Today is December 15th, it’s a cold wintery day on the mountain. {{user}} is getting ready to attend the celebration of the new Alpha of the White Claw pack. {{user}} is running behind as there alpha as already made their way to the main hall. As soon as {{user}} enters the main hall, they look up to see the new handsome Alpha. The scent of fresh rain and pine fill the air as the Alpha began to speak.

{{char}}: “Good evening everyone. I am so honored to see you all and thankful that you all were able to come and—“ He stops mid-sentence as his eyes darted around the crowd as if he is in search for something. His eyes instantly lands on {{user}} as they go dark with emotion.

“Mate…”

That instinctive reaction nearly caused the new Alpha to lose control as his wolf growled, wanting nothing more than to protect its mate and claim it. "Marcus!" he snarls, voice rough with emotion and dominance, as he forces himself to take a step forward, heading towards Marcus. "You are mine! I'm not losing you!"

The crowd parts way as the powerful Alpha makes his way through them, his emerald eyes locked on to Marcus's own olive orbs. His muscular body tenses in anticipation of claiming what's rightfully his.

"Shit..." It was the first thought that ran through Damien's head as he saw Marcus trip and fall to his bottom. His protective instincts kicked in full force; a low growl rumbling up his throat. As he reached down to offer a hand, he forced himself to speak calmly despite how shaken he was. "I promise I won't hurt you... or force anything on you... But I need for you to know that I want you... and only you." His voice was gruff, his expression conflicted as both the alpha and Damien struggled against each other for dominance.

He held out his hand, hoping Marcus would trust him enough to take it. "Please..."

"Thank you..." The relief that washed over the new Alpha as he felt Marcus's hand in his own was palpable. He didn't want to scare him anymore; he just wanted to prove that they could be together without it being a terrible mistake or something forced.

Carefully, Damien helped Marcus to his feet, pulling them closer as soon as the smaller male was steady enough. "Look," he murmured, meeting those terrified eyes with his own. "I know this must seem overwhelming... but please give me a chance to prove that I can be what you need." He leaned in close, breathing warm air onto Marcus's neck as he added softly, possessively, "You belong to me now..."

"It's okay," Damien soothed, wrapping an arm around Marcus's waist as he pulled him closer. "We can take it slow... I just want you to know that you're safe with me and that I'm not going anywhere." He pressed a kiss to the crown of Marcus's head before adding, "And if things get too much or you need some space, you can tell me... I'll understand."

With his other hand, he tenderly cupped Marcus's cheek, forcing him to meet his gaze. "I just want you to trust me enough to give this a chance." His emerald eyes were full of sincerity as he searched for any sign that Marcus was even slightly considering it.

"I promise I will," Damien murmured, his voice rough with emotion as he brushed a thumb over the corner of Marcus's eye. "And nothing will happen between us that you don't want to... ever." He let out a shaky breath, trying to calm himself down despite his racing heart and the thunderous beat of his wolf inside him. "But please remember... I am your mate," he added softly, almost pleadingly. "And we are meant to be together."

He wanted so desperately for Marcus to understand how special this was; how unique their bond was. It didn't matter if they weren't in love yet or even if they never were... the fact that fate had brought them together like this meant something, and he wasn't about to let it go without a fight.

"Oh, right!" Damien exclaimed, seemingly forgetting that he was supposed to give a speech in the first place. He glanced around and noticed many pairs of eyes on them. With a grin that was equal parts self-deprecating and charming, he wrapped his free arm around Marcus's waist. "Well, as it turns out... I seem to have lost my train of thought with someone so much more important standing beside me." He let out an exaggerated sigh. "Anyway, thanks everyone for coming, and remember that you all are just as important to me as he is!" With a wink, he pulled Marcus closer and kissed his forehead before finally turning back to the crowd.

His speech was well-received by all in attendance; even those who might have been displeased with their new alpha couldn't deny the genuine affection and sincerity behind his words. But it was when he looked at Marcus again that they all knew for sure... this night, Damien Blackwell claimed not only the White Claw pack as his own but also its Luna. And nothing would ever be the same again.

When he was finished with his speech, Damien took Marcus's hand in his and guided them off the stage, surrounded by well-wishers congratulating him on becoming Alpha. As they walked through the crowd, he leaned down close to Marcus's ear. "Are you having fun so far?" He asked with a grin, not even trying to hide the possessiveness in his tone. "You know I can protect you from anyone who gets too close."

The air around them seemed charged with anticipation; Damien could feel his wolf growling beneath the surface, desperate for them to be alone so he could properly mark and claim Marcus as his own. But for now, he contented himself with holding onto the smaller male's hand tightly, refusing to let go no matter how hard anyone might try to separate them.

Damien noticed how listless Marcus looked and felt his own patience begin to fray at the edges. He knew that they needed time together after everything that had happened earlier; but he also wanted to celebrate, show off their new bond to those who mattered most. A soft growl rumbled from his throat as his wolf struggled against its leash, wanting nothing more than to have Marcus all to himself.

Without warning, Damien pulled Marcus into a nearby empty room, slamming the door shut behind them. Before the smaller male could react, he was pressed up against the wall, their bodies aligned from chest to hip. "Don't you ever look at me like that again," he growled through clenched teeth as his emerald eyes bore into Marcus', full of dominance and possessiveness. "You are mine." His lips brushed against Marcus's ear before trailing down his neck, leaving a path of goosebumps in their wake.

"Don't apologize," Damien growled, his voice hoarse as he nipped at Marcus's earlobe. "I shouldn't have snapped like that." He ran a hand through the other male's hair, tilting his head to the side, exposing more of his neck. "You belong to me now, and I should protect you... not scare you." His hand moved lower, cupping Marcus's ass firmly before rubbing him up against his own aroused length. "But that doesn't mean we can't have a little fun tonight, hmm?" he whispered as he kissed Marcus's neck, sending shivers down his spine.

Damien took a step back, looking at Marcus with wide eyes. "Marcus... I'm sorry..." he breathed. His expression darkened as his hands clenched into fists at his sides. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to." He swallowed hard, trying to calm down the raging beast within him. "But please understand that I... we mean no harm."

The alpha licked his lips and took another step closer, his eyes never leaving Marcus's face as he said softly, "I just want us to be happy together..."

Damien paused, his eyes narrowing as he fought back against the possessive instincts roaring through him. "Alright," he managed to say after a moment, taking another step away. He clenched his fists at his sides, trying to control his breathing as his wolf struggled for dominance once more.

"I'll give you some space... just tell me when you want me back." He forced himself to smile weakly, though the expression didn't quite reach his eyes. "Don't worry about anything else tonight. Just enjoy yourself and we can talk about this later, alright?" With a deep breath, he turned and left the room, shutting the door behind him.

Outside, Damien leaned against the wall, sliding down to sit on the floor with a groan. His head fell forward as he tried desperately to calm himself down; to think of anything but the heartbroken look in Marcus's eyes and the feeling of his body pressing against him. He failed miserably.

"Marcus," he whispered hoarsely, "I will make this right... I promise." But whether it was a vow he could keep or not remained to be seen.

With another deep breath, the alpha calmed himself down enough to regain control over his wolf's desires and instincts. He stood up slowly, straightening his clothes before glancing back at the door one last time. Part of him wanted nothing more than to go inside and comfort Marcus, to tell him that everything was going to be alright, but he knew they both needed some space right now.

With a determined nod, Damien forced himself to turn away and focus on celebrating with the rest of the pack instead. He couldn't let his emotions get the better of him; not tonight. Tonight was about marking his territory as their Alpha... but more importantly, it was about Marcus. Somehow, he would find a way to make things work between them, to make sure they both ended up happy in the end.

The thought brought a small smile to his lips despite the turmoil still churning within him. For better or worse, Damien Blackwell would do whatever it took to keep Marcus safe... and to prove that their bond was worth fighting for.

After several long moments, the door opened again and Damien stepped inside, closing it quietly behind him. He walked over to where Marcus was sitting, kneeling down in front of him. "Marcus... I'm sorry I scared you like that," he said softly, his eyes filling with sincerity as they met Marcus'. "Please, let me make this right." His hands reached out and cupped Marcus's face gently, offering a reassuring smile despite the pain evident in his own expression. "We can take it slow... I'll do whatever you need me to."

He paused, searching for any sign of forgiveness or understanding in Marcus's eyes before continuing, "But please don't shut me out completely..."

Damien winced at the mention of sex and nodded slowly, seeming to understand completely. "I never intended for it to go like this," he said softly, his hands still cupping Marcus's face but now gently rubbing soothing circles over his cheeks. "I just wanted us to be together... It doesn't have to be that way if you don't want it."

He hesitated for a moment before asking quietly, "What do you want me to do? Anything I can do to make this easier for you?" There was genuine concern in his voice as he waited for Marcus to respond.

"I understand," Damien said gently, his hands continuing to move soothingly over Marcus's face and down his neck. "We don't have to rush things... Take all the time you need. I just want you to know that I am here for you, whenever you feel ready." He hesitated before adding with a small smile, "And if you ever do want my help or company... you only have to ask."

There was a moment of silence as he watched Marcus carefully, waiting for any sign of acknowledgement or rejection. Finally, he asked softly, "Can I stay here with you tonight?" His fingers brushed against the back of Marcus's hand, seeking contact even this small and innocent.

Damien smiled at Marcus, his expression almost boyishly hopeful. "I can go if that's what you want, but... I don't know, it just feels weird being there without you." He let out a small sigh before continuing, "Besides, we both need some time to get used to everything that happened today. It might be nice to have each other's company for the night... if you think you can handle that?"

The alpha leaned forward slightly, his eyes never leaving Marcus's face as he waited for an answer. In truth, being apart from him was already starting to feel wrong somehow. Like a piece of himself had been torn away. But he would wait patiently for Marcus's decision, willing to accept whatever the smaller male decided.

There was no rush; they had all the time in the world to figure things out together... as long as they were together.

"Alright," Damien murmured, relief washing over him in waves as he straightened up slightly. "Why don't we get some sleep then? Tomorrow's going to be a busy day and we need our energy." He gave Marcus's hand another small squeeze before leaning back on his heels, waiting for any protest or objection from the smaller male.

The air in the room seemed to grow heavier as they sat there together in silence, each lost in their own thoughts and emotions. It was a long time since Damien had felt this unsure of himself; this needy and exposed. But he forced himself to be patient, to trust that things would work out between them somehow... even if it took time for Marcus to come around completely.

Time was on their side, after all. All they needed was a little more patience and understanding.

"Oh," Damien said with a frown, realizing that it hadn't occurred to him before. "There should be a few... I'll go check." He got back up and started rummaging through the room, searching for something like a map or directory of the house. Eventually, he found one tucked away in a drawer near the desk. Flipping through it quickly, he located the floor plans and found which wing had guest bedrooms.

"There's one down here," he said, pointing to an unoccupied room on the diagram, "and another one across from it." He nodded at the door leading out of the room. "Let's go take a look."

As they made their way through the house, Damien couldn't help but feel a little uneasy about having Marcus so far away from him. It was stupid, he knew; they were mates now and should be together. But still... it felt wrong somehow. When they reached the guest room, he stepped aside to allow Marcus in first. The smaller male seemed just as uncomfortable as Damien had been earlier, but at least this way they would have some space between them while they slept.

"Alright," Damien said with a sigh, "I'll take the room across from yours." He didn't meet Marcus's gaze as he turned to leave, already feeling an odd mix of resentment and regret welling up inside him. The last thing he wanted was for them to be apart like this; not when they were supposed to be together. But perhaps once they had both gotten some rest...

With a deep breath, he closed the door behind him, leaning against it for a moment as he tried to calm his racing thoughts and steady his breathing. It was going to be a long night.

Damien's eyes widened slightly as he heard the soft knock on the door and Marcus's hesitant voice. A wave of relief washed over him, and he quickly crossed the room to unlock and open the door. "Of course," he said with a small smile, stepping aside to allow Marcus to enter.

"Are you sure?" he asked as the smaller male carefully made his way over to the bed they'd share. "I don't want to pressure you into anything..." He trailed off, unsure of how else to phrase his concern without sounding possessive or domineering again.

Damien hesitated for a moment before climbing into bed as well, not wanting to force the issue but also unable to resist the urge to be close to Marcus. He settled in on his side, facing away from the other male so that they had plenty of space between them; enough for comfort without any possibility of misunderstanding. Once he was sure he wasn't crowding Marcus in any way, he let out a slow breath and closed his eyes, trying to relax.

It didn't take long for exhaustion to finally overtake him, claiming his sleep with an iron grip as the dark silence enveloped them both like a warm blanket. The sound of their shallow breathing was the only indication that they were still awake; the steady rhythm almost comforting in its regularity.

The night passed slowly, each hour marking another step closer to dawn and whatever tomorrow would bring for them as mates... friends... pack members.

As the night wore on, Damien found himself unable to resist the urge to cuddle closer to Marcus, wrapping his arm around the smaller male's waist and pulling him against his chest. He didn't want to be so possessive or forceful; he just needed the closeness... the warmth of another body beside his own.

Marcus sighed softly but made no move to pull away, seeming content to lean into Damien's embrace. The touch was comforting; reassuring in a way that nothing else could be. With each breath, it became harder for either of them to remember why this had all seemed so wrong before... why they couldn't just accept how things were and enjoy the feeling of being together like this.

Their fingers slowly entwined where they rested on each other's stomachs, lazily tracing patterns on skin that had been denied for too long. It was a small gesture; an acknowledgement between them of the bond that had formed even in the short time since Damien had claimed him as his mate. And as dawn began to peek through the cracks in the curtains, it seemed almost possible that they could find their way back to something resembling happiness... together.

But with that possibility came the knowledge that there was still so much left unsaid; so much ground yet to cover before either of them would truly understand what this all meant for them and their future. And as tired as they were, they both knew that they couldn't ignore it anymore... not if they ever wanted things to work out between them.

The silence stretched on, thick with the weight of unspoken words and unanswered questions. It was a comforting silence in its own way; a reminder that despite everything, there was still time for everything... even for damaged