23

Charlie

"You can sleep on the couch; if you need anything, let me know. My room is down the hall." I stood there awkwardly by the couch after I brought him blankets and a pillow for him. Maybe I shouldn't have asked him to stay.

"Okay, great. Thank you." Damon smiled, and I immediately turned my head and walked away. His smile was gorgeous, and any time he smiled, my heart fluttered.

Our mate pull had never been this strong before; what was different about it now? I went to my room, closed the door, and lay face down on my bed. I can't believe I invited him here, what was I thinking?

There is no way that I am going to sleep tonight knowing that the man who I never wanted to see again is on my couch.

How can someone's feelings go from pure hatred to this weird giddy feeling? What kind of bipolar mess is the moon goddess on?

I have heard stories that the emotions we feel going through the mating process are something the Moon goddess has experienced personally.

But if that's true, then I can only imagine the pain and heartache she went through.

It's 3 in the morning, and I still have yet to close my eyes and sleep. I just can't. My head keeps running, and I keep thinking. About him, and us. I wonder if he is asleep or just as awake as I am.

"Maybe I should make some cookies. He's asleep; it wouldn't bother him." I whispered to myself.

I sat up and put on a pair of leggings and an old sweatshirt. I opened the door, and suddenly, I ran into a body, and I looked up. There stood Damon. Why was he at my door? Wait, but that also means he couldn't sleep too.

"Oh, sorry. I was just-" Damon began looking around at everything but me, trying to find some excuse as to why he was standing at my door.

"I couldn't sleep. I think I am going to bake some cookies." Once I said that I could see him relax, and a soft smile covered his face.

"Cookies sound great."

I turned and headed to the kitchen and started to pull out all the supplies. I could tell that Sarah still wasn't there.

"Wait, are you sure that we should be doing this?" Damon asked as he walked into the kitchen.

"She's not here. She's usually up at this time doing some weird yoga ritual. She says the best time to stretch is when the world is at peace. So her light would be on in her room." I told him, and he just nodded and sat down at the bar.

I noticed that not a single blanket was unfolded on the couch. He just sat down on the sofa; he didn't even lie down. Interesting.

"You and Sarah are an interesting friendship." Damon chuckled softly as I started to pull out all of the supplies we needed for cookies.

"Yes, we may be opposites but, it works that way." I smiled, thinking about all the memories we've created.

"How is it compared to Christina?"

Christina...I haven't thought of her much. I mean, that came off rude. Of course, I have the occasional conversation with my mom and her mate. But I haven't heard much of anything, but it's not like I even asked.

"It's different, but I mean, it's not like the sisterly bond Christina and I had, you know?" I told him honestly.

"How are they doing? Trey and Christina? Have they worked everything out?" I wasn't asking to be nosey; I truly wanted to know. I hope there wasn't too much damage done.

"Well, Christina and I don't talk much anymore, and that was mainly for me and my personal decision. But, Try and I are better, but their relationship is pretty different."

"Different how?" I questioned him.

"I don't know; Christina isn't herself, I don't think. But I don't want to overstep any boundaries by asking, you know? We just got back to an okay place."

"No, I understand. I do miss her sometimes, though. I miss my mom especially." I don't know why I was feeling so open now, but I wasn't going to stop it. Maybe this is what we needed, grow and learn, and eventually, love each other. Maybe.

"You haven't seen your mom?" Damon perked up, and guilt ran through his eyes.

"No, I haven't even been to the castle since I left. And she knows that I keep her updated as much as I can. But you know work and life get busy, and she's busy with her mate. But I do plan to go back eventually."

Damon immediately grew excited when I said that.

"Oh really?" He raised an eyebrow at me.

"Yeah, my mom thinks that Stephan is going to propose very soon, and I am going to help her plan the wedding. She wants it to be very traditional, of course, but she wants to add some middle eastern culture to represent my father. Which is extremely heartwarming."

"You're middle easter?" Damon asked me.

"Yes, my father is; my mother isn't. But she grew up around the culture and learned about it when he passed so she could continue to teach me, and I could still be immersed in my culture. Most mothers wouldn't do that, and I am thankful every day that she did. She's helped me with my hair and learning to love myself, especially when surrounded by girls who don't look like me. And especially being an omega, life would be harder for me and being a person of color. She still taught me to love myself even if my mate wouldn't. But at the time, I didn't think I would ever get a mate; then I did, then I didn't, then I did again...then I didn't again."

The memories flooded back and warmed my heart. I loved my mom, and truly I feel extremely guilty for not seeing her sooner.

"Anyways, sorry I am getting on a tangent. But I am thankful for the space from the castle, honestly. There wasn't much representation of others like me that looked like me: my curly pitch-black, curly hair, my brown eyes. I mean, I do have some features of my mother; I think I do have her face shape and eye shape, but other than that, I am the epitome of my mother. But watch me have a son or daughter, and they come out looking like anything but me." I chuckled at that thought, and so did Damon.

"I want to say that I am very sorry at the fact that I didn't notice just how misplaced you felt. I know I've apologized before, but I'll keep apologizing for the rest of my life if I have to until you believe it, and until I show it, and prove to you that I'm going to be better. But I am so sorry that I was terrible."

I looked into his eyes and there was nothing but sincerity coming from him as I continued to mix the ingredients toegther.

"But now that I know, I was hoping you could teach me more about where you're from. I want to learn so that not only for us but for the future and the castle is getting drabby anyways; it could use some new decorations."

The smile that covered my face lit up the whole room. I hadn't realized, but that was all that I wanted to hear Damon say after all this time. I didn't know what I wanted from this until now. It was that. Just effort and he was finally giving me effort.

"So, where exactly where are you from in the middle east?" His eyes were lit up, and he had gotten up to help mix the cookies and set them on the cookie sheet.

"I'm Armenian. If you know anything about that?" I laughed as his face was filled with confusion.

"Yeah, I figured. But it's okay." I said in between chuckles, and before I could stop myself, I set my hand on his arm and ran it down his bicep.

His eyes flickered down to my hand, and they went slightly dark. The sparks were insane, and I immediately moved my hand from him.

"No, but I will learn. I promise. I'm going to study and read. Don't worry; I'm here for you, okay?" Damon said with so much pureness coming out of his voice. It made my heart so warm.

"How did your father pass? If you don't mind my asking?" Damon brought up after a moment of silence between us. We put the sheet in the oven, and I went and sat down in the living room to finish the conversation.

"He got sick. But we couldn't afford treatment to take him to the pack doctor. So I just kind of watched him deteriorate."

Thinking back on those memories, I felt my eyes start to swell with tears. He was ghostly by the end of his life. He wasn't the bright father I had always remembered. But it was hard because I knew he was suffering, and I had to take myself out of the situation.

"I had to be strong, not only for myself but for my mom, you know? They may not have been mates, but they loved each other like they were. I truly believe that moon goddess ended up blessing their union and gave them the mate experience that they were wanting."

"That's crazy you had to go through that; I'm sorry that happened." He leaned out and grabbed my hand in his, and squeezed. The sparks were there, but not in a sexual way, in a comforting way instead.

"I'm sorry, I've been super emotional tonight. This is what happens when I can't sleep." I laughed and tried to shrug off the tears. I don't think I'm ready to cry in front of him yet. Maybe another time.

"No, no, no. I am not bothered at all. I am grateful that you can trust me with this information. I'm grateful."

"Well, enough about me. I haven't heard much from you. How is Layla? What happened with Tyler?" I cleared my throat and leaned back on the couch.

"Yeah, well, while I was gone, they were able to figure out exactly what the rogues wanted and what kind of deal Tyler made with him. Layla ended up playing as some double agent and helped us take the biggest rogue revolt in history before it happened. She started therapy a month ago, and she and Dr. Oliver, her mate, are doing well. She's slowly opening up to him, which is great. Tyler is still in the dungeons. That's where he'll stay."

"I'm glad she's doing okay," I told him honestly. Of course, I didn't expect Tyler to be out and free, but it's still weird knowing that he is locked up. And will be for the rest of his life, probably.

"Actually, well, tomorrow there is a dinner at the castle. I want to invite you. I know everyone will be there, and it might be super sudden. You can say no, of course. But I would like for you to join, and then maybe after we can watch a movie or something."

Damon seemed highly nervous, and I loved it. I stayed silent for a while; I wanted to see him squirm a bit. He kept looking around the room, avoiding eye contact with him, and started fidgeting his fingers.

"Is it super formal?" I asked him, and a smile covered his face.

"Yeah, but if you don't have anything, I can get you something."

"No, I got it. I've stepped up my game a lot since you've left." I smirked at him and teased him.

"I mean, the dress you wore when you thought you were going on a blind date with a random guy just proves it." He smirked back, and I could feel myself start to blush. The timer on the oven went off, and we went and grabbed the cookies.

"Great, tomorrow we will leave here around three tomorrow afternoon. Since it's a pretty long drive to the castle."

"Okay, so then we should try and get some sleep then, don't you think?" I told him as I popped a cookie in my mouth.

"Yeah, for sure. After we eat these cookies." Damon said, laughing, and I did too.

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