Page 6 of Beyond Fate

And now the small reprieve from his hunger was over. The thirst began to crawl up his throat once more.

“Why do you keep manhandling me?” Damon asked between clenched teeth, trying hard not to breathe in Casimir’s scent, which was impossible, but he was determined to resist it.

“Because it seems to be the only thing that works right now,” Casimir snarled. “Your aggression won’t allow you to respond to my concern in a civil way.”

Another need started to fill Damon with their bodies so close. There was a much deeper reason Damon was so angry with Casimir. A reason that kept him so pissed-off at the guy.

But it was impossible to deny how gorgeous Casimir was. Even though Damon was angry and heartbroken, he still felt the pull, the draw to be near his mate.

“I’m not feeding from you.” Damon spoke as softly as he could so no one else could hear him.

“And if the thirst becomes too much and you attack your family?” There was genuine worry and fear in his cerulean-blue eyes. “Could you live with yourself if you drained Raidh or Elvine?”

No, he couldn’t. But Casimir didn’t get it. No one did. Vampires had tried to kill Raidh the night they’d ridden toward town. A powerful vampire had just tried to kill everyone Damon cared about. And that same vampire had put Damon in that ancient sleep, causing him to transform into a freak in order to escape it.

And now he’d become one of the creatures he despised. You didn’t just accept that as your new reality and move on with your life like everything was okay. It wasn’t.

“I need to clear my head.” Damon nudged his arms. “Can you release me?”

Casimir looked warily at him. “Give me your word you won’t feed from anyone or anything besides me.” He spoke deliberately, his fingers tightening slightly on Damon’s arms.

“I give you my word I won’t feed from anyone or anything.” He spoke just as low and slow.

Casimir’s nostrils flared as he took a step back. “You are unnecessarily putting yourself and your loved ones at risk, stubborn wolf.”

“Don’t you mean stubborn mutant?” Damon gnashed his teeth before he stormed out of the house.

* * * *

This was more difficult than Casimir had anticipated. He scrubbed a hand over his beard as his mate walked out of the house, leaving him unsure of what to do. He’d been prepared for Damon to struggle with what he’d become, but it seemed he wasn’t even trying to adjust, as if his mate had given up before he even tried.

Casimir could handle aggression, uncertainty, fear, and any other emotion Damon was going through. But what was deeply frustrating was how his mate constantly pushed him away, shutting him out of his life.

That, Casimir didn’t understand.

“How’s he doing?” Jaytee’s concerned voice broke the silence as he approached from the kitchen.

He was Damon’s twin, and every time Casimir looked at him, it pained him. They were identical in appearance, yet Jaytee was so calm and easy to talk to—everything Casimir wished his mate would be.

“I’m surprised no one heard our conversation,” Casimir replied, gazing at the door and wondering if he should go after his mate. Why? He would only push you further away.

“We weren’t trying to listen,” Jaytee said, leaning against the staircase. “We didn’t hear everything, though. Since Damon was pulled out of that sleep, we haven’t really talked much.”

The sadness and longing in Jaytee’s blue eyes spoke volumes about how difficult this was for their family. Casimir had observed the Frost men since he had been there and found them to be a family that cared deeply for one another.

They had stuck together as a pack instead of the offspring venturing out to form their own paths in life.

“What was he like before the sleep?” Casimir desperately wanted to know who his mate was deep down inside.

Jaytee’s smile turned wistful. “A big goofball. No matter the situation, he always finds a way to inject some humor. There’s this childlike innocence about him that I don’t think he’s aware of. He’s loyal to those he cares deeply about and compassionate, and he isn’t afraid to share his feelings.” A soft chuckle escaped him. “Thinks he’s charismatic, and he is, in his own way.” Jaytee’s jaw tightened, his voice filled with pain. “Was. That’s who he was…before.”

Casimir longed to meet that version of Damon. His own life was nothing but internal battle scars, so much loneliness and despair. But even if Damon was no longer that person, all Casimir wanted was a chance to get to know any version of his mate.

“Your twin sounds like an amazing man, but we have to remember he’s facing difficulties right now,” he gently reminded Jaytee.

“Difficulties he doesn’t have to face alone,” Jaytee argued, his anger and pain evident. “We’re a close-knit family who support each other. We don’t push everyone away when things get tough.” He slammed his fist against his chest. “I’m his twin. We can feel each other’s pain, and right now...” His voice broke. “Right now, Damon’s pain is unbearable.”

Casimir also felt Damon’s pain, but it was more than unbearable. It was tearing Casimir apart. They were both suffering, but if Casimir didn’t find a way to break through the walls Damon had erected between them, they may never find happiness with each other.

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