CHAPTER 15

The moon cast an ethereal glow over the Spelman estate as Damon faced off against the cult members. The cold night air was filled with tension, the eerie silence broken only by the distant hooting of an owl. Damon stood tall, his posture unwavering, his eyes blazing with determination. He knew this confrontation was inevitable, but he was prepared.

The first werewolf lunged at Damon, its claws slashing through the air with deadly precision. Damon's reflexes were lightning fast; he grabbed the werewolf by its outstretched hands and, with a swift motion, slammed it to the hard ground. The werewolf let out a yelp of pain as it hit the floor, the impact reverberating through the clearing.

No sooner had Damon dispatched the first attacker than another werewolf launched itself at him from above. Damon ducked, narrowly avoiding the claws aimed at his head. As the werewolf soared overhead, Damon's fist shot up like a piston, connecting with the creature's midsection. The force of the blow sent the werewolf crashing to the ground, where it lay writhing in pain.

Two more werewolves charged at Damon from opposite sides, their growls filling the night air. Damon's hands shot out, grabbing each by the skull and halting their advance. With a vice-like grip, he pressed in, the sound of bones cracking echoing through the clearing as he crushed their skulls. The two werewolves dropped lifelessly at his feet.

The final attacker, emboldened by the momentary distraction, tried to seize the opportunity. It came at Damon from behind, its claws extended, ready to tear into his flesh. But Damon was swift and vigilant. He sidestepped the attack, wrapping his powerful arms around the werewolf's midsection. With a guttural roar, he crushed the creature with his immense strength, the sound of breaking bones filling the air.

Seeing the brutal defeat of its comrades, the last remaining werewolf hesitated, fear evident in its eyes. It turned and fled into the darkness, disappearing into the forest. Damon watched it go, his breathing heavy but controlled, his senses still on high alert.

As the adrenaline began to subside, Damon turned back towards the lake where his friends and pack members had been watching the battle unfold. Their faces were a mix of awe and relief.

"Told you he didn't need our help," Christian said, his tone filled with pride as they watched Damon emerge from the woods, the remnants of the battle visible in the dirt and sweat on his face.

"Wow," Jordan muttered in amazement, still processing the display of raw power they had just witnessed.

Victoria smirked, her eyes lingering on Damon with a predatory gleam. Vera, standing a little apart from the group, watched in awe. She had never seen such a display of strength and dominance, and it stirred something deep within her.

"They came here looking for you," Damon said as he reached them, his voice heavy with concern.

Everyone turned to Vera, confusion etched on their faces. "What?" Vera said awkwardly, her eyes darting around, trying to make sense of the situation.

"Why would they want someone like her?" David asked, skepticism dripping from his words.

Damon's jaw tightened. "They said they saw her and she pissed them off, so they wanted to snack on her," he explained, his eyes never leaving Vera's face.

Victoria let out a derisive laugh. "Oh my darling sister, managing to annoy yet another person. This time, they were miles away from her. This must be a new personal record," she mocked.

Crystal, David, and Christian started to laugh, their mocking tones cutting deep into Vera. Even Jordan and Francesca couldn't resist joining in, their laughter ringing through the clearing.

Damon remained silent, his eyes narrowing in frustration at their cruel behavior. Vera stood frozen for a moment, her face turning red as tears welled up in her eyes. The humiliation was too much to bear. She turned and ran, her vision blurred by the tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Vera, wait!" Damon called out, but she didn't stop. He turned to the others, his eyes blazing with anger. "Oh, come on, guys. Stop being mean," he said sharply before running after her.

Vera ran through the trees, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She didn't know where she was going; she just wanted to get away from the laughter, the mockery, and the endless feeling of being an outsider. She finally stopped at the edge of a small clearing, collapsing to her knees and letting the tears flow freely.

She heard footsteps behind her and stiffened, expecting more cruel words. Instead, Damon's voice came, gentle and concerned. "Vera," he said softly.

She didn't turn around. "Go away, Damon," she said, her voice choked with sobs.

Damon came closer, sitting down beside her. "I'm sorry about what they said. They're just...they don't understand," he said quietly.

Vera wiped at her tears angrily. "Why do they always treat me like this? I try so hard to fit in, to be accepted, but it's never enough," she said, her voice breaking.

Damon sighed. "People can be cruel, but you don't have to listen to them. You're stronger than you think," he said, his tone earnest.

Vera looked at him, her eyes still glistening with tears. "Stronger? How can I be strong when I can't even defend myself? I don't even have my werewolf abilities yet," she said bitterly.

Damon's eyes softened. "Your strength isn't just about physical power or werewolf abilities. It's about who you are inside. And I've seen you—you're kind, determined, and you never give up, even when things are tough," he said.

Vera shook her head. "But what if that's not enough? What if I'm always the weak link?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Damon reached out and gently took her hand. "It is enough. And you won't always be the weak link. Your abilities will come in time, and until then, I am your alpha, I will protect you. I am also your friend," he said, his voice firm.

She looked at him, searching his face for any sign of insincerity, but found none. His words touched something deep within her, giving her a glimmer of hope.

"Thank you, Damon," she said quietly, squeezing his hand.

He smiled. "Anytime, Vera. Now, let's go back," he said, helping her to her feet.

As they walked back to the group, Vera felt a sudden chill wash over her, she gaze her eyes to Damon and she could see in his eyes something was wrong, she then darted her eyes to a one of the status in the estate, where Damon's eyes was fixed, that was the cause of his mood change but for why, she knew not.