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,
Damien’s P.O.V I sat on the examination table, the sterile smell of the clinic mixing with the faint scent of Andrea’s lavender hand sanitizer. The room was painfully quiet except for the rhythmic tap of her pen against her clipboard. She’d been running her tests for the last hour and a half, and while I had no doubts about my physical recovery, I knew Andrea well enough to realize she wasn’t only concerned with my body.“How am I doing, doc?” I asked, forcing a smirk. “Can I go save the world, or should I start drafting my will?”Andrea glanced up from her clipboard, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly. “Physically? You’re fine. The bullet wound has healed beautifully. Your reflexes and strength are back to where they should be. But—” She paused, and I could already feel the weight of what was coming. “I’m not so sure about you mentally.”I exhaled slowly, leaning back against the chair. “You think I can’t handle seeing Gabriel again.”Andrea’s brow furrowed, and she crossed her arms.
Castiel’s P.O.V The water rippled softly around my toes as I let my feet dangle in the pool. The evening air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of jasmine from the garden behind me. Overhead, the stars were beginning to dot the sky, their quiet brilliance a stark contrast to the unease swirling in my mind. Stephan had told me earlier that we were heading to a casino opening this weekend—a party hosted by someone dangerous. The word “dangerous” hung over me like a storm cloud, especially after how the auction involving Reed had went down. I’d asked him why Damien would even consider going to an event hosted by an enemy, but Stephan, true to form, had only offered a vague, “I’ll explain later.”So now, I was here, waiting for him by the pool, trying to enjoy the view and push down the uneasy questions clawing at my thoughts. The mansion looked breathtaking at night, its grand arches illuminated by soft golden lights. The gardens behind me were alive with the gentle hum of crickets an
Castiel’s P.O.V “Pathetic. Just plain stupid. You terrible, terrible fool— and No- I do not want to hear an explanation!" Oliver, the manager of the restaurant and also my boss, screamed at me at the top of his lungs as I rose from the floor slowly, where I had been picking up shards of the broken plate.The young lady standing beside him smirked wider, her expression and posture showing someone that had achieved a certain type of victory. And maybe she had.“Sir…I swear I didn't do anything. I've been picking up the shards of this plate—” I started but was immediately cut short again. He was visibly angry, but then again, he was always angry. With me, anyways.“And who exactly threw the plate on the floor, Castiel? You're acting like the shards suddenly appeared there on their own!” He barked, approaching me stealthily as I backed up against the wall.I tried to think back to how I had landed in this position in the first place, and realized it all started with the woman and her fri
Castiel’s P.O.V The water rippled softly around my toes as I let my feet dangle in the pool. The evening air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of jasmine from the garden behind me. Overhead, the stars were beginning to dot the sky, their quiet brilliance a stark contrast to the unease swirling in my mind. Stephan had told me earlier that we were heading to a casino opening this weekend—a party hosted by someone dangerous. The word “dangerous” hung over me like a storm cloud, especially after how the auction involving Reed had went down. I’d asked him why Damien would even consider going to an event hosted by an enemy, but Stephan, true to form, had only offered a vague, “I’ll explain later.”So now, I was here, waiting for him by the pool, trying to enjoy the view and push down the uneasy questions clawing at my thoughts. The mansion looked breathtaking at night, its grand arches illuminated by soft golden lights. The gardens behind me were alive with the gentle hum of crickets an
Damien’s P.O.V I sat on the examination table, the sterile smell of the clinic mixing with the faint scent of Andrea’s lavender hand sanitizer. The room was painfully quiet except for the rhythmic tap of her pen against her clipboard. She’d been running her tests for the last hour and a half, and while I had no doubts about my physical recovery, I knew Andrea well enough to realize she wasn’t only concerned with my body.“How am I doing, doc?” I asked, forcing a smirk. “Can I go save the world, or should I start drafting my will?”Andrea glanced up from her clipboard, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly. “Physically? You’re fine. The bullet wound has healed beautifully. Your reflexes and strength are back to where they should be. But—” She paused, and I could already feel the weight of what was coming. “I’m not so sure about you mentally.”I exhaled slowly, leaning back against the chair. “You think I can’t handle seeing Gabriel again.”Andrea’s brow furrowed, and she crossed her arms.
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.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 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
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?”
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.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
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