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Damon's P.O.V

My eyes part instantly, horror racing through me as I look around the now dark skies.

Will had left only a few minutes ago, would she have made it back before it got too dark? I wish she'd waited for me, or that I'd kept her here. But there was no way I could ignore my family in a time of need, there was no way I could just walk away from that.

But by choosing them, I left Will alone.

"I'll call home, and prepare to come back," I say finally before circling him and taking off.

It was pack, you couldn't ignore something wrong with the pack or your family - Theo argues against the mountain of guilt that began to build as I ran through the streets.

I keep my eyes sharp and eyes alert as I follow Will's scent, running after it with desperate prayers that she made it home safely.

But she's my mate, mate comes first - I groan with growing anxiety as I let her scent lead me. Will won't understand, she doesn't know about the pack or anything about me really.

I think Will is a sensible woman who won't blame you for choosing your family - Theo begins as I approach our building, relief spiking through me when her scent leads inside. She got back in time. However, I think her past has left her scared enough to be cautious. If you're not careful, she may run.

I think we should tell her, about what we really are, what I really am - I reply, heading up the stairs with too much impatience to wait for the elevator. It'll make everything easier.

Just be careful with her - Theo warns carefuly as I approach Will's door.

I knock against the door, waiting patiently as my heart slows down while my mind continues its determined sprint. I knock again, frowning slightly when the small jingle of locks shake from behind the door.

Will hadn't locked up like this in weeks.

"Will?" I call after knocking on her door several times and receiving no reply. "It's me, Damon."

No reply.

I listen for her heart and find it racing, only spiking my worry as I shift my feet.

"Will," I call again, knocking a little harder but she doesn't come outside. "Are you okay?"

Nothing.

Perhaps she wants to be alone tonight - Theo offers despite the obvious concern laced within his words.

Something doesn't feel right - I argue, knocking once more only to be greeted with silence.

You can try again tomorrow, for now, let's call home - Theo urges softly, I stop knocking but don't move. She's human Damon, such aggression may be frightening.

I step away then, reluctantly listening to Theo's words, trusting in them as I unlock my own space and head inside. I don't pet Blaze when he comes barrelling towards me, heading straight for my nightstand before I could think twice.

I stick it's awaiting charger inside and step away so I wasn't tempted to unplug it. With an anxious heart, I distract myself by feeding Blaze, freezing in my place in the kitchen when none stop messages come through my phone. The small device vibrates in its place while a cycle of never-ending alerts come through its speakers.

I catch it before the vibrations send if all the wood top, tugging it from its source of life in the process. With Theo's strength and my own shriveled up courage, I flick through the most recent messages.

Dad: Today I cooked Salmon, your favorite, our favorite. I thought you may want it if you came home, so I made it and I'll keep making it so the day you come home you'll have your favorite meal waiting for you.

Dad: Are you okay? Safe?

The Food Addict: We miss you Damon, please come home.

Felicia: I'm sorry D, I wish I told you now but it wasn't my place.

Felicia: Please come home.

Dad: I just need to know you're okay.

Bunny Enthusiast: I promise to hug you, everyone, if you come home.

Dad: I'm sorry about the way we handled things Damon, I'm sorry I hurt you.

Warrior Princess: You're getting a serious beating the second you come back.

Dad: I'm sorry.

Bunny Enthusiast: Please tell me where you are Damon, I won't tell anyone else if you don't want me to.

Felicia: Just a call Damon, just a call so I can hear your voice and stop worrying that it's too late.

Dad: I've been cleaning all you're knives so they're not dusty when you get back.

Warrior Princess: I'm going to stab with your own fucking knife if you don't come back, Damon.

The Food Addict: Food doesn't taste the same without you.

Dad: I searched beyond the pack boundaries again, if you're there please be safe there are a few wolves there.

Bunny Enthusiast: I hope you and Blaze are okay, Mr. Fluff and I pray for you every day.

Felicia: I won't go back until we find you.

The Original Shitbag: I'm sorry for doing this to you Damon, I just wanted you to be stronger than I was. I'm sorry.

The words for the remaining messages blur from the tears in my eyes, the ones which ran down my face freely, falling on the screen to make the edges of the words spread. I sit still, body curling over itself as hoarse, unbridled sobs came out of me, hands shaking terribly as I cling tightly to the phone. So tight it struggled to not break to pieces within my mournful grasp.

Pain.

Pain, as I've never experienced before, radiates through me with determination and an act of vengeance that pulls me apart from the inside out. I sink down further, pressing the device to the top of my head as I shiver uncontrollably. Sob with lawlessness at the pleading, genuine words which had rung through the messages, only the first of thousands that waited to have a chance at me.

I wipe the tears enough to see again, hands shaking as I press the call logo beside dad's name. Bringing to my ears with a fidgeting heart, fearful muscles tightening as I hold my breathe and wait. The phone rings and rings, no answer coming as I wait, hopeful that he'd hear my call.

"Damon?" Dad's shaking voice comes through on the last ring. "D-Damon, are you there?"

"Dad." I croak, shutting my eyes tightly at the relief which comes filling me at the sound of his voice banishing the worst of my fears, he was okay. I cling to the phone as a small cry comes through his side.

"Damon," He cries, sobbing louder than me, his voice sounding ill with his pain. "Damon." He calls again, his cries carry out alongside my own, hearts willing to be together despite the distance between us.

"D-Damon, I a-am so sorry." He begins through desperate sniffs and strained breaths. "I am s-so sorry for hurting y-you the way we did. I a-am so sorry pup."

I squeeze my eyes together tighter, the term of endearment sending me back to the early years when that was all he called me while he held me every opportunity he had, smiling joyously not knowing the troubled waters that would rock and push us apart.

"I-I am s-so sorry." He presses, hiccuping as I cling to the phone. "I'm sorry."

It's okay. The words stick on my tongue, refusing to be released no matter how hard I wanted to speak them. Needed to free them to console my father's pain, needed to take away the guilt I'd caused, needed to take the pain away from him.

It refused to be spoken because they weren't true, it wasn't okay. It wasn't okay what they'd done, how they did it, none of that was okay.

"D-Damon?" He calls shakily drawing words from my tongue.

"I'm here dad," I manage, opening my eyes to wipe at the wetness beneath them. "I-I'm here."

"Are you okay?" He asks quickly, the tenderness in his tone petting the parts of me which ached the most. "Are y-you safe? A-Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine Dad." I breathe, taking in a lungful to keep me going. "I'm fine so don't worry about me. You don't need to w-worry about me."

"Of course I'm worried about you!" He snaps, his voice shaking with equal frustration and sadness. "It's b-been two months s-since I've seen you, Damon."

I sink down further against my knees, pressing my hand over my face to hide me from the layers of guilt which blend together to keep me suffocated with guilt.

"I-I know and I-I'm sorry I didn't call earlier." I apologize, voice shaking under the weight of his words. "I just needed some time away."

"I know." He says quickly taking a deep breath before replying. "I'm s-sorry for yelling... I've just m-missed you so much."

"I miss you too dad," I admit, cracking under the pressure of the truth, needing him to know he wasn't alone in the pain.

"A-Are you coming home?"