Dark Moon Rising

Chapter 47: Finally

Rogue's Point of View

With unwavering confidence, Zoé declared, It's time.

I knew it was the right decision. Everything fell into place perfectly. It was as if all the puzzle pieces finally connected, creating a beautiful and harmonious picture in my thoughts. Even my heart was certain that I loved Damian deeply; he was my soulmate, and taking the next step with him felt natural. Despite being certain, I hesitated and could not understand why.

My room was needed for a guest of the pack. He wouldn't be staying in the packhouse because Xander was a vampire, and a vampire living in a packhouse would be uncomfortable not only for him but for everyone else. Luna Jo had stressed that the Dark Moon pack needed an alliance with the Riley Clan. I had agreed, and a part of me was even excited about living with Damian. It was the plan we had agreed on, and my mate had been patient with me. We'd mated long ago, but I'd never allowed him to mark me yet.

I carefully folded and packed the remaining items into sturdy boxes, securing them tightly. I then stacked the boxes against the wall, creating neat, organized rows. Damian's arrival was imminent, and my housemates had kindly volunteered to assist with loading the boxes into his vehicle. Despite the short distance, there was a sense of anticipation and excitement about moving to Damian's home, which would soon be our shared residence.

A knock at the door caused me to look up from my work, and I saw Adrian leaning against the doorframe, looking a little sad.

"I'm genuinely happy for you, and we anticipated this moment, but I can't help feeling like I'll miss the times when you, Seraphina, and I used to hang out," sighed my best friend.

"You have three new roommates, and soon there will be four," I said casually, shrugging my shoulders.

Adrian spoke softly, his eyes filled with warmth as he reassured me, "No one could ever replace you. You'll always be my best friend. When I find my mate, I hope to have the same strong bond with you that we share now."

"What will happen if things get awkward between you and Seraphina? Especially now that her brother is staying here," I asked, concerned.

Adrian reassured Rogue, "Then, I will stay with you and Damian in one of your spare bedrooms. But everything will be fine, Rogue. Please don't worry."

"Besides, think of all the s*x you can have. As loud as you want, without having to worry about bothering anyone or anyone walking in on you," grinned my best friend.

I rolled my eyes in mild exasperation before wrapping my arms around him in a warm embrace.

"Do you think your hesitance to let Damian mark you is because of what you endured in the Ironclaw Pack?" Adrian asked gently.

I nodded silently, wiping away a tear that had escaped from my eye. I let out a heavy sigh as I focused on gathering my emotions and regaining my composure.

"I know that Damian loves me and is nothing like the misogynistic chauvinists from my former pack. He shows me respect, provides encouragement, and values my independence by not seeking to control me. But I'm surrendering myself completely to him in letting him mark me. I do trust him, it's just..." my voice trailed off as more tears fell.

"After putting in so much effort to rebuild yourself, imagining losing that control is terrifying. Trust is a big part of this, too," remarked Adrian.

"It hurts to feel, to let go, and to love. I understand that, and so does Seraphina. No matter who we love or where we go, we will always have each other. We don't need to live in the same house to have that. If you want a future with Damian, you must let go. You've got to leave yourself open to being hurt to heal. You can't keep holding on to the ghosts of your past, Rogue," Adrian expressed.

"I'm scared," I whispered.

"It's because you love him and care about your relationship. But here's the thing, Rogue. So does Damian. You are everything to him. If you want to reject him, that's one thing. But if you are letting fear hold you back, that's not fair to you or Damian," Adrian said.

"When did you become so incredibly wise?" I chuckled through my tears, amazed by his insight and understanding.

My best friend flashed a wide grin and replied, "Wise? Me? You think I'm wise?"

His playful response caused me to laugh even harder at his delightful silliness.

Seraphina glided gracefully into the room, her arms enveloping Adrian's waist in a tender embrace. He leaned down and planted a sweet, affectionate kiss on her head. As I glanced at them, a surge of happiness filled my heart. Their togetherness seemed so fitting, so right. Yet, a twinge of concern lingered in my mind. I sincerely hoped that Seraphina wouldn't break my best friend's heart. The thought was unbearable. We were best friends too, but Adrian was more than that; he was my confidant, my closest companion, my chosen brother.

"We're here if you need us, just a mind link or text away. If Damian causes you any grief, I'll gladly kick his ass," Seraphina grinned.

Argus eagerly joined in, stating, "Count me in too," as he entered the room. He swiftly picked up a box as he did so.

"I just wanted to let you know that Damian has arrived. Elara asked me to check if you are ready for us to start loading the boxes or if you need her and Taryn to keep Damian distracted," Argus said with a smile.

I smiled at that. Even though we had just met, I knew my three newest friends had my back no matter what. They brought their skills to the Byte Club, and it felt like we were beginning to recapture what we once had with our organization.

"Thank you, Argus," I said with relief and uncertainty. "I'm good now. At least, I think so. I hope," I chuckled awkwardly, trying to lighten the mood.

"Starting over is never easy," Argus murmured, his gaze filled with empathy as he looked at me.

He was absolutely correct. At that moment, I realized that I was embarking on a fresh start, fully aware that there would be no turning back. This marked the end of one chapter and the promising inception of something entirely new with Damian.

I wrapped my arms tightly around Argus, and in the process, he dropped the box I was holding. Fortunately, the top layer of the box did not contain any fragile items.

Argus laughed in confusion as he looked at the box I had knocked out of his arms when I launched myself at him. "You're welcome?" he chuckled, clearly amused by the situation.

"I'm not coming back. This is it," I whispered as I met Adrian's eyes. He nodded silently with a wistful smile on his face.

"Your home is with Damian now," Adrian said.

"Thank you," I said as I hurriedly left the room in search of Damian.

My mate gazed up at me with furrowed brows as I hastened toward him, my face streaked with tears.

Damian asked with deep concern, "Are you alright?"

In a soft whisper, I expressed my feelings, "You're my home. I love you. I want you to mark me tonight."

"Are you absolutely certain about this?" Damian whispered back, his voice infused with cautious hope.

"I've never been more certain about anything in my entire life," I responded with unwavering conviction.

Finally, Zoé sighed in relief.