Chapter Fifty Two - Physically Aches - Damian's POV

Each passing hour turns into days. Eventually, it wears on me. I grow more agitated by the second as my wolf claws to be free. To be gone a few hours is one thing, but it's turned into days of following a trail that I don't know will end. Every night, we stop for a few hours to rest, but not too long. We have to rotate just so someone is awake at all times to keep watch. But when it's my turn to close my eyes, all I see is her. Memories of her scent floods my senses, along with dreams filled with her looking at me. Then I think of her running from me. So far, she hasn't from what I gathered through the pack bonds, but some are worried she will. I can sense their distress even from here. My wolf is equally ticked off because being away from her feels unnatural. The drive to have her as mine is pulling at me, demanding I return, but I force myself to stay focused on the hunt. When I open my eyes to start again, every whisper in the wind makes me think I hear her voice. Every flicker of movement in the trees makes me turn, expecting to see her waiting for me. 'I'm losing my mind," I growl out. Simon overhears me and looks to the side, his gaze going up and down the length of me. 'We probably should head back. We've been out here for days without an end." 'We have to figure out what is going on. The river was just a distraction, and it only took us an hour to find the next clue to keep us going down this path." 'We're walking into a trap and have barely enough people to fight. If we continue, we'll end up dead," another adds. I turn, only to find Tony standing nearby. With one look, he averts his gaze. 'Don't get ticked at him. He's just telling you the truth," Simon admits, keeping his voice low. 'We know we're walking into it, so we should go back and get reinforcements or wait for them to come back to the territory line. We're just going to end up dead if we keep going like this." While I hate to admit it, my emotions are volatile and affect my ability to keep leading. I'm putting us in danger. They all know it, but no one has dared to comment until now. 'Your focus is too split between hunting them down and her. Until she's your mate, this is going to be harder for you." Simon's words strike a nerve. He's right. My focus is too split, and I find myself daydreaming about her way too often. Tony adds, 'Your wolf is going to kill someone any day now." I don't snap at him because he's also right. The need to claim her has become unbearable and my wolf is more restless than ever before. He knows she isn't safe and she might run with me not being there. I have to get back. 'Fine, let us head back," I whisper as we stand. 'It won't do us any good to pursue." Suddenly, something in the distance catches my eye. There is another trail up ahead and some men moving through the forest with ease. I've never seen them before and even when I narrow my gaze, I can't tell what they are. I motion for the men to hide. Slowly, we each find a spot behind a tree and watch. They pass by about fifteen feet ahead. Their voices carry, allowing me to hear them as they pass. 'We need Damian. That is who we are after. If we kill him, then we take out all the shifters," one man says, laughing. The other joins in, mentioning how easy it should be once we are wiped out. I grimace. These aren't other shifters. They're definitely two of the vampires and probably the same ones who attacked us at the border. I breathe out a harsh breath as they continue on, their voices growing more distant. Now I know we need to stay in the territory and not come out. They want me and taking me out will end the wolves. Simon motions, catching my attention. I shift my gaze in his direction, eyeing him to see what he wants. 'We need to head back," he mouths. I only nod because that is exactly what we are going to do. For the next several hours, we run at full speed and only stop at night to rest. Food is running out so at times one of us has to shift to find something for us to cook. Of course, cooking means a fire and we have to quickly douse it after we finish. If we don't cook it, we all shift and eat the meat raw. It takes four days in all to get back to the estate. My chest aches when it comes into view. Physically aches. Being away from her has been more than I can bear and I'm so glad to be back where I can keep an eye on her. Enough is enough. I walk the entire way up to the estate, my gaze locked on the door. No one makes a sound as I stride past some of the pack and go inside. The hallways are just as quiet, if not eerily so. It's well past dark and I know that Maya is probably in bed. But I have to see her. Even if it's just staring at her from the doorway. I make it to her room in no time. My clothes reek from the days of wear and I'm so dirty that I know I need a good shower. I press on the door and it opens slowly. She didn't even bother locking it. Then I see why. Maya is asleep on the bed and Evelyn is sitting in the chair near the fire, looking directly at me with a knowing smile.