Chapter Ninety Seven - It's Spreading - Maya's POV

The side door slams open and Ethan steps inside. 'Oh, now you are lingering in the hallways," he says. 'Clearly, you two are in love." Damian breathes out a heavy sigh. 'He's probably going to start narrating the whole thing to the entire pack." I groan. 'We'll just have to silence him or he can plan the wedding." Damian's brows knit together as he looks down at me in surprise. 'A wedding?" The tone of his words makes me laugh. 'Oh, relax. You already kissed me, so you're stuck with me now. Remember? I'm your one and only." He doesn't know what to say. Even Ethan gets quiet and comes to a stop down the hallway a few feet from us. But the moment is interrupted when my stomach makes its presence known. The sound is impossible to ignore. It almost growls loud enough as if it's ready to challenge Damian's wolf to a dominance battle. I freeze. Damian blinks. And Ethan, of course, loses it. 'Wow. The romance, the tension, and now the hunger. I guess true love runs on snacks." I roll my eyes as my cheeks heat with embarrassment. 'You know, some of us need food to live." Damian clears his throat, clearly trying not to smile, but his eyes betray him. They're already glowing golden and watching me like I'm the only thing that matters to him in this very awkward hallway. 'Let's go eat before her stomach eats itself. Do you want to go?" 'My stomach is growling, so yes, I want food," I say, unsure of what he means. Ethan snorts, breaking up my confusion. 'He is the worst at being subtle. I hope you know that. He's asking if you want to walk with him to the dining hall." Damian shoots him a look, and Ethan backs up a step, throwing his hands in the air in surrender. 'I'll see you both at the dining hall. My stomach is going to eat itself too, and I don't want to be the third wheel to whatever you two have going. It's too slow burn for me." When Ethan disappears down the hall, I turn back to Damian, who's still staring at me with an unreadable expression. 'Are you okay?" I ask, my voice quieter now. He nods once. 'Let's go eat." He offers me his hand, and I take it, my fingers lacing through his easily. 'I guess by us holding hands we are halfway to mate status," I say as we walk down the hallway. 'No, that was kissing. That sealed my fate instantly." A smirk tugs at the corner of my lips. 'It has, in a way, but feeding me ensures your survival." He laughs, a genuine one, and I swear it's the first time in this dark time that I've heard a sound like that from him without restraint. We head down the hallway together, hand in hand, both pretending everything is at peace. But I can feel it in the way his thumb brushes over mine with every step that something between us is already shifting. This moment of peace won't last. Not until the prophecy has been fulfilled and all the packs realize Damian's way is right. We reach the end of the hallway just as the scent of roasted meat and fresh bread fills the air, making my mouth water. It's comforting at a time like this. For a second, it almost feels like the world isn't unraveling completely again. Almost. Damian squeezes my hand gently before letting go. He pushes open the doors to the dining hall and all eyes land on us. At least, from those still in the room. Conversations stop. Forks pause in mid-air. And though no one says a word out loud, the message is clear. They've noticed the changes between us, too. I straighten my stance and walk in beside him without hesitation. Let them look and let them wonder. If anything, maybe it will keep them from underestimating me any longer. I'm growing tired of how they are. Damian takes his usual seat at the head at the table where we sat before. Ethan is further down the table, already devouring something off his plate. He looks up when he sees us and grins while mouthing something to Damian that I don't quite catch. Damian mostly ignores it as I take my seat, but I don't miss the subtle ticking of his jaw. 'Eat," he says, his voice filled with tension. I start loading my plate while he does his. Everything is too quiet and I'm not sure what to think or do out of fear I'm being judged. My eyes scan the other tables. The entire pack isn't here, from what I can tell. When they finally resume talking, I glance over at Damian. 'What are you going to do if they don't accept this?" 'Then I'll make them," he says, finally looking at me. There's a fire behind those golden eyes and I don't doubt him one bit. He finally looks at me, and there's a fire behind those golden eyes that weren't there before. 'Then I'll make them." A chill goes down my spine, but it's fear. At least, not for me. It's more out of awe. He's not just a leader, but becoming something more. And I know, somehow, I'm meant to walk beside him when he does. It's becoming clearer the more time I spend with him. As I start eating, I catch Damian watching me with a slight tilt to his head. 'What?" 'You look…" his words trail off. 'Look what? Tired? Dangerous? Maybe I'm starving?" He shakes his head, dismissing all of those. 'Happy." I blink in surprise before he adds, 'It suits you." Once again, I don't know what to say. It seems like I'm stunned speechless often. So, instead of using words, I just reach over and take his hand in mine, under the table where no one sees. But before the warmth of his skin fully settles over me, the door to the dining hall slams open. A man covered in mud, breathing hard, comes inside. His eyes land on Damian and he breathes a sigh of relief. 'There was a movement on the eastern ridge, but it has been dealt with. We need to prepare for war sooner rather than later," he says, his words almost slurring together. 'It's the Shadowclaws. They said it was a message that they were coming." The dining hall falls silent. 'Why? They've been peaceful until now." 'It's your father," the man gasps. 'His ideology is spreading fast."