Castiel’s P.O.V Celia clutched her carnival goodies tightly, almost drowning in a sea of toys, looking up at me with her usual wide-eyed excitement. We were standing in front of her school gate, and it was time to say goodbye again, until next time. The Principal stood a few feet away, waiting to escort her inside.“You sure you don’t want to come in with me, Castiel?” she asked, her voice a little hesitant but more excited than anything. “I could show you my classroom! My friends would love to meet you.”I chuckled softly, crouching down to her level. “You go ahead, sweetheart, it’s getting close to bedtime. Go show your friends all those souvenirs you got them.”Her eyes sparkled. “I’m going to tell them all about the big bear I won! I’ll share some of the candy too!” She held up a small bag of candy she’d pocketed from the carnival, smiling proudly at
Castiel’s P.O.V The emerald on the ring caught the faint light of the room as I turned my hand again, watching how the gem gleamed like it was alive. I couldn’t stop staring. My finger felt strange, heavy with the weight of something so valuable. My throat tightened every time I remembered the price the auctioneer had mentioned to me. Two million dollars.Two. Million.“You’re going to bore a hole through that thing with how hard you’re staring at it.” Damien’s voice was calm and teasing as he stepped out of the closet, already dressed in a casual attire. “It’s just a ring, Cas.”“Just a ring?” I blurted, finally tearing my gaze away to glare at him. “This is two million dollars sitting on my finger, Damien. Do you have any idea how ridiculous that is? Who spends that kind of money on a ring?”“You’re acting like I handed you a Faberg&e
Damien’s P.O.V I’ve seen Castiel put on a brave face for as long as I’ve known him. Always composed, always in control, like he carried the world on his shoulders but never let it crush him. But tonight, as I stood there holding him, I realized just how much weight he’d been carrying.“Hey,” I whispered, tightening my arms around him. His body was warm but trembling against mine. “What’s wrong? Castiel, talk to me.”At first, he didn’t say anything. His head was pressed against my chest, and I could feel the uneven rhythm of his breathing. His fingers curled into the fabric of my shirt like he was anchoring himself, like if he let go, he might drift away.“It’s nothing,” he muttered, his voice barely audible. “I’m fine.”I didn’t buy that for a second. “You’re not fine.” I pulled back just enough to tilt his chin
Damien’s P.O.V The warmth of Castiel’s body left mine as he stepped away, and I immediately felt its absence like a cold draft seeping into the room. My arms hung awkwardly at my sides, and disappointment flickered through me. Castiel avoided my eyes, his posture tense.I forced myself to focus on Stephan, who stood frozen in the doorway, a nervous energy radiating off him like heat from a flame. His gaze darted to Castiel and back to me, clearly realizing he’d walked in at the worst possible time.“There better be a good reason for this interruption,” I said, my voice cold and steady, though irritation laced every word.Stephan shifted uncomfortably, his usual confidence noticeably absent. “I… uh… it’s important,” he stammered, glancing at Castiel again like he was debating whether to speak in front of him.I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Castiel,&rdqu
Damien’s P.O.VFor a moment, the world around me felt muted. The invitation in my hand seemed heavier than it had any right to be, the weight pressing into my palm as if it carried all the ghosts I’d tried to bury. Elijah. Gabriel. Their names might as well have been written in blood.I stared at the card, my vision tunneling on the elegant, mocking script. *The Black Mirage. Grand Opening.* The words were etched in gold, but all I could see was red.“Damien?” Stephan’s voice cut through the fog, tentative, cautious.The sound jolted me, and I threw the card onto my desk as though it had burned me. The motion was sharp, almost violent, and the card fluttered for a moment before landing flat against the polished wood. I turned my back to Stephan, needing to hide the storm I knew was written all over my face.I felt his hesitation behind me before he spoke. “Should I decline the invitation?”
Castiel’s P.O.V The sun beat down relentlessly as I made my way to the pool with Stephan by my side. My muscles were aching from the morning’s brutal training session. Damien had been particularly relentless, barking orders like he had something to prove. Not that it was unusual for him, but today it felt like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.I didn’t know what kind of conversation Damien had had with Stephan last night, but it had definitely put him in a bad mood.I glanced at Stephan, who looked just as worn out, though he carried it with his usual nonchalance. He stretched his arms over his head, his tank top damp with sweat. “Pool’s gonna feel amazing right about now,” he muttered, tugging at the strap of his bag.“Yeah,” I agreed, wiping the back of my neck. My mind, however, was elsewhere. Specifically, it was stuck on the conversation I’d walked out of
Castiel’s P.O.V I could feel the tension in the air before Dominic even moved, but when he slid into the pool with that damn smirk still plastered on his face and still fully clothed, I knew things were about to get complicated. He was the kind of person who thrived on making everything a game. And right now? I wasn’t in the mood to play.I exchanged a glance with Stephan, his face tightening as he noticed the same thing I did.“We should get out of here now,” I muttered, my voice low but urgent. I began to push myself up out of the water, my muscles stiff from the training earlier.But as I moved to pull my leg out of the pool, something strange happened. It felt like the water was… resisting me. Not in a natural way, like the usual drag of the water, but like something was *holding* me down. I froze, trying again, but no matter how hard I pulled, my leg wouldn’t budge.“Stephan,”
Castiel’s P.O.V As we made our way back to my room, the adrenaline from the confrontation with Dominic started to wear off, leaving me feeling like I had just run a marathon. My legs were still a little shaky, but the worst part was the nagging feeling of unease that wouldn't leave me.Stephan walked beside me, his usual calm demeanor in place, but there was a small smirk tugging at his lips. I could tell he was impressed by how I’d handled Dominic, even though I knew deep down that I wasn’t as confident as I’d let on.“That was impressive,” Stephan said, breaking the silence as we reached the door. “I didn’t think you had it in you to stand up to him like that.”I gave a small chuckle, shaking my head as I opened the door to my room. “Don’t be fooled, Stephan. I was scared as hell. Dominic’s a damn Special Alpha, and he can control water. The guy’s dangerous,
Castiel’s P.O.VTwo years later, life had settled into a rhythm. The quiet days of simply living with Damien were now filled with the soft cooing of a little girl, our little girl. Our journey to parenthood hadn’t been the traditional one, but it had been ours, and in the end, that was all that mattered.The decision to pursue surrogacy had been one we made together after countless conversations, sleepless nights, and more than a few tears. It was the right choice, and as I watched Damien cradling our daughter in his arms, I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed with emotion.She was perfect. Her tiny hands curled into fists as Damien gently rocked her back and forth, her face still scrunched up in that adorable, baby-like confusion. His deep voice hummed a soft tune as he cooed to her, trying to get her to focus on him. The sight of him like this—so gentle, so tender—always made my heart skip. He had become a complete
Castiel’s P.O.VThe soft murmur of waves filled the air, a rhythmic lull that blended with the distant chatter of guests. A salty breeze carried the scent of the ocean, mingling with the fragrance of fresh roses and lilies. As I stood at the entrance of the resort’s private beach, my heart pounded in my chest. The sight before me was breathtaking.The ceremony space was set on a wide wooden deck extending toward the shoreline. Fairy lights draped overhead, twinkling like stars against the deepening hues of the sunset sky. Rows of white chairs lined either side of the aisle, each adorned with delicate golden ribbons that fluttered gently in the evening breeze. The path itself was covered in a thin layer of ivory rose petals, leading to a grand arch at the end, wrapped in white silk and lush greenery. Soft lanterns cast a golden glow around the space, their reflections dancing on the surface of the water.“You okay?&r
Castiel’s P.O.VThe urgency in Damien’s voice had struck me in a way I couldn’t shake off. My heart was already racing as I stood up, the sudden sense of unease creeping up my spine. Without thinking, I turned toward the door and started walking briskly toward the main hall. Stephan was right behind me, his footsteps quick, the same uncertainty in his voice when he asked, “What happened? What did Damien say?”“I don’t know,” I replied quickly, glancing over my shoulder at him. “But his voice sounded…urgent. He said he needed me now.”We reached the entrance to the main hall, and I threw open the door without hesitation. The first thing I noticed was the oppressive darkness inside. The room was completely black, the absence of light making it feel heavier, like a weight pressing down on my chest. My confusion spiked, and I called out for Damien, my voice echoing in the silence.
Castiel’s P.O.VFour months had passed, and yet the night air still carried a faint scent of flowers, a quiet reminder that the world continued on, indifferent to the storms we had weathered. The soft ripple of the pool’s water mirrored the calm that had settled over us, though the memories of everything that had transpired still lingered in the back of my mind.I dipped my feet into the cool water, the sensation grounding me, helping me to keep my thoughts from drifting too far back. The quiet evening wrapped around us, the hum of insects and distant voices blending into the background. Stephan sat beside me, just as he always had, and for a moment, it felt like things were returning to normal, even if the world we inhabited was anything but.“I never imagined I’d get the chance to do this again,” Stephan said, his voice breaking the stillness. He kicked his feet gently in the water, his eyes reflecting a sense of
Castiel’s P.O.VIt had been two weeks since Damien’s surgery, and though he was much more stable now, the hollow look in his eyes told me there was still a storm brewing inside of him. He hadn’t spoken much since we’d come out of his cabin. Even now, as I wheeled him down the sterile, cold hospital hallway, he was quiet—distant in a way that told me he was bracing himself for something he couldn’t control.I pushed the wheelchair slowly, keeping my eyes forward, not daring to look at him, knowing how the weight of everything that was about to happen must be pressing down on him. I could feel the tension radiating from him, thick and suffocating. When we reached Elijah’s room, my heart sank. This would be the first time I had ever stepped inside it, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready for what I was about to witness.I don’t think anyone could be prepared for such a sight.The room was dim
Damien’s P.O.VI woke up with a start, my body jerking forward as I gasped for air, the thick, acrid smell of smoke and fire still clinging to my senses like a suffocating blanket. My surroundings were unfamiliar, the sterile smell of the room replaced by the sharp sting of burned flesh and charred memories.The headache pounding in my skull was the first thing I felt, sharp and unrelenting, followed by an overwhelming wave of pain that made every inch of my body ache like it had been battered by a thousand blows.Where the hell am I?I tried to focus, blinking against the blurry haze that clouded my vision, but it only made the throbbing in my head worse. My thoughts were a mess, disjointed, like broken glass scattered across the floor. I tried to remember what had happened, but it was all a blur of fire, power, and chaos.Elijah.The clash of our powers, the explosion of energy that ripped through the air, followed by the suffocating burn that began to eat away at my skin. It was li
Castiel’s P.O.VThe harsh fluorescent lights above flickered slightly, casting a sterile glow over the waiting room as I sat there, my new mechanical fingers nervously drumming against the cold armrests of the wheelchair. My back ached from the prolonged stillness, but I barely noticed. I could hardly think of anything except the pounding in my chest and the fear that gnawed at my insides.Twelve hours. Twelve damn hours Damien had been in that operating room. And I was still here, waiting. The kind of waiting that gnawed at your soul, twisted every thought into something darker, something more uncertain. I had to know he was going to be okay. I had to hear it.Stephan, who’d been standing beside me like a constant presence, was leaning against the wall. His arms were folded, his face more composed than I could manage, but his eyes betrayed the same worry. After a long moment, I finally spoke, my voice hoarse, more fragile than I’d intended.“Do you think everything will be alright?”
Castiel’s P.O.VI collapsed back onto the bed, the weight of everything pressing down on me. My body ached, my mind was a fog, and I felt like I hadn’t had a single moment to breathe in weeks. The losses, the endless mess—why did it all have to spiral out of control? I stared at the ceiling, my hands gripping the edge of the blanket like I could physically hold the world together if I tried hard enough.“This could’ve all been avoided,” I muttered aloud, my voice barely a whisper in the room. “If only that stupid fool, Elijah, hadn’t let his rage and selfishness consume him and done things the damn hard way... He brought everyone down with him.”I wasn’t expecting an answer, but Stephan, ever the optimist, couldn’t stay silent for long.“Well, every cloud has a silver lining, Castiel,” he said in his usual tone, one that tried to make everything seem better than it was. “You just need to find it. You’ll see, there’s always something good in all this chaos. You just need to believe it.
Castiel’s P.O.VThe first thing I register is the rhythmic beeping of a monitor, steady and unrelenting, echoing in my skull like a distant drum. Then comes the pain. A deep, bone-deep ache that spreads through my entire body, sharp and unforgiving. Every breath is a struggle; each inhale sends waves of discomfort rippling through me. My eyelids feel impossibly heavy, but I force them open, blinking against the harsh fluorescent lights above. A blur of motion. Voices. “He’s awake!” Footsteps shuffle around me, and suddenly, a group of nurses floods my vision. Someone adjusts the IV drip attached to my arm. Another presses a cool hand against my forehead. Everything feels too loud, too bright. “Where…?” My voice is hoarse, barely more than a whisper. My throat feels raw, like I’ve swallowed sandpaper. “What happened?” “Mr. Castiel James, please don’t move too much,” a nurse says, her tone firm but gentle. “You’ve been through extensive surgery. Try to stay still.” Surgery? I att