It was the middle of a stormy night. The sound of thunder and rain falling overshadowed any possible sounds one could make out in the packhouse. Camila’s room was far away, but still, due to her enhanced senses, Miranda could still hear the cries. These cries had woken her up, and made her leave the arms of her lover in search of the little girl.
“Camila?” She called her name upon stepping into her room, but Camila was nowhere to be seen on her bed. Instead, the cries came from inside the closet at the far end.
“Camila?” Miranda called again, opening the closet door to see little Camila sobbing in her nightgown on the closet ground.
She crouched down until she was the same level with her, “what’s wrong, Camila? Why are you crying?”
Camila didn’t respond; only placed her head on her knees, more sobs escaping her mouth.
Miranda carried her in her arms out of the closet, and then sat on the bed, caressing and comforting the little girl.
*sobs*
“Shh… it’s okay now… the bad storm won’t hurt you… you can go back to sleep now,” Miranda whispered as she rocked her in her arms.
“What happened to her?” Miranda looked up to see Damian standing there; he must have noticed her absence and followed her here.
“Nothing,” Miranda said. “It seems that little Camila just had a nightmare. She’s so scared… I met her in the closet crying when I came.”
Damian looked at her sharply, seeing the way Miranda held the girl. Some part of him felt annoyed by his disturbed sleep, but then some part of him wanted to be with Miranda at this moment. He knew that she had so much love in her heart to share, and there was no one else she had but this little girl right here.
Maybe for once, he could just let all his reservations go… he could just help Miranda feel this moment, at least to know how it would have felt if it were their child.
Then and there, Miranda heard the most surprising words she never thought she’d hear from this ruthless alpha of hers.
“There’s this poem… my mom used to say to me whenever I had a bad storm or nightmare troubling me.”
“Really?” she asked.
He nodded, “yes… would you like to hear it? I’m sure it will calm her down.” As Miranda’s efforts might have reduced the girl’s cries, it still hadn’t gotten her to sleep.
“Yes, Damian… not just Camila, but I would like to hear it too.”
He chuckled, before beginning.
*Sleep well, brave little wolf.
This storm is no match for a great cub like you.
Dream well, brave little wolf.
For you’ll be strong and big when the morning sun is due…*
It was a wonderful poem, and indeed, it brought sleep to little Camila’s eyes, as she stopped crying once and for all. As her eyes fluttered, she made her first request, stretching out her arms towards Damian.
Miranda smiled, “I think she wants you to carry her.”
“No, of course I wouldn’t…”
Camila’s voice stopped him, as she stretched out her arms even further. “Please…”
This is strange for Damian, learning to love a woman was strange enough for him at first, and now he’s faced with learning to care for a child. His terrible past had cut out any form of love he might want to feel… or give, but this woman, this woman he fell in love with, changed everything for him.
As he took little Camila into his arms, the little girl smiled at him, still fluttering her tired eyes. The storm had stopped and now the only thing that could be heard was the sound of the cold night breeze. The three of them found comfort in each other; just like a normal family.
What could possibly want to ruin this moment? Miranda thought… maybe… maybe Camila was a consolation gift for her bareness… maybe the goddess sent her to comfort her during this time. She loved this child so much, and she would give anything to protect her at this moment.
Camila had never spoken of any family. Did she even have one? Miranda was almost considering something… maybe Camila didn’t need to go back to her back, maybe her home was right here. Who knows, it might have even been her supposed family that had caused her suffering. No, of course not, Camila would not be going anywhere…
Miranda was looking through the window when she suddenly noticed the normal dark blue skies of the night turn black. The moon was nowhere to be found as well. Signs like this were not good, it was an evil omen, a rare warning that something bad was about to happen.
“Damian?” She wanted to get his attention then, but he was in a still position, like a statue, his eyes had gone blank while he had Camila in his arms.
“What in the gods name is going on?” She asked herself.
Then, she heard Camila’s voice, it was different from how she usually spoke, the voice of a small child sounding much more confident, like she was giving an order.
“Where is the royalty stone?”
Miranda’s face went pale at that point, Camila is just a child… how should she know about the royalty stone? And why is she asking for it? Unless…
She gasped. Damian.
She tried calling out to him, but it was like the louder she yelled, the lesser he heard.
“DAMIAN!!!! Please… snap out of it!!!”
He was in a trance. He could not hear anyone, could not see his surroundings, the only thing he placed his attention on was the child in his arms. By this time, Camila had a cunning smile spread across her face.
“Damian!!!! You’re not in your right senses. Do not tell her where the stone is!!!”
Rather than to keep yelling, she tried doing something else to stop what was about to happen. She tried to move, but then just like Damian, she was glued to that point where she sat, unable to move.
Camila’s commanding voice came again.
“Tell me where the stone is, Damian. Tell me where it is right now.”
He can’t hear her. He can’t move. She can’t move. It seemed as if they were being controlled like puppets, by a stronger force that Miranda had no idea where it came from.
Gradually, Damian’s mind became brainwashed, to do only as Camila wished.
What is happening? Miranda has no clue; neither does she know what do; her alpha powers seem useless at this point.
“Tell me where the stone is, Damian. Tell me where it is right now.”
Damian can no longer resist her command. She’s gotten to his mind. He has no choice but to obey…
“Oh, no… Miranda cried. “What have I done?”