight for a while. It's going to get messy before it ever gets better. 'I don't know if I believe you or not."