Chapter 48: ⁴⁸: best friend

"What do you mean?" Damian asked, confusion and frustration flickering in his eyes. "You just said I can’t go because it’s too dangerous. Then how can you go? It’s even more dangerous for you, Athena."

I broke the eye contact and took a slow step away from him. My gaze drifted to the closed bedroom door.

I knew it was dangerous. I knew every step I took outside this room could cost me my life.

But... I had to go. I had to see my home one more time. I had to see my room. And more than anything... I wanted to look at those people with my own eyes, the people who now stood beside Harry, the people who played a part in destroying my life alongside him.

"Damian..." I began softly, my voice barely above a whisper. "I know it’s dangerous."

I drew in a slow breath. "But as you said... after coming all this way, I can’t leave without seeing my pack with my own eyes."

The words felt heavier than I had expected. "I need to know what’s become of it." I turned back toward him, forcing a small smile onto my face.

"Don’t worry. I know every corner of my pack. Every hidden path, every patrol route, and every place where people rarely go. I’ll be careful."

I hoped my confidence sounded convincing enough. "Besides... There is someone I need to see. I need to make sure they’re safe."

Damian frowned. He immediately stepped forward until he was standing directly in front of me again.

"First of all," he said firmly, "even if you know every inch of your pack and somehow avoid every guard...I’m still not letting you go alone."

His expression left no room for argument.

"And second... Who is this person you have to see? You never mentioned them before."

I sighed inwardly. "No, Damian." I shook my head. "If we both go, we’ll attract unnecessary attention."

I looked him straight in the eyes. "You’re a foreign wolf. What if someone senses your scent? What if someone recognises that you don’t belong here? I won’t let you put yourself in danger for my sake."

The thought alone made me uneasy. He had already risked enough by bringing me here. I couldn’t ask him to risk even more.

Damian simply stared back at me. His jaw tightened. Then he took another deliberate step closer.

"If you go..." he said in a calm but unwavering voice, "...I’m going with you."

His eyes never left mine. "It’s non-negotiable, Athena and I’m not discussing this any further."

For a moment, I was completely speechless. This man... He was impossible. Never in my life had anyone dared to order me around so boldly.

Not even the warriors who trained under Dad had spoken to me like this.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Damian, you are not—"

"No." Damian shook his head firmly. "We’re not talking about that anymore." His expression left no room for argument.

"Now tell me who it is you want to meet. That’s the only thing I’m willing to discuss."

I let out a quiet sigh. He really was unbelievably stubborn.

"Romana," I answered, a bittersweet smile appearing on my face at the thought of her. "My best friend."

For a moment, memories of her cheerful smile and endless chatter filled my mind.

"Even if I follow Master Mayeel’s advice and leave to find a cure before confronting Harry..." My voice softened. "I need to know how Romana is."

I lowered my gaze. "I can’t leave this place without making sure she’s safe."

"Okay." For once, Damian gave an answer that wasn’t an immediate objection. I had barely begun to feel relieved when he continued.

"But I’m still coming with you." The corners of his lips lifted into an infuriatingly confident smirk. "And I promise you...No one will be able to sense me."

He sounded so certain of himself that it almost made me roll my eyes. His confidence bordered on arrogance. I wanted to tell him he was being reckless. That he was underestimating the dangers waiting outside. That this wasn’t his fight.

But beneath all my frustration, I understood why he was acting this way. He wasn’t trying to be difficult. He genuinely wanted to protect me. And...If our positions had been reversed... I knew I would’ve done the same.

I opened my mouth, intending to make one final attempt to convince him to stay behind.

Before I could speak, however— The bedroom door rattled. Both Damian and I instinctively turned toward it.

A moment later, the door opened, and Master Mayeel stepped inside. Relief was clearly written across his face.

"The guard has left," he said, letting out a slow breath. "I’m usually asleep by this hour, so he became suspicious when he noticed the lights in my room were still on."

I nodded, though another thought immediately crossed my mind.

"But, Master Mayeel...When we came here, we didn’t see any guards. Everyone we passed looked like ordinary temple attendants. So where did this guard come from?"

A flicker of concern crossed my face. Had Damian and I overlooked something?

Master Mayeel sighed heavily. "There are many secret guards disguised as temple attendants, my child."

His expression darkened. "They were stationed here so no one would become suspicious of my confinement...and to ensure I remain under constant watch."

A knot formed in my chest. Just imagining everything Master Mayeel had been forced to endure for refusing to support Harry made my blood boil.

He had been imprisoned inside this temple...Simply because he chose to stand by the truth.

My hands unconsciously tightened into fists. Not yet... I was powerless to change any of it. But one day... That would be different.

"Master Mayeel," I said after a brief silence, "we should leave now." I forced myself to smile. "We don’t want to make things even more difficult for you."

If another guard became suspicious and searched the room... Finding Damian and me here would put Master Mayeel in even greater danger.

"But, my child..." Master Mayeel looked at me with unmistakable concern. "You must be exhausted."

His eyes fell to my arms. The deep claw marks left by the bear were still visible, streaked with dried blood where it had soaked into my sleeves.

"And you’re injured." He stepped closer.

"At least rest for a little while. Let me tend to your wounds before you leave."

Ideally, those wounds should have healed long ago. But now...They wouldn’t. Without my wolf, my body could no longer recover at its usual speed. The claw marks would only heal with medicine and time.

"These wounds are nothing, Master Mayeel," I said with a reassuring smile, hoping to ease his worries.

"And we’re not tired." I shook my head gently. "You also know that staying here any longer would be a huge risk. We shouldn’t take that chance."

I forced another small smile despite the heaviness in my heart. "So... for now, just give us your blessings."

As the words left my mouth, my chest tightened. The realisation that I had to leave Master Mayeel behind... Leave my pack behind... Leave everyone to suffer under Harry’s rule for who knew how long...

It hurt more than I wanted to admit. "I promise you..." My voice trembled slightly.

"I’ll come back."

I looked straight into his eyes, determination replacing the sadness in my heart. "I’ll come back stronger than Harry, Master Mayeel." The tears gathering in my eyes shimmered under the light.

Master Mayeel smiled warmly despite the sorrow on his face.

Without saying another word, he gently rested his hand on my head one last time, silently giving me his blessing.

The simple gesture filled me with strength.

I would return. And when I did... I would reclaim everything Harry had stolen from me.

I turned toward Damian and gave him a small nod, signalling that it was time to leave.

He nodded back. As expected, without asking for my permission, he reached over and took my hand once again.

I could only sigh at his overprotectiveness.

There was no arguing with him anymore.

Just as we were about to leave, however, another thought suddenly crossed my mind. I immediately turned back toward Master Mayeel.

"Master Mayeel..." My voice grew quieter.

"Did Harry do anything to Romana?"

A knot formed in my stomach. "She’s alright...isn’t she?"

The anxiety I had managed to suppress until now suddenly resurfaced. If Harry had harmed Romana too... I wasn’t sure my heart could bear hearing it.