Chapter 51: Not Yet

Damien's POV:

I was deep in the forest, trying to keep myself hidden from Leslie, battling the darkness that threatened to consume me. Every ounce of my being was focused on control—keeping Midnight in check, keeping myself from slipping into the abyss. The darkness was seductive, whispering promises of power and freedom, but I couldn't give in. Not entirely.

The bond I shared with Leslie was like a lifeline, faint but present. I could feel her searching for me, her worry palpable even from a distance. I knew she was sensing the darkness within me, and I hated that she could feel it. I hated that I was putting her through this. I had to stay away from her until I could get a handle on this darkness.

But then, a sharp jolt hit me through the pack link. My beta, Lewis, mind linked me with urgency, his thoughts cutting through the haze of my internal battle.