“Will she be fine?” Alpha Damien asks madam Leila for the umpteenth time after he glances at Cassie, who’s still fast asleep. Tears well up in his eyes, but he forces them back and takes a deep breath.
“She’s weak now, and it may take a while before she recovers from it,” Hearing this, his heart sinks into his stomach and he bites his bottom lip. It has been three days already, and she hasn’t woken up yet. Will she ever be fine? Will she wake up eventually?
“Hmm,” He hums and nods his head as he sighs briefly.
“I’ll be on my way now, my lord,” Madam Leila says before she finally strides out of the room, leaving Damien with Cassie.
“Are you OK? Will you be fine, hmm?” He speaks softly as he strokes her hair. A drop of tears slid down his cheek. He has missed her so much, and he can’t wait for her to finally wake up. But what if she never wakes up again? How will he survive without her? He blames himself for not being able to protect her, and it hurts so much to see her in this condition.
“I’m sorry for not being there for you when you needed me the most… I’m sorry for causing you all this pain. Maybe all these wouldn’t have happened…” He pauses, and takes her hand, caressing it slowly and softly.
“Maybe you wouldn’t have been through this if I was there for you. I’ll be waiting for you, Cassie… I’ll be waiting until you wake up and smile at me again. Until then, I’ll be here,” He further whispers, after which he leans over her and kisses her forehead softly.
The sound of the footsteps behind him pulls his attention, and although he hasn’t checked out who the person is, he already knows that it’s his brother, Dean.
Dean stares down at him with a blank expression on his face. For the past years since they have been brothers, he has never seen Damien this emotional. He was always the strongest amongst them, the one that nothing ever weighs down. Yes, he does have his hard times which he only grieves behind closed doors, but letting other people see him broken, nothing of sort ever happened.
“Can we talk?” Dean finally breaks the silence amid sighs.
“Hmm,” He nods his head then stands up to his feet and pulls the quilt to cover Cassie up to her chest level, turning around to face Dean afterward…
A few minutes later in the garden…
The two brothers stand side by side as they both stare into space. Silence assumes the air, as the only sounds that can be heard are the ones coming from the branches of leaves.
“How much do you love her?” Dean finally breaks the silence after a few minutes, and he sighs briefly.
“So much, that I can sacrifice my happiness for her sake,” He replies to Dean as a small smile plays on his lips. The thought of Cassie gives him so much joy, her name cheers him up, he’s so in love with her the way he never imagined he’d ever been in love with any woman. She has captured his heart, and he’s willing to let her carry it with her, anywhere she goes. He has made up his mind to be her pillar that she’d always lean on.
“Hmm…” Dean hums as he nods his head. Seeing his brother happy has always been one of the many things that make him happy. They have been through so much that he can’t imagine seeing him not happy.
“Dean… I know this hurts… Fate can be unfair, but… I love Cassie… I’m not willing to let her go…”
“And who’s asking you to let her go?” Dean cuts him off, still staring into space.
“Huh?” He snaps his head to look at Dean, having a confused expression on his face.
“I’m happy that you found love, Damien. I have never seen you like this, in all the years that we have been together… And to see you so happy and feel alive now, don’t you think I would be a bad brother if I snatch it away from you?” Dean finally tilts his head to look at him, a broad smile playing on his lips.
“You know… I have always looked forward to this day… A day in which you’ll be smiling, the day you would find someone that you’ll love and want to sacrifice so much for, and I’m glad that you found her… I won’t be an obstacle to my brother’s happiness, never!” Dean further says.
“Dean…” A drop of tears slid down the corner of his cheek as he stares at Dean unbelievably. He never imagined that he would do this, he never imagined that he’ll give her up for him.
“Don’t make that face. It makes you ugly,” Dean chuckles softly, patting his shoulder.
“Keep being happy, Damien. That’s all I want… You’re my only family, the only one I have in this world, and I’ll do anything to make you happy. That’s what big brothers do…”
“Idiot…” Damien chuckles softly in tears, hugging him tightly.
“I told you not to call yourself my big brother. That’s annoying,” He whispers, hugging Dean tightly.
“You may be the alpha, but I’m still your big brother,” Dean smacks his back, and they both chuckle softly.
“Don’t you think you should respect me for that, huh?” He finally pulls away from Dean, and he rolls his eyes.
“That’ll be in your wildest dream…” Dean rolls his eyes.
“I love you, Dean… I love you so much,” He scoffs as more tears flood down his cheeks.
“Don’t be like that. Stop being a crybaby, and act like the man you are. Or, don’t tell me Cassie has messed with your brain. This is unlike you, Damien. You would never cry. What has that woman done to you?” Dean teases him, and he chuckles.
“I’m just happy,” He pulls Dean into his arms and hugs him tightly again.
“Don’t choke life out of me, please. I’m going to haunt you in your dream if you try it,” Dean pushes him off slightly, and they both chuckle softly.
“But if you ever hurt her, then be ready to face my wrath,” Dean threatens, and he nods his head…