**Damon's POV**
“I'm hurt,” I muttered to myself and stopped walking as I glanced at the sky. The moon was out, and the stars danced around it, giving the sky a beauty to behold.
They all worked hand in hand to make the night beautiful, and it was supposed to be something I would look up at on a normal day and smile, but this day, it felt like my whole world was crashing down.
When she said she had a candidate, for a moment, I thought I was the one; that was why I tried my best to win, so she wouldn't be ashamed, but it seemed me winning made her anger for me to grow.
I want her to be happy and also want to be by her side as well. Everything is just messed up!
“Calm down, fella. Our mate needs time to accept us.” Rex, my wolf, spoke out.
I internally glared at him. “Why are you not feeling the hurt I'm in, Rex? In this case, you should be the one whining about her and me trying to comfort you and give you hope, not the other way round, please.” I hissed.
“I'm not worried because I am connected to her wolf. The day you guys slept together was the day our wolves were connected, and from that day, I knew we were meant to be.” he explained.
“Of course we are meant to be, but she's hurting me.” I snapped.
“Are you angry at her, then?” He asked and I sighed.
“Surprisingly, no,” I sighed and ruffled my hair. “This is a part of me that I hate so much, Rex. I'm supposed to be angry at her for hurting me, but…" I trailed off.
“You can't because she's your mate, and because of the love you have for her.” Rex said.
“Enough,” I cut off the mind link and continued walking to wherever my legs would take me. I wanted to go home, but I know Father won't let me sleep tonight with questions about where I've been and what I've been doing.
I smelled rain coming and the first person who came to my mind was Elora. I turned back and was about walking back to the palace but remembered that the guards were there and would take her inside whenever the rain started. With that concluded, I started walking away.
My mind wandered to so many things as the wind blew hard, reminding me of what happened between me and Elora that day.
#flashback
It was a windy day just like this one, and I was one to easily catch a cold. My mother died a few days back and to prevent myself from thinking too much, I had to go to school that day, and forgot my sweater.
We were in the class when a great wind came and the weather changed, showing that it was going to run. I saw the students rushing to their lockers to pick up their sweaters and realized that I had forgotten mine at home.
Elora sat in the front, her face buried in a book. She didn't seem disturbed by the cold and was doing just fine.
“Aren't you going to put on your sweater? It's about to rain.” Zora said to her.
She glanced at Zora with a smile. “You know how much I love the rain. I don't catch colds easily.” She replied.
Zora giggled. “Yeah, I almost forgot,” She said.
I summoned up courage and walked up to her. Since she doesn't catch colds easily, she could at least help me out with her sweater.
“Hi, Elora.” I waved at her with a nervous smile.
“What do you want, Damon?” She asked, her eyes not leaving the book she was reading.
“I was wondering if you would lend me your sweater. I'm intolerant to cold and forgot to carry mine. I had no idea it was going to rain.” I explained.
She didn't answer me for some time and when I opened my mouth to speak, she snapped at me.
“Get the fucking hell away from me, Damon. I don't understand why you would stoop so low to the extent of lying, so you could have my sweater!”
Her yell drew the attention of the students, and they all gathered to know what was going on.
“We get that you like me, so stop making it too obvious. How's it my business that you're intolerant to cold? Did I ask your mother to give birth to you that way?” She yelled, and the memories of my mother's death flashed through my head.
“My mother died a few days ago!” I yelled as tears threatened to fall from my eyes.
Everywhere went silent, and she looked at me like she felt sympathetic, but all of a sudden, it changed to a sneer.
“So?” She glared at me. “Your mother died, and so? What does that have to do with an Alpha's daughter like me?” She scoffed, hurting me the more. “Just get the hell out of my sight.” She looked away and focused on her books.
I sighed and walked away. That day, I didn't give a damn about the cold and cried my heart's out on the class rooftop.
I eventually caught a cold and felt terribly sick, but was able to pull through, like I always did.
#end-of-flashback.
I sighed and ruffled my hair.
“After all that and more, it is unclear to me why I still love you, Elora.” I muttered to myself.
I sighed again and took another step.
“Damon!”
I stopped dead in my tracks.
“Damon!”
I heard my name again. Could that be who I think it is? It's her voice.
“Elora?” I turned to see Elora running towards me.
She got to where I stood and stopped at my front. She was breathing heavily. Did she just run all the way here?
“Elo—”
“I'm sorry.” She apologized.
“Huh?” I was shocked and confused.
She sucked in a breath and looked at me. “I'm sorry, Damon, for how I spoke to you. To be honest, I was only trying to tease you. I had no idea it would hurt your feelings,” She said.
I still couldn't believe it. Elora was apologizing to me!
“Say something already.” She demanded.
“I really don't know what to say,” I muttered.
She was about to say something when a heavy downpour started. “You need to get out of the rain. You might catch a cold,” I said.
“Have you forgotten?” She asked.
“Oh,” I nodded when I remembered that she loves the rain.
I saw guilt flash in her eyes for sometime before she faced me. “You were the right candidate I was referring to. I didn't want you to feel too important, that's why I didn't let you know,” She snickered sadly. “I was relieved when you won because out of everyone in my life, the only people I trust are you and Elder Blake. That's why I wanted you by my side, Damon. Please, don't go.” She pleaded.
A smile found its way to my lips as all the emotions I had kept hidden for a while rushed through me at the same time. I pulled her close and slammed my lips on hers instantly.
I thought she would pull away, but she didn't; she allowed me to kiss her. The burden in my heart was lifted, and I felt at peace with myself. Nothing felt better than kissing the woman I love in the rain.
We pulled out and I looked into her eyes.
“I love you, Elora.” I confessed and didn't wait for her response before embracing her.
“Luna! Your highness!”
We heard the guards calling out to her. They must have come to look for her because of the rain. She looked at me.
“You can go. I'm already close to home.” I smiled at her.
“No. You just stayed in the rain and might catch a cold. Let's go to the palace, where I can keep an eye on you.” She started walking away and I followed her.
“Are you worried about me?” I asked and she scoffed.
“I'm just looking out for my beta. If my beta catches a cold, who am I going to dump all the work on?” She lamented and I laughed.