Chapter Eighty Eight - Elders - Maya's POV

Though his words are meant to be encouraging, I don't know for sure if I'll make it through. If anything, it's made me feel worse about this entire situation. How am I supposed to survive and be a part of some huge prophecy if I have one of them from within after me? The threats keep piling up, and soon, it might be the entire pack. Then what? That question echoes inside my head like a never ending drumbeat. I stare down at the piece of bacon in my hand, suddenly nauseated. The idea of Luce, of anyone here turning on me, gnaws at whatever fragile thread of confidence I have. 'What if she convinces the pack and they go after me next? Will it ever get better?" I ask. 'Or if we save them, they'll just keep coming and see me as a failure to their pack?" Evelyn turns then, walking slowly toward the bed. 'It won't be like this forever. Once the prophecy is fulfilled, they will have you to thank for their lives. But yes, it gets ugly sometimes. This world of ours isn't kind." 'She can feel it through the bonds that not everyone is with her," Damian adds. 'That's why she won't go public with a challenge. It's mainly just her running her mouth." I look down at my hands laying on my lap. There's not much I can even do. When it comes to fighting, I'm not like them. I don't have size or strength on my side. There is no way for me to switch into a wolf unless he bites me. At that thought, my eyes dart to his mouth, wondering if I let him turn me, if that would solve everything. 'I know what you're thinking and no, it won't work. You have to be willing to become my mate when I bite you. If I bite you without it, then I don't know if you'll even turn." My shoulders slump when I hear his words. Of course, there would have to be a catch. I can't even be turned without being willing. 'What if, when all of this happens, I'm the one who destroys the wolves instead of saving them?" Damian shifts slightly as he reaches out to brush a stray strand of wild hair behind my ear. 'Because I've seen the darkness that will spread. You're not it." I want to believe him, but it's hard when he's so secretive about things. 'How do you know what it looks like?" 'Before I found you, I wasn't myself. There were times I shifted and couldn't shift back. I was slowly losing myself, but since I brought you here, I've been fine. That is how I know you will chase the darkness away." A knock interrupts our conversation, and Damian's gaze turns to land on the door. I guess he isn't expecting company, either. 'Yes?" Simon opens the door, stepping through fully. His eyes land on the tray in front of me, then slowly work their way up to my face. I don't know why he's looking at me so oddly. 'Luce is running her mouth on the training ground," he whispers. 'Listen, I know she's just flapping her gums to be doing it, but what you did hasn't shut it down. Maya needs to train more and prepare, so she isn't caught off guard." A low growl rumbles in Damian's throat. 'And I've told you she won't fight. Maya can't. She's human. A challenge would kill her. So I will fight." 'It's gone further than that. There is going to be a gathering tonight. Tiffany has convinced all those you call the elders to meet tonight to hear what Luce has to say before she makes it an official challenge." My blood runs cold. 'Tonight? I can't fight her." Damian's jaw tightens. 'We'll be there. If they want to hear what Luce has to say and jeopardize the prophecy, then they're going to hear from us too. This could ruin everything we've worked for." Simon bows his head. 'They don't think Maya is the one from the prophecy. She's not even your mate yet, and it's been a few weeks. There are too many grumblings and they know she's run from you. It's getting harder for them to believe you have everything under control." Damian thinks long and hard about what he's going to say, even going as far as to look at me a few seconds before turning his attention back to Simon. Just from what I observe, his expression is grim, and he looks like he might kill someone just thinking they could challenge me. 'Maya has to be willing, so until she is, that is what I'm working on. Why does everyone suddenly think they know the prophecy better than me? I'm the one it's tied to. I'm the one who has lived through being almost murdered because of some new age idea what it really means," he says, abruptly standing and growling at Simon. 'This is growing tiring." 'I know," Simon says, his gaze falling to the floor at Damian's feet. 'It's not like I didn't try to warn them." 'Fine, I'm not waiting for tonight. I'm calling the pack elders now. We're going to deal with this before she has a chance to spin up any more support for her stupid ideas," Damian growls out. 'I'm done with all of this." When he turns to face me, the golden glow of his eyes has returned. His face is not quite human and I shudder. I've never seen him look so fierce. He reaches out one hand, claws tipping each fingertip. I look down at his hand, noticing how close his wolf is to the surface. I'm not sure if I should even take his hand, but with one last look, I do. Damian pulls me from the bed, and I stand next to him, looking at Simon. My gaze falls onto Damian and the way his shoulders tremble with each shuddering breath. 'Simon, I suggest you go now and tell everyone we'll have a meeting with them. I will calm Damian." Simon almost argues, but when Damian turns, shooting him a scathing look, he promptly shuts his mouth, leaving us. Evelyn goes after him, claiming she'll make sure the word is spread. The door shuts behind her. I finally return my gaze back to Damian, taking in the way he's so close to losing it. Hair sprouts along his exposed flesh, then retreats. His hands twitch at his sides, fingers curling into fists so tightly that I notice blood dripping from the wounds his claws create. His jaw clenches hard, the muscle ticking as he tries to restrain himself. The wolf is so close, and I can feel the energy in the room shift. I step toward him, closing the small space between us. 'Hey, you're still here. Stay with me." The truth is, I don't know what I'm doing. I've never had to calm a wolf or a wolf shifter. This is all new and I'm finally taking the initiative to learn. He doesn't look at me, not directly, that is. His eyes are trained on the floor like if he dares lift them, the shift will take over. 'She's trying to tear apart everything and turn them against you. Against me. And she's not even subtle about it anymore." 'I know," I say gently, my hand clasping his as I try to thread my fingers through his. His skin is burning hot. 'But you can't let her win by losing yourself. That's what I think she wants." His breath hitches in his throat as his fingers loosen enough to let me slide mine between them. I don't even pay attention to the claws or blood. 'I'm supposed to protect you and everywhere I turn, there is danger ready to take you out of this world." 'You are protecting me," I say, stepping closer. 'You're not letting her win or change who you are. I need you on my side." The hair along his arms fades again and stays gone. His breathing slowly steadies. His forehead presses hard against mine. 'What if the elders don't see it this way? What if they side with her and think you two should have a challenge?" 'If they fear the prophecy, then they won't let it happen, right?" There's a long silence between us. The air still feels heavy, but it's different now. Damian lifts his gaze to meet mine. 'If she challenges you, don't even think of attempting to fight."