Castiel's P.O.VIt felt like I'd been punched in the gut. Did Damien just say... Gabriel? I must have misheard him…right? I leaned in closer, my voice shaking slightly as I tried to correct him. "Damien, my name is Castiel. Not Gabriel."But Damien just kept talking, his words slurred and nonsensical. "Gabriel, please don't leave me. Come back to me…please.” His voice cracked with emotion. “I miss you so much."I felt a pang of confusion and concern. Who was Gabriel, and why was Damien calling out to him so desperately?I tried to reason with Damien, to bring him back to reality. "Damien, I'm right here. It's me, Castiel. You're safe." But he just kept talking, his words pouring out in a feverish stream. "Gabriel, I'm sorry…Gabriel…”I felt like I was watching a train wreck in slow motion. Damien's words were like a p
Castiel's P.O.VWe stepped out onto the hospital's terrace, the cool evening air a welcome respite from the stifling tension that had been building inside me. The city skyline stretched out before us, a twinkling expanse of lights that seemed to pulse with a life of their own. Stephen leaned against the railing, his eyes fixed on some point in the distance. I stood beside him, my eyes fixed on his profile, waiting for him to begin."Damien and I…we go way back, before he even became the Don of the Dragon Syndicate," Stephen said finally, his voice low and hesitant. "We've known each other for a long time, Castiel. We've been through a lot together." He paused, his eyes clouding over with memories. "Damien's past is... complicated. He's been hurt, Castiel. Deeply hurt. And he's built walls around himself to protect himself from getting hurt again.""What happened to him?" I asked, my voice barely a
Castiel's P.O.VI stood at the edge of the rooftop long after Stephan’s departure, my eyes fixed on the city lights twinkling in the distance. My mind was a jumble of emotions, a tangled web of thoughts and feelings that I couldn't seem to untangle. It felt like I was drowning in a sea of uncertainty, unsure of where to go from here.The revelation about Gabriel had left me reeling. I couldn't believe that Damien had been through such a betrayal, especially from someone who he had trusted to that extent. And yet, as I thought about it, I realized that it all made sense. Damien's reserve, his hesitation to open up to me - it was all because of Gabriel.I felt a pang of sadness, a sense of loss for the man who had been hurt so deeply. Damien had never really gotten over Gabriel, I realized that now. He had never really moved on. And I wondered, with a sense of trepidation, if he ever would.&n
Castiel's POVI finally found my voice, and I moved away from him immediately, "What are you doing?" My tone was firm, but I could feel a hint of unease beneath the surface.Elijah seemed to snap out of whatever trance he was in, and he took a step back, his eyes widening with surprise. The sudden movement broke the spell that had held me frozen, and I felt a surge of relief wash over me.However, Elijah's gaze never left mine, and he still had that intriguing look on his face as he asked, "You're an Alpha, aren’t you Castiel?”“Y-yes?” I looked at him in confusion, unable to comprehend where this was going.“But you have a unique scent... the scent of an omega." His words hung in the air, and I felt a sense of trepidation wash over me.I shrugged, trying to play it cool. "I get that a lot," I said, keeping my vo
Castiel’s P.O.V The hallway leading to Damien’s room felt unusually long. The muffled sound of voices from other rooms faded as I approached his door. I hesitated, my hand hovering just above the doorknob. A part of me dreaded what I might find, given how things were earlier. But I steeled myself and pushed the door open.Damien was awake this time, his pale face illuminated by the soft, sterile light from the overhead lamp. Stephan sat beside him, perched on a chair, his posture rigid, like he was expecting me. As I stepped in, his eyes darted to me, and he gave a subtle shake of his head. It was quick, barely noticeable, but the message was clear: *Don’t bring it up.*I nodded slightly in response, my lips pressing into a thin line. Whatever had happened earlier—whatever made Stephan cautious—I wasn’t about to make it worse. I walked to Damien’s side, the sound of my boots against the tile floor break
Castiel’s P.O.V The world around me faded, and all I could focus on was Damien. His lips were warm and soft, and his kiss was everything I didn’t know I needed—a quiet assurance, a tether to pull me out of my spiraling thoughts. For a brief, stolen moment, it felt like everything was right again, as though nothing else existed except him and the steady rhythm of his heartbeat under my palm. I didn’t even realize my hand had wandered, bracing myself on the edge of the bed. It wasn’t until I shifted slightly that my palm pressed against his injured side. Damien hissed sharply, his body tensing beneath me. The sound snapped me back to reality like a bucket of ice water. I jerked back immediately, my eyes wide with alarm. “Damien!” I exclaimed, horror twisting in my chest. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean—” Before I could even finish, Damien reached up and cupped the back of my neck, pulling me back down. His lips pressed against mine in a quick, silencing kiss, soft but firm enough to s
Damien’s P.O.VThe familiar scent of leather and aged wood greeted me as I stepped into my mansion. The quiet hum of the city outside was muted here, replaced by the soft ticking of the grandfather clock in the foyer. It felt good to be home, even if my body still ached with every step.Castiel and Stephan followed behind me, both noticeably tense. Castiel, in particular, hovered like a worried shadow, his eyes darting toward me every time I so much as shifted. It was endearing, if not a little annoying.“You two,” I said, turning to face them as we reached the base of the grand staircase. “Go unpack and settle in. I’ll meet you later.”Castiel frowned, his concern practically radiating off him. “Are you sure? Do you need help getting to—”“I’m not that fragile,” I interrupted with a small smile, hoping to ease his mind. “I promise, I’ll be fine. Ju
Damien’s P.O.V Andrea's words hung in the air like a carefully laid trap, waiting for me to step into it. I leaned back in the chair, folding my arms across my chest, my voice sharper than intended. "What's wrong with being happy? Isn’t that a good thing?"She smiled faintly, unfazed by my defensive tone. "It is, Damien. But I wasn’t suggesting there’s anything wrong. I just wanted to share what I found." She leaned against the counter, her pen tapping lightly on the clipboard in her hand. "For the past few years, your serotonin levels have been consistently low. That usually correlates with anxiety, stress, or even depression. But now..." Her gaze softened as she gestured to the report. "These elevated levels mean you're starting to step out of the shadows of your past. And, if I had to guess, I’d say a ‘certain blonde’ has something to do with it."I blinked, my thoughts grinding to a halt. "A certain
Castiel’s P.O.VElijah stood still for a moment, his gaze cold and calculating. Then, without a word, he took a single step forward. As he moved, a crackling energy surged around him, an electric current that sent sparks flying from his body and into the sand. The particles sizzled and burned, and before I could even blink, shards of glass-like material began to form, shimmering in the air, as smoke curled up from the scorched earth. The sight was overwhelming, and the intensity of the power radiating from Elijah hit me like a wave.For a brief second, my heart pounded in my chest, and fear gripped my mind. My instincts screamed to run, to find safety, to protect myself. But I forced my breathing to slow, willing myself to stay calm. I couldn’t let Elijah see the fear. Not now. Not when it would only give him the satisfaction of knowing he had some kind of control over me.Elijah took another step closer, and the ground beneath him s
Castiel’s P.O.VMy heart pounded in my chest as I watched the figure in front of me—tall, poised, and undeniably familiar. Elijah. A part of me felt my breath catch in my throat, but I shoved it aside, refusing to let any emotion show. Instead, my instincts kicked in, and before I could think, I stood quickly, stepping in front of Celia to shield her from whatever Elijah might throw at us next.I glanced at her, my voice low and urgent. “Celia, go to Tanner. Stay with him. Don’t come back until I find you.” I didn’t wait for her response; I couldn’t. I needed to get her away from Elijah. She hesitated for a moment, her eyes flickering between Elijah and me, but the fear in them was enough to make her nod, even if she didn’t fully understand the danger.“Stay safe, Castiel,” she whispered before turning to run off, disappearing into the distance.The second she was o
Castiel’s P.O.VThe sand beneath our feet was cool and soft, the faint sound of waves crashing against the shore acting as a gentle, constant backdrop to the heavy silence between us. I walked beside Celia, my hand resting lightly on her shoulder, guiding her away from the crowded beach and toward a quieter, more isolated stretch of sand. Her eyes were still red, tears streaking her face, and my heart felt like it was breaking with every shaky breath she took. I had expected a lot of things today—anger, confusion, maybe even guilt. But hearing her words had left me completely lost, speechless.She had told me, in no uncertain terms, that I had ruined her life. That I had taken everything from her. And the worst part was that I couldn’t deny it. I could feel the sting of her words echoing in my chest, each one digging deeper into a wound I didn’t even realize I had opened.We stopped by a large rock near the sh
Castiel’s P.O.VThe smell of grilled fish filled the air, mingling with the salty breeze drifting in from the ocean just a few blocks away. The restaurant was small and cozy, the kind of place where everyone knew each other, where the regulars came in every afternoon to talk about their day over a plate of fresh seafood. It was peaceful. It was steady. And for the first time in a long time, I felt like I could breathe again.I wiped my hands on my apron as I stepped out from behind the counter, balancing two plates in my hands. The customers at table five grinned as I set their food down, exchanging pleasantries as I smiled back. It wasn’t much, this life I had built in the past week, but it was enough to keep me standing. Enough to keep me from drowning in the weight of everything I had lost.South Beach, Staten Islands, wasn’t all that far from New York, but still, it felt like a fresh start. All thanks to Tanner,
Damien’s P.O.V He looked like a shell of the man he once was—ripped apart by the people he had crossed, the plans he had made, and the lies he had lived. And yet, in the midst of his suffering, he still managed to speak with a biting edge, like he was trying to get under my skin even now."I am a fool, Damien," Gabriel rasped, his voice dripping with bitter truth. “A complete fool.”I paused, gripping him tighter as he tried to stand on his own. “What the hell are you talking about?” I asked, my patience wearing thin again. I didn’t have time for cryptic bullshit.Gabriel’s lips curled into a pained grin, though it was more of a grimace than a smile. He was clearly struggling, but the words that came next hit me harder than I expected.“I’ve been a fool to love him. To care for Elijah all this time,” Gabriel continued, his voice thick with something like disdain, but also a hint of pity. “He’s been using me, Damien. All this time, he’s been using me for my abilities.”The words hit m
Damien’s P.O.VI stand by the large glass window in my room, staring out at the garden. The trees sway gently in the wind, their leaves rustling in a way that should be calming, but it only seems to make my thoughts more chaotic. The faint glow of streetlights beyond the garden casts an eerie light on everything, but I hardly notice. All I can think about is Castiel. Where the hell is he?Two days. It’s been two days since I last saw him. Two days since he drove off in my car, taking his sister Celia with him. The thought gnawed at me like a constant ache in my chest.I’ve asked myself a hundred times why he did it. Why take Celia? Why disappear like this? Castiel, the one person who seemed to understand me, the one person I allowed myself to trust—gone.Stephan had asked me if he wanted to spread a red alert, to have all our resources search for Castiel. It was one of the surest ways to find him. But it wasn’t the right one.I didn’t want anyone else involved in this. I didn’t want t
Castiel’s P.O.VThe sunlight creeps through the small crack in the curtains, casting a soft, golden glow on the walls of the room. It’s the kind of light that should make everything feel warm, but all I can feel is a cold numbness spreading through my veins.My body refuses to move. I haven’t slept, not really. My eyes are swollen from crying, the aftermath of an emotional storm that seemed never-ending. My head feels heavy like it’s been filled with too much noise and not enough peace. But despite everything, there’s a numbness that blankets me, a fog that makes it hard to distinguish between the past few hours and the haze of my own mind.I turn my head to stare at the cracked walls above me, willing them to hold some kind of answer. Anything that could make this pain stop. But nothing comes.I’ve cried enough. The tears, the sobs, the silent misery that rattled through me all night, hidde
Damien’s P.O.VI stared at the ring for what felt like an eternity, my grip tightening around it, the cold metal digging into my palm. It was supposed to mean something more than this. I had chosen it for him, picked it out with the hope that it would be a sign—a symbol of the good he had brought into my life, a representation of everything I’d never been able to express to him in words. Instead, I had handed it to him carelessly, like it was just a trinket, a piece of jewelry meant to impress, not something that held the weight of my feelings.I remembered the ride back from the carnival, the happiest day of my life. Castiel had been telling me how the carnival only held things for children and he hadn't been able to buy anything to bring back for Stephan.That’s when I had handed the box to him…casually tossing it as if it was just another souvenir. I had been nervous, I had been anxious for his reaction…but now, all those felt like petty excuses.I let out a sharp breath, frustrati
Damien’s P.O.VThe car ride back to the mansion felt like an eternity. Every second dragged on, and every thought in my head twisted tighter, more suffocating. I couldn’t stop thinking about Castiel—how I’d failed him, how I’d let everything slip through my fingers. The guilt weighed heavy, and the more I thought about it, the worse it became.Stephan sat beside me, unusually quiet. I could feel his eyes on me from time to time, but I didn’t want to meet his gaze. I didn’t deserve to. Not after what had happened.But I couldn’t stand the silence any longer. The sound of my own thoughts was starting to suffocate me, so I finally turned to Stefan.“What…what was he like?” I asked, my voice hoarse. “Castiel, I mean. When you met him.”Stephan shifted slightly in his seat, staring out the window. “He was broken,” he said quietly, not meeting my gaze. “I’ve never seen anyone so shattered. Whatever he saw or heard inside that venue... it affected him so deeply. He could barely keep himself