Chapitre 47: 7. What A Wonderful World.
Damon and Mariella sat in the kitchen, the aroma of food wafting through the air. The news Damon had shared had left the entire pack in shock. As he spoke to them, his voice filled with sadness, everyone listened intently.
"I know this tragedy has struck our pack, a tragedy unlike any we've seen before," Damon began, his words heavy with grief. "But we must remember that other packs have faced similar hardships, and perhaps we can help them. However, first, we must listen to Mimi's story. It may not be easy for her to share this pain, but we must be there for her."
Silence fell over the room as Damon's gaze swept across everyone. Number four stared at the floor, a sense of guilt etched on their face. Even number two seemed burdened by remorse. Damon sighed, knowing that soon those two would drown their sorrows in the living room. It was not a healthy way to cope, but Mariella subtly nodded in agreement, understanding their despair.
"We will go to the gym with Mariella," Damon continued, his voice resolute. "That's where Mimi fights her demons, hiding the cruel pain she carries. She always protects us. I now realize it hasn't been easy for her since she returned, and I am partly to blame. But the blow we've suffered will take time to heal, and now this burden of guilt weighs upon us all. We must come together as a pack and show Mimi that she doesn't have to bear this alone. We lost three lives because of circumstances and my negligence. Getting her to share the story won't be easy, but we don't have a choice."
Number four finally lifted their gaze, their voice filled with anguish. "You... you're being cruel. She has always protected us, keeping her pain hidden. And now, you want to go in there and demand that she tell you. What good will it do? It won't help her. In fact, I fear our pack will crumble like a house of cards, falling apart, and go fucking in Ireland. And she will be left alone, burdened with guilt for breaking us."
Damon remained silent, focusing on his food. Number four's words struck a chord within him. He desperately hoped that he and the entire pack would find the strength to stand by Mimi's side and heal together. But a nagging feeling lingered, casting doubt upon their path forward.
After finishing their meal, Damon and Mariella silently walked away from the kitchen. The tension in the air was palpable as they contemplated Number Four's unsettling words. Mariella couldn't help but feel a sense of unease, hoping that her instincts wouldn't push her to demand Damon to move her and others to Ireland once the story got out. She resolved to be stronger.
As they approached the gym door, the distinct smell of gunpowder and the sweet fragrance of strawberries wafted toward them, tickling their nostrils. Damon let out a weary sigh, realizing that without the flank organ on Mimi's back or the electric collar around her neck, she would be nearly impossible to control. He could only hope that she would listen to them. Steeling themselves, they pushed open the gym door and stepped inside.
I was just about to stop and maybe go eat something when the heavy gym door swung open, releasing a gust of air. Damon and Mariella stepped in, their presence instantly grabbing my attention. I grabbed my damp towel, still carrying the scent of my sweat, and found a corner on that towel to dry myself off.
As I looked at them, Mariella urgently said, "Everyone knows. Mimi, please listen to us before you leave. We need to talk to you."
Their intense gazes made me feel like I was on the verge of exploding, but I managed to rein in my emotions. Damon's brow furrowed as he realized it wasn't anger he had sensed, but the depth of my emotions. I sank down on a worn bench, clutching the towel that held the faint aroma of my rage and sorrow.
Damon and Mariella settled on another bench, and Damon spoke to me with a mix of concern and determination.
"I need to know. Take me to a room where it's just the two of us. I want you to tell me, in detail, about our three little cubs who were taken from us before I even had a chance to know them. I share in this pain, and as your alpha, I'll bear it with you. And baby, I'm so damn sorry for mauling and consuming those cubs, scaring the rest of them."
I replied, my voice steady, "I can handle it. As for knowing them, they were only ten to twelve days old, so there wasn't much time. But they would have been magnificent creatures, which might be why they were taken from us. It's true, the best are often taken first."
Damon insisted, "This is our loss, our cubs. I need you to tell me. Don't protect me. Let me share this burden with you. Maybe together, we can find a way to heal. The pack needs to know, too."
Mariella interjected, her voice filled with empathy, "It's tragic and devastating, but we can face this. Everyone wants to hear and help. Please, don't see us as weak. Let us be your pack, just this once. Let us be there for you, even though it's my fault. Our fault, as we females succumbed to our instincts and I, the jealous bitch, stole everyone away from you."
I glanced at Damon and Mariella, my voice steady. "I have a few questions for you both to consider. Question number one: What assurances do I have that you can handle this? Question number two: Can you bear the guilt I am about to reveal to you soon? Question number three: Will this result in you and the entire pack leaving me behind as you seek to unload your burden? Six months? Eight months? A year?"
A heavy silence hung in the air before Damon finally spoke. "I have no way to guarantee that won't happen, and if it does, I'm sorry that we weren't strong enough. As for guilt, well, I'm already feeling pretty damn lousy and guilty as hell, so I doubt you can make it any worse."
I remained silent, standing up to retrieve some wet wipes and tossing the smelly towel down the laundry chute. Returning to them, I wiped myself clean.
Speaking aloud, but not looking at either of them, I directed my voice towards the wall across the room. "Even Colin... he couldn't be certain that if... if you had been at home... if I had reached you, you might have saved those cubs. Colin couldn't swear to me that those cubs would have died, anyway. Your teeth, they are pretty freaking brilliant, and you, Mariella, your teeth have worked miracles, too. But I was unable to bring those miracles to my cubs. I was unable to give them every chance in the world."
Mariella's gaze fell to the floor, and Damon let out a sigh.
He looked at me, his voice quiet. "I was wrong. It's worse now. Just knowing that we could have saved them and..."
I didn't respond immediately. I studied their faces for a moment before saying, "I can take away all of this guilt and pain. I have my powers. I may not have magic symbols or chakras, but I am filled with power, and I can compel you, Mariella. I can infuse my blood with hints for you, Damon. The choice is yours."
Damon glanced at Mariella, her silence revealing her temptation.
I continued, "I can make Damon compel everyone to forget this. You won't have to suffer because of what happened in the past, and no one will be able to do anything about it."
I stepped into the training area, ready to unleash a series of punches and kicks as part of my exercise routine. Mariella and Damon sat silently, their presence only fueling my determination to release the weight I carried within. The room was filled with the sound of my strikes, each one punctuating the heavy silence. As I continued, I could feel the raw emotions surging through me, desperate to be set free.
Mariella turned to Damon, her voice filled with concern. "Look at her," she whispered. "She's unleashing her emotions in the only way she knows how. It's clear she doesn't want sex or lust to be her outlet. She's searching for another way to release her pain."
Damon grunted, torn between the temptation of avoiding the guilt that weighed on him and the knowledge that he had shared that burden with everyone. The guilt was not his alone to bear.
Mimi's kicks and punches grew more intense, her eyes reflecting a deep, unspoken pain. Damon watched her, realizing that she had never found solace in a sexual release like others might. He yearned to help her, to find a way for her to release her pent-up emotions. He knew that if he could convince her to share her story, the tale of their shared loss, it might provide some relief. It might help them all heal.
Damon turned to Mariella, determination etched on his face.
"No, we can't take the easy way out," he declared. "If Mimi can endure this pain, then so can we. We need to hear her story, confront our guilt, and learn from it. Maybe, in time, we can help others who are going through the same struggle. We now understand the preciousness of life, especially when it comes to our cubs. We must plan better for the future."
Mariella pondered his words, suggesting a drastic idea. "What if you and I were to fight against her? Let her unleash her anger on us, hit us, and do whatever she needs to release her pain. Maybe that will open the door for her to talk."
Damon looked at her, realizing the potential in her suggestion. "Alright," he agreed. "Let's change into our workout clothes. I'm sure there are spare clothes for you in the locker room."
They entered the small, dimly lit changing room, the scent of stale sweat lingering in the air. Mariella's heart raced with a mix of hope and realism, knowing that their plan could easily unravel. She tried not to set any expectations and decided to go with the flow, embracing whatever may come.
Mariella quickly changed into her outfit—a snug, pink top with thin straps and loose cotton pants. Damon, ahead of her, wore a black tee shirt with sleeves and dark blue cotton pants. Both of them slipped on their sneakers, their soles squeaking softly against the tiled floor.
Mimi, already dressed in a white tee shirt stained with her own sweat, had her usual pair of jeans on. It had been a long time since Mariella had fought alongside Mimi, a memory almost forgotten. They used to do it regularly, but the years had passed, and their sparring sessions became a distant memory.
With Damon leading the way, Mariella followed closely behind. She felt a sense of readiness, rare for her in a gym setting. She had fought before, usually with wolves or Damon, but not with Mimi in a long while. She couldn't help but wonder how this would play out.
I was in the middle of my intense workout routine when Damon and Mariella approached me in their gym attire. As they walked towards me, I stopped my exercises and tried to wipe the sweat off my face.
Damon came up to me and said, "Alright, baby. We're ready to fight you. Don't worry, we can handle it. Unleash your emotions on us. I can see you're holding back, but now we're your targets. Come on, babe, let's do this."
Before I could respond, Damon swiftly kicked me, catching me off guard. I quickly jumped back up, and Mariella joined the fight. Fine, they had no idea what they were up against, and I was in no mood to hold back. I let my punches fly, causing Mariella to fall back and clutch her face, and Damon to grunt as my kick landed on his sternum. I had completed my exercises, and I clearly outmatched them, but I still needed to prove myself.
No matter how much I kicked and hit them, they remained resilient. They bled and were hurt, but they kept coming at me. Fine, I was ready to counterattack. Our sweaty bodies glistened under the harsh gym lights as we exchanged punches. My kicks made them groan, and both of them started to get into the right mindset.
There came a moment when I had inflicted significant damage on both of them, and their anger surfaced. They unleashed their rage, and they became formidable adversaries. I allowed them to kick and punch me, showing no mercy, and I gave back just as hard.
I lost track of time as we fought. Mariella had taken a break and sat down, while I continued to kick and hit Damon, releasing all my pent-up frustration. Unbeknownst to me, I was screaming and shouting at him, while he taunted me.
I let my frustration pour out, "You goddamn fucking machine, infatuated with Mariella. You have no clue how to be an alpha for me, you pathetic greedy piece of shit. You killed my cubs without a care, devouring them and tearing me apart. It's a convenient excuse to blame it on your alpha side. If that's true, then you're a monster, even in your feline form."
I kept on speaking, not fully aware of what I was saying, as I released all my pent-up emotions. Damon showed no signs of being affected by my words, and he continued to fight me, provoking me further.
I came to a sudden stop, feeling an overwhelming emptiness deep within me. Damon, sensing my distress, halted as well. He approached me, encircling me with his powerful arms, offering solace. At that moment, I found myself lost in a whirlwind of emotions. Every event that had unfolded played on repeat in my mind, causing tears to stream down my face.
Damon gripped me, the warmth of his embrace providing some comfort amidst my anguish. Time seemed to blur as I wept, and then suddenly, he teleported us into a secluded room. He continued to hold me, whispering words of solace as I mourned the loss of my cubs, and my powerlessness to protect them. I wept for my inability to save those humans from the tragic accident.
Overwhelmed by the helplessness I felt, tears also fell for my ailing babies, and my weakness in aiding their recovery. I found myself back in bed, Damon by my side, his murmurs a soothing presence in my mind. He did not fix anything, but simply offered his unwavering support, allowing me to release my sorrow in his comforting presence.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone