Chapter 7

In Damon’s private quarters. The night is still, but the air is heavy with tension. Damon, the powerful Alpha King, wakes abruptly from a dream, drenched in sweat. His heart races as images of a woman—her face, her voice, her touch—linger in his mind. He feels the weight of his memories pressing down on him, a secret he cannot shake. As he sits up, trying to steady his breathing, his Beta, Caleb, enters the room.

Damon breathing heavily, wiping the sweat from his forehead as he sits up in bed “Not again…”

Caleb knocking lightly before stepping inside “Alpha, are you alright? Another dream?”

Damon his voice low and gravelly as he swings his legs out of bed “Yes. Her again.”

Caleb raising an eyebrow, stepping closer “You dreamt of her… the woman from that night?”

Damon clenching his jaw, his fists tightening “I don’t know why she keeps appearing in my dreams. I barely remember her face, but I know she’s real. She’s not just a figment of my imagination.”

Caleb crossing his arms, concerned “Alpha, it’s been years since that night. If she were important, wouldn’t we have found her by now?”

Damon shaking his head, standing up and pacing “No. I’ve searched, but something’s keeping her hidden. It’s more than that night. There’s something about her… something I need to uncover.”

Caleb sighing, leaning against the wall “I understand your frustration, but the elders are waiting for you in the hall. Your father sent for you.”

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Damon walks into the grand hall where the elders are gathered. His father, Killian, the previous Alpha King, and his mother, Katherine, sit at the head of the table. Their expressions are stern, and the air is thick with expectation. Damon can sense the purpose of the meeting before anyone speaks—once again, the pressure to find a mate and secure the future of the pack weighs heavily on him.

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Killian sitting with authority, his voice booming in the large room “Damon, it’s time we talk about your future. And the future of the pack.”

Damon taking his seat but remaining tense, his eyes narrowing slightly “We’ve had this conversation before. My answer hasn’t changed.”

Katherine softening her tone, though her eyes are sharp “Son, the pack needs a Luna. It’s been too long. You’ve put this off long enough.”

Damon coldly, his voice clipped “I’m not taking a mate just because tradition demands it. I’ve told you, I’ll find the right woman when the time is right.”

Elder 1 interjecting, his tone respectful but firm “With all due respect, Alpha, the pack is growing restless. There are whispers. A strong pack needs balance, and that comes from its leaders. You are the King of Alphas. You must provide stability.”

Damon his eyes darkening, his voice low but full of restrained power “You speak of balance, but you know nothing of what I carry. There’s a woman—someone who haunts my dreams, someone tied to my past. I won’t take another until I find her.”

Killian his brow furrowing, leaning forward with intensity “That woman? Still? Damon, you were framed that night. Whatever happened is in the past. You can’t let that hold you back. You’ve spent years chasing shadows. We need to think of the pack.”

Damon his voice rising with controlled anger “It’s not just about that night, Father. I’ve felt it every time she comes to me in my dreams. There’s something… more. I know she’s out there. And I intend to find her.”

Katherine placing a hand on Killian’s arm, her tone more understanding “But, Damon… you’ve been searching for so long. What if she’s gone? What if she’s…?”

Damon cutting her off, his voice absolute “She’s not gone. I would feel it. And until I find her, there will be no other.”

Elder 2 sighing, exchanging glances with the other elders “And what of the pack, Alpha? How long will you keep them waiting? Will they have to suffer because of this ghost from your past?”

Damon standing up abruptly, his eyes flashing with dominance “The pack will not suffer. I am their Alpha King. I protect them. But this woman—whoever she is—is tied to me, to my future, to the pack’s future. Until I find her, no one else will stand by my side.”

Killian his expression hard, but his voice betraying concern “You’re making a mistake, Damon. You’re letting the past cloud your judgment.”

Damon turning to leave, his voice resolute “No, Father. I’m following what I know is right. The pack will have their Luna when I find her. Until then, this conversation is over.”

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As Damon turns to leave the hall, Caleb follows close behind. The tension in the air remains thick, but Damon’s determination is unshakable. He knows that the woman in his dreams is not just a figment of his imagination. She is real, and he will stop at nothing to find her, to uncover the truth behind that fateful night, and to face the consequences of the past.