Chapter Thirty - Introductions - Damian's POV

Morning comes quickly, even without sleep. Evelyn came to me hours ago and informed me that Maya was staying in her room until tomorrow. Though I scolded her and said she should have moved Maya anyway, she stood her ground and said no. This ended with me going to see for myself and only to find her sleeping in the middle of the bed on her stomach. No one had bothered her, and she seemed unphased even though there was no door. I huffed the entire way back to my room and have been sitting in a chair near the fire since. The sun is just rising, casting a soft, golden glow through the large windows to my left side. Its warmth doesn't quite reach me, but I have felt cold all night. My stomach grumbles right as the first scent of breakfast fills the air. Right as I rise from the chair, Simon opens the door and takes one long look at me. 'I guess it hasn't gotten better since last night," he says as he takes me in again from head to toe. 'Is she not in the next room?" 'She decided to stay in her room last night. I went to see for myself, but she was sound asleep in the middle of the bed." He chuckles low in his throat. 'So you left her there. Did you even stoke the fire?" His words hit me hard. In the chaos of my thoughts, I hadn't even looked at her fireplace. Is that why I've felt cold since? Are we already bonding and I'm feeling what she does? The mere thought makes me sad. How could I have been so careless? He picks up on my thoughts and comes to stand before me. 'She's fine, alpha. When I walked by her room, there was a blanket over her. The rooms don't get that cold without the fire going. She is fine." I breathe out a sigh of relief. 'Evelyn must have gone back after I checked on her." 'She has grown fond of the girl, though she hasn't been here long. I think you are too." My gaze lifts to meet his. He's smiling like a mischievous little boy. 'Don't even think about it." 'I'm not. It's just you've already shifted in front of her and bared yourself to her, so I'm definitely going to notice. Others will once word spreads," he says, keeping his voice low. 'You wouldn't dare." 'I haven't, but others saw you walking back to your room naked," he says, laughing. 'Scold yourself." I look away, feeling shamed. Of course, people saw. Even though I didn't see them, some were probably peering through a crack in the door or through the peepholes in their doors. When I don't say anything, he just laughs harder. 'Come on. Let's get breakfast. Isn't she meeting the pack today?" 'Yes," I whisper. 'She is. At least, I think she is. Let me wash up." Simon's hands slip into his pockets as he goes to walk toward the door. He doesn't say anything else and actually leaves for once without causing too much of a scene or bugging me too badly. I wait until he's down the hallway before heading to the bathroom to splash a little water on my face. The cool water does nothing, but it cleans my face. After I take a long look in the mirror, I gather up the nerve to go to breakfast. I don't bother changing from the jeans and black t-shirt I threw on after getting back to my room last night. I don't even bother putting on shoes, so I go barefooted. When I get there, I find all the pack is accounted for. Oddly, I don't expect her to even be here, yet I find Maya at the end of the table, right next to the seat I normally sit at. I'm not sure if Evelyn told her to sit there or if she did it of her own accord. The room is filled with the usual morning chaos with a hint of a thick, suffocating tension that I know is directly related to Maya. Though she's been here, I can tell even from a few feet away that she's nervous. She's chatting with another female who is sitting beside her. They seem to be in a fairly deep conversation, but the tension in her shoulders is undeniable. I finally walk over and sit at the head of the table. Her gaze briefly flicks to mine, but then she resumes talking to the girl beside her. Right as I'm about to interrupt her, Simon sits down on my right. He runs his left hand through his short hair, even though there isn't enough there to even move. I watch where his eyes are locked on and realize he's looking at Maya. She quickly glances his way and a nervous smile spreads across her face. 'Hi," she whispers. 'I'm Simon," he says confidently. She only nods and looks at me before responding to him. 'I remember you from when you came to pick me up." His smile widens, causing me to kick him beneath the table. He feels it and shoots me a look, but says nothing. 'How is breakfast?" I ask, and she turns her warm gaze toward me. 'It's been fine. Serena has been very nice to me and told me a few things about the back." Serena grows pale at the mentions of her words, which makes me wonder what she told her. When I shift my gaze in her direction, she nearly melts into her chair. I don't say anything directly to her. 'Oh, she must have filled you in on some interesting things." Sweat beads along her hairline. It's just another sign she may have said too much. When everyone grows quiet, I realize that most are staring at us, waiting for me to make the introduction. I push the chair back and stand. Now all eyes are on me. 'I'd like to introduce you to Maya Sinclair. She's going to be staying with us." No one says a word. And I silently dare them to even speak up. Right now, she is new to this and vulnerable. They better keep their mouths shut for now.