Chapter 60: Chapter 32

DAMON

Owen lasted two more days before begging for death. I granted his request by snapping his neck after making him apologize for all those he hurt. They’ll never hear it from his lips, but it still brought me an ounce of comfort.

Natalie wanted to see his dead body, so I took her to the morgue after he was cleaned up. She placed her shaking hand on his chest and let out a breath of relief.

“He’s really gone?” Her still sad turquoise eyes looked to me for confirmation.

“Yes, my Starlight. He’ll never hurt anyone again.” I took her hand and placed it on my chest so she could feel my strong life force. “Let’s get out of here.”

She nodded then looked at his lifeless body once more. “Come on. You’re safe now.” I took her hand and led her out of the room.

“I never wanted anyone to die because of me,” she told me as we headed out of the hospital.

“He didn’t die because of you. He died because of his own choices. He had the chance to be a better person, but he chose that life instead. You were not the only one that he hurt.”

Natalie nodded, and I let go of her hand and slipped my arm around her waist, pulling her closer to me.

“If anything, you’ve saved lives, many lives in fact. Dec has guards set up around the camp. I sent a few of ours to help out. They’ve already caught a few trespassers. Dec has a meeting set up with Gray, myself, and the oracle. We’ll work everything out.”

“I’m glad they’re okay.” Natalie’s eyes looked down to my lips, and they automatically ticked upward. She looked back up to my eyes. “Do you think I’ll get over this? I’m so scared to be touched, but I need you.”

I stopped just in front of the jeep and held her cheek. “Natalie. You and I will mate when you’re ready. There’s no rush, but in the meantime…” I held her wrist up to my nose and sniffed her delicate skin. I looked at her as I glided my tongue over her pulse. “Yes or no?”

She worried her bottom lip, and a tear fell from her eye. “Yes?”

I kissed her wrist then let her arm drop to her side. Her jaw trembled. “Yes, yes. Damon, please yes. I love you and I need you. I’m not afraid of you.” She raised her arm and ran her fingers through my beard. “Please.”

I took her arm and licked her pulse then bit down. She gasped, but then let out a calm breath. I licked the bite mark and watched as her claim mark healed, sealing in my scent and strengthening our bond.

She held her wrist to her nose and sniffed. She looked up at me with happiness in her eyes. It’s the first time since the dungeon that her eyes aren’t sad, and I’ll take it as a win.

“I love you more than anything, Natalie.” I moved a stray hair over her ear then leaned down for a heartfelt kiss.

NATALIE

It’s been two months since Damon claimed me, and I’m so glad he thought to do it. It was the first step in my healing. He was, of course, supportive when all that shit went down, but the claim mark strengthened our bond and helped me to open up about my experience. Just like with the nightmare I used to have, telling Damon everything has made the new nightmares finally stop.

Damon is the perfect man; he’s so patient and gentle with me. He turns twenty tomorrow, and I plan on mating him as part of my gift to him. My mother agrees that I shouldn’t wait any longer. I know I have nothing to be afraid of, but I’m still nervous for my first time.

“Hey Nat, wake up,” Kenna grabbed my attention.

“Sorry.”

“I know, I know. You’re thinking about Damon.” She rolled her eyes, and we walked into our Home Ec. class. Kenna already knew how to do the homey stuff; she just took this class to be with me.

“You’ll be the same when you find your mate,” I told her as I tossed my book bag aside and slipped on my apron.

“Whatever.” The twins walked into the classroom, and Kenna rolled her eyes. She really had nothing against them; they just caused trouble. Glory got straight to her station, but Haley came over to say hi to us.

“Natalie. Can I talk to you for a second?”

Kenna’s eyes grew huge, but I ignored her and stepped away. Haley looked around then whispered, “How is the training going?”

I knit my brows at her. “What are you talking about?”

She gave me the duh look. “Training your cousin to control his fire. I haven’t seen anything burn here at school, so I assume it’s going all right.”

My mouth dropped open. Ian got his wolf and came to learn control of his fire right away. He stayed two weeks with me and Damon during the summer, but hasn’t made it back. I’m not worried though; his training went very well. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Haley rolled her eyes. “Ugh, whatever. I get it. Just tell your mom I’m ready to meet her now. I need her help.”

I’m so lost. What the hell is she talking about, and how does she know about the gifts? “What do you need from my mom? She’s a nurse at the Redd pack.”

“I know that, I’ve met her. But I’m not talking about your adopted mom, I’m talking about your real mom. She’s looking for me. Just tell her to be at the party for Alpha Ramirez tomorrow. Glory and I will be there with Uncle Ryan. Oh, and good luck tonight.” She walked back to her station, and I was left dumbfounded.

Kenna rode with me in the jeep to get back home. Damon hated that I rode the bus to and from school because it “takes too long,” so he taught me to drive, and I got my license the first weekend after school started back up. We made a quick stop in no-man’s land to get a paint set that I had on hold. He’s taught me about the paints and tools he uses, so I know he’ll appreciate this set.

We rushed back to the territory, and Damon was hard at work in his office. He leaned back in his chair and welcomed me with his gorgeous smile. I rushed into his arms and sat on his lap. He kissed me deeply.

“I missed you. You’re later than usual.”

I ran my fingernails through his beard. “I’m sorry. I stopped to get your birthday gift.”

“You don’t need to get me anything. You’re all I need.”

I swiped a hair over my ear, and he chuckled. I gave him a kiss then got my homework out of the way.

Damon and I ate dinner at the pack house with his parents and Finn and Bianca. Mateo had made a full recovery. My mother healed him while my powers were still out of commission. I haven’t seen her lately, and she doesn’t tell me what she’s up to.

~“That’s not true. I tell you. I’ve just been taking care of things and giving you alone time with Damon.”~

~“Sure, Mom. You’ll be at the party tomorrow, right?”~

~“Of course. Now get back to your mate.”~

I rolled my eyes but laughed to myself. After playing a few games, we parted ways. Damon held my hand as we walked home under the light from the full moon.

“Is everything all right? You’ve been quiet tonight.”

I looked up to his silvery green eyes that sparkled like gems in the moonlight. “Everything is perfect, well, almost perfect.”

It was this moment that I decided I didn’t want to wait a minute longer. I wanted to be with my mate forever. “There’s one thing that would make everything perfect.”

Damon knew what I was saying and gave me a soft smile. “No rush, Natalie. It’ll happen.”

“I know.”

We got home, and I took a shower, then Damon did. I lay down in bed and waited for him in a tank top and my panties; usually, I wear pajama pants, but I wanted to surprise him. We’ve been sleeping in the same bed since I started having nightmares after the dungeon. I reached up and stroked the feathers on my dream catcher.

“Does it work?”

I smiled up at Damon. He was only in a pair of shorts. His bare chest was tan and solid. He had a trail of hair running from his belly button downward. I’d always wanted to run my fingers through it, maybe I would. “You do. I think it helps, but you keep the nightmares away.”

He tossed the towel into the hamper then lay down beside me.

I rolled over to face him and kissed him. He softly chuckled but reciprocated with just as much gusto. His arms wrapped around me, and I leaned into him, making him turn onto his back. I straddled his lap and pressed my tongue into his mouth. He pulled back to look at me.

“I love you, my Starlight.”

“I love you too.”

He rolled us back over, and I lay my head on his chest. He sniffed my hair, and I moved my hand down to the hair that was so soft.

He growled in delight then grabbed my hand, stopping me. “Natalie… You’re making me…” He grunted, not about to say it.

I smile up at him and continue to play with his hair. “I’m making you what?”

He subtly licks his bottom lip. “You’re turning me on.”

His declaration makes me smile, so I move my hand lower over the top of his shorts.

“Oh, Goddess,” he whispers. “Natalie…?”

I bite my lip, then sit up on my knees. I pull my top over my head slowly, then watch him as he appraises my body with his eyes. I lean down and kiss his chest. He grips my arms and rolls so he’s on top of me.

“If you keep this up, I’m not going to have the strength to stop.”

I place a gentle kiss to his lips. “Then don’t, my mate.”

I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him. His chest crushes mine, and he finally lets loose. After his mouth worships my body, he parts my legs with his knee, and we make love. We complete our mating in our wolves under the blue moonlight beside the clear water of the lake.

I wake up sore yet complete. I can feel Damon in a way I never had before. His ecstatic mood washes over me, and I smile, then touch the mark on my neck. The sensation goes straight to my core, and I shudder.

~“Hey, my beautiful Starlight. Don’t get carried away with that. I’m training, you know.”~

I giggle, then get up and get dressed. I’m expected at the training center with my age group.

Pack members greet me as Luna as I walk into the building. Finn rushes over and congratulates me with a hug.

“It’s about time. I thought you were going to be celibate forever.”

I laugh, then give him a shove. “I can still set your ass on fire.” I show him my palm as it glows orange.

He laughs, then musses my hair. “You’re too sweet to do it, Luna.”

Damon hugs me from behind and kisses the other side of my neck. I turn around in his arms and give him a kiss.

“Happy birthday, my mate.”

He smiles. “It’s already the best day now that I have my mate.”

I kiss his stubbled cheek. “Go finish training. I’m going to go hang my bag in a locker.”

He kisses me again, then gets back to his duties. I shake my head as he gives me a wink, and I know that I couldn’t possibly be any more blessed than to have him as my mate.