25 Chapter Twenty Five

They headed back to the cabin, Nathaniel ran ahead with the fish in hand leaving his mother and father far behind. The silence around them wasn't as awkward as it was before.

For the first time ever Rina was able to see a different side of Damien. The cold demeanor he normally displayed was gone. It was only for a short time but it showed her that he could treat Nathaniel with care.

The village was just beyond the hill, soon they made their way to their temporary cabin. The door slammed open and Tristen limped out of the entrance. Rina quickened her pace.

"Tristen are you okay?"

"Fine." As he walked past her she caught the glare he shot Damien's way. Tristen walked straight out of the village without a glance back.

Rina's eyes swept over Damien's face but his face was blank as ever.

"Alright then." Rina mumbled.

Once she entered the hut she was greeted by an adorable sight. Michael was helping Nathaniel clean the fish before they set it over the small fire pit. It seemed Tristen's heated exit did nothing to deter their mood. Rina sat next to Sarah.

"So, what happened with Tristen."

"No idea, he came in limping scoffing but didn't say a peep about what happened to him."

"That's so strange," Rina said.

Sarah's gaze slid over to Damien but she didn't say anything as Damien met her stare. Rina didn't notice the stare down as she watched Nathaniel fawn over the grilled fish.

The day ended in a small meal, it was finally time to sleep. Tristen had yet to show. Nathaniel had finally fallen asleep; everyone else snuggled into their covers.

Damien stepped out of the cabin as he usually did and normally returned once they all fell asleep. Rina turned towards Sarah, her eyes were closed but Rina knew she wasn't asleep yet.

"You sure he didn't say anything?" Rina whispered.

"Definitely sure, he just came in all mad and stuff but didn't tell us anything. He left as soon as Nathaniel came in." Sarah muttered back.

Michael'a light snores began.

Rina sighed. "I don't know what to do."

It was Sarah's turn to sigh.

"It's not your responsibility to do anything. What's done is done, either he accepts it or just stays mad and live in his delusions."

"But...I don't know, I feel bad."

"About what?" Her voice took a hard edge. "I know your first reaction is to always to take care of others. But now more than ever you need to take care of yourself and your child."

Rina didn't say anything and continued to listen.

"You'll be stepping into a different world now. You have a demon child. This was all bound to happen, Tristen finding out and you seeing Damien again."

Sarah reached over and patted her back.

"Just take care of yourself and that gorgeous child of yours." They burst into giggles.

"Tristen's a big boy, you don't need to worry about him."

"Okay," Rina gave in.

Sarah pulled her covers close to her chin and pressed her face into the pillow.

"Now go to sleep, we need our beauty sleep." She said.

"Don't know how these males sleep so fast." Sarah muttered.

"Goodnight," Rina said.

A yawn broke through. "Night," Sarah whispered back.

-O-

The next day didn't seem to lighten up Tristen's mood. He had finally returned and his rough responses continued. It seemed to be getting worse and Rina wasn't sure what she should do.

She wanted to talk to him alone but there never really was an option for that to happen. They needed to talk about their relationship and everything that changed.

Muffled curses spouting from Tristen's mouth outside of the hut, Nathaniel stared curiously at the doorway. Tristen came inside.

"Shit?" Nathaniel repeated curiously not understanding what the word meant.

Rina gasped. "Nathaniel please don't repeat Tristen's words...it was an accident, cursing is bad okay?"

"What! I'll tell you whose f-"

"Half-breed close your mouth before I shut it for you, I will not have you corrupting our pup's mind." Damien all but growled out.

Rina noticed the hint of possessiveness when Damien said "our pup."

It touched her to know that he was already verbally acknowledging Nathaniel as their pup. He showed some sort of emotion in front of others, even if it was a sense of possessiveness. But his choice of words left a sour note in her mouth.

"What does half-breed mean?" Nathaniel stared curiously waiting for his parents to answer his question.

For the first time in his long life Damien was at a loss for words on how to even respond to Nathaniel's question. Even though Tristen remained quiet he also wanted to hear what Damien had to say to the innocent question.

"Oh for the love of god! One day… not even one day can go without a weird incident, you two are making me go crazy!"

Rina stormed out the cozy cabin in to the cold morning air still clutching the small package she was fiddling with in her hands but not before saying.

"I'm going to take a walk."

"Mom is angry," Nathaniel whispered, staring wide eyed at his father.

"Now now boys must you always fight?"

"Shut up Michael!"

In the midst of the argument and taunting no one noticed the Demon Lord exit the hut except for a little pair of hazel orbs. Nathaniel smiled as his sire left to find his precious mother and experience her hellish anger.

-O-

As soon as he stepped out of the small hut he tilted his nose up getting a whiff of his mate's delicate scent. Somehow he was already comfortable calling Rina his mate and he didn't feel the least bit disgusted on being tied down to a human without his consent.

His beast whimpered at Damien's thoughts.

'Admit it, if you were looking for a mate you wouldn't have given our mate a second glance. She not only meets our interest and desire but she exceeds them. She is the only female that has lived after attacking us and going against everything we wanted, her only flaw in your opinion is her humanity!'

'Shut up!' Damien was quickly lost his patience with his beast.

'At least I had enough honor to not force myself like a bloodthirsty animal on an innocent woman, thus our son was conceived through her innocence." Damien said in guilt.

New thoughts began to run through his mind, he ignored his beast pitiful whimpers of distress.

What if Nathaniel found out how he was conceived, how would he react?

How could he have let this happen? He was Damien Lord of the Western Lands, he was known for his control and strength. Yet…when it came to this woman.

With Rina it seemed all his barriers of defense he developed over the years were non-existent. She was his weakness; Damien never had a weakness now it seemed he had two; a mate and pup.

He couldn't think about this right now, he needed to find his mate. Following his mate's scent he noticed it was leading to an old route to a portal on the outskirts of the village.

He sprinted into action in a blur he reached the hill near the well. He signed when he saw her sitting by the portal. His heart was beating fast and all because he thought she had left. She was sitting on an old bench by the entrance.

'What is this emotion?'

'Fear.' his beast whispered.

'I do not fear anything.'

'You may fear no one but the thought of OUR mate leaving us did, she would never leave her pup behind…' the beast rumbled.

He walked slowly towards Rina; he didn't want to startle her. She had her knees pulled to her chest and her head resting on her knees. She gazed in his direction and closed her eyes as the sun glazed over her smooth skin.