MOTHER'S LOVE

Damien sat alone in his room, the weight of grief pressing down on him like a suffocating blanket. The days since his mother’s death had passed in a blur of sorrow and anger. He had been consumed by thoughts of revenge, the need to strike back at those who had taken her from him. But now, sitting here, in the quiet of his room, he felt hollow, lost in the endless pain.

He glanced at the empty bed where Elena had been moments before. She had tried to console him, to bring him back to bed, but he couldn’t rest. He couldn’t shake the overwhelming feeling that he had failed. His mother had died protecting his mate, his family, and it had all happened under his watch. He had been too focused on his own rage to see the danger coming.

A knock at the door broke through his thoughts. He didn’t respond at first, too wrapped up in his grief, but the knock came again, firmer this time.

“Alpha,” came the familiar voice of his Beta, a close friend and confidant. Damien sighed, rubbing his hands ove