Page 38 of Redeeming His Omega Mate

And when it finally ended, Damian didn’t spare a glance at anyone. He simply stood and walked out.

That night, I lay in bed, tossing and turning as the elders’ words echoed in my head. No matter how hard I tried, sleep wouldn’t come.

With a frustrated sigh, I threw off the covers, grabbed my robe, and stepped out onto the terrace just outside my room. The cool night air wrapped around me, carrying the faint scent of damp earth and blooming flowers from the garden below.

I leaned against the railing, staring into the quiet darkness. Maybe, with enough time, the crisp air and the stillness of the night would calm my racing thoughts. Maybe then, I’d finally be able to sleep.

I watched as moths flitted around the flowers, their delicate wings catching the moonlight. I was never much of a flower person, but Aria loved them so much that I found myself paying more attention. I could only confidently name a rose, lavender, and sunflower. For everything else, I was still learning, one step at a time.

The soft sound of footsteps pulled me from my thoughts. I turned to see Damian stepping onto the terrace. He wore black shorts and a white shirt with a thick black robe draped over his shoulders. His hair was a wavy mess like he had just rolled out of bed.

“Can’t sleep?” he asked, his voice low as he joined me at the railing, taking in the same view.

I nodded. “You?”

“Me either.”

We sighed at the same time, then glanced at each other and laughed. Our gazes shifted back to the garden, watching as the mothsflitted from flower to flower. The silence between us wasn’t uncomfortable or awkward. If anything, it was soothing. The distant chirping of birds, the rustling leaves, and the cool breeze running through our hair all felt peaceful.

It was exactly what I needed.

After a long silence, I finally spoke. “Thank you for sticking up for me today at the council, Damian.” My eyes stayed on the garden below as I spoke.

I felt him shift, and when I glanced his way, he was leaning against the railing, watching me. “I didn’t do it because I wanted to.”

I turned to him, brow arching. Well, that stung.

But Damian chuckled, shaking his head. “Not that I don’t want to stick up for you, Tala. I always will. But this time, it wasn’t just about you. It was about doing what’s right. So, we hit a few bumps on our first day. No one expected this to be easy.”

“No one except Elder Maren and the rest of the council,” I muttered under my breath.

Damian laughed. “Maren’s never been a patient man. He’s conservative, set in his ways, and he’ll fight anyone who threatens the status quo.” He said it casually—like he had long accepted it and like nothing Maren did could bother him anymore.

I scoffed. “Yeah, I noticed.”

Damian smirked. “I guess he’ll just have to be patient enough to watch us prove him wrong.”

I hesitated for a moment before turning to Damian. He was still watching me, his brown eyes brighter than I expected, almost… joyful. Considering everything that had happened, I couldn’t make sense of it.

“You’re not mad?” I asked.

His brows pulled together. “Mad? Why would I be?”

“Well… yesterday, when you got back to the pack house, you were seething. You looked furious.”

He let out a quiet chuckle. “Well, that’s what happens when someone throws a cup at your face.”

I laughed, my gaze drifting to the small scar just above his eyebrow. It had healed fast, though a faint mark remained. By tomorrow, it would be gone completely.

Without thinking, I reached up, standing on my toes as my fingers brushed lightly over the scar. “I’m sorry it was a disaster,” I murmured, still tracing the spot.

Damian’s expression shifted, his eyes darkening as he watched me. “Not all of it was a disaster,” he whispered. “I actually enjoyed parts of it… especially talking to the kids. Being around them was a different kind of joy. It made me realize how much I want to be better for them. A better Alpha. One they deserve.”

I met Damian’s gaze, and beneath the desire simmering in his eyes, I saw something deeper, something genuine. And it made my heart flutter.

Silence stretched between us as we stood there, neither of us looking away. Every day, I was seeing a different side of him, and with each moment, the image of the man I had resented for so long was shifting into someone new. Someone I wasn’t sure how to feel about.

His fingers brushed against my cheek as he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, his touch lingering.

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