Chapter 5: Little Wolf
Damien's POV
In Damien’s arms, Meredith felt like a newborn pup—soft, fragile, and entirely dependent on him. The very thought that he would share his mate, his Luna, with Xavier and Magnus made him grit his teeth. But the Moon Goddess had chosen this path for them, and while his instincts desired to claim her entirely for himself, he knew deep down that this was better than nothing at all. After all, they were his brothers in everything but blood, and if he had to share, at least it was with them.
A crisp scream yanked Damien from his thoughts. He felt a rush of primal need surge through him. His cock throbbed painfully, and he wanted nothing more than to tear away the last remnants of her clothing, to fill her right there on the cold, hard ground, to mark her in every possible way. But Damien was no savage. He was an Alpha, and with that title came the responsibility of restraint. His grip on her tightened, but he forced himself to stay in control.
Not today, he reminded himself.
After a moment of tense silence, Damien called for Xavier.
Xavier stepped forward, positioning himself behind Meredith, who still trembled in Damien’s arms. With a gentle yet possessive grip, Xavier gathered her silky hair in his hand, tugging it back just enough to expose the delicate curve of her neck. His breath was hot against her skin as he leaned in. Without hesitation, he sank his teeth into the soft flesh just beneath her ear, placing his mark alongside Damien’s.
Meredith’s scream cut through the darkness, sharp and raw. The sound sent a jolt through Damien, who felt her agony as if it were his own. Now, her pain was his pain, and it was unbearable.
Driven by instinct, Damien’s hand slid down her body. His warm palm found her undersides, moving slowly up her torso until it reached her chest. He cupped one of her swelling nipples, his fingers brushing against the sensitive flesh. The scent of her sweaty skin, the way her body responded to his touch—it was intoxicating. The suppressed moan was so sweet that it thrilled Damien’s entire being.
He could sense Xavier’s desire behind her, the way his hands moved to claim the other side of her chest, mirroring Damien’s actions.
Xavier leaned in close to her ear. “This is one of our services you can freely ask,” he murmured. “Don’t you like it?”
Meredith’s body tensed. Her moan, though muffled, was all the answer Xavier needed. Damien felt her heart pounding against his chest, the rapid beat echoing his own. It was as if their souls began to intertwine, and the shared sensations that now coursed through all of them.
"Magnus," Damien called huskily. “Your turn…”
Magnus hesitated for a moment, his eyes locked on Meredith’s trembling form. He stepped forward, his movements careful as he approached her side.
"Just trust us," he whispered, trying to soothe the ache etched across her face. His lips brushed against her temple, while his fingers traced the curve of her exposed belly, offering what little comfort he could. “You’ll never be alone anymore.”
Damien and Xavier took a step back, giving Magnus the ample space he needed. Though he was the youngest among them, the least experienced, there was ruthlessness in him that he sometimes struggled to control. The beast within him growled, but Magnus was cautious. He feared his own strength. His fangs had already emerged.
Yet, despite the primal urge to claim her, Magnus hesitated. Meredith was fragile, a mere human. She was their mate, yes, but she was also vulnerable. Marking her in this weakened state might be too much for her to endure.
Damien, sensing Magnus’s hesitation, met his gaze and gave a slow, reassuring nod. Xavier did the same, offering silent encouragement. They all knew the consequences of delaying the final mark. It would make the bond unstable, incomplete. Magnus had to finish what they had started, even if it pained him to do so.
With a deep breath, Magnus leaned over Meredith, his heart pounding in his chest. He could feel her shivering under his touch. Reluctantly, he pressed his lips to the other side of her neck, the spot where his mark would complete the triad.
"I'm sorry," Magnus whispered before his fangs sank into her tender flesh.
Meredith gasped, the sharp sting of the bite sending electrifying shocks through her entire system. She barely had time to process the pain before Damien caught her lips in a passionate kiss, muffling the cry that threatened to escape. Her eyes, half-closed and filled with confusion, met Damien's.
As Magnus withdrew his fangs, he quickly sealed the wound with a soft lick, completing the bond.
"I'm sorry," Magnus repeated as he stepped back, his heart heavy with the weight of what they had done. He had marked her, just as Damien and Xavier had, but the guilt lingered. He had wanted to protect her, to spare her any more pain, but he knew there was no turning back now.
Meredith lay in Damien’s arms, her breath coming in shallow gasps.
"You're officially ours now, Meredith," Xavier whispered against her hair. "And we’ll do everything in our power to keep you safe, whatever means necessary.”
Meredith’s fainted form hung limply in Damien’s muscular arms. His heart tightened as he gazed at her pale face, her eyes closed, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths.
“We need to move,” Xavier murmured, breaking the heavy silence as his eyes scanned their surroundings for any immediate threats.
“She’s burning up,” Damien added.
Magnus nodded cautiously. “It seems the transition has finally begun.”
Damien adjusted Meredith in his arms. “We’ll take her to the Musk River,” he said. “Clean her up before we head back.”
Magnus stepped closer. “I’ll carry her, Alpha…” His voice was soft, almost pleading, as if he needed to make amends for the pain he had caused her.
For a moment, Damien hesitated. Then he gently passed Meredith to Magnus, who cradled her as if she were the most delicate thing in the world.
The three men set off toward the Musk River, their senses alert and their instincts guiding them through the thick forest. The river's soft murmur reached their ears before the water itself came into view. Moonlight filtered through the trees, dancing on the water's surface.
Magnus carefully laid Meredith on the soft grass beside the riverbank, her body still trembling with the heat of the impending transformation. Her clothes were torn, stained with blood and mud.
“Quick,” Damien urged as he knelt beside her. He could feel the heat radiating off her, the feverish flush that had spread across her cheeks. The transition was happening faster than any of them had anticipated, and they needed to act quickly.
Xavier joined Damien, and together they gently stripped away the remnants of her torn clothing. Magnus stepped into the river, cupping his hands to gather the cool water before returning to Meredith’s side. With tender care, they began to wash away the dirt and blood, their hands moving as gently as they could.
Meredith stirred slightly, a soft moan escaping her lips. Damien’s heart clenched at the sight of her, his instincts roaring to protect her, to shield her from any pain.
“She’s going to be fine,” Xavier murmured, more to reassure himself than anyone else. His hand brushed through Meredith’s brown hair.
Damien nodded, though his eyes never left Meredith’s face. “We need to keep her cool. The river should help with that.” He reached for more water, splashing it gently over her.
The moments passed in silence, the only sounds being the soft splash of water and the rustling of leaves in the breeze. The three men worked together, their focus entirely on Meredith.
After they had cleaned her as best they could, Magnus tore Meredith’s shirt and draped it over her, covering her bare form. Damien noticed the faint glow of the markings on her skin. He knew that her transformation would soon be complete and that she would become one of them.
“We need to get back to the clearing,” Damien said, rising to his feet. “The carriage will be waiting.”
Xavier nodded, and Magnus carefully lifted Meredith into his arms once more, cradling her against his chest as they began the trek back through the forest.
The shadows deepened as they moved further away from the river. Suddenly, Damien’s instincts flared, and he caught the faintest whiff of something foul. He came to an abrupt halt, raising a hand to signal the others to stop.
Xavier and Magnus tensed, their eyes narrowing as they scanned the surroundings.
“Rogues,” Damien hissed.
The stench was unmistakable now—the scent of wild beasts that had lost their humanity.
Stealthily, the rogues emerged from the darkness, their eyes glowing with feral hunger. They circled the three men, their snarls echoing through the trees. But it wasn’t Damien, Xavier, or Magnus they were after. Their focus was solely on Meredith, the scent of her transformation drawing them like moths to a flame. They could sense her weakness, and it enraged them.
“They’re after her,” Magnus whispered, tightening his grip on Meredith and shielding her with his massive body as the rogues slowly closed in.
Damien’s eyes blazed as his wolf surged to the surface. “They won’t get to her,” he growled. “Not ever.”
Xavier stepped forward, his posture tense and ready to fight. “Let’s take them down.” He smirked. “No mercy.”
The rogues' jaws snapped as they lunged forward, but Damien, Xavier, and Magnus were ready, their instincts honed by years of battle. The forest erupted into chaos as the fight began.
Damien’s claws tore through flesh, ripping apart any rogue that dared come near his Luna. Xavier moved swiftly. “These brainless shits…”
Meanwhile, Magnus stayed close behind, fully embracing Meredith to protect her. But the rogues were relentless. They clawed and bit, desperately pushing forward. More emerged from the shadows, their eyes locked on Meredith.
Damien knew they couldn’t hold out forever—not with so many of them, not with Meredith still unconscious, and with the three of them already exhausted.
“We have to get her out of here! Now!” Damien shouted.
Xavier nodded. “I’ll cover you. Get her to safety!”
Magnus didn’t need to be told twice. He tightened his hold on Meredith and broke into a run, heading toward the clearing. Damien and Xavier blocked the rogues' path with their enormous bodies.
Magnus could feel Meredith’s body growing hotter in his arms, her breaths shallow. But they were close. The carriage was already within reach. With a final burst of speed, Magnus broke through the trees and into the clearing.
He ran to the carriage, opening the door and carefully placing Meredith inside. Meredith was drenched in sweat. Magnus brushed a lock of hair from her face with trembling fingers. “We’re almost there, Little Wolf,” he whispered.
A sudden growl shattered the night. Magnus swiftly turned to see a rogue lunging at him, but before it could reach him, a blur of motion sent it crashing to the ground.
Damien stood over the fallen rogue, his chest heaving. “Get in the carriage, Magnus,” he ordered.
Magnus nodded and quickly climbed inside beside Meredith. Damien and Xavier, battered and bruised, followed suit.
As soon as they were inside, the carriage lurched forward, the horses galloping at full speed. Magnus, Damien, and Xavier sighed as the rogues' howls faded into the distance.