DAMIEN POV
After the intense battle with the rogue, my mind was filled with a whirlwind of emotions. I knew I had to find Celestria, to see how she was doing after witnessing the chaos.
 
As I walked, the images of the battle were replayed in my mind. The clash of teeth, the snarls, and the desperate growls echoed in my ears. It was a haunting reminder of the violence and danger we had faced.
 
Finally, I spotted Celestria standing at the edge of the clearing, her eyes wide with shock. I quickened my pace, eager to reach her side. When I stood before her, I gently placed a hand on her shoulder, offering solace. Gently, I reached out and took her trembling hand, offering her a silent understanding and support.
 
"Celestria," I said softly, my voice filled with concern. "Are you okay? I know what you saw was terrifying, but we're safe now. The battle is over."
She turned to me, fear and disbelief evident in her eyes. "I... I can't believe what I witnessed," she whispered, her voice trembling. "The scene, the violence... it was too much."
I nodded, understanding the impact the battle had on her. "It was a frightening experience, but we made it through. We fought with all our strength and protected our pack. We're here together, safe."
 
Celestria took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "I'm grateful that we're out of danger," she said, her voice filled with gratitude. "But the memories of the battle are still fresh in my mind."
 
I squeezed her hand gently, offering reassurance. "I understand how you feel. It's natural to be shaken by what we witnessed. But remember, we're strong, and we have each other to lean on. We'll get through this together."
She nodded, a glimmer of hope shining in her eyes. "Thank you for being here," she whispered softly. 
As we walked away from the battlefield, I couldn't shake the feeling that this encounter had changed something between us. The intensity of the battle had revealed a side of me she hadn't seen before.
As we made our way back, we witnessed the families of our pack members grieving for their lost loved ones. The sound of their cries echoed through the air, a painful reminder of the sacrifices made during the battle.
 
Entering our home, we were greeted by my parents, their faces etched with worry. They had heard of the fierce encounter and were anxious to see us return safely.
 
"Alpha, Celestria, thank goodness you're back," my mother exclaimed, her voice filled with relief. "We were so worried about you both. Are you okay?"
I nodded, my voice filled with a mix of exhaustion and sadness. "We're physically unharmed, but the battle took its toll on us emotionally. It was a harrowing experience."
 
My father's comforting hand on my shoulder brought a sense of reassurance. "Son, battles like these have a way of changing us," he said softly. "It's important to give ourselves time to process what we've been through and lean on each other for support."
 
Celestria's eyes welled up with tears, reflecting the pain we all felt. "The cries of the families, the loss we witnessed... it's all so overwhelming," she murmured, her voice choked with emotion.
 
My mother embraced Celestria, giving her a comforting hug. "We understand, dear. It's natural to be deeply affected by such events."
I felt a surge of pride as my father's words echoed in my mind. "Son, I'm very proud of you for protecting our pack," he said, his voice filled with admiration.
 
In that moment, surrounded by the love and support of my family, I realized the strength that comes from unity. The battle had changed us, but it had also reminded us of the importance of standing together in times of hardship.
As the days passed, we took the time to process our emotions and support one another. We attended the funerals of our fallen pack members, honoring their bravery and sacrifice. 
After the intense battle with the rogue, the atmosphere within our pack was heavy with both relief and grief. As the alpha, it was my responsibility to lead and support my pack members during this challenging time.
 
Among them was my bratty mate, who had always been headstrong and impulsive. The battle had left its mark on her, and I knew that she needed guidance and understanding.
As we gathered to mourn the fallen pack members, I approached her with a gentle yet firm demeanor. "I understand that the battle was overwhelming, but we must remember to honor the bravery and sacrifice of our pack," I said, my voice filled with empathy.
 
She crossed her arms and looked away, a defiant expression on her face. "I don't need your lectures, Alpha," she retorted, her tone filled with frustration.
 
Taking a deep breath, I maintained my composure. "I'm not lecturing you," I replied calmly. "I'm reminding you of the importance of respecting our fallen pack members."
She huffed, clearly resistant to my words. "I can handle myself just fine," she insisted, her voice tinged with stubbornness.
 
I placed a hand on her shoulder, my touch gentle yet firm. "I know you're strong, but we all need support during times like these. 
Her defiant expression softened slightly, and she sighed. "I guess... I just didn't expect it to affect me this much," she admitted, her voice laced with vulnerability.
 
I nodded, understanding her struggle. "The battle was intense, and it's natural to be affected by it. But together."
***
As I watched my mate struggle to calm down the crying child in her arms, a mischievous grin spread across my face. I couldn't resist the opportunity to tease her a little, especially when she scowled at me as if it were my fault the child was upset.
"Come on, alpha," she grumbled, shooting me an irritated scowl. "I can't believe you find this amusing. This little troublemaker won't stop crying."
With a mischievous grin, I decided to playfully taunt her. "Looks like someone needs a lesson in baby whispering," I teased, trying to hide my amusement.
 
She shot me an annoyed glare, her frustration evident. "Oh, please! Like you could do any better," she retorted, crossing her arms defiantly.
 
I couldn't resist the challenge she presented. "Watch and learn," I said confidently, taking the child into my arms. I tried to soothe the little one with gentle pats and a comforting voice.
Attempting my best comforting moves, I make funny faces and silly sounds, hoping to turn the tide. The little one continued to whimper, and I couldn't deny the pressure building up. My mate, with a smug expression, watched as I attempted to employ gentle pats and a comforting voice. It wasn't long before I found myself in a comical struggle to pacify the tiny troublemaker.
But no matter what I did, the child's cries only grew louder. It seemed that my attempts were only making things worse. I glanced at my mate, who couldn't help but smirk at my unsuccessful endeavors.
 
She couldn't hold back a teasing laugh. "Smooth move, alpha. The baby whisperer, huh?"
Frustration started to creep in, but I refused to give up. I tried different techniques, singing softly and rocking the child in my arms. Still, the cries persisted.
I scowled playfully, refusing to admit defeat. "I just need some practice," I retorted, determined to salvage my dignity.
In a moment of intense frustration, Celestria moved hastily and unintentionally collided with me, causing our lips to come into brief contact in a surprising and unintentional kiss.
But before we could fully process what had happened, my mate's hand came crashing down on my cheek in a swift slap. The shock of the moment left us both speechless.
 
She looked at me, her eyes filled with a mix of surprise and anger. "What was that?!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with frustration.
 
I rubbed my cheek, a mixture of pain and bewilderment on my face. "I... I don't know. It just... happened," I stammered, unable to find the right words to explain.
Her expression hardened, and she turned away from me, leaving me alone with the crying child. The weight of her slap and the silence that followed hung heavily in the air.
As the child's cries echoed in the room, I couldn't help but feel a sense of regret. In my attempt to lighten the mo
od, I had only succeeded in upsetting Celestria and causing further distress to the child.