《My Alpha Mate》


 Chapter 1 The New Bride Candidate

    ~ the Dark Howlers pack ~


    Damon entered his study and looked grumpily at the stack of documents that are waiting for him to sign.


    Why is the Alpha of thergest pack in North America forced to do this office work?


    As a child, when he imagined his future, Damon saw himself as a mighty warrior, standing victoriously on the pile of his enemies while his allies and pack members worshiped him. This wood-paneled office and leather furniture are a far cry from it. It¡¯s suffocating.


    Damon plopped on his chair and red at the documents, wishing that he can make them disappear pleted preferably). Of course, it didn¡¯t work.


    He pushed documents on the side and decided to check his email first.


    Damon¡¯s expression darkened when he saw an email from Elder Parker with subject: ¡°Consider Marcy Redmayne as your Luna¡±.


    Another Elder is persistent in getting Damon together with a woman, all wrapped in a story of how an Alpha needs his Luna in order for the pack to prosper, but Damon and his pack are doing just fine.


    Damon deleted the email, without reading it, just how he did with the previous twenty that had the same subject.


    Damon pinched the roof of his nose as familiar anger swelled inside him. He is irritated that these people are trying to manipte him. Why don¡¯t they give up? He is no one¡¯s puppet!


    Last night, Elder Parker called and tried convincing Damon to see this woman, the perfect Luna, how he described her. Damon congratted himself for managing to stay cool and not explode in rage, but he was not unaffected.


    After that call, Damon took the car and drove to a bar about forty minutes away and he found two fine she-wolves to keep himpany and help him release steam.


    That¡¯s why all these documents are waiting for him. He was supposed to deal with this workst night.


    ¡®Right. Documents¡­¡¯, Damon grumbled internally and resigned himself to his fate wile reaching for the folder that was at the top of the stack.


    In the bedroom on the second floor of the packhouse¡­


    ¡°Do you need to leave?¡±, Maya asked Caden in a whiny voice while moving theforter to expose her left leg, tempting him to stay longer.


    Maya knew that Caden waste for work and even though this was their third year of living together, every morning was a struggle to separate.


    While looking at Maya¡¯s seductive smile, Caden clearly felt her desire for him, just how she felt his.


    Mates.


    Caden¡¯s wolf was wing at him to pounce on the woman both of them adore and make her scream in ecstasy, but Caden reminded himself that there are things he needs to do.


    Caden groaned in frustration while buttoning up his jeans.


    Leaving Maya is always difficult, but the sight of her delicious skin is upgrading the difficulty level to: mission impossible.


    ¡°I must go, baby. Your man is a Beta. Duty calls.¡±, Caden said in a husky voice that made her smile foolishly.


    Caden leaned over Maya and gave her a long lingering kiss.


    He breathed heavily while inching away, and Maya bit her lower lip temptingly in herst-ditch effort to keep him for another round of carnal pleasures but Caden grabbed his t-shirt and pulled it over his head.


    He winked yfully before leaving the room with, ¡°Keep those thoughts for tonight, sugarplum. I promise to make it up to you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m counting on it!¡±, Maya shouted after him.


    Caden didn¡¯t tell Maya that the ¡®duty¡¯ which called him is another marriage request for the Alpha of their pack.


    This time, the prospective bride is Marcy Redmayne, the daughter of the Alpha of the Red Moon pack.


    Telling a man that a woman is interested in marriage might seem like a small thing, but to Caden, this is more stressful than facing an attack from rogues where they are heavily outnumbered.


    First, a little background.


    Werewolves are able to sense their mate after their eighteenth birthday, and within the next few years, most of them are mated.


    Of course, there are exceptions, and one of them is Alpha Damon, a twenty-seven years-old Adonis with a full head of raven ck hair and blue enigmatic eyes to match his unpredictable personality.


    Even straight guys think that Damon is hot.


    Damon¡¯s rtionship status: not mated, not married, not taken, and not interested in anything beyond pleasures of the flesh.


    One might think how that¡¯s the description of a despicable guy everyone would avoid, yet the she-wolves are crazy about him, each thinking that she is THE one to thaw his icy heart and im the position of the Luna in the Dark Howlers pack, thergest pack in North America.


    Caden knows that Damon is not an asshole. After all, they grew up together.


    They trained together, studied, andpeted in everything. When Damon became an Alpha, Caden supported him unconditionally, and they became the youngest Alpha-Beta pair among all the packs in the history of werewolves. Badass.


    Damon took over the Dark Howlers pack at the age of seventeen, after his parents died in an ambush set up by rogues. At that time, the Dark Howlers pack was not thergest pack in North America, but its influence was not to be underestimated.


    Then seventeen years old Damon was the best warrior in their generation and great in academics, but he found himself unprepared for the role of a leader that a big pack needed. On top of it all, a number of Alphas and Elders started pressuring Damon into handing over his power and territory.


    Caden stood by Damon¡¯s side and helped him to the best of his abilities and to everyone¡¯s surprise, instead of sumbing under pressure and allowing the pack to crumble, Damon showed skill, determination, and strategy that didn¡¯t only maintain the Dark Howler¡¯s pack power, but he strengthened and expanded it.


    In thest ten years, Damon experienced numerous schemes that had the goal to use him. People approached him as friends, enemies, allies, and anything in-between, with an agenda to swindle him. Some were more sessful than others.


    Those bitter experiences formed the man he is today: righteous, strong-willed, unyielding, controlling, unforgiving, andpletely focused on the prosperity of the Dark Howlers pack.


    Saying that Damon is the most eligible bachelor is an understatement. Women are throwing themselves at him and screaming that they want to have his babies.


    Damon never allowed any she-wolf tobel herself as his girlfriend, and wife (aka Luna) was out of the question, but that didn¡¯t discourage ambitious wolves with some standing from trying to matchmake Damon with their daughters, sisters, aunts, cousins, or any other she-wolf that is of marriageable age.


    One Alpha from the pack in the South of Canada even sneaked his wife in Damon¡¯s bed.


    Unfortunately for them, Damon is not moved by an endless stream of potential bridesing his way. Actually, with every next woman who is throwing herself at him, Damon is erecting more walls that make him emotionally unavable.


    Damon has nothing against bedding a woman, but giving her a title because of their rtionship is a different thing.


    Damon is disgusted by people whotch onto him for power, and that is exactly where these brides are ssified.


    s, Caden is about to pressure Damon to meet another of those leeches. Caden hates it, but as a Beta, it¡¯s part of his work because Damon is avoiding (or refusing) Elder Parker, and things are getting heated.


    Caden reached the study and knocked twice before opening the door.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Why did you shut down the mind link?¡±, Caden asked Damon who was behind therge executive desk that had several stacks of documents on it.


    He is a hard-working Alpha, no one can deny that.


    ¡°Good morning to you too¡­¡±, Damon said dryly before responding, ¡°I didn¡¯t. I only shut YOU out.¡±


    Caden clicked his tongue irritably.


    No one in the pack dares to act so freely in front of Damon, but Caden and Damon are childhood friends.


    Of course, Caden will never show anything other than respect when others are present because Damon deserves respect, even though sometimes Caden wants to start a brawl.


    Damon¡¯s lips lifted into a mocking grin. ¡°Did your duties got in the way of your time with Maya?¡±


    ¡°Why ask if you know?¡± Caden was irritated that Damon was not looking at him. ¡°I take my role as Beta seriously and I don¡¯t skim on work, but there are things that could be avoided if you stop pushing unnecessary burden my way. Every minute of my existence is for Maya. Once you find your mate, you will understand.¡±


    Damon raised his gaze from the document he was holding, and he frowned at Caden. ¡°I don¡¯t need a woman in my life to obstruct me. A girlfriend is a nuisance, a wife would be a problem, and a mate would be a disaster.¡±


    Caden rolled his eyes. ¡®Damon is such a drama queen.¡¯


    There are many she-wolves eyeing to be Luna of the Dark Howlers pack and despite Damon¡¯s killer looks, those women don¡¯t care who the Alpha is, as long as they can climb that coveted position. Because of this, Caden understands Damon¡¯s aversion toward officially epting a woman as his partner.


    However, a werewolf can¡¯t pick his mate.


    Old Shamans tell stories of how the Moon Goddess creates werewolves and navigates their destiny so that every experience until one meets his mate is molding him into the perfect soulmate. When mates meet, they recognize each other, and the bond is formed immediately as they are halves of a wonderful whole.


    But for a stubborn unmated male like Damon, talking about that divine bond is like throwing pearls in front of a swine.


    Caden waved at Damon, indicating him to drop the topic. ¡°Enough with useless talk. I¡¯m here for important business.¡±


    ¡°If the important business is about the repeated emails that Elder Parker sent, that¡¯s the reason why I shut you down.¡±, Damon said casually, like he was discussing the weather.


    Caden felt rage and dejection swelling inside him. Damon did it on purpose! Somehow, Caden was not surprised by it.


    ¡°We are the biggest pack, and you can win against anyone in a one-on-one fight, but their influence is undeniable. If they unite to pressure us, we won¡¯t be able to resist. You can¡¯t avoid Elders, Damon.¡±


    ¡°Watch me.¡±, Damon spat.

 Chapter 2 The New Bride Candidate (2)

    Caden rubbed his forehead forcefully while looking at the stubborn Alpha in front of him.


    He knew that Damon will resist, but this time he seems to be more determined than ever.


    The truth is that Caden handled numerous emails from Elders who are trying to matchmake Damon with his next bride.


    Elder Parker is unusually persistent in demanding that Damon meets Marcy (aka the bride candidate) in person.


    As much as one Elder doesn¡¯t pose much of a threat, Damon already offended quite a bit of them. If not for Elders¡¯ public image of benevolent leaders, Caden is confident that Elders would cklist Damon and smear his reputation while pulling the strings for other packs to unite in a war against the Dark Howlers pack.


    Both Damon and Caden hate dealing with Elders who are a bunch of arrogant ex-Alphas, eager to prove that they still have the power. The whole council of Elders is a big mass of testosterone and over-inted egos, ready to implode at the slightest provocation, and the scariest thing is that they have connections and the power to sway people.


    The Dark Howlers are the biggest pack and they have capable warriors, but if several packs join forces, they would be at a disadvantage.


    ¡°It¡¯s more than three months since you met yourst bride. They are impatient.¡±, Caden continued persuading Damon. ¡°The rumor is that if Elder Parker is sessful and Marcy bes your Luna, he will gain enough support to be the next head of the Council. Will you allow him to climb over your back? Why don¡¯t you show that you are no one¡¯s pawn?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m doing by ignoring him.¡±, Damon responded.


    ¡°They are taking your silence as a sign of fear. You need to step into the light and take charge.¡±


    ¡°Are you trying to manipte me?¡±, Damon asked in a dangerously low voice.


    ¡°No.¡±, Caden lied with a straight face. ¡°As your Beta, I¡¯m reminding you of the facts. Why don¡¯t you handle this girl and shut them up? Or would you rather avoid that slight inconvenience of bedding a woman and risk causing trouble for the pack?¡±


    Damon cocked his eyebrow and pursed his lips. ¡°You are saying that I put that snobby woman in her ce?¡±


    Snobby? Caden was not sure about Marcy¡¯s character, but if she is willing to ept an arranged marriage to a man she never met, she is probably not the best example of a she-wolf who is fit to be Luna.


    Luna needs to fight for what she believes is right, and not allow others to use her. How can Marcy be a good Luna and take care of the pack if she can¡¯t take care of herself? No matter what her background is, a real Luna would approach Damon personally and not use connections to win him over.


    In this case, it¡¯s obvious that Marcy¡¯s father and Elder Parker are pulling the strings.


    If the marriage with Marcy goes through, Marcy¡¯s father (aka Alpha Edward) will also gain benefits even if Damon ignores him because it will be undeniable that they are connected via marriage, and that will improve Alpha Edward¡¯s standing. In addition to that, Alpha Edward probably made a deal with Elder Parker who rmended Marcy as the perfect Luna for the Dark Howlers pack.


    It¡¯s a whole web of leeches, waiting for Damon to take the bait and Damon is perfectly aware of that.


    Damon did this many times before. He would visit the prospective bride, explore her thoroughly and then announce that a cheap slut can¡¯t be his Luna.


    Other than insulting that woman, her father (aka the ambitious person), and their pack, that¡¯s also a setback for the Elder who was matchmaking Damon in that specific case.


    No matter how much Damon offended any of them, they can¡¯t publicly admonish Damon because (officially) he came to meet his future bride and he found hercking.


    Caden saw that Damon is considering it, and he thought to give him a push in the right direction.


    ¡°She is not just any woman. Did you see the photo? Tall, blonde, a looker, and she has quite the assets¡­¡±, Caden cupped his palms in front of his chest, gesturing that Marcy has bountiful breasts.


    Damon pressed his lips into a line and typed on his keyboard. His eyes skimmed over the content, and he frowned.


    ¡®What do you think?¡¯, Damon mentally asked his wolf.


    ¡®She looks like trouble.¡¯, his wolf responded.


    Damon groaned in frustration. ¡®If I go, it¡¯s trouble. If I ignore this summon, it¡¯s trouble. Which trouble should I pick?¡¯


    ¡®Stop acting like it¡¯s the first time. Why are you asking me when you know the answer?¡¯


    ¡®Because you are my voice of reason.¡¯, Damon responded.


    ¡®Good that you know. But in this case, you figured it out without me. I¡¯m aware that you don¡¯t like dancing with snakes, but as a good Alpha, you should avoid direct confrontation when possible and use a softer approach. This bride-business aside, you might find out something useful while staying in their packhouse. They won¡¯t dare act against you if you announce your location. Now let me sleep and don¡¯t bother me unless it¡¯s an emergency¡­¡¯


    Damon felt his wolf slipping away as he retracted at the back of his mind.


    Damon is unique. Other werewolves can sense their wolf and exchange emotions. They can feel when their wolf is restless, angry, or happy, while Damon can actually hold a conversation. No one knows about this, other than Damon and his wolf.


    Damon¡¯s wolf is one of the key contributors to Damon bing and staying the Alpha of the Dark Howlers pack when he was only seventeen years old.


    His wolf is not very chatty, but he gives the right advice whenever Damon needs it, and Damon is aware that his wolf holds the wisdom of many lifetimes.


    Damon sensed his wolf, just like any other werewolf when he was in his early teens. And on the night when his parents perished, his wolf spoke to him for the first time.


    ¡®Sorry, kid¡­¡¯, his wolf said and Damon jolted out of his bed in the middle of the night.


    ¡°What the¡­?¡±, Damon mumbled while looking around in search of the source of that sound.


    ¡®I¡¯m in your head. Your father asked me to take care of you.¡¯


    Damon was totally confused. ¡°What? How? Who are you?¡±


    ¡®I¡¯m something that your kind calls the wisdom of the Alpha, and I can manifest myself through your wolf. I served your grandfather, your father, and now I serve you.¡¯


    ¡°Why did you stop serving my father?¡±


    ¡®I¡¯m sorry, kid¡­ he and your mother are gone¡­¡¯


    This was a huge emotional shock for Damon that forced him to step into adulthood abruptly.


    Since then, Damon relies on his wolf to keep him in check.


    Not every Alpha can talk to his wolf, and his wolf didn¡¯t have answers if he is the only one, but he advised Damon to keep this a secret.


    Back to the present¡­


    ¡°It says that she is untouched.¡±, Damon said while gesturing toward the screen of hisputer. ¡°You know I like them experienced. And as much as she is fine-looking, it¡¯s not worth a full day traveling. I can have a dozen of such women within half an hour drive or without moving from this chair.¡±


    Caden forced a smile while trying to conceal his irritation.


    In Damon¡¯s words: virgins need to be courted with flowers and choctes and sweet words, and after he is done with them, they be clingy.


    Damon doesn¡¯t have the time to waste on such nonsense. Intimacy for him doesn¡¯t go beyond pleasures of the flesh. That¡¯s as far as any woman reached him.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    ¡°What¡¯s the worst that can happen?¡±, Caden continued persuading Damon. ¡°You get to taste a new piece of meat, and when your fun is over, you announce that she is not good enough to be your Luna. Marcy may be untouched on paper, but my sources say that¡¯s notpletely true. I will watch your back, while Maya will collect dirt on the girl so you can create a believable story. We know the drill. We get in and out and are back in three-to-four days, max, and we get to shut down Elders for another couple of months.¡±


    Damon¡¯s jaw twitched as he grit his teeth.


    ¡°Fine. We leave in¡­¡±, Damon paused and nced at the calendar. ¡°Five days.¡±


    Caden released the breath he was holding. ¡°I will get everything in order.¡±


    Caden left the study feeling victorious. Maya loves traveling and when they apany Damon on his visit to the bride, Maya and Caden roley as spies on a secret mission that ends up with a steamy session between the sheets. Just thinking about it makes him excited.

 Chapter 3 Marcy Redmayne

    ~ Paris, France ~


    Marcy Redmayne is the princess of the Red Moon pack, the secondrgest pack in North America.


    Her father is Alpha Edward, and her mother is Luna La.


    Since her younger brother is set to be the next Alpha of the Red Moon pack, Marcy got an opportunity to explore the world.


    She spent thest ten years in Europe, starting with the United Kingdom, and after two years in Pnd, this was Marcy¡¯s third year in France.


    Other than immersing herself in different cultures, Marcy is learningnguages and attending schools.


    Marcy finished college three months ago, and since her parents didn¡¯t say anything at that time, Marcy assumed that she could stay in Europe, so she rented an apartment and that was a big deal because until then Marcy stayed in boarding schools. This small one-bedroom apartment gave her a sense of independence and she even started working part-time.


    In thest ten years, Marcy didn¡¯t visit home. She video chats with her mother once per week and they exchange emails.


    Marcy is about halfway through her course on making macaroons, and she ns to go to Spain in a few months as her next adventure. This would be relevant if her parents didn¡¯t call her unexpectedly to return home.


    It was around midnight when Marcy drowsily picked up the call.


    ¡°I booked you a flight tomorrow morning.¡±, Marcy¡¯s mother, Luna La said.


    Marcy¡¯s drowsiness was dispelled by this news. ¡°Did anything happen? Is everyone OK?¡±


    ¡°Everyone is fine, but we want you home as soon as possible. Is there a reason for you to dy? Your flight is at 6 AM. The e-ticket is in your inbox.¡±


    Marcy blinked while looking at the dates on the ticket, and then at the time. ¡°Mother, you forgot the time difference. That¡¯s only six hours from now.¡±


    ¡°Well, I guess you hurry packing.¡±


    Marcy was dejected while thinking about what to put in her suitcase.


    She was nning to meet with her friends in the morning for breakfast, and instead of that, she needs to pack and leave.


    Her mother didn¡¯t even say how long she needs to stay home. It¡¯s not permanent, right? What if it is, and she can¡¯te back?


    Some of her favorite clothes were in theundry, and with the rush, she didn¡¯t have time to say goodbye to her friends. What about her part-time job in the caf¨¦?


    Her lease on the apartment was valid for another three months, so Marcy decided to pack only some necessities, confident that she will return in the next three months.


    Her parents were always domineering, just like any other Alpha and Luna, but this was extreme. What¡¯s with the urgency?


    What Marcy didn¡¯t know was that as she was approaching graduation, her parents started discussing with Elder Parker how they can use Marcy in order to increase their power. After all, with her college degree, Marcy is more educated than most of the werewolves who don¡¯t go beyond high school, and she is speaking multiplenguages.


    It was time for Marcy to contribute to the family and to her pack.


    Alpha Edward was confident that his daughter will be obedient. She is raised for greatness, and there was nothing wrong with their ns; they are beneficial for Marcy as well.


    ¡­


    ~ The Red Moon pack ~


    Marcy returned home to a modest wee from her family.


    Alpha Edward, Luna La, and her younger brother James were sitting in the luxuriously decorated living room, waiting for Marcy¡¯s arrival.


    There were pastries and a pitcher with lemonade on the table for refreshments.


    ¡®Do I need to do this?¡¯


    Marcy jolted when her brother¡¯s voice sounded in her head. After ten years away from the pack, she forgot about the mind link and quickly closed her mind so that others can¡¯t hear her thoughts.


    Luna La turned stiffly toward her son. ¡°At least greet your sister.¡±


    ¡°Wee home.¡±, James said with a forced smile. ¡°Sorry, but my next ss starts in two minutes, and if I¡¯mte, I get extra work. We will catch upter.¡± James waved at Marcy and left the room in hurried steps.


    James was only five years old when Marcy left, and they are practically strangers. James is now a fifteen years-old boy who is working hard in order to be the next Alpha of the Red Moon pack. Between lessons and training, James doesn¡¯t have much free time.


    Alpha Edward gave Marcy a tight hug and he held her shoulders while observing her wless face with an approving smile.


    He touched her blonde silky hair while saying, ¡°You are a beauty, Marcy. I¡¯m proud to be your father.¡±


    Marcy felt her cheeks burning. It¡¯s notmon for her to hear praises from Alpha Edward. ¡°Thank you, father.¡±


    ¡°Did you meet your mate?¡±


    Marcy was surprised by this question. ¡°Uhm¡­ no.¡±


    ¡°Good. Good.¡± Alpha Edward¡¯s smile widened. ¡°I have things to do, so I will leave you to your mother.¡±


    Luna La had the schedule ready. ¡°Darling, you must be hungry. Are you jetgging? We didn¡¯t want to overwhelm you today. There will be a bigger wee party tomorrow evening. For today, I scheduled us a full spa treatment and in the afternoon a few of my friends wille for tea. They know you as a little girl with freckles. I¡¯m sure they will be surprised to see you¡­¡±


    Marcy raised her hand, to stop her mother¡¯s chatter. ¡°I could eat. Can you send the food to my room?¡±


    Luna La confirmed. ¡°Shower, and the food will wait for you. You have one hour until we leave for the spa. No matter how tired you are from the trip, the massage will rx you and we can eat there as well.¡±


    Marcy responded with a tight smile and went to her old room.


    Everything was how she left it in the room that was dominated by pastel pink and purple colors. A queen size poster bed with a side cab, on the right was a desk with a chair, and two doors lead to bathroom and walk-in closet respectively.


    A wall shelf next to her bed still had plushies that she collected as a child. Teddy bears mostly.


    It all brought back memories, but Marcy didn¡¯t have many warm and fuzzy feelings about them.


    She was confused by the abrupt summon which came with urgency and now that her family weed her like this was nned for some time, Marcy felt uneasy.


    Just as Luna La said, by the time Marcy got out of the bathroom, food was waiting for her on the bedside table. A sandwich, an apple, and a cup of tea.


    Marcy plopped on the bed and chewed a sandwich absentmindedly while thinking about her current situation.


    She left behind friends, an apartment with her private belongings, and a part-time job in a small caf¨¦. She had a life there and she didn¡¯t n to return to the Red Moon pack for more than a visit.


    There is nothing wrong with the Red Moon pack. It¡¯s the secondrgest pack in North America, and as the oldest child (and the only daughter) of Alpha and Luna, Marcy is the princess with ess to all the luxuries she can imagine.


    The packhouse is massive, and Marcy has her own suite on the third floor, everyone is sucking up to her, but this doesn¡¯tpare to the vibrance of Europe.


    What Marcy has in Europe and not here is¡­ freedom.


    In Europe, she could go when and where she wanted, with whom she wanted, and here she needs to follow a protocol as the princess of the Red Moon pack. For Marcy, this opulent packhouse is no more than a golden cage.


    Marcy took a deep breath and told herself not to freak out. It¡¯s a culture shock and she will get used to it. After all, considering all the money she has, Marcy can travel to Europe anytime, right?


    Marcy consoled herself with one big positive. While on the territory of the Red Moon pack, she can shift into her wolf form anytime without worrying that someone will see her and call hunters or the zoo.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Marcy was spacing out with a half-eaten sandwich in her hand when someone knocked on the door.


    ¡°Come in¡­¡±, Marcy called while wondering if her one hour passed already.


    ¡°Hello¡­¡±, a polished brte said when her head peeked into Marcy¡¯s room.


    Marcy thought that she looks familiar, but she couldn¡¯t put a name and a face together.


    The brte smiled helplessly. ¡°It seems you forgot about me. I¡¯m Nora, my father is Beta Raymond. Luna La told me to see if you need anything. I will join you for the spa outing.¡±


    When Marcy heard that Nora is Beta¡¯s daughter, she remembered a small girl with pigtails and freckles on her nose.


    Nora grew into a tall brte with a slender figure and curves in all the right ces.


    Marcy understood that she was looking at her new best friend.


    This was another thing Marcy left behind in Europe, the freedom to pick her friends.


    Marcy decided to focus on the positives. At least Nora is her age and not her mother¡¯s teapanion.

 Chapter 4 The Welcome Party

    Marcy mused that she and Nora should have at least something inmon. If nothing else, based on Nora¡¯s shiny hair and wless skin, the two of them can talk about hair and makeup, and Nora¡¯s outfit was branded as well.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need anything.¡±, Marcy said. ¡°But you are wee toe in if you have nothing else to do. We can chat.¡±


    ¡°Sure!¡±, Nora said cheerfully and entered the room.


    Marcy took a bite of her sandwich and eyed Nora.


    ¡°Do you know why my parents called me to return suddenly?¡±


    This was the question that was eating Marcy from the inside since she received her mother¡¯s call. Marcy didn¡¯t ask her parents for an exnation because she knew that if they wanted her to know, they would tell her. It was always like that.


    Nora stared at Marcy with her mouth half-open, obviously caught off guard by this question. ¡°You should ask Alpha Edward and Luna La.¡±


    Before Marcy could ask anything else, Nora switched the topic. ¡°Tomorrow is your wee party. The invitation was sent to almost all pack members from eighteen to thirty years old. Your parents think highly of you to have such a big crowd. It¡¯s to announce to everyone that you are back and for you to make friends. We all know you because you are the Alpha¡¯s daughter, and you probably forgot about us. There will be more than two hundred people¡­¡±


    Marcy was grateful for her parents, but everything seemed forced, and it reminded her of how things used to be before she left for Europe.


    Marcy¡¯s childhood was filled with a strict schedule of lessons, training, and nned outings with a selected group of people.


    After ten years away from home, Marcy forgot about the environment she endured as a child. At that time, she thought it¡¯s normal and she epted it, but after experiencing freedom, now it was alling back in painful fragments which suffocated her.


    ¡­


    The next day¡­


    Marcy¡¯s wee party started at six in the afternoon.


    Nora and Marcy got dressed and helped each other with hair and makeup.


    The two of them were fashionablyte,ing out at six-twenty and they exchanged approving smiles when they saw that their impable styles put them above the others, just how Alpha¡¯s and Beta¡¯s daughters should be.


    Marcy observed the massive room on the first floor that opens up to the garden via two ss French doors. She remembered that this is where guests would gather for birthdays when she was a child.


    Nora was sticking close to Marcy and making sure to introduce everyone who came close to them.


    Marcy felt like royalty, and not in a good way. She was standing and shaking hands with a fake smile on her face. After the twentieth person (or so), Marcy stopped trying to remember their names.


    Objectively, the party was well organized. The music was upbeat, and the dance area was packed, the food was tasty and plentiful, and there was a wide selection of beverages. The mood was good, people were friendly, and they all tried to leave a good impression on Marcy.


    Marcy thought how after initial formalities are over, she might be able to rx and enjoy.


    It was shortly after eight o¡¯clock when her wolf stirred as the most seductive scent of sweet clover invaded her senses.


    ¡®Mate¡­¡¯, her wolf spoke inside Marcy¡¯s mind, and her insides trembled.


    The wolves don¡¯t speak unless it¡¯s to notify their human half that the mate is nearby. She dreamed about this moment for a long time, and now it¡¯s here!


    Marcy¡¯s twenty-first birthday was four months ago, and she lost hope that she will meet her mate. This was totally unexpected.


    Marcy was overwhelmed by the need to follow her senses and give in to the invisible pull in order to find him.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡±, Nora asked when she saw Marcy walking away.


    ¡°To the restroom.¡±, Marcy lied.


    ¡°I¡¯ming with you.¡±


    ¡°No need. I will be back in a minute.¡±, Marcy said and disappeared into the crowd before Nora could respond.


    As soon as Marcy stepped on the terrace that was leading toward the garden, Marcy¡¯s blue eyes locked with mesmerizing chocte ones and she was in Heaven.


    ¡®Coming home was not a bad thing, after all¡­¡¯, Marcy thought. If she knew that her mate was here, she woulde three years ago.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    They walked toward each other as possessed, and he took her hand in his without a word spoken. They both jolted as the delightful sparks prickled their skin upon contact, and their wolves stirred in joy.


    The brown-haired Greek God took the lead and Marcy followed obediently deeper into the garden, seeking privacy.


    Marcy smiled foolishly while observing his broad back. He was tall and muscr and everything she ever imagined her partner will be.


    When they were at the edge of the garden, hidden from the crowd by therge hydrangea bushes, he stopped and turned to face Marcy.


    She took a moment to admire his features and take note of some details in silence, and he did the same.


    There was no need to speak. Their enamored gazes and matching smiles said it all.


    Marcy marveled how his hair turned golden under the rays of the setting sun. His full lips lifted into a half-smile demanded to be kissed, and she could see a tattoo peeking under his off-white shirt as his top button was undone. Is it a hummingbird? Marcy was eager to remove his shirt and see the extent of that artwork which embellished his muscr body.


    Marcy praised herself for preserving her v-card. This Greek God will definitely be ted when he finds out that she is a virgin, only his, and she couldn¡¯t wait for him to im her possessively. That¡¯s the way of the werewolves.


    It¡¯s not that she was saving herself for marriage, but Marcy knew that if her parents found out that she was defiled, she would be in big trouble. That¡¯s why whenever Marcy hooked up with guys, she made sure they are aware there will be no vaginal pration. Oral pleasures were fine, and if the guy was good, she would agree to anal, but her sweet spot was reserved for someone worthy. And this Greek God standing in front of her was worthy.


    He observed with admiration Marcy¡¯s impably straight blonde hair, parted on the side, that framed her exquisite face. Her light blue eyes, nearly gray¡­ straight nose¡­ full lips¡­ wless skin. Everything about Marcy was delicate and wonderful.


    Before he could say anything, Marcy grabbed the cor of his shirt and pulled him down for a kiss.


    Marcy¡¯s heart thumped erratically as mind-numbing electricity shot through her body while his vors spread within her and hisrge hands on her back felt just right.


    It was not her first kiss, and their tongues barely touched, yet Marcy was lightheaded and giddy.


    ¡°I¡¯m Marcy¡­¡±, she said while catching her breath.


    ¡°George¡±, he responded with a smile that made her core clench.


    ¡°My father is Alpha Edward and my mother¡­¡±


    ¡°I know¡±, he cut her off with a smoky voice that made her wish to rip his clothes off and throw herself at him right there, among the hydrangea bushes.


    She smiled like an idiot while running her hands over his firm chest. The pesky off-white shirt was in the way, but she suppressed her urges to undress him because she could hear the music and people chattering. Someone mighte and see them.


    George pushed the lock of Marcy¡¯s hair behind her ear, and she was sure that she never experienced anything more seductive in her life, yet.


    ¡°Tell me something about you.¡±, Marcy demanded dreamily.


    He shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m a nobody.¡±


    She didn¡¯t get it. ¡°You are from the Red Moon pack, right?¡± She could feel the mind link tingling, telling her that they belong to the same pack. ¡°The party started two hours ago, howe I noticed you only now?¡±


    ¡°I was cleaning training grounds. My shift ended at eight o¡¯clock. After that, I came here¡­¡±


    Marcy blinked while trying to process his words and her smile faltered.


    Cleaning? An Omega. A nobody.


    Why would the Moon Goddess pair her with an Omega? If he is a warrior, or a scout, or anything, it would be better than this. Omegas are the lowest, unskilled pack members.


    How can the princess be mated to an Omega?


    Marcy inhaled with difficulty and took a step back.


    And the next came from her mouth words she never thought she will say, ¡°I Marcy Redmayne, reject you¡­¡±


    Her heart ached and her wolf howled in protest. She could see anguish veiling George¡¯s handsome features, but she knew it had to be done.


    She was in so much pain while stammering away, that she didn¡¯t register if anyone noticed her leaving the party, or if George epted her rejection.


    George.


    That¡¯s the name that will be painfully etched into her heart forever.


    Marcy was nearing the door of her room when she bumped into someone.


    ¡°Sorry¡­¡±, Marcy mumbled at the girl that was now sitting on the floor, wearing clothes that were too shabby for the party by any standards.


    Marcy was in too much pain to think about the girl whose head was lowered, her unkempt copper-colored hair covered her face as she mbered to her feet and ran down the hallway.


    Marcy forced her legs to move because she didn¡¯t want anyone to see her in this state, especially not her parents, and she hoped that the person she knocked into was no one important.


    Marcy¡¯s wolf withdrew in the back of her mind, licking her wounds and refusing to acknowledge Marcy. Marcy could feel her wolf¡¯s pain that only amplified her own.


    Without her wolf, Marcy couldn¡¯t shift into wolf form, but soon she will find out how that¡¯s the least of her problems.

 Chapter 5 Excuses And Reasons

    The next day was a blur for Marcy as she struggled to ept reality while cursing the day of returning home.


    Luna La¡¯s tea parties, Nora taking Marcy ces and trying to cheer her up while thinking that Marcy has difficulty adjusting to the life in the pack, Marcying up with excuses why she is not shifting into her wolf form, various faces, and fake smiles, it all blended into fuzzy nothingness.


    The knowledge that she had a mate and lost him was like tasting the best delicacy and knowing it will forever be out of reach. But what were her options?


    Marcy didn¡¯t reject George on a whim.


    As much as Marcy is the princess of the Red Moon pack, in thest ten years, she experienced independence, met various people, and learned some things about life. She is not stupid.


    Marcy is aware that her parents see her as a token that can be exchanged for climbing up the powerdder. They sent her to Europe to increase the mystery around Marcy¡¯s identity and to give her abel of a she-wolf who knows the ways of the world.


    Just like any she-wolf, Marcy dreamed about meeting her other half and losing herself in his embrace.


    The guy of her dreams was tall and muscr and his scorching gaze was directed at her. He wouldmand thousands of werewolves during the day, and win fierce battles, while in the night he would make sure to tire her out in all positions of Kama Sutra.


    George was tall and muscr, and his scorching gaze whispered promises of sleepless nights full of carnal pleasures. But he didn¡¯t have anyone tomand because he was the one receiving orders.


    Marcy concluded that something must be wrong with George. If he was healthy, he would definitely be part of some warrior unit and not an Omega on cleaning duty.


    George would never get the approval of her parents.


    Marcy mentally went through numerous scenarios and oues, depending on who her mate would be, and she knew that if her mate is not someone outstanding, the best oue for both of them is to reject that bond before it solidifies.


    Omega is someone without a title, without a position, without resources.


    Marcy¡¯s parents would not ept him and if Marcy insisted on staying with him, they would either disown her, or they would punish him. Harshly. He might even lose his life.


    Alpha Edward and Luna La would not approve of such union, because that would sully their family and ruin twenty years of investments they made in Marcy.


    Marcy is the princess and it¡¯s her duty to ensure the prosperity of the pack, even if it means she needs to suffer. That sounds virtuous, but Marcy is aware how that is only a fa? ade created by her parents and other powerful individuals behind them. The truth is that they will use any means to grasp more, and it¡¯s never enough.


    Losing a mate is devastating, and the longer two are together, the stronger is the bond. There are cases when one mate died and the other one followed soon after, due to heartbreak.


    Rejecting George was the best decision, Marcy is confident about that.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    The bond was still weak, and they will survive and move on.


    Who knows? Maybe the Moon Goddess will give them second chance mates, or if theyplete the mating process with someone else, any other crushes and bonds will disappear. Hopefully.


    ¡­


    It was early morning when Alpha Edward called Marcy into his study.


    Other than her father, also present were Luna La, James (aka the brother), Beta Raymond, and Nora. Based on this lineup, Marcy knew that it¡¯s something important.


    Panic swelled within her. Is it possible that they heard about her rejecting George?


    Marcy told herself to calm down. Being rejected is a big shame, so George probably didn¡¯t share that with anyone, and she kept her lips sealed.


    Or did someone saw them kissing in the garden? Even if that¡¯s the case, kissing is not a big deal. Marcy was already spinning a story in her head, how that was a dare or a bet.


    ¡°Sit, Marcy.¡±, Alpha Edwardmanded, and when she sat on the chair, he announced, ¡°Alpha Damon of the Dark Howlers pack ising to visit us tomorrow. He will be here in time for lunch.¡±


    Marcy didn¡¯t understand why that required her presence or why it sounded so official. It¡¯s just a guest, an Alpha. He will join them for lunch and maybe dinner, and spend the day with her father.


    ¡°The Dark Howlers pack is thergest pack in North America.¡±, Luna La chimed in while looking at Marcy meaningfully.


    Marcy nodded in acknowledgment. She knew this.


    Marcy spent thest ten years in Europe, but she was aware of the major events among packs.


    Alpha Damon made quite a reputation for himself as a fierce warrior, undefeated among Alphas. Other Alphas admire him, fear him, and despise him at the same time because Alpha Damon got his position very young, and he doesn¡¯t take anyone¡¯s shit.


    The word is that Alpha Damon has a nasty temper.


    Marcy could guess that her father hates Alpha Damon. It¡¯s nothing personal, but because of the Dark Howlers pack, the Red Moon pack is second, and her father hates being second. Sprinkling salt to his wounded ego is the fact that Alpha Damon is half of her father¡¯s age, so there is that.


    Marcy wondered why her father was smiling, and his next few words answered Marcy¡¯s silent question, ¡°He ising to meet you and discuss with me the deal for you to be his Luna.¡±


    Marcy¡¯s word stopped. Deal to be his Luna. Luna? Like marriage, Luna?


    And then things fell into ce.


    All the sses and training she took; her parents let her pick whatever she wanted as long as she takes etiquette lessons as well as various sses that are rted to house and budget management. It all pointed out to the possibility of her parents grooming Marcy to be thedy of the house, a big house. Probably a Luna.


    Marcy understood that her parents are working on this for some time. Maybe from the day she was born.


    When Marcy returned, the first thing her father asked was if she is mated, probably to eliminate any potential problems.


    Marcy shook her head inwardly while thinking how it¡¯s a good thing she didn¡¯t tell anyone about George, and she hoped that he kept his mouth shut about them being mates because if that reaches her parent¡¯s ears, George will be in trouble.


    Marcy looked at her parents. From the beginning, they were preparing her for this, and she knew that the probability of an arranged marriage was high. However, Marcy hoped that it will be more on the lines of them meeting and getting to know each other before they discuss marriage, and not this¡­ business transaction.


    Marcy nced at Nora, and she wondered if Nora knew about this in advance. Does it matter? It won¡¯t change anything.


    ¡°What do you say, Marcy?¡±, Luna La asked excitedly.


    Marcy grit her teeth. What kind of a stupid question was that? Does she have a choice to oppose?


    ¡°I am still taking in this information.¡±, Marcy responded ambiguously.


    ¡°You have until tomorrow noon to take it in and adjust your attitude.¡±, Alpha Edward said, and only then Marcy noticed that his expression darkened. ¡°A lot of things depend on this marriage, so you better leave a good impression.¡±


    Marcy responded with a tight smile.


    How could she forget that her father did everything for his own gain? He probably sees Alpha Damon as a youngster that can easily be manipted. It would be stupid to think that this was ever about Marcy.


    ¡°Yes, father.¡±, was the only thing Marcy could say. ¡°If you excuse me¡­¡±


    Luna La gave eye signals to Nora to follow after Marcy. From the day Marcy returned, Nora¡¯s duty was to ensure Marcy doesn¡¯t do anything stupid.


    This is a crucial time for Marcy, and they needed Marcy to ept her reality and stayposed. That¡¯s what they raised her for.

 Chapter 6 Stephanie

    Marcy¡¯s mind was a mess after receiving the news that tomorrow she will meet Alpha Damon, the Alpha of the notorious Dark Howlers pack, aka her future husband.


    She still didn¡¯t recuperate from the event of finding (and rejecting) her mate, yet now she needs to think about another man. And this was not just any man. Alpha Damon has a grim reputation on the battlefield and an even worse reputation rted to women.


    In search of solitude that would allow her to think, Marcy went to her room.


    To Marcy¡¯s horror, Nora was two steps behind her, cooing how this is the best thing ever.


    Marcy was exasperated when she saw that Nora came into her room. Why won¡¯t Nora leave her alone?


    ¡°What do you know about Alpha Damon?¡±, Marcy asked irritably.


    Nora whipped her phone out. ¡°Very handsome! This one was taken two months ago when he visited the Silverburn pack. I have a friend there, so we exchange hottie-rted information, and Damon is a hottie, so¡­ I can¡¯t believe he ising here!¡±


    Marcy looked at the photo Nora showed her. Well, he is handsome.


    ¡°I guess with you marrying him, I will have the hottest info on him.¡±, Nora grinned at Marcy. ¡°You will be OK with me reporting things to my friends about your hot husband, right? Damon being married won¡¯t make him any less handsome, and we are only talking and looking. Not touching.¡±


    Marcy let out an exasperated sigh. ¡°Take as many photos as you want. It¡¯s not like I own the guy. This is all my father¡¯s doing, for the benefit of the pack. No one asked me how I feel about this.¡±This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Nora cocked an eyebrow at Marcy. ¡°How do your feelings change the fact that you are set to marry the hottest werewolf in North America? He has looks and money and thousands of warriors at his disposal. I can only imagine howvish his mansion is. His territory isrger than ours and it has forests andkes and mountains as far as your eyes can reach. It will be all yours.¡±


    ¡°What about his womanizing?¡±, Marcy asked.


    Nora rolled her eyes like Marcy asked something silly. ¡°Hellooooo! Damon is the Alpha of thergest pack in North America. He never lost a challenge, and he is young, handsome, and single. Do you expect him to be a monk? Women throw themselves at him. If he says a word, an endless line of beauties will form and wait for him to im them.¡±


    Marcy groaned. ¡°I was not talking about hookups. Didn¡¯t you hear about numerous women offering themselves as brides and Alpha Damon rejecting them?¡±


    Nora shrugged. ¡°One or a hundred, why does that matter? Do you put yourself on the same level as them? You are beautiful, well educated, and your father is the Alpha of the Red Moon pack. Even if Alpha Damon doesn¡¯t fall for you right away, as long as he doesn¡¯t reject you, you will get your chance to seduce him.¡±


    Marcy agreed with this, she is all what Nora said, and much more, and Marcy didn¡¯t meet a guy who would refuse her. No matter how manyyers Alpha Damon has around him, Marcy was confident that she will be able to win him over.


    At the mentioning of rejection, Marcy remembered George, the Greek God who gave her a few minutes of bliss before the harsh truth plunged her into agony.


    Does Damon have a mate or someone he prefers? Marcy was confident that a guy like Damon probably has several women at home, willing to please him. What if he has a harem?


    ¡°Do you know if Alpha Damon found his mate?¡±


    ¡°Maybe he did, and things didn¡¯t work out¡­¡±, Nora mused. ¡°But you should focus on the fact that he is avable. After youplete the mating ceremony, it won¡¯t matter if his mate is out there because the bond between the two of you will form and overshadow any others. You will be the Luna of the most powerful pack and he will adore you.¡±


    Marcy pursed her lips while thinking about Nora¡¯s words.


    Luna Marcy, Luna of the most powerful pack in North America. It doesn¡¯t sound bad. The fact that Alpha Damon is young and good-looking is an added bonus. Only a fool would pass such an opportunity.


    Marcy told herself that no matter what mate the Moon Goddess set for her, she can choose her mate. If theyplete the mating process, any other bond will disappear, including this longing Marcy feels for George.


    Marcy put her hand over her chest. She rejected him. Why does she still feel restless whenever she thinks of him?


    ¡°Are you OK?¡±, Nora asked with concern obvious in her voice.


    ¡°Yes, yes.¡±, Marcy was quick to ster a smile on her face. ¡°Tomorrow is a big day. Help me pick what to wear. Unfortunately, I didn¡¯t pack some of my favorite dresses and we might need to go shopping.¡±


    Nora squealed at the possibility of shopping. That¡¯s her favorite pastime.


    ¡­


    ~ The Dark Howlers pack ~


    While Marcy and Nora were going through Marcy¡¯s closet, at the same time, in the Dark Howlers pack¡­


    Damon exited the packhouse and just like every time when he leaves for longer than one day, he stopped and observed the three-story high majestic building.


    On the first floor aremon rooms, where pack members gather and they entertain guests.


    On the second floor are offices, guest bedrooms, and Beta¡¯s quarters.


    The third floor is reserved for Alpha and his family.


    Damon remembers the time when the packhouse was lively. When he was a child, it was always buzzing with activity. His mother, Luna Violet, knew how to attract people. She was kind, with the warmest smile under the moon, and everyone loved her.


    Now, it¡¯s just a handful of them staying in this huge mansion. Regr pack members have their own dwellings in the area, and theye to the packhouse only when they have some business or when Alpha is hosting an event, which is not very often.


    It¡¯s quiet.


    Damon turned to the car where Caden and Maya waited for him.


    It was time to head to the Red Moon pack and meet Marcy, the next candidate for his Luna.


    ¡°Cheer up!¡±, Caden shouted from the car at Damon. ¡°You look like you are going to a funeral, and not to getid! The mental image of a fine woman like Marcy spreading her legs for you should make you happy!¡±


    Maya pped Caden over his shoulder.


    ¡°What?¡±, Caden asked Maya innocently and she rolled her eyes at him.


    ¡°Why can¡¯t you pick your words a bit?¡±, Maya scolded Caden.


    Caden smirked. ¡°Since when you mind when I talk dirty?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine when it¡¯s only the two of us¡­¡±, Maya responded with a whisper and Caden chuckled before pulling her closer to give her a smacking kiss on the lips.


    Damon observed this lover¡¯s banter, and he was not enthusiastic about the uing trip. It will be a long drive and he will be forced to watch the PDA between those two lovebirds.


    ¡°Wait!¡±, a breathy female voice was heard from the hallway and a secondter a middle-aged woman appeared at the main door with a full head of curly red hair, and food containers in her hands. ¡°This is food for the road. I don¡¯t want you kids to go hungry.¡±


    Damon stifled augh and shook his head. For her, they will always be kids.


    Damon epted food containers withoutining. ¡°Thank you, Steph.¡±


    Stephanie takes care of the packhouse, handling tasks that are usually done by the Luna, and Damon often jokes that he will marry her.


    Luna of the pack takes care of the packhouse, and she ensures that the pack members are happy, while Alpha is in charge of security and everything running smoothly within the pack, and with their external rtionships (allies and enemies).


    To exin Alpha and Luna roles in simplenguage: Alpha takes care of the needs, while Luna takes care of the wants, and only when Alpha and Luna are working in harmony, the pack can grow and prosper.


    Damon doesn¡¯t have a Luna, so those duties are split between Stephanie and Maya, with Stephanie focusing on the packhouse while Maya keeps an eye on the pack members.


    Stephanie was Damon¡¯s mother¡¯s best friend, and her mate was the Beta of the Dark Howlers pack when Damon¡¯s father, Alpha Jacob, was the Alpha. Stephanie¡¯s mate died with Damon¡¯s parents.


    Stephanie has a daughter, Lisa, who was eight years old at that time, and Damon treats Lisa like his baby sister.


    With the demise of Alpha and Luna of the ck Howlers pack, the situation was unstable, and Stephanie couldn¡¯t leave Damon on his own, so she decided to send her daughter to her sister, for safety reasons.


    It took about two years for the peace to return to the ck Howlers pack and by then Lisa adapted to the life with her aunt and uncle, and they decided that she will stay there. Lisa still visits asionally, mostly during summer break and on holidays.


    For thest decade, Stephanie is treating Damon as her child, and everyone in the pack loves and respects her.

 Chapter 7 Power-Hungry Ex-es

    ¡°Drive safely.¡±, Stephanie said to Caden when he started the car.


    The trio would save a lot of time if they went with a helicopter or a ne, but werewolves like to feel the ground below them and won¡¯t fly unless it¡¯s absolutely necessary.


    ¡°Be back in three days.¡±, Stephanie added meaningfully.


    Caden paused while thinking about his and Damon¡¯s schedule. There was nothing that would require their presence for at least one week. Any work that was pending could be done via phone, email, or video chat.


    ¡°What¡¯s in three days?¡±, Caden asked.


    ¡°Cassie ising.¡±, Stephanie responded with an unhappy face.


    Caden stifled augh and Maya grimaced.


    ¡°What? Why?¡±, Damon asked dejectedly.


    Stephanie narrowed her eyes at him. ¡°You should ask her and not me. Cassie wanted toe today, but I told her that you will be out for a few days on business, and then she changed her tune to how she will go to New York for three days ande here after that. Make sure you are back by then. I don¡¯t want to entertain girls who think they are my Luna.¡±


    Damon nodded obediently. ¡°I will keep you informed about our schedule.¡±


    Before Stephanie could say anything, Damon slipped in the back seat of the car and mind-linked Caden, ¡®Drive, NOW!¡¯


    ¡°See you in a few days, Steph!¡±, Caden shouted through the open window and drove away.


    ¡°Not a few! Three! Did you hear me!?¡±, Stephanie shouted after them and shook her head helplessly. Kids.


    In the car¡­


    ¡°Man, you should tidy up your loose ends.¡±, Caden said to Damon teasingly.


    Damon groaned in frustration.


    If not for Caden setting him up with that sted date, Damon wouldn¡¯t even know who Cassie is.


    Cassie was one of the bride candidates. About three years ago, Damon went to meet her, and they met. Intimately.


    Damon didn¡¯t know it was her first time; not that it would make any difference.


    Damon deflowered many girls, she-wolves and humans alike, but after Cassie, he made a rule to stay away from virgins.


    Cassie is a spoiled youngdy, daughter of Alpha Richard, and Damon wonders if she has marbles instead of a brain.


    Damon rejected her many times, but she refuses to ept it and walks around telling people that they are nning her Luna ceremony. The woman is delusional.


    Since their one night together, Cassie shows up at the Dark Howlers pack asionally, demanding that Damon marries her because she gave him her first time.


    Damon would probably imprison her or maybe make her disappear if that wouldn¡¯t risk a war with the Steelbite pack.


    The Steelbite pack on its own is not a problem. It¡¯s one of the smaller packs in the Southeast. But Alpha Richard has many connections, even among the Elders, and Damon doesn¡¯t want to give them more reasons to target him.


    To Damon, Cassie is a temporary nuisance, and just like many she-wolves who are throwing themselves at him, Damon can tune her out.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Cassiees about once a month, spends two to three days making a ruckus, and when she gets tired, she leaves.


    As much as Damon can ignore Cassie and block her attempts to crawl onto hisp or sneak into his bedroom at night, Stephanie feels like snapping Cassie¡¯s neck whenever she hears Cassie saying how she is the Luna.


    For Stephanie, there was only one Luna of the Dark Howlers pack and she perished ten years ago. How Stephanie sees it, every time Cassie shouts she is Luna (and tries to act like one), Cassie is tarnishing the image of Damon¡¯s mother,te Luna Violet.


    Stephanie is aware that one day Damon will find his Luna, and Stephanie hopes that the girl will be at least half as good as her deceased best friend. Cassie is not good enough to clean Luna Violet¡¯s shoes which are sitting boxed up for thest decade, and taking Luna Violet¡¯s position is out of the question.


    Damon exhaled sharply, releasing his tension together withst thoughts about Cassie. With any luck, she will note, and he won¡¯t need to deal with all that drama.


    Women like Cassie enforce Damon¡¯s conviction that having a woman in life only brings trouble. He already has so much to deal with. Managing the pack, bncing the rtionships with other packs, alliances, deals, concealed enmity, and all those damned Elders who are trying to manipte him.


    Other than his mother and Stephanie (and maybe Maya), Damon didn¡¯t see any woman who can handle her own burden. That¡¯s why he doesn¡¯t want a woman in his life. His hands are already full and if he needs to deal with whinnying and pacifying women, he would go crazy.


    How Damon sees it, one-night stands are perfect and there are plenty of women who won¡¯t ask for more from a handsome stranger, especially she-wolves who have a high libido.


    Whenever he has time, Damon goes outside of his pack borders, into areas where no one knows him. He finds a woman, they have fun, and by morning he can go back to his duties without any strings attached.


    A clean break after an enjoyable night. Is that too much to ask for?


    Unfortunately, Damon is something like a celebrity, and those few women with whom he spent more than one night, started building expectations and he didn¡¯t want to deal with their tantrums, so he bailed out.


    Damon¡¯s phone rang and his handsome eyebrow arched when he saw the caller ID, ¡°Jade¡±.


    Ah, another of his ex-es (aka bride candidates), but this one didn¡¯t call him in more than a year, so he decided to see what she wants.


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Hi Alpha Damon, can we talk?¡±


    Damon hummed in confirmation. This is what he likes about Jade. She doesn¡¯t beat around the bush, and she doesn¡¯t y games.


    Damon remembers when he met Jade for a date, about two years ago. Jade told him that she is into modeling, and she has no ns to abandon her career, but she is not against one night of fun.


    ¡°We are already on a date, why not enjoy it all the way?¡±, she said with a wink and Damon approved.


    In the morning, there were no hugs, no kisses, and no empty promises. Jade just left which earned her a big brownie point in Damon¡¯s books and that¡¯s why he didn¡¯t block her number.


    And now it seems that she has something on her mind.


    ¡°Tell me.¡±, Damon said.


    ¡°I am aware that you are still single, and that Elders are pressuring you to get married more than ever, right?¡±


    Damon frowned and said sternly, ¡°Get to the point, Jade.¡±


    Jade heard the Alpha¡¯s tone in Damon¡¯s voice, and she got aroused. She can¡¯t help it. Every she-wolf reacts to a powerful male, it¡¯s in their genes.


    ¡°My father is nagging me to quit my job and find a husband and all the other stuff I don¡¯t want to do, so I thought of you.¡±


    Damon didn¡¯t get it. ¡°Exin.¡±


    ¡°We can help each other. I will stay at your ce for a few days, we go out, take some photos, and make it look like we are in a serious rtionship. That should pacify my father and Elders for some time. I can go back to my runway, while you do¡­ whatever you do. When they start bugging us again, we will repeat the process. What do you say?¡±


    ¡°You want to be my fake girlfriend?¡±, Damon summarized. Part of him thought how that¡¯s a good idea.


    ¡°Fake, real, those are justbels, right? We already shagged each other¡¯s brains out, so other than marking, we went as far as possible. This is something that can benefit both of us. If you want, we can sign a contract. I will appreciate it if you don¡¯t meddle in my career and don¡¯t touch my money.¡± After a brief pause, Jade spoke with urgency, ¡°I need to go. The show starts in five minutes, and I¡¯m the first model. Think about it and let me know. If you have any conditions, I¡¯m open for negotiations.¡±


    The call ended abruptly, and Damon stared at his phone.


    ¡°Will Jade be your pretend girlfriend?¡±, Maya asked with amusement in her voice.


    ¡°I hope not.¡±, Caden said seriously. ¡°Damon, remember that once they get in, it¡¯s a headache to kick them out. What if she wants more than pretending? And before you say how Jade is cool, let me remind you that she is crafty and ambitious. If she is not, she wouldn¡¯t be such a sessful model despite her father¡¯s objections.¡±


    Damon exhaled sharply as he agreed with Caden. All the irritation he left behind was back again.


    Women only bring trouble.


    Why can¡¯t they leave him alone?

 Chapter 8 Talia

    ~ The Red Moon pack ~


    ¡°Out of the way!¡±, Anna spat angrily while carrying a stack of tes into the kitchen.


    Talia quickly stepped to the side, not wanting to attract attention. She never understood why Anna or other Omegas are treating her like trash, she is an Omega, just like they are.


    The only difference between them and Talia is that they all have families, while Talia is an orphan. No one will stand up for her and in the world of werewolves, one wins by strength or numbers. Unfortunately, Talia doesn¡¯t have any of those, so she needs to submit or risk another beating.


    Talia read in a book that a good Luna should advocate for kindness and helping the less fortunate ones, but Luna La is not one of those. Other than worrying about herself, Luna La cares about the shy image of the Red Moon pack, and that¡¯s where her concerns stop.


    Talia huddled in the corner, behind a big ficus, and observed themotion.


    The whole packhouse was buzzing with activity and she overheard Omegas talking how someone important ising for lunch. Probably an Alpha.


    The packhouse is a big mansion that is used as a home for the Alpha, the Beta, and their families. Also, guests stay there.


    Other pack members have their own dwellings in the area whose size and proximity to the packhouse reflect the owner¡¯s standing within the pack.


    Talia is the only exception as she is a nobody and she lives in the packhouse, but only because she stays in the attic. No one knows Talia exists as long as shepletes her chores, and she doesn¡¯t get in anyone¡¯s way.


    On a normal day, Talia thinks of herself as a house mouse that lives within the walls without anyone noticing.


    Talia likes when they have important guests because that means there will be plenty of food to go around, just like during the party, two days ago.


    That party was amazing. Talia listened to the music from the window she cracked open while munching on a full te of various snacks she sneaked from the kitchen.


    The only bad thing was that the guest of honor, princess Marcy (how other Omegas call her), bumped into Talia after Talia returned the empty te. Luckily, Marcy didn¡¯t raise a fuss and she even apologized.


    Talia is confident that Marcy is a good person.


    When Talia cleaned Marcy¡¯s bathroom while Marcy was on one of her spa outings, Talia observed an array of beauty products she wouldn¡¯t even know how to use, and Marcy¡¯s closet was full of fancy outfits which confirmed to Talia that Marcy is the real princess. Princess Marcy.


    Talia used the less used passages to reach her room in the attic. The things inside are old and dingy, but she keeps it clean and most of the time no one bothers her.


    She smiled at the sight of two apples and a dinner roll that were on the napkin, next to the futon where Talia sleeps.


    Normally, Talia stays in her room during the day. At night, she wouldplete her chores, and she uses that opportunity to shower in a bathroom that is attached to one of the unused guest bedrooms. When everyone is sleeping, Talia sneaks into the kitchen to find food.


    How Talia sees it, today is a good day. With an important Alphaing, there will definitely be a feast, which means more leftovers.


    Taliaid on the futon that is riled with holes, and she stared at the ceiling while munching on an apple.


    Talia likes to think of herself as a captured princess, waiting for her prince to rescue her, but Talia is aware that she is no princess and there is no prince. Not for her at least.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Talia was brought to the Red Moon pack, when she was a toddler, by the previous Alpha. She heard rumors that the Alpha was kind and powerful, but unfortunately, soon after Talia¡¯s arrival to the Red Moon pack, he died, and his son, Edward inherited his position.


    Alpha Edward was eager to prove himself and in the world of werewolves, that is done by strength and strategizing. His strategy was to focus on warriors and military power, and he neglected everything else.


    Of course, Alpha Edward¡¯s perfect image was important, so Luna La was in charge of making the packhouse looking morous and organizing parties, while their daughter Marcy was sent to Europe to attend prestigious boarding schools when she was in her early teens, and their son James was busy with tutors even before he could walk properly.


    Between all that activity, Talia is convinced that Alpha Edward and Luna La forgot about her existence.


    Talia was seven or maybe eight years old when Alpha Edward repurposedmon rooms for additional training areas, and at that point, Talia lost her bedroom.


    ¡°Where should I go?¡±, Talia asked while looking at people who were taking the furniture out of her room.


    The woman paused. ¡°The attic is not used.¡±


    And here she is. In the attic.


    That was more than a decade ago.


    Since then, Talia is living low-key with Alpha and Luna not acknowledging her existence. It¡¯s not that they are ignoring her on purpose. Talia is a quiet, inconspicuous girl, with a talent for diminishing her presence.


    Talia was a child when she came to the Red Moon pack, and she never went through the ceremony of joining the pack, so she doesn¡¯t have the mind link. That¡¯s one of the reasons why Alpha Edward doesn¡¯t know about her.


    But Omegas know. They tend to bully Talia for the smallest mistakes and over the years, Talia learned to keep to herself and to avoid them effectively.


    She cleans the bathrooms and empties the trash in the packhouse, without anyone noticing.


    Talia shifted and groaned when a hard corner hit her lower back. She reached for the book that¡¯s the culprit for her pain. That will leave a bruise.


    Talia lives with the werewolves, but she is no more than a human.


    If not for her wolf speaking to her, Talia would believe that she IS a human.


    Unfortunately, Talia heard her wolf thest time about four years ago.


    ¡®You are too weak to shift¡­¡¯, Talia¡¯s wolf spoke into her head. ¡®If you force it, it might kill you¡­¡¯


    Talia didn¡¯t feel her wolf since then, and Talia is not sure if her wolf is sleeping or if she is lost forever.


    Without her wolf, Talia doesn¡¯t have the speed or the strength, or the enhanced senses, and her healing ability is super-slow. On top of that, Talia is malnourished and much smaller than an average werewolf, making her look like a fifteen-sixteen years old (skinny) girl, instead of neen years old.


    Talia looked at the book in her hand and observed the illustration of a princess who is smiling and running with her prince. There is a castle in the background, they are holding hands and look happy, and Talia¡¯s eyes always wander to the princess¡¯ shiny shoes.


    The book is about Cindere, a poor girl who is abused by her stepmother and stepsisters, and then she meets a fairy godmother who magics a fancy dress and shiny shoes so that Cindere can go to the ball, meet her prince, and live happily ever after.


    ¡®What nonsense.¡¯, Talia thought. ¡®The story is rubbish. One¡¯s fortune can¡¯t depend on a pair of shoes¡¯, but Talia still cracked a smile.


    This book reminds Talia of Olivia, the only member of the Red Moon pack who treated her as a person.


    Olivia left the pack about one year ago and Talia misses her dearly. Every night Talia hugs that book to sleep, and she remembers Olivia.


    Olivia is two years older than Talia and her father is Dr. Scott, the pack doctor.


    Olivia would sneakilye to the attic and help Talia tend to her cuts and bruises. Olivia didn¡¯t dare to help Talia openly when others bullied her, but Talia never med her for it.


    Olivia taught Talia a lot about nts; which one is good for swelling, which one for reducing pain, etc.


    When Olivia noticed that Talia is reading slowly, she gave Talia the book about Cindere. ¡°Practice reading daily. This is a great book to remind you how there is such thing as magic, and dreams cane true¡­¡±


    Talia thought how that was silly, but she was touched by the gesture and epted the book.


    Last year, Olivia was away for a few weeks, and when she returned she came to say her goodbyes.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡±, Talia asked her curiously.


    Talia never thought about leaving the pack. Not because she didn¡¯t have the courage, but more because she had no idea where she would go. Her knowledge about the world outside of the Red Moon pack was extremely limited making her feel like a frog in a well that was sealed and she can¡¯t even see the sky above.


    Olivia smiled dreamily. ¡°I met my mate. I¡¯m going to live with him. Larry is waiting for me at my house. I used the chance of Larry talking to my dad toe here and say goodbye¡­¡±


    Talia hugged Olivia and wished her all the best. Talia was happy for her friend, even though she knew that she will be lonely.


    Olivia found her prince and she was going to have her happily ever after, and Talia held her tears for after Olivia left.


    Talia ced her hand on the book about Cindere and dozed off.


    Her duties start in the evening when everyone is sleeping, so she can rest. By then, the guests will arrive and all the buzz will be over, and Talia smiled at the thought of all the leftovers she will find in the kitchen.

 Chapter 9 The Red Moon Pack

    It waste morning when Damon, Caden, and Maya arrived at the Red Moon pack.


    Luna La apologized for the absence of her husband. ¡°He is with the scouts who picked up suspicious movements on the eastern border of our territory before dawn. Alpha Edward is a hands-on leader and wants to personally ensure we are safe.¡±


    Luna La was weing enough to personally show them to their rooms on the second floor.


    ¡®Wow! This ce is glitzy.¡¯, Maya shared her thoughts with Damon and Caden through their mind link.


    ¡®You can say that again.¡¯, Caden responded.


    None of threemented on two lines of Omegas who bowed to greet them in front of the packhouse.


    The floor of the entry hallway was made of white marble and the matching tall columns reached the three stories high ceiling. The marble staircase elegantly curved upward, looking pure and wless, perfectlyplimented by golden rails and the opulent crystal chandeliers that looked like they came from a fancy castle.


    ¡®How many homes could one build with all this money if they only take luxury down a notch?¡¯, Damon grumbled through the mind link.


    ¡®In the Red Moon pack, only mated couples get a dwelling. Highly ranked warriors get a single home, while others get apartments.¡¯, Caden reminded Damon who usually doesn¡¯t care about the internal workings of other packs. ¡®Everyone else above the age of twelve years old lives inmon buildings where six to eight people share a room.¡¯


    Maya frowned at this thought.


    In the Dark Howlers pack, they havemon buildings, but most of the pack members live in single homes. Community buildings are used by teens who want to experience life away from parents, and by the elderly who want their space while staying close to people of their age, and of course, in case of emergency situations, when someone¡¯s home catches on fire or for refugees until they find them a permanent housing solution.


    Damon continued his father¡¯s practice of treating everyone with equal importance regardless of their upation or gender. Omegas get the same privileges as warriors and doctors. After all, each of them is an important member of the pack and deserves dignity.


    Giving preference to someonepared to others will create an atmosphere where members are inclined to choose an upation, disregarding their interests, only because of the benefits it brings. It could easily bring inequality and the creation of social sses. And there is also jealousy, feelings of superiority, and other negativity can easily catch roots.


    The Red Moon pack is known for its military proves, but only because Alpha Edward appreciates warriors and gives them better living conditions which caused most of the able males to be soldiers.


    Maya felt the oppressive atmosphere the moment she alighted from the car. Two warriors standing stiffly on each side of the main entrance, the distant shouts from groups that were training¡­ It was like they came to a militarypound and not a pack where families live.


    ¡°Are you OK?¡±, Caden asked Maya while rubbing her shoulder and she wondered if she made a face or Caden noticed her uneasiness because of their mate bond.


    Maya nced at Luna La before turning to Caden with a smile. ¡°Fine. I¡¯m just tired from the trip.¡±


    ¡°Please, freshen up and join us downstairs. Lunch will be served in one hour, food will replenish your energy, and you can rest after that if you wish.¡±, Luna La said to what Maya responded with a nod.


    ¡°Will Marcy join us for lunch?¡±, Maya asked before entering the room. The young Miss and the reason they are here didn¡¯t wee them at the door.


    ¡°Yes. She is getting ready.¡±, Luna La said and nced at Damon. ¡°She wants to look her best.¡±


    ¡°Her best¡­¡±, Caden repeated. ¡°We look forward to seeing her best.¡±


    Luna La¡¯s smile froze, and she would snap at Caden for making such an ambiguous remark. Why does he, a Beta, want to see her daughter? But Alpha Damon was right there, with his icy stern expression that made her shrink, so she stered a smile on her face and sucked it up.


    Damon entered his room and locked the door before heading to the bathroom.


    Since they entered the Red Moon pack territory, Damon started feeling uneasy, like an omen of unpleasant thingsing.


    He wanted to shower and rx a bit because traveling with Caden and Maya who are always flirting or yfully bickering is exhausting, and based on the overly enthusiastic wee by Luna La, Damon had a feeling that his mood will only get worse.


    Damon met several dozens of she-wolves who tried to be his Luna, but this was the first time for Damon to stay in the packhouse overnight. Normally, he would meet the woman and her parents, take her out for dinner or to a nightclub before they end up rolling in the sheets in a hotel room. Compared to that, this looked more like meet the inws scenario, the one where he needs to stay for a few days and returns home with a wife.


    That¡¯s not happening.


    He wanted to talk to Alpha Edward and get to the bottom of what he wants, other than Damon marrying Marcy. There must be some other expectations attached to it. But unfortunately, Alpha Edward didn¡¯t join them for lunch, so that had to wait.


    Damon, Caden, and Maya had a meal in thevish dining room that matched the rest of the vi, in thepany of Luna La, Marcy, and Nora.


    Marcy and Nora were already seated at the table when Damon, Caden, and Maya arrived, and they briefly shook hands while exchanging pleasantries.


    Alpha Edward and Beta Raymond were still absent, busy with scouts, and Luna La promised that they will return soon and definitely join them for dinner. She also apologized because her son was not present, saying that he is doing some exercises with warriors in order to build a strong character.


    During their meal, Luna La yed the role of a good hostess, Marcy chose her words while striking a bnce between not being mute and not overstepping her boundaries, while Nora was stealing nces at Damon and blushing profusely.


    How Nora saw it, life doesn¡¯t get better than this. The man from her wet fantasies was at the same table, eating and talking and every movement of his lips was seductive. She wondered what else he can do with those lips, and with the rest of his body.


    She shook hands with Damon, and his grip was solid and warm and she wished that he grips more than her hand.


    Nora nced at Marcy and wondered if Marcy will mind if Nora makes a move on Damon. After all, Marcy didn¡¯t seem to be possessive of her future husband and it¡¯s not like Nora wants to snatch him for herself. Just a taste will be enough. One night.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    After lunch, Luna La suggested, ¡°Marcy, why don¡¯t you show Alpha Damon the garden? Hydrangea is in full bloom, and you can use this chance to get to know each other.¡±


    Marcy nced at Damon and smiled. ¡°Are you interested?¡±


    ¡°For a walk?¡±, Damon asked, and Marcy confirmed with a nod. ¡°Since your father is still busy, I need to fill in the time with something.¡±


    Luna La¡¯s lips twitched. Why is Alpha Damon sounding like he came for business with her husband instead of to meet Marcy?


    ¡®I¡¯m going for a walk.¡¯, Damon said to Caden and Maya through the mind link.


    Caden smirked. ¡®Have fun.¡¯


    ¡®We will do our part.¡¯, Maya assured Damon.


    Caden and Maya had a task to investigate the Red Moon pack and see if they can find anything that Damon can use. Ideally, they would find dirt on Marcy so that Damon canbel her as unworthy without making up stuff and any negative information on Alpha Edward would be a bonus.


    In the garden¡­


    ¡°You seem uneasy.¡±, Damon voiced his observation.


    Marcy was ncing around, hoping that she will not see George. Or maybe she wished to see him. But she couldn¡¯t admit that to Damon because she would need to say why George is important and that mightplicate things.


    Other than Damon¡¯s icy demeanor, Marcy thought that he is a good-looking, powerful, man. With his status, he had the right to be prideful. She didn¡¯t know Damon, but what she saw so far was impressive.


    ¡°I would like for us to talk in private.¡±, Marcy said. ¡°And here we can be overheard.¡±


    Damon paused. It¡¯s not that he didn¡¯t n to sink deep into Marcy, but he didn¡¯t think that she will take the initiative less than one hour after they met.


    ¡°How about my room?¡±, Damon suggested, and he smirked when Marcy nodded in approval.

 Chapter 10 Caught In The Act

    In the guestroom¡­


    Damon sat in thefy sofa chair and observed Marcy smugly. She was standing three steps in front of Damon with her hands crossed over her chest defensively.


    ¡°You wanted privacy, so here we are.¡±, Damon said while waving his hand, gesturing for Marcy to start talking.


    ¡°Considering our future rtionship, I believe that we should be able to talk openly.¡±


    Damon cocked an eyebrow. ¡°Our future rtionship?¡±


    Marcy narrowed her eyes impatiently. Why is he pretending that he doesn¡¯t understand? He wants her to spell it out? Fine!


    ¡°We both know that you are here because I will be your Luna.¡±


    Damon poked his cheek with his tongue while looking at Marcy mockingly. He realized that Marcy is impatient to rify her status as his Luna. What¡¯s with the rush? She didn¡¯t seem to be desperate to get married, and if one was watching them during lunch, Nora seemed eager to put her hands on Damon, while Marcy was in a meh-mood.


    Damon wondered if he saw it wrongly, or maybe Marcy is a good actress.


    He wanted to test how far her act will go.


    ¡°My Luna? What makes you think you are qualified?¡±


    Marcy was offended. Is he looking down on her?


    ¡°Just so you know, I was trained my whole life to be a good Luna. I can take care of the packhouse and the pack members and many other things, including housing, food, and finance management. I will relieve you of your burden.¡±


    ¡°You want to relieve me of my burden¡­¡±, Damon drawled, and Marcy nodded confidently.


    Damon slid lower in the sofa chair until the back of his head reached the edge of the backrest, and his legs parted more.


    ¡°Since you are eager to relieve me of my burden, how about you put that pretty mouth of yours to good use and give me some relief.¡±


    Marcy paused and it took her a moment to understand the meaning behind Damon ncing at his crotch area.


    She swallowed hard. ¡®He wants me to suck him off¡­¡¯


    Well, it¡¯s not like she never did that before, but it involved courting and dinner, and¡­ his smug expression frustrated her profusely.


    Marcy told herself that this guy in front of her is not some random Pierre or Jacque, this is Alpha Damon, and he is used to women serving him.


    Marcy is prideful and willful, but at this point, she couldn¡¯t afford to offend him. Her father would skin her alive.


    Marcy walked slowly toward Damon and got on her knees between his legs.


    She bit her lower lip while unbuttoning his pants and he lifted his buttocks so that she can pull them lower, just enough for his erection to spring free.


    She took a mental note that he didn¡¯t have underwear on.


    Marcy looked at the beast in front of her and her eyes widened. ¡®He is huge, and not even fully erect!¡¯


    Damon let out a low hiss when Marcy took him into her mouth.


    She knew what she was doing.


    ¡­


    Talia jumped from her sleep when piercing pain assaulted her shin.


    ¡°Wake up, ve!¡±, Anna said with malice in her voice and Talia was immediately wide awake.


    There are several Omegas who bully Talia, and Anna is their ringleader. But normally they don¡¯te to the attic, and Talia had a bad feeling about this.


    Talia yelped when Shawn grabbed a handful of her hair and dragged her toward the door. ¡°You need to listen, ve¡­¡±


    Talia never understood why they call her ¡®ve¡¯, and sometimes they call her ¡®rat¡¯ or ¡®roach¡¯.


    Is it because she is not part of the Red Moon pack? Or because she has no family? Or because she doesn¡¯t get anypensation for the work she does?


    She gets a ce to stay and food, and Talia even gets clothes from the pile others are discarding, so she didn¡¯t think about asking for more. Who would she ask, anyway? She wouldn¡¯t dare to approach Alpha or Luna with any demands.


    Or maybe it¡¯s not about Talia, but these Omegas want to be superior to someone, so they are insulting Talia because she is easy to pick on.


    Talia¡¯s thoughts were partially right. They bullied her in order to feel better, but what she doesn¡¯t know is that Anna and her gang think that Talia is having it easy.


    Other than hard work, Omegas attend mandatory harsh trainings because Alpha Edward believes everyone should be a soldier, and whenever they fall behind, they get beatings. Every time Anna gets a beating, she searches for Talia in order to release some of her steam.


    This time, Anna came up with a n that will get Talia in big trouble. How big? It will depend on what happens next.


    When Shawn let go of Talia, they were in the hallway on the second floor.


    Anna smiled maliciously and tilted her head to the side.


    Zina stepped forward and pushed a handful of stacked towels into Talia¡¯s hands.


    ¡°Fifth door on the right. Alpha Damon needs fresh towels for his bathroom.¡±, Anna said and gestured in that direction.


    Talia took a step back. ¡°Towels? I only clean the bathrooms and take the trash. What if he is inside?¡±


    ¡°Are you arguing with me?¡±, Anna hissed and raised her hand like she is about to deliver a p.


    Talia shrunk and scurried down the hallway.


    Anna stifled augh at the scene.


    ¡°What do you think will happen?¡±, Zina asked in a whisper. ¡°Princess Marcy and Alpha Damon are alone for some time. What if they are going at it?¡±


    ¡°Good. We want Talia to cause a ruckus, right?¡±, Shawn chimed in.


    ¡°She is enjoying a carefree life while we suffer.¡±, Anna said maliciously. ¡°It¡¯s time for Alpha Edward to take notice of this rat who is always falling through the cracks. I wonder if she will survive the day.¡±


    Talia gently knocked on the door and listened intently. It was quiet.


    She guessed that Alpha Damon Anna mentioned is the big guest and she wondered if it¡¯s OK to get in if he is sleeping. With his Alpha-hearing, he would definitely hear that knock and tell her toe in or to scram.


    Talia put her hand on the doorknob and slowly opened the door.


    Her heart stopped at the sight in front of her and she froze.


    A handsome young man with a head full of raven ck hair was leaning back in the sofa chair with his head tilted up so that he can stare at the ceiling. His chest heaved and she couldn¡¯t see if his eyes were open but what she could see was princess Marcy, kneeling between man¡¯s legs and¡­ and¡­ Talia¡¯s brain stuttered.


    This was too much.


    Unsure what to do, Talia¡¯s eyes fell on the towels she was clutching tightly, and then she took a peek at the duo who was too busy to notice her.


    That¡¯s right, they didn¡¯t notice her.


    Talia decided toplete her mission. If she retreats without delivering towels, Anna will give her a hard time, and if she proceeds inside, there is a chance they will not catch her.


    Talia stepped into the room and moved toward the bathroom while sticking as close to the wall as possible, without making any sound.


    She left the towels next to the sink and dashed out with light steps, the same ones she uses to move through the packhouse without anyone noticing her.


    Talia stopped at the door and pulled it to close slowly. For some inexplicable reason, Talia took another peek at the duo and her stomach dropped when she met two piercing blue eyes directed at her.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    She was caught!


    And Alpha Damon looked angry!


    ¡°Stop!¡±, Damon shouted, but there was no way that Talia would stop.


    She closed the door and ran upstairs as fast as she could, not stopping at the giggles and mocking from Anna and her gang, and not stopping until she reached the attic and closed the door behind her firmly. Talia pushed the cab to block the door and then she huddled in the corner, slowing down her breathing and wishing that her wild heartbeat doesn¡¯t betray her location.


    ¡®Is this it? Is this the day I die?¡¯, Talia wondered.


    She only did what she was told to do, but that doesn¡¯t change the fact that she saw something that shouldn¡¯t be seen.


    What did she see?


    Talia didn¡¯t know much about male-female rtionships, but Talia knew about body parts. Olivia also exined about periods and getting pregnant, and Talia was not sure why would princess Marcy put that part of Alpha Damon in her mouth. It should go elsewhere when they want to have babies.

 Chapter 11 Mate

    In the guest bedroom¡­


    Damon pushed Marcy away from him and Marcy fell on her butt unceremoniously.


    ¡°Who is that girl?¡±, Damon asked while buttoning up his pants.


    Marcy was confused. ¡°What girl?¡±


    ¡°The one with towels! She left towels in the bathroom and left!¡±, Damon roared and jabbed his hand into his hair. ¡°Damn it!¡±


    Marcy stared at Damon and blinked rapidly while trying to understand what happened.


    Less than a minute ago¡­


    Marcy was going down on him, and she was doing wonderfully, but then Damon inhaled the most seductive sweet citrusy scent that reminded him of delicate freesia flowers and his cock lurched in response.


    ¡®Mate!¡¯, Damon¡¯s wolf said.


    ¡®What?¡¯, Damon asked in disbelief while staring at Marcy.


    If Marcy is his mate, why was his wolf silent during lunch? And why did her scent change? Marcy didn¡¯t smell like freesia. Marcy¡¯s scent was coconut-like, and there were traces of it everywhere, but this new scent was gentle and seductive.


    His wolf growled. ¡®Not her. The bathroom¡­¡¯Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    Damon whipped his head toward that direction, just in time to see Talia disappear behind the door with a handful of towels.


    Damon watched Talia as she sneaked out of the room, and he observed her small frame in oversized clothes and her coppery-colored hair that reached just below her shoulders. She was totally unaware that Damon was watching her.


    ¡®Stop her!¡¯, Damon¡¯s wolf demanded. ¡®She is the one for us! If you let her go, you will regret it!¡¯


    ¡°Stop!¡±, Damon shouted, but Talia was gone, and the door was closed, and he couldn¡¯t get up and go after her because Marcy was still sucking him off and if he made sudden movements, she might bite him.


    The girl was gone and what Marcy did didn¡¯t feel good, especially not while his wolf growled at Marcy while urging Damon to go after Talia.


    Back to the present¡­


    Marcy¡¯s eyes widened when she understood what Damon said. ¡°There was a girl in here?¡±


    Damon nodded. ¡°Who is in charge of towels?¡±


    Damon didn¡¯t know anything about this sneaky girl, and he was not pleased that his wolf told him that Talia is his mate, but he had an urge to understand the aching need to get close to the girl with the coppery colored hair, and for that he needed to find her.


    Marcy shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know who handles towels. One of Omegas.¡±


    ¡°Find out!¡±, Damon squeezed through his teeth and Marcy lowered her head in submission.


    ¡°Yes, Alpha Damon. I will find out and let you know¡­¡±, Marcy responded robotically and left the room with urgency.


    Now that she was outside the reach of Damon¡¯s wrath, Marcy had space to think. She hated that he used his Alpha tone on her! But more pressing was that someone saw her going down on Damon. Yes, that¡¯s her future husband, but she definitely needed to do damage control and send a warning to all Omegas on how they should behave.


    Marcy snorted. No wonder her father looks down on Omegas. They are useless.


    Marcy nced left and right and spotted a group of Omegas lingering at the end of the hallway.


    ¡°You!¡±, Marcy called. ¡°I have some questions¡­¡±


    ¡­


    Damon paced through his room and difort in his crotch area got his attention.


    He remembered that Marcy was sucking him off and just when it got good it stopped, and now he was left halfway, with Marcy¡¯s coconutty scent lingering on him.


    He didn¡¯t think much about Marcy¡¯s scent before, but now he found it repulsive. Is it because of the towel girl?


    Her sweet citrusy scent was addictive and he craved for more. How can a girl smell so good?


    Damon saw many wolves lose themselves once they find their mates. It happened with Caden the moment he met Maya. Caden was always a carefree guy, with an edge and eagerness for adventure and to experience new things, but once Maya entered the picture, Caden¡¯s whole world shifted, and she became the center of his everything.


    Damon and Caden grew up together, and they shared many hardships. Damon is aware that Caden will never betray him, but Damon is confident that if Caden ever needs to pick between his loyalty to Damon and infatuation with Maya, Damon will be left hanging.


    Will Damon allow his world to change because of one girl? That¡¯s not going to happen. No way. He will fight this off.


    Damon decided to shower.


    Just the thought of Marcy touching him made him feel dirty and he needed to wash it off.


    As warm water caressed his body, images of the coppery colored hair shed in front of his eyes, and he remembered the sweet citrusy scent of freesia¡­ and he was aroused again.


    ¡°Damn it!¡±, Damon cursed and gripped his shaft.


    He is not the one who usually helps himself because there are always girls willing to please him, but this was an emergency, so he started pumping.


    Ah, if he knew it wille to this, he wouldn¡¯t chase away Marcy. Not until hees at least.


    ¡®Do you think you can orgasm with just any girl?¡¯, his wolf spoke.


    Damon¡¯s hand stopped moving. ¡®What do you mean?¡¯


    ¡®Being with another girl will hurt our mate. Can you hurt our mate?¡¯


    A mental image of Talia¡¯s petrified expression shed in front of Damon¡¯s eyes, and he cursed under his breath.


    ¡®Great! You made me see that, how can I finish?¡¯, Damon grumbled.


    ¡®Maybe instead of jerking off you should go and find our mate!¡¯, his wolf growled.


    ¡°Shit!¡±, Damon eximed and turned off the hot water while hoping that the cold shower will help him settle down.


    Damon changed into fresh clothes and was on his way out of the room when someone knocked on the door. It was Nora.


    ¡°Alpha Damon¡­¡±, she called his name in a singing voice when he opened the door. ¡°Alpha Edward and Beta Raymond returned, and Alpha Edward is in the study. He said that you can join him anytime it works for you. I¡¯m here to show you the way.¡±


    Damon frowned. Yes. Alpha Edward. Marcy. That¡¯s why he is here.


    ¡°I¡¯m ready now. Please, lead the way.¡±


    Nora smiled and gestured to her left.


    When her father said that he will inform Alpha Damon that Alpha Edward is waiting for him, Nora offered to deliver the message instead of her father.


    Nora was hoping that Damon will say how he will see Alpha Edwardter, and then she would offer to wait in his room and then¡­ ah, the possibilities.


    ¡­


    In the study¡­


    ¡°Alpha Damon¡­¡±, Marcy¡¯s father greeted Damon. ¡°I hope your trip went well and that so far things are in order. I apologize for not weing you personally when you arrived, but I had urgent matters to take care of. I¡¯m sure you understand.¡±


    ¡°Of course¡­¡±, Damon responded with a straight face.


    Yes, he understood that this is how Alpha Edward showed disrespect.


    Scouts found something suspicious? There should be a report and someone issuing orders. There was no need for Alpha himself to investigate. It was obvious that was ame excuse for Alpha Edward to avoid weing Alpha Damon personally.


    Damon knows very well what Alpha Edward thinks of him.


    ¡°How was your trip?¡±, Alpha Edward asked.


    Damon was not in the mood for exchanging meaningless pleasantries. ¡°Trip was fine. Your wife showed us to our rooms, and lunch was satisfying. Your daughter is interested in us getting to know each other better, but I wanted to talk to you first.¡±


    ¡°Talk to me? About what?¡±


    ¡°About what do you want.¡±, Damon went to the point.


    Alpha Edward chuckled awkwardly. ¡°I want for my daughter to have a good husband, and to be taken care of. You are avable and fulfill all the criteria. At the same time, Marcy is a beautiful youngdy who has all the skills to be a remarkable Luna. Did you expect something else?¡±


    Damon narrowed his eyes. ¡°When you put it that way, it sounds like you are not getting anything out of it.¡±


    ¡°What would I be getting? Once you and Marcy are married, she will live with you. I only hope that you will let her visit us asionally. Of course, I would love to visit as well, but I am busy with managing my pack and training James, and I¡¯m not having much free time so maybe I will visit you when James takes over. I can spend some time with my grandkids.¡±


    Damon clenched his teeth in irritation. How can this old fart say that he is too busy to visit, yet he requested that Damon stays with him for a few days? Shameless!


    Damon stood up from the chair and stuffed his hands in his jeans pockets.


    ¡°Alpha Edward, we will leave tomorrow this time. Until then, think about all the conditions you want to attach with me being close to Marcy. I want to know all parts of the deal before I agree to anything, and I am not a man who changes the conditions on the fly. If you try to reach for anything that¡¯s mine, there will be consequences.¡±


    Alpha Edward¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°Are you threatening me?¡±


    ¡°No. I am giving you a heads up.¡±

 Chapter 12 Denial

    ¡®How do I find her?¡¯, Damon asked his wolf as soon as he stepped out of Alpha Edward¡¯s study.


    ¡®Follow your nose.¡¯


    Damon tried sniffing around. He went to the main floor, second floor, and¡­ nothing.


    He wondered if the girl is even real, or if he imagined it.


    Damon is an Alpha and his senses are sharper than the ones of a regr werewolf, yet he couldn¡¯t pick up her scent. He was confused.


    Without any clues, he decided to wait for Marcy who said that she will investigate which Omega was on the towel duty.


    Damon plopped on the bed and took this opportunity to re-think the situation.


    His wolf told him that the girl is his mate, but she escaped. Shouldn¡¯t mates be attracted to each other?


    ¡®Stupid!¡¯, Damon¡¯s wolf growled. ¡®What did you think she should do, when you had Miss Barbie between your legs? Did you expect her to jump into your arms happily?¡¯


    ¡®Damn it! I forgot about it!¡¯ He really did. The moment his eyesnded on Talia, Marcy became not important.


    ¡®What if she hates me? Do I want her to like me?¡¯, Damon mused.


    ¡®What do you mean?¡¯, his wolf responded with disapproval obvious in his voice. ¡®I know that you don¡¯t like womentching onto you, but this one is different.¡¯


    ¡®How different?¡¯


    ¡®For starters, she is nottching onto you. The Moon Goddess paired you up with her for a reason. Don¡¯t do anything stupid until you find out what that reason is. You can¡¯t deny yourself this.¡¯


    Damon didn¡¯t respond.


    So far, he saw every woman as a nuisance. Not because he thought he will fall for a woman, but because they are needy, whiny, and they easily assume the role like they are the boss of everything.


    And this is mate. If he stays close to her, he WILL fall for her. Completely. She will manipte him, and he will be happy to do cartwheels every time she feels like watching a circus. Isn¡¯t that dangerous?


    Damon decided to leave these thoughts forter. Or maybe for never.


    The best thing to do is to focus. He came here for a reason. Once hepletes his task, he will leave and forget that he ever saw that copper-colored hair, and those big doe eyes.


    To keep himself busy, Damon grabbed hisptop and started working.


    He is a busy Alpha and there is always something that requires his attention.


    ¡­


    Later that afternoon, Marcy came to Damon¡¯s room again.


    He was working and he acknowledged her presence with only a quick nce.


    Marcy understood that whatever he did, it was something important, and she didn¡¯t want to interrupt.


    Marcy sat on the sofa chair opposite Damon and observed him in silence. This gave her ample time to take in his features, and the more she looked at him, the more attracted she was. Damon is very handsome, and his stern expression while focusing on work left her breathless.


    She could literally feel the power radiating from him, and she was excited at the thought that she will be his Luna. Marcy will be able to walk with her head held high and no one will dare to look down on her because her possessive Alpha will grind them into a meat paste.


    Marcy found her favorite pastime: staring at Damon.


    She could do that all day and not get bored of it. asionally, the image of George would show up at the back of her mind, but Marcy suppressed it quickly. She is the princess. How can an Omegapare to an Alpha?


    Marcy wondered why Damon didn¡¯t ask about the girl who interrupted them earlier that day.


    She would tell him that she found out it¡¯s a lowly girl who hides in the attic and no one likes her. Omegas told Marcy that Talia is sneaky and skims at work, and Marcy went to deal with her only to find that the door of the attic was locked. Marcy used her sweet voice, and after a short persuasion, Talia opened the door, and then Marcy showed Talia her ce.


    Marcy was confident that Damon would approve how she dealt with the scrawny girl who intruded on their time, but he didn¡¯t ask about it, so Marcy assumed that Damon already looked at her as his Luna, someone who would deal with issues within the pack and not disturb him. She liked that.


    ¡®KNOCK! KNOCK!¡¯


    The light knocks on the door sounded louder than normal in the otherwise silent room.


    ¡°Alpha Damon, dinner will be served in ten minutes¡­¡±, a female voice was heard from the outside.


    Marcy stood up and opened the door.


    ¡°Thank you for letting us know¡­¡±, Marcy said to the Omega who was flustered. ¡°Tell mother that will be there on time.¡±


    The Omega nodded fervently, like chicken pecking rice, and left with hurried steps.


    Damon smirked when he noticed Marcy¡¯s prideful posture. By answering the door, Marcy sent a message that she was in his room, and she spoke for both of them, like they are a couple.


    This confirmed his suspicion that Marcy is not a simple girl.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡®Caden¡­¡¯, Damon called his Beta through their mind link. ¡®We need to wrap this up quickly. We are leaving tomorrow morning.¡¯


    ¡®I thought¡­¡¯


    ¡®Tomorrow morning.¡¯, Damon interrupted Caden.


    Damon confirmed that both Alpha Edward and Marcy are scheming something, and he didn¡¯t want to stay longer than necessary.


    If all goes ording to n, by tomorrow morning he will tarnish Marcy¡¯s reputation and find out more about Alpha Edward¡¯s ns. After that, they will leave.


    The additionalplication was the copper-haired girl. Her existence made Damon restless. That girl was an unexpected variable and for the first time in a long time, Damon was not sure how to deal with the situation.


    Dinner was simr to lunch, with the addition of Alpha Edward, his son James, and Beta Raymond joining them.


    The sitting arrangement was different, with Alpha Edward at the head of the table, Damon on his right, and Marcy sitting next to Damon.


    ¡®What happened?¡¯, Maya asked Damon through the mind link.


    ¡®Why do you think that something happened?¡¯, Damon responded with a question.


    ¡®Because Marcy is talking to you and you are not acknowledging her presence.¡¯, Maya responded.


    Damon realized that she was right. Marcy was talking something, yet he was spacing out. He was not even sure what he was eating.


    Damon forced himself to focus. It¡¯s not like him to be absentminded.


    ¡®What did you find on Marcy?¡¯, Damon asked both Maya and Caden.


    Caden responded. ¡®Nothing we could use. She came back a few days ago from Europe, and since then she is the perfect daughter of an Alpha.¡¯


    Damon frowned. ¡®What does that mean?¡¯


    ¡®Marcy obeys her parents and does what she is supposed to do. She is not even bullying the servants.¡¯, Maya said. ¡®Alpha¡¯s daughters are usually haughty, but maybe life with humans changed Marcy¡¯s personality and she is kind.¡¯


    Damon nced at Marcy and smiled while talking to Maya and Caden. ¡®Keep digging. Contact our people in Europe and see what they can find out. Marcy is a white lotus, and I don¡¯t believe that she has no skeletons in her closet.¡¯


    ¡®Aye-aye, boss!¡¯, Caden responded jokingly. When he saw Damon frowning at him, Caden cleared his throat and said seriously, ¡®I¡¯m on it. Don¡¯t worry. Our people are already working on it, from the moment Elder Parker sent his first request. I will tell them to prepare reports and by morning we will know exactly what this Miss was doing in Europe in thest ten years¡­¡¯


    Their n was to find dirt on Marcy and discredit her as Damon¡¯s Luna. In this way, they will p Alpha Edward and Elder Parker as well. This strategy has yielded the best results so far.


    Sure, Damon can just reject Marcy and skip these silly games, but that willbel him as a rebel, and other than, ¡°Because I felt like it¡±, he won¡¯t have any other exnation for his outrageous behavior while Alpha Edward can use him of being unreasonable and bullying Marcy.


    Alpha Damon is a powerful Alpha, and members of his pack respect him, but there are many who are lurking in the shadows and waiting for Damon to cross the line, to make a mistake, to provoke someone he shouldn¡¯t¡­ and Damon is aware of this.


    Normally, Damon would be more enthusiastic about this y. After all, Marcy is a fine-looking she-wolf, and pretending for a day or two to indulge Alpha Edward will pay off several folds once Damon bares his teeth. But today, Damon was restless and he couldn¡¯t wait to get out of this situation where he doesn¡¯t have full control.

 Chapter 13 Resistance

    After dinner, they all moved to the living room where desserts and drinks were served.


    Caden and Maya had a mission, and after one drink they went to take a stroll in the garden before heading to bed.


    Before calling it a night, Caden and Maya will roam through the packhouse of the Red Moon pack, looking for an opportunity to eavesdrop on some conversations from the Omegas, or maybe even join in and ask questions.


    Damon¡¯s wolf was fidgety, craving to inhale the sweet citrusy scent of freesia and locate its source, despite Damon telling him how that¡¯s not going to happen.


    After an unknown measure of time, Damon stood up abruptly. ¡°I will retire for the night.¡±


    Everyone looked at Damon with confusion obvious on their faces, but Damon pretended like he didn¡¯t notice.


    He turned to Alpha Edward. ¡°I hope that after breakfast we can continue our discussion from this afternoon.¡±


    Without waiting for Alpha Edward to respond, Damon went to his room.


    He opened the window of his room and took a deep breath.


    ¡®Damn it. What¡¯s wrong with me?¡¯


    ¡®You know what¡¯s wrong, and you know how to fix it.¡¯, his wolf responded. ¡®Why are you resisting? This is a fight you can¡¯t win.¡¯


    Damon rubbed his face forcibly. He knew that his wolf was telling him to find Talia (aka the girl with the coppery colored hair), but Damon had no intention of sumbing to this temptation.


    Damon is a stubborn guy who needs to be in control. He always hated when someone tried to manipte him, and this time, his own nature was making him feel and do strange things.


    He will NOT give in!


    ¡°May Ie in?¡±


    Damon swiftly turned toward the door to see Marcy peeking in. He wondered if she even knocked, but then¡­ even if she did, he probably wouldn¡¯t notice.


    He was never this distracted!


    What if that was an enemy? Damon would be a sitting duck! That copper-haired girl is already causing him to be weak, and he didn¡¯t even acknowledge their mate bond.


    For Damon, this only proved that the girl is dangerous, and he should stay away from her. No matter how tedious it is to fight against his urges, it¡¯s better than being dead.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡±, Damon asked Marcy dryly.


    His mood was sour and it showed.


    Marcy took his question as an OK to enter. She closed the door behind her and walked toward Damon, stopping when she was one step away from him.


    ¡°You look tense¡­¡±, Marcy said while reluctantly putting her palms on Damon¡¯s firm chest. ¡°I can help you rx.¡±


    Damon¡¯s lips lifted into a half-smirk. ¡°And how would you do that?¡±


    Marcy licked her lips while remembering the velvety texture of him in her mouth. It was hot and firm and big, and she wanted to caress him with her tongue.


    ¡°I know that nothing is confirmed, but technically, we are engaged.¡±, Marcy said breathily.


    Damon observed her fingers as they moved slightly. She was feeling him out over the thin fabric of his shirt.


    He noticed a big ring on her right middle finger, it was an oval-shaped ruby with small diamonds surrounding it. One more luxurious essory that matches the style of the Redmayne family.


    Damon looked at her almond-shaped blue eyes, straight nose, and full lips, and he confirmed that she is objectively an attractive woman.


    ¡®Don¡¯t do anything you will regretter!¡¯, his wolf growled.


    ¡®Stay out of this!¡¯, Damon spat back.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    His wolf snorted. ¡®You will regret this¡­¡¯ And then he retracted at the back of Damon¡¯s mind.


    Damon could feel his wolf¡¯s anger and dejection, but he decided to ignore it.


    Unaware of the conversation Damon had with his wolf, Marcy inched closer to Damon and she smiled seductively. ¡°I can¡­¡±


    Before Marcy could finish her thought, Damon¡¯s handnded at the back of her head, and he pulled her closer for a kiss.


    His tongue plundered her mouth mercilessly, no one ever kissed her like that. Even with a kiss, Damon was exerting his dominance, letting her know what it means to face an Alpha and making her heady in the process.


    She had no idea at what point they reached the bed.


    They sank in the mattress with Damon on top and Marcy gasped for air for a brief moment before Damon sealed her lips again with his.


    His touch was not gentle or caring. Damon was venting his frustration as he searched for a way to release the tension that suffocated him, and the scent of Marcy¡¯s arousal hit him hard.


    Marcy¡¯s mind was in a tizzy. She felt his hand work up her thigh with urgency, all the way to her hip where he found the edge of her panties and she jolted when he ripped them in one swift move.


    Damon¡¯s hand moved toward the cradle of her thighs, and she moaned into his mouth when his finger glided between her drenched folds, teasing and prodding as he was closing in toward her tight entrance.


    Marcy snapped from her stupor and grabbed his hand. There was nothing wrong with touching and petting, but she had a feeling that Damon will not stop at that.


    ¡°Not before¡­¡±


    Damon growled in frustration when he realized that Marcy changed her mind. ¡°What happened with, we are technically engaged? Are you saving yourself for marriage?¡±


    Marcy was flustered and it took her a few long seconds to collect herself and respond, ¡°Not necessarily marriage, but I at least need to know that we are going in that direction. We can do other stuff. I¡¯m OK with anal or giving you a blow job.¡±


    Damon shook his head in disapproval. He pushed himself off the bed and ran his hand through his hair.


    Damon would never force himself on a woman. A no is a no, and he respects that. But Marcy pissed him off. She came onto him and then she stopped him, and now she listed conditions? Who does she think she is? What kind of a game is she ying?


    ¡°Get out.¡±


    Marcy didn¡¯t get it. She rified things she was willing to do, and he told her to get out? ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I said¡­ GET OUT!¡±


    Marcy looked at Damon¡¯s eyes which stirred with endless violence, and she swallowed hard.


    Other than being scared shitless by Damon¡¯s overwhelming Alpha¡¯smand, she was convinced that Damon will kill her if she doesn¡¯t obey right that instant.


    Marcy scrambled off the bed and dashed out.


    Damon returned to the window and leaned over the windowsill. He looked at the crescent moon and exhaled in frustration.


    ¡°Is this what you nned for me?¡±, Damon asked under his breath, even though he knew that the Moon Goddess will not respond. She never responds.


    They say that the Moon Goddess has a n for everyone, that everything has a purpose, but Damon doubts it.


    What¡¯s the purpose of his parents dying unexpectedly? What¡¯s the purpose of him doing his best for the Dark Howlers pack only to bebeled as cruel? What¡¯s the purpose of him being the Alpha of thergest pack, when so many others want to manipte him? What¡¯s the purpose of his power if he has to y by the rules others set? And finally¡­ what¡¯s the purpose of him finding his mate?


    Damon didn¡¯t want any of it.


    If he had one wish, he would want to be a nobody, invisible, someone who could move without being noticed or coveted. He would live a modest life and do whatever he wants to do, when he wants to do it, and this¡­ No matter how Damon looks at this, it seems that the Moon Goddess is set on torturing him.


    Damon often wishes to escape from everything, but those are only fleeting thoughts he knows will nevere true.


    The responsibility for the Dark Howlers pack is ingrained into Damon and he will never be able to leave. Tens of thousands of people are looking up to him, their Alpha. They are relying on him that he will keep them safe and lead them to a better future and that¡¯s what Damon swore to do.


    ¡®Hey¡­ Can we talk?¡¯, Damon spoke to his wolf, only to be met with silence in response.


    Damon could feel that his wolf was sulking in disapproval of what just happened. Well, nothing happened, but if Marcy didn¡¯t stop him, it would happen.


    Damon threw his arms in the air angrily. ¡®Fine! Stay quiet!¡¯

 Chapter 14 Dirt That Can’t Be Washed

    Damon stared at the moon in silence for an unknown measure of time, when a knock on the door got his attention.


    ¡®Did Marcye to pick up what¡¯s left of her panties, or did she change her mind?¡¯, Damon mused.


    No one else woulde at this hour. Caden and Maya use mind link tomunicate, like always, so that others don¡¯t overhear them.


    Damon went to open the door and to his surprise, Nora¡¯s smiling face entered his vision.


    She took a deep breath of his masculine scent and her arousal swelled. She knew that he can smell her and she was not bashful about what she wanted.


    ¡°Good evening, Alpha Damon¡­¡±, she greeted him. ¡°I noticed the light in your room, and since you left early wishing to rest, I wondered if you have trouble sleeping and if I can help you somehow.¡±


    Even without the scent of her arousal, Nora¡¯s sultry look told Damon what¡¯s on her mind, but he still asked, ¡°How can you help me, Miss Nora?¡±


    Nora smiled when Damon stepped into the room, silently giving her permission to enter. She closed the door behind her before answering, ¡°I can make you calming tea, sing you a song, give you a massage, or offer myself. Not necessarily in that order.¡±


    Damon nodded in approval. He likes when women are direct. No games.


    ¡°What makes you think that your friend, Marcy, didn¡¯t help me rx already?¡±, Damon asked with a smirk and his eyes darted to the side.


    Nora followed where he looked, and her eyes widened when she saw torn panties on the floor.


    After a moment of surprise, Nora was back to her smiling face. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what Marcy did. You are still awake and I¡¯m willing. The only question is, are you going to ept my offer?¡±


    ¡°Won¡¯t your friend, Marcy, be upset to know what you are offering?¡±Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    Nora cocked an eyebrow. ¡°I won¡¯t tell if you don¡¯t.¡±


    Damon¡¯s eyes shed in agreement. ¡°Undress.¡±


    With haste, Nora removed her skirt and zer. She was fumbling with the buckles of her bra because her fingers were shaking.


    Internally, Nora was screaming from excitement. She couldn¡¯t believe this was happening!


    Just yesterday she was still thinking that Alpha Damon wille and how it will be good if she can take a photo or two, but it seems she will get much more than just a photo.


    Nora wondered if she should undress him also. Domineering guys like Damon usually love when a woman serves them. She will remove his pants and suck him off and they will take it from there.


    Nora was still fumbling with her bra when Damon pushed her on the bed, face first.


    Damon tapped the insides of her legs, indicating for Nora to spread them.


    In one swift move, he tore her panties and Nora bit her lower lip while trembling in anticipation of what¡¯sing.


    Nora was dripping wet and she thought of taking the initiative to touch and kiss him, but this was fine also.


    It was just a small nudge at her entrance and then Damon entered her in one swift move and Nora screamed into the mattress. No matter how wet she was, it didn¡¯t prepare her for his size.


    Damon wrapped her hair around his hand, pulling Nora¡¯s head toward him and her back arched.


    ¡°Stay down.¡±, he growled.


    With his free hand, he gripped her hip, holding her in ce.


    Nora fisted the silky bed cover as Damon pounded himself inside her until she saw stars. He was like a beast, ravishing her from behind and she loved it.


    It was her first time with an Alpha and Damon blew her mind.


    Nora had no idea how long itsted. She was sweaty and struggling to breathe when he released her after a groan.


    ¡°Leave before Ie back¡±, Damon ordered breathily, and Nora nodded weakly as he went to the bathroom.


    A few secondster, she heard the shower running, and she pushed herself to sit on the bed.


    Her insides throbbed in the aftermath of the wild ride she experienced. Nora touched herself, wondering if he came inside her because her back was dry, but there was no semen, which confirmed that he wore a condom.


    ¡®Pity¡­¡¯, Nora thought while getting her clothes back on.


    Yes, she came with the hope for a steamy session, but now that she got this much, she couldn¡¯t help but wish for more.


    Damon was not gentle or caring. He was fierce and domineering, just how Nora imagined an Alpha would be.


    It was obviously just a hookup, but she still orgasmed twice. By any standards, it was amazing.


    Nora would love to brag about this to everyone. She knows that Alpha Damon would never make her his Luna, but having him inside her was still a big feat. However, if Alpha Edward or Luna La find out about this, she will be in big trouble, so she needs to keep it for herself.


    Nora doesn¡¯t care much about Marcy. How Nora sees it, Marcy is ying hard to get in the stupid role of an ice queen and even if Alpha Damon shagged Marcy earlier that evening, it was obvious that he was not satisfied and that¡¯s why he gave Nora this wild ride.


    Nora wondered if Damon enjoyed it as well. Well, he came, so it was good.


    A brilliant idea popped into Nora¡¯s mind. Maybe when Marcy marries Damon, Nora can move to the Dark Howlers pack also with an excuse of giving Marcypany as her best friend.


    Nora smiled at the possibilities. If Marcy didn¡¯t satisfy him tonight, there will be more chances when Nora can serve Alpha Damon. Guys like him always have women on the side.


    Marcy is not Damon¡¯s mate, so their bond won¡¯t be foolproof even after they mark each other.


    If Alpha Damon wants Nora¡¯spany, Marcy will need to suck it up.


    Nora giggled while making her way out of Damon¡¯s room.


    ¡­


    Damon got out of the shower, and he was pleased to confirm that Nora left. He likes when they don¡¯t linger.


    He sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed his forehead forcibly.


    ¡®I told you, but you don¡¯t listen.¡¯, his wolf said. ¡®Why do you always need to learn the hard way?¡¯


    ¡®Shut up!¡¯, Damon spat back.


    Banging a woman should help him rx, but now he was tenser.


    He was pissed and aroused after fondling with Marcy, and there was nothing wrong with Nora, but only after he imagined that the hair he is holding is copper-colored, he found his release. And after it was done, he saw that the hair in his hand was brown, and he felt dirty and no amount of scrubbing under the shower helped him feel better.


    ¡®You can¡¯t wash a guilty conscience.¡¯, his wolf said.


    ¡®Guilty conscience? It¡¯s not like I cheated!¡¯, Damon shouted mentally. ¡®I don¡¯t even know her name or if she is real! I¡¯m a free man. Why would I feel guilt for touching a woman who came onto me willingly when I needed a release?¡¯


    ¡®Keep saying that, if it will make you feel better.¡¯


    Damon was not willing to acknowledge that his wolf was right. For the first time in his life, Damon felt bad after bedding a woman. Well, maybe not bad, but not good either.


    It was like eating tofu. He got what he wanted, but his stomach was still empty and there was no satisfaction that a meal should provide.


    ¡®How long will thisst?¡¯, Damon asked dejectedly.


    There must be some expiration date on whatever craziness he was going through, and after that, he can return to normal.


    ¡®It willst until you ept the reality.¡¯


    Damon was frustrated. Is his wolf telling him that sex won¡¯t feel good anymore, or to ept the copper-haired girl as his mate? Or maybe those two are the same. ¡®What reality?¡¯


    ¡®Why are you ying stupid? You know I can feel everything you do. The bond is proof that the pleasure of flesh is not enough. To experience more, you need our mate.¡¯ His wolf snorted. ¡®There is no point in talking to you. Do whatever you want, but if you go against the order and mess up, don¡¯t ask for my help¡­¡¯


    Damon shoved a hand in his hair irritably.


    His wolf always told him to follow his instincts. That¡¯s what werewolves do, and it helped him in many tricky situations. But this was not facing rogues or dealing with scheming enemies. This was an unknown scrawny girl with copper-colored hair that made him feel all kinds of uncertainties he didn¡¯t want to acknowledge.

 Chapter 15 Encounter In The Kitchen

    It was past two o¡¯clock in the morning, and Damon was unable to sleep.


    His room was facing the garden and there was a forest in the distance. Damon decided to go for a run. That should help him clear his mind.


    Ideally, Damon would shift into his wolf form. Feeling the soil and grass under his paws as the wind runs through his fur always feels good. However, he is in the territory of the Red Moon pack and if his wolf is seen, it will be perceived as a challenge, a threat.


    He came here to see what Alpha Edward is plotting, and not to start a war.


    Damon descended the stairs and reached the main floor. He took a turn toward the door that leads to the garden when the sweet citrusy scent of freesia got his attention.


    Without thinking, Damon¡¯s legs moved, and he found himself in the part of the packhouse he didn¡¯t visit before. The kitchen.


    The main light was off, but he could see the surroundings among heavy shadows because the fridge was open.


    And there he saw a small figure sticking out of the refrigerator.


    Looking from behind, based on her size he estimated that she can¡¯t be more than fifteen, maybe sixteen years old.


    Damon stalked toward her, and he stopped when he was only half a step behind her.


    He took a deep breath and her sweet scent made him dizzy, urging him to get closer and maybe lick or bite her. He wondered if her taste will be so addictive as well.


    ¡°Mhm¡­¡±, Damon cleared his throat, and she jumped in fright.


    ¡°Aw!¡±, Talia stifled a cry when her head bumped into the shelf of the refrigerator.


    She turned swiftly toward the source of the noise and her eyes widened in horror when her eyes met Damon¡¯s.


    She recognized him. It¡¯s the important guest. The same one whose private time with Marcy she interrupted.


    Talia cursed her luck.


    After Marcy visited her in the attic, Talia didn¡¯t dare to move until all the sounds in the packhouse died down. She thought that she should just stay there until Marcy and others forget about her, but she was hungry, and she searched for something cold to relieve her pain.


    If Talia knew that she will bump into this scary guy, she would stay upstairs hungry and endure the pain. It wouldn¡¯t be the first time; the only difference is that the previous injuries were from other Omegas, and this time princess Marcy acted.


    Before this afternoon, Talia thought that Marcy was a kind person, but she is not.


    Between Marcy and Anna, Talia prefers Anna who doesn¡¯t pretend to be nice only to bully Talia when she doesn¡¯t expect it. At least she knew to be wary of Anna, while Marcy smiled and said sweet words only to get close.


    Talia looked at Damon fearfully.


    Will he punish her also? Why is he narrowing his eyes at her? She felt the urgency to leave.


    Talia didn¡¯t know that Damon was squinting in an effort to identify her features clearly. The light was behind her, and heavy shadows veiled her face.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±, Talia said in a shaky voice and lowered her head before stepping to the side, trying to find her exit.


    Damon extended his arm, blocking her path. ¡°What are you sorry for?¡±


    He was irked. Is she avoiding him?


    Every girl would domunity service for some one-on-one time with Damon, and this girl wants to flee.


    Talia bit her lower lip. How is she supposed to answer his question? She reminded herself not to mention what she saw this afternoon in the guest bedroom. With any luck, he won¡¯t know that was her.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for getting in your way¡±, Talia responded. ¡°If you excuse me¡­¡±


    ¡°Wait!¡± Damon called, preventing her from leaving. Wasn¡¯t she looking for something in the fridge?


    A side of Talia¡¯s face was illuminated, and Damon frowned.


    He grabbed her chin roughly and delightful sparks prickled his fingers and spread up his arm, confirming what his wolf said. Mate.


    He never felt anything like it.


    Damon could sense his wolf wagging its tail in delight, and Damon would enjoy this sensation if not for Talia¡¯s ragged appearance.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Damon forced Talia to lift her head so that he can see her face against the light the open refrigerator provided.


    Talia¡¯s beautiful doe-like eyes blinked at him, but Damon¡¯s dazested only for a moment before his sight moved over her injuries.


    Her upper lip was busted, and she had a bruise under her left eye and even her right cheek had dark purple marks.


    ¡°What happened to your face?¡±


    Talia¡¯s breath hitched. ¡°I fell.¡±


    Damon didn¡¯t buy it. He saw consequences of many falls, and this was nothing like it. ¡°That must be some nasty fall.¡±


    He took another look at her and noticed bruises on her neck that were in the shape of fingers. Did someone choke her?


    Rage rippled through Damon. The thought that someone hurt Talia infuriated him beyond belief.


    His urge was to protect her, to see her smiling and happy and this¡­ just what is this?


    ¡°Who did this!?¡±, Damon squeezed through his teeth angrily and Talia¡¯s whole body shook in fear.


    There was no way that she would say anything. It will only bring more trouble.


    How can she say that it was princess Marcy? Aren¡¯t this scary Alpha and Marcy on good terms? If she speaks up, at best he won¡¯t believe her and there is a high chance she gets another beating. He was already angry, and she didn¡¯t want to be in the vicinity when he blows up.


    ¡°No one. Please. Can I leave?¡±


    Damon released Talia¡¯s chin and held her shoulder. Even through the coarse fabric of her sweatshirt, Damon felt faint prickles on his palm that made him crave for more. Mate.


    Damon focused mightily on inspecting her face, especially the purple mark on her right cheek. It was oval with small dots around it and somehow it reminded Damon of the ring he saw earlier that evening¡­ a ring on Marcy¡¯s hand.


    ¡®Stop scaring the girl¡­¡¯, the wolf spoke in Damon¡¯s head.


    Damon looked at Talia and he pressed his lips into a line when he saw the horror in her eyes.


    Damon¡¯s attention moved to her shoulder under his palm, and he realized how small and fragile she was. He guessed that if he exerts a bit of pressure, he can probably crush her.


    Reluctantly, Damon released her shoulder, trying not to make any sudden movements in order not to scare her more.


    ¡°I will not hurt you.¡±, he said as calmly as he could, but her unchanged expression told him that she didn¡¯t believe him.


    Why would she believe him? So far, people either ignored her or bullied her. And those are people who live in this pack. Why would a stranger treat her better? And the stranger in front of her was intimidating.


    ¡®She is probably abused.¡¯, his wolf said, and Damon¡¯s closed his eyes in an attempt to contain another rush of rage that swelled inside him.


    Abused. Someone abused his mate!


    Damon took a deep breath, the sweet citrusy scent of freesia made him lightheaded, like a drug that helped him rx. It was addictive. He greedily inhaled again and again, and it took him a few breaths to detect that the scent was getting fainter.


    Damon opened his eyes and realized that he was alone in the kitchen. She left, and he didn¡¯t notice. Was she even real or did he imagine her?


    ¡®Imagine my foot!¡¯, his wolf grumbled. ¡®Use that nose of yours and track her down!¡¯


    Damon snapped to his senses and followed his nose outside, toward the garden.

 Chapter 16 Understanding The Bond

    Damon stopped in the middle of the garden and took a deep breath in search of Talia.


    The wind mixed in the scent of freesia with hydrangea and roses and scattered them in random directions, and¡­ ¡°Shit!¡±, Damon cursed under his breath. ¡°I lost her.¡±


    ¡®Why did she leave?¡¯, Damon asked his wolf.


    ¡®Maybe because you scared the soul out of her.¡¯


    Damon was confused. ¡®I scared her?¡¯


    ¡®The girl is abused and jumpy, yet you sneaked behind her. You prevented her from leaving, held her while demanding that she answers your questions, so yes. You scared her. And that was only thest five minutes. The first time you met, there was another she-wolf sucking you off and you shouted at this precious one to stop. It¡¯s not the best first impression, if I may say.¡¯


    Damon cussed internally. He didn¡¯t want to think about the unpleasant things.


    He was unable to get Talia¡¯s image out of his mind. Damned mate bond!


    An idea hit him¡­ ¡®Isn¡¯t she my mate? Why did she run away from me? If we are mates, she should have a need to get close to me, to touch me, yet I could see her desire to escape.¡¯


    ¡®I don¡¯t think she knows we are her mate.¡¯


    ¡®Is it because she is too young?¡¯, Damon guessed.


    ¡®That¡¯s not the problem. She is small and skinny, but I¡¯m confident that she is over eighteen years old.¡¯, his wolf paused, unsure how Damon will take this information. ¡®The thing is that¡­ I can¡¯t sense her wolf.¡¯


    ¡®She is a human?¡¯, Damon asked with a frown.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    He never thought of having a mate, and he definitely didn¡¯t think that the Moon Goddess will arrange a human for him. They are weak and fragile, just like Talia.


    How can a powerful Alpha have a human for a mate?


    She would be like a crystal figurine in the middle of the room full of angry elephants.


    Damon¡¯s wolf was pleased to confirm how among all the emotions, Damon wished to keep Talia safe. It was a step in the right direction.


    ¡®No, the girl is definitely a she-wolf. There are cases when someone was harmed or neglected, the wolf would sacrifice himself in order to protect the human part. Considering the injuries on her body, I could see that happening. And she was skinny and looking hungry.¡¯


    Damon shoved his hand in his hair. ¡®I scared her away and she didn¡¯t get food¡­¡¯ He felt like crap. ¡®How do I fix this?¡¯


    ¡®What do you want to fix, your majesty?¡¯, his wolf asked sarcastically. ¡®Your n is to shag Marcy and leave. Did that change? Do you want to find the girl, say sorry for being a jackass, and take her out for dinner?¡¯


    Damon groaned in frustration and stared at the dark forest in the distance.


    He had no intention of dining and entertaining Talia or any other woman. He didn¡¯t want to get involved further. His mind was telling him to stay away from the girl with the copper-colored hair because with every second passing she was changing him in ways he didn¡¯t like.


    Damon craves control. He needs to be in charge, and Talia¡¯s existence is doing the opposite.


    He told himself to stop thinking about her and to move on. Can he stay away after getting a taste of her addictive scent? And the sparks upon touching her were phenomenal.


    Damon came out for a run, and now he didn¡¯t feel like running. He wanted to find Talia, but he had no idea where she disappeared. And even if he found her, Damon wouldn¡¯t know what to say.


    All this was super-confusing.


    ¡­


    In the morning¡­


    ¡®Are you guys up?¡¯, Damon spoke to Caden and Maya through the mind link.


    ¡®We are now.¡¯, Caden grumbled.


    They have an understanding that nights are reserved for privacy between Caden and Maya, and unless it¡¯s something important, Damon will not disturb them.


    Technically, it was morning, but it was way too early.


    ¡®The reports from Europe are still not ready. It¡¯s just past 5 in the morning.¡¯, Caden said, assuming that Damon was impatient to find out dirt on Marcy. ¡®We should receive them soon. I will call our men to confirm the status.¡¯


    ¡®That¡¯s not it.¡¯


    ¡®Did something happen?¡¯, Maya asked.


    ¡®Caden, youe to my room?¡¯


    ¡®Coming¡­¡¯, Caden responded after a brief pause.


    ¡­


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±, Caden asked when he closed the door behind him. It took him a moment to realize that Damon doesn¡¯t look good. ¡°Are you OK? Were you attacked?¡±


    Caden¡¯s eyes darted through the room and it took him a second to spot two pieces of torn fabric on the floor. Panties.


    Caden shook his head in disapproval. ¡°I know you have good stamina. But don¡¯t get drained this much. You look like dog vomit.¡±


    Damon was not in the mood to exin. He had other things on his mind. Things that kept him up the whole night.


    He tossed and turned in bed, and nightmares kept him awake.


    Damon dreamed about the copper-haired girl crying as dark shadows choked her. Damon wanted to help her but no matter how much he mmed into the invisible barrier between them, he couldn¡¯t get through. His shouts didn¡¯t do anything, yet he heard her every whimper clearly and he jolted out of his sleep every time the dark shadow hit her hard, drawing blood.


    Eventually, he gave up on sleeping and went to shower, trying to clear his mind but he was still restless so he decided to call Caden and try to get some answers.


    ¡°How did you feel when you met Maya?¡±


    Caden¡¯s smile froze. What kind of a question was that? Damon always mocked the mate bond. Something was fishy.


    ¡°Is Marcy your mate?¡±, Caden guessed.


    Damon waved his hand impatiently. ¡°Just answer my question.¡±


    Caden puffed his checks while thinking. ¡°Attraction, sparks, happiness. I needed Maya to be happy so that I can be happy. I mean¡­ I thought I was happy before, but after I met Maya I realized that I was clueless.¡±


    Damon shoved his hand into his messy hair. All this happiness talk didn¡¯t make sense.


    His wolf said that the girl is his mate, but the only thing Damon got was a fit of rage when he saw her hurt, inability to find her, and a sleepless night. None of them are happy.


    ¡°Did you ever think about resisting it?¡±


    ¡°Resisting Maya?¡±, Caden asked in surprise. ¡°Why would I do that? She was the best thing that ever happened to me. I waited for her, exactly her, for more than two decades. I would be an idiot to reject her.¡±


    ¡°Reject her¡­¡±, Damon mumbled.


    ¡°Yes. You can¡¯t resist the mate bond.¡±, Caden exined when he saw Damon¡¯s perplexed expression. ¡°The more time you spend with your mate, the bond is getting stronger. The only way to stop it is if you cut it at the root by rejecting your mate, and she epts. But only idiots do that.¡±


    ¡°What if Maya is in danger because of you? What would you pick? Her safety or your happiness? What if the only way to keep her safe is to reject her?¡±


    Caden frowned. What¡¯s up with Damon? It looked like he lost his marbles.


    ¡°What kind of nonsense is that? I can¡¯t be happy if Maya is harmed in any way. Her safetyes first. However, if we are apart we won¡¯t be happy. Rejection will harm us both so we might as well face that danger together.¡± Caden scrutinized Damon. ¡°I answered your questions, and now you answer mine. What¡¯s going on? Did you spend the night so deep in two pussies that they made you stupid?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on.¡±, Damon responded irritably. ¡°When I figure it out, I will let you know.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±, Caden agreed. He knew that if Damon doesn¡¯t feel like talking, he won¡¯t say more. ¡°We are leaving after breakfast, right?¡±


    Damon hesitated. Can he really leave without seeing the copper-haired girl again? Just one more time, to make sure her bruises healed, and maybe to touch her again and confirm that those sparks are real and he didn¡¯t imagine it.


    ¡°Let me think about it. We might stay longer. I will talk to Alpha Edward after breakfast, and it will depend on that conversation.¡±


    Caden exited the room, leaving behind Damon who was lost in thoughts.

 Chapter 17 Protecting Mate

    ¡®Are you thinking about rejecting the girl?¡¯, Damon¡¯s wolf asked.


    Damon let out a long breath. ¡®I need to protect her.¡¯


    ¡®If you want to protect her, you need to keep her close. Not reject her.¡¯, his wolf said sternly.


    They already talked about keeping Talia safe, but he was not close to finding a solution that will work.


    His wolf exined that without her wolf, Talia doesn¡¯t feel the bond, so she is not impacted by Damon¡¯s presence (or absence).


    At most, Talia will be attracted to him and if Damon wants to win her over, he will need to do it the human way: to romance her until she falls in love with him. Assuming that he seeds, and she epts him, it will not be a done deal. Without the mate bond, she can fall out of love at any time.


    Of course, if they go through the mating ceremony and he leaves his mark on her, the bond will be formed, but he would need to reach the point of the girl epting him. What a mess.


    Damon has no idea how to court a girl, but he is confident that no one should know that Talia is his mate.


    Damon is aware that Alpha Edward is set on using Marcy in order to manipte him, and Alpha Edward will have no qualms in using a lowly Omega against Damon.


    He can imagine that they will imprison Talia and ckmail Damon, and probably harm her as well. He won¡¯t allow it.


    It all went in circles, with every next scenario getting grimmer, and Damon was sick of it.


    Rejecting the girl or not, he had to ensure that Talia is treated better.


    Is she the only Omega to get a beating in the Red Moon pack? Probably not.


    ¡­


    After breakfast, Damon met with Alpha Edward in his office.


    Damon thought that his provocations from yesterday will be enough for Alpha Edward to lose his temper and reveal some information, but Damon realized that he underestimated Alpha Edward¡¯s patience.


    Other than, ¡°I hope that if you need assistance of any kind, you will turn to me and you won¡¯t mind if I do the same¡±, Alpha Edward didn¡¯t mention reaching out to Damon or to the Dark Howlers pack which left Damon wondering what¡¯s Alpha Edward¡¯s n.


    Damon gave up on getting something directly from Alpha Edward. The old guy was too crafty, and Damon hoped that Maya and Caden found something useful because he was never good at this scheming business.


    Scheming aside, Damon had a serious topic to discuss.


    ¡°Alpha Edward¡±, Damon called seriously. ¡°I wonder if you are aware of the treatment your Omegas get.¡±


    Alpha Edward was visibly confused. ¡°Can you borate on that?¡±


    ¡°Are they getting paid? Fed? Treated well?¡±


    The old man frowned while turning defensive. He didn¡¯t like that Damon asked about the internal workings in his pack, it¡¯s no one¡¯s business, but he still responded.


    ¡°I prefer strong warriors, but that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m mistreating others. All Omegas have amodation, three meals a day¡­ actually, they have ess to the kitchen and storage inmon buildings, and they can make their own food whenever they are hungry. We don¡¯t bother with those, but I can assure you that no one is hungry. If you want to know about thepensation for their work, you can ask my Beta. I¡¯m not clear what you mean about treating them well, but when they mess up rted to their duties, we make them runps or do pushups. It¡¯s good for their bodies. Is that what you would ssify as a bad treatment?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±, Damon responded. ¡°But when I see an Omega looking well, and a few hourster that same girl is all bruised up with a purple handprint on her neck, I get worried.¡±


    More than worried. Enraged.


    Alpha Edward paused. ¡°Maybe they had some dispute among themselves.¡±


    Damon scrutinized the old man while wondering if he is really ignorant or just a good actor. Whichever it is, Damon wanted to make sure Alpha Edward knows Damon was not talking randomly.


    ¡°Let¡¯s say I believe you and you have no idea about the mistreatment that happens under your roof. As an outsider, I don¡¯t want to meddle, so I suggest you talk to your daughter.¡±


    ¡°Marcy?¡±


    Damon narrowed his eyes at Alpha Edward. ¡°Luna should watch over pack members and use soft skills to deal with challenges. Beating up my people will NOT be tolerated.¡±


    Alpha Edward was visibly displeased. His main chip in pushing Marcy as Damon¡¯s Luna was that Marcy is wless and if Damon found dirt on Marcy in one day that he was here, who knows what else he can find?Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Alpha Edward didn¡¯t know that Marcy harmed Talia, but he knew that Damon wouldn¡¯t make up stuff like this. Damon¡¯s words were too specific to be random.


    The old guy is collecting intel on Damon for some time, and he knows this tactic. Damon would find a trait that is shing with a definition of a good Luna and blow it out of proportion. This is how Damon discredited many other women, and Alpha Edward had a bad premonition.


    ¡°I will talk to Marcy about this.¡±, Alpha Edward said solemnly.


    Damon smirked. ¡°I¡¯m counting on it.¡±


    ¡­


    Alpha Edward summoned Marcy to his study after Damon left.


    ¡°How is your rtionship with Damon?¡±


    Marcy had an idea that her father will ask about Damon, and she was ready for this. ¡°We are getting along well.¡± She had no intention to say that Damon chased her out of his roomst night.


    ¡°Do you think he has a good opinion of you? Did he invite you on a date? When will you move to the Dark Howlers pack? Did you discuss anything about your rtionship and how things will work out once he leaves from here? Or will you go with him?¡±, Alpha Edward was raining questions without giving Marcy chance to respond.


    ¡°Alpha Damon had doubts if I can be his Luna, and I assured him how I¡¯m perfect for the task. He was happy to hear that I¡¯m proficient in handling the household, pack members, and finances.¡±


    Alpha Edward was not happy with this response and he could see that Marcy was either avoiding something, or she and Damon didn¡¯t reach far. He decided to probe into the matter that was bothering him.


    ¡°And how do you handle pack members?¡±


    Marcy didn¡¯t get it. ¡°I talk to them and I¡¯m approachable. I listen and¡­¡±


    ¡°And then you beat them up?¡±, Alpha Edward interrupted Marcy.


    Marcy frowned. ¡°No. I don¡¯t beat them up.¡±


    ¡°Really? Alpha Damon thinks otherwise.¡± His voice was rising. ¡°He thinks that you beat them up ck and blue and even choke them to the point of leaving handprints on their necks.¡±


    Marcy paled. Why was her father angry? He is the one who says Omegas are a useless burden.


    Marcy is not a violent person, but what¡¯s wrong with teaching offenders a lesson? And who cares if one Omega gets hurt?


    She wanted to deny it, but the fury in her father¡¯s eyes told her that he already knows what she did in the attic on the previous day. Lying will only make things worse.


    ¡°It¡¯s not as bad as it sounds, daddy.¡±, Marcy said weakly.


    ¡°And how is it?¡±


    ¡°She barged into the room, and I had to teach her a lesson.¡±


    Alpha Edward closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths to calm his nerves. ¡°You taught an Omega a lesson by beating her because she forgot to knock?¡±


    Marcy wanted to say that it¡¯s not about knocking, but about the Omega seeing Marcy going down on Damon¡­ but there was no way she will say that in front of her father.


    ¡°What were you thinking?¡±, Alpha Edward said in a strained voice as he struggled to contain his desire to give her a good beating. ¡°Even if you want to y a sadistic game of hurting others, you don¡¯t do that when we have guests. And you DEFINITELY don¡¯t do that when the guest in question is an Alpha you are trying to impress as his future Luna!¡±

 Chapter 18 Whatever It Takes

    Alpha Edward rubbed his temples and continued scolding Marcy, ¡°Didn¡¯t you read the information on the Dark Howlers pack I gave you? Unless it¡¯s a serious crime, they don¡¯t resort to physical punishments. As a Luna, you need to be caring and gentle, not only toward your Alpha but toward every pack member. How will he take you in as his Luna if you are beating people for small mishaps? Only after you establish yourself you can do what you want, and until then you need to follow his rules.¡±


    He looked at her grimly.


    ¡°I hope, for your good, that you can fix this. If your stupid stunt ruins all ns I made, you will pay for it, Marcy.¡±


    ¡°Yes, father.¡±, Marcy said submissively.


    ¡®BAM!¡¯


    Marcy jolted when her father smacked the desk.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you, yes father, me! I want you to find Damon and make sure he epts you as his Luna. Do whatever it takes. Do you understand?¡±


    Marcy nodded fervently and she was relieved when her father waved at her to leave.


    She rushed into her room, closed the door behind her, and released the breath she was holding. That was scary.


    Marcy washed her face, reapplied her makeup, and picked a fine dress that had just the right amount of cleavage before finding Damon.


    ¡°Are you going out?¡±, Marcy asked when she saw that Damon was in front of his room with Caden and Maya.


    ¡°Your brother offered us a tour that includes observing warrior¡¯s training.¡±, Caden responded.


    Marcy pursed her lips. She wanted to be with Damon and talk, but she doesn¡¯t want to get close to smelly soldiers. She hates all that dirt and sweat, and she stays away from the training grounds.


    ¡°Can I help you, Marcy?¡±, Damon asked dryly, and Marcy noticed that he was much colder to her than yesterday.


    Damon didn¡¯t pay attention to her during breakfast, and she assumed he was sulking because she told him to stop the previous night, but now she knew that it was also about the wretched girl who hides in the attic (aka Talia).


    Marcy was anxious. Was Damon thinking that she is violent in nature while wearing a smiling mask in public? Does he see her as a two-faced woman? That was a possibility.


    No wonder her father was angry. Who would marry a woman like that? She cursed internally. Instead of showing him her best and dazzle him, she ended up rejecting himst night and he found out about her little mishap.


    ¡°I was hoping that we can have a word and rify a few things.¡±, Marcy said to Damon sweetly.


    Damon nced at Caden who nodded in understanding.


    Maya and Caden left, and Damon and Marcy entered Damon¡¯s room.


    Marcy threw herself at Damon and hugged him tightly.


    After an awkward second, Damon pried her arms open and held her by the elbows one step away from him.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±, he asked stiffly.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°What are you sorry for?¡±


    ¡°My behavior yesterday was not eptable.¡±


    Damon had a good guess that Marcy was scolded by her father, but he didn¡¯t know if she was talking about beating up Talia or about leaving his room. And there was also a possibility that Marcy did something else, and he didn¡¯t know about it.


    ¡°You came here to apologize.¡±, Damon summarized and released her arms. ¡°Do it without physical contact.¡±


    Marcy nodded. ¡°I also want to fix it.¡±


    Damon was confused. What was she talking about? How can she fix anything that already happened?


    The best thing was to ask questions and not jump to conclusions.


    Damon leisurely walked to the sofa chair and sat on it before asking, ¡°How will you fix it?¡±


    Marcy took in a shaky breath. His domineering posture turned her on a little.


    ¡°Last night¡­ I was not thinking straight. I said some things and I didn¡¯t mean it.¡±


    Damon smirked as he guessed which way this is going. ¡°You didn¡¯t mean that you will give me a blow job, or you didn¡¯t mean that anal was fine?¡±


    Marcy swallowed down her embarrassment. ¡°I mean¡­ I said that we should at least know that we are on the path of marriage, and we are, so¡­ I¡¯m fine with whatever you want.¡±


    ¡°And what if I want to fuck your pussy?¡±


    Marcy¡¯s eyes widened. His choice of words caught her by surprise. It was direct.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine with that.¡±, she responded.


    Damon felt a mix of rage and excitement.


    Marcy left him hanging and if she thought that offending an Alphaes without a price to pay, she was up to a nasty surprise.


    ¡°Good. Undress.¡±


    Two front buttons of her dress came undone, and the dress slid down her body, bunching around her ankles.


    Marcy stood in front of Damon, wearing bluecy underwear that didn¡¯t leave anything to the imagination.


    Damon¡¯s expression was unreadable as he observed Marcy¡¯s wless body for a few seconds and then he pointed at her bra and panties. ¡°All of it.¡±


    She didn¡¯t hesitate, fearing that even one second will make one of them change their mind.


    Marcy kicked her panties to the side and lifted her gaze. She frowned at the sight of Damon pointing his phone at her. Is he taking photos or a video?


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Damon smiled wickedly. ¡°Memories of our first time, baby. Turn around. Let me see you.¡±


    Marcy didn¡¯t like that he was holding onto a phone, but she obeyed and slowly turned around, showing him her luscious curves from every angle.


    ¡°Come here¡­¡±, Damon instructed while pointing at the low coffee table. ¡°Put your palms on it.¡±


    Marcy realized that he wants her to bend. She hesitated.


    ¡°Are we doing this or not? If not, there is a training ground for me to check.¡±


    Marcy gritted her teeth in annoyance and walked to the coffee table before cing her palms on the cold surface.


    Damon stood up and circled around her until he got a good view of her from behind.


    ¡°Spread your legs. More¡­ more¡­ good. Perk up that ass¡­¡±, Damon instructed, and Marcy obeyed.


    She felt the coldness at the cradle of her thighs, and she couldn¡¯t believe that she got aroused by Damon bossing her around. There was even some wetness dripping down her leg.


    Marcy always thought that she is the domineering one, but Damon proved her otherwise.


    Marcy jolted when she felt his finger gliding between her drenched folds.


    ¡°You are flooding, Marcy. You like this, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±, she responded breathily.


    ¡°Yes, what?¡±, Damon asked.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Yes, I like it.¡±


    She started rocking her hips against his hand, and he pulled his hand away.


    ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡±, he ordered and when she nodded in understanding, he put his hand back there and continued teasing her.


    ¡°What do you like, Marcy? Say it.¡±


    Marcy moaned. It was difficult to talk while he was expertly toying with her clit. ¡°I like when you touch my pussy.¡±


    Damon hummed in approval. ¡°Whose pussy is this?¡±


    She couldn¡¯t believe how good it felt. She was sprawled for him to see and touch and do whatever he wanted, and his domineering attitude with skillful ministrations set her body aze.


    ¡°Yours.¡±


    ¡°What do you want me to do, Marcy?¡±


    ¡°I want you to¡­¡±, Marcy moaned. ¡°Fuck me.¡±


    ¡°How do you want me to fuck you, Marcy? I need details. The more the better.¡±


    ¡°I want you to put your big cock in my pussy and fuck me hard. Make me scream, Alpha Damon.¡±


    Damon removed his hand, and she missed his touch immediately.


    Without any warning, Damon pped her buttcheek harshly and she jolted in surprise. The pink palm-print appeared immediately on her perfectly white skin.


    Marcy moaned wantonly as the sharp pain radiated through her body while morphing into pleasure.


    Marcy tilted her hips, exposing herself further in anticipation of what he will do next.


    She really wanted him to touch her down there. This mind-numbing level of arousal was new to her. But Damon¡¯s hand was not back there where she wanted it the most.


    Marcy thought that maybe he is removing his pants and she looked at the back only to see Damon with his clothes intact, keeping his phone away.


    ¡°You are a slut, Marcy. Get dressed.¡±


    His words were like someone poured a bucket of ice on her. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Me fucking you is a privilege you need to earn, Marcy. Get dressed and leave.¡±


    Marcy stared in disbelief at Damon as he went to the bathroom, washed his hands with soap, and then left the room without looking at her.


    He. Just. Left.


    What the hell?

 Chapter 19 Hide And Seek

    Damon used mind link to confirm where Caden and Maya were.


    The two of them were standing on the side and watching warriors train in a vigorous exercise of holding big logs above their heads and running an obstacle course.


    Whoever tripped or dropped the log, was punished into doing pushups before being allowed to continue.


    Damon was wondering where their guide (aka James) was, but then he saw him among the warriors.


    ¡°That was fast¡­¡±, Caden said teasingly when Damon joined them.


    ¡°Shut up!¡±, Damon growled. ¡°What¡¯s the status here?¡±


    Caden gestured toward few warriors who were monitoring others. ¡°Those are generals. They will finish this session in about ten minutes, and then we can meet with them before the next session starts.¡±


    Damon hummed in approval and pushed his phone into Caden¡¯s hand. ¡°Here. Don¡¯t let others hear the sound.¡±


    Caden tapped his Bluetooth device, connecting it with Damon¡¯s phone. Maya huddled closer to Caden, her good werewolf hearing allowed her to hear the sounds that were flowing into Caden¡¯s ear.


    It took them a minute to hear Marcy saying how she wants Damon to fuck her hard while exposing all her private bits to the camera.


    Maya pinched Caden¡¯s arm.


    ¡°Hey!¡±, Caden protested. ¡°I was only looking at the material Alpha gave me!¡±


    Maya snorted and responded through the mind link, ¡®And getting aroused!¡¯


    Caden smirked. ¡®I was aroused because you are sticking to me, hotcake. You know that only you can get me hard.¡¯


    Damon fake-gagged. ¡®Please make your mind link private. Do I need to listen to this?¡¯


    Caden grimaced. ¡®You made me watch a video of a naked woman begging you to fuck her. What¡¯s wrong in hearing how my woman makes me hard?¡¯Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Maya¡¯s face exploded in a bright smile. She likes whenever Caden ims her as his. And the talk about her making him hard was a bonus.


    ¡°When did you take this?¡±, Maya asked Damon.


    ¡°Just now.¡±, Damon responded coolly.


    Caden¡¯s eyebrows shoot up. ¡°That was quick. Normally you take at least an hour.¡±


    Damon made a sour face and continued through the mind link, ¡®I didn¡¯t go beyond what you saw.¡¯


    Caden¡¯s eyebrows were so high that they nearly reached his hairline. ¡®You didn¡¯t go beyond this? She was willing. What happened?¡¯


    Damon was not in the mood to exin. Actually, even he was not sure how to exin it. Yes, Marcy was hot and naked and willing, and he had a perfect opportunity to take advantage of her, but something seemed off, and that ¡®something¡¯ was more than just his hurt ego and desire to punish her.


    ¡®Let¡¯s focus on what¡¯s important.¡¯, Damon reminded Caden and Maya. ¡®With this, we got Marcy as a slut, but I want proof that she fooled around with another guy, or she can spin it how this was only for me.¡¯


    Caden and Maya nodded in understanding.


    ¡®What do we have so far?¡¯, Damon asked and after two seconds of silence, he spoke again. ¡®Please, tell me we have something.¡¯


    Ever since he inhaled that sweet scent of freesia, Damon was restless in the Red Moon pack and he wanted to end this farce quickly.


    ¡®Marcy is careful¡­¡¯, Caden said. ¡®As much as there is a word that she was getting handsy with a number of guys, there are no photos or videos.¡¯


    Damon exhaled in frustration. ¡®Find those guys. Someone kept a souvenir.¡¯


    ¡®I¡¯m on it.¡¯, Caden assured him before adding, ¡®But it will take longer.¡¯


    It was Maya¡¯s turn. ¡®The staff is talking about how their Alpha and Luna are strict, but there is nothing we can use to smear them publicly. It¡¯s all minor offenses.¡¯


    Damon thought how this was odd. ¡®What about punishments? Anything on Marcy?¡¯


    Maya shook her head. ¡®They make theme to the training ground and at most they end up with sore muscles.¡¯


    ¡®It doesn¡¯t make sense¡­¡¯, Damon said. ¡®Last night I saw a girl in the kitchen, looking for food. She was bruised up with a purple handprint on her neck. I¡¯m confident that Marcy did that.¡¯


    ¡®We should talk to that girl.¡¯, Maya suggested.


    Caden didn¡¯t think that will work. ¡®That girl will probably be kept out of sight, at least when the guests are visiting. And even if we find her, there is a chance she will not talk against Marcy out of fear of getting punished again.¡¯


    ¡®We can offer her a refuge.¡¯, Maya said. ¡®So many werewolvese to our pack. One more or less won¡¯t make a difference.¡¯ She looked at Damon who had an unreadable expression. ¡®Let me talk to her. What¡¯s her name? Where can I find her?¡¯


    Damon shook his head. ¡®I don¡¯t know. We didn¡¯t reach that far. I just saw that she was scared and beaten and then she ran away.¡¯


    He didn¡¯t want to mention that he lost her scent. That¡¯s a big shame for any werewolf.


    ¡®Considering your moodtely, you are the one who scared her away.¡¯, Caden said matter-of-factly.


    Maya giggled. ¡®Is this version of Damon grumpier than normal grumpy Damon?¡¯ She spoke to Damon, ¡®Don¡¯t tell me that Marcy is getting to you. I can name right now at least five women that were more excessive ining onto you.¡¯


    Damon rubbed his face forcibly. ¡®I¡¯m sick of this shit and I want to be done with it. Let¡¯s wrap this up and head home.¡¯


    Damon stood up and Caden said, ¡°We are supposed to meet generals in ten minutes.¡±


    ¡°I will be back by then¡­¡±, Damon said and walked away, leaving puzzled Caden and Maya behind.


    ¡®What¡¯s got into him?¡¯, Maya asked Caden through mind link after ensuring that she blocked Damon from eavesdropping.


    Caden shrugged. ¡®I have no idea. Will you try to find that girl?¡¯


    Maya made a face. ¡®I don¡¯t have much to go with. Omegas here are extremely submissive toward Alpha Edward and it won¡¯t be easy to make any of them talk against him. I can¡¯t go and ask around if anyone saw a girl with bruises, it will only attract attention to us.¡¯


    Caden agreed with Maya. Asking random questions might bring trouble their way.


    They are here on a friendly visit that should end with two packs creating an alliance through marriage, and if they are caught snooping around, it might backfire big time.


    Just as promised, Damon was back in time to meet the generals, and after that, he went to roam the ce with the hope to pick up the sweet citrusy scent of freesia.


    Damon knew that as a guest he can¡¯t go anywhere he wants, so he asked Alpha Edward to assign him an escort.


    ¡°Can Marcy apany you?¡±, Alpha Edward asked. He obviously wanted to increase the time that Damon and Marcy spent together. He immediately contacted Marcy through the mind link and after a brief pause, he said, ¡°Oh, sorry. She is busy right now. Can you wait a little bit?¡±


    Damon guessed that Marcy is sulking after he left her hanging in his room. That was one thing he felt good about.


    Damon didn¡¯t care who will apany him. He had no clear goal in mind and as long as that person doesn¡¯t get in his way, it¡¯s fine. ¡°I would like to start now if it¡¯s OK with you. You can tell Marcy to join me whenever she is ready.¡±


    Alpha Edward wondered why Damon seems to be in a rush, but he didn¡¯t question it. Damon wanted to walk around, and he was even considerate to ask for someone to escort him.


    It took Alpha Edward two seconds to find his next candidate. A person who knows what¡¯s going on and won¡¯t embarrass him.


    Nora waited for Damon in front of the study with a big smile on her face. ¡°Alpha Edward asked me to escort you and to answer any questions you might have.¡±


    Damon hummed in understanding. ¡°Take me to where Omegas are staying.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡± If Nora was surprised by this demand, she didn¡¯t show it.


    Damon observed the two-stories high building. The bottom floor had a kitchen, amon area that doubled as a lounge and dining room, and four bedrooms. The upper floor had ten bedrooms.


    Based on the information they received about the Red Moon pack, each room had six to eight people, so Damon estimated about one hundred people in each building.


    Nora didn¡¯t understand why Damon asked to visit this ce, but other than walking through the hallways, he didn¡¯t stop.


    ¡°Do you want to see inside rooms?¡±


    Damon refused. ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. Is this the only building for Omegas?¡±


    ¡°No, there are three more.¡±, Nora responded.


    ¡°I want to visit them.¡±


    Three buildingster, Damon lost hope that he will find Talia.


    There was not a single whiff of freesia, no matter how much he searched.

 Chapter 20 Hide And Seek (2)

    After four buildings without any hints of Talia, Damon was frustrated.


    ¡°Are you looking for anything in particr?¡±, Nora asked when she saw Damon spacing out in the middle of the hallway.


    Damon shrugged and shook his head. He was not sure himself.


    Nora stepped closer to him and spoke in a sultry voice, ¡°Whatever you want, I can give you¡­¡±


    Damon frowned. ¡°Keep your distance, Miss Nora, or people might get the wrong idea.¡±


    She didn¡¯t move and his expression darkened.


    ¡°Do you want to start the rumors about us? I wonder, what would Alpha Edward say if he thinks there is something going on between us? I¡¯m sure you are aware of my reputation. One more girl won¡¯t make a difference, but for you who tried to ruin Marcy¡¯s chances of bing the Luna of the Dark Howlers pack¡­¡± Damon clicked his tongue.


    Nora gave him a tight smile and increased the distance between them.


    She got the message to stay away. For now.


    Damon got immersed in his thoughts,pletely ignoring Nora who fidgeted by his side.


    He was recollecting everything he knew about Talia and trying toe up with something that makes sense.


    Damon assumed that Talia is an Omega because she brought towels into his bathroom, and because of the poor treatment she received.


    If she has any standing, Alpha Edward wouldn¡¯t be oblivious that she is mistreated. Of course, there was a possibility that Alpha Edward knew about it, and he was pretending to be oblivious. However, if he was concealing the issue, he would deny it and not tell Damon that he will talk to Marcy.


    Damon spent thest decade among Alphas, and he learned a thing or two about reading them. He was confident that Alpha Edward didn¡¯t know that Marcy (and maybe someone else) is physically punishing Omegas.


    Damon wanted to ask Nora if she knows something about beatings or the girl with copper-colored hair, but he quickly decided not to. He didn¡¯t want to appear to be snooping into something that is not his business and if anyone suspects that he is specifically interested in one girl with poor standing, that can backfire big time.


    Thest thing he wanted was to jeopardize Talia in any way.


    He had to connect the dots on his own.


    Anyone with such injuries will probably stay in bed, either in the pack hospital or in her room, and an Omega would help her out. Hell, even if she is an Omega, someone should take care of her and not let her search for food in the middle of the night.


    The fact that she was looking for food in the middle of the night while injured, means that she didn¡¯t have dinner, and her skinny appearance told Damon that she skipped many other meals as well. His heart ached.


    He thought that maybe shemitted some crime and was being punished, but if she was imprisoned or tortured, she wouldn¡¯t be able toe to the kitchen, so he crossed off that as a possibility.


    If Talia is an Omega, she would live in one of thesemon buildings, and Damon could pick up her scent.


    Another mystery was, why would she look for food in the packhouse when there is a kitchen in each of these buildings?


    The more Damon thought about it, the less sense it made. It all felt like he was trapped in a game of hide-and-seek.


    He was exasperated and his mind was a mess.


    His life was so much simpler before he saw that girl sneaking out of his room while Marcy was sucking him off.


    Damon didn¡¯t want to think about Talia, and he couldn¡¯t believe that he spent so much time searching for her. The girl ran away, and she probably doesn¡¯t care about him.


    The smartest thing to do is to leave this pack and return to his routine. Eventually, her addictive scent will fade from his mind, and he will be normal again.


    Compared to this emotional turmoil, he will take Cassie¡¯s erratic screaming anytime.


    ¡­


    Damon wanted to leave the Red Moon pack and go home. He really did. But as time passed, Damon realized that he couldn¡¯t leave without seeing the girl with the copper-colored hair again. Just one more time.


    He wanted to ensure that she is fine. At least that¡¯s what he told himself.


    Damon hoped that if he can inhale her sweet citrusy scent of freesia a few more times, he might get sated, or maybe he finds out that it¡¯s not affecting him anymore. And then there are those sparks that felt divine. Yes, he needs to feel those again also.


    Just once and then he will leave.


    Definitely.


    Damon came up with a million reasons to see the girl he couldn¡¯t get out of his mind, and he roamed around the packhouse andmunity buildings, but with no luck.


    It was like the girl simply disappeared.


    Damon was desperate. Was she a ghost who came to torture him?


    He was never this anxious.


    Caden and Maya realized that Damon is acting strangely, but he didn¡¯t exin anything, no matter how many times they asked.


    Damon was irritable and he said more than once how they are leaving, yet then he told them that they are staying longer.


    To say that Maya and Caden were confused, was an understatement.


    When Damon announced that they will stay another night, Caden and Maya started suspecting that Marcy or Alpha Edward drugged Damon or cast some mind-muddling spell on him because this was not Damon they knew.


    Damon was never indecisive, and he never refused a naked woman (like Marcy they saw on the video), and this was enough proof for Caden and Maya that Damon is losing it.


    Caden and Maya agreed that if Damon¡¯s behavior esctes, they will take him away by force. The n was that Maya distracts Damon, and Caden whacks Damon in the head, and then they drag him into the car and drive away.


    Oblivious to Caden¡¯s and Maya¡¯s ns, Damon thought about his situation and realized that there was only one thing for him to do.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    He left his room around midnight and headed downstairs.


    Damon sat in the kitchen of the packhouse with the lights off and waited. That¡¯s where he saw the copper-haired girl, so he hoped that she will show up again.


    Damon didn¡¯t sleep the previous night, and he was not in his best shape, but his every muscle was tense, and he didn¡¯t feel like sleeping.


    His mind was going through numerous scenarios of what he will say when the mysterious girl shows up, and how she will respond.


    Will he y it cool and ask casually how she is doing?


    Or maybe he should show a stern expression and demand an exnation to why she disappearedst night without a goodbye?


    Or maybe he should make a pitiful expression and say how she hurt his feelings? Based on the inte, girls like it when a man exposes his vulnerable side.


    Damon was still not sure if he should embrace this madness or reject Talia, but he knew that he had to see her.


    His wolf would growl in displeasure whenever Damon thought about rejecting Talia as his mate, and whimper sadly when Damon worried why she is not there yet.


    What if she is hurt? Did she leave? Is she hungry? Damon shoved his hand into his hair. Maybe the girl is fine and sleeping and he is an idiot for spending the night in the kitchen.


    Seconds ticked into minutes that turned to hours, painfully slow, and Damon was exasperated when he saw dawn cracking through the window. She didn¡¯te.


    Damon was about to give up and head to his room when footsteps from the hallway got his attention.


    He impatiently jumped to his feet, in hope that it¡¯s Talia.


    Damon¡¯s handsome eyebrows came together when he saw a woman with a duster in her hand. A blonde Omega in herte-twenties.


    Her eyes widened in surprise, and she stuttered. ¡°Can¡­ can I help you, Alpha Damon?¡±


    Damon rubbed his chin. Can she help him? Maybe. He looked around, making sure they are not overheard.


    ¡°Can I ask you something, but you make sure it stays between us?¡±


    The woman nodded fervently in small jerky movements.


    ¡°I¡¯m trying to find a girl. I believe she is an Omega. This tall¡­¡±, he gestured with his hand. ¡°Skinny. Looks no older than a sixteen years old. Copper-colored hair this long¡­¡±, he pointed below his shoulder.


    The woman shook her head, indicating that she doesn¡¯t know the person Damon was searching for.


    Damon remembered one more detail. ¡°She wore old clothes that were oversized for her.¡±


    The woman made a thoughtful expression.


    ¡°You know her?¡±, Damon asked in an urgent whisper while inching closer to the Omega who was now blushing profusely.


    ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡±, the words were stuck in her throat. He was too handsome and too close, and all this was too sudden. ¡°She¡­ maybe¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes? Yes!?¡±, he asked impatiently.


    She blinked rapidly. ¡°The attic. There is a girl living in the attic.¡±

 Chapter 21 The Girl In The Attic

    Damon climbed to the attic faster than the wind and his lips curved into a smile when he inhaled the scent of freesia he was craving for.


    The girl was there.


    He stared at the closed door in front of him and took a moment topose himself.


    Damon thought how he went all around the Red Moon pack¡¯s properties in search of the girl. Why didn¡¯t he think of checking the packhouse thoroughly?


    He already knew that the girl was not in themon buildings because she came to the kitchen in the packhouse.


    Now that he was standing in the attic, he realized that obvious ces would be to check the basement and the attic, as well as any isted ces where guests don¡¯t venture. It seems that his mind was muddled and he didn¡¯t think straight.


    Well, it doesn¡¯t matter.


    The time hase. She is right there. Behind that door. Hopefully.


    Damon knocked on the door lightly and waited. Nothing.


    He knocked again, this time with a bit more force.


    Damon thought that he heard some shuffling from inside, but he was not sure because his heart thundered in his ears. He was never this anxious.


    He gave it another knock and then turned the door handle.


    The dawn gave barely any light through the small windows, but Damon¡¯s Alpha sight was enough for him to see the scarce furniture and the girl sitting on the edge of the futon, in the corner, hugging her knees and looking at him with her big doe-like eyes.


    Damon stood at the door frozen, locked in some kind of a staring contest with Talia, overwhelmed by his emotions that were amplified by the joy of his wolf.


    Her head was buried in her knees, and he could see only her eyes between the strands of the copper-colored hair that fell over her face, but he knew she was watching him.


    ¡®Say something!¡¯, Damon¡¯s wolf snapped, startling Damon out of his daze.


    ¡°Hi¡­¡±, Damon said awkwardly. ¡°You are probably wondering why I¡¯m here.¡±


    Yes, she was wondering why he came to the attic.


    Did hee to hurt her? Or is this some prank? Since Olivia left the pack, no one came to the attic with good intentions.


    That¡¯s the scary Alpha who was the reason she got beaten twice. The first time because she peeped when princess Marcy was between Alpha Damon¡¯s legs, and the second time because sheined how princess Marcy hit her the first time.


    Well, the first time she was not peeping on purpose, and she definitely didn¡¯tin to anyone, but it didn¡¯t matter. She still got beat twice and the only conclusion Talia had was that nothing goodes from being associated with this big scary Alpha.


    And now he is here, in the attic, bringing more misfortune with him.


    With every next second of Damon¡¯s presence in the attic, Talia sensed a cmity approaching, a cmity in the form of princess Marcy wanting to kill her.


    Talia didn¡¯t say anything and Damon stepped inside.


    She pushed with her legs, getting further into the corner while trying to increase the distance between them.


    ¡®You are scaring the girl again¡­¡¯, his wolf growled in his head.


    Damon lifted his hands, palms facing Talia. ¡°I won¡¯t hurt you.¡±


    ¡®Yeah, you won¡¯t hurt me, but others will because of you.¡¯, Talia thought.


    In slow movements, he closed the door behind him and approached her carefully until his feet touched the edge of the futon.


    He went down into a squat so that they are on the same level, but she was still much smaller than he was.


    ¡°My name is Damon.¡±, he put on his bestest non-intimidating smile, but she saw it like a beast showing teeth before devouring its prey.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±, Damon asked.


    Talia¡¯s eyes darted to the door and then went back to him.


    ¡°Please, leave.¡±, she said in a shaky voice, and his heart ached.


    He finally found her and there was no way he will leave just like that.


    Damon was not sure what to do. Why was she so scared? Why was she chasing him away?


    ¡°I won¡¯t hurt you.¡±, he assured her. ¡°I¡¯m here only to talk.¡±


    ¡°Say what you have, and leave.¡±, Talia said and gestured toward the door, her hand moving enough for the sleeve to hitch higher and expose her swollen wrist.


    Damon grabbed her hand and pulled it toward him.


    Delightful sparks formed upon contact, catching him by surprise. The sensation was stronger than he remembered, and he inhaled a shaky breath.


    He focused mightily on inspecting her injury.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    ¡°What happened? Don¡¯t tell me that you fell again.¡± His expression darkened. ¡°Is it Marcy? I will teach her a lesson.¡±


    Talia panicked. ¡°Please, don¡¯t. If you say anything, she will hit me more.¡±


    Damon paused and observed her face which was now peeking above her knees, and he noticed a few more bruisespared to what he saw the previous night.


    Rage rippled thought Damon at the thought that Talia got hurt again, and he was right here, in this packhouse, oblivious to her sufferings. It happened on his watch!


    Damon was enraged, and his wolf was as well. One fury amplified the other and Damon radiated inexplicable violence that was tangible.


    At the sight of Talia shivering in fear, Damon forced his rage down. Settling scores will need to wait.


    ¡°Did Marcy hit you again?¡±, Damon asked Talia, and the way she avoided him made him suspect another thing. ¡°Was it because of me?¡±


    Talia¡¯s eyes widened and that was enough for him to confirm how his intuition was right.


    He knew that Marcy was a white lotus. There was no way Marcy would forget that Talia saw her in apromising position (between Damon¡¯s legs, sucking him off). And when Damon told Alpha Edward that Marcy is hitting Omegas, Marcy probably connected how hisment was about Talia.


    In a way, it was his fault that Talia got hurt. Twice.


    He clenched his teeth as another wave of rage swelled within him. ¡°I will kill her.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t.¡±, Talia pleaded. ¡°Can you just leave and pretend that you didn¡¯t see anything? Don¡¯te here and everyone will leave me alone.¡±


    Damon¡¯s heart cracked. Even if everyone leaves her alone, how the hell was he supposed to do that?


    Doesn¡¯t she know that he went nearly mad when he didn¡¯t know where she was?


    Without a word, Damon sat on the futon next to Talia and wrapped her in his arms, pulling her to lean on his chest.


    The feeling of Talia against him made Damon¡¯s whole body hum in pleasure. Delightful sparks overtook his senses, and he was lost in a daze.


    Talia froze. She was not used to physical contact of any kind. It took her a moment to collect herself and start squirming to get out of his hold.


    ¡°Shh¡­¡±, Damon coaxed Talia to calm down, unwilling to let go of her. He is not a hugger, and he never cuddled with a woman, but this girl was different. He wanted to hold her, and her resistance hurt. ¡°I won¡¯t harm you. Can I hold you like this, just for a minute?¡±


    No, not a minute. He wanted an hour, or at least until he gets immune to these sparks that are making him crave to devour her. But if he said that aloud, she would definitely freak out.


    Talia stopped struggling. Not because she agreed, but because she realized that he was too strong, and her struggle made her injuries ache more.


    Talia resigned herself to her fate. There was nothing she could do. Even if he wants to harm her, she could only endure it. She was weak to fight for herself and if she shouted for help, no one woulde.


    Damon smirked when he felt that Talia rxed. He wished to move her to sit on hisp, but he feared that it might be too much.


    With his arms around her, Talia appeared tiny and fragile, and Damon was confident that he can carry her around with ease. Or maybe he should stuff her into his pocket, so that she stays close to him all the time.


    Lost in the moment, Damon ran his fingers through Talia¡¯s coppery-colored hair and inhaled the sweet citrusy scent of freesia, and his world was at peace.


    Damon closed his eyes, his enjoyment amplified by the sounds of yips and whimpers his wolf made in pleasure.


    ¡°Hey¡­¡±, Talia called after some time. ¡°When are you going to let me go?¡±


    ¡°First, my name is Damon. Not, hey.¡±, Damon said with amusement in his voice. It¡¯s been a while since he heard someone speak to him this casually (other than Caden), and theck of respect didn¡¯t bother him.


    ¡°And Second¡­¡±, he drawled. ¡°I¡¯m thinking about it.¡± If it was up to him, never.


    To make his point clear, he tightened his hold on her, making sure he doesn¡¯t crush her.


    Feeling that she was stiff again, he asked, ¡°Am I hurting you?¡±


    Talia was absolutely confused with this development. ¡°Well¡­ no¡­ but¡­¡±


    ¡°Then, it¡¯s fine.¡±, Damon cut her off. He didn¡¯t want to hear any buts.

 Chapter 22 The Girl In The Attic (2)

    As much as Damon enjoyed this newfound feeling, he couldn¡¯t ignore Talia¡¯s injuries. The scent of dried blood disturbed the sweet citrusy scent of freesia, telling him that she was not OK.


    Damon took Talia¡¯s hand in his and observed a cut that was on top of a nasty bruise. It was scabbing, but it still looked fresh.


    ¡®Mate¡¯s healing is slow because she doesn¡¯t have her wolf¡¯, Damon¡¯s wolf exined.


    Damon raised Talia¡¯s hand toward his lips and licked the cut.


    Talia jerked her hand away, but Damon¡¯s reflexes are top-notch, and he increased his grip, preventing her from doing so.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±, Talia asked in panic.


    No one ever licked her before, and this is a scary Alpha! Will he eat her?


    ¡°Shush! Don¡¯t you know that our saliva has analeptic properties? I¡¯m helping your wound heal. You should say, thank you, and notin.¡±, Damon said and grimaced. Considering her sweet scent, he assumed that she will taste sweet also, but¡­ ¡°Why is it bitter?¡±


    ¡°I applied an herbal paste, so it doesn¡¯t get infected.¡±, Talia said in a small voice.


    Damon observed her face and noticed that she was beet red. Is she sick?


    He touched her forehead. It was not warm, but he still asked, ¡°Do you have a fever?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±, Talia responded with urgency. She had no intention to admit she was flustered because a scary Alpha came, hugged her (and is still hugging her!), and then he licked her hand.


    Damon guessed that she didn¡¯t see a doctor. It was obvious that she didn¡¯t get proper first aid.


    ¡°Did you make the medicinal paste yourself?¡±


    Talia confirmed with a nod.


    He was about to lick her hand again and paused. ¡°Is it poisonous?¡±


    Talia was not sure if she shouldugh or cry. ¡°You should ask that before you put things into your mouth.¡±


    ¡°I was treating your wound and I didn¡¯t see that there is medicine¡­¡±, he grumbled, and then he licked her again.


    ¡°Can you stop doing that?¡±, Talia protested. His coarse tongue touching her skin made her feel funny.


    Damon looked at Talia like he had no idea what she was talking about, and then he licked her again.


    Talia exhaled helplessly while wondering what game Damon was ying.


    He is an important guest, an Alpha, yet instead of mingling with the elite of the Red Moon pack, he was huddled in the corner of the attic, holding her close to him, and licking her hand.


    It didn¡¯t make sense no matter how she thought about it.


    Is this the part where Marcy barges in and they all startughing at her? Actually, if they onlyugh, that will be good. Maybe Damon will join Marcy and the two of them give her another beating?


    Talia was anxious and she wanted this charade to be over.


    ¡°When are you leaving?¡±


    Damon was not sure if she asked him about leaving the attic or the Red Moon pack. In either case, his answer would be the same. ¡°Why are you eager to chase me away?¡±


    ¡°Because this is where I stay. You are in a fancy bedroom, with Alpha, and Luna, and your future wife.¡±


    ¡°My future wife?¡±, Damon asked in confusion, like he heard about it for the first time.


    ¡°Princess Marcy told me that you will get married when she came here and¡­¡±, Talia didn¡¯t finish, but Damon understood.


    When she was hitting Talia.


    ¡°She will NOT be my wife in this lifetime or in any next one.¡±, Damon said grimly.


    Talia shook her head. ¡°Maybe you should tell that to her, and not to me. Your rtionship with her is not my business. Can you, please, leave?¡±


    Damon was lost in her big honey-colored eyes that looked at him pleadingly and he wondered if he can leave. Can he? Yes, but only in one case.


    ¡°Come with me.¡±


    Talia was sure that her ears malfunctioned. She asked him to leave the attic before anyone can see them in this inexplicable situation, yet he wants her to join him? ¡°What? Where?¡±


    ¡°I am the Alpha of the Dark Howlers pack. Come with me to my pack.¡±This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Talia¡¯s brain paused.


    She thought that Damon invited her to his room, to clean up or maybe to make fun of her, but now it seems he was asking her to leave the Red Moon pack. With him. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°I will make sure you have a room, better than the ones downstairs. I will get you clothes that fit, and you can eat anytime you want and as much as you want. For every scratch and bruise, there will be a pack doctor to take care of you and if anyone gives you a hard time, I will deal with them. No one will bully you in my pack.¡±


    ¡®Our pack!¡¯, his wolf added eagerly. Unfortunately, only Damon heard him.


    Talia blinked. Now she was not wondering if her ears are tricking her, but if thisst beating messed with her brain.


    Or maybe something was wrong with him. Did he ate a funny fruit and is talking gibberish? There are some herbs that can make people say things they don¡¯t mean. Or did he confuse her with princess Marcy?


    It¡¯s not that Talia didn¡¯t think about leaving the Red Moon pack.


    Every time Anna and her henchmen bullied Talia, Talia thought about escaping, but she didn¡¯t know where to go.


    And here was an Alpha, offering her a new home with all the luxuries she ever dreamed of. Assuming that this was real and both of them were sane.


    Talia wondered if this was a prank, or if she was imagining this whole conversation, or maybe she was sleeping and the Cindere story mixed with her dreams because Damon definitely looked like a prince. A handsome prince that smells of the forest and dark chocte.


    ¡°Will youe with me?¡±, Damon asked when his patience cracked.


    ¡°Why do you want me toe?¡±


    ¡°Because¡­¡±, the words got stuck in his throat.


    Can he tell her she is his mate and that when he sees her harmed, his soul is aching? No. That would only freak her out.


    Can he tell her that staying away from her is practically impossible? If she doesn¡¯te willingly, he will kidnap her or maybe move in with her into this attic. Ah! He sounds like a creep to himself!


    Damon was exasperated. All this would be simpler if she could feel the bond and the delicious sparks that make him feel alive.


    ¡°Because¡­¡±, he repeated. ¡°I feel responsible. You got hurt because of me, and it¡¯s not right. Let me help you. It will make me feel better.¡± This was the truth. Part of the truth, at least.


    ¡°Do you take to your pack every girl who gets hurt?¡±


    Not really. But he is not the guy who would look away from injustice. However, he couldn¡¯t tell Talia that she is special either.


    ¡°When youe to the Dark Howlers pack, you will see for yourself that we ept everyone whoes seeking help without bad intentions. I promise that if you don¡¯t like it in the Dark Howlers pack, I will help you resettle at the location of your choice.¡±


    With his index finger, Damon made a cross over his chest where the heart is, to confirm his sincerity, but his silent promise had an additional use how he will make sure she is treated well and she never wants to leave.


    Talia bit the inside of her cheek while considering her options.


    One was staying at the Red Moon pack. Anna¡¯s bullying was escting, and Marcy started picking on her also. Yesterday Marcy came to the attic and Talia got a beating for something she didn¡¯t do.


    The second option was to go to the Dark Howlers pack. Alpha Damon said that in his pack people are epted. Can it be worse than here? Probably not.


    Of course, there was also the third option for Talia to leave on her own somewhere, but that option was scary and uncertain, and it will exist even if she goes with Alpha Damon.


    Damon saw that Talia was considering it and he spoke with urgency before she could decline his offer. ¡°Grab your things. You only need to say that you reject the Red Moon pack and Edward Redmayne as your Alpha, and the mind link will break. With that, you are free to go, and they can¡¯t find you.¡±


    Talia shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t have the mind link. Alpha Edward¡¯s father brought me here as a child, and I never went through the ceremony.¡±


    ¡°Good!¡±, Damon eximed louder than intended. She doesn¡¯t belong anywhere, and he was more than happy to give her a home. With him. ¡°Get your things.¡±


    ¡°Just like that?¡±


    Damon nodded. ¡°Just like that.¡±


    Talia paused and decided to ask the question that was bothering her from the moment he came to the attic. ¡°How do I know that you are not tricking me?¡±


    Damon stood up and Talia felt chills surround her when his body separated from hers.


    He extended his hand toward Talia, palm up. ¡°Let me prove it to you.¡±


    She looked into his icy blue eyes that stared at her with anticipation and¡­ she believed him.

 Chapter 23 Leaving In A Hurry

    ¡°Howe you are leaving so suddenly?¡±, Alpha Edward asked while rushing to catch up to Caden and Maya who were descending the stairs with a suitcase each.


    ¡®How am I supposed to know?¡¯, Caden grumbled in the mind link for Maya to hear.


    ¡°Something unexpected happened and we need to leave.¡±, Maya lied with a straight face.


    Actually, it was not a lie. Neither Maya nor Caden knew what¡¯s going on other than Damon telling them that they are leaving.


    Since they arrived at the Red Moon pack, Damon¡¯s mood was all over the ce, like a woman on a period.


    Caden and Maya lost count of how many times Damon told them that they are leaving, only to change his mind shortly after that.


    However, they never reached the point of actually packing their things, so Caden and Maya believe that this is it and they will finally return home and find some sense of normalcy.


    Earlier that morning, Damon woke them up through the mind link, with instructions that Caden should park the car on the side of the packhouse, pack their things (Damon¡¯s included), tell Alpha Edward that they are leaving, and meet with Damon outside. In that order.


    Damon also included a use about how all that needs to bepleted within fifteen minutes.


    Maya and Caden agreed that Damon finally lost his marbles, but they were happy to return home with the hope that Damon¡¯s mood will stabilize because everything crazy started since they arrived at the Red Moon pack.


    Just as Caden and Maya reached the main door with Alpha Edward hot on their tails, Marcy dashed out of her room while pulling a robe over her nightgown.


    Her father told her to get downstairs as soon as possible, so she didn¡¯t have time to dress up.


    Damon waited for them outside, leaning on the car that was now in front of the packhouse.


    Just as Caden was going to the trunk to keep the suitcases, Damon told him through their mind-link, ¡®Keep the suitcases in the back seat and start the car.¡¯


    Caden did as he was told without objections. He would never question Damon in front of outsiders.


    Damon turned to Alpha Edward. ¡°Something came up and we need to return to our pack.¡±


    ¡°What about finalizing the marriage agreement between you and Marcy?¡±, Alpha Edward addressed the point that was important (for him).


    Damon nced at Marcy who looked at him anxiously while clutching her robe.


    Agreeing to a marriage with Marcy was out of the question, but Damon knew that if he says that, Hell will break loose, and he will need to do damage control.


    Damon wanted to leave this ce as soon as possible, however, leaving without an exnation might cause problems as well.


    Luckily, he thought about this and his farewell speech was ready.


    ¡°Alpha Edward¡­¡±, Damon spoke solemnly. ¡°Marriage is amitment for life. We shouldn¡¯t decide after only a day or two. Miss Marcy and I met, and now we should take some time to think about our interactions, expectations, and decide how we will proceed from here. No matter how eager we are to conclude this matter, a sessful Alpha and Luna should know that some things can¡¯t be rushed.¡±


    Alpha Edward wanted to object, but what should he say? That he wants to rush his only daughter to marry a guy she met two days ago? Ah, this is a nightmare!


    Without anything good to say at that time, that would solidify the marriage between Marcy and Damon, Alpha Edward responded with a stiff nod.


    Damon raised his hand, giving a sharp wave before going to the back seat, next to the suitcases.


    ¡®Drive¡­¡¯, Damon told Caden as soon as he closed the door behind him.


    ¡°Are we finally leaving?¡±, Caden asked while driving down the driveway.


    ¡°Get us out of here. Did you pack all my stuff?¡±


    Caden snickered. ¡°All except two pieces ofcy fabric that used to be panties. I assumed you won¡¯t need those souvenirs, so I tucked them under the bed.¡±


    Damon didn¡¯t want to talk about some strange fabric. The only thing on his mind was to get out of the Red Moon pack¡¯s territory.


    Caden and Maya were d to leave as well, so they didn¡¯t question Damon¡¯s abrupt decision to pack and head out. They only feared that he will change his mind again and ask them to go back.


    ¡­This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Back at the Red Moon pack, in Alpha Edward¡¯s study¡­


    ¡°Are you sure that nothing happened? You didn¡¯t offend him?¡±, Alpha Edward asked Marcy who looked at him helplessly.


    There was no way Marcy will admit how on the previous day Damon told her to strip and he was touching her, and she said outrageous things while he recorded all that only to leave her hanging.


    It¡¯s not that the scene itself was an issue. After all, werewolves are promiscuous by nature, and Damon and Marcy are to be married. Kinky games among couples aremon. However, Damon barely acknowledging her existence after that, IS a problem. A big one. And Damon said that she needs to earn any further intimacy. What the hell was that supposed to mean?


    ¡°I told you, daddy. After dinner, he said that he was tired, and he went to his room. He doesn¡¯t like to be disturbed, so I waited in the lounge on the first floor, in case hees out, but he didn¡¯t, so I went to sleep. The next thing I know, you woke me up through the mind-link in order toe out because he was leaving. It must be that something happened at the Dark Howlers pack during the night.¡±


    Alpha Edward exhaled in frustration. No matter how he looks at this, Damon escaped.


    He had issues bringing him here the first time, and getting him the second time will be even more challenging.


    He wanted to scold Marcy for ipetence, but it seems that she didn¡¯t do anything to offend Alpha Damon, so he swallowed it down.


    ¡°I want you to stay in touch with Alpha Damon. He left, but the two of you are officially in a rtionship. Act like a girlfriend. Text him, call him, make sure he doesn¡¯t forget about you and if he finds a way to get out of this marriage, it will be on you. Do you understand?¡±


    Marcy nodded. If marriage between her and Damon doesn¡¯t happen, she will be punished.


    She thought that this was it, but then Alpha Edward raised his index finger.


    ¡°One week.¡±


    ¡°For?¡±, Marcy asked reluctantly.


    ¡°If in one week there is no progress, you will go to the Dark Howlers pack, and don¡¯t you dare return without a wedding date. If you do your moves right, you won¡¯t return at all, but we wille for the Luna ceremony.¡±


    ¡°Yes, father.¡±, Marcy responded, and she didn¡¯t hesitate when Alpha Edward waved that she can leave.


    Marcy faked confidence in front of her father, but now that she was on her own, Marcy was deted.


    If Damon ignored her in person, how is she supposed to get his attention long-distance?


    One week is too short.


    Does she really need to go to the Dark Howlers pack in order to seduce him?


    She had the home territory advantage and failed. Trying something at the Dark Howlers pack will only make it more difficult.


    Marcy wondered if she offended Damon somehow.


    He seemed interested, but then he wasn¡¯t.


    That evening, when she went to his room, Marcy was confident that Damon wanted them to roll in the sheets, yet she made a mistake and hesitated. The next morning, he told her that she needs to earn it.


    Marcy concluded that she probably hurt his ego.


    No woman rejected Alpha Damon, and even though she wanted to do some things, in a way, she rejected him.


    Marcy remembered that steamy session. His kiss was domineering, and his hands moved skillfully. He definitely knew what he was doing. And the way he ripped her panties¡­ it was hot.


    Panties!


    Marcy dashed into the guest bedroom that Damon used. She needs to retrieve her panties before some Omega sees them. She was already seen sucking him off, and she doesn¡¯t want those sted servants to have more gossip material.


    Marcy checked the floor, and she didn¡¯t see her panties. Did Damon discard them? She checked the trash can in the bathroom.


    Maybe he took them with him? No¡­ he wouldn¡¯t keep a reminder of rejection. Where are they?


    Marcy got on her knees and looked down and her eyes lit up when she saw a bunched small fabric under the bed.


    Bingo!


    Wait a minute¡­ Why are there two?


    Marcy recognized one as hers, but what about this other one?


    Reluctantly, Marcy sniffed unknown panties and her face turned ugly. Nora!

 Chapter 24 Kidnappers

    Based on the strength of the scent that was still present on what used to be Nora¡¯s panties, Marcy concluded that they were recently worn.


    They can¡¯t be more than one-two days old, and that was the time when Damon was using this room!


    What are Nora¡¯s panties doing in Damon¡¯s room?


    With a single nce, Marcy spotted that both panties were ripped in a simr way.


    Marcy was sizzling with anger as the reality dawned on her.


    That bitch! Nora was pretending to be sweet and supportive, while sneaking into Damon¡¯s room when Marcy was not looking!


    Was Nora the reason why Damon ignored Marcy yesterday?


    Marcy remembered that after Damon touched (and recorded) her, Marcy went to steam her anger on Talia. Alpha Edward contacted her through mind link, but she brushed him off that she was busy. When Marcy finished with Talia, her father told her that Nora went to apany Damon while touring the Red Moon pack.


    At that time, Marcy didn¡¯t think much about it, but what if Nora gave Damon a very personal tour?


    Marcy grit her teeth while cursing Nora. It¡¯s all her fault!


    Marcy stormed out of the bedroom and nearly bumped into Nora.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡±, Marcy asked Nora.


    ¡°Is it true that Alpha Damon left?¡±


    Marcy forced a tight smile on her face. ¡°Something came up and he had to leave. I just escorted him. We will resume our marriage talkster.¡±Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    ¡°I see¡­¡± Nora couldn¡¯t hide her disappointment. She came after hearing that Damon is gone, in order to retrieve her panties, but with Marcy here, she can¡¯t do it. Nora eyed Marcy who was still in her robe and nightgown. ¡°I guess you will dress up for breakfast. I will see you there.¡±


    Marcy looked after Nora¡¯s retreating back and fumed. ¡®You will pay for this, bitch!¡¯


    Marcy gritted her teeth whileing up with various scenarios to make Nora suffer.


    Since she came home from Paris, nothing went right.


    Marcy found her mate, but he ended up being an Omega. Her father scolded her more times than she wishes to remember. Before she could recover from meeting (and rejecting) George, Damon showed up as her groom and yed some game of hot and cold with Marcy while shagging Nora.


    Marcy didn¡¯t get anything other than insults and embarrassments, and she was confident that even Omegas areughing at her because that filthy girl saw her sucking off Damon.


    ¡®Yes¡­ that girl in the attic¡­¡¯, Marcy¡¯s eyes shone maliciously as she made her way upstairs.


    ¡­


    It took Caden, Maya, and Damon about half an hour drive to get out of the Red Moon pack territory.


    ¡°Stop the car.¡±, Damon said and Caden pulled over reluctantly while silently praying to the Moon Goddess that Damon didn¡¯t change his mind and wants to go back to the Red Moon pack.


    Damon grabbed the suitcases that were next to him and went to the back of the car with urgency.


    Caden and Maya turned to see what Damon was doing, and they both gaped at the sight of a girl emerging before Damon put suitcases in the trunk.


    Damon held her hand, and even opened the door for her!


    ¡®Since when is Damon such a gentleman?¡¯, Caden asked Maya through mind-link, and thetter shrugged in response.


    Of course, Damon is NOT a gentleman. Never was, never will be¡­ at least that¡¯s what Maya and Caden thought. Until now.


    Talia and Damon sat in the back seat and Damon told Caden to resume driving.


    Caden didn¡¯t react.


    Both Maya and Caden observed Talia curiously.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to introduce us?¡±, Caden asked Damon who frowned at him.


    After a second of hesitation, Damon nced at Talia and gestured toward the front of the car. ¡°That¡¯s Caden, my Beta, and Maya, his mate.¡± He turned to Caden. ¡°There you go. I introduced you. Now, can you drive?¡±


    Caden and Maya were both visibly confused. What about the girl¡¯s name?


    The truth is that Damon didn¡¯t know Talia¡¯s name, however, he didn¡¯t think that was important and he didn¡¯t want to waste time on pleasantries. The important thing was that the girl was next to him, heading to the Dark Howlers pack. There will be plenty of time for them to talk. Also, they were still close to the territory of the Red Moon pack, and Damon felt pressure to keep moving.


    Caden saw that Damon¡¯s mood was not good, so he resumed driving.


    Now that he saw Talia, Caden understood why all the rush to leave. Alpha Edward, Marcy, and others were jolted awake and too confused by the sudden development to notice the scent of the girl that was in the trunk. Heck, even Caden didn¡¯t realize that there was another person in the car and he wondered if something was off with his nose.


    When they were back on the road, Caden spoke to Damon and Maya through the mind-link. ¡®Is there a reason why we kidnapped a girl from the Red Moon pack?¡¯


    ¡®It¡¯s not kidnapping.¡¯, Damon responded.


    ¡®She came out of the trunk.¡¯, Maya stated the fact. ¡®We are officially kidnappers.¡¯


    Damon couldn¡¯t refute this. Talia came out of the trunk, but she was there only in order to avoid drama if Alpha Edward, Marcy, or someone else, sees her.


    ¡®Why did you beat her?¡¯, Caden asked.


    Damon was outraged. Since when is he a woman-beater? Damon would never raise a hand on a woman, unless she ising to kill him.


    ¡®I didn¡¯t.¡¯, Damon responded grumpily.


    Before they could ask more questions, Damon quickly said, ¡®The girl is here out of her own will. She was badly treated, I offered her a way out, and she took it. Now, can you focus on the road? She doesn¡¯t have the mind link, but that doesn¡¯t mean someone won¡¯te after us if they notice her missing.¡¯


    Damon didn¡¯t want to exin more than that, and he was not ready to say that the copper-haired girl is his mate. He was still adjusting to that fact himself.


    He nced at Talia who was looking out the window with her eyes half-closed. It was obvious that she was about to fall asleep at any moment.


    Damon touched Talia¡¯s shoulder, to get her attention, and then patted his, ¡°Lean on me if you want to sleep.¡±


    Talia shook her head while mumbling how it¡¯s not necessary.


    She was overwhelmed with all this and sitting so close to a scary Alpha made her uneasy. She wanted to go back in the trunk.


    Earlier that morning, in the attic, Talia was tired and achy and her mind was muddled, and she epted this crazy idea of leaving the Red Moon pack. But now that she is actually in the middle of this escape adventure, she was not sure if leaving was a good idea.


    Talia was mentally and physically exhausted. She was used to doing her chores at night and sleeping during the day, and thest two days she was getting beaten, which means that she didn¡¯t sleep.


    ¡°Aww¡­¡±, Talia cried softly when her forehead bumped into the window. It seems that she fell asleep without realizing it.


    Damon put his arm around Talia¡¯s shoulders and pulled her to lean her back on him.


    She struggled to sit straight, but his grip increased, pressing her against him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be stubborn and sleep.¡±


    Talia exhaled helplessly. Damon was morefortable than the hard ss window, but she was not used to leaning on people no matter how warm they are, or how good they smell.


    And this was the second time in a day for the scary Alpha to pin her to lean on him.


    His sturdy arm was high on her chest, as he held her shoulder tightly without hurting her.


    Talia nced at Damon and wondered if this was his way of being kind. Does he act like this with everyone? Probably. She didn¡¯t see a single reason why someone so powerful and handsome would single her out.


    ¡°Thanks¡­¡±, Talia said softly and rxed against him.


    With slight vibrations of the car, Damon¡¯s warmth, and his scent of the forest and dark chocte, Talia fell asleep in less than five seconds.

 Chapter 25 A Baby Monitor

    Maya and Caden were throwing nces at Damon and Talia through the rearview mirror and observing how Damon cradled Talia in his arms gently, like she was made out of ss.


    ¡®Since when is our Alpha so kind to victims of abuse?¡¯, Maya asked Caden through their mind-link.


    ¡®You wanted to ask: since when is our Alpha so kind. Period.¡¯, Caden corrected her and asked, ¡®Did you know about this?¡¯


    ¡®Nope.¡¯, Maya responded. ¡®Damon was always fast in picking up women but bringing one home is a first for him.¡¯


    Maya pointed at the rearview mirror, indicating for Caden to look.


    Caden¡¯s eyes shifted just in time to see Damon adjusting his position so that Talia is morefortable as she slept while leaning on him.


    ¡®It seems that Damon¡¯s taste in women changed.¡¯, Caden said.


    Maya agreed. ¡®I thought he goes for curvaceous mature women. I remember him saying how he gets a kick of seeing boobs bouncing in the rhythm he sets with his hips, and that the only good ass is the one that has ripples when spanked. For someone who emphasizes that he likes them experienced, it¡¯s strange that he chose a skinny teenager.¡¯


    ¡®I can hear you.¡¯, Damon grumbled and both Caden and Maya shrunk.


    ¡®If you want to badmouth me, ensure the mind-link is just between the two of you.¡¯


    Damon couldn¡¯t confirm if Maya and Caden stopped their gossip, or if they just tuned him out. He knew that they were not malicious.


    Theirments were not in good taste, but only because this was his mate. If it was any other woman, he wouldn¡¯t care.


    It was normal that they had questions about this unknown girl who suddenly popped out of the trunk, but Damon was not ready to talk about her. Actually, even Damon barely knew anything about her.


    However, he knew that she is his mate, her scent is addictive, and delightful sparks prickle his skin when they touch¡­ She was badly treated, and Damon needed her close and safe.


    And that was enough for him. For now.


    Damon was pleased that Talia agreed toe with him to his pack (and he didn¡¯t need to resort to kidnapping or figuring out how to move in with her).


    In the Dark Howlers pack, no one will dare to mistreat her, and he will make sure that she gets whatever she needs and wants.


    Damon will never forget the fear in her eyes, and how pitifully she looked in that attic.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    Damon decided to take her with him on a whim, and he had no ns for tomorrow or the distant future, but he knew that he would make sure Talia¡¯s life going forward is a happy one.


    He observed Talia and frowned at her injuries.


    ¡®Find us a hotel nearby. Something further from the main road.¡¯, Damon said through the mind link to Caden and Maya.


    ¡®Are you so eager to shag her that you can¡¯t wait?¡¯, Caden asked with disapproval. They still have a long way ahead of them and the girl is hurt and tired.


    Damon grit his teeth in frustration. Why did Caden assume the worst? OK. Damon¡¯s reputation with women is not the best, but Talia is obviously in need of care and rest. He is not an animal!


    ¡®She needs first aid, and we can have breakfast.¡¯, Damon responded while suppressing his rage. He didn¡¯t want to snap and wake up Talia.


    Maya and Caden agreed with this. Food was a good idea. They left in a hurry on empty stomach.


    ¡­


    Per Damon¡¯s instructions, Maya booked two rooms. She assumed that it will be girls in one room and boys in the other one, so she asked for two rooms with two beds each.


    ¡®Buy medical supplies for tending to cuts and bruises. Order breakfast in your room for me also. Let me know when it¡¯s ready.¡¯, Damon sent them a message through mind-link.


    Maya and Caden gaped at the sight of Damon who carried Talia princess style inside a room, and he closed the door behind him.


    Damon ced Talia on the bed gently, happy that she didn¡¯t wake up.


    She frowned a bit when her back touched the mattress and he wondered if she has an injury there also.


    He sat at the edge of the bed and looked at her sleepy face full of bruises and cuts. Her upper lip and left cheek were swollen, yet she still looked beautiful.


    He took her hand in his and smiled when delightful sparks prickled his skin.


    After an unknown measure of time, Damon asked his wolf, ¡®Now what?¡¯


    ¡®What do you want to do?¡¯, his wolf responded with a question.


    ¡®I want to hold her and¡­ I shouldn¡¯t.¡¯


    His wolf snorted in disapproval. ¡®Why are you resisting?¡¯


    ¡®You know what will happen if others find out she is my mate. Everyone will target her. She is weak and she already suffered too much.¡¯


    Damon¡¯s wolf didn¡¯t agree that Talia was weak. Anyone who can have so many injuries and not dissolve into sobs, must be strong.


    His wolf felt Damon¡¯s conflict and he decided to help Damon understand his current situation.


    ¡®In that case, there is only one thing to do.¡¯


    ¡®Which one?¡¯, Damon asked.


    ¡®Reject her.¡¯, his wolf said, and they shared a piercing ache in the chest area as the invisible bond between Damon and Talia was protesting the idea.


    His wolf spoke again. ¡®You can¡¯t do it because you know it won¡¯t do any good. That¡¯s why you couldn¡¯t leave her behind.¡¯


    Damon released a slow breath. ¡®What should I do? I can¡¯t let her go, and I can¡¯t be with her either.¡¯


    His wolf was already pleased that Damon didn¡¯t reject Talia in the spur of the moment. He knew better than anyone how much Damon craves control. That was Damon¡¯s way of dealing with the harsh reality, but this was one thing where Damon can win only by letting go and allowing the bond to guide him.


    ¡®I can feel your anxiousness, boy. It will be fine. Don¡¯t rush this. For now, keep her close and keep her safe. In time, you will know what to do¡­¡¯


    ¡®Food is here¡¯, Caden¡¯s voice through the mind-link jerked Damon out of his thoughts.


    Damon checked the time and realized that he lost about half an hour. That never happened before.


    He was staring at sleeping Talia and lost track of time. He concluded that this bond is messing with his mind big time.


    ¡®Damon?¡¯, Caden called after a minute.


    Damon knew that he should leave, but he found it difficult to separate from Talia. What if something happens? What if she disappears again?


    He got an idea.


    ¡®Caden, answer the call and keep it on¡­¡¯, Damon instructed and took his phone to call Caden for a video chat.


    Damon ced his phone on the TV stand so that the camera points at Talia, and with this video call, he can keep an eye on her from another room.


    ¡°Give me your phone.¡±, Damon demanded from Caden as soon as he entered Caden¡¯s and Maya¡¯s room.


    He nodded in approval when he saw Talia sleeping on the screen of Caden¡¯s phone.


    Damon muted the call so that they don¡¯t wake up Talia identally.


    ¡°That¡¯s called a baby monitor.¡±, Maya said to Damon.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°When you have a camera pointing at the baby while she is sleeping so that you can see her from other parts of the house. A baby monitor.¡±, Maya exined.


    ¡°Or stalking.¡±, Caden added. ¡°Will you tell us what¡¯s the deal with this girl?¡±


    Damon sat on the chair and took one te that had eggs, bacon, and sausages. ¡°Let me eat first. I¡¯m starving.¡±


    He was shoving food into his mouth while stealing nces at Caden¡¯s phone (aka the baby monitor). Knowing that Talia was there, sleeping, gave him peace.


    Damon narrowed his eyes and focused on the phone in order to confirm that Talia¡¯s chest is rising and falling as she breathed. Other than breathing, she didn¡¯t move a muscle, and he needed confirmation that she was alive.


    ¡°We got the first aid supplies.¡±, Maya said and pointed at the bag that was next to Damon who didn¡¯t respond.


    ¡°Damon?¡±, Caden called.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°The first aid supplies are there.¡±, Caden repeated what Maya said previously, and then gestured to the empty te in Damon¡¯s hand. ¡°You said that you will tell us about the girl after food.¡±


    Damon didn¡¯t realize at what point he finished food. He spaced out again while staring at Talia. Whatever symptoms he has, it¡¯s getting worse.

 Chapter 26 A Cover-up Story

    Damon thought about how to exin Talia¡¯s presence to Caden and Maya.


    ¡°I¡¯m responsible for her.¡±, Damon said which got him raised eyebrows from Maya and Caden who obviously wanted more information.


    ¡°Marcy was in my room and this girl¡­ interrupted. Because of that, she ended up in her current state.¡±


    Maya connected the dots. ¡°Is she the Omega you mentioned, that got a beating from Marcy?¡±


    Damon nodded.


    ¡°Why are you making it sound like you are responsible?¡±, Caden asked. ¡°If Marcy has a temper, it was only a matter of time before she snaps, regardless if you were involved.¡±


    Damon raised his hand, indicating to Caden to be patient. ¡°That was the first time. Then, I went to Alpha Edward and told him that some Omegas are being punished physically and that he should talk to Marcy about it, and after that, this girl got another beating.¡±


    Maya and Caden exchanged looks, feeling that something is missing from the story.


    Sure, Talia got hit because of Damon twice and even though he was involved, he didn¡¯t do it on purpose. These are internal dealings of the pack. As an Alpha, Damon should know that any Alpha won¡¯t tolerate others meddling in how rewards and punishments are given to his people.


    Taking her away sneakily is stealing. Alphas consider their pack members like their belongings, because a pack builds strength with numbers. By taking away Talia, Damon indirectly weakened the Red Moon pack. Sure, she is not a warrior, but every member counts.


    ¡°You know that Alpha Edward can turn hostile if he finds out that she is with us, right?¡±, Caden asked.


    Damon rubbed his face with force. He knew that but¡­ ¡°You didn¡¯t see where she stays. I found her in the attic, bruised and bleeding among broken furniture and rags. No one cares about her.¡±


    ¡°And you do?¡±, Caden snapped. ¡°You are aware that our rtionship with the Red Moon pack is tense, and that Alpha Edward is working in the shadows while trying to topple you, and you just gave him a reason to go openly against us. Is she worth jeopardizing the Dark Howlers pack? Are you aware that this might cause a war!?¡±


    Damon growled and his face contorted in anger. ¡°What do you expect me to do? To leave her there to rot while waiting for another beating?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not what Caden said.¡±, Maya interrupted with urgency while her eyes darted from Caden to Damon.


    She can¡¯t go against her Alpha, but she didn¡¯t want her mate to end up fighting with Damon either.


    Seeing that she got both Caden¡¯s and Damon¡¯s attention, Maya resumed talking calmly.


    ¡°We need to do this right. So far, Alphas whoined about us epting their pack members were silenced by Elders after we provided them with testimonies of how they came to us willingly. We can¡¯t tell them that we smuggled her in a trunk. Only the three of us know how she ended up with us and we can¡¯t keep this under wraps because our pack members will see the neer. We need toe up with a cover-up story that will make sense because when Alpha Edward notices her missing, we will be the first suspects and he might send people to look for her.¡±


    Damon frowned at the thought of anyone from the Red Moon packing and searching for Talia. What if they take her away?


    He got an idea.


    ¡°She didn¡¯t have the mind-link. She was brought to the Red Moon pack as a child and she never went through the eptance ceremony, so technically, she is a rogue. We can say that she grew up with her grandparents and when they died, she came to this area and we found her on our way home identally.¡±


    ¡°Who will believe that?¡±, Caden asked.


    ¡°Make it believable!¡±, Damon snapped.


    ¡°Alright, alright¡­¡±, Maya said while waving her hands for Damon to calm down. ¡°She is a rogue we picked up on the way. We will fill that with a few details to make it believable. How do we exin why she came to us and not to some other pack?¡±


    ¡°Something is off with her wolf.¡±, Damon said. ¡°Not many packs will ept members who are not in top form.¡±


    Maya thought that this is something they can work with. But¡­ ¡°Will she cooperate and confirm the story?¡±


    ¡°If she doesn¡¯t, it will bring trouble for us, and she will go back to the Red Moon pack.¡±, Caden said and looked at Damon with disapproval. ¡°I wish you spoke to me before stuffing her in the trunk. Considering that she is just an Omega and that Alpha Edward doesn¡¯t find value in them, we could have made a deal to take her with us, without riskingplications.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t stuff her anywhere. She got in on her own.¡±, Damon said irritably. Why are they making it sound like he kidnapped her?


    Damon was with Talia in the attic and he didn¡¯t want to stay there a minute longer than necessary, so he came up with the idea to leave right away while smuggling Talia with them. He didn¡¯t have time for strategy meetings, but it worked, they are out, and they only need toe up with a coverup story and things will be fine. Why is Caden raising a fuss?


    ¡®THUD!¡¯


    A sound came from Caden¡¯s phone and Damon¡¯s eyes widened in panic when he saw an empty bed.


    Talia disappeared!


    Damon dashed out and ran frantically to his room.


    He let out the breath he was holding when he saw Talia sprawled on the floor, sleeping.


    She fell off the bed.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Damon shook his head helplessly because she was adorable while hugging a pillow, and he panicked like an idiot for no reason. Why did he think that she disappeared?


    He walked to Talia slowly and carefully pried the pillow from her hold before lifting her up.


    Talia stirred a bit while adjusting in Damon¡¯s arms to a morefortable position, and he stood still like a statue as delightful sparks shoot through his body.


    Damonid with Talia on the bed with a n to leave Talia sleeping so that he can return to Caden¡¯s and Maya¡¯s room. After all, with Talia¡¯s arrival at the Dark Howlers pack, they needed to make necessary preparations so that she has a ce to stay.


    However, Talia¡¯s head rested on Damon¡¯s shoulder and her warm breath fanned his neck as wonderful sparks overtook his senses, making him tense and rxed at the same time, and he was unable to let go.


    Talia was exhausted, and Damon didn¡¯t sleep for two nights in a row either.


    Damon stared at Talia, engraving every curve of her face into his memory, and he didn¡¯t realize that his eyes were closing gradually.


    In Caden¡¯s and Maya¡¯s room¡­


    The couple stared at Caden¡¯s phone.


    ¡°Did Damon develop a split personality, or did we bring an impostor from the Red Moon pack?¡±, Maya asked.


    Caden chuckled. ¡°Maybe they really drugged him with something that makes a man lovey-dovey and Marcy is now pulling her hair out because he left before drugs took full effect.¡±


    ¡°You are not worried about this?¡±


    Caden shrugged. ¡°It seems that he cares about the girl. Why would I worry? That should be a good thing.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. It should.¡±, Maya said thoughtfully. ¡°But this is Damon. Remember, our Alpha Damon? The one who uses the word ¡®girlfriend¡¯ as a cussword. The one who doesn¡¯t get close to a woman if she has clothes on. Are you telling me that suddenly his tender side is showing? I¡¯m not buying it. This is too sudden, and that girl is NOT his type. Something is not right.¡±


    Caden had a thoughtful expression. ¡°It¡¯s not sudden. This change happened shortly after we arrived at the Red Moon pack. I realized Damon¡¯s behavior is strange when he asked me how I felt when we met.¡±


    Maya blinked rapidly. ¡°Damon was interested to know more about mates?¡± She looked at the phone where Damon slept while cradling Talia in his arms and Maya¡¯s eyebrows went up in slow motion. ¡°Call me crazy, but I think that girl is his mate.¡±


    ¡°You are crazy.¡±, Caden said right away. ¡°Damon hates everything about mates. If she is his mate, he would reject her and run for the hills, and not cuddle.¡±


    Maya smirked knowingly and pointed at the phone. ¡°And how would you exin THAT?¡±

 Chapter 27 Awake

    Caden¡¯s mind was unable to ept that Damon found his mate, but Caden didn¡¯t have an alternate exnation for Damon¡¯s bizarre behavior. ¡°If that girl is Damon¡¯s mate, why didn¡¯t he say something?¡±


    Maya rolled her eyes. ¡°Because that¡¯s Damon. He will not admit it even if you ask him outright. But think about it. Erratic behavior. One moment he wants to leave, and the second one we are staying. Didn¡¯t he show us the video of Marcy naked, humping his hand while begging him to take her, and he left her like that? Since when is Damon the one who refuses a free meal? He requested a tour of the Red Moon pack, and you know that he always avoided those because when he saw things he didn¡¯t like, Damon never stayed quiet. And in the car, Damon was sticking to the girl and we both saw how gentle he was with her. The only exnation is that he found his mate.¡± Maya pointed at the phone.


    ¡°Caden, you know better than anyone how much Damon cherishes the Dark Howlers pack. He wouldn¡¯t risk provoking the Red Moon pack by smuggling a random girl. She is either his long-lost sister or his mate.¡±


    Caden remembered how when he met Maya, the only thing he wanted was to be with her, and nothing could get in his way. Not even war.


    Everything Maya said made sense and pointed to the possibility that the girl who came from the trunk is Damon¡¯s mate. Maya was always the smart one.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Caden chuckled with a hint of evil sparkling in his eyes. ¡°Damon doesn¡¯t want to admit that the girl is his mate? Let¡¯s see how long he can pull that off.¡±


    Maya had a bad feeling about this.


    She would never consider going against Damon, even if it¡¯s a joke. However, Caden doesn¡¯t have problems with it.


    ¡°What do you have on your mind?¡±, Maya asked reluctantly.


    ¡°Let¡¯s observe, for now.¡±, Caden said while rubbing his chin with the tips of his fingers.


    Caden didn¡¯t want to share too much with Maya, knowing that she will not approve and probably worry. But Damon is giving a hard time to Caden ever since he found Maya, and Caden thought how this is a great opportunity to get even.


    Caden noticed one more oddity. Assuming that Talia is Damon¡¯s mate, something was not right. She was indifferent toward Damon, is it possible that she doesn¡¯t know Damon is her mate?


    Damon said how something is off with Talia¡¯s wolf, but based on her scent, Caden knew she is definitely a werewolf and he concluded that nothing is wrong with her. She might be ate bloomer.


    If Talia IS Damon¡¯s mate, there are so many things Caden could do to rile up Damon, and if Damon is hiding the truth, it will only make things easier for Caden.


    Caden¡¯s smile widened while he thought of wicked ways to mess with his Alpha. He can try to separate them. Or to make Damon believe he haspetition. Caden would pay big money to see Damon drowning in jealousy. Ha! This will be fun!


    Maya observed Caden¡¯s expression that was changing rapidly, and she knew that Caden wasing up with something Damon won¡¯t like.


    Damon and Caden are at the helm of thergest pack in North America, yet the two of them sometimes behave no better than toddlers.


    However, that childish and yful attitude Damon shows only toward Caden and for anyone else, Damon has a nasty temper. If that girl is really his mate, Damon will only be more irritable if anyone messes with her.


    Maya disconnected the video call so that Damon and Talia have privacy.


    Maya was happy for Damon. Finding a mate is wonderful for any werewolf. They give each otherfort and purpose in life, and she is aware of how Damon is lonely under that grumpy fa? ade.


    Will Talia be a good Luna? Well, if Damon and Talia are mates, Talia will be their Luna, regardless of her readiness for the job but Maya was not worried. Everything can be learned as long as there is a will, and Maya would be happy to hand over her current duties to Talia so that she can focus on helping Caden as a Beta.


    At the same time, Maya felt sorry for Talia. Damon is not an easy man to be with, and Talia will definitely have a hard time.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think Damon will wake up the girl.¡±, Caden said. ¡°That gives us probably a few hours.¡±


    He wiggled his eyebrows mischievously while inching closer to Maya in slow motion.


    Maya¡¯s expression lit up when she realized that Caden was talking about carnal pleasures.


    Ah, they will make good use of their time in this hotel.


    ¡­


    Talia dreamt that she was in a forest.


    It was light and airy, despite the massive trees that surrounded her.


    She picked up a delicious scent of dark chocte, and her tummy rumbled. She was hungry.


    Talia started moving about, trying to locate the source of that scent. It¡¯s been years since she ate chocte thest time, and she really wanted to have some now.


    She walked slowly, at first, but then she broke into a run as the scent became more potent, inviting her to enjoy the smooth sweet delicacy.


    Suddenly, a tree appeared out of nowhere, and Talia mmed herself into it, just like in cartoons, with her arms and legs around it.


    ¡°Aww¡­¡±, Talia cried softly, and her eyes fluttered open.


    There was no forest and no tree. Damn it, it was a dream. A potentially tasty one.


    She wished that itsted only a few more seconds so that she can get a bite (or two) of that delicacy that called for her. Maybe if she closes her eyes, she can resume that dream and find the source of that mouthwatering scent.


    Talia thought how something was not right. She ascertained that she was awake, however, she could still smell the forest and the dark chocte, and she was definitely hugging something hard and big.


    Talia blinked and her drowsy state turned into panic immediately.


    She was in an unknown room and the thing she was hugging was not a tree, but a scary Alpha.


    What the heck!?


    Why are their legs one over the other? And why is his biceps her pillow?


    Talia carefully removed her hands from Damon¡¯s body and tried to move away from him, only to realize that she was stuck.


    Ah! His arm was around her and she couldn¡¯t budge!


    She felt like crying. This was the third time in the same day that the scary Alpha was pinning her against him.


    When Damon told her toe with him, he mentioned a room, and clothes, and food, and a doctor, and there was no mentioning of this¡­ hugging.


    Talia wondered, how did she find herself in this situation?


    Thest thing she remembered was dozing off in the back of a car. How did she end up in a room, in the bed, with a scary Alpha pinning her against him?


    Talia wanted to go back to her attic, or maybe into the trunk of the car. Anything was better than here!


    She noticed the even fall and rise of his chest and she concluded that he was sleeping, so she rxed a bit.


    Talia looked up at the man beside her and her breath hitched at the sight of Damon¡¯s gorgeous visual.


    His unruly raven-ck hair fell over his forehead¡­ long eyshes, full lips, strong jaw¡­ everything about him was handsome, even the small bump at the base of his nose and a day-old stubble.


    ¡®It should be illegal to be this attractive¡¯, Talia thought. ¡®No wonder princess Marcy was raging at the thought that Alpha Damon might think bad of her.¡¯


    Talia shook those thoughts away and chided herself. She should not think of Alpha Damon as attractive. Actually, she should not think about him at all.


    Talia was painfully aware of her non-existent background and if she allows herself to see Alpha Damon as anything more than her benefactor, as someone who took pity on her, she will only deceive herself and end up hurting.

 Chapter 28 Awake (2)

    Talia nced around, how much her current position allowed, and she observed the hotel room. It was nice and clean.


    She spotted a second bed which added to the confusion of why she was sharing a bed with Alpha Damon.


    What about the other two people?


    She concluded that this was not the Dark Howlers pack. Did they make a stop along the way?


    Maybe this is the part where she finds out how Damon tricked her, and he is about to sell her kidneys and liver, and then discard her in the forest for beasts to eat her!


    She didn¡¯t dare to wake Damon up and she couldn¡¯t get out of his hold without big movements either. She was stuck.


    Talia resigned herself to the current situation and she slowly returned to her original position, with her head on Damon¡¯s arm, but this time, she kept her hands to herself. Just thinking that her arm was draped over his firm abs made her blush profusely.


    Talia took a deep breath and savored Damon¡¯s scent of forest and dark chocte. It was nice and for some unknown reason, it rxed her.


    She closed her eyes in the hope of falling asleep and dreaming of that choctey forest again. Maybe this time she gets to eat something.


    Talia let out a long exhale, and in the next moment, Damon shifted sideways, entrapping herpletely in his arms and holding her so close that her face was stuck to his chest.


    His breath seeped into her scalp, making her hairs stand on ends.


    Talia couldn¡¯t see when Damon¡¯s lips lifted into a smile. He was content that she gave up on leaving.


    From the moment Talia woke up, Damon was awake as well, but he stayed still while waiting to see what she will do.


    Damon was aware Talia had wounds that needed tending, and that she was probably hungry as well, but he wanted to extend this moment in bed for just a bit longer.


    Damon cradled Talia in his arms, and he enjoyed the sweet citrusy scent of freesia that somehow got amplified by the sensational sparks wherever his body touched Talia¡¯s even through their clothes.


    His palm held onto her tiny waist, and he confirmed that Talia is delicate and fragile.


    He had an urge to feed her.


    It¡¯s not that he minds Talia¡¯s skinny frame, but he would prefer if she is stronger and not in danger of being carried away by the wind.


    Ever since she entered his sight, two days ago, other than cuts and bruises from Marcy¡¯s beating, Talia hit her head in the refrigerator, she bumped her forehead in the window of a car, and she fell off a bed, and those are only things he saw.


    Damon is convinced that Talia is prone to injuries.


    He never saw such a clumsy werewolf.


    Adorably clumsy.


    When he held Talia¡¯s hand, the sparks were more intense than over the clothes and he wondered how it would feel if they increased the skin-to-skin surface.


    Damon thought of removing his shirt. And her sweatshirt.


    Nudity among werewolves is not umon. After all, they end up naked whenever they shift into their wolf form, either because they undress or rip their clothes in the process, and anyone who is nearby, gets a good view of everything.


    But Talia seemed ufortable around Damon, and he had a strong feeling that if he removes his (or her) garments, she might freak out.


    His wolf was silent, but Damon could feel the happiness that radiated from the ancient creature.


    One excitement amplified the other, and Damon really-really wanted to touch Talia more.


    His hand which rested on her waist gradually sneaked lower while pulling the edge of her sweatshirt higher, bit by bit, just enough for his fingers to slip under her top. And then Damon¡¯s fingers crawled higher, in search of Talia¡¯s skin and he felt his heart thundering against his chest.


    Damon chided himself. Why the heck was he so nervous? His hand was on Talia¡¯s side, away from her private parts, and he touched many women everywhere. This was definitely not a big deal¡­ but somehow, it was.


    His index finger brushed her skin, just above the waistband of her pants and he jolted upon contact. The sparks were like an electric current, catching him by surprise, and he cursed internally when Talia stirred.


    Talia was drifting in and out of sleep and she was not sure if she dreamed about his hand moving about in her waist area.


    Talia slowly lifted her head, and she froze when she spotted icy blue eyes which observed her intently.


    She thought that she might be imagining it, or that he was doing it in his sleep, but this¡­ just what is this?


    Talia didn¡¯t think that shepares to any of the pretty girls, and a guy who is handsome and powerful like Damon will definitely have plenty of beauties around him.


    It never crossed her mind that Damon might be interested in her.


    Talia became painfully aware that he was holding her. They were both lying on their sides, facing each other, and his arms were around her¡­ and he was watching her.


    She wanted to move away or to say something, anything, but her tongue refused to cooperate, and she felt the heat seeping into her cheeks.


    ¡°Did you have a good sleep?¡±, Damon¡¯s deep voice shook the silence away.


    Talia responded with a small nod.


    Damon hummed in approval. ¡°How do you feel? Are you in pain?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine¡­¡±, Talia responded in a small voice and forcibly inhaled, to get some oxygen in her system and snap out of her daze.


    Right! She is Talia, no one¡­ She escaped the Red Moon pack, and she has no idea where she was heading, but she knew that at that moment she was in bed with a scary Alpha and she felt the urgency to increase the distance between them.


    No matter how handsome he is, or how good he smells, this was not proper.


    ¡°Hey¡­ Do you¡­?¡±


    ¡°I have a name.¡±, he cut her off sternly.


    Talia realized that she called him ¡®hey¡¯ again and that he didn¡¯t like it.


    She grew up in the Red Moon pack, but due to her special circumstances, Talia was not exposed to the strict hierarchy that werewolves follow, so those things were not ingrained in her, however, she was familiar with the protocols.


    ¡°I apologize. Alpha Damon¡­¡±


    ¡°Damon.¡±, he interrupted her again. It didn¡¯t sound right when she used his title to call him. ¡°Just Damon.¡±


    Alpha is the title that represents strength while reminding others of respect and submission, and he didn¡¯t feel that was appropriate for her.


    ¡°Damon¡­¡±, Talia said awkwardly, and Damon smiled victoriously.


    ¡°Can you let me go, please?¡±


    Damon¡¯s smile fell when he heard her question.


    ¡°Why are you making it sound like I¡¯m holding you against your will?¡±, he asked with a slightly pitiful expression.


    Talia was confused. Did she give him permission to hold her? That could happen only if she did it in her sleep. Ah! Did she throw herself at him?


    Damon saw Talia¡¯s frantic expression and he chuckled.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    ¡°You fell off the bed. I¡¯m holding you so that you don¡¯t get another bruise on top of existing ones.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡±, a sound escaped Talia¡¯s lips. ¡°Well, thank you. I¡¯m awake now, so¡­ can you let me go?¡±


    Damon cocked an eyebrow and ignored her question. ¡°Do you want to freshen up? While you shower, I can order some food.¡±


    ¡°Will you let me go if I agree?¡±, Talia asked helplessly.


    ¡°Not necessarily.¡±, Damon responded with a straight face.


    Talia swallowed hard. ¡°If you don¡¯t let me go, how will I shower?¡±


    ¡°We can shower together.¡±


    Talia¡¯s eyes widened in horror. How can he say that like it¡¯s a totally normal thing?


    Damon saw color draining from her face, and he cleared his throat while trying to salvage the situation.


    ¡°I meant, if your injuries are bothering you, I can help you wash up.¡±


    ¡°No need.¡±, Talia squeaked, and she scrambled off the bed clumsily the moment Damon released her from his hold.


    She dashed into the bathroom, closed the door, and locked it with a loud ¡®click¡¯ sound.


    Damon stared at the door with aplex expression on his handsome face.


    So many women would domunity service to be with him, and this girl can¡¯t wait to escape.

 Chapter 29 Preparing For The Newcomer

    Damon forced himself to stop staring at the bathroom door and called room service.


    He realized that he had no idea what Talia likes to eat so he decided to get everything from the menu. In his opinion, the hotel didn¡¯t offer enough options.


    After cing a massive order for food, Damon made another phone call. This was important.


    ¡°Hi Steph¡­¡±, Damon greeted Stephanie when she picked up the call.


    ¡°It¡¯s good that you remembered me.¡±, Stephanie said irritably.


    ¡°Did something happen?¡±


    ¡°Cassie ising. Where are you?¡±


    ¡°We are on the way home.¡±, Damon responded. He didn¡¯t care about Cassie.


    ¡°When will you reach here?¡±


    ¡°Not sure. Something came up. That¡¯s why I¡¯m calling.¡±


    Stephanie was struck with concern. ¡°Are you kids OK?¡±


    Damon smiled a little. Stephanie is always treating them like kids. ¡°We are fine, but we are bringing someone with us. I want you to prepare a room for her.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Stephanie didn¡¯t think much about it. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if we have free rooms in themon building because that¡¯s Maya¡¯s jurisdiction, but I can ensure that one of single Omegas takes her in until we figure out something permanent.¡±


    The possibility of Talia being with some random person (and away from Damon) was out of the question.


    ¡°No! She will stay in the packhouse, in my old bedroom.¡±


    Stephanie paused. The third floor was reserved for the Alpha and his family. Did Damon finally find a woman he was willing to marry?


    ¡°Are you bringing Marcy with you?¡±


    Damon nearly choked on his saliva. ¡°What? No!¡±


    Stephanie was confused. Did he have time to pick up another woman? ¡°If not Marcy, then¡­¡±


    ¡°She is just a girl, Steph!¡±, Damon snapped.


    ¡°If you say so¡­¡±, Stephanie said suspiciously.


    Since Damon became Alpha, they took in many members who were rogues or from other packs and no one got to stay in the packhouse. And this was Damon¡¯s old room, on the third floor that¡¯s off-limits for anyone not rted to Alpha.


    Damon rubbed his face forcibly. He had a good idea rted to what Stephanie was thinking about.


    ¡°Don¡¯t make a big deal when there is none. The girl is hurt, and she had a hard time. She is timid, and I believe that she doesn¡¯t have a wolf. I can¡¯t let her mingle with others until we ascertain her condition. Oh, and tell Travis to be ready to ept a patient. I want her to get a full checkup when we arrive.¡±Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    ¡°I will¡­¡±, Stephanie agreed. She didn¡¯t want to probe into this further.


    She sees Damon as her child, but she can¡¯t ignore the fact that he IS her Alpha, and she shouldn¡¯t question him.


    Anyway, there are other things for her to deal with. ¡°Can you give me an estimate on when you will reach here?¡±


    ¡°Probably tomorrow morning.¡±


    Stephanie groaned in frustration. That¡¯s when Cassie wille, and Stephanie really-really didn¡¯t want to deal with her.


    ¡°Please, hurry. And drive safely.¡±


    Damon hummed in agreement and ended the call.


    He looked at the bathroom door and listened to the sound of the shower, wondering if Talia was naked. probably.


    Only one door separated them, and he could imagine water drops caressing her body. He swallowed hard.


    ¡­


    The warm water of the shower allowed Talia to rx and forget about all the troubles outside of that bathroom.


    Most of her wounds were scabbed, so shampoo didn¡¯t sting, but the bruises still hurt when she moved or washed bruised parts of her body.


    She would love to stay under that trickling warm water forever, but s, all good thingse to an end.


    Talia wrapped herself in a towel and observed her bruised appearance in the mirror while wondering how long it will take to heal.


    Talia was dying to get ready. Getting ready means stepping outside, and there is a scary Alpha waiting for her.


    Can she stay in the bathroom forever?


    Talia shook her head helplessly. What¡¯s the point of avoiding the inevitable?


    If she lingers longer than necessary, Alpha Damon will probably knock to check on her, or maybe open the door. After all, one flimsy lock can¡¯t stop an Alpha from getting where he wants.


    Talia couldn¡¯t help but wonder, why would he help her to leave the Red Moon pack? Is it true that he doesn¡¯t have bad intentions?


    Talia was not aware of Damon¡¯s reputation, but she heard that Alphas are strong and prideful, always chasing power and proving their dominance, and they don¡¯t go out of their way for anyone.


    Damon was¡­ different. Confusing.


    Talia froze when she realized that she doesn¡¯t have clean clothes.


    She would put the ones she was wearing previously, but they had dried blood stains and were definitely not something she should put back on.


    Talia collected her few possessions from the Red Moon pack and bunched them into an overused bedsheet, but they were in the trunk of the car, and if Damon was nice enough to bring them, they are in the room, and not in the bathroom where she needs them!


    Now what?


    Talia saw a bathrobe hanging on the hook next to the shower and decided to put it on. It was providing better coverage than a towel.


    After a few deep breaths, Talia held onto the doorknob and opened the door ajar, just enough to peek into the hotel room.


    Part of her hoped that Damon is sleeping, or that he left and that there will be no one in the room, but she saw him sitting on the bed and fiddling with his phone.


    After a few exceedingly long seconds, Damon lifted his gaze from the screen and eyed Talia, ¡°How long are you going to stand there?¡±


    Talia cleared her throat nervously. ¡°Did you bring my things from the car?¡±


    He didn¡¯t.


    When they got into the hotel, Damon was carrying Talia, and Caden brought only Damon¡¯s suitcase.


    ¡°What do you need?¡±


    ¡°Clothes.¡±


    Damon waved at Talia toe into the room. ¡°First, let me check your injuries.¡±


    He cocked an eyebrow when he saw that she was not moving, half-hidden behind the bathroom door.


    ¡°Come here. I won¡¯t eat you.¡± Yet.


    Gingerly, Talia moved, and she saw Damon patting the bed, indicating for her to sit.


    She sat on the edge, as far as possible from Damon, and clutched the edges of the bathrobe, holding it tightly closed.


    Damon shook his head helplessly. All the girls he knows would throw themselves at him, yet Talia was keeping her distance. Why is the only girl he really wants to touch rejecting him? Well, maybe not rejecting him, but she didn¡¯t look thrilled to be alone with him either.


    Damon moved closer to Talia and extended his hand, palm up. ¡°Your hand.¡±


    Talia put her hand into his and he took a moment to adjust to the sparks before inspecting it. It was the hand he licked earlier that morning. The bruise was significantly smaller, and the cut closed with a light pink color, without a scab.


    Damon ran his finger over the pink line that used to be a scab.


    He enjoyed the sparks and based on her stiff expression, he knew that she doesn¡¯t feel them. Pity.


    Damon wondered if Talia can sense the bond. A little bit? There should be at least an attraction, right?


    Every woman he met was attracted to him, either because of his looks, power, or position. It¡¯s natural for she-wolves.


    The fact that Talia didn¡¯t show any signs she was smitten, bothered him more than he wanted to admit.


    Damon shook those thoughts away. It¡¯s better like this. The fewer people know that Talia is his mate, the safer she will be.


    He is aware that Talia suffered in the Red Moon pack, and her timid personality told him that she won¡¯t fight for herself. She is not a fighter, and he doesn¡¯t expect her to be.


    However, if the word spreads that she is his mate, his enemies will target her and she will be his weakness.


    If he slips and fails to protect her, he will never forgive himself.


    Damon decided to keep Talia close and make sure she has whatever she needs. He will be her protector and provide for her, and that will be enough. Maybe.

 Chapter 30 Her Name Is Talia

    Talia sat stiffly next to Damon and observed him while he held her hand, the same one he licked earlier that morning.


    She remembered his grimace after tasting the bitter herbal paste and she pressed her lips into a line while preventing a smile from showing on her face. It wasical. She never thought that a scary Alpha could appear so childish.


    ¡°Look how well it¡¯s healing. I told you that saliva works.¡± Damon said, obviously pleased with himself.


    Talia silently admitted that he was right. It healed much fasterpared to other bruises and cuts she had. She wondered if her saliva would work, or maybe only werewolves who have their wolves produce saliva that heals.


    ¡°Now, let me check the rest.¡±


    Talia jolted at Damon¡¯s words. What ¡®rest¡¯ was he talking about?


    Damon extended his hand toward Talia, and she shrunk, making him halt his movements.


    ¡°Is there a problem?¡±, Damon asked with confusion obvious on his face.


    ¡°Can I at least get underwear?¡±, Talia spoke timidly.


    Damon didn¡¯t think if she had anything under the bathrobe, but the confirmation that she has no underwear made his jeans tight in the crotch area.


    Damon couldn¡¯t believe that he was so easily aroused.


    He cleared his throat and adjusted his position a bit. ¡°Why?¡±


    Talia was not sure how to respond to this. What does he mean by, why? Why does she need underwear? She was only in a bathrobe, and he wanted to check her injuries which means removing the bathrobe here and there and potentially exposing her important parts!


    ¡°Are you ufortable without underwear?¡±, Damon asked with amusement in his voice.


    Talia nodded faintly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be.¡±, Damon said like it¡¯s a totally normal thing. ¡°I¡¯m not wearing any either. Do you want to see?¡±


    He stood up and started unbuttoning his jeans and Talia thought she is going to pass out.


    ¡°No!¡±, she squeaked. ¡°I don¡¯t need to see anything. I believe you.¡±


    Damon chuckled. He never saw a girl being so bashful.


    Is it possible that she never saw a guy naked? A smile bloomed on his face at that thought.


    If she never saw a guy naked, that means no one saw HER naked, and that means she is untouched.


    His hands were itching from the desire to pull her closer and get under the bathrobe to explore her thoroughly while savoring the sweet citrusy scent of freesia that gets amplified by the sparks that make him feel alive.


    ¡®What¡¯s wrong with you?¡¯, his wolf chided him.


    ¡®What did I do?¡¯, Damon asked.


    As much as his thoughts were wandering, he kept his hands to himself. For now.


    ¡®Wipe that grin off your face. You are scaring the girl again! And don¡¯t you dare bring up the point of how she saw you when Marcy sucked you off! No decent girl will be happy to be reminded that her mate is a man-whore!¡¯


    ¡®What!?¡¯, Damon asked back in outrage. Did his wolf just call him a man-whore?


    ¡®Focus on the girl!¡¯


    Damon realized that Talia was a nervous wreck with her eyes darting from windows to door, obviously contemting exit strategies.


    He lifted his hands in the air, indicating that he will not remove his pants. ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to make you ufortable. I¡¯m not wearing underwear for practical reasons.¡±


    Talia looked up at him and he could see that she didn¡¯t believe him.


    ¡°They tear whenever I shift. So, it¡¯s easier to go without. It saves a lot of money.¡±, Damon said matter-of-factly.


    Talia still didn¡¯t believe him. She can¡¯t shift into her wolf form, but she saw a lot ofundry, and it contained underwear. If regr werewolves can afford underwear (or remove it before they shift), why can¡¯t a big scary Alpha? But she didn¡¯t want to argue.


    ¡°Will you allow me to check your injuries?¡±, Damon asked as he went back to sit on the bed, next to Talia. ¡°At least on your arms and legs. If there is any other spot, let me know and I will make sure you are not ufortable.¡±


    ¡°Only to check, right?¡±, Talia asked in a small voice.


    It took him a moment to understand that she wouldn¡¯t let him treat her and he realized¡­ ¡®Ah, she thinks I will lick her again!¡¯


    Well, Damon had no problems with that. He will dly lick her everywhere, and probably bite also.


    He reached for the bag that was on the floor. ¡°I got first aid supplies.¡±


    It was Caden and Maya, but Damon told them to get it, so that counts.


    Talia¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°For me?¡±


    Damon was pleased with her reaction. ¡°We need to treat your wounds in order to make sure they don¡¯t get infected, and they heal properly. It¡¯s either this, or I lick you. I don¡¯t mind, how I see it, skin is skin regardless of which part of the body it covers.¡±


    Talia was flustered again, and Damon chuckled.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Tell me, where does it hurt?¡±


    Talia gave him her other hand and he frowned while looking at her swollen wrist.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see what we have for this¡­¡± He fished out of the bag a spray that eases up the pain and a few packs of bandages and started working on it.


    Two minutester, Talia observed her wrist which had severalyers of bandage more than necessary.


    Damon realized that he used too much. ¡°I¡¯m not an expert at first aid. When we reach the Dark Howlers pack, the pack doctor will tend to your wounds. This is just to make you morefortable until we get there.¡±


    Talia was moved. More than his words, it was his expression that showed concern and a hint of embarrassment. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    At the sight of Talia¡¯s smile, Damon was overwhelmingly pleased with himself. ¡°Alright! Where is the next injury?¡±


    Before Talia could respond, there was a knock on the door.


    Three twoyered carts full of food entered the room.


    He wanted to treat the rest of her wounds, but he saw Talia staring at the food.


    ¡°Let¡¯s eat first.¡±, Damon said. ¡°See what is here and pick what you want.¡±


    Talia¡¯s eyes were open wide and she swallowed hard. The delicious smell reminded her how hungry she was, and she was embarrassed when her tummy rumbled loudly.


    Talia licked her lips, hoping that she was not drooling.


    ¡°Anything I want?¡±, she asked while looking at Damon apprehensively.


    Damon¡¯s heart cracked a little and he tried to suppress sadness and rage that swelled inside him.


    He couldn¡¯t imagine what she went through to be so happy about simple food items this shabby hotel was offering, and he wanted to return to the Red Moon pack and raze it to the ground. How dare they neglect his mate!?


    ¡°Anything you want.¡±, Damon confirmed, and his words applied to more than the food in front of her. He would give her whatever she wanted as long as he can see her smile. ¡°Under one condition.¡±


    Talia shrunk and clutched the edges of her bathrobe. She was not sure what the condition was, but it usually included her giving something in return, and other than her body, she didn¡¯t have anything else.


    Seeing that she was about to panic again, Damon quickly said, ¡°Tell me your name.¡±


    Talia blinked, wondering if she heard him right. ¡°My name? Is that it?¡±


    ¡°Is there something else you are willing to offer?¡±, Damon asked teasingly, and he chuckled when Talia shook her head fervently.


    ¡°Well? We are together since morning, and I don¡¯t know how to call you. Hey, is not appropriate, especially not since we shared the bed.¡±


    Talia ignored that bed-sharingment. Other than sleeping, nothing happened, and she didn¡¯t want to overthink it.


    She knew that he was referring to how she called him ¡®hey¡¯. Twice.


    ¡°Talia.¡±


    ¡°Talia¡±, Damon repeated, pleased how her name rolled off his tongue.


    ¡°Talia, Talia¡­¡±, he said a few more times and he thought that it sounds delicate and elegant, just like the girl in front of him.


    Now that he knew her name, Damon felt that they reached an important milestone and he hoped that this will not be a sign of how everything else will go with Talia.


    If it takes so much effort just to get her name, who knows how much he will need to work for a kiss?


    Damon facepalmed internally. Why the heck was he thinking about kissing her?

 Chapter 31 Food And Medicine

    Damon gestured toward the carts with the food. ¡°What do you want to start with?¡±


    Talia was about to reach out for something but stopped herself. ¡°Won¡¯t you pick first?¡±


    It was ages since she ate in a group setting, but Talia remembered that high-ranking members of the pack eat first. As a child, she always waited for others to have their picks before she could get food. And even if everyone had food in front of them, no one dared to eat before Alpha¡­ and she was with one big scary Alpha in the room right now.


    Damon shook his head in disapproval. Talia was obviously hungry, and he ordered all this food for her, yet she wanted him to eat first.


    Sure, normally, in the pack, others wait for him, but this was not normal, and he didn¡¯t want Talia to feel that she was below him.


    He grabbed a fork and poked a finger-sized sausage and held it in front of Talia¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°Eat¡±, he ordered in a voice that didn¡¯t allow for further arguments.


    Talia was about to get the fork and hold it herself, but Damon prevented her from doing so.


    ¡°You are hurt.¡± Damon gestured toward her wrist. ¡°Let me feed you.¡± He really wanted to feed her.


    Talia was about to say that her other hand is fine, but something about Damon¡¯s expression told her to open her mouth and ept his offerings. And she did.


    ¡°Mmm¡­¡±, a small moan formed in her throat involuntarily a second after she bit on it. The sausage was warm and juicy, and it was a long time since she ate something so tasty.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Damon watched her chew with her eyes closed and he swallowed hard. Why the heck was he getting aroused now?


    That sweet moan was the most seductive thing he ever heard in his life and mental images of Talia naked under him shed in front of his eyes. What sounds will she release when he is sheathed deep inside her?


    Damon cursed internally. Damn it! This mate bond turned him into a horny teenager!


    He cleared his throat. ¡°Do you like it?¡±


    Talia¡¯s eyes snapped open, and she nodded shyly.


    Damon smiled. ¡°I will order more of those.¡±


    ¡°No need. There is so much food. Won¡¯t you eat also?¡±


    Damon was surprised. She was obviously starving, yet she was concerned about him. Silly girl.


    He put the fork in his mouth, and finished the half of the sausage that was there.


    Damon scooped some scrambled eggs and fed Talia, and then he got scrambled eggs for himself.


    ¡°I can eat on my own.¡±, Talia said, and Damon shook his head in disapproval.


    ¡°Let¡¯s not make your injuries worse. Take it easy until my pack doctor says you are fine.¡±


    Talia exhaled helplessly, but she was touched by his concern.


    She wanted to bring up the point that there is no need for them to share a fork, but she didn¡¯t want to appear whiny andin.


    Bite by bite, Damon fed them in turns, and they ate in silence.


    He had a million questions he didn¡¯t know how to ask. Who is she? How did she find herself in the Red Moon pack? How did she end up in that attic?


    But Damon kept those questions for himself, content that Talia was with him and that he could take care of her. The only thing that could make this better (in Damon¡¯s opinion) is if she could sit in hisp.


    Talia had a million questions she didn¡¯t dare to ask. Why did he help her escape? Why was he treating her kindly? Is he really taking her to his pack? He promised her a room and food and a doctor¡­ is it really that easy?


    But Talia kept those questions for herself, content with all the food that entered her system. The only thing that could make this better (in Talia¡¯s opinion) is if she could put some clothes on.


    Eventually, she reached her belly¡¯s capacity.


    ¡°I¡¯m full.¡±


    Damon frowned. ¡°Really? You barely ate.¡±


    He held a piece of bacon in front of her mouth. ¡°Come on. You can have this much.¡±


    Talia put her hand over her mouth because Damon looked ready to force-feed her.


    Damon continued persuading her.


    ¡°You are eating like a mouse.¡± An adorable mouse. ¡°You will remain skinny forever.¡± Not that I mind. ¡°There is no need to hold back in front of me.¡± Please don¡¯t hold back anything in front of me. ¡°Or is it that you don¡¯t like it?¡± I will order something else.


    She was not sure why he would care about her weight, as for the rest, ¡°I¡¯m not holding back. This is the most I ate in years. Any more and I might have a tummy ache. It was delicious and warm, and I thank you for everything.¡±


    Damon exhaled helplessly and ced the bacon piece back on the te. ¡°It¡¯s OK. You will put some meat on those bones, little by little.¡±


    Talia was rmed. Why did it sound like he was nning to make her gain weight so that he can eat her? Is he a cannibal? Well, that would exin a thing or two why they took her out of the Red Moon pack in such a secretive way. If they eat her, no one will notice her missing. Talia felt like crying.


    Unaware of Talia¡¯s internal turmoil, Damon pushed the carts with food further away, and he kneeled in front of her.


    ¡°Let me check your legs.¡±


    Talia was bbergasted. A big scary Alpha was on his knees in front of her! Isn¡¯t this like when the prince brought the ss slipper for the princess? And then they had their happily¡­ Talia cut off that thought.


    She is not a princess, and he is not holding a ss slipper, but a pack of bandages.


    By now, Talia understood that Damon will do what he wants, and he wanted to see her legs.


    She clutched the bathrobe at her thigh level and extended her leg toward him.


    Damon was pleased that she didn¡¯t resist or try to negotiate.


    Damon¡¯s handsnded just above her ankle, and he held his breath while savoring the sparks that made him tingly from the inside. Every time he touched her, it got more intense.


    After covering up a few spots with cream, he looked up at her, and Talia¡¯s eyes widened in horror.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. There are no other injuries.¡±


    Damon rolled his eyes. ¡°I will believe you for the front. However, I want you to turn around and show me your back.¡±


    Reluctantly, Talia turned and loosened the bathrobe, allowing it to fall from her shoulders.


    The sweet citrusy scent of freesia assaulted Damon¡¯s senses and he swallowed so hard, that he was confident she heard him.


    By looking at Talia with her clothes on, Damon thought that she was skinny, but now that he looked at her exposed back which elegantly narrowed from her shoulders toward her waist, he realized that she was perfect. Beyond perfect.


    He really wanted to lick her.


    There were a few bruises on her back, and he focused mightily on them in order to stay present.


    Damon squeezed medicinal ointment on the tip of his fingers and started softly massaging it into the area of Talia¡¯s back where the bruises are.


    The sparks flew through his fingers into his arm, like a gentle current that shook his pleasure centers.


    It didn¡¯t take more than a few seconds when Talia inched away from him. ¡°I think that¡¯s enough.¡±


    He didn¡¯t want to stop. ¡°Let me rub it in, otherwise it will ruin the clothes. The surface is too big for a band-aid and the other option is to wrap you in a bandage. You don¡¯t want to look like a mummy, don¡¯t you?¡±


    Talia let out a long breath. She was not used to anyone touching her and the fact that the bathrobe was loose, it made her feel exposed.


    It was just the two of them in the room, and suddenly the atmosphere became intimate.


    Talia closed her eyes and tried to think about something else. Anything would be fine, other than the feeling of his fingers moving in circr movements over her skin. But the sensation was impossible to ignore, and she felt her cheeks heating up as her heart thundered against her chest. Can he feel it? Or hear it? That would be embarrassing. She didn¡¯t want him to get the wrong idea.


    Damon was as possessed. He started with tips of his fingers, and then with pads, and then with the whole palm, and even though he didn¡¯t roam away from her back, the sparks he felt were divine and urged him to keep on touching her.


    Damon noticed Talia¡¯s increased heart rate and his lips lifted into a smirk when he picked up the scent of her arousal.


    He was d that he was not the only one affected.

 Chapter 32 Getting Ready

    Damon leaned closer to Talia, his face hovering an inch away from her left shoulder de.


    ¡°Some of these bruises are quite bad and might need a secondyer of cream.¡±


    Talia flinched when his hot breath sshed against her skin, and she swiftly pulled the bathrobe back up while cursing internally. Why did she allow herself to get carried away like this?


    Her face was on fire and she was confident that she was blushing profusely.


    ¡°This is more than enough. Thank you.¡±, she said in a whisper.


    Damon was disappointed at the loss of that addicting touch, but he saw that Talia was ufortable, so he didn¡¯t want to push for it.


    He shook his head. What was he doing exactly?


    They stopped for some food and first-aid, and they need to head back on the road.


    Besides, didn¡¯t he decide to bring her with him and keep her safe, and there will be nothing more to it?


    He reached into his suitcase and got one t-shirt and shorts with a string at the waist.


    ¡°Wear these for now.¡±


    Damon tossed clothes on the bed and left the room.


    He needed some air and distance between him and Talia, before he loses his control, and possibly his mind as well.


    There were times when he was attracted to a woman, but never to the point of not being able to control himself.


    ¡®Maya¡­¡¯, Damon called through the mind-link. ¡®Can you check on the girl? We are leaving in half an hour.¡¯


    Damon didn¡¯t wait for Maya to respond, knowing that she is probably busy with Caden. He went to take a walk and clear his head.


    Every cell in his body screamed for Talia¡¯s proximity, but Damon was resisting it because this uncontroble attraction was foreign, and he didn¡¯t like it, yet when Talia was nearby, her addictive scent increased his madness.


    Back in the hotel room¡­


    Talia was confused, unsure what to think about this.


    First, she woke up with the scary Alpha in bed, who was holding her tightly. Then, he fed her and tended to her wounds, and then¡­ he left without sparing her a nce. Did she do something wrong?


    Talia didn¡¯t expect Damon to be loving or caring, but when he left, he appeared angry.


    This only confirmed that Alpha Damon is an unstable person and that staying close to him won¡¯t be good.


    Talia told herself to stay calm and obedient. Soon, they will reach the Dark Howlers pack and she will see what waits for her.


    Hopefully, she can find a small corner for herself; a bed thates with food and a set of duties, and no beatings or any other type of bullying. She wishes that people leave her alone, and maybe she could make a friend or two.


    If it doesn¡¯t work out, she can flee and try to make it on her own.


    Talia was reminded by Alpha Damon that joining a pack is a big deal because, with that, Alpha can track her down. She took a mental note not to join the Dark Howlers pack unless absolutely necessary, or at least until she confirms that she actually wants to stay there.


    It was vague, but it was the best n she coulde up with, and she decided to refine that n as she gets more information.


    A knock on the door got Talia¡¯s attention.


    ¡°Who is it?¡±, she asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s Maya. Can Ie in?¡±


    Talia opened the door and saw that it¡¯s only Maya.


    Maya entered the room and eyed Talia who was in the bathrobe. When Damon told her to ¡®check on the girl¡¯, Maya was not sure what to expect, but Talia seemed fine.


    Maya also took note of carts with food, which were obviously too much for two people.


    It only further confirmed Maya¡¯s theory that Talia is Damon¡¯s mate. When Maya and Caden found each other, for the first few months, Caden was obsessing about feeding Maya, and even now he often worries she might be hungry. It¡¯s something about male werewolves and their instinct to provide for their mate, food included.


    ¡°We didn¡¯t get a chance to introduce ourselves properly. I¡¯m Maya.¡±


    Talia shook Maya¡¯s hand. ¡°Talia.¡±


    After introductions, Maya exined her presence. ¡°Alpha Damon told me to check on you. You should get ready so that we can go back to the road. We are a long way from our pack.¡±


    Talia was notfortable with the idea of putting Damon¡¯s clothes on. The shorts he gave her were loose and there was no way she could wear them without panties. Just thinking about his clothes touching her private parts made her cheeks flush.


    ¡°Can you, please, get my stuff from the car?¡±, Talia asked Maya. ¡°It was in the trunk, wrapped in a bedsheet.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡±, a sound escaped Maya¡¯s lips when she remembered the bundle that was half-open, just enough for Maya to see worn-out clothes. ¡°Give me a minute and I will get you something.¡±


    A few minutester, Maya was back with jeans, a t-shirt, panties, a sports bra, and a pair of shiny flip-flops.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure if these will fit you, but it will be fine until we reach our destination. I know that I¡¯m a size or two bigger than you, but I¡¯ve got a belt for the jeans, to hold them in ce.¡±, Maya spoke quickly while stuffing clothes in Talia¡¯s hands and pushing her into the bathroom. ¡°Change quickly, we leave in a few minutes, and Alpha Damon doesn¡¯t like waiting.¡±


    ¡°Thanks¡­¡±, Talia mumbled and closed the door behind her.


    Maya nced through the room and saw on the bed the t-shirt and shorts that Damon gave to Talia.


    Maya shook her head in disapproval. Other than shorts being the meshed ones for the gym, the t-shirt would probably look like a sack on Talia who has a small frame.


    What was Damon thinking? To bring Talia into the pack looking like a hobo? Doesn¡¯t he know that first impression is important?


    Forget about the image of a respectable Luna. Whoever sees Talia in those clothes, will never see her as a decent girl. Werewolves maybe have scandalous lifestyles, but their dressing is on point; especially the she-wolves who are hovering around Damon.


    Once Talia establishes herself, she can wear whatever she wants.


    Thinking about appearances, Maya dashed back into her room and returned with several essories.


    ¡°Thank you for the clothes.¡±, Talia said shyly when she peered out of the bathroom.


    The sports bra was not super tight, but it provided support. The T-shirt and jeans were good, nearly new.


    Talia was really grateful but also embarrassed as well because she knew that those are Maya¡¯s clothes.


    ¡°These are a bit big for you. Once we get you clothes that actually fit, you will be a stunner.¡±, Maya said with a wink and gestured toward the chair. ¡°Sit there, let me do your hair.¡±


    Talia sat on the chair obediently and let Mayab her hair.


    ¡°Are you excited toe to the Dark Howlers pack?¡±, Maya started small-talk.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure what to expect.¡±, Talia responded honestly.


    ¡°It¡¯s busy, lively, and there are all kinds of people. But Alpha Damon makes sure things run smoothly. Rewards and punishments are given fairly, and no one undermines his position.¡±


    ¡°You speak highly of him.¡±


    Maya hummed in confirmation. ¡°I joined the pack when I met Caden, but I know the story of young Damon who lost his parents before he came of age. Alpha Damon was forced to take over the pack, or to give it up for other Alphas to tear it apart. Only he knows what hardships he endured, and he fought many official battles before turning twenty years old. There is a reason why other Alphas don¡¯t dare to provoke Alpha Damon, even though he is half their age. Alpha Damon will do anything to keep us safe and thanks to his strength and dedication, the Dark Howlers pack prospers.¡±


    Talia listened carefully and she felt sorry for Damon. The scary Alpha became a bit pitiful in her eyes because she knew very well what it means to lose parents at a young age.


    Talia grew up on her own, and she thought that maybe she had it betterpared to Damon because she was able to hide in the attic, while Damon was forced into the limelight.


    ¡°He sounds like a good Alpha.¡±, Talia said.


    Maya smiled. ¡°He is the best. Alpha Damon protects his own. As long as you are loyal to him and to the pack, he will make sure you are fine. No one will harm you, Talia.¡±


    Talia pressed her lips into a line while telling herself not to get carried away. Everything so far appeared to be good, but she feared that it might be too good and she was not ready to drop her guard yet.


    Maya didn¡¯t say more, knowing that Damon¡¯s interest in Talia went beyond the one of a pack leader, and his reputation in that area was horrible.

 Chapter 33 Sharing Snacks

    Maya hummed in satisfaction at the sight of Talia¡¯s hair that was parted in two neat braids.


    ¡°All done.¡±, Maya announced.


    Talia touched the braid that fell over her left shoulder. ¡°Thank you, this is wonderful.¡±


    ¡°You are wee.¡±, Maya responded and inched closer. ¡°You have beautiful eyes. Will you let me put some makeup on you?¡±


    Talia blinked. Unsure how to respond to thepliment or to the makeup offerings.


    Seeing that Talia was flustered, Maya patted her shoulder. ¡°We will do makeup next time. We need to head out now.¡±


    Maya told Damon through the mind-link that they are ready to go, and it took him a minute to reach the hotel room.


    Damon stood frozen at the door and stared at Talia who was collecting fruits, cheeses, and gran bars from the food carts, wrapping them in napkins and arranging them in a paper bag Maya gave her.


    Eventually, Talia noticed Damon and paused.


    He didn¡¯t say anything, and she started squirmed under his unreadable gaze.


    Did he not approve that she was packing food? Or was it because she didn¡¯t wear the clothes he told her to put on? Or maybe it was something else?


    She touched her hair and straightened the t-shirt nervously. ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    Damon cleared his throat. ¡°No. Everything is fine.¡± More than fine.


    Now that her hair was tidy and she wore good clothes, Talia was a stunner, even with those bruises. Her citrusy sweet scent of freesia made Damon slightly dizzy, amplifying his visual enjoyment, almost like he was intoxicated. She was intoxicating.


    Damon barely registered Maya giggling and patting his shoulder.


    ¡°You are wee¡­¡±, Maya said to Damon, before walking out with, ¡°We are going to check out and meet you by the car!¡±


    ¡°Maya kept things in your suitcase.¡±, Talia said. ¡°I hope that was OK.¡±


    Damon nodded absentmindedly.


    ¡°Is it OK if I pack leftovers? There are plenty and you already paid for them. It would be a pity to let them go to waste. We can have them on the road.¡±


    Damon nodded again and gestured for Talia to go ahead. ¡°Take your time, we are not in a rush.¡±


    He leanedzily on the doorframe and watched her without a word.


    Talia was confused. Maya said that they are in a rush and that Alpha doesn¡¯t like to wait, yet Alpha told her to take her time. But it was not her ce to question Alpha or Beta, and she was grateful that he approved her request, so she got busy.


    Damon noticed how Talia handled the food carefully. So far, none of the women around him would pack leftovers.


    Of course, Damon is loaded, so paying for a meal that won¡¯t be consumed is not a big deal, but only now he realized how those women took him (and his money) for granted.


    Those women would always order the most expensive dish and be super-picky about what they eat, while Talia ate whatever he gave her, without anyints. Actually, Talia treated every bite like it¡¯s a scrumptious treat and Damon loved it.


    When Talia finished packing, Damon grabbed the suitcase and headed out, with Talia two steps behind him.


    They were halfway through the hallway when he stopped abruptly and snatched the bag with leftovers from her hand without an exnation, and she wondered if she should say ¡®thank you¡¯ or not.


    Talia decided to keep quiet because Damon was acting strange again.


    They sat in the car and this time Talia didn¡¯t fall asleep.


    She was looking through the window and listening to the music from the radio, asionally finding something in the bag to munch on.


    They were driving through the night with stops on every few hours.


    Damon was frustrated. Talia was mostly keeping to herself and a few times when she spoke, it was with Maya.


    He felt neglected.


    Damon wanted to hold Talia¡¯s hand or maybe to make her lean on him, but without her dozing off, he didn¡¯t have any excuses to get closer without appearing like a creep.


    After the second stop, Caden and Damon switched ces so that Caden can get a shuteye.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Damon took the driver¡¯s seat, and he was visibly disappointed when Maya moved to the back, leaving Caden on the front passenger¡¯s seat.


    Maya snickered and spoke to Caden through mind-link. ¡®Can you believe that he is so prideful that he doesn¡¯t want to ask Talia to join him in front?¡¯


    ¡®Hmm?¡¯ Caden yawned. ¡®I wanted to go in the back with you, but the girl seemed ufortable so¡­¡¯


    ¡®She wouldn¡¯t be ufortable if Alpha Damon asked her nicely toe to the front.¡¯, Maya responded.


    ¡®You think so?¡¯, Damon interjected into their conversation and Maya¡¯s eyes widened in horror while cursing herself for not triple-checking that the mind-link was only between her and Caden. She scrambled her brain while thinking if she said anything inappropriate.


    After a few exceedingly long seconds of stiff silence, Maya responded, ¡®She is obviously interested in looking outside, and the front seat gives a better view.¡¯


    Damon nodded at this.


    ¡°Why did we stop?¡±, Caden grumbled while checking the time.


    They had a stop less than half an hour ago. Everyone used the restroom and stretched their legs. Unless something went wrong, he should be able to nap at least two-to-three more hours.


    ¡°I need to get something¡­¡±, Damon said and dashed into a small store by the road.


    He came back with a bag of chips and a container with mixed nuts.


    Maya noticed that the top two buttons of Damon¡¯s shirt were undone, and she wondered what he was doing inside. It was not that warm.


    Instead of going to his seat, Damon knocked on Talia¡¯s window.


    ¡°Do you want to sit in front? The view is better and Caden can sleep in the back.¡±


    Talia hesitated. Sitting next to Damon was not the most appealing offer, but she understood that it will be better for Caden to rest in the back with Maya, so she agreed to switch ces.


    Maya watched as Damon gave newly purchased snacks to Talia while saying, ¡°I feel like eating these, but my hands are busy driving. Can you feed me?¡±


    ¡°What happened with, my hand is hurt?¡±, Talia asked Damon and showed her bandaged wrist.


    ¡°That was for using utensils. You can put food in my mouth. Right?¡±


    Maya couldn¡¯t believe that Damon was this cheeky. But it confirmed that Damon wanted to be close to Talia.


    Caden didn¡¯t miss this exchange. He pushed himself forward, sticking his head between Damon and Talia.


    ¡°I want to have some also. Aaa¡­¡± Caden opened his mouth wide, waiting for Talia to put some chips inside while ignoring Damon¡¯s re.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you need to sleep?¡±, Damon grumbled. ¡°If you are energetic, how about you drive some more?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just one bite. Why are you making it a big deal?¡±, Caden asked innocently, and his eyes shed in approval when Talia put a handful of chips in his mouth.


    ¡°Tfank ou¡­¡±, Caden mumbled his thanks to Talia before leaning back into the seat with a big grin on his face.


    ¡°Stop feeding him.¡±, Damon said impatiently to Talia and then red at Caden. ¡°That¡¯s for me.¡±


    His expression softened as he turned to Talia. ¡°You can have some also, if you want.¡±


    Maya and Caden exchanged knowing looks.


    It¡¯s not umon for Damon not to share, but he was willing to share with Talia. And it looked like Damon was more upset that Talia was feeding Cadenpared to Damon losing his snacks.


    Damon would open his mouth asionally, and Talia put chips without a word spoken.


    ¡°I dropped it. Can you get it?¡±, Damon said to Talia.


    ¡°Where did it go?¡±


    ¡°In my shirt.¡±


    Talia stared at Damon. ¡°What?¡±


    Maya¡¯s eyebrows shoot up. Is it possible that Damon nned for this and that¡¯s why he unbuttoned his shirt when he bought snacks?


    ¡°Come on. The longer it takes, the deeper it gets. It¡¯s itchy and I can¡¯t drive properly. You can undo a button or two to get it, if needed.¡±


    Talia was visibly flustered while thinking about how to fish out the chip from Damon¡¯s shirt.


    Damon was disappointed when Talia pinched the shirt in the area of his navel, pulled it to untuck the shirt from his jeans, and gave it a shake. The chip fell on the floor.


    ¡°There. You shouldn¡¯t be itchy now.¡±, Talia said victoriously.


    Maya hid herugh behind a cough. She never saw Damon sulking before.


    By now, Maya¡¯s theory that Talia is Damon¡¯s mate was solid, and they also understood that Caden¡¯s hunch was right. Damon wanted to keep it a secret.

 Chapter 34 The Dark Howlers Pack

    ~ The Dark Howlers Pack ~


    The sun was rising from the East when our group of four reached their destination, and Caden announced, ¡°Home sweet home. Wee to the Dark Howlers pack, Talia!¡±.


    Talia observed the dense forest through which the road snaked, and Caden slowed down the car as they passed through a town.


    ¡°This is Darkbourne.¡±, Maya said. ¡°Every person living and working in this town belongs to the Dark Howlers pack.¡±


    Talia nodded in understanding while observing the residential buildings with nice backyards that gradually turned into densely packed two-story-high buildings.


    ¡°We are getting closer to the center of the town.¡±, Maya continued her tour.


    The two-story-high buildings had various shops on the ground level. Talia spotted a bakery, a coffee shop, a clothing boutique, a shoe store, a restaurant, a butcher¡¯s shop, a tattoo parlor, a bookstore. There was something for everyone and quite a number of pedestrians filled the sidewalks.


    On the left, the road opened into a wide street and Talia spotted a cobblestone town square with a clocktower in the middle. There were trees and several benches, and other than a coffee shop with outdoor seating, Talia also saw two street vendors. One selling popcorn, and the other one ice cream. Based on the number of people there, it was obvious that the town square is a popr hangout spot.


    ¡°We will have a fair in ten days.¡±, Maya exined when she saw Talia¡¯s eyes lingering toward the town square that was now out of sight. ¡°There will be music, performances, sweet treats, and everyone wille. You will love it.¡±


    Talia smiled a little. She never attended a fair and she couldn¡¯t imagine how it will look like, but it sounded fun, and based on Maya¡¯s words, it appeared that Talia can go as well.


    She never attended events at the Red Moon pack, no matter how lively it was downstairs, and this almost sounded like an invitation.


    After leaving the town, they drove for another few minutes before stopping in front of arge three-stories-high building that was surrounded by forest.


    ¡°This is the pack hospital.¡±, Maya said. ¡°When you are done with the checkup, you will join us at the packhouse. I will ask Stephanie to prepare something tasty for everyone.¡±


    Talia didn¡¯t know who Stephanie was, but she understood that this was her cue to leave the car.


    Talia was surprised that Alpha Damon alighted the car as well.


    ¡®Make sure her room is ready.¡¯, Damon told Maya through the mind link.


    ¡®Where will she stay?¡¯


    ¡®In my old room on the third floor.¡¯, Damon responded.


    Maya didn¡¯t think much about it. ¡®OK.¡¯


    Maya turned to Caden, and asked, ¡°Which one is Alpha¡¯s old room?¡±


    They have a mind-link, but Maya prefers using her mouth to speak when no one can overhear them because there are always chances that someone might eavesdrop on the mind-link (like Alpha).


    It¡¯s not that Damon wants to eavesdrop, but as the Alpha of the Dark Howlers pack, the strength of his link with the pack members is extraordinary, and unless they take extra steps to block him, he can hear them.


    ¡°It¡¯s across the hall from his current room. Why?¡±, Caden responded.


    When Damon became the Alpha, he moved into the master bedroom that his parents upied previously.


    ¡°He just told me to make sure THAT room is ready for Talia.¡±


    Caden smirked. ¡°So, he will put her in a room that is right across the hallway from him.¡±


    Maya shook her head. ¡°What is he thinking? If he wants to hide that she is his mate, he shouldn¡¯t keep her on the floor that is reserved for the Alpha. No outsiders ever stayed there before.¡±


    Caden chuckled. ¡°He probably knows that he should get Talia to stay like any other single Omega, or at least on the first floor with Stephanie. However, the bond is messing with his mind, and he is not thinking because the only thing on his mind is that he wants to be close to her. I can bet that in a week from now, they will share a room. His room.¡±


    ¡°No way.¡±, Maya was confident. ¡°Damon is clueless about romancing a woman, and that girl is petrified. The only way to win her over is to move slowly. If he goes his usual Damon on her, she will run away.¡±


    ¡°Do you think he will let her leave?¡±


    Maya didn¡¯t have an answer to this question. But Damon wouldn¡¯t keep a girl against her will. Right?


    In the pack hospital¡­Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    ¡°Talia, this is Dr. Travis Arzt¡­¡±, Damon introduced the doctor who was expecting them. ¡°He is the best doctor around.¡±


    Talia watched the tall blonde man whose friendly smile reminded her of Olivia, and she wondered if all medical people have thatforting expression that makes one believe everything will be alright.


    Dr. Arzt bowed his head submissively. ¡°You tter me, Alpha.¡± He turned to Talia. ¡°And you are¡­?¡±


    ¡°Talia, Dr. Arzt.¡±


    ¡°Please, call me Travis. Dr. Arzt is my father and when someone calls me like that, it makes me feel old.¡±


    ¡°OK. Travis.¡±, Talia agreed and Damon was irked that she agreed so easily. He remembered how much she hesitated to address him as just Damon.


    ¡°If I understood correctly, we are to give you a full checkup. Please step inside and Jill and Cathy will help you change into a hospital gown. I will join you when you are ready.¡± He gestured toward the door on the side that was open, and Talia saw two women waving at her.


    Talia nced at Damon who gave her an encouraging nod. He liked that she silently asked his permission. It made him feel important.


    ¡°This will take at least one hour, Alpha¡±, Travis said to Damon. ¡°Who should I notify when we are done?¡±


    Damon frowned. He was not happy that the doctor was sending him away.


    Is Talia going to undress and Travis will get to watch and¡­ touch? Damon didn¡¯t like it. Not even a little bit.


    There should be a woman doctor. Or even better, Damon should be the doctor.


    But he knew that there is no woman doctor in their pack, and Travis is the best they have while he (Damon) can¡¯t even bandage a wrist properly. But can he really leave?


    ¡°I will attend the exam.¡±


    Travis was visibly confused. ¡°Is there a reason for it?¡±


    Damon scrambled how to answer this and not to say something like, ¡®I want to make sure you keep your hands to yourself!¡¯ But how can he exin his need to stick to Talia without revealing that she is his mate?


    ¡°Talia was treated poorly, and you are a stranger. I want to make sure she isfortable.¡±


    Travis nodded knowingly. ¡°I understand your concern, Alpha, but she seemed fine so far. Jill and Cathy know what they are doing and having more guys present when she needs to undress will¡­¡±


    ¡°WHAT!?¡±, Damon roared, and Travis shrunk, unsure why Damon flipped from polite to raging within a split second. What¡¯s with that murderous re? The Alpha¡¯s pressure was suffocating.


    Damon grit his teeth. ¡°She will not undress. Is that understood?¡±


    ¡°How am I going to examine her?¡±


    ¡°Do what you can without Talia undressing.¡±, Damon said sternly. The idea of Travis ogling at Talia was NOT eptable!


    Travis was bbergasted. ¡°With all due respect, Alpha¡­ I am the doctor, and she needs an exam. I will appreciate it if you step outside and let me do my work. I will keep your words on my mind and minimize her exposure. Is that fine?¡±


    Damon nodded stiffly.


    ¡°Is there anything else?¡±, Travis asked, seeing that Damon was not leaving.


    ¡°I think that she doesn¡¯t have her wolf.¡±


    Travis thought how that makes sense. ¡°That would exin the bruises. Don¡¯t worry, Alpha. This is not my first time examining a person without a wolf. I did my residenship in a human hospital.¡±


    Eventually, Damon left Travis¡¯s office with, ¡°I will wait in the hallway.¡±


    Travis gave Damon a strange look. Shouldn¡¯t Alpha be busy? Damon has a reputation as a workaholic, yet now he will dawdle in the hallway for (at least) one hour.


    Travis guessed that Talia is someone important. Maybe she is a spy or a rtive. There was no other exnation why Alpha would bring her here (and wait for her) personally.

 Chapter 35 Travis Arzt

    When Travis entered the exam room, Talia was wearing the hospital gown.


    While Jill was drawing Talia¡¯s blood for theb work, and Cathy collected swabs from Talia¡¯s mouth and nose, Travis observed Talia¡¯s bruises.


    Damon told him that Talia doesn¡¯t have a wolf, and that would definitely impact her healing, but it was a long time since Travis saw so many cuts and bruises on a person.


    They would be nothing much for a werewolf and would heal within a day or two, but for a human (or a werewolf without a wolf), it can take a week or two until theypletely fade.


    Travis¡¯s sight was drawn to Talia¡¯s bandaged wrist. Considering that most of her injuries were exposed, he had to ask, ¡°Who did this?¡±


    ¡°Alpha Damon.¡±, Talia responded.


    ¡°That was very¡­¡±, Travis paused while choosing his words.


    Talia smiled a little while remembering Damon¡¯s intense expression while bandaging her.


    ¡°I know. That was very kind of him.¡±


    Travis cocked an eyebrow. ¡°I wanted to say, unskilled, but we can go with your version.¡±


    Talia looked at the closed door nervously. ¡°Will Alpha Damon punish you if he hears you badmouthing him?¡±


    Travis waved his hand, indicating that it¡¯s not a big deal. ¡°Since when is telling the truth, badmouthing? And besides, Alpha will not harm me. Didn¡¯t you hear when he said that I¡¯m the best doctor in the area?¡± He made a cocky expression and Talia put her hand over her mouth whileughing.


    The more Talia looked at Travis, the more he reminded her of Olivia with his easy-going personality and a smile that tells people how everything is going to be OK. She liked him already.


    Travis saw that Talia rxed and that was exactly what he was going for. He needed information and if she is stiff and silent, they wouldn¡¯t reach far.


    Travis pulled a chair next to the bed where Talia was, and he held onto a notebook. ¡°Let¡¯s start with your medical history¡­¡±


    ¡­


    Outside Travis¡¯s office, Damon was pacing. There is a waiting area further down the hallway, but Damon couldn¡¯t sit.


    He was imagining Travis touching Talia¡¯s back, just how Damon did in the hotel room on the previous day. What if Talia likes it?


    The side door opened, and Jill and Cathy exited.


    ¡°Is the exam over?¡±, Damon asked, catching Jill and Cathy by surprise.


    The two nurses didn¡¯t expect to see their Alpha there.


    He was too close and too handsome, and it took them a moment to recover.


    ¡°No. Alpha.¡±, Jill responded.


    ¡°Then, why are you out?¡±


    ¡°We are taking these samples to theb.¡±, Cathy said while gesturing toward the cart with several containers and sealed cotton sticks.


    ¡°Does that mean that Travis is alone with Talia?¡±, Damon asked with urgency. ¡°Do both of you need to take this? One is enough.¡±


    How Damon saw this, at least one of the nurses should stay in that exam room so that Travis and Talia don¡¯t have privacy.


    Jill and Cathy exchanged confused nces.


    ¡°I¡¯m taking these to theb, and Cathy will prepare room in radiology so that we can take x-rays once Dr. Arzt finishes discussing Miss Talia¡¯s medical history.¡±, Jill responded. ¡°Why don¡¯t you find a seat in the waiting area, Alpha? This area is reserved for medical workers and patients.¡±


    Damon frowned and stepped to the side, to let them pass. He had no intention of moving from that spot. What if Talia cries for help and he can¡¯t hear her from there? Theck of the mind-link with Talia was making him anxious.


    Damon knew that the mate bond was making him unreasonable, but there was nothing he could do about it. The fact that Talia was not in the visible range was unsettling and the knowledge that another guy was with her, and it was just the two of them, was making it worse. Damon was unable to snap out of it.


    The stories go that the mate pull is getting stronger by the day, and the werewolves can find peace only after they mark each other. The sealed mate bond allows them to exchange feelings no matter the distance, and because of that, mates can function when they are apart.


    Damon tried to distract himself by checking emails, but it didn¡¯t work.


    He halted his steps and pressed his ear on the door of Travis¡¯s office. Nothing.


    How is it possible that he couldn¡¯t pick up any sound with his Alpha hearing? Are they doing something sneakily? What if Talia left?


    Somehow, he feared that she might disappear.


    Jill returned after a few minutes, and Damon was a bit at ease, knowing that Travis is not the only one inside with Talia.


    Damon was alerted when the door opened, and Talia was pushed out in the wheelchair by Jill.


    ¡°What happened with your legs?¡±, Damon asked Talia.


    ¡°Nothing.¡±


    ¡°Why are you in a wheelchair?¡±


    Jill responded, ¡°It¡¯s just the protocol, Alpha. I¡¯m taking her to radiology so that we take x-rays. Miss Talia is wearing a hospital gown that is opened at the back and if she walks, there is a danger of her being exposed.¡±


    Damon approved. No one should see Talia exposed. Except for him.


    ¡­


    Talia and Damon sat together with Travis to hear the results of her exam.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Her swollen wrist was not broken, so they gave her one of those thick wraps with Velcro to secure it without using bandages until it heals.


    ¡°The injuries are superficial, and I will prescribe you some ointments and painkillers. You can do any activity that your body allows you to. If you feel pain, stop.¡±, Travis said to Talia. ¡°The more concerning is that you are underweight, and your bloodwork shows several deficiencies.¡±


    Travis didn¡¯t ask much about her eating habits because just from the bloodwork, he could see that she was eating unhealthy and not regrly.


    ¡°Is it serious?¡±, Damon asked.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t need to be. Miss Talia will need to take vitamins and I want her to meet with a nutritionist to discuss a healthy meal n. We don¡¯t have a nutritionist here, so she will need to go to a human city. I will give you a referral¡­¡±


    Travis said that until they meet with the nutritionist, Talia should eat a variety of foods; healthy options, in at least three meals and two snacks.


    Talia¡¯s eyes widened at the thought of three meals and two snacks. She doesn¡¯t remember if she ever ate so many times in a day.


    She looked at Damon apprehensively. Will he allow her to eat that much? What if he thinks she is too much maintenance and sends her away? Can she wash enough bathrooms to earn five meals a day?


    ¡°Will it be OK if she eats more than that?¡±, Damon asked, making Talia¡¯s thoughts stop in their tracks. She thought that he will ask if it¡¯s OK to feed her less, yet he insinuated that he will give her more food!


    Travis shrugged. ¡°She is underweight, and she should eat as much as she can. However, I don¡¯t rmend big meals, split it into more frequent smaller ones, and it won¡¯t be good if she starts living off junk food like chips and choctes. Those will help her gain weight, but it¡¯s not healthy. Remember these three: meat, fruits, and vegetables, and you can¡¯t go wrong. The nutritionist will give you more details.¡±


    Travis said that he wants to see Talia back in one week, to ensure her wounds are healing well and that if anything gets worse or she has questions, to give him a call.


    Talia was dazed with all this. She doesn¡¯t remember thest time she was in so muchpany of people who smiled and didn¡¯t ignore or bully her.

 Chapter 36 Walk In The Woods

    ¡°Are you alright?¡±, Damon asked Talia when they exited the pack hospital.


    ¡°Yes, thank you, Alpha Damon.¡±, Talia responded.


    Damon cocked an eyebrow at her. ¡°Did you forget already?¡±


    She looked at him questionably, and he said, ¡°Just Damon. Say it.¡±


    Talia nced around, to make sure no one overhears them. He is the Alpha, and she should listen to him, but if anyone else hears that she is addressing him casually, she might end up in trouble.


    Everyone they met so far addressed Damon respectfully with his title, and Talia learned a long time ago that standing out is not a good thing.


    ¡°Damon.¡±


    He smirked victoriously. ¡°Do you want to walk, or should I get a car? The packhouse is about fifteen minutes walking from here if we cut it straight through the forest.¡±


    She was not sure why he was giving her a choice. ¡°Anything is fine.¡±


    ¡°Then, let¡¯s take a walk. I got stiff after so much time in the car, so it will be good to stretch legs¡­¡±


    ¡­


    Talia followed after Damon, ted to be surrounded by the trees during daylight.


    At the Red Moon pack, she woulde out, but only during the night, when everyone was sleeping.


    Alpha, Beta, and their families had a routine of sleeping at a regr schedule, so only the pack members on patrol would be awake at that time. The patrols ran only around the borders of the Red Moon territory, so afterpleting her chores, Talia could venture into the forest next to the packhouse to get a breath of fresh air and find medicinal herbs for her concoctions.


    Other than for treating injuries, preventing infections, and easing up the pain, Talia knew that some nts are edible, and she personally came up with a mix of nts that diminishes one¡¯s scent; unless someone is really close, they couldn¡¯t pick up Talia¡¯s scent at all.


    Talia¡¯s knowledge about various herbs was one of the main reasons why Talia could conceal herself while living in the Red Moon pack packhouse.


    Indirectly, that was all thanks to Olivia who taught her the basics.


    Olivia invokes pleasant memories for Talia, and seeing how Travis, Jill, and Cathy were nice as well, Talia was confident that people who practice medicine are good people and everyone likes them.


    She wondered if one day, she can be like them as well. Can she work in the pack hospital? She could start as a cleaner and in her free time help out nurses and learn.


    Talia took a mental note to discuss this with Damon, or maybe with Maya, once the topic of Talia¡¯s futurees up.


    Talia wanted to talk about it right now, but she just arrived, and she didn¡¯t want to appear too needy.


    Damon observed Talia and he was vexed that she was absentminded. asionally, she would stop and look at some nt, but then she would just continue following him. Damon slowed down his steps so that they can walk side-by-side, but a few stepster, Talia would trail behind him again.


    He didn¡¯t mind going slow. Reaching their destination meant re-entering reality where a pile of paperwork and unread emails are waiting for him. After a few days away from the pack, that was inevitable.


    Damon hoped that Talia would pay more attention to him.


    Every woman swoons after Damon, making him feel like he is the king of the gxy, yet with Talia, Damon felt invisible.


    What¡¯s so interesting about that scrawny purple leaf?


    Doesn¡¯t she know that once they reach the packhouse, he will have so much work, that they will barely see each other?


    Talia was startled when Damon grabbed her hand.


    ¡°What¡­?¡± She was not sure how to finish that question.


    ¡°The ground is uneven. I don¡¯t want to risk you tripping and making your injuries worse.¡±, Damon said with a straight face. ¡°Besides, you are wandering around, and you might get lost.¡±


    Talia wanted to say that she is careful, and she will not get lost. She is not a baby! Even if she loses sight of Damon, she can just follow the scent of dark chocte, but Damon¡¯s grip on her hand tightened and she understood that he will not let go no matter what she says.


    Talia decided not to argue. Besides, this was better than Damon pinning her against him.


    ¡°I noticed you observing some nts.¡±, Damon broke the silence between them. ¡°Do you mind telling me, why?¡±


    Talia paused for a moment before agreeing shyly.


    She pointed at the tall nt with clusters of tiny white flowers. ¡°That is boneset. Its leaves and flowers help reduce fever and pain.¡±


    Damon was surprised to hear this. He didn¡¯t really pay attention to nts but was confident that he saw this type of flower many times. ¡°Sounds useful. Should we harvest it?¡±


    ¡°This one is not ready, so it would be wasting precious resources if we collect it now. When flowers bloom, they appear to be spiky, then they are the most potent.¡±, Talia said, and she was pleased to see that Damon was interested in what she had to say.


    Damon was amazed that she spoke about not wasting things that can be freely found in the forest. It reminded him of how she packed leftovers in the hotel, and he concluded that Talia is frugal, and that¡¯s not a bad thing.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Next, Talia stopped next to a bushy nt with massive green maple-like leaves. ¡°This is goldenseal. It¡¯s good against infections.¡±


    Damon¡¯s face scrunched with an unpleasant memory. ¡°Is that the bitter thing I tasted when I licked your wound?¡±


    Talia confirmed and she bit the inside of her lip to suppress the iingughter. His expression wasical, but she shouldn¡¯tugh at the scary Alpha. He might punish her.


    Little by little, Talia rxed, and three ntster, she was tugging Damon¡¯s hand while navigating randomly through the forest as she followed the trail nts of interest formed.


    She didn¡¯t notice at what point their fingers inteced, but Damon noticed it very much. He noticed every little thing about Talia.


    Damon was amazed that even with all the scents that are wafting through the forest, he could clearly identify the sweet citrusy scent of freesia like the whole ground is covered with colorful blooms and each of them whispered Talia¡¯s name.


    Yup. Damon was lost in a daze of Talia¡¯s scent and the sparks which started from the hand which held Talia¡¯s and he would follow her no matter where she wanted to go.


    Of course, they strayed from their original destination, but Damon didn¡¯t mind. He didn¡¯t mind at all.


    After talking about a nt with ck bead-like spots on its stem, Talia looked at Damon. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we go to the packhouse? Aren¡¯t you busy?¡±


    Damon said that the walk will take about fifteen minutes, and Talia didn¡¯t have a watch, but she was confident that they are in the forest for at least one hour. Probably longer.


    He wanted to say that he is not busy, but he didn¡¯t want to lie. Caden already mind-linked him thrice saying that the food Stephanie prepared is cold and that there are issues that Damon needs to address.


    ¡°We are going there.¡±, Damon said and led the way. ¡°Where did you learn so much about nts?¡±


    ¡°Olivia taught me.¡±, Talia responded.


    ¡°Your friend?¡±, Damon guessed.


    Talia smiled a little. ¡°I like to think so. Olivia is the daughter of the pack doctor at the Red Moon pack. She found her mate and left the pack some time ago. Olivia taught me a lot about nts, and sometimes I would sneak into the library and take a book to read. No one reads these books, so they didn¡¯t notice them missing¡­¡±


    Damon listened with interest, happy that Talia finally revealed some bits of her pasts. From Talia¡¯s expression and tone, he deducted that she was fond of Olivia, and he wondered if there are other people that have a ce in Talia¡¯s heart, and he also wished to be one of them.


    He picked up hints that Talia did things on her own, secretively.


    Talia was talking freely and smiling, and there were no traces of the timid and scared girl from the attic.


    Damon concluded that unless Talia feels threatened, she is an outspoken girl with a sharp mind and cheery personality. He liked that. He liked that a lot.

 Chapter 37 Welcome Home

    Damon and Talia emerged from thest line of trees and Talia shrunk at the sight of the neatwn and the mansion.


    Little by little, her steps became smaller, and her face was filled with reluctance.


    Talia understood that this is the packhouse, and things like a packhouse didn¡¯t bring happy memories.


    The packhouse at the Red Moon pack was a ce where she was fine only while hiding. In the forest, she was happy, and she didn¡¯t want to go back to the attic.


    ¡°This will be your home, Talia.¡±, Damon announced and tugged her hand to start moving.


    ¡®Her home?¡¯, Talia wondered if she heard him right.


    She knew that Damon lives there, and probably Caden and Maya and any other high-ranking members of the pack. But what about her? She is a nobody.


    Talia forced herself to stay present and to observe her surroundings. It wille in handy if she needs to flee.


    In terms of size, the packhouse was bigger than the one at the Red Moon pack.


    They came from the side, but Damon led the way toward the main entrance, so Talia saw the circr driveway and thewn that had low green nts along its edges and several topiary trees that were cut in spiral shapes.


    It was simple and elegant, and she liked it better than thevish front of the packhouse of the Red Moon pack that had colorful fragrant bushes and small ponds.


    They were approaching the main door, which was open, when Stephanie¡¯s voice reached them.


    ¡°Any longer, and we would send a search party¡­¡±


    Talia panicked at the realization that she is holding Damon¡¯s hand.


    She tried tugging her hand free, but Damon tightened his grip.


    At the sight of Stephanie emerging from the door, Talia swiftly stepped behind Damon in an attempt to hide their connected hands.


    ¡°Let go¡­¡±, Talia pleaded while trying to pry her hand free.


    Damon enjoyed Talia¡¯s predicament. His grip was tight enough so that she can¡¯t get free, yet not strong to cause pain.


    Talia couldn¡¯t believe this. He is the Alpha, and she is nobody. How can they hold hands? It¡¯s not appropriate! If anyone sees them like this, she will be a target. Is that what he wants?


    ¡°You said that this is only if I trip or get lost.¡±, Talia spoke in an urgent whisper. ¡°We are out of the forest, and we reached the packhouse, so¡­¡±


    At this point, Stephanie was looking at the duo and waiting for them to acknowledge her presence. She didn¡¯t see that Damon was holding Talia¡¯s hand, but she saw a girl struggling over something behind Damon¡¯s back and Stephanie didn¡¯t know what to think about the scene in front of her.


    Reluctantly, Damon released Talia¡¯s hand.


    He felt the loss of Talia¡¯s touch and balled his hands into fists in an attempt to stop himself from reaching for Talia again.


    ¡°Stephanie, this is the girl I mentioned. Talia.¡±


    Stephanie looked at Talia who was still half-hidden behind Damon, and she did her best not to frown at the sight of bruises on Talia¡¯s face.


    ¡°Hello, Talia. I¡¯m Stephanie. Wee.¡±


    ¡°Hi¡±, Talia said apprehensively, and Stephanie waved at them to enter.


    ¡°Come on. The food is ready. We can talk inside.¡±


    Talia observed the interior which was clean and neat with just the right touch of elegance. Large windows allowed ample light, giving it an open feel and she could pick up Damon¡¯s scent of the forest and dark chocte lingering everywhere.


    If she closed her eyes, she could easily mistake this ce for a forest. Probably because of the scent and all the fresh air.


    Somehow, she didn¡¯t imagine that this is the ce where a scary Alpha would live.


    A few youngdies peeked at them from behind the corner. Talia didn¡¯t miss hearts in their eyes as they looked at Damon. Talia concluded that those are Omegas. If they have any standing, they would approach Damon and talk to him.


    The dining room had a rectangle-shaped dining table in the middle, big enough to fit twenty people.


    The furniture was light gray in color, and chairs were cushioned in deep red, but Talia¡¯s attention was on the food that smelled divine. There were fruits and waffles and several different spreads.


    ¡°I will get fresh coffee¡­¡±, Stephanie said and disappeared through the door on the left.


    Damon went toward his usual seat, at the head of the table, and he gestured for Talia to sit on his left.


    ¡°Do you want orange juice, milk, or coffee?¡±, Damon offered to Talia.


    She picked the orange juice and Damon poured her a ss.


    Caden and Maya joined them at the table.


    Stephanie entered the dining room with a silver kettle that released steam from the top.


    She poured the hot beverage into Damon¡¯s cup, and the aroma of fresh ck coffee reached Talia¡¯s nose. It mixed well with Damon¡¯s scent of dark chocte.


    ¡°Did youe here for second breakfast?¡±, Stephanie asked Caden and Maya.


    ¡°How can I allow my Alpha to eat alone?¡±, Caden said with a straight face and beckoned Stephanie with his empty cup, indicating that he wants coffee also.


    ¡°Well, he is not alone¡­¡±, Maya said and the three of them looked at Damon who was putting a waffle into Talia¡¯s te.


    Damon felt their gazes on him and grumbled. ¡°Talia¡¯s hand is hurt, and I¡¯m helping. Stop staring like a circus came to town.¡±


    Talia lowered her head in embarrassment. She told Damon that she can manage, but he insisted and now everyone was looking at them.


    ¡°Ignore them.¡±, Damon said. ¡°Do you want a jam or syrup with that?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡±, Talia said honestly.


    It was a long time since she ate fresh waffles, and things like jams and syrup were luxury items.


    Another odd thing was that she was seated at the table, in a dining room, with people.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    A lot of new things to process.


    Talia noticed the absence of Omegas. At the Red Moon pack, Omegas were always around, ready to serve Alpha, Beta, and their guests. It¡¯s not that Talia wanted someone to serve her, but Stephanie going to get coffee and everyone getting food on their own was unusual.


    After Stephanie poured coffee to everyone who wanted some, she also joined them at the table and grabbed a handful of grapes to munch on.


    Without Talia¡¯s input on waffle toppings, Damon ced a few strawberries next to the waffle and a dollop of whipped cream, and then he drizzled syrup over half of the waffle, and he applied plum jam on the other half.


    Talia rejected Damon¡¯s offer to feed her. ¡°You already prepared everything. Please, don¡¯t¡­¡±


    She stopped talking when Damon started cutting the waffle into bite-sized pieces.


    ¡°Talia¡­¡±, Damon called, and she looked at him who was totally focused on cutting the waffle. ¡°These are Caden and Maya, Betas of the Dark Howlers pack. And that is Stephanie. She takes care of the packhouse. If you need anything, you can ask them. They might be nosy, but the three of them are here to help me run this pack and they are doing a great job. Neither of them will tease or bully you, but if they make you ufortable, you should let them know. In time, you will get used to their sense of humor.¡±


    Damon pushed the te with a cut waffle in front of Talia and gave her a fork. ¡°Now, eat.¡±


    Damon¡¯s tone didn¡¯t allow for objections. Not that Talia had any. She was happy that he didn¡¯t feed her how he did in the hotel. That would be super embarrassing.


    She mumbled a thank you and started eyeing the food on her te, silently deciding from where to start.


    Maya and Caden exchanged knowing looks, but they didn¡¯t say anything, not even through the mind-link, because they didn¡¯t want to risk Damon overhearing them (again).


    Damon¡¯s expression was stern, and he sounded bossy, as usual, but it was undeniable that he was giving extra attention to Talia. It was something no other girl received so far.

 Chapter 38 Late Breakfast

    A blissful smile appeared on Talia¡¯s face as the buttery waffle with a hint of vani melted in her mouth together with the sweetness of the plum jam.


    ¡®Caden told me that this girl is different, but only now I realized how much¡­¡¯, Stephanie¡¯s voice reached Damon through the mind-link.


    Damon guessed that Stephanie was alluding to the way he helped Talia with food.


    ¡®There is nothing wrong with me helping the girl out.¡¯, Damon said and took a sip of coffee nonchntly.


    ¡®I never said that it¡¯s wrong.¡¯, Stephanie immediately responded.


    It was not wrong, but Damon never took a personal interest in any of the new members.


    Stephanie knew that Damon waited for Talia at the pack hospital, gave her his old room on the third floor, and now served her food. This was unheard of.


    Stephanie was not considering the possibility that Damon had romantic feelings toward Talia.


    She thought of Damon as a child, andpared to him, Talia looked like a little girl, innocent, in need of protection, and not romancing.


    On top of that, Talia was shy, timid, and less shy than many who were after Damon, definitely not a seductress. It¡¯s like her presence was small and she was forgettable, even though her face had pretty features.


    Talia was bruised, and overall, Stephanie thought how Talia was pitiful which reinforced Stephanie¡¯s belief that Talia invoked the protective side in Damon.


    Damon might be crass and rough around the edges, but he suffered when his parents died, and since then, Damon never refused a person in need and that¡¯s exactly who Talia is.


    Stephanie¡¯s daughter, Lisa, is about that age, and Stephanie¡¯s heart ached at the thought that someone would be heartless to mistreat a girl like that.


    Talia¡¯s big, honeyed eyes were clear and bright, even though she was visibly apprehensive in the new environment.


    Stephanie didn¡¯t know how long Damon will allow Talia to stay in the packhouse; he didn¡¯t tell her anything other than to prepare a room. But she thought of helping Talia rx.


    ¡°Talia¡­¡±, Stephanie called. ¡°Is there something you enjoy doing?¡±


    Talia blinked. Something she enjoys? No one ever asked her such a question.


    Seeing that Talia didn¡¯t know how to answer, Stephanie asked her next question, ¡°Do you like cooking?¡±


    Talia understood the question as Stephanie¡¯s attempt to give her a job. Kitchen duties sounded much better than washing bathrooms and emptying trash. She could learn from experienced cooks and hone her skills and learn from the cookbooks also.


    Who knows¡­ maybe one day she bes a famous chef?


    As a great chef, she can cook for herself many delicacies she missed while hiding in the attic. That sounded like an amazing n!


    All girls in the Red Moon pack get to help in the kitchen until the age of sixteen when they are assigned duties based on their position, but Talia didn¡¯t get a chance to cook since she moved into the attic which was more than a decade ago, so her cooking skills were limited, but she didn¡¯t let that stop her from grabbing the opportunity.


    ¡°I can help in the kitchen.¡±, Talia said with sparkles in her eyes that reflected her dreams of the scrumptious feast she will make for herself. Someday.


    Stephanie smiled. ¡°I would love that. How about you help me prepare dinner today?¡±


    ¡°Talia¡¯s hands are injured.¡±, Damon said sternly.


    ¡°I was thinking that she can help a bit and we can chat and get to know each other.¡±, Stephanie exined.


    How Stephanie sees it, if Talia can hold a fork, she can pass an onion. It¡¯s not like Stephanie expected Talia to be involved in hardbor.


    Damon didn¡¯t like it. ¡°With that thing around her wrist, Talia can¡¯t help with washing, chopping, or mixing. I want her to rest and focus on getting better. Talia will not have any tasks until shepletely heals.¡±


    ¡°Of course¡­¡±, Stephanie quickly said and looked at Talia. ¡°After your hands heal.¡±


    Talia nodded in agreement.


    Talia didn¡¯t think much about cooking before Stephanie brought it up, but it¡¯s a skill everyone should have, and this looked like a great opportunity to learn.


    Damon could see that Talia¡¯s wheels were rolling as she wasing up with some ideas, so he had to ensure she heard him. ¡°You are not allowed to work until Travis and I say that you can. Until then, I want you to take it easy and rest.¡±


    Talia wondered how far that ¡®take it easy and rest¡¯ will stretch. ¡°Can I go to the forest?¡±


    Damon frowned while thinking about how to answer this. He didn¡¯t like the idea of Talia wandering who-knows-where. He needed her in the visible range. Or closer.


    ¡°You can go to the garden.¡±, Damon said after some time. ¡°If you want to go beyond that, let me know. I don¡¯t want you to get lost.¡±


    Talia exhaled helplessly. Why does Damon think that she gets lost easily?


    She didn¡¯t want to appear needy or ungrateful, but this sounded like limiting her freedom. She took a mental note to bring this up againter when scary Alpha is in a better mood.


    With Talia¡¯s stomach getting filled, fatigue took over. After a night awake in the car, and a morning in the packhouse hospital, she was ready to sleep.


    Talia yawned.


    ¡°You must be tired.¡±, Stephanie stated the obvious. ¡°When you are done with food, I will show you to your room.¡±


    Talia was full, but there were a few more delicious bites that included strawberries and whipped cream which she saved for the end, so she decided to finish those, even if it means that she will get a tummy acheter.


    ¡°Careful with that!¡±, a shrill scream drifted from the hallway. ¡°That¡¯s Louis Vuitton! If you damage it, even if you sell a kidney, it won¡¯t be enough to fix it. How can you be so useless? Take it to my room!¡±


    Talia nced around at the faces around the table.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Damon was busy with his food, Caden and Maya frowned, and Stephanie shook her head for a second before she locked eyes with Talia.


    ¡°You are done, right?¡±, Stephanie said with urgency while standing up. ¡°Let me show you to your room.¡±


    Before Talia could respond, Stephanie helped her up and was practically pushing her toward the side door.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go through the kitchen, so you see where it is¡­¡±, Stephanie said while beckoning Talia with her eyes to hurry.


    Talia nced at the back to see thest two strawberries in her te that she didn¡¯t get a chance to eat, and she saw Damon looking her way with a small frown on his handsome face, and then his head whipped to the door which connects to the hallway.


    ¡°Damon, baby!¡±, a curvaceous brte said with a big smile. ¡°You need to teach those Omegas how to treat their Luna¡­¡±


    ¡®Luna?¡¯, Talia was bbergasted. ¡®How many Lunas can one Alpha have? Didn¡¯t hee to the Red Moon pack to marry Marcy?¡¯


    Talia was distracted because Stephanie was leading the way through the kitchen and then into a hallway before they started walking upstairs.


    ¡°I thought you will show me my room.¡±, Talia said to Stephanie with confusion obvious in her voice.


    ¡°Yes. We are going there.¡±


    Talia pressed her lips into a line, and her heart started racing uncontrobly. They just passed the second floor. Why are they still going up? Is she going to end up in an attic again?


    ¡°Here we are¡­¡±, Stephanie said in a singing voice while opening the door of the room on the third floor.


    Talia nced inside, not daring to take a step over the threshold.


    A big four-poster bed, a work desk, sitting area with a low coffee table, a sofa, and two sofa chairs¡­ there was a reading nook with big pillows under the window on the left, and a full bookshelf next to it¡­ and two doors on the right wall were open, so Talia could see a bathroom and a closet.


    She blinked a few times and then looked at Stephanie. ¡°Are you sure we are in the right ce?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±, Stephanie confirmed with a smile.

 Chapter 39 New Room

    ¡°Based on your reaction, I can guess Alpha Damon didn¡¯t tell you that you will be staying in his old room.¡±


    ¡°His old room?¡±, Talia repeated robotically. ¡°Don¡¯t you have any other room to give me?¡±


    Stephanie shrugged. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me, girl. I¡¯m just following orders. Come inside and see how you like it.¡±


    ¡°You traveled the whole night, and then went to the hospital. I guess you want to shower and rest, right?¡±


    Talia nodded at Stephanie¡¯s words while observing the room and her sight stopped at the intricate woodwork on the mantle that surrounded a massive firece.


    ¡°Uhm¡­ they didn¡¯t bring any suitcase for you. Do you have any clothes?¡±, Stephanie asked.


    ¡°I had clothes wrapped in a bedsheet. That was in the trunk.¡±, Talia said.


    ¡°Give me a second.¡±, Stephanie lifted her finger, indicating to Talia to wait, and she mind-linked Maya. ¡®Did you bring Talia¡¯s things inside?¡¯


    ¡®What things? Other than one book and a few trinkets, Talia has only a few items that are worn out and don¡¯t fit her. I will take her shopping as soon as I finish a few tasks here.¡¯


    Stephanie pressed her lips into a line, and she felt her eyes stinging from the unshed tears. She couldn¡¯t imagine how bad were Talia¡¯s living conditions beforeing here.


    She got an idea. ¡®Don¡¯t worry about shopping for now. I have a few things from Lisa that are in good shape. I¡¯m sure they will fit her.¡¯


    ¡®Oh, great.¡¯, Maya responded enthusiastically. ¡®Since it¡¯s not urgent, I will still take Talia shopping, but not today. Can you go into my closet? The second drawer on the left. There are few boxes of unpacked underwear that Caden got for me when we started dating. I think they are still in the gift bag as I kept them for memories, but it¡¯s not important. They are small for me, so I never wore them, but they should be good for Talia.¡¯


    Stephanie was happy with this solution.


    ¡°Maya mentioned that she will take you shopping, but not today because everyone is busy after being a few days away. Let me get you something.¡±


    Stephanie quickly left the room, leaving Talia behind.


    Talia moved to the middle window and saw the circr driveway and the road that disappeared among the trees.


    She remembered the nts she saw in the forest while walking here, and she was eager to return to the forest and harvest some. She never had a stockpile, and she knew that she needs to take the mixture for diminishing her scent soon, because the effects of the previous dose will wear off within two days.


    It was a trial and error, but Talia confirmed that as long as she takes them once a week, no one can pick up her scent unless she is close. It¡¯s not that Talia nned to hide or sneak around, but the fact that no one could track her was ayer of protection she craved for.


    Talia took a moment to absorb the fact that this luxurious room was given to her, and even though she didn¡¯t know for how long, she was grateful even if it¡¯s just for one day.


    Talia remembered that when Damon spoke to her in the attic, he told her that if shees with him, she will have a room better than the ones downstairs at the Red Moon pack, plenty of food, a doctor to tend to her wounds, and no one will bully her.


    She just arrived and she already saw a doctor, filled her stomach, and got a fancy room. And so far, no one bullied her, and people seem nice. She will take it.


    Talia smiled a little. It seems that scary Alpha Damon is a man of his word.


    After a brief knock, the door opened, and Stephanie entered the room with a big suitcase that swelled how full it was.


    Stephanie opened it and some things flew out of it.


    ¡°These belonged to my daughter, Lisa, before she left the pack. I had no idea why I was still holding onto them, but now I think they wille in handy. If you can find a few things, then there will be no rush to buy new clothes. Take whatever you need.¡±


    She gave Talia a small gift bag. ¡°Here is underwear. I hope it will fit.¡±


    ¡°Thank you¡­¡±, Talia epted the underwear without looking at it and started going through clothes.


    There were many colorful items with pictures of kittens, rainbows, and unicorns.


    ¡°Did your daughter leave when she found her mate?¡±, Talia guessed.


    ¡°No. Lisa was twelve years old when she left.¡± Stephanie felt awkward that she is giving Talia clothes that belonged to a preteen, so she exined, ¡°Lisa was a chubby child, and considering that you are on the skinny side, something should fit you.¡±


    ¡°Why did she leave?¡±, Talia continued probing.


    ¡°At that time, the Dark Howlers pack was unstable. I sent Lisa to stay with my sister temporarily, while I helped Damon and Caden here. After some time, Lisa made friends and asked me if she can stay longer. That longer turned into years, and already seven years passed.¡±


    While listening to Stephanie¡¯s story, Talia found several leggings and t-shirts that were eptable. There were even cute jeans shorts and one oversized tank top that could easily pass for a nightgown.


    Talia and Stephanie re-packed the suitcase together.


    ¡°Lisa is about your age. She will visit soon, for the fair. I¡¯m sure you will get along well.¡±, Stephanie said.


    Talia didn¡¯tment on that. Other than Olivia, she didn¡¯t have friends, so Talia didn¡¯t feelfortablemitting that things will work out between her and another person.


    ¡°Can I ask you something?¡±, Talia spoke reluctantly.


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    ¡°Can you bring my stuff to me? I know it¡¯s not much but it¡¯s all I have.¡±


    Stephanie nodded in agreement. ¡°Go wash up and rest. Do you want me to wake you up for lunch?¡±


    Talia was confident that she will sleep through the day. ¡°No, please. Is it OK if I go to the kitchen and grab something when I get hungry?¡±


    ¡°You are free to go anywhere.¡±, Stephanie assured her. ¡°If the door is closed, you can assume that it¡¯s either a bedroom or someone is inside. You are free to knock and check. If it¡¯s anything important, it will be locked. Alpha Damon said that you can go to the garden, and if you n to leave the packhouse beyond that, notify someone so that we don¡¯t worry.¡± Stephanie paused and her expression turned sour. ¡°If you bump into Cassie, just ignore her.¡±


    ¡°Cassie?¡±


    ¡°The noisemaker who arrived when we left the dining room.¡±


    Talia remembered the brte. ¡°You mean, your Luna.¡±


    Stephanie frowned. ¡°Goddess, I hope that doesn¡¯t happen.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t seem to like her.¡±


    ¡°No one likes Cassie.¡±, Stephanie said.


    Talia was confused. That brte made a noisy entrance and called herself Damon¡¯s Luna. How can she do that if no one likes her?


    ¡°Does Alpha Damon tolerate people he doesn¡¯t like?¡±


    ¡°Alpha Damon isplicated. Many women are swarming around him and wanting to be his Luna, yet he can¡¯t pick one.¡±


    ¡°What about Marcy?¡±


    ¡°From the Red Moon pack? You know her?¡±, Stephanie asked, and Talia nodded.


    Well, she knows who beat her up, twice.


    ¡°Are you from the Red Moon pack?¡±, Stephanie continued asking and Talia confirmed.


    Stephanie let out a long breath and shook her head. ¡°I heard that Marcy is not the one either. I really don¡¯t know what that child is thinking. Damon has so many candidates to be his bride, and he is not epting them, or pushing them away¡­¡±


    Talia understood that Damon¡¯s love life isplicated.


    Considering how Marcy reacted because of Damon, Talia took a mental note to stay away from Cassie. Or even better. She should stay away from Damon.


    After a brief chat, Stephanie remembered, ¡°These arrived for you from the pack hospital.¡± Stephanie gestured toward the medicines on the bedside table. ¡°Capsules are for the swelling and pain management. Take one in the morning and one in the evening for a week. The little white ones are additional painkillers which you should take if the capsules are not enough, but no more than four a day. And cream is for the bruises¡­ You can call me or Maya to help apply it on areas you can¡¯t reach¡­¡±


    Talia listened carefully and she was touched because this was the first time that she had a doctor giving her medications and such instructions.


    It was a day of many firsts.


    Stephanie left so that Talia can get ready and rests.


    Talia took her time in the bathroom.


    Before washing herself, Talia quickly rinsed in the sink the bra and panties she was wearing previously and hung them at the top of the shower door to dry.


    The shower was hot and rxing, and the towels were fluffy.


    Talia peeked into the bag that had her new underwear and her eyes nearly bulged at the sight of a dark redcy bra and a matching thong. There were three sets; one hot red, one dark red, and one ck.


    The panties were thongs, while bras were slightly different. The dark red one wascy, the hot red bra was mesh-like, and the ck one had strings weaved like spiderwebs. At the bottom of the bag, Talia found two small tassels that had attachments, and she guessed that they go on bras.


    She was grateful for the new underwear, but she never wore something so racy, and the idea of a thong getting between her butt cheeks didn¡¯t seemfortable, not even a little bit.


    She will sleep anyway, and she decided to gomando (aka without underwear). By the time she wakes up, the underwear she wore previously will dry, and she can wear them again.


    Talia put on an oversized tank top that reached half of her thighs. It was a bit breezy down there without panties, and loose around arms so if she moves about, her breasts might peek from the side, but she was going to bed, so¡­ it was fine.


    When she got out of the bathroom, Talia spotted on the bed things wrapped in a worn-out bedsheet and she smiled a little. She took the Cindere book and ced it on the bedside table, next to the medicines. Talia didn¡¯t care much about the clothes, but that book was precious.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Seeing the big bed waiting for her, Talia couldn¡¯t resist the temptation, and she jumped on it.


    She enjoyed the bouncy mattress, giggling like a child for a few minutes before going under the cover.


    The mattress was just right, and the pillow was like a cloud, and the cover was warm and fuzzy, and Talia fell asleep the moment her eyes closed.


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on: mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 40 A Way Of Protecting Talia

    In the dining room, ten minutes ago.


    Damon was caught by surprise when Talia left with Stephanie. He wanted to go after Talia, and his wolf agreed, but then Cassie appeared at the door and Damon paused.


    If he goes after Talia, Cassie will notice and target her.


    ¡®You were supposed to get rid of Cassie a long time ago!¡¯, Damon¡¯s wolf growled in his head. ¡®Sent her packing and go after our mate!¡¯


    Damon pinched the roof of his nose. ¡®Cassie is just a fly. But a fly with a hurt ego and big mouth can cause damage. Even if she doesn¡¯t know that Talia is my mate, just the fact that I¡¯m treating Talia differently will put a target on her back.¡¯


    ¡®So, what is the n, wise guy?¡¯, his wolf asked sarcastically. ¡®You will pretend that mate is not here until this annoying she-wolf leaves?¡¯


    ¡®I can¡¯t act differently. Talia¡¯s safetyes first.¡¯


    His wolf snorted in disapproval. ¡®How about you go and shag every she-wolf in ten miles radius? In that way, no one will suspect you have a mate.¡¯


    Damon gritted his teeth in annoyance. ¡®If you don¡¯t have anything useful to suggest, then go back to sleep!¡¯


    By this time, Cassie was next to Damon, grinning at him.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡±, Damon asked Cassie grimly and pointed at the door through which she came in. ¡°Who gave you the right to reprimand my pack members? And who allowed you to stay in a room?¡±


    ¡°Damon, baby¡­¡±, Cassie leaned to hug him, and Damon stood up, dodging her by a hair.


    ¡°It¡¯s Alpha Damon!¡±, Damon snapped and released his Alpha aura, making her lower her head in submission.


    Did she ignore his questions, thinking that getting chummy will fix things? Since when was he easily coerced by pleasures of the flesh?


    Damon¡¯s rage was directed at Cassie, but Caden and Maya also lowered their heads. No one could deny that Damon can suppress them easily without lifting a finger.


    This was not supposed to happen.


    Normally, Damon would let Cassie greet him with a hug and a kiss. Yes, he would always reject Cassie as his Luna, and he told her that she can¡¯t call herself his girlfriend (or anything rted to him), but Cassie was fine for a temporary release. She was pretty and avable, and willing. From Damon¡¯s point of view, it was perfectly fine.


    However, this time, just the thought of Cassie¡¯s touch made his stomach tie into knots and he couldn¡¯t make himself go through it.


    ¡°Miss Cassie¡­¡±, Damon called stiffly. ¡°Even your father can¡¯te here without an appointment. Don¡¯t mistake my politeness for weakness.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t treat me this way¡­¡±, Cassie said through her teeth. ¡°I gave you my first time and many others. You owe me.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t snap your neck so far, but there must be a limit to how much one¡¯s virginity costs. I believe I paid for yours several folds so far. But if you think you are worth more, give me a number, and we will negotiate. ¡°, Damon responded, and Cassie¡¯s face contorted with anger as he spoke.


    ¡°We should write up a contract so I know that the final payment will prevent you from bringing up that point again. Maybe your first time was important to you, but for me, you are just one of many.¡±


    Cassie was never so insulted!


    Did he just treat her like a hooker?


    And he was not done talking!


    ¡°I will let my Betas exin to you about rules we follow here and if I see you again without an appointment, don¡¯t me me for being impolite.¡±


    Damon walked out of the room, and only when he was out of sight, the three people resumed breathing.


    Caden and Maya exchanged nces. That was intense.


    Yes, Cassie is irritating, always was, and always will be. However, Damon didn¡¯t pay attention to her so far. If he was busy, he would ignore her, and if he was willing, he would y with her. But he never snapped like this.


    Cassie would y various games to get Damon¡¯s attention which sometimes worked more or less, and she would boss around Omegas in the packhouse, imagining that she is the Luna, and leave after a few days, but this was the first time for Damon to reprimand her like this.


    Cassie was in shock.


    Maya nced at Cassie who stood in ce like her feet grew roots. Her hands were balled into fists, and she was shaking profusely either because of fear or anger. Probably both.


    ¡®Why is he letting us deal with his trash?¡¯, Maya asked Caden grumpily through their mind-link.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡®You saw him. If he deals with her, we will have a task toe up with an exnation of how Cassie died on our territory.¡¯


    ¡®He must be grumpy because Talia left.¡¯, Maya said and Caden nodded in agreement.


    ¡®And that confirms that Damon is set on keeping Talia a secret¡­¡¯, Caden responded in a singing voice.


    Cassie lifted her head and red at Maya and Caden. ¡°Damon can¡¯t treat me like this!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Alpha Damon, Miss Cassie.¡±, Maya spoke in her official tone.


    Cassie sneered. ¡°When I be Luna of the Dark Walkers pack, you will need to answer me.¡±


    Maya shook her head. ¡°I suggest you get your act together, Miss Cassie because this was just a warning. No one disrespects our Alpha and gets unpunished.¡±


    Cassie didn¡¯t get it. ¡°Disrespect?¡±


    Caden responded instead of Maya. ¡°Miss Cassie, if you didn¡¯t understand so far, Alpha Damon has no intention of making you his Luna. He was tolerating your presence because of your father. For the same reason, he didn¡¯t summon our warriors to escort you to the border of our territory, but he gave you a choice to leave on your own. Don¡¯t test him.¡±


    ¡­


    Damon went to his study and powered on theputer.


    He shoved his hand in his hair angrily.


    Why did he snap like that?


    He was supposed to let Cassie do her usual routine, and she would leave in a few days without suspecting anything. But he ruined it.


    Actually, he forgot that Cassie wasing.


    Damon was so focused on Talia, that he neglected everything else.


    Now that he thinks about it, if Cassie figures out that Talia is here, it won¡¯t take her long to assume how Talia is important to Damon, and that will be more than enough to start rumors. Rumors spread faster than a wildfire and it will be only a matter of time before someonees for Talia.


    What if he can¡¯t protect Talia?


    What if he ends up in a situation where he needs to pick between Talia and his pack?


    Damn it!


    He took a deep breath and looked at the screen which shed with notifications.


    Just as he expected, his inbox was flooding with unread emails.


    Damon didn¡¯t feel like working. What he really wanted to do was to go to the third floor and snuggle with Talia or at least confirm how she is doing.


    Ah, if he thought about this earlier, he would install cameras in that room, so that he can watch her.


    Damon mind-linked Stephanie. ¡®What is Talia doing?¡¯


    ¡®She is picking clothes from the stash that Lisa left behind.¡¯


    Damon frowned. ¡®Why are you giving her secondhand items?¡¯


    ¡®Because she has nothing else to wear, Alpha. Maya will take her shopping, but until then, these will do. There is nothing wrong with these clothes. Lisa barely wore them, and some still have tags on.¡¯


    Damon grumbled internally. He wanted to dress Talia in Chanel, Dior, Versace, and Valentino, and not some no-namebels from the mall that someone else left behind.


    Why would she wear shabby clothes, if he is loaded with money? Damon¡¯s money is made for Talia to spend!


    Damon decided to take Talia shopping, and he will personally pick clothes for her.


    He could imagine himself sitting in front of the dressing room, and Talia woulde out and strike a pose to show him how the dress he picked fits¡­ and then she will need help with the zipper in the back, so he will join her in the dressing room, and help her out with more than just a zipper. Ah, the possibilities!


    Damon remembered the feeling of applying cream on her back, and his palm tingled in response.


    He really wanted to touch her.


    He will definitely take her shopping.


    Damon regretted that he didn¡¯t get to show Talia her room personally, so he had to ask, ¡®Does Talia like the room?¡¯


    ¡®Talia is a quiet girl. She didn¡¯t say anything, but I think she likes it.¡¯, Stephanie responded.


    Damon remembered that when it was just the two of them, in the forest, Talia was talking and smiling, and she didn¡¯t make a big deal about them holding hands until Stephanie showed up.


    It told him that Talia wasfortable with him, only him. It made him smile a little.


    Damon concluded there is a good chance that in the right environment, Talia wille out of her shell.


    ¡®How long is Cassie staying?¡¯


    Stephanie¡¯s question which came through their mind-link pulled Damon out of his thoughts.


    ¡®I don¡¯t know. Probably as usual.¡¯, Damon responded honestly.


    He wanted to chase Cassie away, but he already snapped at her, which is something he never did before, and if he does anything more drastic than that, Cassie will definitely be suspicious.


    ¡®Can you tell Talia not to pay attention to Cassie?¡¯, Damon asked Stephanie.


    ¡®I will.¡¯


    ¡®Did Talia say what she ns to doter?¡¯


    ¡®Rest.¡¯


    Damon wanted to ask more, but it would risk exposing himself more than he already did, so he decided to stop.


    Talia will rest, and he had a lot of emails to go through.


    He will check on herter.


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on: mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 41 Cassie’s Act

    Cassie entered her room (aka the guest bedroom on the second floor where she usually stays when she visits the Dark Howlers pack), and she paced while biting her nails.


    She understood loud and clear that Damon wanted her out of here, but how can she leave? She just got here!


    Damon was never ecstatic to see her, but she always yed her role of an airhead perfectly. She would ignore his grumpiness and ept any affection, and he never told her to leave. What changed?


    Cassie got her phone and called her father.


    ¡°Hi, pumpkin¡­¡±, her father said in a singing voice that doesn¡¯t sound like it should belong to a vicious Alpha Richard of the Steelbite pack.


    ¡°Hi, daddy¡­¡±, Cassie spoke in a whiny voice which told him that something is not right.


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°Damon told me to scram.¡±


    He snorted. ¡°What did you do?¡±


    ¡°Nothing. Really. Absolutely nothing. I arrived and I wanted to greet him, but he acted like I have a gue or something. He used his Alpha pressure to make me submit and told me not to appear unless I have an appointment. I¡¯m not sure what to do now. I don¡¯t want to leave. He just returned after spending two days with Marcy and I need to find out how far they went. But if I insist, I might irritate him more.¡±


    ¡°Rx, dear¡±, Alpha Richard said.


    ¡°How can I rx?¡±


    ¡°Nothing happened with Marcy. I spoke with Alpha Edward and he said that things are looking good, but he didn¡¯t say that they sealed the deal either. It doesn¡¯t matter how far he went with Marcy or with any other woman, as long as he didn¡¯t agree to the Luna ceremony.¡±


    ¡°But if he didn¡¯t fall for Marcy, why did he avoid me?¡±


    Alpha Richard thought for some time before responding. ¡°It sounds to me that he is under stress.¡±


    Cassie snorted. ¡°If he is under stress due to some random thing, he doesn¡¯t need to vent on me.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to be his Luna?¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes!¡±, Cassie confirmed enthusiastically.


    ¡°Then, you should learn to read his mood. Alpha¡¯s job is not easy. Other than managing his pack, Damon needs to handle rtionships with other packs also. It¡¯s a job that never ends. When things are good, it¡¯s easy. But when he hits a rough patch, as his Luna, you need to observe and listen, and help him if you can, and if you can¡¯t then don¡¯t bother him.¡±


    Cassie pouted while thinking about her father¡¯s words. ¡°But¡­ how can I observe and listen if he doesn¡¯t let mee close?¡±


    ¡°He was probably irritable, and you came suddenly. I know you are a ball of energy, but you need to do it gradually so that he doesn¡¯t notice youing. It¡¯s all about the right approach.¡±


    Cassie smiled. ¡°Thank you, daddy. You always know what to say.¡±


    ¡°Of course, pumpkin. Give him some time to cool off and try again but be more subtle. If all fails, be vulnerable. Real men love helping ady in distress. And don¡¯t forget to pretend that you are clueless. If he suspects that you are putting on an act, he will really kick you out.¡±


    ¡°Got it, daddy.¡±


    Cassie sent a smacking air kiss to the phone before ending the call.


    She plopped on the bed and stared at the ceiling.


    Right. She needs to give time to Damon to cool off and then she will try approaching him again. Later.


    But what should she do untilter?


    ¡­


    In the study room¡­


    Damon was still going through his emails when Caden entered after a brief knock.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got you these to check and sign.¡±, Caden said while putting a stack of papers on Damon¡¯s desk.


    Damon frowned at Caden¡¯s gifts. ¡°Did Cassie leave?¡±


    ¡°Not that I know of, and I have no intention of going to her room to check.¡±


    Damon¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°That¡¯s not her room.¡±


    Caden chuckled. ¡°You know that she always stays in that room, and no one else uses it, so¡­ it¡¯s Cassie¡¯s.¡±


    Damon rubbed his forehead and Caden observed him curiously. ¡°What¡¯s got into you?¡±


    ¡°She is annoying.¡±


    Caden agreed. ¡°Cassie was always annoying. But what I don¡¯t know is what changed with you to suddenly tell her that she can¡¯te without an appointment. You used your Alpha on her.¡±


    Damon paused. How is he supposed to answer this? ¡°Cassie is acting like she owns the ce, bossing Omegas around and upsetting Steph.¡±


    Caden nodded in slow motion. ¡°Cassie always did that, but you never cared. When I asked you why we are allowing Cassie to stay, you would always give me a half-smirk and say how she has her uses. Did her pussy go bad or something?¡±


    Damon exhaled irritably. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m tired of her shit.¡±


    He really didn¡¯t want to exin.


    Damon knew that Caden was suspicious, and he knew that Talia being his mate can¡¯t be hidden at this rate, but he didn¡¯t have a solution.


    Before anyone finds out that Talia is his mate, Damon needed to prepare himself and Talia for those who wille after Talia in order to get to him. She will be put on the spot, scrutinized, hunted. Some wille openly, and some will act from the shadows.


    Damon didn¡¯t want to see that. He wanted to see Talia energetic and happy, just how she was in the forest, earlier that day.


    The other option was for Damon to get his act together and to convince everyone that Talia is just a girl who doesn¡¯t mean anything. But how can he do that when every woman he met so far is just a vague outline, while he can remember every speck of golden in Talia¡¯s honeyed eyes?


    Damon would need to be indifferent toward Talia and allow women like Cassie to get close to him.


    He didn¡¯t care for Cassie. Her or any other, it didn¡¯t make much difference for Damon, but now just the thought of contact with any other woman was repulsive.


    Damon stood up abruptly.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡±, Caden asked.


    ¡°I need a break. I¡¯m going to shower¡­¡±, Damon responded without halting his steps.


    ¡­


    When he approached his room, Damon paused, and he fought a mighty internal battle while deciding which door to take.


    On his right was his bedroom, the master suite on the third floor.


    On his left was his old bedroom, and a faint scent of freesia told him that Talia is inside.


    Damon cursed under his breath and took the right. He needed a shower. A cold one.


    Shower didn¡¯t help to calm down Damon¡¯s raging emotions, and after dressing up, he went straight across the hall to find a cure for this newfound madness.


    Damon ced his ear on the door and listened intently. Nothing.


    He knocked gently a few times and waited. Nothing.


    Damon told himself to leave. Just keep on moving. But the only thing that moved was his right hand which held onto the doorknob, and he peeked into the room through the gap.


    ¡°Talia?¡±, he called. Nothing.


    Damon opened the door so that his head can fit, and he smiled when he saw Talia on the bed.


    He knew that he should leave. What will he say if she wakes up and finds him in her room?


    ¡®Say that you were worried about her, so you came to check if she is OK¡¯, his wolf gave him an idea, and that was thest straw Damon needed to get into the room and close the door behind him.


    He slowly inched toward the bed, each step bringing him closer to the girl and her addictive sweet citrusy scent of freesia.


    Damon had no idea at what point he got close enough to sit on the edge of the bed.


    He reached for Talia¡¯s hand that was peeking from under the cover and he inhaled a shaky breath at that initial surge of sparks when his finger touched the inside of Talia¡¯s palm.


    He will never get bored of it.


    A secondter, Talia¡¯s fingers curled around Damon¡¯s, and he smiled. Technically, she was holding his hand. He liked that.


    Talia rolled on her side, and the cover slipped lower, revealing her shoulder and upper arm.


    Damon held his breath when he spotted that the loose tank top shifted sideways, and Talia¡¯s breast was almost exposed. Almost.


    That was definitely a side-boob view! And it was a beautiful view.


    Damon stared at that area and chanted silently for Talia to move just a bit more.


    He really wanted to suck her there.


    Damon felt the pressure in his groin area increasing and cursed internally.


    Does she need to tempt him even in her sleep?


    Doesn¡¯t she know how hard was for Damon to keep his hands to himself? Probably not. She is innocent and gorgeous, and all the dirt ising from him.


    Damon cursed again. Since when is he thinking about touching a woman as something dirty?


    A woman as wonderful as Talia is made for touching. His. Only his.


    If any other guy thinks about touching Talia, Damon will bestow him a marvelous death.


    Damon released a long breath while controlling his urges.


    Slowly, very slowly, Damon grabbed the edge of the cover and pulled it higher to conceal the source of visual temptation which sent pulses of need into his throbbing cock.


    He didn¡¯t trust himself that he will not start feeling her out the moment his shaky restraints snap.


    Damon observed Talia¡¯s sleeping face and fought mightily against his urge to lie next to her, aware that the pull of the bond was getting stronger by the minute, but there was nothing he could do about it.


    Damon held Talia¡¯s hand and closed his eyes while allowing the scent of freesia to fill his system, and everything faded.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    There were no sounds, no people, no Caden or Maya or Stephanie, and definitely no Cassie. It was just the two of them, Damon and Talia, and it felt like this room provided a sealed dimension that keeps everything else out, or maybe it was keeping Damon and Talia in. He didn¡¯t mind, as long as no one interrupted this peace that came over him.


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on: mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 42 A Thief In The Kitchen

    Talia blinked herself awake and the first thing she noticed was the darkness.


    It was definitely past dinner time, but Talia didn¡¯t mind.


    She buried her head deeper into the pillow, indulging in the softness and warmth that came with the scent of the forest and dark chocte.


    Talia paused and took a few sniffs to confirm that her nose is not ying tricks on her.


    Talia looked around to ascertain that she was on her own.


    She was confused. The room didn¡¯t smell like Damon before she fell asleep, but now it did.


    She liked his scent; it was a mix of her two favorite things: forest and a sweet treat. Talia wondered if Damon came to check on her while she was sleeping.


    Talia shook that thought away. Why would a scary Alphae to check on her?


    It¡¯s more probable that Stephanie or Maya brought something that had Damon¡¯s scent on it. But she couldn¡¯t see anything different.


    Talia decided to stop thinking about it. It doesn¡¯t matter.


    She listened carefully, and there were no sounds she could pick up. Considering that it was dark andte, Talia thought of one pressing matter which included her going to the forest.


    Talia was happy that the underwear she washed earlier dried off.


    Putting those thongs on or going without would be ufortable.


    She got ck leggings that reached just below her knees, and a dark blue t-shirt with a picture of two kitties sleeping in Talia¡¯s chest area.


    Unfortunately, other than shiny flip-flops that Maya gave her earlier and running shoes with cracked soles, Talia didn¡¯t have any other footwear, so she opted for flip-flops.


    The packhouse was quiet, with only dim lights along the hallways.


    When Talia reached the main floor, she remembered that Stephanie told her how she can go anywhere, kitchen included, so Talia decided to find a snack before heading out.


    ¡­


    Damon spent most of his afternooning up with various scenarios rted to handling his rtionship with Talia.


    He didn¡¯t know if he can pretend that Talia is not important. Her scent was addictive and the sparks amplified it, and considering Damon¡¯s uncaring nature, it would be only a matter of time before people notice that he is acting differently around Talia.


    But maybe if he keeps his distance from Talia when others are around, it might work.


    No matter what happens, he was confident in one thing: he needs to keep her safe.


    Maybeter, when Talia¡¯s physical condition improves and she gains confidence, he will reconsider, but for now, it¡¯s better to keep her importance a secret.


    People close to him will probably notice, but those are only a few that Damon trusts anyway, so when they ask him about it, he will exin, but not sooner than necessary.


    Dinner was a lonely event without Talia, but Damon wanted to let her rest, remembering her sleeping face and the way she held onto his hand.


    Damon barely noticed Cassie¡¯s presence. She was quiet and didn¡¯t try to get close, so it was easy to ignore her.


    After dinner, Damon met with Maya and Caden in his office.


    They normally do this status meeting once a week, but since they were away for a few days, they decided to have one before calling it a day.


    They discussed ongoing issues and made decisions when needed, they finalized their story about Talia¡¯s presence in the pack, and of course, there were a few random topics at the end.


    ¡°How is Talia doing?¡±, Maya asked Damon.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    ¡°She is resting.¡±, Damon responded. He was not sure if Talia was still sleeping, but she was when he left her room, and he assumed that she woulde down after she wakes up.


    ¡°What are we going to do about Cassie?¡±, Caden brought up the topic. ¡°You told her to leave, but she is still here. Based on disobedience, we can escort her out of our pack¡¯s territory.¡±


    Damon puffed his cheeks while thinking about the best solution. ¡°Let¡¯s ignore her. In a day or two, she will get bored and leave. I believe that she understood I¡¯m not going to put up with her antics and that¡¯s why she was quiet over dinner.¡±


    Caden and Maya both frowned at this.


    ¡°I think that Cassie was quiet because she is up to something.¡±, Maya said.


    Damon didn¡¯t disagree with this, but¡­ ¡°I would love to kick Cassie out. Unfortunately, I can¡¯t do it without hermitting a serious offense because I need to think about the pack. Based on Cassie¡¯s behavior so far, she is only after me, and saying that she is annoying is not a good reason to risk straining the rtionship with the Steelbite pack. After Cassie leaves, we will send a memo to the Steelbite pack and any other in the area, that outsiders can¡¯te and go as they please. Let¡¯se up with a story that due to increased attacks, we raised our vignce, and non-members can¡¯te without previous approval. That will allow us to stop Cassie at the border next time.¡± Damon spread his arms toward Caden and Maya. ¡°If you have a better idea, I¡¯m all ears.¡±


    There were no better ideas. They all knew that Damon was right.


    They were in charge of a pack, and they had to put their personal feelings aside, even if they are backed up by facts. Unless there is firm evidence against Cassie, they can¡¯t just kick her out.


    But this was progress.


    Damon never considered preventing Cassie froming to the Dark Howlers pack and the fact that she coulde and go freely, emboldened her.


    Maya would love to be there when Cassie finds out that she can¡¯te again because she doesn¡¯t have approval from Damon, Caden, or Maya. And Cassie will never get approval, unless it¡¯s official business and Alpha Richard (aka Cassie¡¯s father), sends her as pack¡¯s delegation.


    Of course, they all knew that Cassie is noting here without someone supporting her, and that is probably her father.


    A girl with self-respect wouldn¡¯t allow repeatedly to be used by Damon when he feels like it. She definitely has an agenda.


    After the meeting, Caden and Maya left for their room and Damon went to get himself a drink; a ss of water or maybe orange juice, the same one Talia drank that morning.


    Damon nned that after having a drink, he will go and check if Talia is awake.


    ¡°Alpha Damon?¡±, Cassie called when he passed by the living room, and his steps halted.


    ¡°Can I help you, Miss Cassie?¡±


    Cassie waited for Damon the whole afternoon, and she even looked in themon areas, but he was nowhere to be found.


    Over dinner, Damon acted like Cassie was not in attendance, but he didn¡¯t chase her away either, so Cassie was confident that whatever made him upset earlier that morning, passed.


    This was her chance to get closer to him.


    She bit her lower lip and gave him a coy look.


    ¡°Alpha Damon, I apologize for my behavior this morning. I was not sensible of what¡¯s going on, and I acted recklessly.¡±


    Damon cocked an eyebrow. ¡°And what do you think is going on?¡±


    ¡°You were stressed and instead of being mindful of your needs, I acted on mine. I didn¡¯t mean to be disrespectful. I was only excited to see you again.¡±


    Damon didn¡¯t buy it, but he was curious what she was up to and if he just calls her a liar, there was no way she would admit it.


    ¡°Apology epted.¡±, Damon said and made a step to the side.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°To get a drink.¡±, he responded.


    ¡°Can I join you?¡±


    ¡®Why are you considering it?¡¯, Damon¡¯s wolf grumbled.


    ¡®This is a good chance to be with another woman.¡¯, Damon said, and when his wolf started growling, he quickly added, ¡®It¡¯s to protect our mate. This will be a test to see how far I can go without exposing myself and mate. It¡¯s better to check these things without an audience, and no one is around now.¡¯


    His wolf didn¡¯t respond, but Damon sensed the resistance fading.


    Cassie¡¯s expression lit up when Damon told her that she can apany him, and she was quick totch herself onto his arm.


    Damon gritted his teeth and forced himself not to push Cassie away. He is a mighty warrior, and he can endure this.


    He was so focused on examining his emotions and containing his impulse to shake Cassie off, that he didn¡¯t notice another presence in the kitchen.


    Cassie turned on the lights and Talia froze with an apple in one hand and a broken chunk of bread in another.


    Looking at Talia¡¯s clothes and bruised unknown appearance, Cassie assumed that she is looking at an Omega. After all, if Talia has any standing, Cassie would remember her.


    Cassie frowned at Talia. ¡°Are you stealing food?¡±


    Talia¡¯s eyes widened and her heart thundered in her chest at the unpleasant memories that resurfaced due to Cassie¡¯s expression and way of speaking.


    On instinct, Talia swiftly ced the bread and the apple on the kitchen counter like they burned her hands.


    Talia saw Damon ring at her like she shouldn¡¯t be here, and her heart cracked a little.


    Talia lowered her head and closed her eyes while trying to suppress the swelling of negative emotions.


    Why did she think that this ce will be any different?


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on: mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 43 Broken Trust

    Seeing that Talia was not responding and that Damon didn¡¯t react, Cassie was emboldened.


    ¡°Answer me!¡±, Cassie hissed at Talia and spoke to Damon without removing her gaze from Talia. ¡°Is this how your Omegas are acting? You really need a Luna to teach them some manners. Sneaking in the dark and stealing food, and then they even refuse to respond¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough, Cassie!¡±, Maya said sternly from the door.


    Maya¡¯s heart cracked when she saw Talia¡¯s submissive stance. It¡¯s not that Cassie had any aura, but Talia was a broken soul who needed supportive environment.


    Maya walked to Talia and asked softly, ¡°Are you OK?¡±


    Talia nodded faintly, but Maya knew that Talia was lying.


    Maya narrowed her eyes at Damon and spoke through the mind-link. ¡®Is this why you brought her here? I thought you promised her protection and not another type of hell.¡¯


    ¡°Come, let¡¯s get out of here¡­¡±, Maya said to Talia while wrapping her arm around Talia¡¯s shoulders.


    ¡°We are not done here¡±, Cassie said stiffly, hoping that Damon will back her up.


    ¡°What do you want, Cassie?¡±, Maya snapped. ¡°Do I need to remind you that you are a guest? You have no right to boss around or bully members of our pack. If they did something you don¡¯t approve of, you can report it. Do not act like a judge and executioner. If you have any problems with this, you are wee to challenge me to a match. In case you win, I will dly give you my position as the Beta of the Dark Howlers pack. And if you don¡¯t have the guts to face me, then stay out of my way.¡±


    Damon watched as Maya led Talia out and rage bubbled inside him that was immediately extinguished by the feeling of guilt because he was angry at himself. This was his fault.


    Damon was surprised to see Talia in the kitchen, and he told himself to stay out of it because he shouldn¡¯t expose that Talia is important. After all, Cassie can p her mouth, but Damon would never let her really harm Talia.


    Talia¡¯s defeated expression created an agonizing hole in his chest.


    He could see her disappointment and the moment when that little trust she had in him vanished.


    The pain was unbearable.


    ¡®Talia is upset because of me.¡¯, Damon said to his wolf.


    ¡®You stood and did nothing while that she-wolf disparaged our mate, and you broke the promise of giving her food because our mate left without eating anything. Again. And let¡¯s not forget that the same nasty she-wolf is attached to your left.¡¯, his wolf said with disapproval before retracting to the back of Damon¡¯s mind.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    ¡®Maya, can you make sure that Talia gets something to eat?¡¯, Damon asked through the mind link.


    ¡®Oh, so now you care about Talia?¡¯, Maya snapped at him. ¡®If you cared a minute ago, Talia would pick her food and not be chased out like a thief!¡¯


    ¡®Don¡¯t talk to me like that!¡¯, Damon growled.


    ¡®Oh, I apologize, Alpha Damon. Where are my manners?¡¯, Maya responded sarcastically. ¡®I suggest that you stay away from Talia. Stick to Cassie, that¡¯s what you are good at, and leave this poor girl alone. She suffered enough. As your Beta, I will take the responsibility of arranging a different amodation for Talia.¡¯


    ¡®No!¡¯, Damon shouted into the mind-link, but his message hit a wall which told him that Maya shut him out.


    ¡­


    ¡°Don¡¯t pay attention to Cassie¡­¡±, Maya told Talia when they exited into the garden. ¡°Cassie talks big, but she is no one. She wouldn¡¯t dare to harm you.¡±


    Talia didn¡¯t respond.


    If Cassie is no one, why didn¡¯t Alpha Damon say something?


    Why didn¡¯t he rify that Talia lives here?


    Why did he act like he doesn¡¯t know who she is?


    ¡°I was not stealing.¡±, Talia said after some time. ¡°The lights were off, and I assumed that everyone was sleeping. I didn¡¯t need lights, so I didn¡¯t turn them on.¡±


    ¡°Our Omegas don¡¯t linger in the packhouse.¡±, Maya exined. ¡°Theye once a week to clean and doundry. They help with food preparations when we are hosting a party, and you might find one or two of them in the evening hours, helping Steph with dishes, and they turn off the lights when they leave because we don¡¯t have visitors after dinner hours.¡±


    Talia thought how that was different. In the Red Moon pack, they had Omegas around until midnight, and the first ones would start their duties at dawn.


    That¡¯s why Talia assumed it was veryte and no one was awake.


    If she knew, she would turn on the lights, and maybe that would allow her to avoid this all-too-familiar ufortable situation.


    ¡°You were in the kitchen.¡±, Maya said. ¡°Are you hungry?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±, Talia denied it.


    It¡¯s not that she was not hungry, but she had a good meal that morning, and that¡¯s more than what she usually had. She was used to skipping meals and she didn¡¯t want to go back to that kitchen and risk meeting Cassie or anyone else.


    Talia remembered that Stephanie said how Cassie wants to be the Luna, and the way Cassie clung onto Damon¡¯s arm, it looked like she has good chances of aplishing it.


    Talia decided that if Cassie bes the Luna of the Dark Howlers pack, Talia will leave. There is no way that a woman who immediately uses a person of sneaking and stealing could be a good Luna. Talia already saw one which is selfish and heartless, and she didn¡¯t want to see another one.


    On the other hand, maybe she should just leave without waiting to hear how the matter between Cassie and Damon will conclude, because an Alpha who can watch while another is being wrongly used and say nothing about it, is not a righteous Alpha.


    Somehow, Talia thought that Alpha Damon was different.


    ¡°Do you want to go inside?¡±, Maya asked Talia.


    Talia wanted to go into the forest, but she feared that if she says that to Maya, she will prevent her from going. After all, Alpha Damon told Talia that she can¡¯t go beyond the garden without notifying him. But then¡­ he said that no one will bully her either.


    ¡°Feel free to go back.¡±, Talia said with a small smile. ¡°I¡¯m sure that Beta Caden is waiting for you. I will stay here a bit. I will be fine.¡±


    ¡°OK. Let¡¯s go shopping for clothes tomorrow afternoon.¡±, Maya said and continued without giving Talia time to respond, ¡°Talia, think about what you want. The packhouse is usually quiet and we don¡¯t have many guests, but if you stay here, you will attract attention. I¡¯m not saying this to sway you one way or another, but I want you to be aware of your surroundings. I can arrange for you to stay with the Omegas, that will help you blend in. Or if you prefer on your own, we have apartments.¡±


    Talia was unsure what to say.


    She didn¡¯t want to stay in the packhouse. Yes, the room was nice, and the bed was warm, and the towels were fluffy, but the scary Alpha only brought trouble with him, and based on tonight¡¯s episode, it seems that whatever protection he had for her, it ran out. But she was anxious at the thought of living with Omegas because those were her bullies from the past, and she never lived on her own so that was apletely foreign concept.


    Maya saw that Talia was on the verge of panic, so she quickly said, ¡°There is no need to decide now. I advise you to stay here at least until your bruises heal. But think about it. OK? There are options for you. No one will force you to stay here or anywhere else, I will make sure of that.¡±


    Talia rxed a bit. ¡°Thanks.¡±


    ¡°My room is on the second floor. When you climb the stairs, take right. It¡¯s thest room on the left.¡±, Maya said and pointed at thest three windows on the second floor. The light was on. ¡°If you need anything, anytime. Come and find me.¡±


    With that, Maya left Talia in the garden.


    Talia was surrounded by silence that was broken by the asional rustling of leaves under the breeze.


    It was a familiar feeling, yet somehow, she felt empty¡­ like she lost something. She lost hope.


    Talia exhaled softly and shook her head.


    It¡¯s her fault.


    Since she epted Alpha Damon¡¯s offer, she allowed herself to hope that things will get better, and this was not better.


    It was the same but wrapped in a different container.


    Just like many times before, Talia was alone in the darkness, hungry, bullied, and wearing clothes that used to belong to someone else.


    The kind face in the Red Moon pack was Olivia, and here is Maya, and maybe Stephanie also. But just like Olivia, Maya and Stephanie will leave her at the end because they have their lives and it¡¯s not their job to take care of Talia.


    Talia sucked in a sharp breath. There was no point in dwelling on what happened, other than to acknowledge that people are the same regardless of the pack, and unless she takes charge of her life, someone will always treat her like a doormat.


    Talia peeled her eyes from the three lit-up windows on the second floor and turned toward the forest that was shrouded in the darkness.


    Steeling her resolve, Talia started walking.


    No matter what the future brings, she knew that she will need her herbs.


    Talia rxed the moment she entered the protection the trees provided.


    She didn¡¯t fear the darkness or the creatures of the forest, knowing that the biggest monsters are people themselves, werewolves included.


    Step by step, Talia made her way deeper into the forest and she carefully ced collected nts in the few sheets of paper towels which she took from the bathroom and concealed under the stic of her leggings.


    Bunchberry, fringecup, moonflower, alumroot¡­ they were all there, offering to Talia their leaves and petals like they knew she wasing.


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on: mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 44 Missing

    In the kitchen¡­


    Damon pried his arm free from Cassie¡¯s hold and her eyes widened in surprise.


    Why did he back away? Why was he frowning? Things were going well, damn it!


    Sheposed herself and called sweetly, ¡°Alpha Damon, do you think I was out of line?¡±


    ¡°Cassie, you used a teenage girl of being a thief. Do you really think that my pack members have a need toe here and steal food?¡±


    Cassie pressed her lips into a line, feeling wronged. ¡°But she was in the dark which is proof that she was up to no good. How could she see anything with the lights off?¡±


    Damon took a moment to process what Cassie said, and he realized that Cassie was right: Talia was in the dark.


    The light in the kitchen was off and so was the one in the hallway. The visibility was close to nil.


    Werewolves have enhanced senses, proportional to the strength of their wolf.


    Cassie is a weak werewolf and the boost her wolf provides her is negligible whenpared to other werewolves.


    However, Talia was able to move freely in thepletely dark kitchen, which she was unfamiliar with. Doesn¡¯t that mean that the power her wolf is giving her is significant?


    An even bigger revtion would be that Talia has a wolf because if her wolf is gone, she wouldn¡¯t have any boosts.


    Talia¡¯s healing is low, but if her vision is sharp to the point of seeing in the dark, then she definitely has a wolf.


    There is a possibility that her wolf is weak and that¡¯s why is enhancing only her vision while other things are blocked.


    ¡®What should I do?¡¯, Damon asked his wolf.


    If this was facing rogues, or determining a budget for the next quarter, he would know what to do, but right at that moment, Damon was lost.


    His wolf didn¡¯t respond, and Damon cursed under his breath. The old guy was still ignoring him because he allowed things to escte.


    ¡°Damon?¡±, Cassie called while rubbing his forearm.


    He was spacing out for a minute, and it made her nervous.


    Damon yanked his arm away. ¡°It¡¯s Alpha Damon. Don¡¯t forget that!¡±


    Absolutely confused, Cassie gaped at Damon as he took a big te and ced in it the chunk of bread and the apple that Talia left behind. He looked into the fridge and grabbed some grapes and cheese and headed out of the kitchen, without paying any heed to Cassie.


    Damon took two steps at the time all the way to the third floor and paused in front of the door of Talia¡¯s room.


    Theck of her scent told him that she was not there, but he still knocked before entering the room.


    Damon ced the te on the coffee table and tried contacting Maya on the mind-link, but she was unavable.


    ¡®Caden¡­¡¯, Damon went to the next person. ¡®Are you with Maya?¡¯


    ¡®No. She felt like sweets and went to grab something from the kitchen.¡¯


    Damon exhaled in frustration. ¡®I just came from the kitchen. Do you know where she is?¡¯


    The response came a few secondster, ¡®She is in the garden.¡¯


    Damon told himself to calm down. After the incident in the kitchen, Talia probably needs some air, and that¡¯s good because it will give him time to figure out what to say to Talia when she returns to her room.


    Damon couldn¡¯t leave it be and allow Talia to think that he doesn¡¯t care.


    He can¡¯t tell Talia how much she means to him, but he can tell her that Cassie is nobody.


    Minutes trickled slowly, and Damon switched between sitting on the sofa, to bed, and in-between, he paced through the room.


    He realized that more than an hour passed.


    Where is Talia?


    His heart ached and it was suffocating, and he was unable to stay still, so he went to the second floor and started pounding thest door on the left with his fist.


    ¡°Is your mind-link broken?¡±, Caden asked with a frown when he opened the door wearing only a bedsheet bunched around his waist.


    It was obvious that Damon interrupted something, but Damon didn¡¯t care.


    ¡°Is Maya here?¡±


    ¡°Yes. She is.¡±, Caden responded dryly.


    ¡°What do you want, Alpha Damon?¡±, Maya grumbled while exaggeratedly dragging thest two words.


    ¡°Where is Talia?¡±, Damon asked while trying to make his way into the room, but Caden didn¡¯t move and his deep frown told Damon to give up on that idea.


    Caden knew about the incident in the kitchen. Maya told him that Cassie was doing her Luna-act while holding onto Damon and using Talia of stealing food.


    Seeing that Damon was on the verge of panicking, Caden enjoyed Damon¡¯s predicament.


    If Damon acted like an ass, he should pay for it.


    No matter the circumstances, Caden couldn¡¯t imagine the situation where Maya was in distress and he just watched.


    As an Alpha, Damon¡¯s animalistic instincts (mate bond included) should be much stronger than Caden¡¯s, and Caden had no idea how Damon was able to sit this one out and allow Cassie to disparage Talia.


    Caden narrowed his eyes at Damon. ¡°You came at this hour, banging on the door. First, you ask about Maya, and then about Talia. Do you think that Talia joined us for a threesome?¡± Caden paused and nced at himself, obviously making a point about his naked self. ¡°Or did you start spot-checking every pack member in the middle of the night?¡±


    Maya was frustrated with how Damon allowed Cassie to bully Talia, and she didn¡¯t want to make his life any easier, but she had a strong feeling that he will not give up until he gets his answers.


    ¡°Talia said that she needs air, so I left her in the garden. Maybe she is still there¡­¡±


    Damon didn¡¯t hear more than that, as he dashed down.


    ¡°Why did you tell him?¡±, Caden groaned at Maya while closing the door behind him.


    ¡°Because he needs his mate just how I need mine.¡±, Maya responded in a singing voice and bit her lower lip seductively.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Caden had no objections. The bedsheet that was around him fell on the floor at the same time he jumped on the bed and pounced on Maya.


    ¡­


    Damon frantically sniffed the air in the garden. There was no hint of freesia.


    He rubbed his face with force.


    This situation reminded him of the evening when he lost Talia the first time. They were in the kitchen of the Red Moon pack, and he was an ass¡­ and she left¡­ and he couldn¡¯t track her. The next time he saw her, she had additional injuries on her body.


    Damon told himself not to panic.


    Maybe Talia went to her room while he was talking to Caden and Maya.


    Damon dashed back to the third floor and his stomach sunk when he realized that Talia was not there.


    He went back to the kitchen, only to find it empty. He checked the living room and the dining room and the entryway, and he went through all the hallways, and even into the basement, with the hope of picking up Talia¡¯s scent. Nothing.


    Eventually, he returned to her room.


    A whirlwind of negative emotions crashed on Damon. Anger. Dejection. Guilt. Worry. Fear. They switched so quickly and amplified each other that he was unable to breathe.


    And he was caught unprepared when a gush of loneliness overtook his senses.


    Did she leave? Did he lose her?


    If she stayed in the garden, everything would be fine! Didn¡¯t he tell her not to go beyond the garden!?


    What if someone kidnapped her?


    What if she wandered off, and someone mistook her for a rogue?


    She was already hurt, what if she got hurt more?


    He was angry at Cassie for bullying her.


    He was angry at himself for letting it happen.


    He was angry at Talia for leaving.


    But she couldn¡¯t leave. Not yet. His territory is huge, so even if she was running, she was still within borders.


    ¡®I want extra patrols around the border!¡¯, Damon shouted into the mind-link of warriors. ¡®Search for a she-wolf in her teens, wearing a blue t-shirt and ck bottom. She is in her human form. The girl is not an enemy; however, she might be frightened. When you spot her, don¡¯t engage, and notify me immediately!¡¯


    Damon could feel themotion of his warriors stirring into action. They did this many times, whenever they have rogues attacking.


    With this, he had extra eyes and paws searching for Talia and he told them that she is not an enemy, so they will not attack.


    Damon wanted to go after Talia, but he didn¡¯t know which way she went. What if he takes the wrong direction? What if shees back and he is not here?


    Damon sat on the bed and grabbed the pillow on which Talia slept. He buried his face in it and took deep breaths, inhaling the lingering citrusy sweet scent of freesia.


    The scent calmed him a little, but it also reminded him of the girl that went missing. And this was not any girl. This was his mate.


    Damon couldn¡¯t believe that this was happening.


    He didn¡¯t want a mate.


    He didn¡¯t want to meet her or acknowledge her.


    He hoped that all these foreign feelings will disappear, and he contemted leaving Talia at the Red Moon pack and forgetting about her.


    Damon took the plunge and brought her with him, risking the exposure and endangering his pack because he couldn¡¯t leave her behind. Not like that.


    He decided to keep her close and safe, to feed her and buy her clothes and give her whatever she wants but he messed up and now she was missing, and he was on the verge of losing his mind.


    She was somewhere out there, in the cold, hungry, hurt, scared¡­ and it was his fault.


    ¡°Damn it!¡±, Damon cursed loudly.


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on: mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 45 Back In The Room

    ¡°AWOOOOO!¡±


    A sky-piercing howl shook all the windows in the packhouse of the Dark Howlers pack, threatening to shatter them. The powerful sound echoed far into the distance, stirring every pack member with the might their Alpha possesses.


    ¡°Will Damon be OK?¡±, Maya asked Caden while blinking at the dawn which cracked through the windows.


    They heard four rapid thumps when Damonnded in the garden after jumping from his balcony on the third floor.


    ¡°He will be fine.¡±, Caden assured Maya and pulled her closer to him. ¡°The border patrol just notified Damon that they found Talia.¡±


    Maya wanted to ask for more information, but Caden was snoring softly already, so she gave up.


    Normally, warriors and patrols can¡¯t contact Damon through the mind-link. That is reserved for Caden, Maya, and Stephanie, and even those three know not to disturb him unless it¡¯s important.


    Warriors, scouts, and other pack members follow the chain ofmand which allows only a handful of people to contact Caden or Maya, and Betas will decide if they will handle the matter or inform the Alpha.


    Things rted to warriors and security will reach Caden, Maya will be contacted on issues rted to the pack members, and anything that involves the packhouse will go to Stephanie.


    These channels ofmunication are not very efficient, but without them, Damon would go crazy with everyone speaking into his head.


    In this case, since Damon asked them to look for the girl, the patrol who found her contacted their supervisor. The supervisor notified Damon directly and Caden was also included in the exchange.


    Back to the present¡­


    Damon ran through the forest, and he felt his muscles tensing to the point of aching, but he still kept on pushing.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Normally, Damon enjoys the feeling of his paws digging into the forest¡¯s floor and the wind sweeping through his fur, but this time he was too focused on his destination.


    They told him that a girl matching the description he provided was found, and Damon felt the urgency to confirm that is Talia.


    Damon¡¯s steps paused when he saw four werewolves, in their wolf form, standing nearby.


    The four warriors stiffened when they spotted a massive ck wolf approaching them and they all lowered their heads in submission.


    Damon whipped his head to the left and a low growl escaped him when he saw Talia sitting on the ground, with her back against the tree and her eyes closed.


    ¡®Who was the first to find her?¡¯, Damon asked through the mind-link grimly.


    ¡®It was me, Alpha¡­¡¯


    Before the warrior could finish, Damon pinned him on the ground and snarled at him.


    ¡®What did you do to the girl!?¡¯


    The warrior whimpered. ¡®Nothing, Alpha.¡¯


    ¡®What do you mean, NOTHING!?¡¯, Damon raged with his teeth dangerously close to the warrior¡¯s neck. ¡®Why is she unconscious?!¡¯


    ¡®She is sleeping.¡¯, one of the other three warriors said, because the one under Damon was nearly paralyzed with fear.


    Damon snorted and nced at Talia again.


    Her expression was rxed and the slow rise and fall of her chest confirmed that she was sleeping.


    ¡®You are dismissed.¡¯, Damon said curtly. ¡®Call off the search. The girl is found. I will take it from here.¡¯


    The four warriors slowly backed away with their heads lowered. Once they confirmed that they¡¯ve put enough distance between them and Damon, they swiftly disappeared among the trees.


    Damon sniffed the air, to ensure no one is around before he slowly approached Talia.


    He couldn¡¯t believe that she just fell asleep.


    How careless!


    Doesn¡¯t she know how many guys saw her rxed sleeping face? Damon felt like gauging their eyes out. No one should see Talia like this with her guard down. No one. That¡¯s only for him to see.


    He nuzzled her neck with his nose and inhaled the sweet citrusy scent of freesia that came with a huge sense of relief.


    Talia was safe and at that moment, nothing else mattered.


    ¡­


    Talia woke up in confusion.


    How did she find herself back in this room?


    Didn¡¯t she go into the forest?


    Talia remembered that she followed the invisible trail the nts created. She collected necessary ingredients for her to conceal her scent and once she ingested that mixture, Talia continued exploring goodies that the forest provided.


    Talia didn¡¯t feel like returning to the packhouse. She lost track of time and she stopped only when her aching legs reminded her that she was walking for too long.


    The painkillers wore off, and her injuries were aching all over, and she sat next to a tree to rest a bit, but then she fell asleep.


    Talia had a weird dream. It was about a massive ck wolf with icy blue eyes. He was sniffing her neck and licked her cheek a bit, and the dream ended with Alpha Damon carrying her in his arms.


    Talia shook her head, rejecting to ept how any of that was real.


    Why would Alpha Damon bring her back while carrying her princess style?


    Ah, Alpha Damon! He told her not to go beyond the garden, yet she disobeyed him. She is definitely in trouble.


    Right, that was definitely a dream, because if he found her for real, he would scold and punish her, and not bring her back like a knight in shining armor.


    Talia blushed. In her dream, Alpha Damon didn¡¯t wear any armor. His torso waspletely bare, and her cheek rested on his firm pec. Talia was not sure if Alpha Damon was wearing anything on his lower half, but she clearly remembers his scent that helped her rx and his every step rocked her back into sleep.


    Yup, that was a dream.


    The only exnation that made sense was that Talia went into the forest and was so tired that she doesn¡¯t remember how she returned.


    But, if that was a dream, why was her room smelling of the forest and dark chocte again? It was not very fresh, but it was there, lingering in the air and in the cover, and some of it was in her pillow as well.


    Strange.


    Talia observed the room and saw a te with bread and fruits and there was some cheese also.


    Her stomach rumbled, and in response, Talia scooted out of the bed and went to attack the food. It was more than twenty-four hours since she atest time, and everything else could wait.


    The bread was hard, but Talia didn¡¯t mind. She would squish a grape and use its juices to moisten the bread. It was good.


    Talia jolted when someone knocked on the door.


    ¡°Yes?¡±, she called apprehensively.


    The door cracked open, and Maya¡¯s smiling face peeked in.


    ¡°This is the third time for me to check on you.¡±, Maya said and when she saw Talia¡¯s confused expression, she reminded her, ¡°We are going shopping. Remember?¡±


    ¡°We can leave when you are done with food.¡± Maya frowned when she saw that Talia was eating hard bread. ¡°Do you want me to bring you something else?¡±


    Talia didn¡¯t think about more food because what she had was enough.


    She pressed her lips into a line while thinking how to dodge shopping. She really didn¡¯t want to go outside this room, and shopping meant leaving not only the room but the packhouse as well. The people in the town will see her, and the ones working in stores as well¡­ and there is a possibility that she might bump into Cassie or Damon, and Talia didn¡¯t want any of it.


    Her eyes fell on her wrist that had a firm wrap with Velcro on it, and she got an idea.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Maya, but I don¡¯t feel well.¡±


    Maya¡¯s smile fell. ¡°Should I call a doctor?¡±


    A pang of guilt swelled in Talia¡¯s chest, but she kept on talking. ¡°No need. It¡¯s just my injuries from before. As long as I rest, I will be fine.¡±


    Maya was not sure if Talia was really hurting but she couldn¡¯t me her for wanting some peace and quiet and Maya definitely didn¡¯t want to call Talia out.


    ¡°Alright.¡±, Maya said with a smile. ¡°Take rest and we can go when you feel better. There is a nice sweet shop in town, so when we are done with shopping, I will introduce you to the best lime pie in the world.¡±


    Talia¡¯s eyes sparkled and she nodded happily. If she knew that there will be pie involved, she wouldn¡¯t be so hasty toe up with an excuse.


    ¡°Do you want toe downstairs to eat, or should I bring you something here?¡±, Maya repeated her offer for food.


    Talia shook her head, rejecting the offer. ¡°Don¡¯t trouble yourself for me. These are fine. I will wash up and rest.¡±


    By now, Maya understood that Talia prefers to stay low-key and not attract attention in any way.


    Maya didn¡¯t know what Talia went through but seeing all the bruises and knowing that she lived in the attic told a heartbreaking story.


    Maya wanted to help Talia, but Talia was shrinking and closing in.


    A mate would be able to help her out the most because their bond draws the best in each other but considering that the other person for Talia is Damon, he would only make more damage. And he already did.


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on: mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 46 Restless Uncertainty

    ¡°Oh, before I forget¡­¡±, Maya stirred the conversation the other way. ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone that you are from the Red Moon pack. The official story is that you grew up with your grandparents somewhere North and that after they passed, you came here with the goal to find a pack and we bumped into each other identally. Do you remember the gas station where Alpha Damon went out to purchase snacks on his own? It¡¯s the stop where you switched ces with Caden.¡±


    Talia nodded.


    ¡°That¡¯s where we met. Feel free to fill in any gaps about your background.¡±, Maya said and observed Talia who was listening intently with a hint of confusion on her face. ¡°Do you know why this is important?¡±


    Talia shook her head, indicating that she doesn¡¯t.


    ¡°If Alpha Edward suspects that we took you secretly, he might use us of kidnapping or stealing.¡±


    Talia¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°I agreed toe with you.¡±


    ¡°You did, but Alpha Edward is not on friendly terms with Alpha Damon, and he might use this incident to stir trouble.¡±


    Talia didn¡¯t understand. If they are not friendly, why would Alpha Damon marry Marcy?


    She told herself not to think about Damon and hisplex marital life. He had one Luna called Cassie, and he was about to marry Marcy, and she heard that there were numerous other she-wolves around him. Talia was not aware that polygamy was allowed in these times.


    But no matter who warms his bed, Alpha Damon brought Talia to the Dark Howlers pack, and she epted without considering that it might have some consequences for him.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to make trouble for Alpha Damon or for his pack. What should I do?¡±


    ¡°There is nothing for you to do, Talia.¡± Maya put her hand over Talia¡¯s and gave it a few reassuring gentle taps. ¡°Trust in Alpha Damon. He knew what he was doing when he invited you toe. There is a possibility that nothing bad will happen, but just to be on the safe side, if anyone asks about your background, don¡¯t mention the Red Moon pack. OK?¡±


    Maya was not sure if Damon had a n when he snuck Talia inside the trunk, and it didn¡¯t seem that Damon knew what to do with Talia two dayster, but Maya couldn¡¯t tell her that they are mates. It was not her to tell.


    After Maya left, Taliaid on her bed and stared at the ceiling while thinking about Maya¡¯s words and things that happened in thest few days.


    There was a mixture of feelings Talia couldn¡¯t identify as anything other than uncertainty which came with restlessness.


    She didn¡¯t know that hering here could cause trouble for Alpha Damon or his pack.


    No one cared about her at the Red Moon pack. It will take them some time to notice that bathrooms are not being cleaned, but they will probably realize soon that trashcans are not magically emptied every night. But even if they notice, no one will know it¡¯s Talia who is missing; they will think that some of the other Omegas are cking because Talia was practically invisible.


    Maybe Anna will miss a person to bully, but that¡¯s it. They called her a ve, a roach, a rat¡­ no one called her by her name since Olivia left, so they probably don¡¯t know her name. And now that her hair is neat and she is wearing decent clothes, even she would have difficulty recognizing herself.


    Princess Marcy knew that Talia was in the attic, but she returned to the pack recently and she might think that Talia is not there because she hid in themon rooms with Omegas. Someone of Marcy¡¯s status won¡¯t lower herself to search for one lowly Omega. At least that¡¯s what Talia hoped for.


    But there was a chance that Omegas won¡¯t pick up Talia¡¯s duties, and Luna La and Alpha Edward might find out that the girl from the attic is missing. If that happens, what will Alpha Edward do? Will he really cause issues for Alpha Damon? In that case, what would Alpha Damon do?


    Alpha Damon is entric, and Talia was not sure if he was a good person or not, but the fact that he took her with him from the Red Moon pack, regardless of the risks, confused Talia.


    No matter what his personality is, she was confident that if he needs to pick between his pack and her, he will discard her in a heartbeat.


    Why would he risk anything for her? She is a nobody.


    He is an Alpha and he has the right to act and behave any way he wants. His status allows him to treat people based on his mood, and Talia found that nerve-wracking.


    One moment he was sharing a bed with her, pressing her against him, applying medicine on her wounds, feeding her¡­ and then he looked at her like she was dirty while Cassie used her of stealing and he did absolutely nothing. Actually, by staying silent he supported the bully.


    That confirmed her theory that Alpha Damon extended his hand to help her, but if he needs to pick between her and someone more important, she will be left behind.


    Maybe Alpha Damon has an identical twin. One is kind and ufortably clingy, while the other one is distant and heartless. That would exin Talia¡¯s interactions with Damon perfectly, but she knew that there was no second Damon. It was only one and he was extremely unstable.


    Talia firmed her resolve to leave as soon as she can, and she didn¡¯t know where to go, but she was confident that staying in this packhouse was not healthy.


    Maybe no one will beat her, but at this rate, she will die of stress.


    Talia didn¡¯t want to bump into Cassie or Damon, but hiding in this room was not practical.


    Even if no one chases her out, eventually, hunger will force her to find food and she didn¡¯t want anyone to use her of stealing again.


    More than beatings and name-calling, Talia was hurt by injustice. She was not stealing. She only did what they told her it¡¯s OK and Stephanie said that no areas of the packhouse are off-limits and that Talia cane to the kitchen and eat anytime.


    Talia¡¯s eyes were burning, but she refused to cry.


    Talia is not a crybaby.


    Her current situation didn¡¯t look good, but Talia knew that she wille up with something as long as she calms down and thinks rationally.


    She will take advantage of staying here until she heals, and by then, she will have a n ready.


    Her current tasks: eat and sleep.


    She ate before showering, so now it was time to rest, and everything else willeter.


    Talia hugged a pillow and drifted off to sleep.


    ¡­


    Damon spent most of the day with his warriors, training.


    Afterst night¡¯s call to find Talia, Damon wanted to ensure that no gossips are spreading, and he knew that his presence would assure them how everything is fine.


    While sparring with his best warriors, Damon took his time to reflect on the events fromst night.


    He didn¡¯t know if Talia just got lost, or was really nning to leave, but he knew that she went into the forest on her own, even though he told her not to.


    How dares she defy him!?


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡±, a muffled cry reminded Damon that he was sparring with a warrior, and he nearly choked him.


    Damon loosened his hold. ¡°Good job. Keep on practicing. Next!¡±


    Damon was going through the report in his head over and over again. He was anxious to the point of madness because the search took so long. His warriors have amazing skills not just in fighting, but in tracking as well, yet no one was able to pick up Talia¡¯s scent.


    The patrol who found her nearly tripped on her. If they were a few steps away, they would pass next to her.


    Damon concluded that if Talia didn¡¯t stop on her own, she could easily escape his grasp.


    Part of him was curious how is that possible, and part of him admired Talia¡¯s skills, but mostly, he was dejected and frustrated because he was so close to losing her. Damn it!


    How can one skinny girl escape his packhouse and avoid so many patrols like it¡¯s nothing!


    ¡°Ahh!¡±, a cry pulled Damon out of his thoughts, and he realized that he dislocated the shoulder of his sparring partner.


    Damon nced to the side. ¡°Medic! Get him out of here. Next!¡±


    Warriors are usually eager to take pointers from their Alpha, but today, they were reluctant to get on the mat with him. Something seemed off.


    Unaware of the wary gazes of his warriors, Damon continued sparring with his next victim¡­ cough, cough¡­ with his next partner, while his mind was stuck on the girl with copper-colored hair.


    Damon couldn¡¯t believe that he was anxious while thinking about Talia¡¯s safety, yet he found her sleeping in the forest like everything was fine.


    He was confident that Talia was sending him a message, how she can¡¯t be controlled or manipted. He has no intention of controlling her, but he needs her to be close, in the visible range¡­ preferably in touching distance.


    Damon was infuriated. From the moment he saw Talia in the forest, he wanted to teach her a lesson in obedience. No one defies him and gets away with it. No one!


    But he couldn¡¯t make himself wake her up. She was sleeping so peacefully in his arms, and she even rubbed her cheek on his chest. The sparks made him dizzy, and he exhaled helplessly.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    And then he ced her on the bed and covered her up and he sat next to Talia while holding her hand untilte morning.

 Chapter 47 The Devil Himself

    Between sparring sessions, Damon was contacting Maya through the mind-link, reminding her to take Talia shopping, but Maya told him that Talia was sleeping and that she shouldn¡¯t be disturbed.


    ¡®Talia is sleeping. Considering her wounds, it¡¯s important that she rests. We can shop tomorrow.¡¯, Maya tried to reason with Damon.


    ¡®No. Do it today.¡¯, Damon was not relenting.


    The truth is that he felt guilty.


    He knew that Talia left because of the incident in the kitchen, and he thought that if Maya takes her shopping, Talia will feel better and not try to leave again.


    The thought of Talia leaving was creating knots in his stomach.


    She nearly escaped, and next time, he might not be so lucky to find her sleeping in the forest.


    It waste afternoon when Damon finished training and returned to the packhouse.


    His shorts was sticking to his body, and his bare chiseled chest and abs were glistening due to all the sweat and he was itching for a shower.


    Damon heard Maya¡¯s voiceing from the kitchen, so he took a detour,pletely ignoring Cassie who was ogling at him.


    ¡°How did the shopping go?¡±, Damon asked Maya, interrupting her talk with Omega who was stealing amorous nces at Damon.


    ¡°We didn¡¯t go.¡±, Maya responded.


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on:


    mynovel200@gmail.


    Damon frowned and continued through the mind-link, ¡®I told you to go today.¡¯


    Maya was irked, but she knew better than to show it, so she stered a smile. ¡®Talia would not enjoy it if I dragged her against her will.¡¯


    ¡®Against her will?¡¯ Damon was confused. Every girl loves shopping.


    ¡®Talia doesn¡¯t want to leave her room and I don¡¯t me her.¡¯


    Damon snorted and went to his room.


    His steps halted in front of the door, and he went left instead of right.


    Before opening the door, he listened carefully. Nothing.


    He took a few sniffs and his anxiousness mixed with anger when he couldn¡¯t pick up Talia¡¯s scent.


    Did she leave again?


    Damon opened the door abruptly and froze at the sight of Talia who was sleeping on the bed, curled around the pillow.


    A slow breath escaped his lips and he backtracked out of her room.


    Before closing the door, his sight fell on the empty te where bread, fruits, and cheese were. He left them therest night.


    The fact that Talia ate the food he left, made him feel a bit better.


    Damon went to his room and took a quick shower.


    He returned to Talia¡¯s room, but this time, with another te of food that had fruits and croissants and it was wrapped in stic wrap so that pastry doesn¡¯t dry off.


    Damon sat on the bed and reached to hold Talia¡¯s hand.


    He really needed to touch her, the sparks confirmed that she is there and that she didn¡¯t leave.


    He looked at her sleepy face and didn¡¯t move for a long time.


    ¡­


    Cassie was irritated.


    Dinner passed, and Damon didn¡¯te down.


    She saw him take a te of food upstairs, the same how he didst night, and she knew that he took it to the third floor, but she assumed that it¡¯s for him, because she was not aware that someone else is on Alpha¡¯s floor (how Cassie calls it).


    Only once Cassie made her way to the third floor, and Omegas told her that it¡¯s not allowed, but when she ignored them, Alpha Damon showed up and chased her away saying that only his Luna will get to climb there.


    Well, isn¡¯t that her? It¡¯s only a matter of time, how Cassie sees it.


    There are numerous she-wolves coveting Alpha Damon, but Cassie is the only one who can stay in his packhouse. Doesn¡¯t that make her special?


    Cassie went to her room (on the second floor) and called her father.


    ¡°Daddy¡±, she whined. ¡°Alpha Damon is ignoring me again.¡±


    ¡°What did you do, pumpkin?¡±


    Cassie pouted while trying to think about what she did to offend him. ¡°I really have no idea. Last night, I apologized and he was fine, but then he was not.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±, Alpha Richard hummed. ¡°Did something happen while he was fine?¡±


    ¡°We went together to get drinks in the kitchen, and there was a girl stealing food. I called her out and she left with that pesky Beta.¡±


    ¡°What did Alpha Damon do?¡±Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    ¡°He asked me if I think that his pack members need to steal food.¡±


    ¡°And? Do you think they need to steal?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t. But that girl was sneaking in the dark. If she was not stealing, what else was she doing?¡±


    ¡°Sweetie, you are looking at this wrongly.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Cassie was confused.


    ¡°You want to be the Luna of the Dark Howlers pack, right?¡±


    ¡°Why are you always asking me that, daddy?¡±, Cassie groaned.


    ¡°I¡¯m reminding you why you are there.¡±, Alpha Richard responded. ¡°If you want to be his Luna, you should act like one.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t get it.¡±, Cassie admitted. ¡°Alpha Damon prohibited me from calling myself his Luna.¡±


    ¡°This is not about titles but about behavior, pumpkin. Luna is the mother of the pack. If her children are hungry, she will provide for them, and not call them out on stealing. You need to bepassionate and gentle. Show him that you can be a good Luna for his pack¡­¡±


    Cassie listened intently.


    She knew what her father was saying, but she didn¡¯t want to be the Luna in order to pamper others.


    She is after the power and prestige whiches with that position. She dreams about standing proudly next to Damon.


    Omegas should have their duties and their mealtimes, and that doesn¡¯t include eating from the packhouse because that is for high-ranking members. Any Omega in the packhouse is there to work, and not rx and have snacks.


    But she knew that her father was right. No matter what her end goal is, she needs to put on a good fa? ade. After she secures her spot, she can do whatever she wants.


    ¡­


    Damon stayed in Talia¡¯s room until she started stirring.


    He knew that she will wake up and he wanted to talk to her, to ask for an exnation.


    Why did she go to the forest? Didn¡¯t he tell her to stay put?


    Was she running away, or warning him that she can leave without him noticing?


    A part of him feared the answers.


    He didn¡¯t want to hurt her, but if Talia says that she wants to leave, Damon was not sure how he would react.


    While she was missing, he was spiraling into insanity while anger and fear consumed him, and if she says that it was on purpose, he might snap.


    And why did she refuse shopping? Was she punishing him by refusing him the chance to repent?


    At that moment, Damon decided to leave.


    They will talk tomorrow.


    By then, he will cool off and the risk of him snapping will be significantly lowered.


    But Talia didn¡¯t show up for breakfast, and she didn¡¯t show up for lunch either and he was back to being irritated.


    What is her game? To starve herself?


    Talia was either harming herself or defying him, or both, and neither of those sat well with him. With every passing minute, his impatience morphed into fury until he couldn¡¯t take it anymore.


    Damon filled a te with food and stormed toward the third floor.


    What Damon didn¡¯t know was that Maya noticed how Talia was cooped up in her room, so besides bringing her food, Maya brought Talia a tablet and showed her how to go on the inte and browse. Talia spent quite some time reading news and looking at local maps to familiarize herself with the world and surroundings.


    Talia shrunk when she heard someone rapidly mming on her door.


    She was sitting on the bed with a tablet in her hand, looking at the local map and figuring out nearby towns. It was nice and calm, and whoever was on the other side of that door made her anxious.


    Is the house on fire? Or did Alpha Edward find out where she is and something horrible happened because of her?


    The door swung open, and Talia¡¯s eyes widened when she saw Damon¡¯s dark expression. Did hee to punish her because she went into the forest without permission?


    ¡°Why are you noting down to eat?¡±, Damon asked grumpily. ¡°Do you think this is a hotel, and we should serve you?¡±


    Talia shook her head frantically, unsure why he was asking her that. Just the other night he stood and watched as she was being used of stealing food. It seems that he changed his mind, and she was allowed to eat again.


    ¡°Doctor told you that you are underweight. Did you forget that you need to have regr meals? Or are you starving yourself on purpose? I didn¡¯t bring you here to have you hospitalized.¡±


    Talia realized that Damon was concerned about her weight. Did the kind doctor Travis call to check on her? Probably. Talia couldn¡¯t imagine that Damon would care about Talia¡¯s weight. Unless he was fattening her up so that he can eat herter.


    Only then Talia noticed that Damon was holding onto a te filled with food. Was that for her?


    When she woke upst night, she found fruits and croissants, and that morning Maya brought her a nice sandwich and orange juice.


    Talia was not hungry, and she didn¡¯t want to risk seeing Cassie or Damon again, so she decided to stay in the room and avoid trouble, yet the devil himself was at her door.


    She was not sure what to think about Damon other than he was mentally unstable.

 Chapter 48 Bossy Damon

    Seeing that Damon was looking at her grimly from the door of her room, Talia didn¡¯t dare to provoke him.


    Talia didn¡¯t have the faintest clue what caused his current mood (or what that mood was), but she decided to y it safe, and she lowered her head.


    ¡°I apologize, Alpha Damon.¡±, she said in a small voice.


    ¡®BAM!¡¯


    Talia jolted when the door closed loudly, and she inhaled sharply at the realization that Damon was only half a step away from her.


    It took him only a second to cross the distance between them.


    Damon grabbed her chin with his index finger and thumb and forced her to lift her head and look at him.


    ¡°What did you call me?¡±


    He was leaning above her, and his angry words sshed on her face. Talia blinked rapidly, unsure what he was getting at.


    Seeing the horror in her eyes, Damon let go of her chin and put his palm on her cheek.


    ¡°I told you to call me by my name. Damon. Just Damon. Say it.¡±


    His tone was much gentler, but his gaze was unwavering.


    ¡°Damon¡±, Talia said quickly, hoping that this will pacify the unstable scary Alpha.


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on:


    mynovel200@gmail.


    Damon smiled and his eyes fell on her lips.


    He really wanted to kiss her.


    But he knew that if he makes his move now, it will look like he is forcing himself on her.


    Why can¡¯t she have hearts in her eyes like all other women in his proximity? That would make things so much simpler.


    Damon took a step back, and then another, and another¡­ and he ced the te with food on the coffee table.


    ¡°Eat, Talia.¡±


    Seeing that she didn¡¯t move from the bed, Damon cocked an eyebrow at her.


    ¡°Should I feed you?¡±


    Within a second, Talia was on the sofa with the te in herp.


    Damon smiled victoriously and took a seat next to her.


    Talia observed the te. There were roasted potatoes, rice with finely chopped vegetables, chicken drumstick and a thigh, two thin slices of chicken breast with gravy on top, a dinner roll, and a smidge of cranberry sauce. Talia thought that this must be some feast.


    Damon propped his chin on his palm and looked at Talia with a smirk.


    ¡°If you came down for lunch, you would get to enjoy fresh sd and chocte pudding for dessert, but you missed those.¡±


    ¡°This is more than enough.¡±, Talia responded honestly. ¡°I don¡¯t remember if I ever ate something like this in one sitting. Thank you.¡±


    Damon¡¯s heart cracked. He remembered Talia¡¯s appearance when he found her in the attic and he let out a long breath to calm his emotions.


    Talia started eating and she was extremely ufortable that Damon was watching her every move, but she didn¡¯t dare say anything other than, ¡°Aren¡¯t you busy?¡±


    Damon nodded. ¡°I am.¡±


    ¡°You can go about your business. I will finish the food.¡±


    ¡°My business is to wait for you to clean up that te, and then I will take you shopping.¡±


    Talia swallowed hard, unsure if she heard him right. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You are refusing to go shopping with Maya, so I will take you.¡±


    Talia paled. She rejected Maya so that she doesn¡¯t attract attention, but if she goes with Alpha Damon, it will be a hundred times worse.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have any money.¡±, Talia said weakly and Damon frowned.


    ¡°Did I say that you need to pay for anything?¡±


    ¡°There is no need for shopping. These are fine.¡±, Talia said weakly.


    Damon hummed ambiguously and his eyes moved over her body, from her head down to her toes. He liked what he saw, she looked good in anything, even though he would prefer her without any clothes.


    Talia shrunk under his gaze. Somehow, he made her feel naked. What the hell?


    ¡°You have an appointment with the nutritionist tomorrow. It¡¯s in the human city. Will you go in that?¡±, Damon asked, and Talia nced at the white t-shirt on her. It had a rainbow unicorn on it that said, ¡®Unicorns are awesome¡¯.


    ¡°Don¡¯t answer that.¡±, Damon said curtly. ¡°I was not asking you to go shopping. I was informing you.¡±


    He got his phone and started fiddling with it, and Talia understood that this conversation was over.


    Damon was back to his bossy mode. Actually, Damon is always bossy.


    But he said that she needs to eat and go shopping, and maybe after that, he will leave her alone.


    ¡­


    A ck armored Lexus SUV with tinted ss stopped in front of a clothing boutique in Darkbourne.


    Talia fidgeted in the front passenger¡¯s seat.


    She thought that this will be easy, but now that they were here, she was reluctant to get out. There were people on the street, and some of them were already looking at the car, probably recognizing it as Damon¡¯s.


    Damon nced at Talia and got out of the car.


    Talia clutched the seatbelt and closed her eyes. Maybe he will do the shopping himself and leave her in the car?


    The door on her side opened, crushing her dreams of staying hidden.


    ¡°Do you need help unbuckling?¡±, Damon asked, and Talia scrambled to undo the buckle when he started leaning over her.


    Seeing that she can¡¯t stay in the car, Talia wanted to dash into the boutique, but Damon was in her way, with his hand extended, palm up, to help her out of the car.


    Talia released a slow breath and put her hand into his.


    She lowered her head while following Damon into the boutique, and the only good thing was that he released her hand the moment her feet touched the ground.


    Talia could feel numerous gazes on her, and if Damon forced handholding, it would be too much.


    ¡®Ding-Dong!¡¯


    An electric chime sounded when the door of a clothing boutique opened.


    Damon held the door for Talia who entered gingerly.


    ¡°Do you want to pick clothes for yourself, or should I?¡±, Damon asked Talia.


    Talia looked around the store. Other than two saleswomen who beamed at them, there were several customers who stopped whatever they were doing.


    Damoning to this ce was a big deal and Talia tried to ignore people who scrutinized her.


    There were so many things! Walls were lined with shelves that had garments folded, dresses and suits hung on racks, there were several mannequins with thetest fashion trends. And this was her first time in a store!


    Damon saw Talia shrinking and he got his answer.


    Unfortunately, he had no idea about women¡¯s clothing.


    Yes, he knew about the famous designerbels because some of his dates couldn¡¯t stop talking about it, and even though he was not interested in those, a surprised shout, ¡°You just tore my Gi dress!¡±, kind of stuck into his head.


    Damon is not a patient man, and that applies to undressing his bedmates.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    He looked at two eager saleswomen who stood behind the small counter with hearts in their eyes.


    Normally, they would greet the customers, but this was Alpha, and they waited for permission to speak.


    ¡°Isi, Bryn¡­¡± He gestured toward Talia. ¡°This is Talia, she is new. Talia needs to go to human¡¯s town for a doctor¡¯s appointment. Can you get her something appropriate?¡±


    The two young women smiled widely.


    ¡°Leave it to us, Alpha!¡±, they said in unison.


    Isi and Bryn circled Talia once with thoughtful expressions and then started picking garments.


    Bryn¡¯s left hand held several hangers, and with her right hand, she grabbed Talia¡¯s arm. ¡°Come to the back. That¡¯s where dressing rooms are. You need to try these.¡±


    Isi gestured toward the chairs that were on the side. ¡°Take a seat, Alpha, this might take a while.¡±


    Damon gave a stiff nod and paused. ¡°Find her something for the fair as well. At least a few outfits. Shoes and underwear included.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Alpha!¡± Isi grabbed several more things and walked to the back of the store with her hands full.


    Damon sat on the chair and looked in the direction of the dressing rooms. He was hoping that Talia will pick her clothes and maybe ask him what he thinks, and then he would tell her to try it on and she would pose for him¡­ but now they were in Darkbourne, and the reality was that such behavior would attract attention and people will start talking about him and Talia.


    Damon decided to sit this one out and to let two saleswomen handle this. As long as Talia gets several sets that fit her well, he will consider this outing as a sess, and he will take Talia for a more personal shopping experienceter. Maybe in the human town.


    Talia observed a big dressing room that was surrounded with mirrors. She estimated that at least six people cane here and change clothes at the same time, and there would still be extra space. The store looked much smaller from the outside.


    Isi and Bryn were enthusiastic. They didn¡¯t ask Talia about her circumstances. It¡¯s not umon for them to ept refugees, and Talia¡¯s fading bruises told them that she didn¡¯t have an easy time.


    Other than their Alpha personally bringing Talia shopping, nothing was too strange.


    They all know about Damon¡¯s reputation with women, and he never treated his hookups poorly. Sure, they didn¡¯t hear that he took them shopping, but fancy meals and exclusive locations were included, so buying clothes was not over the top.


    Isi and Bryn were itchy to ask Talia questions, but they feared that it might reach Damon¡¯s ears and they might get punished.


    The duo concluded that Talia is a refugee or a hookup, and one doesn¡¯t exclude the other. They knew that it¡¯s not appropriate to talk about those, but that doesn¡¯t mean that they will not gossipter after Alpha Damon leaves.

 Chapter 49 Different Than Others

    Talia found her first experience of shopping for clothes overwhelming.


    Dresses, tops, shorts, pants, skirts, shoes, hats, boots, jackets, cardigans. Everything looked good and she didn¡¯t dare make any requests.


    Bryn took Talia¡¯s measurements and determined the right size for her undergarments, so Talia only needed to pick style and color from the catalog that Isi brought. Talia picked a conservative style in light tan color, and Isi slipped into the pile white, ck, and blue undergarments of the same type.


    Bryn was expertly removing clothes from Talia and putting new ones on, and Isi would go out to get the right size or color when needed.


    When Isi came out of the dressing room the second time, she changed the sign on the door to ¡®Closed¡¯ and locked the door, so that new customers don¡¯te. The two of them weremitted to serving Talia, convinced that would please Damon.


    ¡°This green dress goes great with your hair!¡±, Isi eximed.


    ¡°This silvery top is cute and makes your eyes sparkle.¡±, Bryn chimed in.


    They were praising everything and after the fifth outfit, Talia tuned them out.


    Damon used his Alpha hearing to listen to their every word and he tried to imagine how those clothes fit Talia.


    Was she smiling while looking at herself in the mirror?


    ¡°You should really try this camisole, it will show off your legs¡­¡±, Isi said.


    ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. I know how my legs look like.¡±, Talia responded stiffly and Damon facepalmed.


    Silly girl. That would be for him to see her legs.


    Was she trying on that camisole? Damon swallowed hard.


    He really wanted to see her.


    Bryn sighed loudly. ¡°This v-neck shows your perfect skin and just the right amount of cleavage.¡±


    ¡°It would look better with this push-up bra.¡±, Isi chimed in.


    ¡°No need.¡±, Talia refused to put it on.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    From the outside, Damon agreed. There is no need for a push-up bra. Talia is perfect as-is and if she wears such a bra, she will attract lecherous gazes. No one should look at her other than him.


    After some time¡­


    Talia lifted her hands, preventing Bryn from putting another top on her. ¡°Uhm¡­ I think this is enough.¡±


    Isi and Bryn frowned in disapproval.


    ¡°You still need to try these.¡±, Isi gestured to thetest pile that she brought into the dressing room.


    ¡°We are here for a while and Alpha Damon is busy. I don¡¯t want to risk him beingte for something important because of this.¡±, Talia said.


    Isi and Bryn exchanged nces and nodded in agreement. They got carried away thinking that if they please Talia, it will put them in good books with their Alpha. Damon doesn¡¯t shop often, and this was his first time in their boutique. But they didn¡¯t consider that this might interfere with his schedule which might make him angry.


    ¡°Alright.¡±, Bryn said and gestured to the neatly stacked clothes. ¡°These all fit you well. Which one do you want?¡±


    Talia took a few seconds to visually inspect the choices. She picked one dress, one top, and one jeans, and then she reached for a pair of white tennis shoes.


    Talia was not into skirts or high-heeled shoes, and with what she picked, she thought that she got a bit of everything.


    ¡°I will take this.¡±


    Bryn¡¯s displeasure was obvious. ¡°Only those? What about a jacket and some essories?¡±


    Talia looked at the pile of clothes and shoes longingly. ¡°Everything you showed me is wonderful, but I don¡¯t have money. When I repay Alpha Damon and earn more, I wille back and get something else.¡±


    Damon was shocked by Talia¡¯s words. She wants to repay him for the clothes? Didn¡¯t he tell her that she doesn¡¯t need to pay for anything? But then, this was Talia and she always acts in unexpected ways.


    The more Damon found out about Talia, the more he realized how she is different than any other woman he met.


    Bryn and Isi were bbergasted. How can Talia talk so openly about not having money? And what was that thing about repaying Alpha Damon? This is his pack, and technically this store belonged to him also. He is providing the whole pack with benefits and usually no one in the Darkbourne charges Alpha Damon for goods and services.


    ¡®It seems she is just a refugee. Maybe just passing by.¡¯, Isi said through the mind-link to Bryn.


    Bryn agreed. ¡®Yeah. Why did I think that Alpha would look at such a scrawny girl? It¡¯s obvious that he is doing this out of pity.¡¯


    In the next moment, Isi and Bryn found it difficult to breathe.


    ¡®I asked you to help her pick clothes, not to gossip.¡¯, Damon¡¯s icy voice sounded in Bryn¡¯s and Isi¡¯s head and the two of them visibly paled.


    ¡°Do you think that this is too much?¡±, Talia asked two saleswomen. She saw their expressions change but she was not sure about the cause. ¡°Maybe I should get only the dress then¡­¡±


    ¡®Pack everything that fits her. You have two minutes!¡¯, Damon said to Isi and Bryn through the mind-link. ¡®If I hear any rumors about this, I know where to find you.¡¯


    Talia watched as Bryn and Isi scrambled through the dressing room. They filled their hands with clothes and shoes and dashed out without telling Talia what¡¯s going on.


    One moment Isi and Bryn were forcing clothes on her with smiles on their faces, then they asked her to pick with stern expressions, and then they just left frantically.


    Talia was not sure what to think of this.


    Maybe everyone in this pack is moody like Alpha Damon.


    ¡­


    When they were close to the packhouse, Damon mind-linked Maya and Caden, ¡®Where is Cassie?¡¯


    ¡®She is in the living room. Waiting for you.¡¯, Maya responded.


    ¡®Keep Cassie busy. We will be there in a minute. Don¡¯t let Cassie see Talia.¡¯


    Damon didn¡¯t want to hide Talia, but if Cassie sees her, it will cause more drama and it might upset Talia more. Cassie is a loose cannon.


    Damon got out of the car and helped Talia out, but this time he didn¡¯t let go of her hand. He almost ran up the stairs and Talia had difficulty keeping up with him.


    He halted his steps when they reached the third floor and looked at Talia who was catching her breath.


    ¡°If this gets you winded, you should exercise more.¡±, he said tly.


    Talia looked at him dejectedly. ¡°No amount of exercise will help me keep up with you.¡± With your speed or with your mood.


    Damon smirked. ¡°We will see about it. We start after Travis says that you healed.¡±


    Talia¡¯s lips twitched as she felt a cmity approaching. Did he say ¡®WE start¡¯? What was that about WE?


    Damon nced toward the stairs, wondering if Cassie will be brazen enough toe after them. She should know that the third floor is off-limits, but Cassie is known to be the one who ignores the rules.


    He opened the door of Talia¡¯s room and practically pushed her in.


    ¡°I have something urgent to handle. Get in and take a rest. Someone will get your clothes up.¡±


    And just like that, he closed the door and left.


    Talia stared at the closed door with a frown, but a secondter she shook her head and went to bed.


    This whole experience was mentally exhausting, and she didn¡¯t want to do it again.


    One good thing was that it seems she was done dealing with Alpha Damon for today.


    ¡­


    Damon instructed Maya and Stephanie through the mind-link to help take bags from the trunk to Talia¡¯s room.


    ¡°You are difficult to see.¡±, Cassie said to Damon as she approached him when he descended the stairs to the main level.


    ¡°I am busy.¡±, Damon responded curtly and headed out.


    Damon nearly blew a fuse in the boutique when he heard how Isi and Bryn spoke about Talia and he needed to steam out, so he went to the training grounds.


    Cassie stood in the hallway and pouted. Sure, Alpha Damon is always busy, but normally she could see him over meals and in the evening, yet now he seems to be impossible to catch. And she still didn¡¯t get a chance to find out what happened in the Red Moon pack.


    Her n was to get him to bed and make him talk when his guard is down, but he didn¡¯t seem interested in carnal activities. What gives?


    Cassie¡¯s eyebrows shot up with curiosity when she saw Maya and Stephanie, both with hands full of bags that were clearly from a boutique in Darkbroune. Cassie was here many times, so she is familiar with the town and shops.


    She nced through the main door and saw that those came from the trunk of Damon¡¯s car.


    ¡°Did Alpha Damon return from shopping?¡±, Cassie asked Maya.


    Maya smirked. ¡°What do you think?¡±


    Cassie¡¯s expression darkened. Didn¡¯t he say that he was busy? And he went shopping?


    Cassie craned her neck to see what¡¯s in the bags, but other than one piece of white fabric withce on the edge, she didn¡¯t see much.


    Cassie pursed her lips while wondering¡­ Lace? Since when is Alpha Damon buying garments withce?


    That was obviously for a woman!


    Cassie frowned while looking up, just enough to see that Stephanie and Maya went all the way up to the third floor.


    Did he buy presents for someone?


    But there are no guests other than Cassie, and it doesn¡¯t make sense that Damon would buy clothes for Stephanie or for Maya.


    Cassie¡¯s face exploded into a smile when she concluded that those clothes must be for her.


    Yes, it made sense. Alpha Damon was avoiding her and pretending to be busy, while secretly he went to buy clothes for her, and he will give them to her as part of some surprise.


    Is he nning for a romantic dinner? Who knows, maybe he asks her to be his Luna?


    Cassie told herself not to spoil the surprise. She will pretend that she didn¡¯t see anything and when the timees, she will show him her best-amazed expression.


    Cassie hummed a tune and went to her room with a spring in her step.


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on:


    mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 50 A Heavy Sleeper

    Talia was sleeping, and she was not sure what she was dreaming of, but she knew it was pleasant, and she didn¡¯t want to wake up.


    There was a tickle on her forehead and her eyebrows twitched in a feeble attempt to remove the source of that subtle sensation.


    The tickle moved over her temple, and settled on her cheek, expanding into something warm and cozy and Talia leaned her head in that direction.


    She took a deep breath and smiled as the scent of the forest and dark chocte entered her system.


    It was novel, yet familiar, and definitely rxing.


    Talia¡¯s smile froze when she heard a deep chuckle.


    ¡°You are a heavy sleeper.¡±


    Talia¡¯s eyes snapped open, and she met Damon¡¯s unfathomable blue eyes.


    She swallowed hard. Oh, God! The warm and cozy thing on her cheek was his palm!


    Why the heck was she sleeping on his palm as a pillow!?


    No, no¡­ wrong question!


    ¡°Why are you in my room?¡±, Talia croaked before ducking under the coverpletely.


    Damon thought that she was adorable, and he missed the sparks that disappeared from his palm the moment Talia moved away.


    He really wanted to get under that cover with her.


    ¡°You didn¡¯te for breakfast, and you have an appointment with the nutritionist. I knocked but there was no answer so¡­¡±, Damon¡¯s voice trailed. ¡°You should get ready and eat.¡±


    Talia¡¯s head peeked out, just enough for her eyes to be visible. ¡°You came to wake me up?¡±


    ¡°Mhm¡­¡±, he hummed in confirmation. ¡°I also brought you food.¡±


    Talia nced toward the coffee table, and she saw a tray with food on it.


    Talia was half-relieved that Damon¡¯s mood seems to be good.


    Or is it?


    She blinked at the sight of his half-smile directed her way.


    That might be a dazzling smile for many women, but Talia feared that he will do something outrageous. What if he holds her hand, or forces a hug? It wouldn¡¯t be the first time. Or maybe her hair is super-messy, and he is mocking her. Was she snoring? How long was he watching her before she woke up?


    She wanted him to leave.


    ¡°Thank you for bringing me these. I will be down as soon as I get ready.¡±


    Damon nodded in agreement. ¡°We will go down as soon as you get ready.¡±


    Talia noticed the ¡®WE¡¯ part. ¡°You don¡¯t need to wait for me here.¡±


    ¡°Oh, but I do. What will happen if you go back to sleep?¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t¡±, Damon confirmed before expanding on it with, ¡°You won¡¯t with me here.¡±


    He leaned closer to Talia who pushed herself into the bed how much pillows allowed.


    ¡°What do you want to do first? Wash up or have breakfast? If you keep on dying, one will need to be cut short unless you do them at the same time.¡± His eyes twinkled with mischief. ¡°I can feed you while you shower.¡±


    Damon¡¯s words were suggestive, and his scent of the forest and dark chocte made her dizzy, and Talia swallowed a mouthful of air.


    ¡°I will wash up right away.¡± She hated that her voice was squeaky, but it was out and she couldn¡¯t take it back.


    Talia reached under theforter to ensure that the oversized tank top is as low as possible. She had panties on, but still¡­ she didn¡¯t want to risk her important parts to be exposed.


    Talia scooted out of the bed sideways because Damon¡¯s face was still hovering only a few inches above hers.


    Damon watched with amusement as Talia dashed into the bathroom and he wished that she moved slower so that he can get a better look at her legs.


    Damon chuckled while thinking how she is adorable. And sexy.


    He wanted to go after her and help her wash up. Maybe he can offer to soap her back, and then work his way from there.


    Damon let out a long breath and took his phone to distract himself, otherwise, he might really go after her.


    But the phone didn¡¯t do much. As soon as the water from the shower started running, his mind created all kinds of X-rated images of Talia.


    ¡°Ugh!¡±, Damon groaned, desperately trying to find something to keep his mind upied.


    Right! Instead of imagining Talia naked, he should think about a cute outfit she will wear.


    Damon frowned when he realized that he didn¡¯t get a chance to see anything she bought on the previous day, so he decided to go into the closet and investigate.


    Damon shook his head helplessly when he saw that everything was still in bags and boxes, probably how Maya and Stephanie left it.


    If it was any other girl, he might think that she doesn¡¯t appreciate the clothes, but this was Talia and Damon knew that she didn¡¯t think of herself as worthy.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Damon took a mental note to pamper Talia more and help raise her self-esteem because she shouldn¡¯t think of herself as below others.


    But how can he do that without exposing that she is his mate?


    ¡®Are you still stuck on it?¡¯, Damon¡¯s wolf asked.


    ¡®Stuck on what?¡¯


    Damon¡¯s wolf snorted in disapproval. ¡®You are worried about others finding out how important mate is so that they don¡¯t hurt her, and you end up hurting her. Wake up! Your choices are either to protect her how any Alpha would his woman or let her go.¡¯


    Damon groaned. ¡®You know I can¡¯t let her go.¡¯


    He knew that the safest thing for Talia would be to pretend that the sparks are not there, but he was too selfish to do so.


    Damon had status, power, money, women¡­ anything he wanted was his.


    Toward his pack, he feels duty, and everything else is either a necessity or fleeting pleasure.


    However, the connection he feels with Talia is different, addictive, and as much as he is frustrated that he can¡¯t resist the pull, the sweet citrusy scent of freesia puts his mind at ease, and the sparks when they touch make him feel alive.


    When Talia is in Damon¡¯s visible range, there is no pack, no enemies, no schemes¡­ it¡¯s just the two of them and he wouldn¡¯t want it any other way.


    Last night, instead of sleeping, Damon stared at the ceiling while imagining how it will feel when they kiss. It was not IF they will kiss, but WHEN, and Damon was giddy like a teenager while thinking about various scenarios of how that magical kiss will happen. Soon.


    ¡®You have your answers, boy.¡¯, Damon¡¯s wolf said. ¡®Stop going back and forth because you always return to the point that she IS important, and you CAN¡¯T let her go. Act like it or you will end up hurting mate, she will go hungry again, and¡­ she will leave.¡¯


    Anxiety swelled inside Damon at the thought that Talia might leave.


    Damn it! So many women are sticking to him, and he can¡¯t get rid of them, yet the only woman he wants close can escape his grasp easily.


    Damon looked at the bags with clothes and wondered if he should buy more stuff. Yes. If he gets her more stuff and food and whatever she wants, she will not leave. But Talia doesn¡¯t seem to be a materialistic person, so maybe he should offer her a massage. He could do that. Start with the shoulders and work his way down.


    Metal images returned: Damon in the bathroom with Talia¡­ under the shower¡­ and he could massage her thoroughly.


    ¡°Shit!¡±, Damon cursed under his breath because he was getting hard again.


    Damon needed a distraction, so he decided to arrange things from the bags in the closet.


    ¡­


    Talia stood under the warm water, flustered as the memories of Damon cradling her cheek in his palm popped into her mind.


    His touch was warm and gentle, and it reflected in his deep blue eyes.


    It actually looked like he cared.


    And then he got above her, really close, and he smelled delicious, and she saw him throw a quick nce at her lips, and¡­


    Talia told herself not to overthink it. Alpha Damon saw so many beauties like Marcy and Cassie. Compared to them, Talia is like a stick figure and Alpha Damon would never have any inappropriate thoughts. He probably sees her like a pet project, something to keep himself busy.


    It seems that clingy Damon came to wake her up and Talia was not sure if she prefers this one or the one who ignores her.


    Talia didn¡¯t want toe out of the shower. Not because she enjoyed it, but because she knew that once shees out, she will need to face Damon again.


    But then¡­ what if she takes too long? He mighte after her.


    Talia quickly got out of the shower and toweled off.


    ¡°Oh, no¡­¡±, Talia mumbled dejectedly when she realized that in her hurry to escape Alpha Damon, she didn¡¯t bring any clothes with her. Now what?


    Slowly, Talia peeked out of the bathroom and released the breath she was holding when she couldn¡¯t spot Damon. He left!


    She clutched the towel that was wrapped around her.


    Yes, she was alone, but that didn¡¯t mean that Damon won¡¯t return any moment. There is a chance that he just went to his room for a minute, so she better hurry.


    Talia froze at the door of the closet.


    Why is Alpha Damon there? Are those her panties he is holding?


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on:


    mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 51 Clothes Make A Woman

    Damon arranged the underwear in the drawer and turned to his right.


    He blinked a few times at the sight of Talia who was wrapped in a towel, staring at him without moving a muscle.


    The white fluffy towel with yellow designs at its edges was wide enough to cover Talia from her chest to just below her private areas, like a super-short mini dress.


    Talia gripped the towel with both hands until her knuckles turned white, unknowingly pushing her breasts higher and making her cleavage stand out more, and Damon was not sure where to look first.


    He really wanted to yank that towel out of the way.


    Damon smirked and spoke in a deep voice, ¡°Talia, are you here to seduce me?¡±


    Talia¡¯s face exploded in blush and Damon¡¯s sly smile increased when he saw that even her ears were red.


    Will she pass out? He would give her mouth-to-mouth anytime.


    Talia clutched the towel tighter. ¡°Clothes¡­ I didn¡¯t get¡­ I need¡­ clothes¡­¡±, she struggled to speak coherently. Alpha Damon was too much. What seducing? Who would seduce the Devil? And how can he think about those things when he already has so many women around him?


    Talia saw clearly what Marcy did while kneeling between Alpha Damon¡¯s legs only a few days ago, and Talia was confident that Cassie is here for a simr reason. But that was not Talia¡¯s business. She came to the closet with the intention to get clothes, but now she felt like crying.


    Damon wanted to tease Talia a bit more, but seeing that she was nearly hyperventting, he decided to stop.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    ¡°Do you know what you want to wear?¡±


    Talia shook her head in response. She really didn¡¯t think about it. Actually, other than taking a quick nce at the bags and boxes, she didn¡¯t look at the contents.


    Damon reached for one knee-length dress, but he paused at the thought about how it will reveal Talia¡¯s legs. Legs that are only for him to see.


    He looked at Talia¡¯s legs which were on full disy because the towel reached just below her private parts.


    They were long and lean, and he already imagined them around his waist and the pressure in his crotch area increased. Fuck! She is perfect.


    Talia stood at the door of the closet and squirmed under his scorching gaze. She didn¡¯t have the courage to get in the closet, but running away didn¡¯t seem wise either, so she stood in the spot.


    Damon reached into the drawer and got panties and a matching bra, and then one light blue jeans and a white top.


    ¡°Wear these¡­¡±


    Without looking, Talia grabbed clothes, mumbled ¡®thank you¡¯, and swiftly disappeared into the bathroom.


    Damon shook his head helplessly. He reached for his crotch area, adjusted himself, and then continued arranging clothes in the closet.


    He was not sure what was stranger, the fact that he is so easily aroused around Talia, the part where he is not acting on it, or the reality where he is not finding any other woman attractive.


    There was nothing wrong with his eyes. He could see that other women have curves and appeal, but he had no urge to be with them, almost like all of them are lower ss¡­ lower sspared to Talia.


    He let out a long breath.


    Damon brought Talia here with the hope that the crazed craving for the sweet citrusy scent of freesia will subside or maybe he gets used to this madness brought to him by the addictive sparks, but so far, it was only increasing. At this rate, Talia will be the end of him.


    ¡­


    Talia dressed up in the bathroom, fixed her hair, and finished breakfast in record time, grateful that Alpha Damon didn¡¯te out of the closet.


    When she was ready, Talia peeked into the closet as Damon finished sorting thest few pieces of clothing.


    His back was facing her, and Talia took a moment to observe in his V-shaped torso that was clearly visible because his shirt was tucked into his pants. Jeans that Alpha Damon wore were tight in the hip area, as if designed to emphasize the toned muscles of his buttocks.


    Talia silently acknowledged that Damon¡¯s physique is impressive.


    Damon is not too muscr, like some warriors she saw in the Red Moon pack. Damon¡¯s body is well proportioned with just the right amount of muscles, and she remembered the sensation when she slept next to Alpha Damon, with her head on his shoulder and her arm over his abs.


    Every part of his body was hard. Well, maybe not his raven ck hair. That looked silky.


    The image of the ck wolf from her dream popped into her mind. He had ck fur that was very soft, and his eyes were icy-blue, just like Damon¡¯s. That was a very vivid dream and Talia remembered it clearly, even the scent of the forest and dark chocte, almost like it was not a dream.


    ¡°I bought you these clothes and I want you to wear them.¡±, Damon said without turning to look at her and Talia hoped that he didn¡¯t notice her gawking at him. ¡°No more rainbows, kittens, and unicorns. You are not a child.¡±


    ¡°OK.¡±, she responded sheepishly. ¡°You said that we are in a hurry, and I¡¯m ready, so¡­¡±, her voice trailed.


    Damon turned to face Talia and cocked his eyebrow in approval.


    Jeans were fitting her well, and the white short-sleeved shirt hugged her breasts and fell loosely, reaching almost to her hips.


    ¡°Turn around, let me see you.¡±, he demanded, but it was more of a plea than an order.


    Talia turned slowly and when shepleted the rotation, Talia gasped when she realized that Damon crossed the distance between them.


    He was only half a step away from her, and his scent made her dizzy. Too close.


    ¡°It suits you well.¡±, Damon said in a low voice and reached for the bottom hem of her shirt, feeling the silky fabric.


    Talia was visibly flustered. She was not used to people being that close orplimenting her, and Alpha Damon made her nervous.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±, she said in a shaky voice and inched away from him. ¡°Are we going now, or¡­?¡±


    Damon hummed ambiguously before confirming. ¡°We are going.¡±


    Talia turned on her heel and headed for the door.


    ¡°Talia!¡±


    She froze when Damon called her name.


    ¡°Yes?¡±, Talia asked while turning toward him in slow motion and she was confused to see him smirking at her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you need shoes?¡±


    Talia wanted to disappear. She was in such a hurry to leave that she forgot she was barefoot.


    And where would she leave? Alpha Damon already said that he will take her for an appointment, so it¡¯s not like she can escape from him.


    Damon watched Talia as she was looking at which shoes to wear and he contacted Maya and Caden through the mind link, ¡®Where is Cassie?¡¯


    ¡®In the garden¡¯, Maya responded.


    ¡®OK. I¡¯ming down with Talia in a minute.¡¯


    ¡®Do you want me to distract Cassie?¡¯, Maya asked.


    Damon thought for a moment. He didn¡¯t want Cassie to be aware of Talia¡¯s presence, but Cassie already saw Talia and the more he hides Talia, the more suspicious it will be. If Cassie thinks of Talia as any other she-wolf, Cassie will not make a fuss.


    ¡®No need. As long as Cassie doesn¡¯t know that Talia is staying on my floor, it¡¯s fine.¡¯ And even if she finds out, Damon woulde up with some exnation.


    Damon and Talia exited the main door when Cassie¡¯s voice reached them.


    ¡°Alpha Damon! Alpha Damon!¡±


    Cassie stopped in her tracks at the sight of Damon who was holding the door of his ck armored Lexus SUV for Talia to enter. He even gave Talia his hand to help her get in!


    ¡°Are you going somewhere?¡±, Cassie asked.


    ¡°Human town.¡±, Damon responded.


    Cassie was irked to see a girl sitting in the front passenger¡¯s seat of Damon¡¯s car.


    With Talia¡¯s bruises fading and good clothes, Cassie didn¡¯t recognize Talia as the girl from the kitchen that Cassie used of stealing food.


    ¡°Can I join you?¡±


    Damon turned to face Cassie. ¡°I¡¯m taking her for an appointment.¡±


    Cassie¡¯s eyes darted from Talia to Damon. ¡°Personally? Can¡¯t you get someone else to take her?¡±


    ¡°I also have some business in the human town, so it¡¯s on the way. Is there anything else I need to report to you, Miss Cassie, or am I allowed to leave?¡±, Damon asked sarcastically, and his face darkened in a second. ¡°What gives you the right to question me?¡±


    Cassie shrunk. ¡°I was only curious. I apologize, Alpha Damon.¡±


    ¡°Curiosity killed the cat, Miss Cassie.¡±, Damon said grimly. ¡°It¡¯s your luck that you are not a feline. Be careful, Miss Cassie, there is a limit to my patience just how there is a limit of how much your father¡¯s identity can protect you.¡±


    Cassie jolted when Damon closed the door on the passenger¡¯s side, and she watched him as he went on the driver¡¯s side of the car.


    She couldn¡¯t believe this!


    He just left with some no-name girl.


    Cassie stomped back into the mansion, and she found Maya. ¡°Who is that girl?¡±


    ¡°What girl?¡±


    ¡°The one that Alpha Damon took to human town.¡±


    ¡°Why are you asking me? Was I outside? How am I supposed to know which girl went with him? If you didn¡¯t realize, I am a busy Beta and I don¡¯t have time to waste on idle gossip.¡±, Maya said with a smirk and sashayed away from Cassie.


    Cassie felt rage bubbling inside her, but there was nothing she could do.


    Besides, if Damon didn¡¯t introduce the girl, she was not important. Cassie knows everyone who is important in the Dark Howlers pack, and that girl can¡¯t be more than an Omega.


    But¡­ would Omega have such good clothes?


    What if it¡¯s a girl from another pack who came to seduce Damon?


    Is that girl the reason why Alpha Damon is always busy? Is he taking her ces while Cassie is stuck in the packhouse waiting?


    But who is that girl? Cassie is friendly with many misses who have Alphas and Betas for parents and she attends various events. Cassie was quite confident that she never saw Talia.


    As a fashionista, Cassie noticed that Talia wore jeans and a silky white short-sleeved shirt, and just by one nce Cassie could estimate that those are not cheap clothes. She even spotted finecy details at the edge of the¡­


    Cassie¡¯s eyes widened when she remembered that this was not the first time she saw such white fabric withcy details.


    Is it possible that Damon¡¯s shopping for clothes from yesterday was for that girl? And Maya and Stephanie took it to the third floor!


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on:


    mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 52 [Bonus ]The Drive To The Human Town

    Talia observed the scene between Damon and Cassie, and she was not sure what to think. Why did Alpha Damon treat Cassie coldly? Did they have an argument? Or maybe Cassie offended him somehow.


    Just based on thest minute, if Talia didn¡¯t witness the scene in the kitchen of Cassie clinging to Damon¡¯s arm, Talia would think that Damon doesn¡¯t like Cassie. But if he doesn¡¯t like her, why would he allow her to stay in the packhouse and call herself his Luna? And the way Cassie looked at Damon definitely insinuated intimacy that goes beyond holding his hand.


    It didn¡¯t make sense.


    This solidified Talia¡¯s opinion that Alpha Damon is extremely unstable.


    In a way, it made Talia feel better because now Talia knew that she was not the only one to be treated inconsistently by Alpha Damon.


    If Talia was not so terrified of him, she would rmend him to see a psychiatrist because his behavior can¡¯t be normal.


    Everyone around Alpha Damon is on pins and needles while guessing what his mood will be. That¡¯s not healthy.


    The moment the car started moving and pop music from the radio filled the space, Talia forgot about Cassie and all the drama from the packhouse. She even forgot that she was sitting in the car next to a scary Alpha.


    Talia sank in her seat and observed the changing scenery outside. She always loved the outdoors. Since she was mostly stuck in the attic, being outside came with a sense of freedom.


    The road snaked through the dense forest that allowed morning sun rays to peek through asionally, creating a light show that Talia enjoyed even though sudden bursts of light blinded her for a moment.


    Just like Talia, Damon also forgot about Cassie the moment he started the car.


    The whole cabin of his ck armored Lexus SUV was filled with the sweet citrusy scent of freesia and his world was at peace. The only thing that could make it better would be if he and Talia held hands or if she leaned on him, but he didn¡¯t have a good excuse for that to happen, so he gripped the steering wheel tightly.


    Damon was stealing nces of Talia, and he was happy to see that she rxed. He took a double-take at the small smile that appeared at the corner of her lips. She was enchanting.


    The streets of Darkbourne were not very busy, but the cobblestoned town square with the clocktower in the middle was buzzing with activity.


    Damon noticed that Talia straightened up to see better what¡¯s going on there.


    ¡°They are getting ready for the fair.¡±, Damon said, and Talia nodded without looking at him.


    She remembered that Maya told her how there will be a fair happening soon.


    ¡°What kind of a fair is it?¡±, Talia asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s a celebration, but Maya is mostly interested in the fair part which is happening on this square and that¡¯s why she described it as such.¡±, Damon responded before giving a lengthy exnation.


    ¡°Summer solstice is the day when we celebrate life and new beginnings. It starts in the morning. The whole town participates, and only a handful of stores is open in the morning, while all are closed in the afternoon. Peoplepete in various sports, and there is a parade. Kids make their own floats, and the best ones get rewards in various categories. In the afternoon, vendors open their stalls with games and food in the town square. In the evening, there is music, drinks, and dancing around the bonfire, and it all ends with fireworks.¡±


    Damon was talking about normal things, but his deep maic voice turned it into the most fascinating story ever and Talia hoped that he will continue talking.


    Damon saw that Talia was listening intently, so he added a few more details, ¡°Unmated she-wolves dance barefoot around the bonfire, for Moon Goddess to see and to send them their mate. Girls also make gands of flowers and give them to their loved ones, with the hope that their affection will be returned.¡±


    He really didn¡¯t know much more because as a kid, he would usually disappear and do some mischief, and since he became the Alpha, Damon¡¯s attendance consisted of watchingpetitions, giving away prizes, and when the official part is over, he would scoop one or twodies that will keep himpany for the night, and that¡¯s it for him. But there was no way he will say that to Talia.


    For Talia, Damon¡¯s story about the celebration sounded fantastic, and she was confident that Damon gets the most gands every year.


    Damon saw the excitement in her expression. ¡°It¡¯s a fun day. You will see.¡±


    Talia understood that his exnation was over.


    She returned her gaze to the window on her side in time to see thest few houses of Darkbourne before the road took them through the forest again.


    She wondered what kind of performances will be included. Will there be a circus? Olivia told her that in the circus, people do all kinds of moves and they walk on a rope that is super-high, and there are animals and magic¡­ and clowns. She really wanted to see that.


    Talia never danced or drank alcohol, so she was not sure what to think about the evening activities around the bonfire.


    As for the stalls, Talia was excited, but she was sure that ying games and eating food will cost money, and she is broke, so her mood dropped a bit.


    She decided to talk to Damon about getting a job, or maybe she should ask him to see the doctor, and then Travis can convince Alpha Damon to allow Talia to work. Damon said that she can work as soon as Travis says that it¡¯s OK and convincing the good doctor to give her a pass sounded much easier than negotiating with an unstable Alpha.


    After an unknown measure of time, they emerged from the forest and took the threene-wide highway. Talia observed that there were many other cars. She wondered if they are out of the Dark Howlers territory.


    It didn¡¯t take long before Damon took an exit and they ended up on a smaller road that led into a town.


    The town wasrger than Darkbourne, but there were no skyscrapers, and the tallest building Talia saw was six stories high.


    As they approached the city center, the number of people on the streets increased and there were many stores and restaurants.


    Talia¡¯s face was nearly glued to the tinted ss as she took in the sight in front of her.


    She was disappointed when after a right turn they ended up in a side street and she took a note that he parked into the VIP spot of the hospital.


    ¡°Do youe here often?¡±, Talia asked, and Damon understood that she was asking because of the parking spot.


    ¡°My parents donated to build this ce, and I give asional donations which grants me preferential treatment.¡±, Damon exined before adding, ¡°Travispleted his medical residency here and he arranges appointments for us when needed, which is not very often. They think of us as humans.¡±


    Talia understood that there should be no werewolf talks.


    The automatic double door opened so that Talia and Damon can step inside.


    The entry hall was spacious with sitting arrangements and Talia¡¯s attention was drawn to the big screens that were hanging on the wall, disying information about doctors, nurses, and current wait times.


    Both nurses at the registering station had foolish smiles and hearts in their eyes at the sight of Damon. The blonde even nudged the brte with her elbow. Shameless.


    Talia was sure that they didn¡¯t notice her at all.


    ¡°How can I help you?¡±, one of the nurses asked in a singing voice without removing her amorous gaze from Damon.


    ¡°Talia ke has an appointment.¡±, Damon responded, and Talia blinked when she realized that he was talking about her.


    ke? Where did thate from?Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    The truth is that Talia didn¡¯t know herst name. Since she knows about herself, she was Talia. Just Talia.


    ¡®Talia ke. Talia ke.¡¯, Talia repeated a few times in her mind and concluded that it doesn¡¯t sound bad. Actually, she liked it.


    The nurse was checking something on herputer before pointing to the left. ¡°Take the second elevator to the third floor and from there follow arrows to the wellness center.¡±


    On the third floor, they found a small lounge with dozen of chairs and two benches where a few people were sitting in silence, obviously waiting for their turn.


    Damon and Talia took their seats on ck metal chairs that had leather upholstery.


    Talia observed gray carpet and off-white walls that had abstract paintings to bring a ssh of color into the space.


    Floor-to-ceiling windows provided ample daylight and a view to the street below, and Talia was itching to go closer and check it out, but she held back that urge because she is not a kid, and she should sit obediently like everyone else. What if Alpha Damon scolds her? The best thing is to not attract attention.


    They waited for less than a minute when one middle-aged man exited the door on the right, and his eyes scanned the people in the lounge expectantly.


    His face lit up when he saw Damon.


    ¡°Mr. ke¡­¡±, the man called with a smile.


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on:


    mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 53 Mrs. Blake

    Damon nced at Talia to confirm that she didn¡¯t react when the man called him ¡®Mr. ke¡¯, and Damon took that as her approval. Yup, she definitely didn¡¯t mind using hisst name.


    There was a time when werewolves didn¡¯t havest names. Even in modern times, they identify themselves by the first name, pack they belong to, and their position.


    However, since they are coexisting with humans, each werewolf family has a surname. It helps them blend in.


    Of course, prominent werewolf families are an exception, because theirst name also signifies status, and the surname ke is like royalty in the society of werewolves from the time before Damon¡¯s grand-grandfather.


    When Travis was setting up Talia¡¯s appointment with the nutritionist, he asked Damon what surname to use because Talia told him that she doesn¡¯t have one when he was writing down her personal information. Actually, theck of Talia¡¯s background went beyond just herst name and it told Travis how neglected she was.


    ¡°Talia ke¡±, Damon responded to Travis after a second of silence. It sounded right.


    ¡°ke? Are you sure?¡±, Travis asked, knowing that no one would dare to use Alpha¡¯sst name lightly.


    ¡°Is that a problem?¡±


    ¡°No, no. Not a problem¡­¡±, Travis was quick to deny it. Who is he to question his Alpha?


    Back to the present¡­


    ¡°It¡¯s nice to see you here, but I hope it¡¯s nothing serious.¡±, the man spoke excitedly while extending his hand toward Damon for a handshake, and the friendly smile told Talia that the man knows Damon from before. ¡°Dr. Jones is expecting you.¡±


    Damon stood up and shook hands with the man before turning to check on Talia who gingerly stood behind him.


    ¡°Mr. Mendez, this is Talia. The appointment is for her. I wonder it won¡¯t be a problem if Ie in with her.¡±


    ¡°Not a problem, Mr. ke. Please,e this way¡­¡±


    Talia walked after Damon as they made their way through the hallway, and she thought how it¡¯s strange that these people call him ¡®Mr. ke¡¯. So far, everyone has called him Alpha or Alpha Damon, but humans don¡¯t know about the werewolf hierarchy and how scary Alpha Damon can be.


    Talia didn¡¯t think that ¡®ke¡¯ fits him. It was too ordinary, and she also heard it not long ago.


    ¡®Mr. ke¡­ ke¡­¡¯, Talia repeated silently while jogging her memory and her face fell when she realized that only a few minutes ago she heard thatst name, but it was tied to her.


    Why did Damon say that her name is Talia ke? Is that his way of joking?


    Talia had so many questions, but she knew that this was not the right ce or time to voice them, so she kept quiet. Actually, there is no good time to ask those questions. Period.


    Somehow, ¡®Talia ke¡¯ didn¡¯t sound so good anymore because even as a fake name, it carried the weight of problems like Cassie and Marcy and who knows how many other women.


    Sure, Talia can say that she is Alpha Damon¡¯s sister or a cousin, but she feared that those she-wolves who are buzzing around Damon will start imagining.


    Marcy gave Talia a beating for seeing something she shouldn¡¯t see, and if the rumors spread that Talia and Alpha Damon are more than acquaintances, Talia was confident that Marcy and Marcy-alike women wille for her throat! Or will they try to befriend her in order to get to Damon? Talia was not sure which one is worse.


    The best thing is not to have any connection with Alpha Damon. The further she stays from him, the better.


    She already had so many things to deal with and people misunderstanding her rtionship with Alpha Damon shouldn¡¯t be added to that pile.


    Talia told herself not to panic. Talia ke is just a temporary thing in order for her to have this appointment in the human hospital, and she will never-ever-ever-EVER use it again.


    ¡­


    A short curvaceous nurse with a red pixie cut and big green eyes made Talia stand on the scale and she took her height and weight before giving questionnaires for Talia to fill and telling them to sit and wait for the doctor toe.


    Talia noticed that this nurse was also stealing nces at Damon.


    By now, Talia confirmed that Damon is a ma for women, and she wondered if all that attention is bothering him. It didn¡¯t look like it.


    Damon¡¯s iprehensible gaze was glued to Talia, and she wished that he looks away before people start getting funny ideas.


    Dr. Jones is a middle-aged woman whose brown hair was lifted into a loose bun, and her age didn¡¯t stop her from eyeing Damon in a way no doctor should look at a patient. Actually, Damon was not a patient, but he was apanying one and Dr. Jones¡¯s behavior was not professional.


    Damon and Talia were sitting on chairs, and a desk separated them from Dr. Jones.


    The woman was asking questions, and Talia responded, but Talia doubted that the woman listened to a word Talia said because her eyes didn¡¯t leave Damon.


    After some time, Dr. Jones pushed into Talia¡¯s hands brochures about bnced meals that included examples of portions for grains, proteins, vegetables, fruits, oils, and also rmendations for water intake.


    With just one nce, Talia confirmed that this was generic information she could get online.


    Since Maya gave her the tablet, Talia spent a lot of time on the inte and she looked up malnutrition and bnced meals that Travis mentioned, and nothing that Dr. Jones said was new.


    Talia was exasperated. Why did she evene here? She could have stayed in her room and sleep instead of waking up and getting ready while experiencing stress due to Alpha Damon¡¯s presence.


    And she was also concerned that Alpha Damon will use her of wasting his time.


    Wait! Didn¡¯t he say to Cassie that he has something to do in the town? But then¡­ why did hee with her to this appointment?


    Talia nced at Alpha Damon and met his gaze directed at her.


    ¡°Do you have any questions for Dr. Jones?¡±, Damon asked Talia.


    Yes! Is this how she treats all her patients? How can she be a doctor when she is shamelessly ogling at you instead of focusing on the reason I¡¯m here?


    Dr. Jones didn¡¯t ask any questions; she was just talking like she has all the answers.


    Talia¡¯s experience with doctors is that they are warm and kind and attentive, and Dr. Jones was none of that.


    But Talia knew that Damon brought her here and that he is a donor and that she should be grateful for everything instead ofining.


    ¡°No.¡±, Talia responded in a small voice.


    Of course, Damon knew she was lying.


    Damon spent thest decade in various meetings and situations where he needed to read people and he was quite good at it. He didn¡¯t miss Dr. Jones¡¯s flirty behavior and as much as he wished that Talia was jealous, he could see that¡¯s not the case.


    Talia¡¯s defeated expression gave him heartache and he had an urge to fix it.


    Damon¡¯s icy-blue eyes bore into her honeyed ones, and she feared that he can read her mind, so she lowered her head.


    A secondter, Damon touched her chin and made her look at him.


    A small smile appeared at the corner of his lips as delightful sparks prickled his fingers, and he spoke to Dr. Jones without diverting his gaze from Talia.


    ¡°Dr. Jones, it seems that my wife is not happy with the level of service you provided.¡±


    Talia¡¯s eyes widened. What the heck? Did he say, wife? WIFE!?


    But it¡¯s just a show, for the human hospital, right? RIGHT!?


    Damon enjoyed Talia¡¯s reaction. He leaned close to her and spoke only for Talia to hear, ¡°y with me here, doll.¡±


    Without waiting for Talia to respond, Damon¡¯s arm moved behind Talia and his handnded on her shoulder.


    ¡°Excuse me¡­¡±, Dr. Jones said in a shaky voice. ¡°Did I do something to displease you?¡±


    ¡°You know very well what you did and what you didn¡¯t do, Dr. Jones.¡± Damon narrowed his eyes at the doctor. ¡°Are you aware of the donations my ke family contributed to this hospital?¡±


    The middle-aged woman was visibly flustered while her eyes nervously moved from Talia to Damon.


    She wondered if she read the situation wrongly.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Dr. Jones didn¡¯t know what¡¯s the rtionship between Damon and Talia, but that doesn¡¯t mean anything.


    She smiled at Damon, and he smiled back, and it took from there. He paid attention to what she said and responded favorably to her nonverbal clues, so she assumed that she has a chance.


    He is handsome and rich, and on top of that, he is a donor to this hospital. She would be a fool not to try to get into Damon¡¯s good books.


    Everyone thinks that she is well-to-do because people call her ¡®Dr. Jones¡¯, but she got the job as a nutritionist based on her father knowing one of the big-shots in the hospital and her degree which she earned after a six months-long course.


    The truth is that regr nurses are earning more than her, and that ¡®Dr.¡¯ is only a title she has because she works in the hospital.


    But why was he so upset? Other than flirty nces and smiles, nothing else happened.


    Dr. Jones thought that things are going well, but now Damon looked at her darkly and asked her if she is aware that he is a donor.


    ¡°Yes, yes. Of course, I know, Mr. ke.¡±


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on:


    mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 54 Mrs. Blake (2)

    Damon spoke coldly to the doctor across the table. ¡°Because of our rtionship with this hospital, we came here first. To say that I¡¯m disappointed is an understatement. When we return home, my dear wife and I will reconsider our future donations.¡±


    ¡°That¡­ That¡­¡±, Dr. Jones felt that her soul might leave her body. ¡°Please, reconsider, Mr. ke. This was just the first appointment for us to getfortable with each other.¡± She saw that Damon¡¯s expression turned icy and she quickly corrected herself, ¡°I mean¡­ for me and Mrs. ke to get to know each other. The next appointment will be more specific and tailored to her needs.¡±


    Ignoring Dr. Jones¡¯s excuses, Damon took Talia¡¯s hand in his and closed his eyes while savoring the delightful sparks he craved for.


    His thumb caressed Talia¡¯s knuckles once, twice, and then he lifted her hand and kissed the back of her palm.


    Talia was still recuperating from the shock of Damonbeling her as his wife, and then he called her a ¡®doll¡¯, and she held her breath while staring at Damon and wondering when he will let go of her hand.


    Was there a need for him to kiss her?


    His lips lingered on her skin much longer than necessary and Talia silently confirmed that she identified one part of Damon that is soft (other than his hair).


    A few unruly ck strands fell over Damon¡¯s forehead and Talia had an urge to push them back and verify how soft his hair is, but she held back.


    Damon opened his eyes and looked up at Talia while his breath fanned the ce he kissed just a second ago.


    The invisible sparks still danced on Damon¡¯s lips, and he wondered how intense it will be if he goes for the real kiss because just a peck on the hand was not enough.


    He really wanted to kiss her thoroughly.


    For Talia, all this was unexpected, and she couldn¡¯t look away from his icy-blue eyes that were anything other than icy. There was endless heat and desire, and his brows furrowed a bit, making Talia guess that he was thinking about something unpleasant.


    If she knew that Damon was suppressing his urge to kiss her on the lips, Talia would probably run for the door. Assuming that her legs would listen.


    Dr. Jones was saying something but neither Damon nor Talia heard her as they were lost in their own world of mixed signals andplex emotions.


    After an unknown measure of time, Damon pulled himself out of the depths of Talia¡¯s honeyed eyes and he turned to the doctor without letting let go of Talia¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Dr. Jones, there will be no next appointment. We will be in touch with your director.¡±, Damon¡¯s voice was distant like he was the king addressing someone way below him.


    Damon stood up and Talia followed without the need for him to pull her up.


    Talia walked next to Damon, and she stared at his hand that held hers. When did their fingers intece?


    His hold was solid and warm and even though it didn¡¯t hurt, she was aware that she wouldn¡¯t be able to pull her hand out unless he allows it.


    Talia knew that she should disperse her unreasonable thoughts before they fully form. Damon is way above her and unless she lets go, the only oue is heartbreak. Damon is the Alpha of thergest pack in North America, and she is nobody.


    However, after Damon gave a lesson to Dr. Jones, Talia didn¡¯t mind holding his hand just for a bit longer. Just for a bit.


    His hand holding hers came with a dose of security and she acknowledged that this Damon makes her feel safe, like anything is possible.


    ¡°Mr. ke! Mr. ke!¡±, a breathy male voice was heard when Damon and Talia stepped out from the automatic double door on the main floor.


    It was Mr. Mendez, the man who weed them in the wellness center.


    When he caught up with Damon and Talia, Mr. Mendez patted his chest and took a few deep breaths to stabilize his mood and then he spoke quickly, ¡°Mr. ke, I¡¯m not sure what happened, but Dr. Jones said that she apologizes for her indiscretion. She didn¡¯t mean to offend you.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Mendez, you shouldn¡¯t be talking to me. Dr. Jones offended my wife.¡±


    Mr. Mendez¡¯s eyes shed in surprise and Talia¡¯s knees shook.


    She couldn¡¯t believe that Alpha Damon addressed her as his wife again. How can he lie like that? And it¡¯s in the open! What if someone overhears!? She will need to sleep with her eyes open so that one of those crazy women doesn¡¯t slit her throat!


    Talia looked at Damon who gave her his signature half-smile that could put in a daze almost any woman¡­ but not Talia. Talia saw it as a precursor of a cmity.


    How can he be so calm?


    Talia understood that Alpha Damon probably did this y many times before. These people are not shocked that he addressed her as his wife, they are probably surprised because thest time he came here, his wife was someone else.


    It made sense. After all, Alpha Damon has many women who want to be his Luna, and Talia was confident that this is a game Damon enjoys.


    She told herself not to overthink it because by tomorrow, if not earlier, some other girl will hold Damon¡¯s hand and Talia will be lucky if she is not used again of stealing food.


    ¡°Mrs. ke, please, ept our apology.¡± Mr. Mendez¡¯s words pulled Talia out of her thoughts.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    She looked at Damon, silently asking for guidance on how to handle this, but Damon shrugged and gave her hand a squeeze, which she understood as a sign that she can handle it any way she wants.


    How should she handle it? Talia took a deep breath and imagined herself as someone who has a solid backing, someone like Damon¡¯s Luna, Mrs. ke, because right now, that¡¯s who she was.


    ¡°Mr. Mendez¡±, Talia called. ¡°It¡¯s not on you to apologize for someone else¡¯s fault, and in this case, an apology won¡¯t solve anything. Dr. Jones¡¯s behavior was unprofessional. I came to her because I need help, but she acted like my condition is not important. I wonder if I¡¯m an isted case, or if other patients have simr experiences. I hope that you can conduct an investigation and take measures as needed. Show us that you will be unbiased and put your patients first. Our donations are for the benefit of patients, and not for the staff to act haughtily.¡±


    Damon forgot how to breathe while feeling the royal aura around Talia. If he was not holding her hand, he would think that he imagined it. Or maybe he did imagine it because Talia was like a queen with an ancient Alpha bloodline that could suppress everyone; him included. But the air around her was not oppressive, it was strong and gentle at the same time, the one that makes others want to please her.


    Mr. Mendez pulled a white handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed beads of sweat that formed on his forehead.


    He looked at Talia apologetically and bowed a little before responding, ¡°Yes, Mrs. ke. We will conduct the investigation and let you know about the oue.¡±


    Talia nodded curtly and turned to Damon. ¡°Can we leave now?¡±


    Damon hummed in agreement and led the way toward the car.


    He was impressed with how Talia handled herself.


    She didn¡¯t raise a fuss based on the identity his wife has, but she pointed out that patientse first. Talia made sure that Mr. Mendez knows she was displeased, yet she didn¡¯t sever their ties, giving him hope that he can salvage the situation by handling the case himself.


    Talia was not arrogant, and she didn¡¯t allow them to step over her while fighting for the others.


    Selfless.


    She used her authority and power to benefit less privileged ones.


    Talia acted like a real Luna and Damon could feel his wolf¡¯s tail wagging in approval.


    Damon and Talia got into the car and seconds passed in silence that stretched thin and pressed on Talia¡¯s delicate nerves, turning them into strings that might snap anytime.


    ¡°Did I do something wrong?¡±, Talia asked, unable to conceal her insecurity.


    Damon realized that he was staring. ¡°No. You were brilliant.¡± Dazzling, amazing, fantastic, perfect to the point of making him question if he was worthy to have her as his mate.


    He was mind blown because Talia didn¡¯t have any training nor did she follow anyone¡¯s example, Talia did what she thought was right and it left him speechless.


    To say that Damon met hundreds of Luna candidates is probably not an exaggeration. Those women unted their background, status, power, wealth, appearance, yet not a single one showed care for the little guys. And here was Talia, a seemingly simple girl who used the identity Damon gave her to fight for people she never met.


    Any pack would be blessed to have Talia as their Luna. And this girl in front of him was his.


    ¡°Uhm¡­¡±, Talia cleared her throat awkwardly and nced down. ¡°Can you let go of my hand?¡±


    Damon cocked his handsome eyebrow. ¡°No.¡±


    He really didn¡¯t want to let go.


    ¡°Mr. Mendez left, and no one can see us. There is no need for us to pretend to be¡­ married.¡±, Talia said thisst word with difficulty.


    Damon hummed ambiguously. ¡°Who said that you are my wife only for this hospital visit?¡±


    Talia¡¯s brain stuttered, refusing to process Damon¡¯s words. What does that even mean?


    Talia opened her mouth to protest and then closed it when she realized that she has no idea what to say. Nothing made sense.


    Damon chuckled and started the car.


    Without letting go of her hand, Damon drove out of the parking lot and merged into the traffic of the human town.


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on:


    mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 55 Negotiating With Alpha Damon

    Talia was sitting in a booth of a fancy steakhouse, next to Damon, and pinching herself secretly under the table, to confirm this was not a dream.


    She would never imagine that she will find herself in a ce like this, with Alpha Damon.


    The steakhouse had dimmed lights and a wooden interior that gave a feel of a hunter¡¯s lodge. The walls were decorated with big photos of humans with guns and animals they hunted, and the chandeliers were made out of antlers.


    The local radio station yed country music and it all looked like a different dimension from the modern world outside which was made out of concrete and metal.


    A waiter took their orders for drinks and left two menus on the table.


    Talia was on the second page when her mind drifted to earlier that morning.


    After the hospital, Talia thought that Damon will drive them back to the packhouse of the Dark Howlers pack, or maybe go to wherever Damon needs to go, but he parked the car in a public parking lot and the two of them spent the next two hours in the city park.


    The pebbled path was bordered with pale pink bricks on each side, there were benches along the way, and the perfectly trimmed greenwn was livened up by an asional patch of colorful flowers. Tall trees provided frequent shade for the visitors and there was a pond with ducks who were fighting over breadcrumbs that humans threw at them.


    The well-maintained park was a serene oasis in the middle of the city, with only one noisy corner that vibrated with children¡¯sughter and squeals as they enjoyed the y area.


    Damon and Talia walked in pleasant silence, and he didn¡¯t let go of her hand when he bought blue-colored cotton candy from the vendor that had a stall next to the water fountain.


    Talia never saw anything like it before. It was light and puffy like a cloud on a stick, sweeter than sugar while giving away a faint scent of blueberries.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    ¡°What about you?¡±, Talia asked when she realized that Damon got only one.


    Damon moved like a sh and pinched a piece of the cotton candy she was holding.


    ¡°This will do.¡±, he said before giving her a wink and stuffing the treat into his mouth.


    It was the first time for Talia to see the yful side of Damon, and his smile reached his eyes, making him approachable.


    During that time, he was not Alpha Damon, but he was Damon. Just Damon.


    ¡°Do you know what you want for lunch?¡±


    Damon¡¯s question pulled Talia into reality from her thoughts about their park visit.


    It took her a moment to realize that a tall and slim man was standing next to their table with a notepad in his hand, obviously waiting for their order.


    ¡°Not really.¡±, Talia responded honestly. ¡°Everything looks delicious.¡±


    She didn¡¯t look much at the menu, but she saw that there are several pages that were filled to the brim. Names of dishes were listed, which didn¡¯t mean much to Talia, and the prices were not there.


    Damon noticed that Talia was spacing out and he couldn¡¯t believe that she was doing that in his presence. All women (human and she-wolves) are always trying to get his attention, utilizing every second to impress him, yet here was Talia¡­ sitting with him in one of the most expensive restaurants in town, just the two of them, and her mind was somewhere else. Unbelievable!


    Again, Talia proved that she is different than any other woman Damon met.


    Damon nced at the waiter. ¡°You heard mydy. Give us a sampler of everything.¡±


    Talia was flustered. What was that, ¡®MYdy¡¯? And what did he mean by, ¡®sampler of everything¡¯? The menu was huge!


    But the waiter was gone already, and Talia could only helplessly look after the man.


    Damon chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t make such a face. Two doctors said you are underweight. We will fix that.¡±


    At the mention of doctors, Damon¡¯s mood fell. ¡°Don¡¯t think about Dr. Jones. I will ask Travis to find you another nutritionist.¡±


    ¡°No need.¡±, Talia said quickly earning her a raised eyebrow from Damon.


    She fidgeted for a bit before exining, ¡°I looked it up on the inte. Bnced meals are not a big deal. As long as I follow basic guidelines and have vitamins that Doctor Travis prescribed for me, I will be fine.¡±


    She saw not only rmendations but also recipes and videos which showed how to make various dishes. It looked easy, as long as she had the ingredients and ess to the kitchen.


    Damon was not happy about this. ¡°You should consult a professional.¡±


    ¡°Can you give me four weeks? If I don¡¯t gain weight, I will see any doctor you pick.¡±


    Damon was surprised by this request. People either ept his demands or risk facing his wrath. That¡¯s how things go, but Talia was set on opposing him. Or was she testing his limits?


    ¡°Mrs. ke, are you negotiating with me?¡±


    Talia¡¯s face exploded in a blush. ¡°Can you not call me like that? I know it¡¯s a joke, but you might slip when someone else is nearby and it will get me in trouble.¡±


    Damon nodded faintly while thinking that it¡¯s a joke, for now. ¡°I called you Mrs. ke because only Luna gets to talk back to the Alpha.¡±


    Talia was not sure if she should believe him. Surely, someone else will voice their thoughts if they disagree with him. Right?


    She wondered if she should apologize.


    ¡°Two weeks.¡±, Damon said, and it took Talia a moment to understand that he agreed to give her a chance to increase her weight on her own.


    Talia was about to thank him, but then she remembered that there is one more thing.


    ¡°About that¡­ Can you approve my request to help in the kitchen? My hands are not aching anymore and instead of me exining to Stephanie or someone else what I should eat, I can make my own meals.¡±


    Damon poked his cheek with his tongue while scrutinizing Talia.


    Her request made sense. Talia¡¯s bruises are barely visible, and she is not wrapping her wrist anymore, so there should be no problems in letting her work in the kitchen, but how can Damon miss the opportunity to get some benefits?


    ¡°Two conditions.¡±, he said after some time, gaining Talia¡¯s full attention.


    Damon raised his index finger. ¡°I get to taste what you make. Whatever you make for yourself, you will make for me as well.¡±


    ¡°Sure!¡±, Talia agreed enthusiastically. ¡°But I must warn you that I¡¯m not good at cooking so it might taste horrible until I get the hang of it.¡±


    Damon stifled augh. So many women around him are trying to impress him by portraying themselves in perfect light, yet here is Talia, warning him that she was not good at cooking.


    ¡°I appreciate your honesty, Talia. In order to prepare myself for what¡¯sing, I will ask Travis to prescribe me some digestion medicine.¡±


    Talia made a troubled expression. ¡°I said that it might taste bad, not that I will poison you.¡±


    His sly smile told her that he was teasing her, and she asked quickly, ¡°What¡¯s the second condition?¡±


    Damon extended his hand toward her and put it on the table, palm up.


    Talia nced from his hand to his face, not sure what he wants.


    ¡°Your hand.¡±, Damon said.


    Talia didn¡¯t get it. ¡°My hand?¡±


    ¡°I get to hold your hand whenever I want, and you will notin or ask questions. Do we have a deal?¡±


    Talia had a bad feeling about this, but she couldn¡¯t just refuse. After all, she was one step from getting the approval from the scary Alpha that she can work in the kitchen. She will cook and learn and eventually make scrumptious meals, just like the ones she saw in magazines.


    ¡°You won¡¯t embarrass me?¡±, Talia asked reluctantly.


    ¡°Did I ever embarrass you, when someone else was around?¡±


    Talia was about to say that he did, plenty of times, but that second use made her pause.


    It was true. Damon didn¡¯t embarrass Talia when someone was around. He would either treat her well or ignore her, and neither of those two counts as embarrassments.


    Talia thought how it¡¯s not a big deal. It¡¯s just holding hands, and if anyone would be embarrassed to see them like that, it should be Damon because Talia is a nobody.


    ¡°Deal.¡±, she responded.


    Damon¡¯s eyebrows shoot up and he nced at his empty palm that was on the table. ¡°Well?¡±


    Talia realized that he wanted to hold her hand. Like, right now.


    She didn¡¯t understand what¡¯s the big deal with holding hands, but she obeyed.


    The moment their hands touched, Damon¡¯s fingers moved between Talia¡¯s, and his wicked smile told her that she agreed to this rashly.


    ¡°Why did you ask to hold my hand?¡±


    ¡°It feels good.¡±, Damon responded without missing a beat. ¡°Does it feel good for you?¡±


    Talia looked at their connected hands and she had to admit that it feels good. Is it because his hand is so big, or strong, or warm, or because it¡¯s his? Would it feel this good if someone else was holding her hand? Talia was not sure because no one ever held her hand like that.


    ¡°It¡¯s OK.¡±, she responded in a small voice.


    ¡°Just OK?¡±, he asked, and his thumb moved slowly over her thumb, that gentle touch made her hairs stand on ends.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure what are you expecting me to say.¡±, Talia said weakly.


    ¡°The truth, Talia. That¡¯s the only thing I expect from you.¡±


    There was something in his tone and the whole situation that made her heart skip a beat.


    ¡°It feels good.¡±, she whispered while hoping that the dim lighting in the restaurant was concealing her definitely red cheeks.


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on:


    mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 56 The Magic Was Over

    Talia released the breath she was holding when the food arrived. It was a much-needed distraction because, for some unknown reason, she was flustered like never before even though Damon released her hand in order to hold utensils.


    A massive te of food was ced in the middle of the table and Talia was not sure where to look first.


    There were different cuts of steaks, grilled chicken, fish, shrimp, and there was some sd also (mostly as a bed for all the meaty delicacies).


    ¡°I rmend that you start with this one.¡±, Damon said while cing on her te a piece of roasted meat that was wrapped in bacon. ¡°It¡¯s tender and juicy.¡±


    Damon cut the bite-sized piece before offering it to Talia on a fork. He fed her previously, so she didn¡¯t think much before epting it.


    ¡°Mmm¡­¡±, she hummed in satisfaction as the vors exploded on her tongue. ¡°It¡¯s more than just tender and juicy. It¡¯s the best thing I ever tasted.¡±


    Damon¡¯s gaze was stuck on Talia¡¯s lips that were lifted into a smile and moved as she chewed, and there was a small stream of grease on the left side that escaped her mouth when she spoke.


    He reached with his thumb and wiped it off and Talia stared as Damon put that thumb into his mouth and licking it clean.


    ¡°You are right. It is delicious.¡±, he said, and the way he looked at her made Talia wonder if he was talking about the grease or about her.


    ¡°Eat, my dear wife¡±, Damon said with amusement in his voice. ¡°There is a lot of food and it¡¯s not good when it gets cold. Remember what you like so that you make them for me at home.¡±


    Talia¡¯s stomach flipped when he addressed her as his dear wife, but she refused to let it show, confident that he was teasing her. She focused on what he said after that. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I make you things that you like?¡±


    Damon shot her a side-nce. Should he tell her that he will eat anything as long as he can lick it from her, just like that bit of mess he collected from the edge of her lips?


    A crazy image appeared in his mind: Talia lying on the table, with food arranged over her naked body. He would use his tongue and lick her clean.


    Damn! He was getting hard again.


    ¡­


    ~ The Dark Howlers pack ~


    The ck armored Lexus SUV stopped in front of the packhouse and Damon turned off the engine.


    Damon increased his hold on Talia¡¯s hand, and he had an urge to start the car again and drive away to a ce where he and Talia can be on their own. Just the two of them.


    The big mansion in front of the car is his home since he became aware of his existence, yet now he saw it as a ce where he couldn¡¯t be openly close to Talia because others might see them.


    Damon had his duties and things to do, and if he wanted Talia to tag along, people will notice.


    Damon was not sure if anyone from his pack would dare to act against Talia, but the news that Alpha Damon found a girl who is more than just a hookup will spread and eventually reach the ears of the people who will want to use Talia against Damon; people who will want to harm her in order to harm him.


    Talia noticed the change in Damon¡¯s mood, and she understood that the fun time is over.


    A knot formed in Talia¡¯s chest and she wondered if that¡¯s how Cindere felt when the clock struck midnight and she had to leave the ball because the magic was over.


    Damon¡¯s carefree expression was gone, telling Talia that the spell wore off and she was back to reality where she is Talia. No one.


    Talia didn¡¯t dare to harbor romantic thoughts toward Alpha Damon, but her mind drifted in the direction where he was someone who treated her well, a protector, a friend¡­ maybe someone she could rely on. And now that his lips were pressed into a line while he looked toward the packhouse with his brows slightly furrowed, Talia understood that whatever happened earlier that morning, it will stay there. Should she thank him for the few hours he gave her?


    Talia was not sure what that morning was for Damon. Was that his normal routine? Was he ying a game? Or just taking care of a poor girl that he brought home?


    No matter what it was for Damon or if it held any significance, for Talia, that morning was special, and she was confident that she will cherish it as a wonderful memory for years toe.


    It was the first time that someone treated her so kindly.


    They went to the hospital, and Damon didn¡¯t only teach the rude doctor a lesson, but he also allowed Talia to vent her frustration. And then they walked in the park, and she got to taste blue cotton candy and to see Damon smiling face, not a smile that¡¯s intense or mischievous, but it was a warm and honest smile that made Talia hold her breath and wish for the power to stop time. And then they went to a restaurant, and she got to eat all kinds of tasty food and Damon said that she can work in the kitchen.


    Truly, a morning worth remembering.


    Damon was nice and caring and protective without being overbearing and she liked it very much.


    Talia told herself not to be greedy because she already got so much from him, but a part of her wished that the morning doesn¡¯t end.


    Damon looked at Talia¡¯s lips that were pressed into a line. He wanted her to smile again, just how she did in the park and in the restaurant, but just telling her to smile without giving a reason wouldn¡¯t make sense. Is it possible that Talia was happy because she was away from the pack? He pushed down the anxiety that was forming at the thought of Talia leaving the pack¡­ and him.


    ¡°What will you do now?¡±, Damon asked Talia.


    His question dispelled her unreasonable thoughts about not leaving the car.


    Yes, the caring and yful Damon was gone, and she shouldn¡¯t think about him again because she was facing Alpha Damon, the man who helped her out of the Red Moon pack, and his unstable mood was a reminder that the only one she can truly rely on is herself.


    ¡°I want to find Stephanie and figure out the schedule for the kitchen.¡±Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Damon didn¡¯t want Talia to work. He wanted her to rx and enjoy pampering the whole day, but he saw sparkles of excitement in her eyes when he told her that she can work in the kitchen, and he couldn¡¯t deny her this.


    ¡®Steph, where are you?¡¯, Damon asked through the mind link, and he got a response a secondter.


    ¡°She is restocking the pantry.¡±, Damon told Talia which earned him a smile.


    Reluctantly, Damon let go of Talia¡¯s hand. The loss of sparks tugged on his heart, but it was time to leave the car.


    ¡°Damon¡±, Talia called, and his mood improved because she didn¡¯t use his title.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°For?¡±, he asked.


    ¡°For everything. I had fun.¡±, she said honestly, her smile put him in a daze.


    She had fun? Damon wondered which part for her was the most fun one. Was it the drive, the hospital, the park, or the lunch? For him, each moment was precious, and he wouldn¡¯t mind being stuck in a loop where he gets to repeat them over and over again.


    Talia reached for the door, to open it, and Damon ced his hand on her shoulder.


    ¡°Wait. I will get the door for you.¡±


    Talia observed Damon as he walked around the front of the car, his gaze didn¡¯t leave hers and it all appeared like it was happening in slow motion.


    Somehow, Talia found herself lost in the moment of Damon opening the door for her and giving her his hand to hold. The touch of his palm on hers felt natural, and she wondered how could she get used to it so quickly.


    Talia took a deep breath topose herself when she realized that she missed his warmth the moment he let go of her hand, reminding her that the magic was gone.


    She chided herself internally. ¡®What was I thinking? That we will walk inside holding hands? And then what? Don¡¯t be stupid and focus on the reality.¡¯


    They entered the mansion and Damon noticed that Talia took the hallway to the left that¡¯s leading to the kitchen.


    Damon wanted to go with Talia, but if he did that, people would notice that he was sticking to her.


    He could hear Talia¡¯s voice, ¡°Hi Stephanie, Alpha Damon said that I can work in the kitchen, so I came here to talk to you and see when can I start.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s nice, dear!¡±, Stephanie responded enthusiastically. ¡°I just finished cleaning up after lunch, so there is nothing to do now, but you can help with dinner. We will start around five o¡¯clock. How does that sound?¡±


    Damon took a note that Talia addressed him as ¡®Alpha Damon¡¯ while talking to Stephanie. He would prefer that Talia drops the title when she is addressing him, but he knew that this was better. If people think that she is just an Omega, that would be the best.


    Talia calls him by his name in private, and that should be enough.


    Damon was contemting if he should wait for Talia and go upstairs with her, but then he saw Cassie approaching him and his mood dropped.


    As long as Cassie was not in his face, it was easy to forget that Cassie was still lingering around.


    ¡°Alpha Damon¡±, Cassie called sweetly. ¡°You seem to be awfully busy these days¡­¡±


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on:


    mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 57 The Road Of Becoming Self-sufficient

    Cassie saw Damon standing in the hallway and she wondered, where did the girl from that morning go? Did Damon send her home?


    Cassie knew that after the cold treatment Damon gave her, this was not the time to ask such questions and she needed to show that she will not be in his way.


    ¡°Alpha Damon, I see that something is weighing on your mind. I don¡¯t want to appear nosy, but I hope you are aware that I will help you in any way I can. I can ask my father to assist you, if necessary.¡±


    Damon didn¡¯t want to talk to Cassie, but he knew that she is not going to leave easily, and he was aware that Talia wille out of the kitchen at any moment and head up to her room. If Cassie notices that Talia is heading to the third floor, Cassie might suspect something.


    He wanted Cassie to leave the packhouse as soon as possible, but for that, he needed a reason to send her away or he will risk angering her father and causing problems for his pack.


    At moments like these, Damon hated that he was the Alpha. If he was just a warrior, he would be able to do whatever he wants and the consequences of his actions would be only his to bear and not reflect on thousand of others.


    Hearing that Talia was saying goodbyes to Stephanie, Damon put his hand on Cassie¡¯s back and pushed her toward the direction she came from.


    ¡°How about we continue this talk in the living room?¡±


    Cassie¡¯s face lit up. Ah, he wants to talk to her!


    Talia was in a good mood. The day started with a dose of stress when Alpha Damon woke her up, but the rest of the day was wonderful, and it was getting better because in only a few hours she will join Stephanie in the kitchen and start her epic journey that will make her a culinary master!


    Talia held onto the handrail of the staircases and her eyes fell on two figures a moment before they disappeared in the living room.


    It was just for a moment, but she definitely recognized them as Alpha Damon and Cassie. His hand was on her back, and she saw Cassie¡¯s profile as she gazed at Alpha Damon with hearts in her eyes.


    The mood seemed harmonious and it confirmed that whatever issue they had that morning, it was not an issue anymore.


    Talia felt numbness ovee her senses as she made her way upstairs, down the hallway¡­ and she was not sure how she found herself on the bed.


    Talia chanted silently that whatever she was feeling, it was not allowed, and she should stop it because it will lead to heartbreak.


    It was only one morning of kindness, and to Damon, it didn¡¯t mean anything¡­ just how she doesn¡¯t mean anything, and she should not deceive herself that it was important.


    Alpha Damon took her with him from the Red Moon pack on a whim because he felt pity for her, and maybe there was a dose of responsibility since Talia got two beatings from Marcy because of him.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    She should not delude herself that it was anything like friendship because Damon was only making sure that her health is fine and that she has basic needs covered and everything else was just kindness so that his conscience is clean.


    Talia remembered how heartbroken she was when Olivia left. It was because no one else cared about Talia and she ended uptching onto the person who treated her as human.


    She won¡¯t allow the same thing to repeat.


    As soon as Doctor Travis says that Talia is fine, she will move out of the packhouse and get amodation and duties like other Omegas and leave all this behind her.


    Will she ever get to see Alpha Damon again? Probably during events that he will attend, from the distance.


    Alpha Damon belongs to a different world. The one where other Alphas respect him and women like Cassie and Marcy get to swoon over him, and Talia is a nobody.


    That¡¯s the truth and she should not deceive herself that it¡¯s anything else.


    Alpha Damon gave her a morning full of wonderful surprises and that¡¯s enough. It has to be.


    Maybe one day she finds a man who will treat her well all the time, even when others are present. That man will hold her hand in front of others and tell with pride that she is his, and no one will dare to use her of stealing or beat her for things she didn¡¯t do.


    ¡­


    It was close to five o¡¯clock in the afternoon when Talia dressed in a pink t-shirt with purple kittens on it, and blue leggings.


    Yes, Alpha Damon told her to wear clothes that he bought for her, but she knew that kitchen can be messy, and she didn¡¯t want to ruin good clothes. And besides, considering his mood swings, he probably changed his mind and won¡¯t even look at her.


    Talia shook her head and told herself not to be silly. She will not see him. Damon is a busy Alpha, and he has no time to linger in the kitchen.


    If he has any free time, he will probably fill it with Cassie or with some other she-wolf who fits the image to be his Luna.


    What happened that morning will not happen again, and she should not delude herself.


    Talia looked at herself in the mirror and gave herself a stern look while pulling her hair into a ponytail.


    ¡°Snap out of it!¡±, Talia spoke to her reflection. ¡°Instead of daydreaming, focus on things that WILL happen and make the best out of it!¡±


    Talia didn¡¯t have an easy life and she was determined to use this opportunity to her advantage. She already left the Red Moon pack, and even though things here were not perfect, it was much better because she got ess to things that will allow her to be self-sufficient.


    Talia was aware that she can¡¯t be disobedient if she is dependent on others.


    Yes, she can leave, but where would she go?


    Talia doesn¡¯t have a wolf, or speed, or strength, or anything else thates with it. Technically, she is human, an unskilled one. Considering all that, she can¡¯t join another pack. Who will ept her?


    On the other side, living with humans means that she will be on her own. How would she pay for things?


    Unless she gets a job as a restroom cleaner, she will end up on the street, and that was not something she wanted.


    Talia was not sure if she wants to stay in the Dark Howlers pack, and she was grateful that Alpha Damon didn¡¯t bring up the point that she needs to officially join his pack. Her n was to postpone that ceremony as much as possible because if she forms the mind-link with the pack, it will be much more difficult to leave stealthily.


    No matter what, Talia didn¡¯t want to attract attention because her experience so far showed that attention means trouble.


    At this point, other than a few people in the packhouse, no one was aware of her presence, and she will do her best to keep it that way.


    Talia was determined to use this time to learn skills that will help her if she ever finds herself on her own¡­ and she will start with cooking.


    Helping in the kitchen sounded like a much better job than cleaning restrooms and as a kitchen helper in a restaurant she might get leftovers, which is an added bonus.


    For now, Talia decided not to ask for any special dishes from Stephanie. She will include food groups that arecking as snacks, or maybe make something on her own when the kitchen is free. With this approach, she will not stand out and she will maximize the hands-on learning that she gets from Stephanie.


    Talia grabbed the tablet with an intention to take notes and maybe look up recipes, and she made her way downstairs with renewed vigor.


    ¡°Hello, dear!¡±, Stephanie greeted Talia enthusiastically. ¡°You are on time.¡±


    ¡°Of course. It¡¯s my first day at work, how can I bete? What are we making today?¡±


    Stephanie loved Talia¡¯s energy.


    ¡°Ah, I wish that my Lisa has your passion for cooking.¡±


    Talia heard several stories about Lisa from Stephanie, so she knew that Lisa is her daughter.


    ¡°Not everyone is into cooking.¡±


    Stephanie shook her head helplessly. ¡°We spoiled her. While she was here, Lisa was young and we had many Omegas in the packhouse, so other than washing vegetables asionally, she didn¡¯t do much. My sister doesn¡¯t have children and she treats Lisa like a princess. I have no idea what that child will do when she starts her own family.¡±


    Talia knew that she and Lisa are about the same age. ¡°Lisa is still young and there is time to learn. Look at me.¡±


    Stephanie showed a warm smile. She really liked Talia¡¯s attitude.


    Stephanie knew that Lisa is beyond redemption in the kitchen, however, she didn¡¯t want to talk about it with Talia.


    It was not about time to learn, but about will which Lisa didn¡¯t have. Stephanie¡¯sment about how Lisa received the princess¡¯ treatment was not an exaggeration.


    ¡°You said that there used to be many Omegas in the packhouse, but I barely saw a few so far.¡±, Talia said, and Stephanie understood that Talia wanted to know why the situation changed.


    ¡°When Damon took over the position as the Alpha of our pack, there were several attempts on his life, and he decided to reduce the number of people who have free ess to the packhouse.¡± Stephanie gestured toward the pantry. ¡°If you get tworge yellow onions, we will start on the marinade, and I can tell you more¡­¡±


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on:


    mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 58 Another Accusation

    ¡°This is thest one!¡±, Talia announced victoriously as she peeled thest potato.


    ¡°Good, you can take a break now.¡±, Stephanie responded.


    Marinated steaks were roasting in the oven, and Stephanie put potatoes that Talia peeled into boiling water. Those will be garlic mashed potatoes.


    A batch of spiced-up peppers, asparagus, and zhinis was waiting for the right time to enter the oven.


    The gravy was done. Vegetables for the sd were washed and chopped, and they will put the rosemary-infused dressing over the sd before serving.


    For dessert, they had store-bought Tiramisu cake which was chilling in the fridge.


    It was a full dinner and Talia felt quite aplished.


    The fun part was that while they prepared food, Stephanie was telling all kinds of stories about the Dark Howlers pack and about Alpha Damon.


    She told stories about Damon as a mischievous child who would sneak out to y with his friends and avoid practice and homework.


    ¡°Damon was a cheeky boy who was good inbat and in academics, but if he invested in those half of the effort he spent in dilly-dallying, everyone would put him in the genius category. Alpha Jacob would punish him for avoiding responsibilities, and Luna Violet always came to calm him down saying how Damon is still a child. And on few asions when Luna Violet wanted to scold Damon, Alpha Jacob came to the boy¡¯s rescue¡­¡±


    Talia understood that Damon grew up with a loving family and his life turned from a carefree childhood into a dangerous reality overnight when his parents perished and the heavy responsibility of leading the pack fell on his shoulders. And it was not just Damon, the whole pack faced dramatic changes when they lost experienced leaders who could keep enemies at bay.


    The Dark Howlers pack was never in an open war, but that was thanks to the diplomatic capabilities of Alpha Jacob and Luna Violet. The facts are that werewolves are creatures attracted to power, and it¡¯s in their nature to crave for more. More territory, more pack members, more resources¡­ it¡¯s never enough. And when Alpha Jacob and Luna Violet perished, Damon became an Alpha of a pack who had a lot of assets, but Damon was not even eighteen years old, so other Alphas saw him as an easy target.


    Stephanie told Talia about attacks from the rogues and other packs who pretended to be rogues, but the Dark Howlers pack stood united, and they came out of that period stronger than ever.


    Now, open attacks are rare, but the calm is deceitful because many are working in the shadows, trying to sway Damon on their side, to use him, trick him, force him to obey, and they are not picky about the methods to aplish their goals.


    Talia couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for Damon. In a way, he was being bullied just how she was while staying in the attic. Actually, she thought that bullying she had was mildpared to what he is going through.


    Stephanie saw that Talia¡¯s expression became solemn, so she shifted the conversation toward food and cooking.


    Since they needed to wait for potatoes to boil, Talia started cleaning the kitchen ind.


    ¡°Dr. Travis wants to talk to you.¡±, Stephanie said suddenly.


    Talia paused. ¡°How do you know?¡±Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    ¡°He mind-linked me. Actually, Travis mind-linked Alpha Damon and Alpha Damon mind-linked me.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Talia didn¡¯t want to bring up the obvious point that she doesn¡¯t have the mind-link, fearing that Stephanie might remind Alpha Damon of that detail. ¡°How can I reach him?¡±


    ¡°Use my phone¡­¡±, Stephanie said and got a cellphone from her back pocket. ¡°Here. Since it¡¯s a talk with a doctor, go and find yourself an empty room.¡±


    Talia looked at the phone with aplex expression. She knew what a cellphone is, but werewolves are not really cellphone friendly because they have mind-link, and most of them don¡¯t venture outside the pack. So, unless one has important connections with other packs or humans, they don¡¯t have personal phones. There is a number ofndlines avable for everyone to use.


    Stephanie has her phone because that¡¯s how shemunicates with her sister and Lisa.


    ¡°How do I use this?¡±


    Talia¡¯s embarrassment disappeared quickly because Stephanie exined to Talia how to make a call without making it sound awkward.


    Talia went into the hallway, and she didn¡¯t need to search far to find an empty room. It seemed that other than her and Stephanie, no one else was in the packhouse.


    Taking the first room on the right, Talia found herself in the living room. She sat on the sofa and made the call.


    ¡°Hi, Talia!¡±, Travis greeted her as soon as he picked up the call, and based on his tone, Talia knew that Stephanie told Travis through the mind-link to expect this call.


    ¡°Hi, Doctor. You wanted to talk to me?¡±


    ¡°I told you to call me Travis.¡±, he said sternly before continuing in a softer tone, ¡°I want to hear how your appointment with the nutritionist went.¡±


    Talia took a moment to pick her words. ¡°The information Dr. Jones provided was generic and I decided to look up relevant information online and try it out on my own. Alpha Damon approved.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­¡±, Travis said thoughtfully. ¡°I would like to be part of that process, if you don¡¯t mind.¡±


    Talia had no objections. Travis left a good impression on her, and she wanted to find an excuse to get in touch with him and maybe find the right timing to ask him about working in the pack hospital, just in case if she decides to stay in the Dark Howlers pack.


    ¡°I would like that.¡±


    ¡°Great!¡±, Travis eximed. ¡°I want to hear your n and give you some inputs. I¡¯m confident that the information you find will be good for humans, but werewolves need more meat in our diet. How about youe to the pack hospital tomorrow morning¡­¡±, he paused while looking at his schedule. ¡°Ten o¡¯clock?¡±


    ¡°I can do that.¡±


    ¡°OK. I got you in for an appointment. We can also do a round of bloodwork and take your weight. After that, we can meet weekly to track your progress. Are you taking the vitamins?¡±, he had to ask.


    Werewolves are known as stubborn creatures, and they don¡¯t take medicines or see a doctor unless they are at the death¡¯s door.


    Talia was touched by the care Travis showed. ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Good, good. If you are skipping on the vitamins, the results of the blood test will expose you. So, I will see you tomorrow. Don¡¯t forget and don¡¯t try to wiggle out of it.¡±


    Talia stifled augh. ¡°I won¡¯t forget, Travis. I will see you at ten o¡¯clock.¡±


    ¡°I would never guess that an Omega would rx in the living room and set up a date.¡±


    Cassie¡¯s voice from the door made Talia freeze and she cursed her luck.


    Cassie was passing by, and she heard Talia speak in a cheery voice, ¡°Sounds good¡­ I can do that¡­ Yes¡­ I won¡¯t forget, Travis. I will see you at ten o¡¯clock.¡±


    Of course, Cassie assumed that Talia was talking with her lover. Is that any of Cassie¡¯s business? No. But the fact that a scrawny girl in shabby clothes was rxing on the sofa and acting like she owns the ce, rubbed Cassie the wrong way.


    ¡°Why are you still sitting there? Don¡¯t you know about hierarchy and manners? Get up!¡±, Cassie hissed, and Talia stood up in slow motion.


    Talia hated the way Cassie treated her, but she was Damon¡¯s important guest, and Talia didn¡¯t want to cause trouble.


    If she talks back to Cassie, there is a high chance that things will escte, and Talia was confident that there was no way for her toe unscathed out of that conflict.


    The best thing to do was leave because it¡¯s useless to try reasoning with crazy people.


    Talia lowered her head, hoping that Cassie won¡¯t recognize her from their previous confrontation in the kitchen, or as the one who was in the car with Damon that morning. Luckily, at that time, Cassie paid more attention to Talia¡¯s clothing than to Talia.


    ¡°I apologize if I offended you. If you excuse me, I need to help with dinner.¡±


    At the mentioning of dinner, Cassie narrowed her eyes. ¡°You are the Omega who I caught stealing food.¡±


    Talia gritted her teeth. Why didn¡¯t shee up with some other excuse? And she was NOT stealing food, but talking to Cassie seemed like talking to a wall.


    Talia ignored Cassie¡¯sment and moved toward the door, but Cassie was quick to block Talia¡¯s exit path.


    ¡°Why are you eager to leave? Did you steal something else?¡±, Cassie¡¯s eyes fell on the cell phone in Talia¡¯s hand and Talia swiftly hid it behind her back.


    Talia noticed Cassie¡¯s expression changing when she saw Stephanie¡¯s phone, and Talia panicked. What if Cassie takes it or damages it? How will Talia exin that to Stephanie?


    Cassie interpreted Talia¡¯s silence as admittance and she extended her hand, palm up.


    ¡°Give me that phone.¡±, Cassie demanded.


    Talia was not willing. ¡°I didn¡¯t steal it.¡±


    Cassie sneered. ¡°I see you can talk back. Is it because Alpha Damon is not here to see who you truly are? You pretend to be obedient and y victim so that Beta can save your sorry ass. Well, I won¡¯t fall for your tricks, and no one will save you now. You stole it and now you are lying. How could a lowly Omega have a phone like that? That¡¯s an expensive model. Give it to me now and I will tell Alpha Damon to lower your punishment.¡±


    Talia couldn¡¯t believe this. Punishment? Why did Cassie say that with a smile, like she is doing a favor for Talia?


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on:


    mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 59 [Bonus] A Jinx

    Talia was confident that something was really wrong with Cassie¡¯s head. Within a few seconds, Talia ended up as a thief and a liar, and Cassie didn¡¯t have a single proof for any of that.


    She wants to be Damon¡¯s Luna? Will Damon allow Cassie to be in a position to impact the lives of his pack members?


    Stephanie told Talia several stories about Damon since he took over the pack as the Alpha, and Talia thought that he really cares about his pack. However, if he makes Cassie his Luna, that will change the dynamics for the worse, not only in the packhouse but in the pack overall.


    ¡®I need to leave this ce as soon as possible.¡¯, Talia told herself. ¡®Living on the street and sleeping under a bridge can¡¯t be worse than this.¡¯


    Who cares about a cozy room if she can¡¯t leave it without fear that she will be bullied? And what if bulliese into the room? How will that be differentpared to the attic where she used to live?


    Without the authority to talk back to Cassie, Talia felt the urgency to leave, starting with this room.


    Talia walked past Cassie, but how can Cassie allow Talia to walk out?


    Cassie grabbed Talia¡¯s arm and applied pressure.


    ¡°Where do you think you are going? Did I allow you to leave?¡±


    Cassie¡¯s wolf is weak on a werewolf-strength scale, but she is still stronger than a human, and since Talia doesn¡¯t have her wolf, she was unable to shake Cassie off. Actually, the grip was so painful that Talia winced.


    Talia gritted her teeth. ¡°Let go.¡±


    ¡°Not before you give me that phone.¡±


    Talia was dejected. Why can¡¯t this woman leave her alone? But she saw that things were escting and that Cassie will not let her go.


    Talia¡¯s options were to fight back or to admit to theft she didn¡¯t do.


    Talia was never in a fight, so that didn¡¯t cross her mind, but she couldn¡¯t stay silent and allow this to continue either.


    Talia remembered what Maya said to Cassie, and she thought it will be safe to y that card.


    ¡°You are a guest in this pack, and I suggest you act like one. This is not your phone. Why would I give it to you?¡±


    ¡°Who are you to tell me how I should act?¡±


    Talia paused. Who is she? No one. But that doesn¡¯t mean that Cassie can use her of things she didn¡¯t do.


    At the thought of the injustice thrown at her, rage swelled inside Talia.


    ¡°And who do YOU think you are?¡±, Talia hissed. ¡°You want to be the Luna of this pack? Luna shouldn¡¯t be a bully, and she shouldn¡¯t assume the worst about people without evidence. Alpha Damon is a fool if he makes you his Luna because you will ruin the pack he worked hard to protect.¡±


    Cassie¡¯s eyes shed in outrage.


    ¡®PAK!¡¯


    Talia saw stars when a hard pnded on her cheek, and she stumbled backward.


    ¡®BAM!¡¯


    Something heavy mmed against the wall and a secondter, Talia heard an angry roar, ¡°HOW DARE YOU!?¡±


    Talia blinked to focus and through her haze she saw Damon holding Cassie by her neck, pinning her against the wall.


    Cassie¡¯s stared at Damon in horror while struggling to breathe, but Talia¡¯s eyes moved over Damon¡¯s impressive wet body that was covered only with shorts. The glisteningndscape of his back demanded attention no matter how much her cheek stung.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Damon was training with warriors when he got the message from Travis through the mind-link of how he wanted to talk to Talia. Damon told Stephanie that Talia should call Travis, and Damon took that as a cue to return to the packhouse.


    His n was to shower and then find out what Talia made for dinner, but he ended up overhearing Cassie preventing Talia from leaving the living room.


    Damon approved when Talia stood up for herself and when she said how Cassie is not a Luna material, and Talia even said some good things about Damon as the Alpha. Damon wished that he was one second faster, because he reached the living room just in time to witness the p.


    Every muscle in his body ached to choke the life out of Cassie, and just his re was enough for Cassie to freeze and she didn¡¯t try to get herself free from his grip, even though she had difficulty breathing.


    Stephanie showed up at the door of the living room in a hurry.


    ¡°Oh, dear¡­¡±, Stephanie gasped as she approached Talia who was holding onto her cheek. ¡°Let¡¯s put some ice on it.¡±


    Talia followed obediently, unsure if Damon mind-linked Stephanie or if Stephanie heard themotion. It didn¡¯t matter.


    ¡®She hurt our mate!¡¯, Damon¡¯s wolf shouted in his head. ¡®Kill her or give me the control and I will do it!¡¯


    ¡®I want nothing less¡¯, Damon responded. ¡®But that might start a war, and she can¡¯t know that Talia is our mate.¡¯


    ¡®Are you giving her a pass?¡¯


    ¡®Of course, not!¡¯, Damon growled at his wolf.


    Damon red at Cassie. ¡°Who gave you the right to raise your hand on my pack member?¡±


    ¡°She stole the phone and refused to admit.¡±, Cassie squeaked.


    ¡®Our mate would never steal!¡¯, Damon¡¯s wolf raged, and Damon wished for a mute button because his wolf¡¯s fury was amplifying Damon¡¯s.


    Damon exhaled sharply and released Cassie.


    Cassie rubbed her aching neck and froze when Damon spoke.


    ¡°You have half an hour to pack your stuff, Cassie. My warriors will escort you outside of my territory. You are not wee here.¡±


    ¡°You are kicking me out over a random Omega?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I am kicking you out.¡±, Damon said sternly. ¡°She is not a random Omega. She is one of MY people, and I will not allow you to terrorize her or anyone else under my roof.¡±


    ¡°But she is a thief! How can you side with a nobody over me? I have Alpha blood in my veins!¡±, Cassie protested.


    Damon shook his head. ¡°You never learn so there is no point in talking to you. I will exin to your father.¡±


    Cassie frowned and her displeasure turned into panic when she saw two female warriors at the door. It was obvious that they came to escort her.


    ¡°You can¡¯t be serious. Are you discarding me? Did you find someone else? Who is she?¡±


    Damon gestured at the wall clock. ¡°In twenty-nine minutes, they will take you outside my territory. I suggest you start packing.¡± He looked at two female warriors and gestured for them to wait.


    Cassie gaped at Damon who reached for the phone that was on the side table.


    After a few seconds of silence, Damon spoke, ¡°Alpha Richard? I¡¯m calling to let you know that Cassie is on her way home.¡±


    ¡°Did something happen?¡±, Alpha Richard asked anxiously.


    He is aware that Cassie has a temper she can¡¯t control. When they talk nicely, Cassie understands things, but she gets fired up easily, and all his teachings go out the window.


    ¡°Cassie is causing disruption in my packhouse. I tolerated her unruly behavior because it was contained to spiteful choice of words, but this time I¡¯m drawing the line because she physically assaulted one of my people. Alpha Richard, due to our rtionship, I will not punish Cassie and my warriors will escort her unharmed. But from today onwards, Cassie is not wee in my territory, and if she appears without authorization, she will be treated with hostility. Make sure she understands that because I don¡¯t want to carry consequences for her irresponsible behavior.¡±


    Alpha Richard let out a long breath. ¡°I understand.¡±


    Damon ended the call and looked at Cassie. ¡°Twenty-seven minutes left, Cassie.¡±


    Cassie turned toward the door and her mood dropped even lower when she saw Maya leaning on the doorframe with a smug smirk.


    ¡°Make sure she leaves with all of her things.¡±, Damon said while leaving the room.


    ¡°I¡¯m on it, Alpha.¡±, Maya confirmed and turned to Cassie. ¡°Will you pack your things, or do you want us to do it for you? I heard you have Louis Vuitton suitcases, don¡¯t me us if we damage your precious luggage.¡±


    Cassie couldn¡¯t believe this! But the clock was ticking, and it seemed that she really needs to pack and leave, and she will think about other thingster.


    ¡­


    Damon was furious and guilt-ridden.


    If he chased Cassie away earlier, this wouldn¡¯t happen.


    If he didn¡¯t allow Cassie toe whenever she wants, this wouldn¡¯t happen. Sure, he never invited her, but he didn¡¯t tell her to leave either.


    Was Talia OK? That was quite a p, and Damon doesn¡¯t have experience with non-werewolves, but he could imagine another bruise forming. Damn it!


    Damon made his way into the kitchen, and he panicked when he saw that it was empty. Didn¡¯t Stephanie take Talia to get an icepack?


    ¡®Steph? Where are you?¡¯, Damon asked through the mind-link.


    ¡®I¡¯m with Talia, in her room.¡¯


    Damon dashed up as fast as he could, and he paused at the door without opening it.


    ¡°Don¡¯t pay attention to her, sweetie.¡± Damon heard Stephanie say. ¡°Alpha Damon sent her packing. She won¡¯t bother you anymore.¡±


    There was no response and Damon leaned his ear on the door to hear better.


    Stephanie continued talking.


    ¡°I know it¡¯s not much constion, but Cassie was going on all our nerves. No one will miss her here.¡±


    ¡°Alpha Damon will.¡±, Talia said. ¡°He might be angry now, but tomorrow he will change his mind.¡±


    ¡°Is that what you think of him?¡±, Stephanie asked.


    Talia opened her mouth and then closed it, deciding not to share her thoughts about Alpha Damon, because parts about him being weird and mentally unstable could probably put her in a dungeon. But Stephanie was expecting an answer from Talia, so she had to say something.


    ¡°I know that you have a good opinion of Alpha Damon, Stephanie. You watched him grow up and I won¡¯t deny that he is a good Alpha for his pack. Alpha Damon helped me out of my predicament, and I am very grateful for everything he did. I mean no disrespect, but my experience is telling me that misfortunees when he is nearby¡­¡±


    In the hallway, Damon frowned and stuck closer to the door. Did Talia call him a jinx?


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on:


    mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 60 Dinner And Bossy Attitude

    Stephanie saw that Talia¡¯s mood was not good and she understood that after the incident with Cassie, Talia has every right to be upset.


    Maya told Stephanie about Cassie using Talia of stealing food previously, so she knew that this was not the first time for Cassie to bully Talia. Stephanie also knew about the point that Damon was just standing there and didn¡¯t do anything while Cassie was doing her Luna-act, and Stephanie couldn¡¯t imagine how painful that would be for Talia. Damon is the one who brought her here with a promise for a better life, yet when it counted he stood on the side.


    Stephanie¡¯s heart ached and she wanted tofort Talia who was holding the ice pack on her face. ¡°Let me see your cheek, dear¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯m used to it.¡±, Talia interrupted Stephanie. Compared to beatings she got at the Red Moon pack, this was nothing much. ¡°Thank you for the ice pack. I know you have good intentions, but dinner will burn if no one takes care of it. I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t think I can help you in the kitchen. I¡¯m tired and I would like to rest.¡±


    In the hallway, Damon stepped away from the door of Talia¡¯s room when Stephanie opened it. He didn¡¯t care if Stephanie caught him eavesdropping.


    Before Stephanie could say anything, Damon gestured for her to move away from the door, so that Talia doesn¡¯t overhear them.


    ¡°How is she doing?¡±, Damon asked Stephanie.


    ¡°Hurt. Humiliated.¡±, Stephanie said and narrowed her eyes at Damon.


    ¡°I know.¡±, Damon said before Stephanie could say anything.


    He knew that look. Stephanie was telling him that it was his fault. No one liked Cassie, and Stephanie told him a million times that Cassie is not a good girl, yet he allowed her toe to the packhouse repeatedly and linger while making everyone around her ufortable, and Damon didn¡¯t say anything when Cassie was shouting how she will be the future Luna or when she snapped at Omegas because she was an easyy.


    And now Talia got hurt.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±, Damon said.


    Stephanie shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not the one who needs to hear that.¡±Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Stephanie took a deep breath before asking, ¡°Alpha Damon, can I talk to you honestly?¡±


    Damon gave a small nod, and Stephanie spoke, ¡°I don¡¯t think that Talia should stay here. Don¡¯t get me wrong, Talia is a wonderful soul and I love having her around, but she suffered a lot and we should not add to it. Today was Cassie, tomorrow it will be someone else. As long as Talia is here, entitled people will cross paths with her and she doesn¡¯t deserve that. If you care about her even a little bit, you should consider letting her stay in one of themon buildings.¡±


    Before Damon could respond, Stephanie said, ¡°I¡¯m going to check dinner. Cassie already spoiled the mood, I will not allow her to spoil food as well.¡± And with that, Stephanie left.


    Damon looked at Talia¡¯s door with aplex expression.


    He knew that this wouldn¡¯t happen if Talia was not in the packhouse. And he heard Talia say how she ends up in trouble because of him, and now Stephanie said that Talia would be better off somewhere else, but¡­ can he stay away from Talia?


    After some hesitation, Damon turned to the right and went to his room. He needed a shower and to clear his head.


    ¡­


    When Stephanie summoned them for dinner, Damon was about to enter Talia¡¯s room, but then he heard voices.


    Maya was with Talia and  Damon didn¡¯t want to interrupt, so he went to the dining room.


    Actually, he wanted to eavesdrop, but he didn¡¯t want to risk hearing again from Talia how he brings misfortune.


    That was not his intention. He wanted Talia close so that he can protect her and provide for her, yet he failed miserably.


    When Damon got into the dining room, the table was already set with dishes, but out of the people, only Caden was there, waiting with the report on how Cassie was sessfully escorted off their territory.


    ¡°Good. Make sure everyone knows that she is not wee here.¡±, Damon said and started putting food on the te that was on his left. That was Talia¡¯s ce when she joined them for a meal.


    When he filled Talia¡¯s te, Damon put food in his.


    He was wondering if he should cut the meat now or wait for Talia toe. He decided to wait.


    Damon was fiddling with his fork and pushing the food on his te when Maya appeared.


    ¡°Where is Talia?¡±, Damon asked.


    Maya shook her head. ¡°She doesn¡¯t want toe.¡±


    Damon frowned. ¡°She knows that Cassie is not here. Right?¡±


    ¡°She does.¡±, Maya confirmed. ¡°Talia said that she is not hungry, and I didn¡¯t want to force her.¡±


    Damon pinched the roof of his nose. How can she skip a meal? Didn¡¯t they talk about her cooking and eating and increasing her weight?


    But he knew that this was not about the food. It was about people. Talia didn¡¯t want toe down because she was used to suffering in silence, alone. His heart ached. It was his fault.


    Is Talia ming him? Is that why she didn¡¯te? Is she avoiding him?


    ¡°What did you talk about?¡±, Damon asked Maya.


    ¡°Talia was asking about other amodations. I told her that single pack members who are of age and unmated prefer to stay in apartments and some are open to having roommates¡­¡±


    Damon didn¡¯t hear the rest because his head was buzzing.


    Talia wanted to leave the packhouse?


    Will she live on her own?


    Away from him?


    What if she gets a roommate?


    When will he see her?


    Without someone keeping an eye on her, Talia can leave, and no one will notice.


    ¡®If mate leaves, I will not forgive you!¡¯, Damon¡¯s wolf shouted in his head.


    Anxiety swelled within Damon. Will Talia really leave? What if she is packing? What if she was gone already?


    Talia escaped him twice, right under his nose, and he was unable to track her. Last time, she nearly left his territory, and even scouts and warriors couldn¡¯t sense her presence!


    Damon grabbed his and Talia¡¯s tes and headed upstairs with urgency.


    ¡­


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to do this¡±, Talia said to Damon who was standing at the door of her room with two tes of food in his hands. Each had a big piece of meat, and there were garlic mashed potatoes and gravy and roasted vegetables.


    Damon felt immense relief knowing that Talia was right there, in front of him, only one step away.


    Damon observed Talia¡¯s face and he was pleased that her cheek was only slightly red. He guessed that the bruise didn¡¯t form because of the ice pack. He wanted to ask her if it¡¯s aching, but he knew that she will probably say that it¡¯s fine and he won¡¯t believe her.


    ¡°I know I don¡¯t need to. I want to.¡±, Damon said matter-of-factly. ¡°Will you let me in, or are we going to eat in the hallway?¡±


    Talia moved and let out a long breath.


    Why is he making things difficult? She decided to distance herself from him and to embark on her journey of being self-sufficient, and here he is, with food and his bossy attitude.


    Talia didn¡¯t me Damon for what happened. Actually, he came to her rescue and punished Cassie. But she was embarrassed that Damon got to see her being bullied.


    If she was stronger and more courageous, Talia wouldn¡¯t end up in such a situation, to begin with.


    How Talia saw this, as long as she depends on him, or anyone else, she won¡¯t be stronger. It was overdue for her to take her life into her own hands because she didn¡¯t want others to tell her what to do or how to feel or if she is worthy of something.


    Talia took the first step toward controlling her fate by leaving the Red Moon pack, and it would be foolish to stop now and not take advantage of the opportunities she has here.


    Talia closed the door, but she didn¡¯t move from that spot.


    She observed Damon who was sitting on the sofa and cutting the meat.


    When Damon finished cutting meat on both tes, he looked at Talia. ¡°Did you give up on your idea of gaining weight in two weeks? If you did, I can find you a nutritionist right away, and if you didn¡¯t¡­e and eat.¡± He patted a spot on the sofa next to him.


    At a snail pace, Talia approached him and took a seat as far from Damon as the sofa allowed it.


    They ate in silence and Talia was grateful that Damon didn¡¯t say anything.


    Damon finished his food and left the room without a word.


    She thought that they are done for the evening, but in less than a minute Damon was back.


    ¡°I was not sure which one you want, so I got options¡­¡±, Damon said while cing three bottles in front of Talia. Soda, apple juice, and water.


    Talia took a sip of apple juice before continuing with her meal.


    ¡®Crack-Psssh!¡¯


    Damon opened a can of beer. He leaned back into the sofa and sipped beer while his eyes didn¡¯t leave Talia.


    He watched her eat and she hoped that he will leave when she finishes.


    Part of Talia wanted to look at Damon and have a conversation, but another part told her to stay away from him because the more they talk, the more attached she gets to him, and attachment to Alpha Damon won¡¯t bring anything good.


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on:


    mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 61 Pillow Talk

    Damon¡¯s gaze directed at Talia made her ufortable and she wanted him to leave.


    ¡°There is Tiramisu for dessert.¡±, Talia said when she finished the food from her te.


    ¡°You get dessert only if you join us in the dining room for a meal.¡±, Damon responded.


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡±, Talia said quickly. ¡°I thought that you might want cake so you can have it when you go down.¡±


    Damon cocked an eyebrow. ¡°Instead of worrying about others, you should think about yourself more. What do you want to do now?¡±


    ¡®I want you to leave.¡¯, Talia didn¡¯t dare to say this aloud. ¡°Sleep. I¡¯m tired.¡±Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Damon nodded faintly and his eyes fell on two empty tes. He collected the tes and stood up. ¡°Since you are tired, go to bed.¡±


    Talia understood this is the part where they say their goodnights and she gets her privacy. ¡°Thank you for bringing me dinner.¡±


    Damon¡¯s lips lifted into a smile. ¡°You are wee.¡±


    Neither of them moved for a few seconds and then Damon¡¯s eyes darted from Talia to bed, silently telling her to go there.


    Talia moved toward the bed, thinking that once he leaves, she can do whatever she wants, and she wanted to n her exit strategies. She cursed her luck because she left the tablet in the kitchen. Maybe she can get itter, when everyone falls asleep, assuming that it¡¯s still there.


    She was wearing a childish t-shirt with purple kittens and leggings that used to belong to Lisa, but Talia had no intention of changing into the oversized tank top which she uses as sleepwear. It¡¯s too revealing and she can change after Damon leaves. That was the n, at least.


    Talia got under theforter, and she watched Damon as he walked to the door, opened it, squatted, and then he stood up and closed the door.


    ¡°I want to rest.¡±, Talia reminded Damon when she realized that he didn¡¯t leave her room. He only left the tes and utensils in the hallway. And it¡¯s not that he didn¡¯t leave, but he was approaching her!


    ¡°Rest.¡±, Damon said tly while climbing on the bed next to her.


    Talia was bbergasted and she shrunk under theforter. What the heck?!


    Damon settled on the bed next to Talia while she looked at him in disbelief. The only thing preventing her from screaming was that Damon didn¡¯t go under theforter.


    ¡°Your hand¡±, Damon said, and Talia saw his hand hovering above the bed, palm up.


    ¡°What¡­?¡±


    ¡°A-a-a!¡±, Damon interrupted Talia. ¡°The deal was that I get to hold your hand whenever I feel like it, and you don¡¯t get to ask any questions.¡±


    ¡°You want to hold my hand now?¡±


    Damon wiggled his fingers impatiently, indicating that he was waiting for her to put her hand into his.


    Talia couldn¡¯t believe this. But Damon said that she can work in the kitchen in exchange for him eating the food she makes, and holding her hand. She worked in the kitchen, and he ate that food, and¡­ he wanted to hold her hand.


    Talia put her hand into Damon¡¯s gingerly while wondering if she made a mistake by epting that deal. When she agreed to handholding, she didn¡¯t think that it will include Damon climbing into her bed.


    Damon¡¯s hand was warm, and his fingersced with Talia¡¯s, and she took a deep breath which brought her the scent of the forest and dark chocte and she didn¡¯t hate it. Not even a little bit.


    He closed his eyes and savored the sparks which shot up his arm, filling his whole body with delightful energy that was amplified by the sweet citrusy scent of freesia.


    Damon remembered that Talia said he brings misfortune, and how Stephanie said he should let her go, and that Maya mentioned different living arrangements, but this was the first time in a decade that Damon felt at peace and he didn¡¯t want to let go.


    Since he became the Alpha, Damon sacrificed many things in the name of duty toward his pack. He even put his life on the line more than once.


    But this was one sacrifice he was not willing to make. He didn¡¯t want to be apart from Talia. He couldn¡¯t.


    How on earth was he supposed to let her go? It didn¡¯t matter if she moves to a different building or leaves the. Being away from her was uneptable.


    He knew that he was selfish, but he wanted her next to him because the thought of Talia not being close was suffocating.


    ¡°Talia¡±, Damon called. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to leave the packhouse.¡±


    Talia looked at him, and before she could object, he spoke again, ¡°I want you to treat this ce as your home. If anyone gives you a hard time, you can put them in ce or let me know and I will do it for you, dly. Just¡­ don¡¯t leave. OK?¡±


    ¡°Alpha Damon¡­¡±, Talia said, and her voice trailed when she saw Damon¡¯s frown of disapproval. She cleared her throat awkwardly before correcting herself, ¡°Damon. I appreciate your kindness, but I don¡¯t belong here. It¡¯s too stressful.¡±


    ¡°I banned Cassie from here. She will not return.¡±


    Talia shook her head. ¡°Today was Cassie, tomorrow might be an Alpha or some other important person that I need to tiptoe around. You said that I should treat this ce as my home, but I can¡¯t feel at home if I need to hide.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to hide from anyone, Talia. My home is your home.¡±, Damon said, and he saw that Talia was not convinced. He had to try something else. ¡°How about this¡­ Give me one chance. If anyone bothers you again or makes you ufortable, I will help you pack.¡±


    Talia was confused. ¡°Why are you persistent?¡±


    Because the thought of you not being here is agonizing! ¡°I have a free room and you need one. If you move, this ce will stay empty and collect dust, and it will be a chore to find you in order to hold your hand.¡±


    Talia¡¯s intuition told her that was not the reason. What was he hiding? Or maybe he was not hiding anything, but he was just regr Damon with a split personality and right now she was talking to the clingy Damon who wanted to hold her hand.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you can find someone else to hold hands with.¡±


    ¡°You are right.¡±, Damon agreed. ¡°There are many women and many hands, but there is only one Talia ke and if I hold hands with any woman other than my wife, that would be considered cheating. My reputation is not ster but I¡¯m not a cheater.¡±


    Well, Damon didn¡¯t lie. He was not a cheater because he nevermitted to a rtionship, so even when he switched women every night (or a few within the same night), technically, that was not cheating.


    Talia felt her face burning and she feared that she will spontaneouslybust. ¡°Please, stop talking like we are married.¡±


    ¡°Is that bothering you?¡±


    Is it bothering her? No. Not really, because she knew that Damon was joking. But if someone else heard it, they might not take it as a joke, and Talia would be the target of jealousy.


    Cassie went mental because she thought that Talia stole a phone, and if Cassie suspected that Talia stole Damon, Talia was confident that Cassie would go for the kill.


    Talia let out a slow breath while chanting internally that she should not allow Damon to fluster her. ¡°I¡¯m confident that you can find someone more willing to be your wife.¡±


    ¡°Are you saying that you are not willing?¡±, Damon asked without missing a beat, and his lips lifted into a mischievous smile. ¡°It¡¯s toote for that, my dear wife. The whole hospital in the human city knows you are my wife, and the waiter in the restaurant also. Did you forget that I licked your wound? Healing wounds in such a way is usually reserved for family members and mates because it¡¯s considered to be intimate. Look at us, sharing the bed, and it¡¯s not the first time either. Or am I just a fling to you?¡±


    Talia was exasperated. How much nonsense can he squeeze in ten seconds?


    ¡°Can you, please, stop joking about it. Maybe for you, that¡¯s normal, but for me¡­¡± Talia was not sure how to finish this.


    ¡°Normal? Do you think that I allow any woman to call herself Mrs. ke?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t?¡±, Talia asked sarcastically.


    ¡°You are the first one.¡± The only one.


    Talia stared into Damon¡¯s icy-blue eyes and searched for something but other than sincerity, she didn¡¯t find anything else.


    Her breath was stuck in her throat.


    Is it possible that he gives her special treatment? Why would he do that?


    No, not possible. He is ying with her for some unknown reason. Probably because she is so gullible, and he gets a kick from making her flustered with a few words.


    Talia gave up. There was no way to prove anything Damon said. Besides, even if he gave her special treatment and she was the first one to get the title of his pretend-wife, it wouldn¡¯t change anything. It¡¯s not like he was courting her or proposing marriage for real, and bickering because of a silly game he came up with was a fruitless effort.


    ¡°Fine. I believe you.¡±, she said.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think you do.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s drop that topic.¡± Talia wanted to discuss something more pressing. ¡°How long are you going to hold my hand? There must be some limit. I¡¯m not sure I can sleep like this.¡±


    She was not sleepy, and Damon¡¯s proximitybined with teasing kept her on the edge.


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on:


    mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 62 Alpha’s Apology

    Talia wanted Damon to leave, so she used the excuse of being sleepy.


    She needed space.


    Ever since the incident with Cassie, Talia didn¡¯t find a moment to collect her thoughts.


    First, it was Stephanie, then Maya, and now Damon, and Talia didn¡¯t get a chance to think about what happened and what she will do about it. Well, she knew that she should leave the packhouse, but the question was: how far away should she flee?


    There must be some safe distance from Damon and the bullies.


    Damon was amused by Talia¡¯s newfound spunk. She seemed determined to stay away from him, but he had no intention of leaving her side.


    He chased Cassie away, and that must count for something.


    ¡°You can¡¯t sleep like this?¡±, Damon asked.


    ¡°No. Not really.¡±, Talia said and moved her arm.


    The sleeve of Talia¡¯s t-shirt hitched higher, and Damon narrowed his eyes when he saw a fresh bruise on Talia¡¯s upper arm.


    Damon pushed himself up and examined the bruise. It was a palm print with five fingers seen clearly. He didn¡¯t need to ask how that happened.


    He gritted his teeth as rage swelled inside him. If Cassie was anywhere nearby, he would snap her neck.


    Damon was not sure how to handle the whirlwind of emotions that swelled inside him. Anger, dejection, guilt, but somehow it was all soothed by the sweet citrusy scent of freesia and those delightful sparks that formed as he held Talia¡¯s arm, and the only thing he wanted was to get closer to the gorgeous girl who was looking at him with her big, honeyed eyes.


    Talia thought that since Damon got into a seated position, he will finally leave so that she can have space to breathe without his proximity muddling her mind, but in the next moment, Damon was under theforter, and she was in his embrace.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±, Talia asked while struggling to push herself away from him.


    Everywhere Talia touched was hard, and she knew that unless he lets go, she will never free herself, but she still tried.


    ¡°Shh¡­¡±, Damon shushed Talia and pressed her head to rest on his shoulder. ¡°You said that you can¡¯t sleep when we hold hands, and I know that you like to sleep like this, so¡­ sleep.¡±


    Talia couldn¡¯t believe this. Who said that she likes sleeping like that? This was worse than holding hands! She could feel him everywhere! Well, not really everywhere but the touching surface was much more than just hands.


    ¡°Talia¡­¡±, Damon called, and she stopped her futile attempts to wiggle out of his hold.


    Talia was exasperated. The bossy Alpha wanted to cuddle, and he was pinning her against him, just like when he found her in the attic, and the next day in the car and in the hotel room, and she already knew that she can¡¯t win. But he wanted to say something, so maybe he will let her go if she hears him out.


    ¡°I am sorry for what happened this afternoon. Cassie had no right to talk smack, and she had no right to hit you. I feel responsible for it and if there is anything I can do to make it up to you, just say it. My soul is aching at the thought that you got hurt on my watch, so¡­ let me hold you. Please. It will make me feel better.¡±


    Talia was ready to hear many things, but she was not expecting an apology. Do Alphas apologize?


    The sincerity in his voice rendered Talia speechless. He was truly sorry that she got hurt.


    But the strangest thing was that Talia got bullied, yet it sounded like Damon was the one who neededforting.


    Talia didn¡¯t understand why, but for some inexplicable reason, she believed him. Maybe it was because she wanted to believe that he cares and that he was sorry.


    Talia knew that by tomorrow all that might change and Damon will go back to ignoring her, but at that moment, being next to Damon felt good and she didn¡¯t want to fight it.


    Her thoughts of leaving the packhouse didn¡¯t disappear, but she pushed them aside for now because people treating her well was a rare urrence and Talia wanted to enjoy every second of it.


    Damon was pleased to feel Talia rxing against him.


    There was no skin-to-skin contact, but even through clothes, the sensation of Talia¡¯s proximity was out of this world.


    Damon rolled on the side, to face Talia fully and he held her tightly against him with his nose resting at the top of her head as he inhaled the sweet citrusy scent of freesia that made him lightheaded.


    Ever since their nap in the hotel when they shared the bed, Damon was itching to sleep with Talia in his arms and he was delighted that it was finally happening.


    Talia was his drug, his addiction, everything about her was perfectly made for him, and the fact that her left arm was draped over his waist, improved the experience by several folds.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Damon chanted internally that it¡¯s just a hug, sleeping next to each other, and he will not do more than that, but his body had a mind of his own. He was thankful that due to the angle of their hips, Talia was unaware of how hard he was.


    Damon knew that Talia was inexperienced and because she was oblivious to the fact that they are mates, if he makes a move on her, he will appear like a creep. He will take it slow. How far? He was not sure and he tried not to think about it.


    ¡°Damon?¡±, Talia called, and he smiled because her voice was soft, and she didn¡¯t use his title.


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°You have women warriors in your pack, right?¡±


    ¡°OUR pack.¡±, he corrected her. ¡°And yes, we do.¡±


    ¡°Can I train? I want to get stronger and maybe learn some moves to defend myself.¡±


    Damon didn¡¯t like the idea of Talia fighting, but he admired her desire to learn and improve.


    ¡°When Travis says that your physical condition is fine, we can start.¡±


    ¡°I have an appointment with him at ten in the morning, so I will ask him then.¡±


    ¡°I will go with you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. For everything.¡± She really meant it. For punishing Cassie and for bringing her dinner, for saying that she can train, and even though she was not fullyfortable with him in the bed, Talia couldn¡¯t deny that if Damon didn¡¯t stay with her, she would think about Cassie and that p and continue her ns about getting out of there.


    ¡°You are most wee.¡±


    A pleasant silence nketed the room.


    Talia shifted a bit and Damon rolled on his back so that Talia¡¯s head ended on his chest, and she was surprised that their position didn¡¯t feel awkward.


    She thought about the day that started with Talia waking up on Damon¡¯s hand as a pillow, and everything that happened after that, and it was undeniable that this day was the most eventful ever. Other than the unpleasant few minutes with Cassie, it was overall positive.


    ¡°Damon?¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°Do you n on sleeping here?¡±, she had to ask.


    ¡°Is that a problem?¡±


    ¡°Uhm¡­¡±, she was not sure how can he act like this was normal. ¡°You have your bed and¡­¡±


    ¡°Is something wrong with your bed?¡±


    ¡®There is nothing wrong with it, other than the fact that you are in it!¡¯, Talia didn¡¯t dare say that aloud.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure that yours is bigger.¡± She didn¡¯t peek inside the room across the hall, but she knew the size of the beds for Alpha, Luna, and their children in the Red Moon pack, and they were definitely bigger than this one.


    Damon hummed ambiguously. ¡°So, you think that this bed is small?¡±


    ¡°No, no, no¡­¡±, Talia quickly said. ¡°It¡¯s just that this bed is for one person. Aren¡¯t you morefortable in your bed?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡±, Damon drawled. ¡°Technically, this IS my bed. In my personal opinion, this bed is just fine for the two of us.¡±, Damon said and tightened his hold on Talia. It was a queen-size bed and he wished that it¡¯s smaller so that they can squeeze closer, if possible. ¡°But I see your point. I will order a bigger one tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°No, no. Please, don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Is this bed small or not? Make up your mind.¡±, Damon said with amusement in his voice.


    Talia let out a long breath. ¡°Forget that I said anything.¡±


    Damon chuckled and Talia felt his face pressing at the top of her head. Did he just kiss her there? She was not sure, and she didn¡¯t dare to ask.


    Damon¡¯s hot breath caressed Talia¡¯s scalp and the unfamiliar sensation created butterflies in her stomach.


    Talia was still undecided ifing to the Dark Howlers pack was a good thing or not, but she knew that spending time with Damon was anything other than boring.


    Talia listened to his steady heartbeat and the slow rise and fall of his chest was lulling her to sleep.


    Damon¡¯s hold was solid, and it made Talia feel safe like nothing bad can reach her, urging her to rx and drop her guard. For tonight, at least.


    Damon¡¯s warmth enveloped her, and his scent of the forest and dark chocte was soothing, and without knowing how or when, Talia drifted off to sleep.


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on:


    mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 63 The Woman Under Alpha Damon’s Protection

    ~ the Steelbite pack ~


    It was after midnight when Cassie arrived home, to the packhouse of the Steelbite pack.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Everyone saw that she was not in a good mood, and they stayed away from her.


    Alpha Richard gave Cassie about one hour to steam out before he came to her room, only to find Cassie sprawled on her bed with her head buried into pillows that did a lousy job in lowering the volume of her sobs.


    Cassie was not sad or heartbroken. She was humiliated and furious. How can she ept this oue?


    She experienced Damon¡¯s intimate embrace more than once, and even though he was never cuddly or lovey-dovey, he never hurt her. Cassie didn¡¯t take it against him. He is an Alpha, after all. He doesn¡¯t need to woo women because theye to him, just how Cassie did.


    Everyone knows that Alpha Damon samples a woman for one night, and that¡¯s it.


    Cassie had the pleasure of being with him repeatedly over thest few years. She thought it means something, yet now he was choking her and he kicked her out because she pped one scrawny Omega? The image of Damon¡¯s furious re is etched into Cassie¡¯s mind, and she is confident that it will be part of her nightmares.


    In her pack, Cassie is a princess and everyone treats her with respect, and what she experienced from Damon was equivalent to hundred ps on the face. It was one thing for Maya to mock her, but even the warriors who escorted Cassie out of Damon¡¯s territory looked at her with taunting smirks which made Cassie¡¯s blood boil.


    Cassie was embarrassed and angry and she was not sure how she can show her face in public anymore.


    ¡°Will you tell me what happened, pumpkin?¡±, Alpha Richard asked while taking a seat on the edge of Cassie¡¯s bed.


    Cassie whipped her head to re at her father. ¡°What happened? You know what happened. Alpha Damon kicked me out and told me not toe anymore like I¡¯m some kind of a criminal!¡±


    ¡°That was the oue, but I¡¯m missing the part why you assaulted one of his members. Didn¡¯t I tell you to act like his Luna and bepassionate while there?¡±


    ¡°Compassionate!? Compassion is for people who behave and know their ce!¡±, Cassie screamed. ¡°That Omega is a thief! She had a phone that obviously didn¡¯t belong to her, and when I asked her to give it to me, she refused and tried to leave, like I¡¯m not important. I only pped her to make sure she knows her ce, I didn¡¯t even hit her that hard, but then Alpha Damon grabbed my neck and mmed me against the wall. He wanted to kill me!¡± Cassie was hysteric.


    ¡°Sweetie, that¡¯s Alpha Damon you are talking about. If he wanted to kill you, you would be dead.¡±, Alpha Richard said, and he knew that Cassie returned unscathed only because Cassie is his daughter.


    ¡°I told you to act like a Luna and be benevolent. Unless it was in an act of defense, you shouldn¡¯t be physical, even if your opponent is an Omega.¡±


    ¡°So now it¡¯s my fault!¡±


    ¡°Alpha Damon thinks so.¡±, he deadpanned. ¡°How about you calm down and tell me what happened, from the beginning, since you arrived at the Dark Howlers pack. I don¡¯t think he would lose his temper over one isted incident, so tell me everything you can remember. Let¡¯s analyze the situation together and see if we can salvage it.¡±


    Alpha Richard went through this exercise many times. Whenever Cassie returns from the Dark Howlers pack, he will find a reason to ask Cassie about details from her visit. Yes, Cassie is only focused on seducing Damon, but sometimes she would find other useful information that Alpha Richard could use.


    Cassie took a few deep breaths and started¡­ ¡°When I arrived, Alpha Damon avoided our usual greeting. Well, he is not really warm and gentle but whenever Ie, I hug and kiss him, but this time he dodged me¡­¡± She told him how Damon was distant, and one moment he allowed her toe close, only to push her away in the next; how he was always busy; about the incident in the kitchen when she caught Talia stealing; how Damon would eat in his room instead of joining them; and how Damon took another girl to human town while giving her a warning that she was too nosy, and then how she caught Talia with a pricy phone.


    ¡°Hmph! Why did he defend her, twice? She is so weak. You should see her, the moment I called her out for stealing she lowered her head in submission, and when I grabbed her hand, she couldn¡¯t get out¡­¡±


    Alpha Richard didn¡¯t need to hear the details. He already got the gist of it about the reason why Cassie was kicked out: Cassie lost temper, crossed the line, and Alpha Damon punished her. To be honest, considering Cassie¡¯s personality, Alpha Richard was surprised that Alpha Damon didn¡¯t snap earlier.


    ¡°I thought that it¡¯s a mood swing. Maybe he found another woman. That¡¯s not unusual, but it neversted for more than a day, and he would always ept my advances. However, this time, I was there for days, and he didn¡¯t touch me. Is it because of Marcy from the Red Moon pack? Did they really got engaged?¡±


    Alpha Richard shook his head. ¡°Nothing is conclusive with Marcy. Alpha Damon left saying that they will decideter how to proceed with the engagement.¡±


    Cassie frowned. ¡°Is he actually thinking about it?¡±


    ¡°Alpha Damon is not a thinking type. He acts. Alpha Damon left the Red Moon pack without sealing the engagement, and that means he was not willing to make Marcy his Luna.¡±


    Cassie rxed at those words. ¡°But then, why was he avoiding me? Other than one woman who he took to the human city for an appointment, I didn¡¯t see any other woman around him other than Omegas and that annoying Beta Maya.¡±


    ¡°Do you know who is the woman that Alpha Damon took for an appointment?¡±


    ¡°I never saw her before. But her clothes were high-end¡­¡±, Cassie paused. ¡°Actually, a day before that, Alpha Damon went shopping personally and I saw bags full of clothing. I¡¯m confident that he bought clothes for her.¡±


    ¡°Is that unusual? If he was courting a woman, it¡¯s not unusual to buy her gifts.¡±


    Cassie plopped on the bed and stared at the ceiling. ¡°I don¡¯t know, daddy. Nothing was out of ce, but my intuition told me that everything changed. So far, Alpha Damon was either indifferent or epting toward me, yet this time, he scolded me more than once, and he even hurt me. Man doesn¡¯t change like that unless he found someone else. Maybe buying clothes is normal for courting women, but I¡¯m watching Alpha Damon for years, and he doesn¡¯t court women.¡±


    Alpha Richard agreed with this. He knew very well from his experience that Alpha doesn¡¯t need to show off in order to get a woman to warm his bed because there are always women who are attracted to status and power¡­ unless Alpha Damon found a woman worth pursuing. But he didn¡¯t want to say that to Cassie and risk her throwing a fit.


    ¡°Tell me about that girl. I will see if I can find out who she is.¡±


    ¡°Which one? The Omega who is the reason why Alpha Damon hurt me, or the one in the car?¡±, Cassie asked and before her father could respond, she continued talking, ¡°Actually, they kind of look alike.¡±


    ¡°Sisters? Or is it possible that it¡¯s the same person?¡±


    Cassie didn¡¯t take a good look at Talia when she was in the car, but she noticed a few things. ¡°Both had copper-colored hair and a petite frame. I didn¡¯t notice more than that but¡­¡± Cassie¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°What if it¡¯s the same girl?¡± That would exin why the girl in the car was quiet.


    ¡°If that¡¯s the same girl, it sounds to me that Alpha Damon is protective of her. Did you get her name?¡±


    Cassie shook her head. ¡°I can call him and¡­¡±


    ¡°No.¡±, Alpha Richard cut her off. ¡°Let me investigate this. Stay low, Cassie, promise me.¡±


    Cassie was not willing. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Because you just enraged Alpha Damon and he told me that if you get close to him, he will treat you as an enemy. Trust me, you don¡¯t want that. Give him time to cool off and forget about the incident. If that¡¯s the same girl, and he was protective of her, she might be more than just an Omega.¡±


    Cassie frowned. ¡°You are telling me that some woman istching onto my man, and I should stay quiet?¡±


    ¡°No. I¡¯m telling you that some woman is under his protection, and you shouldn¡¯t provoke him. There is no proof that there is anything romantic between them. She could be a rtive or someone he treats well because of benefits. There is also an option that she is a spy who is training to go undercover. If her mission is important, Alpha Damon would personally check her abilities. Let¡¯s not risk doing anything rashly. I will find out who she is, and we will take it from there.¡±


    Cassie pursed her lips. ¡°OK. I will not contact Alpha Damon, but only if you promise to tell me what you find.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±, Alpha Richard said. ¡°Now get cleaned up and sleep. I want to see you in high spirits in the morning.¡±


    Cassie let out a long sigh before agreeing. ¡°Good night, daddy.¡±


    ¡°Good night, pumpkin.¡±


    He kissed Cassie¡¯s forehead and left her room.

 Chapter 64 While She Was Sleeping

    Alpha Richard was thinking about Cassie¡¯s words and he had a feeling that he might be on to something.


    Just like many other Alphas and Elders, Alpha Richard is keeping an eye on Damon (and on the movements of the Dark Howlers pack), and Alpha Richard is aware that no matter how much they tried to pressure Damon, it was nearly impossible to influence him because Damon didn¡¯t expose any weakness.


    The circle of people who can approach Damon is small, and he doesn¡¯t have any close family members. No matter what girls they send Damon¡¯s way, none of them kept him interested for more than one night. Well, Cassie is an exception, but she never went beyond asional hookup.


    However, if there is a girl who managed to invoke Damon¡¯s protective side, she might be someone important.


    Alpha Richard¡¯s story of how the girl might be Damon¡¯s rtive or a spy was just nonsense to pacify Cassie; she was never the sharpest tool in the shed; far from it. Actually, Cassie is not stupid, but her rash personality and short fuse make her susceptible to external influences and unless someone is guiding her, she easily loses focus.


    Alpha Richard was stuck on the part where Cassie described the woman as weak; it was unusual. He knows very well that Cassie has no oppressive aura and that she is weak by werewolf standards. Any average teenage werewolf can defeat Cassie, so¡­ why was this woman powerless in front of Cassie? Did the woman pretend to be weak, or did Cassie exaggerate to make herself look better? Is it possible that the woman is not a she-wolf?


    Maybe, just maybe, Cassie returned from the Dark Howlers pack with something useful, but Alpha Richard knew better than to say that in front of Cassie because she will probably ruin it.


    Alpha Richard never found his destined mate. Over the years, women by his side changed, and one of them gave birth to Cassie. The woman expected benefits and Alpha Richard chased her away before Cassie turned three years old, but he kept the child because an Alpha without family is frowned upon. He made sure that all kinds of rumors about Cassie¡¯s mother were spread so that she doesn¡¯t dare to show her face, and the image of a doting father worked in his favor.


    Cassie grew up with nannies (who doubled as Alpha Richard¡¯s bed warmers) and Alpha Richard didn¡¯t bother much with Cassie; he bought her things and made sure everyone treats her like a princess.


    It didn¡¯t take much effort to convince Cassie that Alpha Damon is the man for her, and Alpha Richard rejoiced thinking that Cassie will finally be useful.


    To his disappointment, Cassie failed, just like many others before her, and Alpha Richard used his connections to get Cassie back into Damon¡¯s arms. After the third time Cassie showed up, Damon started tolerating Cassie¡¯s presence and he didn¡¯t question when she appeared unannounced, and even though she didn¡¯t make much progress, it was more than all previous bride candidates.


    Alpha Richard told Cassie to y stupid and stick close to Damon while keeping her eyes open with the hope that she might find something useful, and so far, there was nothing. However, now Cassie brought news: there is a woman who is close to Alpha Damon, and Alpha Damon was protective of her. Coincidence? Alpha Richard doesn¡¯t believe in coincidences.


    It didn¡¯t matter if Damon¡¯s interest in Talia was romantic or not, the fact that Damon moved for her was the key point. Something that could be used.


    ¡­


    ~ the Dark Howlers pack ~


    Damon held sleeping Talia in his arms and counted her slow breaths while ying with the strand of her hair.


    He remembered Talia saying how she wants to leave, and he firmed his resolve to keep her by his side at any cost.


    Damon knew that unless he tells Talia they are mates, she will doubt his intentions, but¡­ what if that scares her away? What if she doesn¡¯t believe him?


    Without Talia¡¯s wolf, Damon had no way to prove to Talia how much she means to him, and he feared that his significance in her life is not enough for her to stay.


    Damon was confident that Talia is not a wolf-less Omega.


    She moved freely through the dark kitchen and through the forest, which proved that her wolf is enhancing her sight. When she gave a lesson to Mr. Mendez at the hospital, Talia projected an aura only a queen could have. Definitely not an Omega. He didn¡¯t imagine any of those.


    Damon didn¡¯t care if Talia is an Omega or a human, but he knew that if she can find her wolf, Talia will be stronger and incidents like the one with Cassie will not repeat.


    ¡®Travis. Travis!¡¯, Damon called through the mind-link. ¡®Are you awake?¡¯


    ¡®I am now¡­¡¯, Travis responded drowsily, and it took him a moment to snap awake, ¡®Alpha!? What happened? Is there an emergency?¡¯


    ¡®Not an emergency. This is about Talia.¡¯


    Travis couldn¡¯t believe this. It was the middle of the night! But that¡¯s Alpha Damon and he didn¡¯t darein. ¡®Is she OK?¡¯


    ¡®I don¡¯t know. Can you keep a secret?¡¯


    ¡®Everything about my patients is confidential.¡¯, Travis responded right away.


    ¡®I told you that she doesn¡¯t have a wolf.¡¯


    ¡®Yes.¡¯, Travis confirmed. ¡®That¡¯s why her healing is slow.¡¯


    ¡®Talia is physically weak, and her healing ability is just like humans. But what if I told you that she has night visionparable to mine?¡¯Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    ¡®You are saying that her wolf is crippled?¡¯


    ¡®I don¡¯t know. I was hoping that you might have some answers.¡¯, Damon said honestly. ¡®I have a feeling that her wolf is not gone, but something weakened her, and she can only enhance Talia¡¯s vision. Are you aware of any cases like that?¡¯


    There was silence, and Damon waited patiently, knowing that Travis was thinking about it.


    ¡®Wolves are our spiritual halves that enhance our bodies¡¯, Travis spoke after some time. ¡®There are cases when a werewolf was hurt physically or mentally, and the wolf side would be sacrificed in order to save the human half. If we take into consideration that Talia is malnourished and abused for years, I can see as a possibility that her wolf¡¯s vitality reduced in order to preserve Talia¡¯s life. Talia¡¯s medical history would help us get more information, but Talia told me that she saw a doctor thest time when she was a child, in the Red Moon pack. I didn¡¯t find it relevant to her condition because it was a long time ago, but if you want me to investigate her wolf, I can contact the pack doctor there¡­¡¯


    ¡®No!¡¯, Damon cut him off. ¡®I need you to keep to yourself that Talia is from the Red Moon pack. If there is a record about it, erase it.¡¯


    ¡®Got it.¡¯, Travis agreed right away. Considering Talia¡¯s condition, he had a vague idea that she came to their pack to seek asylum and if the Red Moon pack gets a whiff about Talia¡¯s whereabouts, it might be troublesome.


    ¡®Is there something we can do without her medical history?¡¯, Damon asked.


    ¡®You want to awaken her wolf?¡¯, Travis guessed.


    ¡®Is that possible?¡¯


    Travis was not sure. ¡®Technically, yes. Talia¡¯s body and mind are weakened. Assuming that her wolf is not beyond salvation, if Talia improves her physical condition, and is in a supportive environment that will help her mentally, there is a chance of her wolf recuperating. But keep in mind that her condition is deteriorating for many years, and it might take even longer for her to bounce back. There is no way for us to get any timelines or estimates that make sense.¡¯


    Damon didn¡¯t like the uncertainty, but some chance was better than none.


    ¡®I wille with Talia tomorrow. I want you to do tests for her senses and strength and keep track of any changes without letting her know about this.¡¯


    Travis was surprised by thisst part. ¡®You don¡¯t want her to know that there is a possibility of her wolfing back?¡¯


    ¡®Not yet.¡¯, Damon said. ¡®Getting her wolf back is a big deal and Talia is currently fragile. You said it, it can take years and there is no guarantee that it will work. I don¡¯t want her to get disappointed if it doesn¡¯t work out. I want you to schedule weekly appointments on the pretense of checking her weight and health, and I will take care of everything else. When we are fairly confident that we are making progress, we can discuss telling her.¡¯


    Other than tracking Talia¡¯s progress, Damon wanted Talia to have more attachments to the pack, starting with regr doctor¡¯s appointments. That will make it more difficult for her to leave.


    Travis hummed in agreement. ¡®Sounds good, Alpha. It¡¯s good that you are going to get involved because Talia has a big challenge ahead of her.¡¯


    Damon didn¡¯t understand. ¡®What do you mean?¡¯


    ¡®I noticed her mental scars. She needs surrounding that will allow her to feel safe so that she can be herself. If she finds herself in a stressful situation, it can pull her back and destroy months of progress¡­¡¯


    Damon listened to Travis, and he wondered if keeping Talia in the packhouse is the right thing to do. But he couldn¡¯t let go, because the fragile girl in his arms gave him a sense of purpose beyond leading the pack.


    Damon wanted to take care of Talia because, in a way, that was taking care of himself, and besides, no matter where he sends her, he can¡¯t guarantee that someone won¡¯t pick on her.


    When Travis was done talking, they confirmed Talia¡¯s appointment at ten o¡¯clock in the morning and Damon was back to staring at Talia¡¯s sleeping face.


    Her lips were slightly parted, and he really wanted to kiss her.


    Damon wondered if that would be her first kiss. But no matter if it would be her first kiss, it would be THEIR first and he didn¡¯t want to steal it. He wanted her awake and aware and willing¡­ for much more than just kissing.


    Damon leaned lower and left a soft kiss on Talia¡¯s forehead.


    Delightful sparks tingled his lips, and he inhaled a shaky breath which filled his system with the sweet citrusy scent of freesia. This was far from enough, but it would have to do until the time is ripe and he gets to put that kiss where it belongs, on Talia¡¯s lips¡­ and on the rest of her.


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on:


    mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 65 The Morning After

    Through her sleepy haze, Talia heard water.


    It sounded like a downpour.


    No matter what the weather was outside, Talia was in a cozy bed, surrounded by the scent of the forest and dark chocte, and she didn¡¯t want to wake up. She pulled theforter over her head and drifted back to sleep.


    Talia¡¯s mind stirred, and her eyes fluttered open.


    There was no sound of rain. It was sunny outside. Did she dream about the rain? Or was it raining during the night and then it cleared up? It didn¡¯t matter.


    Talia turnedzily and her nose touched the pillow that was full of delicious smell which confirmed that thest night happened. She didn¡¯t imagine it.


    Alpha Damon was there, and he asked her to continue using this room and he said that no one will disturb her anymore and she doesn¡¯t need to hide, and that she can train self-defense.


    Talia didn¡¯t remember when she fell asleep, but she knew that Alpha Damon slept with her, or at least held her while she was sleeping. The sheets next to her were cold but based on the strength of the scent, she concluded that Damon left recently.


    She bit her lip guiltily at the memory of her sticking to Damon. She felt guilty because it was not allowed, not for someone like her.


    His body was solid and warm, and his presence made her feel safe. It felt good, more than good, but if Marcy or Cassie or any other Damon¡¯s woman saw them like that, Talia was confident that she would get a beating, so the events fromst night will definitely stay a secret buried in her memory.


    Talia let out a sad sigh and reminded herself not to get used to Damon¡¯s clinginess because his mood swings are unpredictable, and she should not expect that he will treat her with kindness. If she expects it and it doesn¡¯t happen, she will end up hurt.


    Talia could describe Alpha Damon as confusing. Why can¡¯t he pick one personality and stick to it?


    If he is mean to her or ignores her, it would be so much easier to leave and not look back.


    Talia chided herself for wavering. She was resolved to leave as soon as Doctor Travis says that she recuperated, but then Alpha Damon brought her dinner and climbed into her bed, but he was not intrusive. It was the opposite. Yes, he pressed her against him, but he was kind and he listened, and she didn¡¯t hate it.


    But no matter how good it was to fall asleep in Alpha Damon¡¯s embrace, Talia didn¡¯t dare to hope it will happen again.


    Does she want it to happen again? Does it matter what she wants?


    She justified Damon¡¯s behavior from the previous night as something he did because he wanted tofort her and apologize since Cassie bullied her on his watch. Those were his words.


    Yeah¡­ it will not happen again.


    Talia nced around the room, to make sure she is on her own and no one can see her, and then she buried her face in the pillow and took a deep breath. How can a man smell so good?


    She really loved Damon¡¯s scent, but she would never admit that. Not even to herself. Those kinds of thoughts were not allowed.


    Talia jolted when the bathroom door opened, and her eyes widened in shock at the sight of Alpha Damon standing there with only a towel hanging dangerously low on his waist.


    His hair was damp and messy, increasing his visual appeal by a notch; not like he needed that to look delicious.


    Talia swallowed a mouthful of air while struggling to maintain eye contact and not gape at the magnificentndscape of his body.


    ¡°Good morning, my dear wife.¡±, Damon said with his signature lopsided smile.


    ¡°Good morning¡­¡±, she responded in a squeaky voice, too flustered to address the ¡®dear wife¡¯ part, and her face exploded in blush when his smile widened.


    Damon raised his arm and leaned on the doorframe, giving her a spectacr view of his V-shaped torso.


    Talia¡¯s breath hitched when their eyes met and she saw his knowing gaze.


    Oh, God! He noticed her staring! But she couldn¡¯t look away.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡±, she managed to force words out of her mouth.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t want to leave before you wake up. It would appear that I sneaked out after we spent the night together.¡±, he said like it¡¯s a totally normal thing.


    Talia paused. That was ambiguous but in a way, it was true. However, was all that exposed skin necessary? ¡°Why are you wearing a towel?¡±


    Damon¡¯s hand fell on this waist. ¡°Should I remove it?¡±


    ¡°No! NO!¡±, Talia screamed in panic and Damon burst into a heartyugh.


    He loved her variety of expressions. He loved everything about Talia.


    Talia loved seeing himugh like that, a carefreeugh. His features softened and he didn¡¯t appear scary. At that moment, he was Damon. Just Damon.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to freshen up before your doctor¡¯s appointment?¡±, Damon asked.


    Talia wanted to say, yes, but he was standing at the door of the bathroom, and if she went now it would only bring her closer to that sinful devil who liked to tease her.


    She gathered her courage and responded with a question, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to leave?¡±


    Damon stalked to the bed and sat on the edge.


    Talia inhaled a shaky breath when his scent hit her, and she hoped that he didn¡¯t notice.


    ¡°Unfortunately, I need to leave. There are no clothes for me in this closet.¡±, Damon said while his eyes darted over Talia¡¯s face as he searched for signs of approval or difort at the idea of them sharing a closet, but there was nothing.


    ¡°Breakfast is in half an hour, and after that, I will apany you to see Travis.¡±


    Talia blinked herself out of her Damon-induced daze. ¡°Oh, no. Breakfast! I was supposed to help in the kitchen.¡±


    Damon pushed a lock of Talia¡¯s hair behind her ear. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I told Stephanie that you had a rough night and will sleep in. She will expect you to help with lunch.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±, she really meant it. Not just for telling Stephanie about her absence rted to breakfast preparations, but also about staying with her overnight. Talia doesn¡¯t remember if she ever slept that well.


    She understood that this Damon is yful and teasing, and he would never harm her. After all, if he wanted to do anything inappropriately, he had the whole night for it and she would be unable to fight him off, yet her clothes are still in ce.


    A small voice inside Talia¡¯s head whispered that no matter what Damon¡¯s mood is (or which personality he switches into), he will never harm her.


    ¡°I will see you at breakfast.¡±, she said.


    She didn¡¯t want him to leave, but he was kind of naked, and she needed to get ready.


    Damon stood up with difficulty.


    He really wanted to get under that cover and snuggle with Talia.


    ¡­


    Damon came to the dining room and found Caden and Maya there, with a cup of steaming coffee each.


    The table was set with serving tes filled with sausages, bacon, and scrambled eggs.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Damon went to get himself a coffee first, he will eat when Taliaes, which should be soon.


    ¡°Nice of you to join us.¡±, Caden grumbled when Damon took a seat.


    Damon didn¡¯t understand Caden¡¯s attitude. Yes, he is usually the first one up and working, but he didn¡¯t want to cut short his morning with Talia.


    ¡°Did I miss something important?¡±


    ¡°Alpha Richard called, three times. He wants to talk to you in person and apologize for Cassie¡¯s behavior.¡±, Caden said.


    Damon didn¡¯t want to talk to him. ¡°Tell him that¡¯s not necessary. Apology epted, but I won¡¯t change my mind about Cassieing back here. Starting today, I want us to increase border patrols. Outsiders are not allowed to step into our core territory without approval from me or my Betas, and they are to report when they leave. If the number of requests is too much for the three of us to handle, we can authorize a few more people to deal with it.¡±


    They discussed this previously, so Damon didn¡¯t want to go into details.


    ¡°We will need to rify who falls into the category of outsiders.¡±, Maya said.


    ¡°Whoever is not a pack member.¡±, Damon said without missing a beat and added, ¡°Send a memo to all packs, so that we avoid unnecessary misunderstandings. I want us to keep track of all outsiders in our territory. That shouldn¡¯t be hard to do.¡±


    Caden and Maya agreed. That¡¯s not hard to do. And it¡¯s not unusual either. Many packs have rigorous checks about others who are staying with them, it¡¯s just that the Dark Howlers pack was ratherx in this aspect, until now.


    ¡°Anything else?¡±, Damon asked, and the way Caden and Maya exchanged nces, told Damon that he won¡¯t like whatever they were about to say.


    Caden responded, ¡°Marcy wants toe.¡±


    Damon¡¯s face darkened. ¡°I thought I have at least a week until I need to deal with her again.¡±


    ¡°You are giving her a silent treatment and Alpha Edward is getting nervous.¡±, Caden said.


    Damon couldn¡¯t believe this. ¡°Silent treatment? It¡¯s been only a few days. If anyone is going back on the agreement that¡¯s them.¡±


    Maya made a face. ¡°They want to use our celebration of Summer Solstice as an excuse for Marcy toe.¡±


    Damon rubbed his forehead forcibly. He didn¡¯t want to entertain Marcy and he definitely didn¡¯t want her toe for this event or any other. Damon imagined walking with Talia and showing her around, and if Marcy is here, none of that will happen. Damn it!

 Chapter 66 Shady Business Under The Table

    Obviously, Damon didn¡¯t like the idea of Marcy visiting the Dark Howlers pack, and he also didn¡¯t like that his two Betas were talking about it like it¡¯s not a big deal.


    Sure, he didn¡¯t tell them that Talia is his mate, but they should at least be aware of the consequences if Marcy recognizes Talia as the girl from the attic.


    ¡°If Marcyes, what will happen to Talia?¡±, Damon asked.


    Maya had a solution ready, ¡°We can move her with Omegas, and tell her to stay low profile until Marcy leaves. Actually, Talia wants to move out of the packhouse, and this can be a good asion to start the process¡­¡±


    Damon¡¯s ears were buzzing and he didn¡¯t hear the rest.


    Is Maya serious? How dares she think about separating him from Talia?


    But¡­ can Talia stay in the packhouse with Marcy around?


    Onlyst night Damon told Talia that this is her home and that she won¡¯t need to hide, yet if Marcyes, Damon will need to eat his words and suffer the consequences of breaking Talia¡¯s trust. Again.


    To make things worse, Marcy will stay in the packhouse and stick close to him and how is he supposed to exin that to Talia?


    Not eptable.


    ¡°No!¡±, Damon snapped, making Maya stop talking in the middle of her sentence. ¡°Talia is still recuperating, and she will NOT leave the packhouse. Marcy¡¯s presence will disturb us all. We need to find another way to deal with this.¡±


    ¡°What should I tell Alpha Edward?¡±, Caden asked Damon.


    ¡°Come up with a reason so that Marcy doesn¡¯te.¡±, Damon said. ¡°Tell her I won¡¯t be here. I will be away on business, training, vacation, pick one orbine a few. It¡¯s not like this will be the first time for you to provide an excuse for me.¡±


    Caden was not sure if Damon is joking. ¡°Do you expect them to believe that you are not going to be here for one of thergest celebrations our pack is holding? We will have several other Alphas visiting and I¡¯m confident that Alpha Edward knows about it.¡±


    Yes, several delegations from other packs wille, but not all of them are Alphas. Some of them assumed the role of an Alpha recently, but most of them are heirs, sons of Alphas (and their mates), and they are all approximately Damon¡¯s age. They areing with a goal to establish and maintain good rtionships with Damon that wille in handy when they take over the leadership of their respective pack.


    Most of the Alphas take over the pack in theirte twenties, but it¡¯s not umon for some to reach their thirties, and some do it as early as twenty years old. There is no rule other than for the previous Alpha to be ready to hand over his position, and that he believes his sessor is ready for the role of an Alpha.


    At Caden¡¯s words, Damon made a face. He forgot that guests areing, and he will need to attend meetings and entertain them, and he won¡¯t be able to spend much time with Talia, and¡­ his face lit up when he got an idea.


    ¡°That¡¯s it! Others will be visiting! Tell them that my schedule is full with official business, and I will have no time to entertain Marcy. Workes first and I don¡¯t want her toe and be neglected.¡± Damon paused and made a thoughtful face. ¡°Yes. Spice it up with something like¡­ When I¡¯m with my future Luna, I want to give her my undivided attention. And make sure to add that our engagement is still not set, and I don¡¯t want my guests to get the wrong idea when they see Marcy here.¡±


    Caden and Maya exchanged confused nces.


    ¡°You must be kidding.¡± It was Maya who spoke. ¡°If we respond with this, it¡¯s the same as saying that you are backing off from the engagement.¡±


    ¡°You know that I have no intention of making Marcy my Luna.¡± This was true, with or without Talia in the picture.


    ¡°And you know that you can¡¯t back off from an engagement with a casual response from your Betas.¡±, Maya responded with a frown. She hated this part where Damon would mess around with women, and Caden and she were left with damage control.


    Maya never approved of Damon¡¯s games where he would meet the bride, explore her thoroughly, and then reject her. But Damon and Caden were doing this from before Maya met Caden (and she became Beta), so she couldn¡¯t stop it. Besides, it was two against one, and Damon is the Alpha, so she had to obey and follow their lead.


    If it¡¯s up to Maya, Damon wouldn¡¯t meet any of those women, and if that causes a war¡­ then, so be it. They will fight.


    Maya is a strong warrior and she prefers a straightforward approachpared to schemes, but since they are already neck-deep in this mess, she had toe up with a viable solution.


    ¡°Our n for rejecting Marcy is still not ready, so the safest thing is to let here here for a few days. Talia will move¡­¡±


    Damon bolted to his feet and red at Maya. ¡°No!¡±


    Caden stood up, ready to defend Maya, and Maya stood up as well.


    ¡°There is no use shouting at me.¡±, Maya said irritably. Yes, Damon is her Alpha, but he is stubborn and not willing to admit that Talia is his mate. Actually, even if he admits that Talia is his mate, Maya¡¯s solution wouldn¡¯t change. They need to protect (aka to hide) Talia and to pacify Marcy. It¡¯s that simple. ¡°We need a n and unless you have something else that will work and not start a war, Marcy ising.¡±


    Damon was exasperated. He knew that Maya and Caden were right, but he was not willing.


    Is there really nothing they can do to prevent Marcy froming?


    He felt like a cornered animal, with no way out, and he hated it. He is an Alpha, damn it! Why are others telling him what to do and with whom to do it?


    Damon hated that he was still tangled in the web that Alpha Edward set for him with Marcy in the middle.


    ¡°Anything from our men in Europe?¡±


    Caden and Maya knew that Damon was asking if they managed to dig out any dirty secret from Marcy¡¯s past.


    ¡°Nothing yet.¡±, Caden responded.


    ¡°Should I assume that we will not find anything? Is she good in not leaving traces, or is she clean?¡±, Damon asked stiffly.


    They spoke about this several times already. Everyone has something to hide. It can be evidence that Marcy was fooling around with men, or it could be just a party where she drank and danced, and the rest will be photoshopped.


    They already have a video of Marcy naked with Damon, but they need her acting lewdly with someone else as well. As long as they can portray Marcy as a loose woman, Damon can use the old belief how a good Luna should be pure before meeting her Alpha and discredit her as such.


    It wouldn¡¯t be the first time.


    Those old geezers lose their fire when Damon asks them how would they feel if their mate was sampled with an array of other men before she became their Luna. That argument works wonders.


    Caden wanted to cate Damon. ¡°Let¡¯s not give up. It¡¯s been only a few days since we sent them to search¡­¡±


    ¡°How long does it take?¡±, Damon¡¯s voice was rising.


    ¡°They are trying!¡±, Caden was the one who lost it now. Why is Damon acting like this is his fault?


    ¡°Make them try harder!¡±


    Both Caden and Damon froze when they saw Talia standing at the door warily.


    Damon wondered how much she heard. Did she hear that they are digging dirt on Marcy? Or that Maya wants to send her away? What if Talia agrees to leave?


    ¡°Good morning, Talia!¡±, Maya wished cheerfully.


    ¡°Good morning¡±, Talia responded.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Talia¡¯s eyes were darting from Damon to Caden to Maya, and back to Damon again. All three of them were standing and Talia was not sure if she shoulde in or not.


    Damon told her toe down for breakfast, but then she heard them arguing and she wished to go back to her room.


    She can skip food. It¡¯s not a big deal.


    But her legs moved on their own and brought her to the door and this awkward situation.


    Damon cleared his throat and spoke calmly to Caden, ¡°Tell them to hurry. We will continue this conversationter.¡± He turned to Talia. ¡°Nice of you to join us,e here.¡± He gestured to the chair on his left. ¡°What will you drink? Orange juice, milk, tea, coffee¡­¡±


    Talia approached the table gingerly. ¡°Orange juice.¡±


    Damon pulled a chair for Talia and she watched as Damon poured her a ss of juice.


    Talia was not sure how they can all resume eating as if nothing happened. She didn¡¯t understand what the shouting was about, it seemed random, but she clearly heard that the seemingly calm conversation exploded into a heated argument. Or is that a normal urrence?


    Her desire to leave the packhouse swelled. This ce is too stressful.


    By the time Talia snapped to her senses, the te in front of her was heaping with food.


    ¡°That¡¯s plenty¡±, Talia told Damon who was ready to put another sausage on her te.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t say, ¡®enough¡¯, so I assumed you want more.¡±, Damon responded casually and then he started piling food into his te.


    ¡°How was your night, Talia? Are you feeling better?¡±, Maya asked.


    ¡°It was good, and yes, I¡¯m better. Thank you.¡±, Talia responded while wondering if Caden and Maya are aware that Damon spent the night in her bed. She tried not to think about it.


    Talia looked helplessly at the small mountain of food in front of her, and she poked a piece of scrambled eggs.


    The fork nearly reached her mouth when Talia jolted.


    She nced under the table and saw Damon¡¯s hand on her knee, palm up, and his fingers were wiggling.


    Talia knew what that means, but she couldn¡¯t believe it.


    She leaned closer to Damon, over the table, and asked in a whisper, ¡°Now?¡±


    ¡°No questions asked, remember?¡±, Damon responded without removing his gaze from his te.


    She was not sure if she shouldugh or cry, but she knew that Alpha Damon is not the one to give up easily and she didn¡¯t want to cause a scene.


    Talia nced nervously at Maya and Caden who were busy with their food. Good. It seems they didn¡¯t notice.


    She jolted again when Damon squeezed her knee, silently telling her that he is still waiting.


    Talia shifted the fork in her left hand and her right hand went under the table.


    The moment her palmnded in Damon¡¯s, their fingers inteced, and Talia¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    She couldn¡¯t help but steal nces at Damon who was eating with one hand, and if not for a small smile at the corner of his lips, she would assume that she was holding someone else¡¯s hand.


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on:


    mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 67 Permission To Learn

    Damon worked on his breakfast while focusing on his hand under the table that held Talia¡¯s.


    Talia¡¯s warmth and delicious sparks calmed his restless mind and heart, and there was some mischief because of the difort Talia was trying to hide whenever his thumb moved gently over her knuckles.


    Damon was upset at the thought of Marcy wanting toe, and he needed Talia¡¯s touch tofort him.


    Unfortunately, just hand-holding under the table was not enough.


    Damon really wanted to hug Talia, and much more, but he knew that this is as far as he can go in the current setting, and it needs to be enough. For now.


    ¡°Talia¡±, Maya called, and Talia¡¯s head snapped at her.


    Talia¡¯s heart raced, does Maya know what¡¯s going on under the table? Will Maya and Caden tease her if they know that Damon is holding her hand during breakfast?


    ¡°Do you have ns for today?¡±, Maya asked.


    Talia released the breath she was holding. ¡°I have an appointment with Doctor Travis in the morning, and then I will help in the kitchen.¡±


    ¡°How about the afternoon?¡±, Maya continued probing and Talia instinctively nced at Damon.


    Damon liked this, it showed that Talia is depending on him.


    ¡°Talia wants to train, so she probably hopes to start as soon as possible. But she is not allowed to move a muscle until Travis says that she is fine.¡±, Damon responded.


    Maya nodded in understanding. ¡°A walk is fine, right? After lunch, I can show you around. You can see the training facilities, and if Travis gives his OK, we can get you sweaty.¡±


    Talia¡¯s eyes widened and she smiled. ¡°That would be wonderful.¡±


    Damon didn¡¯t like this. Talia, outside, sweating? Without him? ¡°Where are you taking her?¡±


    Maya bobbed her head. ¡°Just around the area. We will start with a walk to theke and seemunity buildings on the way, and take it from there.¡± Maya continued talking to Talia, ¡°The town is especially lively with all the preparations going on. We can stop whenever you feel tired. There is a lot to see and one afternoon won¡¯t be enough. We are the biggest pack in North America, after all. It might take a few days, but I will show you everything we have here.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±, Talia said and without thinking, she gave Damon¡¯s hand a squeeze under the table. She was excited.


    Damon wanted to protest because the idea of Talia not being in his visible range was unsettling, but she was happy, and he didn¡¯t want to spoil it, so he swallowed his objections with the piece of sausage that was in his mouth.


    He knew that he has a mountain of work waiting for him and it wouldn¡¯t be fair to keep Talia in her room until he is avable to show her around.


    Damon was determined to spend time with Talia as soon as he clears up the backlog that¡¯s waiting on his desk. But¡­ where will he take Talia? Forest? Pic? Romantic dinner? Beach? There are so many options!


    However, if he could have his way, they wouldn¡¯t leave the room. Just he and Talia, that¡¯s enough, and any room is fine.


    ¡­


    Ignoring Caden¡¯sints, Damon apanied Talia for her appointment with Travis.


    Talia was not sure why Caden was in a bad mood because all bickering between Damon and Caden happened through the mind-link and she would probably resume her thoughts about leaving if she knew that Marcy ns toe in a few days.


    ¡°Thank you foring with me. I¡¯m sure you have a lot of work, yet you still took the time for this.¡±, Talia said to Damon while they made their way through the forest.


    ¡°You are wee. It¡¯s my pleasure.¡±, Damon responded and gave Talia¡¯s hand a squeeze.


    Yes, going in a car will take only five minutes, but he wanted to walk with Talia. It takes longer and he gets to enjoy holding her hand and chatting casually.


    Damon noticed that Talia is rxed when they are outside, just the two of them. He liked that.


    In the pack hospital¡­


    With Jill and Cathy, the exam didn¡¯t take long and in less than an hour, Talia and Damon sat in Travis¡¯s office to hear the results and rmendations for going forward.


    ¡°You have several markers that are just below or above normal, but it¡¯s nothing too concerning, and I can see slight improvementspared to your previous checkup. Continue regr meals and vitamins and I will see you in a week.¡±, Travis said. ¡°If you feel anything out of the ordinary, give me a call and we will get you an appointment. In the meantime, I rmend adding fennel, ginger, and cayenne pepper into your food, based on your taste. They will help with appetite and digestion.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know that.¡±, Talia said.


    Travis noticed that Talia¡¯s tone had a hint of surprise, and asked, ¡°Do you know about the medicinal effects of herbs?¡±


    ¡°A little bit.¡±, Talia responded humbly. ¡°I know how to take care of simple wounds.¡±


    ¡°Simple wounds? Tell me more¡­¡±, Travis asked, unable to contain his curiosity.


    In general, werewolves are divided into ones who follow a traditional lifestyle, and the ones who are modernized. The traditional ones will go to their shaman when they are ill, and they use herbs, crystals, and prayers to feel better, while modern ones rely on technology and thetest advances in medicine.


    Talia obviously believes in modern medicine, yet she is familiar with herbs, so Travis was eager to probe how deep are her knowledge and interest.


    Talia told him about a few herbs that she mixes to treat open wounds and the ones that are good for reducing swelling and fever.


    ¡°Do you want to learn more?¡±, Travis asked. ¡°There are books I can rmend.¡±


    ¡°Yes, please!¡±


    Travis stood up and walked to the wall shelf where a number of books were arranged. He pulled one thick book with dark blue covers. Based on the worn-out look, it was obvious that the book was used a lot.


    ¡°Start with this one.¡±, Travis said when he gave the book to Talia. ¡°I don¡¯t have many here, but I can always apany you to the library and help you pick. As you read through it, take notes of your questions and if I don¡¯t know answers, I can help you find them.¡±


    Talia¡¯s eyes sparkled. With his readiness to help and teach her, Travis definitely reminded her of Olivia.


    Talia realized that this is one step closer to learning medicine and maybe even working in the pack hospital (if she stays in the pack). This also gave her a reason to reach out to Travis and learn from him, and once they get close enough and she gets the right opportunity, Talia will ask him about working in the hospital.


    ¡°Unless you have more questions for me, we are done for today.¡±, Travis said while his eyes darted from Damon to Talia.


    ¡°One question¡­¡±, Talia started and nervously nced at Damon. ¡°Am I well enough to start training?¡±


    ¡®I don¡¯t want her to get hurt¡¯, Damon said to Travis through the mind-link.


    So far, Damon was quietly observing the exam, and this was the first time he spoke, so Travis understood that this was important.


    Travis let out a long exhale. He didn¡¯t want to offend his Alpha, but he already said to Talia that she doesn¡¯t have anything serious.


    He decided on something in-between.


    ¡°There is nothing wrong with you, Talia, however, your stamina and muscle mass are below average. I want you to take it easy.¡±, Travis said. ¡°I rmend that you take walks and gradually increase duration, distance, and difficulty. While doing that, listen to your body. If you feel a strain, pain, or you run out of breath, take a break. OK?¡±


    ¡°So, I can¡¯t train?¡±, Talia asked dejectedly.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say that.¡±, Travis quickly said. ¡°If you want to lift weights, take the lightest ones and work your way up. If it¡¯s running, start with a brisk walk and gradually increase your pace. But no matter what it is, if you feel difort, stop. Moderation is the key, and until you gain weight, I fear that if you overdo physical activity, you might faint or worse. Until you figure out your limits, don¡¯t do things on your own without supervision.¡±


    Travis nced at Damon, and he rxed when he saw Damon nodding in approval.


    On their way back to the packhouse, Talia noticed that Damon¡¯s mood was a bit off.


    ¡°Is something bothering you?¡±, she asked, assuming that it¡¯s workload and that he will tell her that it¡¯s nothing.


    ¡°Yes.¡±, Damon said tly. ¡°I want you to take it easy and you got yourself not only into training but also into learning about medicine.¡± Damon gestured toward the thick blue blook that Talia carried in her hand.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Talia was not sure why that would bother Damon. It¡¯s not like she did anything other than ask questions and borrow a book. ¡°I promise to start training slowly, and reading a book is not much effort. I will do it in my free time.¡±


    ¡°If you are reading, then it¡¯s not free time.¡±


    ¡°Is there a problem if I learn things?¡±


    ¡°No, no.¡±, Damon backtracked quickly. ¡°It¡¯s just that¡­¡± He stopped walking and she had to stop as well because they were holding hands. Damon stepped closer to Talia, and she looked up at him.


    ¡°I am worried about you, and I would prefer that you consult me before you take on more responsibilities.¡±


    Talia blinked. Is he really worried about her? That would be first. No one ever worried about her.


    ¡°I apologize.¡±, she said. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to worry you. Is there something I can do to make it up to you?¡±


    Damon¡¯s lips lifted into a smile and Talia¡¯s eyes moved nervously over his handsome face while trying to figure out what he was up to.


    Was he going to ask her not to train? Or not to read the book? Ah! What if he asks her to stop helping in the kitchen?


    Talia was oblivious to the fact that during breakfast, Damon narrowed down the list of ces where he wanted to take Talia, and this was the perfect excuse for him to pick one and go for it.


    Damon lifted her hand and ced a small kiss on her knuckles without breaking eye contact, and he enjoyed the sight of blush that invaded her cheeks.


    ¡°Come with me tomorrow.¡±, Damon said, and she felt his breath sshing against the spot he kissed a second ago.


    ¡°Where?¡± Her voice came a bit breathy.


    ¡°You will find out tomorrow.¡±, Damon responded mysteriously.


    ¡°Alright.¡±, Talia agreed reluctantly.


    Damon hummed in approval and resumed walking toward the packhouse.


    He gave Talia¡¯s hand a squeeze, content that she got used to holding hands. He wondered when the right time will be to move on to the next step. A hug, a kiss, a¡­ ah! He can¡¯t wait!

 Chapter 68 Sandwiches For Lunch

    Talia¡¯s excitement rted to preparing lunch dwindled when Stephanie told her that they are just making sandwiches.


    Talia didn¡¯t mind washing lettuce leaves and cutting tomatoes thinly, but she was hoping to learn cooking techniques, and toasting bread didn¡¯t require any mastery.


    ¡°Did you expect something more borate?¡±, Stephanie asked.


    ¡°Yes.¡±, Talia admitted. ¡°It is lunch, after all.¡±


    In the Red Moon pack, every meal was like a feast for Alpha Edward, Beta Raymond, and their family members.


    ¡°We don¡¯t put a lot of importance on meal ceremonies unless there are guests in the packhouse.¡±, Stephanie said. ¡°Normally, I prepare breakfast and eat in the kitchen. I don¡¯t like to join them in the dining room because those three kids discuss their ns for the day, and it can get noisy.¡±


    Talia agreed with this. She heard Damon, Maya, and Caden shouting that morning. Definitely noisy.


    ¡°Lunch is something easy to eat since everyone is busy and no one takes borate lunch breaks. Dinner is more formal because Alpha and Betas usually have free time, and it is time to unwind, so I try to make something special and I join them.¡±Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Talia liked this casual atmosphere. It sounded like everyone is part of the family and pulling their own weight.


    It was definitely different from what she saw in the Red Moon pack.


    Talia was curious about one thing, ¡°Are you the only one preparing meals?¡±


    Considering that the Dark Howlers pack is thergest pack in North America with thousands of members, she imagined numerous Omegas maintaining this massive packhouse and serving the Alpha and other ranked members of the pack.


    Stephanie smiled at Talia. ¡°You are helping me, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but. Don¡¯t you have Omegas to help?¡±


    Stephanie shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s not a lot of work to make a meal for a few people. I don¡¯t mind cooking and it keeps me busy. More hands in the kitchen could be useful, but it would also make it crowded.¡±


    ¡°Am I making it crowded?¡±


    ¡°I enjoy yourpany. You remind me of my daughter. This is also something to keep you upied until you get used to the pack and figure out what you want to do.¡± Before Talia could respond, Stephanie asked, ¡°Do you have ns for the afternoon?¡±


    Talia confirmed. ¡°Maya will show me around.¡±


    Stephanie pursed her lips. ¡°That might need to wait. A pipe burst in one of themunity buildings and they have water damage. Caden is dealing with what needs to be fixed, and Maya is resettling Omegas who are impacted.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡±, a disappointed sound left Talia¡¯s lips. She was really looking forward to spending time with Maya.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±, Stephanie said. ¡°I would give youpany, but I need to deliver lunches, and then I¡¯m busy with personal matters until dinnertime. I will tell Maya to find you as soon as she can.¡±


    ¡°No, no.¡±, Talia quickly said. ¡°Maya has important things to do and walking around with me is not a big deal. We can do that any other day. Doctor Travis gave me a book to read, and I will do that. I just wish that I can be of more help. I feel that I¡¯m getting food and a ce to stay and I¡¯m not doing much.¡±


    Stephanie got an idea. ¡°You can help me with delivering lunches. Since you are not familiar with the area, you can¡¯t take food to Caden and Maya who are out, but you can take it to Alpha Damon. He is in his study¡­¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Come in!¡±, Damon called when he heard a knock on the door.


    The moment the door opened, Damon picked up the scent of pepperonis and Canadian bacon, and he knew it¡¯s food.


    ¡°Put it on my desk, Steph¡±, Damon said without lifting his head from the documents.


    He didn¡¯t hear steps approaching him, and he was surprised to hear a light clink of a te on his desk.


    Damon looked up and he didn¡¯t expect to see the girl in front of him. ¡°Talia?¡±


    ¡°Sorry to disturb you¡±, she said while taking a step back. ¡°I only brought you lunch. Please continue.¡±


    His eyesnded on Talia¡¯s hand which held a sandwich wrapped in a napkin.


    ¡°Wait!¡±, he called.


    Since they returned from the pack hospital, Damon was busy with documents while trying to finish his work as soon as possible so that he can follow Talia and Maya during their tour, and now that Talia was in front of him, how can he let her go?


    ¡°Did you have your lunch?¡±, Damon asked, even though he knew the answer.


    ¡°Not yet. I will eat in my room.¡±, Talia responded while showing him her sandwich.


    ¡°How about you join me?¡±


    She was about to say that her n was to eat while reading the book that Travis gave her, but then she realized that rejecting a meal with Damon for the reason of reading a book might get her into trouble.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you busy?¡±, she responded with a question.


    ¡°I can¡¯t work and eat. I would love yourpany.¡±, Damon said honestly and gestured toward the sofa on the other side of his study.


    Talia gave him a tight smile and made her way to the sofa while resigning herself to having her sandwich in Damon¡¯s study.


    ¡®It¡¯s not a big deal¡¯, she told herself. ¡®I will eat the sandwich quickly and leave.¡¯ That will still give her a few hours to read the book before she needs to help Stephanie with dinner.


    ¡°What will you drink?¡±, Damon asked while reaching for bottles in the mini-fridge.


    ¡°Anything is fine.¡±


    Damon got two sodas.


    Talia observed the room. One wall was covered with built-in shelves that had numerous books, two windows allowed ample light, and there was one big portrait on the wall behind the executive desk where Damon was sitting previously.


    Between the windows were filing cabs, and above them was a big map with a shaded area that Talia guessed is the territory of the Dark Howlers pack. There was also a firece with several photos on the mantle, but they were too far away for Talia to see what¡¯s on them.


    Talia observed the big portrait that had a man and a woman on it, and Talia saw traces of Damon in both of them. The man was tall and imposing with dark brown hair and icy-blue eyes, standing with his arm around the waist of a woman with long raven-ck hair and a set of warm chocte-colored eyes.


    ¡°My parents.¡±, Damon said briefly while putting one soda in front of Talia.


    Talia only nodded in acknowledgment. She didn¡¯t know what would be appropriate to say, considering that she heard stories about how they were a lovely family and they perished too soon, leaving Damon behind.


    Damon was bossy and overbearing, with an unstable personality, but Talia felt sorry for him. It was undeniable that Damon carried a lot of weight on his shoulders, and he lost the protection of two exceptional people who loved him. She was confident that it was hard on him.


    Talia lowered her gaze from the portrait and saw several stacks of documents on the desk and some scattered papers around theputer.


    Talia let out a long breath. ¡°I feel guilty.¡±


    Damon didn¡¯t get it. ¡°About?¡±


    ¡°You have so much work, yet you apanied me to my appointment. Next time, I will go on my own.¡±


    Damon had no intention of letting Talia go on her own. He wanted her in visual range, preferably in touching distance and he realized that Talia feels indebted to him. Should he take advantage of that?


    Talia took a bite of her sandwich, thinking that Damon will say it¡¯s not a big deal and she shouldn¡¯t worry about it; that would be a normal response, but Damon was anything other than normal and he had his own agenda.


    ¡°Yes. I neglected my work because of you. How will you make it up to me?¡±


    Talia¡¯s chewing paused and she stared at him in disbelief.


    ¡°What¡¯s with that reaction?¡±, Damon asked teasingly. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask you to repay me with your body.¡±


    Talia¡¯s face exploded in blush. Damon was too much!


    She collected herself before asking, ¡°How can I make it up to you?¡±


    Damon shrugged. ¡°You can help me with my work.¡±


    ¡°I have no idea what to do.¡±, she said honestly.


    Damon didn¡¯t think it¡¯s a big deal. ¡°I will show you. What do you say?¡±


    ¡®Do I have a choice?¡¯ Talia¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°Sure. As long as you tell me what to do, I will do my best to help you.¡±


    Damon hummed in agreement and nced down at the space between them.


    Talia followed his gaze and her eyes widened when she saw his hand resting on the sofa, palm up, and his fingers were wiggling.


    This time, she didn¡¯t ask anything. It was just the two of them, and this confirmed that she was having a sandwich with the clingy Alpha Damon.


    Talia ced her hand in Damon¡¯s, her fingers slipped between his, and even though no one could see them, she felt jittery in her stomach.


    Why did the atmosphere suddenly be intimate? Or was that only in her head?


    Talia wished that Caden and Maya are in the room. Someone, anyone would do.


    Damon observed as Talia¡¯s blush increased and he wondered what¡¯s on her mind. He thought that she was adorable.


    They ate in silence and after cleaning their hands (the ones that were holding sandwiches), Damon got a box that was resting on top of the filing cabs and ced it on the coffee table.


    ¡°Sort this mail into official correspondence and spam. From the official pile, separate the ones that are from Alphas. If you are not sure, ask me, and if you can organize them into different categories based on topics, that will help me a lot.¡±


    Talia looked at the envelopes. There were at least one hundred envelopes. When was thest time he checked his mail?


    ¡°How will I know what¡¯s official and what¡¯s not?¡±, she asked.


    ¡°Open it and check.¡±


    Talia paused. ¡°Aren¡¯t some of these confidential?¡± She was certain that there are things only Alphas should know.


    Damon smiled a little. ¡°I trust you.¡±


    Talia stared at Damon who was back at his desk, looking at the documents, and a warm and fuzzy feeling spread in her chest.


    People called her names, some ignored her, some bullied her, a few were nice to her, but this was the first time that someone said she is trustworthy.


    It was a big deal.


    It made her feel important.


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on:


    mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 69 Delaying The Inevitable

    Later that evening¡­


    Damon was sitting in his office with a ss of whiskey in his hand and thinking about the talk he had with Caden and Maya after dinner.


    They discussed the uing festival and the issue of Marcy.


    The preparations for the festival were on schedule and increased security was already in effect, so they focused on discussing Marcy.


    They decided to work on dying her visit.


    It was Maya¡¯s n.


    ¡°Instead of telling her not toe, we will tell her WHEN toe.¡±


    Damon didn¡¯t like it, but he gestured to Maya to keep on talking.


    ¡°Two weeks.¡±, Maya said. ¡°We will tell Marcy that your schedule is packed and that you can¡¯t entertain her now, but in two weeks she cane, and you will make it up to her.¡±


    ¡°You think Marcy and Alpha Edward will ept this two-week dy?¡±, Damon asked.


    ¡°No.¡±, Maya said bluntly before borating, ¡°This is not about getting two weeks, but about negotiating. I expect that they will ask for Marcy toe sooner. I believe that we can settle for somewhere between one week and ten days. I will tell them that we will move your schedule around and you will work overtime so that you can see Marcy sooner. That will soothe their bruised ego while keeping their belief alive that you are interested in making her your Luna, and we will get an extension to find something tangible to discredit Marcy.¡±


    It sounded OK as a short-term solution, but Damon had a bad feeling about this overall.


    If Marcy was a careless party girl, they would find things right away.


    Caden summarized to Damon that they already checked schools Marcy attended and dorms where she stayed, forums, media, her personal pages, news involving her ssmates and roommates¡­ there was nothing.


    Every day passing without finding evidence of Marcy¡¯s wanton behavior, confirms that whoever was with her when she acted in a nondylike manner, knows that it should be kept lowkey. Caden said that their people are trying to find people who are willing to talk, but the problem is that if they are not careful, they can actually tip off Marcy that they are digging her dirt.


    But no matter how bad it sounded, with no better n, Damon agreed.


    ¡°Alright. I will let you handle that. Let me know if you encounter problems, otherwise, I will expect that we have at least a week before we need to revisit this topic.¡±


    Maya and Caden confirmed and left Damon¡¯s study.


    Damon really didn¡¯t want to waste any time thinking about Marcy. For Damon, Marcy became insignificant the moment they left the Red Moon pack with Talia in the trunk of their car.


    Damon also needed to figure out what to do with Talia during the Summer Solstice festival while he entertains guests that areing from other packs.


    Damon has one meeting with them in the afternoon, and they will stay in the guest bedrooms of the packhouse. That will change the dynamics they currently have, and Damon was not sure how many will stay overnight.


    He never liked entertaining guests, and now that Talia is here, he really wanted to cancel everything.


    Damon knows people who wille, and they are not enemies, but they are not friends either, so he is notfortable letting them know that Talia is important.


    The best thing would be to spend that day away from Talia, or even better¡­ away WITH Talia. But how can he do that? He is the Alpha and can¡¯t disappear.


    Should he let Talia go to the festival with Maya or with someone else, outside of his sight? Or should he lock her up in her room?


    Damon didn¡¯t like any of this, and if he could have one wish, he would wish that he is not Alpha, at least for that one day. Then he would spend it with Talia and no one would care.


    There was one more thing rted to Talia that distracted him. Shortly before dinner, Travis contacted him through the mind-link.


    ¡®Alpha, is this a good time?¡¯


    ¡®What is it?¡¯, Damon responded.


    ¡®It¡¯s about Talia and awakening her wolf.¡¯


    Damon was rmed. ¡®Get to the point.¡¯


    ¡®We spoke about food and mental state, but we didn¡¯t discuss the spiritual.¡¯


    Damon didn¡¯t get it. Does Talia need to pray or take a bath in holy water? ¡®Go on.¡¯


    ¡®It is known that we recuperate faster from illness and injuries when our mate is nearby.¡¯


    Damon perked up. ¡®Are you saying that if she is with her mate, the probability of her wolf awakening will increase?¡¯


    ¡®It¡¯s just a guess, but it¡¯s worth trying. That¡¯s if we can find out who her mate is. Considering that her wolf is weak to the point of her being unable to shift, she probably can¡¯t find her mate, but he should be able to identify her.¡¯


    Damon nodded at these words. Travis is smart. Damon¡¯s mood dropped drastically when he heard Travis¡¯s next words.


    ¡®If we expose Talia to unmated males and let her interact with them, the closer the better¡­¡¯


    ¡®ENOUGH!¡¯, Damon roared into the mind-link. What was that nonsense about exposing Talia to unmated males? What if some of them make a move on her? What if she ends up liking someone? Damon was back to thinking about locking Talia in her room.


    ¡®Alpha?¡¯, Travis asked weakly while wondering what did he do.


    Damon took a few breaths before responding, ¡®Good work, Travis. Let me know if youe up with some other ideas.¡¯ He cut off the mind-link before Travis could respond.


    Part of Damon approved the news Travis gave him because now he had a medical reason to stick close to Talia. The only problem was how to make it look natural and not spook her.


    Back to the present¡­


    Damon downed the amber liquid from his ss and remembered Talia¡¯s focused expression while she sorted the mail that afternoon.


    Was that job essential? Absolutely not.


    If there is anything important, Damon gets it in email while urgent matters are discussed over the phone, and only copies are sent through regr mail. But he wanted to keep Talia with him.


    When Talia finished sorting that mail, Damon asked her to get them some snacks from the kitchen.


    Talia returned with apples, grapes, and pineapples, and Damon asked her to feed him, with an excuse that his hands were busy.


    He truly enjoyed the feeding service Talia provided.


    After that, Damon gave Talia a task to ce documents he previously signed in corresponding filing cabs. That would be Maya¡¯s or Caden¡¯s job, in the evening, but Talia did it perfectly.


    It was mid-afternoon when Maya peeked into Damon¡¯s office and when she saw that Talia was busy, they agreed to do their walk the next day.


    ording to Damon, everything yed out perfectly. He finished his work and got to enjoy Talia¡¯s presence. Just knowing that she was there put his mind at ease, and he was able to focus on things that needed to be done.


    ¡­


    Talia put on the oversized tank top (aka the sleepwear) and looked at her image in the mirror above the sink of her bathroom.


    She thought how another day passed in the Dark Howlers pack and she didn¡¯t decide if she will stay or leave, and other than helping with dinner preparation, she didn¡¯t make much progress toward learning something useful that will lead toward her independence.


    OK. The appointment with Doctor Travis was good because she got the book, but she didn¡¯t get a chance to read it.


    She spent the afternoon in Damon¡¯s study, and overall, she didn¡¯t hate it.


    Talia was ufortable at first. Who eats sandwiches while holding hands?


    But after that, Damon gave her work to do, and he said that he trusts her.


    From the mail she went through, Talia got a glimpse into the Dark Howlers pack and Alpha Damon.


    There were reports on movements of the rogues, and she found out that Alpha Damon is coborating with several other packs on not only handling rogues, but also on resettling refugees and finding them jobs. Damon also donates to an orphanage in the Blue River pack and is the main contact for a coven of witches who are responsible for creating a memory potion that will erase memories from humans who saw werewolves.


    She also saw several letters in which members of other packs confirmed their attendance at the Summer Solstice festival. Some guests are high-ranking members of other packs, and there were several teams who areing topete in various sports.


    Talia thought that the festival is only for the Dark Howlers pack, but now that she confirmed how people from other packs wille as well, she realized that it will be on a much bigger scale and her heart fluttered from excitement. She couldn¡¯t believe that she will get to attend such a festival. It will be her first.


    Other than asking Talia to feed him, Alpha Damon didn¡¯t tease her and he was dedicated to his work.


    He went through numerous documents on paper and hisputer, and other than a few brief phone calls, he worked in silence.


    This was another side of Alpha Damon that Talia got to see.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    He was serious and focused, and he projected the aura of a reliable and knowledgeable Alpha, someone worthy of leading thergest pack in North America. Her opinion of him rose by a few notches.


    Talia was surprised when Damon said, ¡°When you finish sorting those from your hands, you can go to the kitchen. Steph is looking for you.¡±


    ¡°Is it already time for dinner?¡±


    She didn¡¯t realize how quickly the time passed.


    That afternoon was an eye-opener for Talia. She thought that being an Alpha means bossing around between attending (or hosting) parties, but now she saw that there is a lot of work in order to lead a pack. Fascinating.


    Talia helped Stephanie and she wanted to clean up after dinner, but Stephanie said that there is no need because post-dinner cleanup is done by a few Omegas, so Talia went to the garden for some fresh air, and then she went to her room to call it a day, with an intention to freshen up and read the book Doctor Travis gave her until she gets sleepy.


    And here is Talia, ready to get sleepy with a book.


    Talia exited the bathroom and paused at the sight of Alpha Damon who was on her bed, with his back resting on the headboard, fiddling with his phone.


    His hair was damp and slightly messy, a giveaway that he showered, and his light gray t-shirt and dark gray sweatpants didn¡¯t hide his impressive physique.


    It was a mesmerizing sight, but after a few seconds, Talia pulled herself from her daze and wondered, why is Alpha Damon in her bed again?

 Chapter 70 Different Sleeping Arrangements

    Damon turned to look at Talia who was standing at the door of the bathroom, and his eyebrows rose in approval.


    That oversized tank top covered Talia¡¯s private parts, but it was also low on the chest, giving him a glimpse of Talia¡¯s cleavage¡­ high on the thighs, exposing her legs, and loose around arms¡­ Damon swallowed hard as the image of Talia¡¯s side-boob shed in his mind. Yup, he remembered that.


    He really wanted to suck her there. Everywhere.


    Talia squirmed under Damon¡¯s gaze. Why did he look at her like she was naked?


    Talia was about to tug the tank top and cover her legs more, but she held that urge back due to fear of how that will lower the opening at her neck and expose her girls, so she just pressed her legs together and folded her arms over her stomach in a feeble attempt to protect herself from Damon¡¯s x-ray vision.


    ¡°Can I help you?¡±, Talia asked.


    Damon tilted his head and smiled a little. ¡°There is no need to be so cautious, wife. Do you remember me treating your injuries in the hotel room? I¡¯ve seen and touched almost everywhere.¡± Emphasis on ¡®almost¡¯.


    Talia exhaled helplessly. The yful Damon is here.


    She decided to get to the point because asking in a roundabout way will only give him more material to tease her. ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here to sleep.¡±, Damon said like it¡¯s a totally normal thing. ¡°I was waiting for you to finish your evening routine, my dear wife.¡±


    He patted the bed next to him, obviously telling her to join him.


    Talia was not willing.


    Last night was one thing, but now she was not properly dressed and there was no need forforting.


    She didn¡¯t want to get used to sleeping with Damon because someone will see them, and the rumors will spread. Talia could imagine numerous she-wolves exploding in jealousy, and when the blood gets spilled, Talia was confident that will be her blood.


    Talia straightened her back and stood her ground. ¡°That¡¯s my bed. You can¡¯te here every night to sleep. It¡¯s not proper.¡±


    Damon¡¯s brows furrowed a bit and he scooted off the bed. ¡°You are right.¡±


    Talia pinched her arm to confirm that she was not dreaming. Did it work? It was that easy? He is leaving?


    Her excitement deted when she saw Damon stalking toward her.


    Damon stood half a step from Talia, and his piercing icy-blue eyes didn¡¯t allow her to look away.


    She realized that she was in trouble. What kind of trouble? Talia was not sure, but there was a storm brewing in Damon and Talia felt the urgency to fix the situation.


    ¡°I apologize, I didn¡¯t mean to disrespect you.¡±, she quickly said.


    ¡°No, no. There was no disrespect. Your argument is reasonable.¡±


    ¡°It is?¡±, Talia asked reluctantly.


    ¡°It is.¡±, Damon confirmed. ¡°It¡¯s not proper for me toe here every night and sleep in your bed.¡±


    Talia was aware that he only repeated her words, but why did it sound like they had a different meaning?


    Talia didn¡¯t have time to react when Damon scooped her into his arms.


    By the time she came around, Damon was walking out of her room and into his.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±, Talia squeaked when Damon lowered her into his bed.


    ¡°Since you don¡¯t approve of us sleeping in your bed, we will sleep in mine.¡±, Damon said with all the seriousness in the world.


    He moved swiftly and she had no chance of escaping his embrace or theforter that covered them.


    Talia felt like crying. This is NOT what she meant! How did things end up this way?


    Talia realized that she was wrong. This was not yful Damon, this was the bossy one, and the bossy Alpha wanted to cuddle.


    Talia took slow breaths to calm her raging emotions, but the silky bedsheets and Damon¡¯s scent made her flustered. The fact that she was scarcely dressed only made things worse.


    But Damon didn¡¯t move, and she reluctantly looked up at him.


    Talia was surprised to see that his eyes were closed, and his breathing was slow and even.


    It took her a minute to pick up a scent of alcohol.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    ¡®Is he sleeping?¡¯, Talia wondered. ¡®Is he drunk?¡¯


    She waited for some time in silence, before calling in a whisper, ¡°Damon¡­ Damon?¡±


    There was no response.


    She reached to touch his hair. It was softer than she imagined it to be and other than a small twitch when a strand of hair fell on his forehead, Damon didn¡¯t react.


    Talia moved a bit to check if she can escape his hold.


    Just as she feared, it was hopeless. They were both sideways, facing each other. Damon¡¯s arms were around her, and his right leg was over her as well. She was trapped.


    She closed her eyes and resigned herself to her fate. It seems that she will sleep with Alpha Damon again, but this time in his room.


    It¡¯s not that she hated it, but she regretted that she won¡¯t be able to read the book that Doctor Travis gave her.


    On the bright side, Alpha Damon was like a nice-smelling heater, firm, and solid, and his proximity made her feel safe.


    She chanted internally how she shouldn¡¯t get used to this because Alpha Damon¡¯s mood is unstable.


    With those thoughts, Talia shifted how much she could, to get morefortable.


    Talia slowly pushed her hand between his arm and his torso until her fingers reached his back.


    Once she settled her head on his arm and his breath fanned the top of her head, Talia realized that their position was way too intimate for two people who are not in a romantic rtionship, but she was aware that someone unpredictable like Alpha Damon probably has his own definition of what¡¯s normal.


    She told herself not to overthink it. It¡¯s just sleeping next to each other and nothing more.


    After all, considering what princess Marcy did with Damon and he just left like it¡¯s nothing, Talia could assume that this sleeping position for him is a regr urrence, like a handshake.


    Maybe Damon is one of those people who can¡¯t sleep alone and now that Cassie is gone, he needs someone to hold until his next bedmatees, and Talia is right there so¡­ is she his bedmate?


    No. No. This doesn¡¯t mean anything, and she shouldn¡¯t get attached to this soothing warmth because soon another she-wolf wille, and Talia will go back to her room, or maybe she can use that opportunity to move out of the packhouse.


    In a way, it made sense.


    Cassie left on the previous night, and that¡¯s when Alpha Damon came to Talia¡¯s room.


    Talia¡¯s heart cracked a bit at the thought that she is Damon¡¯s bolster pillow in the absence of women that interest him and she med herself for dejection that swelled in her because she allowed herself to get attached. Damon was an important existence in her life, yet for him, she was easily receable.


    She confirmed that many women want to be with Damon, and Talia was painfully aware that she doesn¡¯t qualify.


    After all, she was barely dressed, their bodies stuck close to each other, yet he didn¡¯t try to touch her inappropriately. If he was interested in her, he would definitely try something. Alpha Damon is many things, but inexperienced and shy are not on that list.


    Talia let out a long breath. Does she want him to do more than just holding her? If he makes a move, how would she react? Talia was not sure about that.


    Talia suppressed any bold thoughts that formed, just like any other time when Damon was kind to her because it will only lead to heartbreak.


    Talia smiled sadly at the thought of Alpha Damon breaking her heart and he wouldn¡¯t even know about it. But even if he did, would he care? Probably not.


    Right now, she is like a pet project for him, and she shouldn¡¯t delude herself that it¡¯s anything more than that because soon he will find something (or someone) else to upy him.


    For tonight, Talia decided to enjoy thefort thates with Damon¡¯s embrace. Who knows? Maybe this is herst chance to experience a man holding her. After all, there are no guarantees that she will ever find a man who will fall in love with her.


    Talia buried her face in Damon¡¯s chest, allowing his scent of forest and dark chocte to fill her up. Talia had no idea at what point it became her favorite scent, probably from before she met Alpha Damon because she always loved the forest and dark chocte; those are scents Talia associates with freedom and forbidden delicacy, and Damon¡¯s scentbined those two perfectly.


    Within a minute, all her anxiety dissolved into nothing, and she savored his warmth, firm hold, and there was the sound of his heartbeat and his chest moving as he breathed¡­ and Talia drifted off to sleep.


    Unaware of Talia¡¯s internal conflict, Damon counted Talia¡¯s slow breaths and waited for her to fall asleep.


    He was pleased when her arm snaked under his, to hold him. That was progress.


    It was torturous for Damon to be a gentleman with Talia so close and scarcely dressed, but he forced his hands to stay in ce and not wander to explore her body.


    Damon was confident that with a few kisses and caresses, Talia would be putty in his hands, but he didn¡¯t want that. If he acted like that, there was a risk for Talia to think that he treats her like one of the numerous hookups from his past and she is anything other than that.


    Damon didn¡¯t want one night with Talia; he wanted a lifetime of her proximity. He wanted to enjoy the sound of her voice, and her intoxicating scent, and he could spend an eternity staring into her beautiful, honeyed eyes that hide a million secrets he is yet to unfold.


    Damon confirmed that Talia is intelligent, kind, sharp, adorably na? ve, and his to hold and protect. Only his.


    He remembered Travis¡¯s words about increasing chances of awakening Talia¡¯s wolf if Talia¡¯s mate is with her, the closer the better.


    Is this helping her wolf heal? What will happen if her wolf awakens, and Talia finds out that Damon is her mate? He had no way of predicting what her reaction will be, but he was certain that Talia will feel the pull and she won¡¯t think about leaving his side¡­ and that should be enough.


    When he confirmed that Talia was sleeping, Damon lowered his head and pressed a soft kiss on her forehead.


    Damon¡¯s body was aze as delightful sparks ignited all his nerve endings, and at the same time, his heart was at peace, knowing that Talia was not going anywhere. For tonight, at least.


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on:


    mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 71 A Big, Hard Rock

    Talia woke up with a soft whimper, refusing to open her eyes while trying to getfortable.


    She was lying on something hard and bumpy, and she wondered how she found herself in the forest because the scent around her was definitely forest and¡­ there was dark chocte as well. Was Damon nearby? Probably.


    Something heavy was on Talia¡¯s back, preventing her from getting up or rolling to the side, and a rock pressing on her belly was ufortable.


    She squirmed a bit and reached with her hand in an attempt to move that protruding thing before it leaves a bruise on her stomach.


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡±, a muffled groan sounded from just above Talia and her eyes snapped open.


    She was awake in an instant, and the moment she met Alpha Damon¡¯s questionable gaze, Talia wished that this was not real.


    A dream. Definitely a dream.


    Why else would she be sprawled on top of Alpha Damon?


    The hard and bumpy surface she slept on was his body, and that rock under her belly¡­ the one she tried to move away¡­ and the same one she was still holding onto¡­ is NOT a rock!


    Frantically, Talia tried to push herself away from Damon, but he was holding her in ce, and with every move she made it felt like his hold tightened.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    ¡°Please, let me go¡­¡±, Talia pleaded in a small voice.


    ¡°Why?¡± It¡¯s not that he didn¡¯t know why, but he wanted to hear Talia¡¯s answer.


    ¡®So that I can find a secluded spot and die of embarrassment!¡¯


    Talia whimpered softly. ¡°Please. I want to leave.¡±


    There was no way Damon will let Talia leave like that.


    Damon was aware that Talia did that in the haze of her sleep, because he watched her as she stirred awake for thest few minutes, and he wished that she didn¡¯t remove her hand from down there.


    Damon could already imagine Talia curling up into a corner in a desire to be invisible, or worse¡­ running away and leaving for good, and he felt the urgency to flip the situation around.


    Damon exhaled loudly and he made his best pitiful expression. ¡°I see. After what you have done, you will abandon me.¡±


    Talia thought that some things don¡¯t add up. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine. I understand.¡±


    Talia¡¯s confusion only increased, and she lifted her head to look at Damon. ¡°What do you understand?¡±


    Damon pressed his lips into a line and shook his head faintly. ¡°I will be fine. Go on¡­¡± He released his hold on Talia. ¡°You don¡¯t need to take responsibility.¡±


    Talia didn¡¯t move. ¡°Responsibility for what?¡±


    ¡°You slept the whole night on top of me, and then you groped me, and now you want to pretend like it didn¡¯t happen.¡±


    Oh, God! He said ¡®grope¡¯, and that made it more real!


    She groped scary Alpha Damon!


    She molested him!


    Talia really wished to disappear.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean it. It was an ident.¡±, Talia said with urgency.


    ¡°Which part was an ident? Do you think that changes the fact it happened?¡±


    At the thought of what happened, Talia realized that she was still on top of Damon.


    Clumsily, she pushed herself off him, but she didn¡¯t leave the bed. She wanted to exin even though her face was on fire.


    ¡°First of all, you are the one who brought me here to sleep, so you can¡¯t me me for sleeping here. Second, me climbing on top of you happened in my sleep. It was not intentional. And third¡­¡± Talia inhaled with difficulty. ¡°Me groping¡­ was an ident. It was big and hard, and I thought it was a rock.¡±


    Damon cocked an eyebrow. Big? Hard? A rock? He approved Talia¡¯s description of his erection.


    He turned to the side, to face Talia and propped his head on his elbow before asking, ¡°So, none of that is your fault?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±, Talia said with confidence.


    ¡°But it¡¯s just the two of us, so if it is not your fault, is it mine?¡±


    ¡°Well, no.¡±, Talia had to admit. Other than him bringing her to his room to sleep, which is not a big offense, the rest was on her. identally.


    Damon grinned. ¡°Alright, Mrs. ke, since it was no one¡¯s fault, we can pretend that it didn¡¯t happen. What do you say to that?¡±


    ¡°Sounds good.¡±, Talia agreed immediately. If they can pretend it didn¡¯t happen, that would be for the best. ¡°Let¡¯s not mention this again. And can you stop calling me Mrs. ke?¡±


    ¡°I must call you like that because you are talking back to me, Talia.¡±, Damon said matter-of-factly. ¡°Did you forget that only Luna gets to talk back to her Alpha?¡±


    Talia was exasperated. ¡°So, what should I do? Just stay quiet and agree with whatever you say?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t change in order to please me or anyone else. Blindly agreeing with Alpha is for weak wolves.¡±


    Talia wanted to say that she is weak, one of the weakest ones. Even Omegas bullied her!


    But before she could say anything, Talia was trapped in Damon¡¯s embrace again.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±, Talia asked in disbelief.


    ¡°Don¡¯t deny me this, my dear wife. There is not much time until I need to start my day, and every second with you is precious. Besides, I¡¯m just holding you innocently, it doesn¡¯tpare to what you did to me before.¡±


    Talia let out a slow breath. He was talking nonsense again. Didn¡¯t they agree to pretend that the unfortunate incident didn¡¯t happen?


    ¡°You have a busy day ahead of you?¡±, Talia asked while trying to stir the topic to something less ufortable.


    ¡°Mhm¡­¡±, Damon hummed in confirmation. ¡°During breakfast, I will check with Caden and Maya if there is anything urgent that they need my inputs on, and then I¡¯m taking my wife out.¡±


    Damon gave Talia a knowing look, and it took her a moment to realize that she is ¡®the wife¡¯. Oh, right! Yesterday, after her appointment with Doctor Travis, Damon asked her to apany him¡­ somewhere.


    ¡°Out? Where?¡±


    Damon inched closer and his breath sshed on her ear, ¡°Se-cret.¡±


    Talia was not sure if she can handle any surprises from Alpha Damon. He was too much to handle even when he was not trying to surprise her.


    ¡°Can you at least give me some hints? How long will we stay? Is there any dress code?¡±


    Damon thought for a moment before responding. ¡°We will stay as long as we are having fun. A couple of hours, but not overnight. As for the clothing¡­ wear somethingfortable. Anything is fine as long as it¡¯s not kittens and rainbows that make you look like twelve years-old. I don¡¯t want people to wonder if you are my little sister or if I¡¯m a pedophile, because you will apany me as my wife.¡±


    Talia¡¯s lips pressed into a line. There was that ¡®wife¡¯ word again. For a guy who is taking his time to get his Luna, he likes to use that ¡®wife¡¯ word.


    Talia liked that he said she should dressfortably, and her heart swelled with excitement while thinking about the mystery of where they will go.


    Her mind shed images rted to their walk in the park, and the vor of the cotton candy, and the restaurant, but she quickly pushed those thoughts away because Alpha Damon is a busy man, and he definitely wouldn¡¯t take her somewhere to dawdle for hours.


    ¡°We should get ready.¡±, Talia said.


    ¡°We should.¡±, Damon confirmed, but he didn¡¯t move.


    He looked into her honeyed eyes that were clear after a good night of sleep and his sight moved to her lips.


    He really wanted to kiss her.


    Damon put his hand on Talia¡¯s cheek, and he saw her shrinking. He cursed internally at the realization that even though they are in the bed, holding each other, there is still an invisible wall between them.


    ¡°Do you want to shower in my bathroom?¡±, he asked.


    Talia¡¯s eyes widened as his words sank in. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You slept in my bed, do you want to get ready in my bathroom? We can take turns or to save time¡­¡±, his voice trailed, and Talia¡¯s face turned red again.


    Talia knows that for werewolves nudity is not a big deal, but she never shifted into her wolf form or mingled with others, so she was not used to those things.


    Talia remembered that on the previous night Damon slept in her bed, and then in the morning, she saw him getting out of her bathroom. Did he treat this as a sleepover? Maybe.


    ¡°No need. My bathroom is fine.¡±


    ¡°OK.¡±, he said and reluctantly released his hold on Talia. ¡°I will see you at breakfast.¡±


    Talia scooted out of the bed and froze when Damon chuckled.


    ¡°Blue. It fits you.¡±


    Talia¡¯s face fell when she realized that the only blue thing she had on herself was panties. Ah! The tank top hitched higher and exposed her buttocks!


    Talia swiftly tugged the tank top lower and dashed out of Damon¡¯s room, followed by his heartyughter.


    She closed the door of her room and leaned on it while telling herself not to overthink it because Damon definitely saw much more than a female panty-covered behind. Besides, if they are on the beach, she would be exposed more than that. The fact that she was this flustered, only served for his amusement.

 Chapter 72 Damon’s Unclear Intentions

    In the hallway¡­


    Caden stood frozen and blinked a few times while confirming that he saw what he saw: Talia dashing from Damon¡¯s room into hers.


    He normally doesn¡¯te to the third floor, but now Caden climbed there because he wanted to confirm that Damon is awake since Damon told him that he will be out after breakfast, so they had an early start.


    Of course, Caden would use mind-link, but Damon shut down his side.


    Caden was not sure why would Damon be unreachable, but now that he saw Talia scarcely dresseding out of Damon¡¯s room, Caden understood what¡¯s going on.


    Caden turned on his heel and went down the stairs with the spring in his step.


    He opened the door of his room and sashayed toward Maya who was fixing her hair.


    ¡°Is Damon awake?¡±, Maya asked.


    ¡°Mhm¡±, Caden responded with a hum.


    Maya eyed Caden and she could see that he was nearly bursting from saying something, seemingly important.


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°I won the bet.¡±


    Maya didn¡¯t get it. ¡°What bet?¡±


    ¡°When Talia came here, I said that Damon will get her into his bed within a week.¡±


    Maya frowned. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t try to deny it. I said, one week, and you said, no way. I just saw Talia escaping from Damon¡¯s room into hers and based on her appearance, she slept in his room.¡±


    ¡°Poor girl. He is fast.¡±


    Caden didn¡¯t understand Maya¡¯s reaction. ¡°Why, poor girl? They are mates. Actually, I was wondering what took him so long. It¡¯s obvious that the bond was driving him crazy because whenever Talia was not with him, he was distracted. She was just across the hallway and considering that our Alpha has no concept of patience and self-restraint, it¡¯s a miracle that he didn¡¯t drag her into his room on the first night she came here. Now that they are together, Damon should be more¡­ normal.¡±Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Maya thought that some things don¡¯t add up. ¡°If they are together, why did she leave his room? We both know that mates have difficulty staying away from each other, especially while the bond is forming because the initial flow of emotions is fueling up insecurities. And if they are sharing a bed, why is Talia trying to leave the packhouse?¡±


    Caden didn¡¯t have answers to Maya¡¯s questions. ¡°You should talk to her again and see if she changed her mind about leaving.¡±


    ¡°I will.¡±


    After breakfast¡­


    Maya was frustrated that she didn¡¯t get a chance to talk to Talia.


    Damon was hovering around Talia, putting food on her te and feeding her, and as soon as they finished with breakfast, they headed out.


    Damon didn¡¯t even tell them where they are going or how long they will stay, but based on the instructions he gave, they will be backter in the day, in the evening probably.


    ¡°It seems that our Alpha wants to disconnect with his mate.¡±, Caden said to Maya when it was just the two of them. ¡°That¡¯s what I would do.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s too soon to celebrate?¡±, Maya asked.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Talia didn¡¯t reject his pampering, but she didn¡¯t look like an enamored girl who spent the night with her mate.¡±, Maya voiced her observation. ¡°Is it possible that she doesn¡¯t know what Damon¡¯s intentions are?¡±


    Caden burst into a heartyugh.


    ¡°Maya¡­ my sweetie pie¡­¡±, he said while catching his breath. ¡°I don¡¯t think that even our Alpha knows what his intentions are.¡±


    Caden saw that Maya was not amused, so he cleared his throat before continuing, ¡°What I was trying to say is, if Damon wants Talia to be our Luna, he should just announce it to everyone. With that, the pack would be aware of her existence and protect her while she takes the ce that belongs to her. And if he wants to reject the bond, he should have done that a long time ago and not let her stick around.¡±


    ¡°You are saying that Damon is toying with Talia.¡±


    ¡°Well, not exactly toying, but maybe he has a n and he is making the situation ambiguous until he figures out¡­ yeah, toying is the right term.¡±


    Maya made a face. ¡°What happened with you messing with Damon until he spills that Talia is his mate?¡±


    Caden spread his arms, palms up, showing her that he has nothing. ¡°Come on, sugarplum. It¡¯s been only a few days, and I didn¡¯t get a chance to work on that.¡± He saw that Maya pursed her lips and there was a familiar spark in her eyes, so he asked, ¡°Are you going to interfere?¡±


    Maya didn¡¯t respond, but Caden took her silence as a, ¡®yes¡¯.


    Ah, he loves when Maya makes a move. His brilliant mate always knows which strings to tug on and how hard in order to get the desired result.


    ¡°Did you call Alpha Edward?¡±


    Caden¡¯s question pulled Maya out of her thoughts, and she frowned.


    ¡°Not yet. I guess I should get that out of the way first¡­¡±


    ¨C ¨C ¨C


    Damon enjoyed the sight of Talia who looked at everything with her eyes open wide and a big smile on her face, unable to conceal her excitement.


    Talia¡¯s eyes sparkled. There was loud music, colors, lots of people,ughter, cheers, and the scent of delicious food, and she never would have guessed that Damon will bring her to an amusement park.


    During the hour-long drive, she was guessing if they are going to the human town where she went to the hospital, but she recognized the scenery as they zoomed past that area and drove further away.


    A gentle squeeze of Talia¡¯s hand got her attention and she looked questionably at Damon.


    ¡°What ride do you want to try first?¡±, Damon asked. ¡°Or do you want to try candied corn? Chocte-dipped pretzels?¡±


    Talia shrugged and shook her head at the same time. ¡°Everything sounds great, but I¡¯ve never been to a ce like this, so I have no idea from where to start. I want to try them all.¡±


    Damon chuckled. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s start with the closest one.¡± And he led the way toward the merry-go-round that had seats shaped as carriages.


    ¡°Mydy¡­¡±


    He gave her his hand to hold while climbing on the ride and he even bowed a little, and Talia giggled while thinking how Damon looks like a prince from her Cindere book.


    Damon was pleased with Talia¡¯s reaction. He was contemting where to take her, but he knew that a romantic spot would freak her out, so he decided on an amusement park.


    Talia can experience something new, and he will get closer to her without her suspecting anything.


    Damon has no idea how to woo a girl, and everything he read online was confusing, so he kept his n simple. He will stick to Talia and make sure she has fun and she will get used to his presence until she realizes that he became an essential part of her life, and then he won¡¯t fear her reaction when she finds out that they are mates because she will already be in love with him.


    Damon was confident that this will work.


    It was Sunday, so the ce was lively. There was food, and games, and rides, and people crowding the space made their hand-holding a necessity, and more than once, Damon held Talia¡¯s shoulder, pulling her to walk close to him so that they don¡¯t get separated. Perfect.


    As they walked by the stalls, Damon noticed Talia looking curiously at the headbands that had animal ears on top. He grabbed one with brown kitty ears and put it on her head.


    ¡°A kitty. It suits you.¡±, he said with a smile.


    She wanted to remove it and he grabbed her hand before she could reach the headband.


    ¡°Do you not approve of cats? Should I get you the one with bunny ears, or would you rather be a mouse?¡±


    ¡°There is nothing wrong with cats.¡± The problem was that she didn¡¯t have any money, and she was ufortable that Damon was paying for everything.


    ¡°Then, keep it on. I want you to have a souvenir, something to remember by our first visit here.¡±


    He paid for the headband and pulled her to the next stall that offered face painting. Damon took the brush and after two seconds, the tip of Talia¡¯s nose was ck, and she had three whiskers on each cheek.


    Damon looked at his handiwork and nodded in approval. ¡°Now you are a kitty. My kitty.¡±


    Talia was not sure how to respond to this, but somehow, it confirmed that she is not only Damon¡¯s pet project, but he actually sees her as a pet. That would exin why wants her to sleep in the same bed.


    Damon and Talia took a number of rides that rotated, shook, went up and down, and by the time they stopped for a snack, Talia¡¯s legs were wobbly.


    Damon was happy to hold Talia around her waist and support her until they reached a bench to sit on.


    The nearby stall sold bacon-wrapped corndogs, and they enjoyed them with soda that washed down the greasy food.


    ¡°Are you having fun?¡±, Damon asked Talia.


    ¡°Yes. Lots.¡±, she responded enthusiastically. ¡°Is this your first time here?¡±


    ¡°It feels like it.¡±, Damon said ambiguously before exining. ¡°I had a group of friends and unless something else was going on, we woulde here on the weekend.¡±


    Talia noticed that he spoke in the past tense. ¡°What happened? Why did you stoping?¡±


    ¡°I became the Alpha of the Dark Howlers pack.¡±


    ¡°As Alpha, you couldn¡¯te here?¡±


    Damon shook his head. ¡°I was busy and they¡­ became my subordinates. You can¡¯t have fun with people who bow their head to you whenever you raise your voice.¡±


    Talia nodded in understanding and continued munching on her corndog while her heart tightened.


    She realized that ten years ago Damon didn¡¯t lose only his parents, but his friends as well.


    From the stories Stephanie told her, Talia imagined teenage Damon at the center of every party, surrounded by his peers who admired him and girls who hoped to catch his eye.


    Overnight, Damon turned from a carefree boy who was loved and admired into a scary Alpha everyone obeyed. Yes, he has a lot of people around him, but they are either serving him or trying to get something from him.


    So far, Talia thought of Damon as moody, scary, indifferent, powerful, caring¡­ but she never saw him as lonely. Until now.


    This was another side of Damon, and it made Talia¡¯s heart ache.


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on:


    mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 73 The Amusement Park (1)

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Damon¡¯s question pulled Talia out of her thoughts, and she realized that she didn¡¯t control her expression.


    ¡°Nothing.¡±


    ¡°Tell me.¡±, he insisted. ¡°I see that something got you upset. You can¡¯t say that it¡¯s nothing.¡±


    The sincerity in his voice urged her to speak.


    ¡°I¡¯m sad that you are lonely.¡±


    Damon cracked a smile. ¡°I¡¯m not lonely. I have you.¡±


    Talia paused while looking into his icy-blue eyes that spoke volumes she didn¡¯t understand and she tried to decipher hidden messages.


    Is it possible¡­? Maybe¡­? What if¡­?


    Talia shook her head and dispelled any ambiguous thoughts. Alpha Damon will probably bring the ¡®wife¡¯ joke again, or maybe this time she will be a pet.


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡±


    ¡°What did you mean?¡± He really wanted to know what¡¯s going on in her mind.


    Talia thought for a moment before responding, ¡°I hope that one day you find someone who will be your equal, without hidden agenda.¡±


    ¡°What if I already found her?¡±


    Talia smiled sadly.


    ¡®If you found her, you wouldn¡¯t be here with me. And when you do find her, I will be non-important. You will spend time with her, and tease her, andugh with her and forget about me as I fade in your memory as your previous pet project¡­¡¯


    Talia would never say those words aloud, but she couldn¡¯t stop a small me in her heart that tried to resurface under his intense gaze that was directed at her.


    She exhaled a shaky breath while telling herself that yful Damon is here, and she shouldn¡¯t get her hopes up because Damon is looking for entertainment, and right now that was her role.


    Talia chided herself internally. Why did she think he was talking about her as someone important? That¡¯s impossible and she shouldn¡¯t delude herself.


    The bitterness swelled inside her and she didn¡¯t want Damon to see it. If he asks what¡¯s going on, she wouldn¡¯t know how to exin because saying the truth was not an option. He would justugh at her, and she won¡¯t allow herself to stoop so low.


    Talia was sick and tired of people bullying her because she can¡¯t fight back, and if Damon mocks her and joins that group, she will be devastated.


    Talia wrapped the leftover corndog in a napkin and stood up. ¡°I need to use the restroom. I saw one not far away from here.¡±


    ¡°Wait!¡±, Damon called while scrambling to collect napkins and other mess from the bench, and by the time he turned in the direction where Talia went, she was lost in the crowd.


    He didn¡¯t get it. What happened?


    Damon decided not to tell Talia that she is his mate until her wolf awakens. Her wolf will not only tell her the truth but also boost her strength and courage which she will need as Damon¡¯s mate.


    Until that happens, Damon was determined to show Talia that she is important. And he thought he was doing great, but then, she left.


    Damon hesitated. Should he go after her, or wait on the bench?


    Damn it! All women are eager to stick to him, yet Talia didn¡¯t waver to leave him behind. Now what?


    Damon told himself to calm down. Talia said that she is going to the restroom, and she will be back in a few minutes. It¡¯s not a big deal. Girls go to the restroom all the time. She will be back. She has to.


    ¨C ¨C ¨C


    Talia entered the female side of the restrooms and halted at the sight of women who waited in line for their turn to use the toilet.


    Talia didn¡¯t really feel like going, but she hoped for the privacy that a restroom stall will provide. No matter where she looked, there were people everywhere, and Talia needed space.


    She was used to solitude and silence, and even though she did her best to adjust to her new social environment, whenever she felt distressed, her urge was to find a spot for herself.


    Talia headed for the only free sink. The mirror was smudged, but Talia could still see her reflection. Other than a ck dot on her nose and ridiculous whiskers on her cheeks, she was normal. The cat ears were kind of cute, but that was just an essory.


    How she saw it, there was nothing outstanding in her appearance and she shouldn¡¯t think for a moment that Alpha Damon would be attracted to her.


    She started the water to wash away the makeup. She refused to be his pet because even when he treated her as a pet, Damon managed to make her forget about what¡¯s important and that can¡¯t be good.


    What¡¯s the use of getting attached to a man who will discard her when the next Cassie or Marcy makes an appearance?


    It¡¯s only a matter of time before such a woman waltzes in and Talia didn¡¯t want to end up in a situation where she will be used of stealing food, or worse¡­ stealing Alpha Damon.


    Her heart tightened at the thought of Alpha Damon spending his time like this with someone else, but Talia didn¡¯t see herself as worthy, and having him for herself was absolutely impossible. If beauties with outstanding backgrounds like Marcy and Cassie failed, Talia was confident that she has negative chances of capturing (and keeping) Damon.


    The only wise thing would be to stay away from Alpha Damon and focus on learning skills that will be useful for her future instead of doing whatever this is.


    Outside¡­


    Damon remembered that the restrooms were not far away, but he was not sure if that¡¯s the ce where Talia went and the path was packed with people, so Damon didn¡¯t dare move too far away from the bench.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Damon looked anxiously at his phone to check the time. What¡¯s taking her so long? Should he go and search for Talia?


    What if something happened? Did someone attack her? What if the floor is slippery, and Talia slipped and hit her head?


    No. There are many people and if anything happened, there would be amotion and as much as the atmosphere is lively, nothing is rming other than the fact that Talia didn¡¯t return! Where could she be?


    Damon regretted not getting her a cell phone or maybe one of those GPS locators so that he knows where she is at any given time.


    ¡°Excuse me¡­¡±, a sweet voice reached Damon and he saw two women smiling at him.


    They were in their early twenties, dressed in tight tops and hot pants that didn¡¯t leave much to the imagination. Sure, their makeup was spot on, and their figures were alluring, but Damon didn¡¯t think theypare to Talia.


    No womanpares to Talia. His mate.


    ¡°Can you tell me the time?¡±, the blonde asked while leaning closer than necessary.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have a watch.¡±, Damon responded dryly.


    ¡°But you have a phone, right?¡±, she said while gesturing toward his left hand which held the phone.


    Damon smirked. ¡°So do you.¡± He didn¡¯t see the woman with a phone, but she smelled human, and all humans have cell phones.


    He thought that was enough to deter them, so he continued looking toward the restrooms, hoping to see Talia.


    Unfortunately, the two women were not willing to give up easily.


    ¡°OK. OK.¡±, the brte said. ¡°We saw that you are on your own and thought of having a conversation. There is no need to ignore us. We won¡¯t bite.¡±


    ¡°Are you waiting for a friend?¡±, the blonde asked.


    ¡­


    Talia got out of the restroom and headed toward the bench where she left Damon.


    She paused at the sight of Damon and two beautiful women nking him, each with hearts in her eyes. Damon¡¯s expression was stern, but the two women acted very friendly, leaning in closer as they spoke, and the blonde even put her hand on his shoulder. He didn¡¯t remove her hand or shoo them away.


    Is this one more of his games? Did he find different entertainment?


    Well, knowing Damon, he probably didn¡¯t need to find women because he is a ma for the opposite sex.


    Talia wondered, why did he bring her here? She was confident that many others would love toe here with him. Why her? Is it because he loves to tease her? Or is it because he feels guilty that she got a p from Cassie on his watch?


    Talia was not sure what to do. If she goes there, she will interrupt them. Will Alpha Damon mind? What if he gets angry?


    Those two women looked ready to kidnap him. Would Damon resist?


    Maybe he forgot about Talia already.


    Her chest hurt and she wanted it to stop.


    Without realizing, Talia took a step back¡­ and another, and another¡­ and then she turned away and walked into the crowd without any destination on her mind.

 Chapter 74 The Amusement Park (2)

    Damon was irritated. Those two women didn¡¯t show any intention of leaving his side even after he told them that he was waiting for someone.


    It¡¯s not that their presence really bothered him, but their chatter distracted him from looking out for Talia. He saw them like two flies who refused to take a hint and leave.


    Suddenly, Damon felt uneasy. Actually, he felt uneasy since Talia left him on that bench, but this was serious, like something was really wrong.


    Damon looked in the direction of the restrooms, where Talia went, and through the crowd, he saw a pair of brown cat ears.


    He didn¡¯t get a good look at the person, but he had a strong feeling that was Talia.


    ¡°Talia!¡±, Damon shouted and moved in that direction, leaving two bewildered women behind him.


    ¡°Talia!¡± He continued calling, frustrated that the crowd obstructed his view and slowed down his movements.


    Why was Talia walking away from him? Why can¡¯t he find her? Was that her?


    What if Talia is still in the restroom? Or what if she went to the bench and he was not there?


    She left a while ago, and with every passing second, his anxiety swelled.


    ¡®Calm down boy.¡¯, his wolf said.


    ¡®Calm down? How can I calm down? Talia is missing and how the fuck am I supposed to find her in this crowd!?¡¯


    There was a throng of scents in the air and even without them, Damon had difficulty tracking Talia¡¯s delicate scent of freesia if she was not close to him.


    ¡®Use the bond.¡¯, his wolf said.


    Damon didn¡¯t get it. ¡®How?¡¯


    ¡®Over thest few days, the mate bond strengthened. The difort you are feeling is from the mate.¡¯


    Damon¡¯s panic increased. ¡®What? Is she hurt?¡¯


    ¡®This is not the time to chat. You need to find her.¡¯


    ¡®How am I going to find her by using something I don¡¯t understand? Exin! And make it quick.¡¯, Damon demanded.


    ¡®As you spend more time with mate, your bond strengthens. The difort you are experiencing is a reflection of her feelings toward the mate bond.¡¯


    Damon couldn¡¯t identify the sensation clearly, but he knew that it was unpleasant.


    ¡®She doesn¡¯t know I¡¯m her mate. How can she dislike the bond if she is not aware of its existence?¡¯


    ¡®No matter if she is aware of the bond or not, the bond exists. And right now, mate doesn¡¯t want it. We can talk about thister, but right now you need to find her. Focus on the source of difort and follow your instincts¡­¡¯


    Damon couldn¡¯t believe this. How is it possible that Talia has these negative feelings toward the bond? Isn¡¯t that the same as negative feelings toward him? What did he do? They were talking and eating corndogs and then she left.


    But his wolf was right. Damon¡¯s first priority should be to find Talia, and everything else can wait.


    Damon closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths, and then he dashed into the crowd.


    ¡­


    The amusement park has tree lines along the paths that connect rides and other entertainment areas. The trees provide separation between various theme-based sections and there are several spots surrounded by trees and other foliage that are like a natural oasis in the middle of the bustle of the amusement park with y structures for the kids, benches, and pic tables.


    Visitorse to these areas to take a break, rest, and snack before going back to the rides.


    In one of those resting areas¡­


    Talia sat on the ground, with her back facing a big tree that was further away from the people who sat at the pic tables. She hugged her knees and stared nkly at the grass in front of her.


    She had no idea how far she walked. Her intention was to distance herself from the situation and to not interrupt Alpha Damon and two women who were trying to seduce him, but now it seems that she caused trouble.


    Will Alpha Damon be upset when he realizes that she is missing? Will he even notice her absence?


    Talia was dejected. If Damon wanted to flirt with women, why did he bring her along?


    She told herself not to get attached, yet the attachment was already there. With every minute she spent with Alpha Damon, she was getting used to his presence, and attention, and bing more dependent on him.


    Pathetic. Is this why she escaped the Red Moon pack?


    Instead of spending time with an unstable Alpha who teases her whenever he gets a chance, she should focus on things that matter.


    Talia already decided to learn cooking and how to fight, and if she can get a job to help in the hospital, that will be a huge bonus. But instead of studying, she ended up following Alpha Damon here.


    Why are they here? Alpha Damon is a busy man with no time to dawdle in the amusement park, and he definitely didn¡¯te here so that she can have fun.


    If she was focused, she would note here and waste time. She would study and help in the kitchen, or even just reading news articles is better than this.


    Yes, it should be fun, but it¡¯s not.


    When they arrived at the amusement park, Talia was carried away by the noise and colors and the good mood and she forgot who she is. How can she enjoy here when her next meal and a ce where she will sleep depend on the mood of someone else? How is this different from how she lived at the Red Moon pack? Sure, her room is better and she has fancy clothes, but she is still weak and useless. This won¡¯t do.


    A man clearing his throat got Talia¡¯s attention, and she realized that three men were standing in front of her.


    All three of them looked like they are in their early thirties, with neat hairstyles, polo t-shirts, and jeans. Overall, they looked tidy, but their smiles made Talia ufortable.


    From her personal experience, when someonees sneakily that close and smiles¡­ it can¡¯t be good.


    Talia scrambled to her feet and her back was glued to the trunk of the tree as she eyed them suspiciously.


    The man in the middle spoke, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. We came here to check if you are OK.¡±


    The man on the left continued, ¡°Yeah. You look distressed and alone. Are you alone?¡±


    ¡°She is with me.¡±, a gruff voice came from Talia¡¯s left and her heart skipped a beat when she saw Damon¡¯s icy-blue eyes directed at her.


    Damon extended his hand toward Talia. ¡°Come here, love.¡±


    Talia bit her lower lip nervously. She left Alpha Damon, yet he came to find her, and he even called her love to put a show for these three men.


    Was Alpha Damon angry?


    Yes, he was angry, but at the moment their eyes met, the uneasiness in Damon¡¯s chest disappeared and he knew that Talia was relieved to see him.


    Damon wiggled his fingers, reminding Talia that he was still waiting, and she put her hand into his without further dy.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    Damon¡¯s fingers wrapped around Talia¡¯s hand, and he pulled her to stand behind him.


    ¡°Do we have a problem?¡±, Damon asked three men.


    The middle one raised his hands. ¡°No problem. We saw a girl here, she looked in distress, and we came to check if she was OK. There is no more to it.¡±


    The man on the left added. ¡°She is a beautiful girl. You shouldn¡¯t leave her on her own. There are all kinds of scoundrels in the area.¡±


    Damon didn¡¯t buy their story. The three of them looked like scoundrels. But he didn¡¯t want to cause amotion here in open, so he responded with a stiff nod. ¡°I will keep that in mind.¡±


    As three men walked away, Damon turned to Talia.


    Talia met Damon¡¯s stare reluctantly, unsure what to say. His chest heaved and she was confident that he was angry. Should she apologize?


    Before she could say anything, Talia found herself in Damon¡¯s embrace and his lipsnded on her forehead.


    This time, she was confident that Damon kissed her there. Why would he do that?


    Talia was not sure what to do, so she just stood stiffly.


    Damon wanted to kiss her everywhere and to squeeze her until they merge into one so that they are always together, but he knew that would be too much and Talia would probably freak out.


    For a moment, he really thought that she was gone, and he was on the verge of losing his mind, but then he saw her sitting under the tree and he stood on the side and observed her while trying to guess what¡¯s going on in that pretty head of hers.


    He also stayed on the side for a reason that he was mentally unstable and if he went to Talia he would probably say things he would regret forever, so he gave himself some time to calm down.


    But then those three guys approached Talia, and Damon couldn¡¯t just stand on the side.


    Damon thought that he will explode in anger, but the moment she ced her hand in his, all fury was reced with helplessness at the realization that his other half thinks he is not good enough. Were those her feelings or his? Damon was not sure.


    Why did she run away? Why did she leave him alone?


    ¡°Don¡¯t leave me, Talia¡­¡±, Damon murmured, and her heart cracked under the weight of emotions that washed over her.


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on:


    mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 75 The Amusement Park (3)

    ¡°Don¡¯t leave me, Talia¡­¡±, Damon murmured. ¡°Don¡¯t leave.¡±


    Damon¡¯s words touched Talia¡¯s soul in a way she couldn¡¯t exin, and the world around them faded. There was no amusement park, no loud music, no cheers nor screams from people taking the rides, no packs and no responsibilities, it was just the two of them, Damon and Talia.


    Talia remembered their talk on the bench. Damon lost his parents and his friends, and he said that even with that, he was not lonely because she was by his side, and¡­ she left.


    Talia knows very well how it feels to be alone, without anyone to share good or bad things in life. She remembered how much happiness Olivia brought into her life just by being there and treating her kindly, and how hollow Talia felt when Olivia left the pack.


    Talia thought that maybe, just maybe, if it¡¯s about holding hands and givingpany, she can be that someone who will relieve Damon¡¯s loneliness, until he finds his Luna.


    She knew that the more time she spends with Damon, the more it will hurt when he moves on, but she saw this as her chance to repay him for his kindness. After all, Alpha Damon gave her a second lease on life, and if she can be a person who makes him less lonely by holding his hand, she will do it.


    Talia¡¯s arms snaked around Damon, and she rested her head on his chest.


    ¡°As long as you need me, I won¡¯t leave, Damon.¡± Her words were just above a whisper, but Damon heard her very well.


    Damon¡¯s wolf wagged his tail at this. Talia said that she will not leave and that was a big deal. Damon was happy as well, but he needed more.


    Damon touched Talia¡¯s chin to lift her head so that he can see her face.


    He observed her keenly for a few long seconds before asking, ¡°What if I need you forever?¡±


    Talia wanted to say how there is no such thing. Sooner orter (sooner thanter), he will find his Luna or his next pet project, and he will forget all about Talia, but she didn¡¯t want to nitpick.


    ¡°Then, I will stay by your side forever.¡±


    Damon¡¯s breath hitched. She said it. Forever.


    ¡°Remember your words, Talia.¡±


    ¡°This is not about words, but about actions.¡±, Talia responded. ¡°When you don¡¯t need me anymore, I will know, and I will leave. There will be no need for you to say anything.¡±


    Damon understood that as long as he treats Talia right, she will stay by his side. That sounded good because he had no intention of harming her, but what if he does it identally?


    ¡°Promise me one thing.¡±, he demanded. ¡°Promise that no matter what happens, you won¡¯t leave without an exnation.¡±


    Talia thought how that was eptable. After all, when he finds his Luna or whatever girl he decides to tease next, there will be no need for lengthy exnations, and he will not care about Talia¡¯s reason for leaving.


    ¡°Alright.¡±, Talia agreed.


    Damon tightened his hug around Talia, and a secondter, he sat on the ground and pulled Talia to sit on hisp.


    He cradled her in his arms and buried his face in the crook of her neck, enjoying the sweet citrusy scent of freesia and delightful sparks that tingled wherever they touched.


    The clingier Damon was, the more guilty Talia felt. She was supposed to return to the bench and not act out like a child running away from home. She wanted to apologize, and she hoped that he won¡¯t ask for an exnation, because she didn¡¯t have one to give.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for¡­¡±


    ¡°Shh¡­¡±, he interrupted her. ¡°There is no need for apologies. If you are truly sorry, don¡¯t do it again.¡±


    ¡°OK¡±, she said softly and leaned her forehead on his shoulder.


    ¡®We almost lost her, damnit!¡¯, Damon said to his wolf while tightening his hold on Talia.


    ¡®But we didn¡¯t.¡¯, his wolf stated the fact. ¡®You can feel that she is enjoying our proximity. Keep going like this, and she will ept us fully.¡¯


    Damon agreed. Instead of difort, there was a warm and fuzzy feeling and he really hoped those are Talia¡¯s emotions.


    Talia felt Damon¡¯s fingers making small circles on her back and she thought how it¡¯s silly that the scary Alpha was so clingy, but Damon wanted to cuddle, and she let him have it.


    She hoped that no one important will see them like this, but with the way they were sitting, both of their faces were hidden, so it was fine.


    ¡°Is this OK?¡±, Damon¡¯s words sshed on her neck.


    ¡°Yes.¡±, she responded in a whisper, surprised that she didn¡¯t have the strength to talk properly.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    ¡°Are youfortable?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± She really was.


    Just like every time before, Damon¡¯s hold was warm and solid, and she loved his scent.


    And she loved the most that they can sit in silence, and it was not awkward at all.


    Talia wondered, why did she leave? Was it because Damon was talking with those two women?


    Now that she calmed down, Talia thought how that was silly. Even if there were five women, they are not Talia¡¯spetition because she is notpeting. She was not sure if she can even call Damon a friend and she had no idea what she is to him, and she was afraid to find out. If he said that he sees her as his friend, she wouldn¡¯t believe him, and if he calls her his pet or a temporary source of amusement, she would be saddened, so she decided not to ask.


    ¡°Damon?¡±, Talia called after an unknown measure of time.


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°When are we going back home?¡±


    ¡°Never.¡±, he responded without missing a beat. He liked that she called it ¡®home¡¯.


    Talia couldn¡¯t believe this. ¡°We need to go back eventually.¡±


    Damon lifted his head to see her face, and Talia blushed in an instant because they were super close. Their noses nearly touched!


    ¡°You don¡¯t like it here, with me, kitty?¡±, Damon asked.


    It took her a moment to realize that he called her ¡®kitty¡¯ because of the headband she was wearing.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t like it, but both of us have things to do and¡­¡± She was not sure how to finish this.


    Damon gave her a half-smile. ¡°You like it, I like it, and that¡¯s all that matters. We can stay here until one of us doesn¡¯t like it anymore.¡±


    Talia wondered, how can he be so easygoing? ¡°Tomorrow is the Summer Solstice, and everyone is busy with preparations. It doesn¡¯t seem right that we are here rxing.¡±


    Damon knew that Talia was right, but he was not willing to go back. It¡¯s been ages since he took a day off, and it was him and Talia and no one else, and he wanted to prolong this as much as possible. It was barely lunchtime, damnit!


    ¡°There are still many rides for us to try.¡±


    ¡°We can try them next time.¡±


    ¡°Next time.¡± He liked that.


    So far, he always had a cramp in his chest out of fear that Talia will disappear, and he won¡¯t be able to find her, yet now she said, ¡®next time¡¯, which means that she will stay longer. Forever, hopefully.


    Damon was nning to spend the whole day here and to end it with a magnificent view of the sunset from the Ferris Wheel, and if the things look promising, he would go for the kiss on the lips, but ¡®next time¡¯ sounded good also. He will take it. Maybe next time they do more than just holding hands. Who knows?


    Damon lowered his head and nudged her neck with his nose, making her hairs stand on ends.


    ¡°Mmm¡±, he hummed, and she could feel his lips moving against the skin of her neck as he spoke, his every word sent jolts of electricity through her body, ¡°I enjoy holding you like this, kitty. Give me a few more minutes.¡±


    Talia fisted Damon¡¯s shirt to steady herself.


    She was sitting on Damon¡¯sp, with his solid arms holding her against his chest, and her mind was spinning. She thought that she might faint, but she didn¡¯t.


    The sensation was new and totally out of herfort zone, yet she didn¡¯t want it to stop and part of her regretted that she brought up going back home because for a reason unknown to Talia, right there in Damon¡¯s arms, she felt a sense of belonging that made her loneliness disappear and she wished that they can stay like that forever.

 Chapter 76 Preparations For The Festival

    ~ The Dark Howlers pack ~


    During their drive home, Talia was in a daze.


    She couldn¡¯t believe that Alpha Damon held her so gently. It was something that she would never imagine as possible, but it happened.


    The only indicator that they arrived back home was the loss of heat when he let go of her hand to open the door.


    Talia watched Damon as he walked around the car to reach her side. She ced her hand into his when she exited the car, and just as his heat seeped into her palm, he let go, reminding her again that the magic was gone.


    Something was stuck in Talia¡¯s throat, and she couldn¡¯t speak.


    The sound of Stephanie¡¯s voice from the kitchen got Talia¡¯s attention, and she moved in that direction robotically.


    Damon said that he will be working from his office, but she didn¡¯t respond. She couldn¡¯t.


    Talia reminded herself that she knew it will be like this. She signed up to hold his hand and give himpany, but it¡¯s not convenient to do that in front of others so¡­ she needs to suck it up and focus on what¡¯s important. Kitchen. Stephanie. Learning things. Independence.


    Yes, independence, because only like that she can be her own person and not rely on others for roof over her head, and food on the table, and even for holding hands.


    Before entering the kitchen, Talia took a deep breath and schooled her features.


    ¡°Make sure there are extra towels. The bed sheets need to be ironed before you put them on¡­¡±, Stephanie spoke to three Omegas and then she noticed Talia.


    ¡°Hi, dear¡­¡± Stephanie¡¯s sight moved to the top of Talia¡¯s head. ¡°I see you had fun.¡±


    It took Talia a moment to realize that she was still wearing the headband with kitty ears on it. She swiftly removed it.


    ¡°Uhm, sorry about that. I didn¡¯t mean to interrupt.¡±


    Talia hoped that Stephanie won¡¯t ask from where the headband came, because Talia wouldn¡¯t know how to exin other than the truth, and she knew that it wouldn¡¯t be appropriate to say that she went to an amusement park with Alpha Damon. Well, maybe Stephanie wouldn¡¯t think much about it, but those three Omegas were new faces, and knowing how popr Alpha Damon is, Talia didn¡¯t want to antagonize them.


    Stephanie stifled augh at the sight of Talia who clumsily tried to hide the headband behind her.


    ¡°There is nothing to apologize for.¡±


    ¡°I heard you talking about some work. Can I help?¡±, Talia asked while her sight darted toward the three Omegas who stood in attention.


    Talia had a bad experience in the Red Moon pack, but this is a new beginning and Talia hoped to start on a good note.


    To Talia¡¯s surprise, Stephanie rejected Talia¡¯s offer.


    ¡°The work is almost done. They can handle it. You can go and rest until it¡¯s time to start dinner preparations. We will have a few extra hands tonight because guests areing.¡± Stephanie nced at Omegas. ¡°Any questions? If not, go and do the work. Let me know when you finish.¡±


    Three young women scurried out of the kitchen, leaving Stephanie and Talia behind.


    Talia craned her neck, to make sure the Omegas are out of the earshot before asking, ¡°Guests areing for dinner?¡±


    Stephanie confirmed. ¡°A total of six people, so we are preparing four rooms for tonight. First guests will be here in about three hours.¡±


    Talia¡¯s heart raced and she hoped that Stephanie won¡¯t notice her anxiousness.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Part of her feared that someone from the Red Moon pack wille and recognize her. But she thought that if that¡¯s the case, Alpha Damon, Maya, or Caden would warn her. Right?


    However, even if the guests are not from the Red Moon pack, Talia was still uneasy. She didn¡¯t know how to deal with new faces in the packhouse. What will she say if they ask who she is and what she¡¯s doing there? Talia herself was not sure why she was lingering in the packhouse. Because Alpha Damon asked her to stay? That didn¡¯t sound convincing, and Talia wouldn¡¯t dare to say that she was sharing a bed with him for thest two nights.


    Talia¡¯s instinct was to hide in her room until the guests leave, but she really wanted to see the fair and that meant she needs to step out of her room.


    ¡°Howe they areing today?¡±, Talia asked. ¡°I thought that guests are arriving tomorrow, for the Summer Solstice.¡±


    ¡°Most of them will be here tomorrow, but some areing in advance so that they can rest properly before tomorrow.¡±, Stephanie rified to Talia. ¡°Two teams that have games in the morning are here, and two more are on their way. They are staying in themon buildings. No one knows if they came early to rest or party, but that¡¯s normal. After all, chances to spend time in another pack are notmon, and they probably treat it like a vacation.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±, Talia said. She was not worried about the teams. Her concern was rted to the high-ranking werewolves who will be staying in the packhouse. ¡°Stephanie, is there advice you can give me about these guests? I mean¡­ these people who will be in the packhouse¡­ should I stay out of their way or something?¡±


    Stephanie was surprised by this question, and she understood that Talia doesn¡¯t feel like she belongs here. Well, Talia arrived just a few days ago, and considering that Cassie already created drama, it was no wonder that Talia was insecure about having guests.


    Stephanie didn¡¯t understand why Damon didn¡¯t listen and give Talia amodation with other Omegas.


    ¡°They are normal people, just like everyone else. You are with us now and this is your home. I know that it can be overwhelming because you are new, but no one should give you a hard time. Those whoe earlier are hoping to spend more time with Alpha Damon. Managing a pack is a lot of politics and without coborating with others, no one would go far.¡±


    Talia rxed a bit at these words. Of course, they all want to have a good rtionship with Alpha Damon, and that means they will behave and not bully anyone (Talia in particr).


    With nothing much to do, Talia went to her room. She was on a mission to read the book that Doctor Travis gave her.


    ¡­


    ~ town square, Darkbourne ~


    ¡®Maya, how soon can youe to my office?¡¯, Damon¡¯s voice sounded in Maya¡¯s head through the mind-link.


    ¡®I¡¯m in the town square. I will be there in ten minutes¡¯, Maya responded.


    She was supervising the decorations for the Summer Solstice festival which will be held on the next day.


    Maya checked the time, and she was surprised that Damon and Talia returned already. Considering the sync-up they had in the morning, Maya assumed that they will be away for the day.


    Sure, guests are about to arrive in a few hours, but Damon was never the one to wee them at the doorstep. The guests would trickle in during the day, and Stephanie (or Maya) would wee them and show them to their rooms, and Damon would join them for dinner.


    Unless there was a meeting scheduled, Damon doesn¡¯t bother with entertaining guests, no matter who they are.


    Maya wondered why Damon called her toe to his office. Why didn¡¯t he say what he wanted through the mind-link?


    ¡­


    In Damon¡¯s office¡­


    ¡°Yes, Alpha?¡±, Maya asked as soon as she arrived.


    ¡°Any updates?¡±, Damon asked.


    ¡°Everything is per schedule.¡±


    Damon made a face. He knew that festival preparations are on track. ¡°You know that I¡¯m asking about Marcy.¡±


    If Maya didn¡¯t manage to postpone Marcy¡¯s visit, the bride-to-be would arrive tomorrow morning, and Damon hoped that Maya managed to pull a miracle out of somewhere.


    Maya smirked. ¡°You know that you can rely on me, Alpha.¡±


    Damon released the breath he was holding. ¡°How long?¡±


    ¡°Nine days.¡±


    ¡°Great!¡±, Damon eximed, feeling like a big burden fell off his chest. ¡°When this festival is over, you and Caden can take a few days off. Pick a location and I will book a hotel for you.¡±


    Maya felt like the sun became brighter by a few notches. She loves to travel. ¡°Alright. I will talk to Caden and let you know the location by tomorrow evening.¡±

 Chapter 77 Bad Mate

    Damon was about to dismiss Maya from his study, but then he thought of something. ¡°I have a favor to ask.¡±


    ¡°Shoot!¡±, Maya responded enthusiastically. Damon promised a vacation, and she was prepared to do any chore or risk him changing his mind.


    ¡°I was hoping that tomorrow you can take care of Talia. Show her around the fair, make sure she has a good time.¡±


    Maya paused. Her first impulse was to verify if Damon and Talia spent the night together, how Caden told her that morning, but instead, she asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t you take her out for the morning?¡±


    Damon didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°What does that have to do with tomorrow?¡±


    Everything! ¡°Nothing. But I hope you can rify one thing. Why are you asking me to show Talia around? Out of everyone in this pack, you are the one spending the most time with her.¡± And you are her mate, bozo!


    Damon understood that Maya is implying how he should be the one showing Talia around. ¡°I will be busy with events and delegations from other packs. Talia will be ufortable if I drag her around with me. When I get time, I will make sure to check on her.¡±


    Damon is set to watchpetitions and give awards in the morning. He will probably have some breaks here and there, but with delegations from other packs present, Damon was not sure if he will be able to leave and spend time with Talia. In the afternoon, Damon has a meeting with other Alphas, but his evening is free, and he thought of finding Talia at that time.


    While he is busy, he wanted to make sure that Talia is having a good time. Who would be better for that task than Maya?


    Damon noticed that Maya¡¯s expression was not good. ¡°Is that a problem? If not, I can ask someone else¡­¡±


    ¡°No.¡±, Maya cut him off. ¡°Not a problem. I will do it. Talia will have a good time. Anything else, Alpha?¡± Thatst word sounded more like a curse.


    ¡°That will be all.¡±, Damon said while wondering what was the cause of Maya¡¯s drastic mood swing.


    ¡®Why was Maya pissed? Did I do something wrong?¡¯, Damon asked his wolf. He really didn¡¯t get it.


    ¡®You will find out tomorrow.¡¯, his wolf responded.


    Damon had a bad feeling about this.


    ¡­


    Maya stood in the hallway and thought about what to do.


    Her blood boiled at the thought of Damon sleeping with Talia and spending time with her only when it fits his schedule. What about Talia? Does Damon expect that Talia will sit on the side and wait for him?


    If they are mates, he needs to do his best for her and with her.


    Maya grew up in a patriarchal pack where only males were warriors and decision-makers while females were expected to take care of the house and give birth to pups, and Maya hated it. Her mother was the smartest woman Maya ever knew, yet she was reduced to a housewife because her mate, Maya¡¯s father, didn¡¯t approve of Maya¡¯s mother getting a job and doing something other than cooking, cleaning, andundry.


    Since she was a teen, Maya went the extra mile to train secretly, and only after meeting Caden and joining the Dark Howlers pack, Maya was able to show her prowess as a warrior.


    Maya clearly remembers how Caden ditched work and responsibilities only to spend a few more minutes with Maya, and this¡­ just what is this?


    No matter how timid and kindhearted Talia is, this treatment will hurt her feelings. It¡¯s not fair.


    Maya cursed Alpha Damon under her breath. He was obviously taking advantage of Talia¡¯s docile nature.


    Maya will not allow Damon to hold Talia under his thumb. That won¡¯t happen. Not on her watch.


    Maya never meddled in Damon¡¯s private affairs, but she couldn¡¯t sit this one out.


    Talia is a kind girl who suffered a lot and Maya didn¡¯t want to allow Damon to hurt her. Of course, Damon wouldn¡¯t harm Talia on purpose because she is his mate, but his ignorance can hurt Talia.


    Maya knew very well that talking to Damon won¡¯t do any good, even if Maya reveals that she is aware Talia is Damon¡¯s mate. Damon is too stubborn to listen, but Maya has her ways, and she was determined to stand up for Talia.


    After all, this impacts not only Damon but the whole pack, because as Damon¡¯s mate, Talia is the best person to be their Luna. If the Moon Goddess paired them up, she must have her reasons.


    With all that in mind, Maya headed to the third floor of the packhouse.


    ¡°Busy?¡±, Maya asked when she peeked into Talia¡¯s room.


    ¡°Not really.¡±, Talia responded while keeping the book on the side.


    Maya walked into Talia¡¯s room and closed the door behind her, with the task to probe the situation.


    ¡°Did you have fun with Alpha Damon today?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±, Talia responded with sparkles in her eyes. ¡°We went to the amusement park. It was very lively.¡±


    ¡°Aww¡­¡±, Maya said with a dreamy smile. ¡°Caden took me there once before I became Beta officially, and I wish to go again. Tell me about the rides you took.¡±


    Talia felt that something was off. Somehow, Maya¡¯s enthusiasm seemed forced. ¡°Aren¡¯t you busy?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°When you came here, I thought that you need help with preparations for the festival. Are you done with work, and you came to chat?¡± Talia pursed her lips and responded to her questions before Maya could. ¡°No. There is too much work. I thought that we are close enough and you don¡¯t need to beat around the bush. Tell me what you need, and I will help if I can.¡±


    Maya couldn¡¯t believe that Talia saw through her. OK. Talia was off the mark about the reason, but it was true that Maya had a hidden agenda.


    ¡°You are right. There is a lot of work, but it¡¯s mostly final touches and I delegated everything. They will contact me if there are any issues. I really wanted to hear how your day went with Alpha Damon. He can be overbearing and insensitive, so I was curious. That¡¯s it.¡±


    Talia eyed Maya suspiciously but still responded. ¡°Alpha Damon was fine. He let me pick the rides and we stopped for snacks. We would probably stay longer if not for this festival, but he said that we will go again.¡±


    Talia skipped a few parts, but she didn¡¯t lie.


    ¡°I see. Well, that¡¯s fine.¡±, Maya gave up, seeing that Talia was stingy on the details. She had another strategy. ¡°About the festival, do you have a n when and where you will go?¡±


    Talia¡¯s troubled expression answered Maya¡¯s question.


    Eventually, Talia spoke, ¡°I want to go, but everyone I know will be busy. I was hoping you can tell me the locations and timings of events so that I can go on my own. I don¡¯t want to burden anyone.¡±


    Talia was embarrassed to bring up the point of not having any money, but she won¡¯t buy any knick-knacks and she will eat before leaving the packhouse, so there won¡¯t be a need for her to buy anything. Just seeing the festival should be enough.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    ¡°What about Alpha Damon?¡±, Maya asked.


    Talia didn¡¯t get it. ¡°What about him?¡±


    ¡°Do you want to go with him?¡±


    Talia¡¯s eyes widened for a moment and then she shook her head. ¡°He will be busy and there will be guests. I will only be in the way. Don¡¯t worry about me, I will manage.¡±


    There was also the detail rted to potential rumors if anyone sees her with Damon. Holding hands and hugging when no one is watching is one thing but sticking close to him in public will only bring disaster.


    Talia¡¯s humility tugged on Maya¡¯s heartstrings and with every passing second, Maya¡¯s sadness morphed into anger. Damon was a bad mate!


    It was obvious to Maya that Talia was not aware of her position. As Damon¡¯s mate, it was Damon¡¯s responsibility to make Talia feelfortable with him and others and to encourage Talia to take her rightful spot, by his side, as his Luna.


    That¡¯s what Caden did when he brought Maya to the Dark Howlers pack. Caden was sticking to Maya like a postage stamp and she never felt like an extra who will get in his way.


    With this, Maya understood the situation more-or-less, and she decided to act.


    ¡°I assume you are free now.¡±, Maya said.


    Talia thought about her book with sadness. It seems she won¡¯t do any reading today either. ¡°Yes. I have a few hours until dinner preparations start.¡±


    ¡°Are you up for the tour I mentioned?¡±


    Talia blinked. ¡°Now?¡±


    ¡°We can start and see how much we cover until you need to report to the kitchen¡­¡±

 Chapter 78 – Keith [Bonus]

    With Maya not taking a ¡®no¡¯ for an answer, Talia followed her out of the packhouse.


    They took a walk down the path that started on the left side of the driveway, and Maya was telling Talia about their destination.


    ¡°I will take you to the training center first. Since Doctor Travis said that you can exercise in moderation, I wanted you to see the options¡­¡±


    In a few minutes, they passed several clearings which Maya exined are parts of the outdoor obstacle course. ¡°Some training we take in our human form, and some are designed for our wolf form. Everyone who wants to train can, but you need to achieve certain results in order to qualify to run patrols and to be recognized as a warrior¡­¡±


    Talia listened attentively and she didn¡¯t realize at what point they reached in front of a long two-story-high building.


    Talia and Maya stepped inside, and Maya started her tour.


    ¡°This is the training center. On the ground floor, if you take the hallway to the left, you will reach an Olympic-size swimming pool, on the right is the gym with mats, weights, and exercise machines, and straight ahead are dressing rooms. Normally, in wolf form, we prefer training outside, while as humans, the air-conditioned interior is better. Do you know how to swim?¡±


    Talia¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°I think I do. But it¡¯s ages since I did it, so¡­¡±


    Maya waved her hand, indicating that it¡¯s not important. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. No one forgets how to swim. It will take you only a few seconds to remember. If you ever feel like it, I can lend you one of my swimsuits. Normally, Ie for swimming once a week, buttely, we were busy. Maybe you can be my ountability partner and we cane together.¡±


    Seeing Maya¡¯s expectant gaze, Talia nodded in agreement.


    ¡°Great!¡±, Maya eximed and continued her tour. ¡°On the upper floor are offices and a lounge, and there is a bistro where you can get healthy snacks and protein shakes¡­¡±


    At the end of Maya¡¯s speech about the training center, Talia and Maya were in the women¡¯s dressing room.


    It was a big area with benches in the middle, and lockers along the walls. There was one door that led to the restrooms and another one with shower stalls.


    In one corner, some clothes were neatly folded, and Maya grabbed shorts and a sports bra and stuffed them in Talia¡¯s hands. ¡°Put these on.¡±


    ¡°What about you?¡±, Talia asked.


    Maya grinned. ¡°I will change also.¡±


    Talia wanted to check out the gym, but she didn¡¯t think she will get to use it so soon. Seeing that Maya was already undressing, Talia followed suit.


    The gym area was massive, and it was how Maya described it. There was an area with weights, and various machines such as treadmills, elliptical, stationary bicycles, rowing machines¡­ there was something for everyone. And all gadgets were arranged along walls, leaving a big open space in the middle that had a thick mat covering the floor.


    Talia counted dozens of people in the gym. Mostly guys and a few women. Some exercised, and two men sparred on the mat. They were throwing punches at each other and dodging, and Talia¡¯s heart rate increased only by looking at them.


    The music from the speakers was loud, but Talia could clearly hear the ¡®pow¡¯ and ¡®thunk¡¯ sounds as punches and kicks met their target. It was raw and violent, and Talia was unable to look away. She was not sure if she was breathing.


    ¡®Piiiii!¡¯


    A loud whistle sounded when one of the two men who sparred was pinned to the mat, and only then Talia noticed the third person.


    It was a tall man in his mid-twenties with slightly curled short brown hair and sun-kissed skin. He had a whistle on anyard around his neck, and he was talking to the two men who just sparred like he was giving instructions. Talia observed his toned physique that was not hidden by shorts and a t-shirt, and she paused when he turned to look straight at her.


    Too embarrassed that she was caught staring, Talia nced at Maya who gave her an encouraging smile while the man walked to them.


    ¡°Is this Talia?¡±, he asked, and Talia understood that Maya already spoke to him. How else would he know her name?


    ¡°Yes. Talia, this is Keith. He has a degree in sports management, and he is an athletic trainer.¡± Maya introduced Keith, and while Keith and Talia shook hands, Maya spoke to him. ¡°Talia is new, and she wants to train. Travis told her that she can, but to take it easy and she needs to be supervised. Can you help her?¡±


    Keith gave a boyish grin. ¡°You havee to the right ce. I am the best personal trainer in the pack.¡±


    Maya stifled augh. ¡°He is the ONLY personal trainer in the pack.¡±


    Keith made a face at Maya and then he eyed Talia top-to-bottom. ¡°I see you are dressed for work. How about we start with a treadmill, and I take initial data? Based on that, I wille up with a training program.¡±


    ¡°OK.¡±, Talia said nervously. She had no idea what to expect.


    Keith dashed to the room on the side and a few secondster came out with a tablet and an armband.


    Keith put the armband on Talia¡¯s right arm and led the way toward the treadmills while exining, ¡°This will measure your heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels.¡±


    ¡°You can start. I will go and get some bottled water.¡±, Maya said and made herself scarce.


    ¡°What are you trying to aplish with exercise?¡±, Keith asked Talia while starting the treadmill she was standing on.


    ¡°Doctor Travis said that I need more muscle. And I want to learn to fight.¡±


    Keith hummed while taking notes. ¡°We will get you there. You have my word.¡±


    Talia blinked at Keith¡¯s friendly smile and she thought how he reminded her of Doctor Travis, and of Olivia. It was aforting smile that made her feel things will be alright. Somehow, she liked Keith already.


    From the second-floor lounge, Maya leaned on the rail while looking down.


    She could see Talia walking on the treadmill, and Keith with the tablet next to her, and she smiled in satisfaction when two more people approached them. Maya recognized them, Liam and Pierce. Shortly after, Caleb, Sandy, and Lulu also gathered.


    The music from the speakers didn¡¯t allow Maya to hear what they were saying, but based on the bodynguage and gestures, Maya knew that they introduced themselves and were curious about Talia. They were all in their early twenties, and Talia fit in with them well.


    Unmated werewolves (like Liam and Pierce) don¡¯t need much to hit on a girl, and Talia is new so it¡¯s normal that everyone is interested, females included.


    People in the gym at this time are warriors, focused on training and camaraderie, and most of them are straightforward people who don¡¯t like scheming. Theypete in skill, strength, and speed, and they all learned through their experience that the unit will rise and fall together as a team; that¡¯s why they are inclined to help the ones in need.


    Maya thought that this is the best bunch of people for Talia to mingle with. A supportive environment will help Talia gain confidence, and at the same time, she will get to interact with people who are not Damon.


    Maya wondered, how will those six react when they find out that they are talking casually with Alpha Damon¡¯s mate, their future Luna?


    Seeing that guys lingered more than necessary, an evil smile appeared on Maya¡¯s face.


    Maya had no desire to hook up Talia with a random guy, but Alpha Damon could use somepetition. Even if Talia scores a date, no harm will be done. After all, Damon is a second-hand item, and it wouldn¡¯t be fair if he gets all Talia¡¯s firsts.


    The best part about the current situation was Talia¡¯s cute ignorance. Talia had no idea that she is Damon¡¯s mate, or that those guys are trying to leave a good impression.


    Objectively, Talia is a beautiful girl. A bit skinny by werewolf standards, but other than that, there was nothing wrong with her. Any werewolf would be happy to feed her.


    Talia was walking on the treadmill and she chatted with people who gathered around her. She didn¡¯t notice that Keith was gradually increasing the speed every few minutes.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    ¡®Don¡¯t push her too much¡¯, Maya sent Keith a message through the mind-link. ¡®Her wolf is hurt and at this point, Talia is no more than a human.¡¯


    ¡®That exins a few things¡­¡¯, Keith mumbled back. He could already see that Talia was malnourished, and the bruise on her forearm spoke about violence. He felt sorry for Talia. ¡®Don¡¯t worry. I will keep that in mind.¡¯


    Maya was confident that Keith knew what he was doing. After all, he attended college in a human city, and he is used to interacting with humans.


    In general, the Dark Howlers pack is open-minded in regard to other creatures, but there are still some who believe that werewolves are above others.


    As part of the efforts to dispel discrimination, Damon¡¯s parents started sponsoring promising youth to attend education in human schools, and Damon continued that tradition.


    That¡¯s how Keith got his education, just like Travis, and many others from the Dark Howlers pack.


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on:


    mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 79 Booked For The Festival

    Talia was huffing and puffing when Keith stopped the treadmill. ¡°I think we are done for today. I collected necessary data.¡±


    Talia was embarrassed. She thought that she was running for hours, but the machine showed only 26 minutes. Talia started with a walk that gradually progressed into a jog, yet she felt like her soul will leave through her mouth and she was sweating profusely.


    She was not aware that she was that flimsy. Talia didn¡¯tzy around, but she never ran or did anything physically taxing; thatbined with her poor diet and mostly hiding in the attic, led to the oue that she could literally feel her energy draining once she started to jog.


    Since Talia came to the Dark Howlers pack, things are better, but a few days are not enough to chip into years of neglect.


    Talia stumbled off the treadmill and sat on the floor.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be discouraged.¡±, Maya said while giving Talia a bottle of water. ¡°We all started somewhere. You will see improvements as you practice, but it¡¯s important to continue and not overdo it because if you get injured, you will need to rest and heal and that¡¯s worse than taking it slow.¡±


    Talia nodded. She couldn¡¯t find the strength to respond with words.


    ¡°Let¡¯s hit the showers, and Keith will go through the data.¡±


    Keith agreed with Maya and pointed upstairs. ¡°I will meet youdies in the lounge when you are done. We can go over the results as I introduce you to mytest berry-bonanza protein shake.¡± He ended with a big grin.


    Talia wobbled to the dressing rooms and her shaky legs reminded her of that morning when Alpha Damon held her as they walked to the bench. His hold was solid, and she leaned on him, knowing that he won¡¯t let go. There was always a sense of security when she was close to Damon.


    Talia dispelled those thoughts. Alpha Damon was not here, and he is a busy man.


    What happened that morning was a one-time thing, and she shouldn¡¯t overthink it. Yes, Damon said that they will go again, but Talia didn¡¯t want to keep her hopes up because it will only lead to disappointment.


    Her motto is to appreciate what she has and not have expectations. That¡¯s how she will save herself from heartbreak.


    Talia moved after Maya and she wished for someone to support her now, or maybe to have a cane, because she felt like her legs will give up on her at any moment, and she will fall face first. She cheered internally when they entered the dressing room without an incident.


    When they stepped into the area with showers, Talia hesitated.


    There were no partitions. All walls, floor, and ceiling were covered in white tiles, there were vents on the ceiling, drains on the floor, and showerheads stuck out from the wall on the right that had several grooves which held toiletries and¡­ no privacy.


    ¡°You should undress.¡±, Maya reminded Talia and when she saw Talia¡¯s frozen face, Maya giggled. ¡°I can assure you that we have the same parts, and I won¡¯t bite. Come on. Keith is waiting. Put the sweaty clothes in that hamper¡­¡±


    Talia inhaled a shaky breath and started undressing while chanting to herself that this is normal and that she shouldn¡¯t be cautious about her body.


    Talia did her best not to stare at Maya¡¯s naked form. Maya is not a curvaceous type, her body is lean and toned, showing that she leads an active lifestyle.


    ¡°How are you feeling?¡±, Maya asked as they showered.


    ¡°I¡¯m beat. I really want to rest now.¡±, Talia admitted, and she realized something. ¡°Why are you showering? You didn¡¯t exercise.¡±


    Maya shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m giving youpany. Showering now means that I don¡¯t need to do itter, so I¡¯m not losing anything. What do you think about Keith?¡±


    ¡°He seems nice.¡±


    ¡°What about the others?¡±


    Talia knew that Maya asked about three guys and two women who approached her while she exercised. ¡°They seem nice also. Friendly.¡±


    ¡°They are decent.¡±, Maya said. ¡°As you get to know more pack members, you will see that this is a good ce to be.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for bringing me here.¡±


    ¡°No need to thank me, Talia. I¡¯m d this is working out for you.¡±


    Maya felt guilty for not telling Talia the real reason why they came here. But telling Talia will only freak her out, and it won¡¯t make sense unless she tells Talia that Damon is her mate, and that¡¯s Damon¡¯s secret to tell. Ah, what a mess.


    Maya couldn¡¯t figure out why Damon didn¡¯t talk openly with Talia. The girl could obviously notice that Damon¡¯s behavior is odd, and without an exnation, who knows what Talia was thinking of him?


    During the shower, Maya told Talia that Keith owns a brand of protein shakes and is selling them online. ¡°He treats us as guinea pigs by giving us to taste them before they hit the market.¡±


    ¡°Is that the berry-bonanza protein shake?¡±


    Maya confirmed and started telling Talia about some not-so-sessful vor blends. ¡°He is experimenting in his kitchen, and then poisoning us here. The banana chocte was fine, but caramel mint was horrible, and I had an upset stomach after taking a few sips of bacon-infused lime¡­¡±


    Taliaughed. Maya¡¯s expressions wereical.


    ¡­


    When Talia and Maya reached the lounge, they found that Keith was waiting for them with Liam, Pierce, Caleb, Lulu, and Sandy.


    Keith had protein shakes ready for Maya and Talia. ¡°I made them myself.¡±


    Talia took a sip reluctantly and she liked it. ¡°This is good.¡±


    Keith grinned. ¡°It seems I have a winner.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s in it?¡±, Maya asked.


    ¡°Other than protein powder and oatmeal, there is a number of berries like strawberries, bilberries, ckberries, pineapple¡­¡±


    ¡°Pineapple?¡±, Maya interrupted Keith. ¡°How is that a berry?¡±


    Keith lifted his chin smugly. ¡°Just so you know, pineapple IS a berry.¡±


    Maya made a face. She really didn¡¯t know.


    After collecting feedback on his new recipe for the protein shake, aka the berry-bonanza, Keith moved with Talia to the side, to discuss in privacy her results. They were just on the next sofa, so any privacy was an illusion because others were using their werewolf hearing to listen in to their conversation.


    ¡°I suggest that we start building your stamina. Once you can jog for fifteen minutes without feeling like you are going to pass out, we will add other exercises, and I will teach you some moves. I¡¯m not much of a fighter, but if you learn everything I have to offer, you will be decent, and if you need more, you can ask one of those guys for pointers.¡±, Keith gestured toward the sofa on their left where Maya was with Liam, Pierce, Caleb, Lulu, and Sandy.


    Talia was excited about learning to fight.


    ¡°How often should I work out?¡±


    ¡°If you can do it every day, that would be perfect. Keep in mind that rest is equally important. Don¡¯t skip sleep. We can start with half an hour in the gym and then gradually increase time and intensity. I will keep an eye on you while you train, as your personal trainer. I¡¯m here almost every day.¡±


    Talia had no objections. Keith was friendly and approachable, and she felt at ease talking to him. ¡°When should Ie tomorrow?¡±


    Keith was surprised. ¡°Tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°Is that a problem?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not a problem. I admire your dedication. It¡¯s just that with the festival, I thought that you will want to have fun there, but if you have free time, I will meet with you in the gym.¡±


    Talia realized that even though she has nothing nned, Keith probably does. ¡°I don¡¯t know anyone, so I assumed¡­¡± She halted her exnation. It was not important. ¡°That¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s meet in two days, or whenever you are free.¡±


    Keith cocked an eyebrow in displeasure. ¡°Didn¡¯t I say, I can make it? I have duties in the morning at the sports fields, but my afternoon is free, and other than hanging out at the festival, I have no other ns. How about this¡­ we will meet for your session here at three o¡¯clock in the afternoon, and after that, we will go to the festival together. Hm? I¡¯m quite good with ring tossing and I can secure you a stuffed animal. And no matter what everyone else says, deep-fried mini donuts dipped in chocte syrup go great with chilled beer, you will see.¡±


    ¡°That sounds perfect!¡±, Maya chimed in, not trying to hide that she was eavesdropping. ¡°Talia will be with me in the morning, and we will stop by to check out the games.¡±Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    ¡°Don¡¯t just stop by.¡±, Keith said. ¡°I will be happy to secure for youdies the best seats in the house.¡±


    ¡°Eh? What about best seats for us?¡±, Sandyined. She is ady also.


    Keith rolled his eyes. ¡°You will be on the field, ying.¡±


    Pierce winked at Talia. ¡°Cheer for us, OK?¡±


    ¡°So, can we hang out after the games? My father will have a stall with ramen noodles because he is in his Japanese phase. We can have lunch there, to give him some business. What do you say?¡±, Lulu asked.


    Talia saw that Liam, Pierce, Caleb, and Sandy were looking at her expectantly, and Maya gave her a thumbs up.


    Suddenly, Talia found her schedule for the festival full. She was not sure how she felt about it, but she didn¡¯t dislike it. Not even a little bit.

 Chapter 80 Scandalous Girl Talk

    Talia rushed into the kitchen.


    After her exercise, she chatted with Maya, Keith, and with others in the lounge of the training center, and it was fun, but now she was runningte.


    ¡°Sorry, sorry¡­¡±, Talia said breathily while entering the kitchen. She went straight to the pantry door which had a hook on the inside with aprons hanging.


    Talia started tying the apron around her and asked Stephanie, ¡°Where should I start?¡±


    Talia paused at the sight of Stephanie who was cutting meat, and two Omegas. In her hurry, Talia didn¡¯t notice two other women in the kitchen.


    ¡°Good that you are here, Talia. We could use extra hands.¡±, Stephanie said and gestured with her chin toward Omegas.


    ¡°That¡¯s Dawn.¡±


    The young woman with the blonde pixie haircut who was peeling potatoes nodded.


    ¡°That¡¯s Zina¡±, Stephanie said, and the redhead with her hair pulled into a bun, who was at the sink washing vegetables, nced at Talia, and nodded.


    Stephanie pointed with her chin toward the serving te that was on the kitchen¡¯s ind.


    ¡°Talia, can you take this to the living room before you get messy?¡±


    Talia grabbed the serving te that had crackers, cheese, and several different types of dried meats arranged around grapes.


    ¡°Remove your apron. Just in case guests are there.¡±


    Talia paused at Stephanie¡¯s words.


    ¡°Someone is there?¡±


    Stephanie was not sure. ¡°Alpha Maddox and future Alpha Axel arrived. Caden will meet with them in the living room, but I don¡¯t know if they got down already.¡±


    Talia removed the apron and took a moment topose herself before heading to the living room.


    ¡®Even if someone is there, I can do this. I only need to put this on the coffee table and leave¡­ I can do this¡­¡¯, Talia chanted internally.


    Talia¡¯s steps halted for a moment at the door of the living room. Two people were inside, a man and a woman.


    The man was burly with short dark hair and a goatee. His sportish suit didn¡¯t make him less intimidating.


    The woman had shiny brown hair reaching just below her shoulders, and she wore a white top and dark blue suit pants that ended with ck stilettos.


    The duo was sitting in silence, each with a phone in their hands.


    Talia didn¡¯t want to attract attention. She lowered her head and made a beeline toward the coffee table.


    ¡°Tch¡­¡±, the young woman tched as Talia lowered the tray on the table, and on an instinct, Talia¡¯s gaze met the woman¡¯s golden-brown eyes who scrutinized her.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that the biggest pack in North America is employing childbor.¡±, the woman said.


    ¡°Mindy!¡±, the man eximed in a reprimanding tone.


    ¡°What?¡±, she asked innocently.


    ¡°Be quiet.¡±


    Talia¡¯s eyes darted between two people, and she wondered if the woman was talking about her. Well, she might be skinny and smaller than werewolves of her age, but she doesn¡¯t look like a child. At least that¡¯s what Talia thought.


    Seeing that no one said anything else, Talia left the room in hurried steps.


    ¡®Why did you raise your voice at me, Max? Don¡¯t embarrass me in front of kids.¡¯, Mindy asked her brother Maddox through the mind-link.


    Maddox rolled his eyes. ¡®She is not a child. That girl is obviously an adult, but malnourished and abused.¡¯


    He saw the bruise on her arm (aka Cassie¡¯s handprint), and that Talia is skinny. Thatbined with Talia¡¯s timid behavior created the image of Talia¡¯s past.


    Mindy made a face. ¡®I didn¡¯t know.¡¯


    ¡®That much was obvious.¡¯, Maddox responded curtly, and a secondter continued in a calmer tone. ¡®I know that you are proud of our pack, but don¡¯t try to antagonize the Dark Howlers pack. If Alpha Damon heard this, he wouldn¡¯t like it.¡¯


    Mindy rolled her eyes. ¡®Alpha Damon this, Alpha Damon that. If I don¡¯t know better, I would think that you are in love with him.¡¯


    Maddox grunted in disapproval. If that was said by anyone other than his sister, heads would be flying.


    ¡®Control your mouth, Mindy. Especially in front of Alpha Damon.¡¯ With that, he returned his attention to the phone in his hand.


    Alpha Maddox is the Alpha of the Blue River pack. They are neighbors to the Dark Howlers pack.


    In terms of size, the Blue River pack is about tenth in North America, but they are first in terms of taking care of werewolves who don¡¯t have a ce to go. That includes orphans, homeless, disabled, victims of abuse, and werewolves who have mental issues.


    Maddox has a good heart but taking care of those people costs a lot of money, and Damon is his biggest financial supporter.


    Alpha Maddox came here with an intention to discuss several new initiatives and to improve their rtionship further, and if he knew that his willful sister would cause problems the moment they arrived, he would leave her at home.


    Since she was fourteen years old, Mindy traveled across North America, visiting other packs, and finding stranded werewolves. She is the biggest ambassador for sheltering vulnerable werewolves, but the amount of pride she takes in her work and the Blue River pack sometimes make her appear unpleasant.


    In the kitchen¡­


    Talia pushed the incident from the living room to the back of her mind and focused on tasks that Stephanie assigned to her.


    They had things roasting and baking, and this was the first time for Talia to see all four ovens working simultaneously. The pots and pans on the stove were frying and simmering, while four women worked on sauces, dressings, stuffings, and the whole kitchen smelled delicious.


    Talia loved that Stephanie yed some pop music, so they were humming and swaying while working. It was harmonious.


    Suddenly, Stephanie wiped her hands with haste and reached for her back pocket. She nced at her phone. ¡°I need to take this¡­ Zina, watch the sauce so it doesn¡¯t burn. It needs to be stirred on every minute or so. Dawn, keep an eye on the pastry. It¡¯s almost done. Talia, finish the sd¡­¡± And with that, Stephanie left.


    ¡°Do you think we will get a chance to bring food to the dining room?¡±, Dawn asked in a half-whisper when Stephanie was out of the earshot.


    Zina rolled her eyes. ¡°You are still hopeful?¡±


    Dawn shrugged. ¡°There is nothing wrong with hoping.¡±


    ¡°What are you hoping for?¡±, Talia asked reluctantly. She wanted to be part of the conversation.


    Dawn nced in the direction where Stephanie left before inching closer to Talia and speaking in a low voice, ¡°This is one of the rare asions when high-ranking members of other packs are here. What if one of them is my mate?¡±


    ¡°Dream on.¡±, Zina said teasingly.


    ¡°I am dreaming, my dear.¡±, Dawn responded to Zina in a singing voice. ¡°But keep in mind that sometimes, dreamse true.¡± She turned to Talia. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to Zina. She is a grumpy one because she is twenty-five years old and still searching for true love. I¡¯m only twenty, so there is still plenty of hope for me. A lot of peopleing from other packs are unmated because other than for fun, games, and pack business, they are also hoping to find their mate. Imagine if that¡¯s you. I mean¡­ one day you are mixing the sd, and the next day you are a Luna. Hmm? And it¡¯s more than just being a Luna. All those guys are hunkalicious. I would kill to have one of them dote on me.¡± Dawn said while waggling her eyebrows at Talia.


    ¡°Good luck.¡±, Talia responded with an awkward smile.


    ¡°See? Talia also doesn¡¯t believe in your nonsense.¡±, Zina said with a smirk, and she leaned on the kitchen ind with her arms crossed over her chest, silently challenging Dawn.


    ¡°Oh, no, no¡­¡±, Talia said with haste. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t believe in it, it¡¯s just that¡­ the chances for something like that are very slim, and I¡¯m dealing with so many things that romance is thest on my mind.¡±


    Dawn gave Talia a knowing look. ¡°Well, if one of those manly men is your mate, many of the things you are dealing with would just disappear. Powerful guys can do that. And who said anything about romance? I don¡¯t need dinner and flowers. For that, I can cook myself or pluck a few blooms from the garden. I¡¯m talking here about raw and unrestrained sex. Pure carnal pleasures with endless orgasms without apologizing. All night long, baby!¡±


    Dawn moved her hips in a humping motion, and Zina burst into giggles.


    A momentter, Talia also startedughing.


    Talia never had these scandalous girl-talks, but more than paying heed to her difort, Talia was d that the mood in the kitchen was good.


    Dawn and Zina talked to her in a friendly way and joked, and Talia hoped that she made two more friends. Combined with Keith and five other people from the training center, that makes it eight. Talia was pleased with his progress.


    Dawn was goofing around while hugging her invisible lover made out of the air, and Talia remembered the man from the living room (aka Alpha Maddox).


    What if he announced that Talia is his mate when she brought the tray with snacks? He was big and intimidating, and he even raised his voice at the woman who apanied him (aka Mindy).


    Talia couldn¡¯t imagine her reaction if Alpha Maddox imed her as his mate. Would she copse and pee her pants, or stand rooted in the spot? Maybe her survival instincts would kick in and she manages to run away. Scary. She decided to avoid them at any cost.


    ¡°Hey¡­¡±, Zina called Talia. ¡°Is it true that you are staying in the packhouse?¡±


    Talia paused, unsure if that¡¯s a good thing or not, but she didn¡¯t want to lie. ¡°How do you know?¡±Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    ¡°Rita told us.¡±, Zina said. ¡°She is cleaning the rooms and she saw you a few times, and we know that no new Omega appeared in themon buildings, so I guessed. This pack is huge, but we whoe to the packhouse are few in numbers and we all know each other. You are a new face, so we got curious.¡±


    Talia saw that both Zina and Dawn were looking at her expectantly, and she feared what question wille next. She didn¡¯t expect it wille from behind.


    ¡°Did the sauce burn?¡±, Stephanie asked when she entered the kitchen, and Zina swiftly moved to the stove and started stirring the pot in question.


    Dawn was already checking the pastry that was baking in the oven, and Talia was mixing already over-mixed sd.


    Zina released a breath of relief before responding, ¡°The sauce is fine.¡±


    Stephanie definitely saw them chatting and if anything burned, Stephanie would scold them.


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on:


    mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 81 Stay Away From Alphas

    To Dawn¡¯s and Zina¡¯s pleasure, Talia avoided taking dishes into the dining room.


    Talia didn¡¯t want to meet that intimidating man (aka Alpha Maddox), or other people that were there.


    Besides scary guests, there was also the unpredictable Alpha Damon.


    Talia was not sure how she would react if Damon tells her to eat with them at the table. Talia didn¡¯t feel like she belongs there and sitting at that table with Alphas and their high-ranking members will definitely be ufortable. On the other hand, if Damon doesn¡¯t invite her, she will feel neglected.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Talia was aware that Alpha Damon and his circle are way out of her league, and that it shouldn¡¯te as a surprise that he ignores her when others are present, but part of her was not willing to be treated differently depending on the audience.


    It would be better if Alpha Damon was always indifferent toward her, but during the time they spent together, Talia got to see different sides of Damon, and his episodes of kindness touched her heart.


    Talia feared that while the more important people are in the packhouse, Damon will look at her in the same way he did when Cassie used her of stealing food. If that happens, Talia¡¯s heart will shatter into pieces.


    Talia was not sure if staying away was the right thing to do, but she was determined to avoid Alpha Damon and the guests, to the best of her abilities.


    It¡¯s only for a day or two; she will manage. After that, they will return to normal, whatever that ¡®normal¡¯ is.


    Stephanie already said that she will eat in the kitchen, and Talia was determined to join her. While they ted food on serving trays, Talia and Stephanie put food on the side for themselves, and Dawn and Zina were packing dinner in containers to carry into their apartments. There was plenty for everyone.


    ¡°Aww¡­nothing this time¡­¡±, Dawn was deted as she returned to the kitchen and Zina rolled her eyes dramatically.


    ¡°No luck?¡±, Talia asked even though she knew the answer.


    ¡°No.¡±, Dawn said dejectedly. ¡°Axel is a looker. He can¡¯t be older than twenty-three years old. I really wished that we click.¡±


    ¡°He smiled at you.¡±, Zina reminded her.


    Dawn cheered up. ¡°Yeah. Maybe I have a chance. I heard that he will stay for three days.¡±


    ¡°We are done here, right?¡±, Zina asked Stephanie who confirmed.


    ¡°Yes. I will see you at six-thirty in the morning so that we work on breakfast. Don¡¯t bete.¡±


    Zina and Dawn grabbed containers with food that they previously packed. They got extra and are nning to share with their roommates.


    ¡°Talia¡±, Zina called. ¡°Will youe to the Shifters tonight?¡±


    Talia blinked. ¡°Shifters?¡±


    ¡°Ah, she is new.¡±, Dawn reminded Zina and spoke to Talia, ¡°Shifters is the hottest nightclub in the area. It¡¯s a bit of a drive, because it¡¯s on the border of our territory but it¡¯s totally worth it. Everyone will be there. That¡¯s a perfect chance to mingle with hot stuff from other packs, and even humanse inrge numbers.¡±


    Talia didn¡¯t want to reject the invitation, even though she had no intention of going. ¡°I wille if I can.¡±


    ¡°Great! Come and join us dancing the night away. Treat me well, Talia because you never know, I might be Luna in the morning!¡± Dawn paused and turned to Stephanie. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Even if that happens, I will be here on time to help with breakfast.¡±


    Zina and Talia giggled at Dawn¡¯s cheeky remark that was a total contrast to Stephanie¡¯s unamused expression.


    After saying their goodbyes, Zina and Dawn left, leaving Stephanie and Talia behind who had their own mini-feast spread on the kitchen ind.


    Stephanie poked a sd and shook her head. ¡°Kids. They will stay away from those Alphas if they know what¡¯s good for them.¡±


    Talia didn¡¯t understand. She heard stories about how women swarm over Alphas. After all, Alphas are the most powerful werewolves, and she-wolves are attracted to power.


    Talia thought how if she had more confidence, she would also hope to catch the eye of an Alpha. Or maybe a general. Why did Stephanie talk like that was a bad thing?


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Stephanie chewed slowly for some time before responding. ¡°Messing with Alpha who is not your mate will not bring anything good. Do you know that there are two types of bonds between mates?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not too familiar with the topic.¡±, Talia admitted.


    ¡°In the case where mates are blessed by the Moon Goddess, the bond will strengthen after they mark each other, giving them power boost. This is the bond everyone dreams about. However, there is another one, mates out of choice. In this case, the bond doesn¡¯t exist between a couple who marks each other. After the marking ceremony, the bond will form, butpared to the bond between destined mates, their bond will be weak and it won¡¯t bring any increase in power, no matter how much they love each other. For Alphas, power is very important. That¡¯s why every Alpha will search for his mate to make her his Luna. Unfortunately, that means whichever girl ends up tangled with those boys, unless they are mates, she will be left behind.¡±


    Talia understood the point, but it made her ufortable. ¡°Are all Alphas power-hungry?¡±


    ¡°For Alphas, this is beyond the selfish search for power. An Alpha is responsible for his pack members. Alpha can be challenged to a duel. Normally, the challenger will be an Alpha and the defeated one will lose the right to lead his pack, assuming that he survives. Can you imagine how the losing pack members will be treated after being absorbed? Unless you have the strength of a ranked member, you will fall below Omegas.¡±


    Talia forgot to chew her food. She knew very well what it means to be below Omegas.


    ¡°Did Alpha Damon fight in those duels?¡±, Talia asked after some time.


    ¡°Many.¡±, Stephanie said. ¡°When he took over the pack, challengers wereing one after another with the hope to beat him and take over the Dark Howlers pack.¡±


    ¡°And?¡±, Talia wanted to hear more.


    ¡°As you can see, we are still standing.¡±, Stephanie said with some pride in her voice. ¡°At first, Alpha Damon would just injure challengers and send them back without taking anything from them. He just wanted us to be left alone. But soon they starteding back, and some even used sneaky methods to gain an unfair advantage. Alpha Damon was enraged, and he started taking lives and absorbing packs. He built quite a reputation for himself. That¡¯s why no one dares to challenge him, and we are thergest pack on the continent. His parents would be proud.¡±


    Stephanie let out a long breath before continuing, ¡°Alpha Damon is a wonderful Alpha. The only thingcking is for him to find a woman and settle down. It will be nice to see little ones running through this house again.¡±


    Talia felt a pang in her chest. A woman to settle down. Damon has many to pick from, and he will probably pick one soon.


    Was he waiting to find his mate like other unmated Alphas? Well, princess Marcy and Cassie were proof that he was definitely not waiting idly. And Talia was confident that there are many other women, just like those two.


    Somehow, Talia felt sorry for Marcy and Cassie and other girls who are serving Alpha Damon in bed because if they are not Damon¡¯s mate (and they probably are not), it means that Damon will not make them his Luna, no matter how desperate they are, yet they are still hoping.


    Talia understood that if Dawn gets together with an Alpha who is not her mate, even if they love each other, he will probably not make her his Luna, which means that she will be just a bed warmer, a temporary fun.


    Is there a woman who will be happy with a rtionship that is doomed for failure? Talia was not sure. But she knew that she was hoping to find her own happy ending, someday. And that happy ending didn¡¯t include being discarded when the real mate appears.


    Talia¡¯s heart ached. How was that different from what she was doing with Alpha Damon? There was only an invisible wall between them because they didn¡¯t do anything physically (other than hugging and holding hands), but Talia was painfully aware that Alpha Damon has a space in her heart, no matter how much she was trying to cover up that fact by telling herself how whatever is happening is temporary and it doesn¡¯t mean anything. Once he finds his Luna, heartbreak will be inevitable. Her heartbreak.


    What Talia didn¡¯t know was that when scolding Alphas for romancing while waiting for their Luna, Stephanie was talking about herself, actually, about her daughter, Lisa.


    For thest three years (how much Stephanie knows), Lisa is dating Anthony, the future heir of the Lightw pack. It¡¯s the pack where Lisa is living currently, with Stephanie¡¯s sister and brother-inw.


    Anthony is a good boy, and he is treating Lisa well. Unfortunately, he is the only son of Alpha Magnus and is set to inherit his father¡¯s position as the Alpha, and that means he willmit to the girl who is his destined mate given by the Moon Goddess.


    Why is that a problem? Because Lisa is neen years old, and Anthony is one year older, and that means that both of them can recognize their mate, yet Tony didn¡¯t acknowledge Lisa as his future Luna.


    Of course, Lisa didn¡¯t talk about it, but Stephanie is aware that if Tony and Lisa are mates, everyone would know about it because Alpha finding his Luna is a big deal. There is a belief that if Luna is Alpha¡¯s destined mate, the pack will prosper, and no one would dy announcing this and throwing a big party to cheer up the pack.


    Stephanie is aware that Lisa is waiting for Anthony to announce her as his Luna, but every passing day without that happening confirms that Anthony is waiting (and possibly searching) for his destined mate.


    How long will this situationst? How long will Anthony wait for his Luna? Does he have a deadline? No one has answers to these questions.


    Some Alphas wait until their mid-thirties before they pick a mate in order to produce an heir.


    It¡¯s normal for Stephanie to worry about her daughter, but on a few asions when she tried talking to Lisa about this, Lisa threw a tantrum.


    Before her eighteenth birthday, Lisa was convinced that Anthony is her mate, after all, they were crazy about each other. However, now that Lisa¡¯s eighteenth birthday passed, Lisa believes that Anthony will choose her, and Stephanie¡¯s heart is aching at the thought that Tony might find his destined mate and leave Lisa in shambles.


    Of course, there is a chance that Lisa will find her mate, but at this point, Lisa is totally obsessed with Tony.

 Chapter 82 Who Is Qualified To Sit By Damon’s Side

    ¡°Oh, dear¡­¡±


    Talia heard Stephanie say through her haze of conflicting emotions.


    ¡°Those two girls forgot this side dish. Can you take it to the dining room? Hurry before they finish with their meal¡­¡±


    Talia was not willing, but she already avoided several rounds of taking food to the dining room and saying ¡®no¡¯ to Stephanie didn¡¯t sound like a good option.


    ¡­


    In the dining room¡­


    Maya was in the role of a host because Damon and Caden were still in the study, doing final checks on the security.


    Alpha Maddox and future Alpha Axel were at the table with Maya when Mindy entered the dining room.


    Mindy was irritated because she nned to make a grand entrance by being moderatelyte, yet Alpha Damon was still not there, and no one started eating so¡­ she was notte at all.


    ¡°Where should I sit?¡±, Mindy asked, and her sight fell on the head of the table that was empty. ¡°Is Alpha Damon sitting there?¡±


    Maya confirmed and Mindy went in that direction.


    Alpha Maddox frowned, thinking that Mindy will sit on Damon¡¯s seat. Who knows what his prideful sister was thinking? She wasining before dinner how Alpha Damon was disrespectful for noting to greet them.


    Alpha Maddox let out a breath of relief when he saw that she sat on the chair that will be on Damon¡¯s left, but in the next moment, he noticed that Maya¡¯s expression shed with displeasure while looking at Mindy. Of course, he didn¡¯t know that his sister sat on Talia¡¯s seat, but he guessed that the spot is reserved for someone.


    ¡°Mindy, how about you sit next to me?¡±, Alpha Maddox asked while patting the backrest of the empty chair on his right.


    Mindy cocked an eyebrow. ¡°I see you every day, and we came here to expand ourwork and talk about business. Like this, I can chat with Alpha Damon.¡± She saw that her brother was about to object, and she lifted her chin. ¡°Are you going to tell me that there is someone more qualified than me to sit by Alpha Damon¡¯s side?¡±


    They all turned to the door to see a figure standing there. It was Talia.


    Alpha Maddox was surprised that he didn¡¯t feel Talia¡¯s presence until she got into his visual range. And it was the same that afternoon. Naturally, that made him wish to know more about Talia.


    Unaware of Alpha Maddox¡¯s thoughts, Talia¡¯s eyes moved over the table, and she found enough space to ce the side dish she was holding.


    ¡°Talia¡­¡±, Maya called when she saw that Talia took a step away from the table, obviously wanting to leave when her hands were free. ¡°Will you join us for a meal?¡±


    Subconsciously, Talia nced at the spot where Damon would sit. It was empty. But the seat on his left was not empty and Talia¡¯s heart tightened at the sight of Mindy who projected confidence.


    Mindy was dressed up with her hair and makeup done, and she really looked like she belonged there.


    When she reached the door, Talia heard a female saying how there is no one more qualified than her to sit by Damon¡¯s side, and now Talia connected that voice with the face, and¡­ she agreed. Mindy looked more put together than Talia ever was.


    It shouldn¡¯t hurt, Talia knew that this wasing. She was nobody, a temporary entertainment, a person to keep himpany until someone elsees¡­ and now that another woman sat in that ce, it hurt, and Talia¡¯s eyes dimmed as she lowered her head.


    ¡°Oh, your Omegas eat at the table with you? How generous¡±, Mindy said to Maya, her words sending needles straight to Talia¡¯s already bleeding heart.


    While looking nkly at her own feet, Talia answered Maya¡¯s question in a small voice. ¡°I¡¯m having my meal in the kitchen. If you excuse me¡­¡±


    Maya let out a dejected sigh when Talia left the dining room.


    Alpha Maddox pinched the roof of his nose, and spoke to Mindy through their mind-link, ¡®Why can¡¯t you keep your mouth shut?¡¯


    ¡®Did I say something wrong? Omegas eating with ranked members and guests at the same table is progressive. That was apliment.¡¯


    Maddox shook his head. Yes, it would be apliment, but Maya¡¯s reaction told him that something is off. And this was the second time for his sister to offend Talia.


    ¡°Who is that girl?¡±, Alpha Axel asked while his eyes still lingered at the door through which Talia disappeared.


    ¡°She just joined recently.¡±, Maya responded with her story ready. ¡°Her name is Talia. She came from the North and was looking for a pack, so we took her in.¡±


    Alpha Axel nodded absentmindedly, and Maya saw that Alpha Maddox was also listening intently. Maya wondered if she missed something important because it seemed that both Maddox and Axel showed interest in Talia.


    ¡­


    Damon and Caden entered the room and Damon said without sincerity, ¡°Sorry to keep you waiting.¡±


    He really didn¡¯t care, but he said it because he noticed that everyone¡¯s tes were clean.


    Damon was not in a good mood because with all the guests around, they had extra work rted to patrols and security, and he was feeling uneasy the whole afternoon and it was only getting worse.


    Instead of being with these people, he wanted to go into Talia¡¯s room and cuddle until he feels better.


    However, Damon ignored his guests for the whole afternoon and if he ditches dinner also, it would be super-rude, so he decided toe, eat quickly, and then join Talia.


    Damon reminded himself that he is the host, and this is only a day or two, and he shouldn¡¯t be tactless to the point of damaging the rtionships between packs.


    ¡°It¡¯s good to have you here again.¡±, Damon said to Maddox, and he nced at Mindy and gave her a small nod to acknowledge her presence before turning to Axel with, ¡°Where are your guys?¡±


    ¡°Beta and Gamma are with the rest of my pack members, keeping an eye on them. They are excited about tomorrow¡¯s game, and we don¡¯t want to risk any incidents.¡±


    This was the first time for Damon and Axel to meet in person. So far, they exchanged emails and attended video conferences, and a few times when Damon interacted with the representatives of the Midnight Guardians pack in person, that was with Axel¡¯s father, Alpha Isaac.


    ¡°Make yourself at home. If you arecking anything, let me or my Betas know.¡±, Damon said to what Axel nodded in understanding.


    In bigger packs, the hierarchy of ranked members isplex with multiple levels, and that would be the case with Dark Howlers also if Damon had more people he trusts.


    The Midnight Guardians pack has a pair of Alphas leading them, Alpha Isaac and Alpha Sophia.


    Pair of Alphas means that both mates are equal, in everything. In the Midnight Guardians pack, Alpha Isaac is focusing on external rtionships, while Alpha Sophia tends to matters within the pack. Below Alphas are Betas and then Gammas. The other ranked members have specializations like generals (who lead warriors), librarians (in charge of education), etc.


    The Midnight Guardians pack is mysterious, and no one knows exactly where their headquarters are or how many pack members they have.


    It¡¯s an ancient pack, and there are many stories about it, one more fantastic than the other. Some say that many generations ago, the Alpha of the Midnight Guardians pack was mated to a witch and they have unnaturally long lifespans, and some say that it was a vampire, and there are rumors that they have a fairy bloodline that grants them mystical powers and their eyes glow silvery when they shift into their wolf form.


    Damon believes that those stories are rubbish, probably started by the members of the Midnight Guardians pack themselves in order to keep others at bay. After all, the biggest fear is of the unknown, and only a fool would rush to invade territory without knowing who all is guarding it. In a way, Damon admires their strategy.


    Damon greeted Mindy officially and sat in his seat. He met Mindy a few times before, but that was years ago when she was a teen, and he was a green Alpha. This was the first time for her to visit the Dark Howlers pack.


    ¡°Alpha Damon¡­¡±, Mindy stated chit-chat while putting food on her te. Damon doesn¡¯t care about protocols, but in many packs, no one will eat before Alpha.


    ¡°I see that you are opening up to taking in she-wolves who were abused. That¡¯s very admirable.¡±, Mindy was talking about Talia.


    Damon didn¡¯t understand the cause of thatment, so he gave a generic response. ¡°The Dark Howlers pack was always epting people in need of help. It¡¯s just that some cases are moreplex than others and when we feel that we can¡¯t handle it, we reach out to the Blue River pack for assistance. Alpha Maddox is an undeniable expert.¡±


    Damon nodded toward Alpha Maddox who nodded in return. It was obvious that the two Alphas respect each other and their rtionship is good.


    ¡°It¡¯s good that you can admit that others are more qualified.¡±, Mindy said with a smirk.


    Damon paused cutting the meat on his te and cocked an eyebrow at Mindy. ¡°This is not about pride, but about doing what¡¯s best for people in need.¡±


    Mindy was saying something, but Maya¡¯s voice in Damon¡¯s head through the mind-link was much louder, ¡®Don¡¯t you think that something is missing?¡¯


    Damon didn¡¯t get it. ¡®What¡¯s missing?¡¯


    Maya cleared her throat. ¡®Shouldn¡¯t SOMEONE else sit in that ce?¡¯


    Damon realized that Maya was talking about Talia. ¡®Isn¡¯t she having dinner in her room?¡¯


    Talia normally ate food in her room, and he didn¡¯t think much about her absence. He was thinking of going to her room after dinner, and he would bring food anyway. He loved to watch her eat.


    ¡®Talia was serving us, and Mindy.¡¯, Maya emphasized thisst part. ¡®She said that she will not join us at the table, but instead, she will eat in the kitchen. Like an Omega.¡¯


    Maya twisted it a bit, but all the facts were there.


    Damon had no idea what Maya was trying to say, but he understood that Talia was having her meal in the kitchen.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on:


    mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 83 Lifting The Mood

    In the kitchen¡­


    Talia was pushing the food on her te.


    She couldn¡¯t describe the agonizing feeling that gnawed on her insides.


    Talia thought how not so long ago she was stuck in an attic, alone, and hungry, believing that only if she could have a safe ce that is clean andfortable, and some good food, she will be happy. Yet now that she is here, with all this delicious food in front of her, without danger of being bullied, with afortable bed upstairs¡­ she was not happy.


    And why is that? Is it only because one woman took the ce that never belonged to Talia?


    No, that didn¡¯t sound right.


    Over the years, Talia met many who pointed out how they are above Talia while she is nothing, yet it never hurt this much.


    Talia wondered if she was greedy. Surely, her current situation is a big upgradepared to what she had. Why is she nitpicking? Why is her heart aching?


    ¡°Is the food not to your liking?¡±, Stephanie asked, and Talia sucked in a breath.


    ¡®I need to keep it together or Stephanie will start asking questions to which I don¡¯t have answers and I don¡¯t want her to misunderstand me.¡¯


    Talia was confident that if she tells Stephanie (or anyone else) the reason behind her dejection, they willugh at her for wishing something that will never be hers.


    ¡°No, the food fine. I¡¯m full so I slowed down.¡±, Talia responded with a forced smile.


    Stephanie didn¡¯t buy it. ¡°You were eating fine before you took thatst side dish into the dining room. Did something happen?¡±


    ¡°Nothing happened.¡±, Talia denied it.


    Stephanie eyed Talia suspiciously. ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Talia did her best to sound enthusiastic.


    ¡°Talia, why are you eating here?¡±, Damon asked from the door stiffly.


    Talia looked at Damon and her stomach formed a hundred painful knots as all her insecurities resurfaced.


    Why did he look angry? Is he telling her not to eat? Or is this the part where he tells her to scram because he found himself another woman? Only that morning he asked her not to leave him, yet it seems that he forgot about all that.


    ¡°Where should she eat?¡± It was Stephanie who asked.


    ¡°In the dining room.¡±, Damon responded without removing his gaze from Talia.


    Talia lowered her head and pressed her lips into a line.


    Why was Damon telling her to go there?


    Will he ask Miss Mindy to move so that Talia can have her usual seat? That was not very likely.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    He will probably tell Talia to sit somewhere else.


    Will Damon hold Miss Mindy¡¯s hand under the table? Is that why he wants Talia to go there? So that she can see how Miss Mindy is the right woman to sit by Alpha Damon¡¯s side? After all, no one is more worthy of sitting in that chair than Miss Mindy.


    Talia¡¯s heart tightened and she felt her eyes stinging. Is she going to cry? Will that make him happy? Will he even care?


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, Alpha Damon.¡±, Talia responded while focusing mightily to control her voice so that it doesn¡¯t shake. ¡°Thank you for your concern, but I¡¯m done with my meal.¡±


    Talia took her te that was still more than half full and ced it in the sink.


    ¡°Stephanie, I will clean upter.¡±


    Talia moved to leave the kitchen and Damon blocked her path. ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°To my room, unless you have something that needs to be done, Alpha.¡±


    Damon looked into Talia¡¯s eyes and the ache in his chest increased. Why did she look at him like he did something wrong? Is it possible that she wants to get away from him?


    ¡°Alpha Damon, can we have a word?¡±, Stephanie called, and Talia used this chance to go around Damon and dash upstairs.


    ¡°I told you to let her go. Why is Talia still in the packhouse?¡±, Stephanie asked when Talia was out of the earshot.


    Damon was irritated. Why did she insist that Talia needs to leave the packhouse?


    ¡°And where do you want me to send her?¡±


    ¡°Anywhere is better than here.¡±, Stephanie responded. ¡°And before you snap at me, let me tell you something. Talia was in a good mood before she went to the dining room. Something happened and she returned absentminded and¡­ broken.¡±


    ¡°Maya was there. No one would dare to bully her.¡±, Damon responded, unsure if Stephanie was exaggerating.


    ¡°Unlike you, Talia is a sensitive child who endured years of abuse. She doesn¡¯t need to be hit physically in order to feel the pain.¡±


    Damon snorted and moved to leave the kitchen.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡±, Stephanie called in a raised voice, just how Damon¡¯s mother would when she was reprimanding him.


    ¡°After Talia.¡±


    ¡°And do, what? Order her to join you for dinner?¡±


    That¡¯s exactly what Damon wanted to do. If Talia didn¡¯t want to say what was bothering her, Damon would make her stick to him until she talks. Actually, he would rather cuddle but Talia was not in a good mood, and it seems that she didn¡¯t eat much, so he would bring her to the dining room and make her eat until he was satisfied. Or maybe it¡¯s better if he takes food upstairs.


    But he knew that Stephanie would not approve, so he lied. ¡°No.¡± Why did she treat him like he is the bad guy?


    Stephanie could see that he lied.


    ¡°Unless you have a n that doesn¡¯t include making it more difficult for Talia, I suggest you leave her alone. Or at least give her some time for both of you to calm down.¡±


    Damon nodded stiffly and his legs carried him back to the dining room.


    He really didn¡¯t have a n other than forcing Talia to eat and talk. Sure, he wouldn¡¯t be violent, but he didn¡¯t have any soft techniques that would make her spill the beans either.


    Damon sat in his chair and stared murderously at the food on his te, like the food has answers, and refuses to talk.


    ¡°My brother told me about the Shifters nightclub.¡±, Mindy said to Damon. ¡°Can we go there tonight?¡±


    ¡°You can go wherever you want.¡±, Damon responded right away.


    ¡°You will join us, right?¡±, Mindy asked. ¡°We need to show to our pack members that we are getting along well.¡± She nced at Alpha Axel. ¡°All of us should go.¡±


    Seeing that Axel nodded in agreement, Damon let out a long exhale. He didn¡¯t want to go, but he can show up and leave after five minutes. No one can force him to stay longer. ¡°Sure.¡±


    ¡®Where is Talia?¡¯, Maya¡¯s voice sounded in Damon¡¯s head through their mind-link.


    ¡®In her room. She said that she was done with food.¡¯, Damon responded.


    ¡®And you believed her?¡¯


    Damon lifted his gaze and saw Maya¡¯s displeased look directed his way from across the table.


    ¡®What happened before I arrived?¡¯, Damon asked Maya.


    ¡®If you came here on time, or paid more attention to your surroundings and Talia, you would know.¡¯, Maya responded and stood up. ¡°I have a few things to do, so if you excuse me¡­¡±


    ¡°Will you join us at the nightclub tonight?¡±, Mindy asked Maya.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t miss it for the world.¡±


    ¡­


    There was knocking on the door and Talia pushed herself up into a seated position and wiped the tears before responding, ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Can Ie in?¡±, Maya asked, and got in before Talia responded.


    Maya sat on the bed next to Talia before asking, ¡°How are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡±


    Maya knew that Talia lied. Her eyes were red and puffy, it was obvious that Talia was crying.


    ¡°When a girl feels down, there is only one thing to do.¡±


    Talia blinked. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Give me a minute¡­¡±, Maya said and disappeared into Talia¡¯s closet.


    A minuteter, Maya came out with some garments draped over her arm. ¡°Come with me, Talia. I want to give you a makeover.¡±


    ¡°Will that lift my mood?¡±


    Maya smiled mischievously. ¡°No. But an evening of drinking and dancing will.¡±


    Talia¡¯s face fell. Drinking? Dancing? She never did any of those! But Maya was dragging her out of the room, and she followed obediently.


    ¡­


    Damon was getting impatient. He knocked on Talia¡¯s door several times and there was no response, and he couldn¡¯t pick up her scent either.


    He cracked the door open. ¡°Talia?¡± Nothing.


    Damon stuck his head inside and looked around. The light was on, but there was no sign of Talia, so he let himself in.


    He kept the te with food on the coffee table and checked the bathroom and the closet, only to confirm that Talia was not there.


    Damon stood in the middle of Talia¡¯s room while panic washed over him.


    Did she leave? He couldn¡¯t breathe. And why was his wolf non-responsive in this moment of crisis?


    ¡®MAYA! CADEN!¡¯, Damon roared into the mind-link. ¡®TALIA IS MISSING!¡¯


    ¡®Oh. It took you a while to notice.¡¯, Maya responded, and Damon saw red.


    ¡®WHERE IS TALIA?¡¯


    ¡®She is not missing.¡¯, Caden responded before Maya could add more oil to the fire. They were in their room with Talia, and Caden wondered if Maya wants to make Damon blow up the whole packhouse while she t-irons Talia¡¯s hair.


    ¡®Where is Talia?¡¯ Damon was irritated that they are not telling him the location so that he can go and fetch Talia. Should he go to their room?


    After a second of silence, Caden responded, ¡®Talia is safe, having some girl time.¡¯


    Damon couldn¡¯t believe this. Girl time? What does that even mean?


    But she was not missing, and that was a good thing.


    ¡®Why are you looking for Talia?¡¯, Maya asked. ¡®Don¡¯t you need to go to the Shifters with your guests? Don¡¯t tell me that you will push that responsibility also on your Betas. We are ving the whole day and need time to unwind.¡¯


    Damon was happy to get away from the dinner table and arrange a te of food for Talia.


    Talia was upset when she left the kitchen, but Damon gave her time to calm down, and he came with food to cate her. He hoped that will be enough for Talia to see his sincerity.


    With all those thoughts about Talia, he forgot about the guests and the nightclub.


    Damn it! But he will make it quick. By the time he is back, Talia will be done with her girl time (whatever that is) and avable for cuddling.

 Chapter 84 The Shifters Nightclub (1)

    ~ the Shifters nightclub ~


    Talia followed Maya through the dark hallway, and the thumping of the base was getting stronger with every step they took.


    The moment a bulky guy opened the door for them, the electro house music assaulted Talia¡¯s ears and she winced.


    It took her a moment topose herself and observe the massive area while trailing only a few inches behind Maya, fearing that if they separate, she won¡¯t be able to find her in the crowd that was moving with the music.


    Talia frowned at the intensity of various scents that entered her system. Perfumes, sweat, alcohol. Even for someone without werewolf-enhance senses, it was overwhelming.


    The space was dark and colorful lights glided over the heads of people who filled the ce. Talia couldn¡¯t see how big the nightclub is, but she estimated at least several hundred people present. It was very lively.


    Everyone was doing their thing, but somehow, people parted to make way for them.


    Talia was not aware that Maya was using her Beta aura to notify others of their presence. Werewolves have strong instincts of not blocking the way of someone who is more powerful.


    Talia focused mightily not to stumble because this was her first time wearing shoes with a heel, and the fact that her legs were sore after the exercise Keith put her through, didn¡¯t help.


    Talia didn¡¯t feel any difort before because she was moving, but during the makeover, she was sitting while Maya did her hair and makeup, and Talia could feel her muscles throbbing more by the minute, and she hoped that it will stop, but so far, it was only getting worse. By the time they were ready to go, Talia¡¯s legs were in a bad shape yet Talia didn¡¯t dare to say anything to Maya, fearing that it will spoil the mood.


    Only when they stopped at the bar, and two people conveniently stood up from the barstools so that Talia and Maya can sit, Talia took mental notes of what others were wearing.


    Talia observed several scarcely dressed females and realized that herck of skin coverage doesn¡¯t stand out, but even though her tight-fitting ck leather pants and the silvery tank top that ended above her navel covered all the important parts, Talia never felt so exposed before.


    When thinking about the image of herself in the mirror before they left, Talia couldn¡¯t recognize herself. Her hair was ironed t neatly, and it looked a few inches longer than usual. Maya applied light makeup, to entuate Talia¡¯s honeyed eyes and full lips, without making them stand out too much. After some blush on the cheeks, and concealer on Talia¡¯s arm (to hide the bruise that Cassie left behind), Talia was not sure who was that girl who looked back at her from the mirror.


    The styling and clothes gave her confidence and Talia straightened her back. If she didn¡¯t know that was her, Talia would imagine a sophisticated young woman who was ready for a night out.


    But now the mirror was not there, Talia¡¯s insecurities bubbled to the surface, and she wished to be invisible.


    Maya noticed that Talia hugged herself to cover up the bare skin of her midsection.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Talia, you look great. Try to rx and enjoy.¡±


    Talia responded with a stiff smile and her eyes gravitated to the moving tform that was suspended above the crowd. It was the DJ station where one guy was standing in front of an array of machines that allowed him to mix the music and set up the mood for the whole club. There were two women dancing behind him.


    The current song faded into the next one and DJ raised his arms in the air. As if on cue, most of the crowd raised their arms and they exploded into cheers as various lights spilled over them.


    Talia was fascinated.


    The party mood was contagious, and Talia felt her insides flutter. If not for her shyness, she would wave her arms in the air also.


    ¡°What will you have,dies?¡±, a voice from the back got Talia¡¯s attention and she saw a young woman (aka the bartender) looking at her and Maya questionably. The woman nodded at Maya in acknowledgment. ¡°Beta, it¡¯s always nice to see you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s always good to be here, Katya.¡±, Maya responded with a smile. ¡°This is Talia.¡±


    Katya gave Talia a friendly smile while waiting to hear their orders.


    Katya¡¯s hair was raised in a messy bun at the top of her head and several curly strands framed her perfect face and reached her shoulders. Talia thought that Katya looked like an exotic beauty with her sun-kissed skin, mesmerizing eyes, and full lips. She was leaning over the counter of the bar so that they can hear each other with the ring music going on, but that also gave Talia a marvelous view of the cleavage Katya¡¯s ample peeks formed, and there was a nametag that said ¡®Katya¡¯.


    Maya leaned over the bar and whispered something, and Katya nodded before moving away and grabbing a few bottles from below the bar.


    The bar was long and packed with patrons, and Talia observed waitresses filling their trays with colorful sses of various shapes and sizes, before going to serve people seated in booths that were around the massive dance area.


    ¡°What do you think about this ce?¡±, Maya asked Talia who was taking in her surrounding with her eyes open wide.


    Talia was not sure how to respond, other than, ¡°It¡¯s a lot to process.¡± Talia spotted several couples. ¡°Is it OK for you to be here without Caden?¡±


    Maya waved, indicating that it¡¯s not a problem. ¡°He had some things to take care of and will join us when he is done.¡±Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Maya didn¡¯t want to say that Caden¡¯s task is to make sure Alpha Damon shows up tonight. That was part of her n.


    How will Damon react to see Talia after her makeover or in this ce without him? Maya didn¡¯t want to upset him, she wanted Damon to know that Talia¡¯s life is not on pause when he is not around. That should give him a p of reality that if he doesn¡¯t act properly, he will lose Talia, because she won¡¯t be confined to that one room, for meals, or for anything else when he is busy.


    Maya was surprised to see how easily Talia interacted with Keith and other people at the gym, it was like they were attracted to her for more than just flirting; they wanted to please Talia and make herfortable, and Maya thought how that¡¯s the real trait of a Luna, making people obey her without using force.


    Maya was confident that as long as Talia is in a supportive environment, her true personality wille thru, and hopefully, Talia will get over the traumas she umted during her stay at the Red Moon pack.


    Katya ced two pinkish cocktails on the bar and winked. ¡°This is on the house.¡±


    After Maya¡¯s encouraging eyebrow-wiggles, Talia took the cocktail and gave it a sniff. It smelled fruity.


    A sip confirmed the fruitiness in the vor also. It was sweet and yummy, and Talia took a big gulp and licked her lips.


    ¡°Can I assume based on your smile that you like it?¡±, Maya asked, and Talia nodded in confirmation. It was delicious.


    ¡°Good!¡±, Maya eximed and waved toward where Katya was standing. ¡°Give us one more round!¡±


    Talia noticed that other than Katya, there were two more guys behind the long bar that was crowded with patrons. Not many were sitting, as most of the people were waiting for their drinks, and then disappearing into the crowd with their hands full.


    Really, this whole nightclub was packed, and Maya told her that it¡¯s still early. Talia was not sure how many more people can be crammed in this ce.


    Talia remembered that Dawn and Zina told her how this is the hottest nightclub in the area, and now Talia understood what they meant. She never saw so many people in one ce.


    Talia wondered if Dawn and Zina are here; if they are, what are the chances that Talia will see them?


    ¡°Well, well¡­ look who is here¡­¡±, a deep male voice sounded from behind the bar. It was the fourth person Talia didn¡¯t notice before because he was in the room behind the bar so far.


    Talia smiled when she recognized Keith. She wondered what was he doing there, but before she could ask, Keith leaned closer, took a sniff of Talia¡¯s drink, and scrunched his nose in obvious disapproval of her beverage.


    ¡°Let me make you something better.¡±


    Keith wanted to take Talia¡¯s cocktail away, but she held it firmly. ¡°I like it. Can I finish this? I can have more than one drink.¡±


    Just as Talia said this, Katya brought in two more cocktails and ced them in front of Talia and Maya.


    Katya cocked an eyebrow at Keith. ¡°Are you stealing my customers?¡±


    He grinned at Katya. ¡°If your drinks are so good, you wouldn¡¯t need to worry about me stealing them.¡±


    Katya rolled her eyes and shook her head. She wanted to bicker with Keith, but several people were waving to get her attention, so she went to serve them. This was her job, after all.


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on:


    mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 85 The Shifters Nightclub (2)

    ¡°How about you, Beta Maya? Can I interest you in one of my specialties?¡±, Keith offered, and Maya refused him while pointing at her drinks, saying how she has enough.


    epting Keith¡¯s offer alwayses with the danger of tasting something nasty, and Maya didn¡¯t want to risk it tonight.


    Talia quickly finished her first cocktail and started sipping her second one while watching Keith who was mixing a concoction with expert moves. He was flinging bottles in the air and rotating them on his palms without spilling a single drop. Talia was impressed.


    ¡°You work here?¡±, Talia asked when Keith slowed down his movements. He told her that he is in the gym almost every day, so she assumed that this is where he spends his evenings.


    ¡°I stop by to help Katya, but I wouldn¡¯t call it a job.¡±, Keith responded.


    Talia understood that Keith and Katya are in a rtionship.. What kind of rtionship? Their banter showed that they are close and now he said that hees to help. Friends? Definitely more than just friends. Lovers? She was curious, but she was not sure if it¡¯s appropriate to ask.


    This social setting was new for Talia, and she feared that she might mess it up if she is too nosy.


    Keith started small talk, and Maya said that she is going to be back in a bit, leaving Keith and Talia on their own. Keith moved from behind the bar to sit on the barstool where Maya was previously.


    Before she realized it, Talia finished her second cocktail and now in front of her was a tall ss with a clear liquid that had an amber hue, pineapple wedge on top, and a slice of lemon inside.


    ¡°Why are you still here? Didn¡¯t you say you are leaving?¡±, Katya asked Keith grumpily when she approached that area of the bar.


    ¡°I was about to leave, but then I saw Talia and thought of giving herpany. Instead of looking at what I¡¯m doing, you should focus on the thirsty customers.¡±


    Katya nced at Talia¡¯s drink before saying, ¡°Don¡¯t let him turn you into his victim. Keith will force his concoctions on you until you get an upset stomach.¡±


    ¡°Some of my concoctions are the best selling cocktails here!¡±, Keith shouted after Katya and then turned to Talia. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to her, Talia. This is good stuff.¡±


    Looking at his expectant expression, Talia wouldn¡¯t refuse him no matter what kind of a drink he made, even if it gives her an upset stomach.


    Talia took a careful sip and citrusy vors exploded at the tip of her tongue. It was very different from the fruity cocktail she had previously but no less tasty. Actually, this was very refreshing, and she took another sip before giving her praise, ¡°Very good.¡±


    Keith beamed and his smile revealed two dimples, one on each cheek.


    Keith directed his smug expression at Katya who was too far to hear him. ¡°See? This girl knows what¡¯s good.¡±


    He spoke to Talia, ¡°When you finish this one, I will make you something else.¡±


    Talia drank the cocktail happily, without realizing at what point she started loosening up. She even started moving with the music, alcohol helped suppress the ache in her muscles that she earned while exercising earlier that day.


    Talia had never drunk alcohol before, so her resistance was very low and cocktails were expertly mixed to conceal the bitter taste, so Talia had them like juice.


    Talking with Keith came easy, and Talia enjoyed that they were chatting about anything and everything like they are long-term friends.


    At some point, Keith noticed that Talia was looking at the people who danced.


    ¡°Do you want to dance?¡±, Keith offered.


    Talia smiled happily. She was d that he offered, but she shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know how.¡±


    Keith¡¯s eyes shed with amusement. He stood up and offered Talia his hand, palm up. ¡°As your personal trainer, it is my duty to teach you.¡±


    Talia looked around helplessly, hoping to see Maya that could rescue her because Keith seemed determined, but Maya was nowhere in sight.


    She wanted to refuse, but then she stared foolishly at his dimples, and her legs moved on their own to follow Keith away from the bar.


    Talia noticed that people moved to make way for them. Keith didn¡¯t seem surprised by this.


    When they were somewhere in the dancing crowd, Keith turned to face Talia and she didn¡¯t expect it so she bumped into him. Talia put her arms up to push herself from Keith and took notice of his firm pecs. Are all guy-werewolves so hard?


    An image of a different werewolf shed in front of her eyes, this one had raven-ck hair and icy-blue eyes and Talia shook her head, to focus on reality.


    Keith took Talia¡¯s hands by the wrists and lifted them higher, from his pecs to his shoulders.


    ¡°Put your hands here and rx. Follow me and let the music guide you.¡±Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    As much as alcohol gave her courage, now that she was facing Keith, Talia¡¯s will faltered. His hands were on her waist, and she nced at the people nervously.


    Talia¡¯s breath hitched when she noticed that not everyone was dancing. Some were grinding on each other, and some were outright making out, and the fact that Keith leaned close so that they can talk without shouting over the music didn¡¯t make the situation morefortable.


    Talia thought how this was silly. Why was she so stiff? It doesn¡¯t matter what others are doing. Keith and she are here for dancing and there is nothing more to it.


    On several asions, Talia waspletely glued to Alpha Damon and that didn¡¯t feel awkward. Why can¡¯t she rx with Keith?


    Objectively speaking, Keith is a good-looking young man, caring, consistent, a gentleman. Keith reminds Talia of a breeze on a warm spring day, while Alpha Damon is overbearing and unpredictable like a hailstorm on a hot summer day.


    Why did standing close to Keith feel wrong, while being with Alpha Damon came naturally? Talia wondered if she has self-destructive tendencies.


    Keith touched Talia¡¯s chin, making her look at him.


    ¡°First lesson on dancing, you can focus on the music or on your partner. Preferably both.¡±, Keith said seriously. ¡°Second lesson, you need to have fun and that means you should not think if someone is watching or what they are doing. This is about you and your partner, in this case, me. No one else matters. Got it?¡±


    Talia nodded earnestly.


    She repeated in her mind Keith¡¯s lessons, and it didn¡¯t sit well with her that he said how he is her partner.


    She wondered if Alpha Damon would care if he heard Keith¡¯s words. Probably not. He must be busy with Miss Mindy. Is he giving her his breathtaking half-smile that goes great with his icy-blue eyes? Is she enjoying his scent of the forest and dark chocte?


    Talia pushed those thoughts to the side. She shouldn¡¯t think about Alpha Damon because it can¡¯t bring anything good. She needs to forget about him.


    Damon found his Luna, or maybe his next toy, and Talia is out of the picture. Even Stephanie confirmed what everyone knows how Alphas are toying with girls until they find their Luna, and Talia was just one more in the lines of girls that brought Damon temporary entertainment. The sooner she epts it, the faster the pain will subside.


    But there was another variable in this whole almost-dancing situation, ¡°Is Katya OK with this?¡±


    Keith cocked an eyebrow with slight confusion on his sun-kissed face. ¡°OK, with what?¡±


    ¡°With us, dancing.¡±, Talia rified.


    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t she be?¡±


    Talia was not sure if she spoke too much. But she knew that werewolves are very possessive and jealous and how can Katya be OK when her important person was dancing with some other girl?


    Talia didn¡¯t say more, but Keith could guess her thoughts.


    ¡°You see, Talia¡­¡±, he made a dramatic pause and licked his lips that were lifted into a smile by the time he spoke again, ¡°Katya is my sister.¡±


    Talia released a breath she was holding. It¡¯s not that she had any intention of hitting it off with Keith, but a jealous she-wolf might be a problem and Talia¡¯s face fell when she realized that maybe Keith misunderstood her. What if he thought that Talia has romantic thoughts that include Keith?


    But how can she exin this without making it more awkward?


    Keith was watching her with amusement in his eyes and she had to say something.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know Katya is your sister. She is impressive. Do you mind telling me about her?¡±


    Keith¡¯s expression softened. ¡°Katya is impressive. When she finished high school, she was eligible for the schrship, just how I was. I took mine and went to college in human town while Katya asked to convert her schrship into a loan to buy this ce.¡±


    Talia blinked. ¡°Katya is the owner?¡± Well, that exined why everyone made way for him. If he¡¯s the owner¡¯s brother, he is kind of an owner also.


    Keith moved closer so that he can talk to Talia without yelling. They were so close that Talia could feel the heat emanating from his body and the earthy scent of his aftershave.


    ¡°Katya bought this ce and spruced it up. It was a decent nightclub with previous owners, but since Katya took over, it became the best in the area. Ie here when I get a chance to help her out, and she lets me experiment with drinks. My kitchen is well equipped, but I don¡¯t have thirty varieties of scotch¡­¡±


    Talia listened with interest, and shepletely missed the fact that her legs were moving how Keith guided her. Compared to the people around them who danced vigorously, they moved much slower, but it was still dancing. It was her first dance and she missed it.

 Chapter 86 The Shifters Nightclub (3)

    ¡°Are we interrupting?¡±


    Talia and Keith looked toward the source of the voice and saw Liam and Pierce.


    Talia was flustered. Her hands were on Keith¡¯s shoulders and they were moving in the middle of the dancing crowd, and she became aware of how close they were. Too close.


    Liam grinned at the sight of Talia who moved away from Keith, taking it as a clear sign that Keith didn¡¯t seal the deal with Talia. Well, Liam was not sure what Keith¡¯s intentions were, but he saw Keith giving attention to Talia at the training center, and now they were awfully close and exchanging whispers while holding each other on the dancefloor. Something was going on. Definitely.


    ¡°I was wondering if I can get a dance.¡±, Liam said to Talia while ignoring Keith¡¯s re.


    .


    ¡°Me next!¡±, Pierce eximed.


    For some reason Keith couldn¡¯t exin, he was not willing to let Liam or Pierce dance with Talia.


    Talia hesitated and Keith was quick to respond in her ce, ¡°We were just nning to go to the bar and grab some drinks.¡±


    ¡°Excellent! We will join you.¡±, Liam said.


    And just like that, the four of them headed to the bar, and Maya was also there.


    Talia sat on the barstool next to Maya, and three guys stood around them protectively.


    ¡°Don¡¯t drink too much. We have a game in the morning.¡±, Keith grumbled at Liam and Pierce when they ordered their second round of drinks.


    ¡°Just one more, coach!¡±, Pierce said while grabbing one of the unimed chilled beers that Katya ced on the counter for them.


    Liam rolled the sleeves of his shirt high, and Talia stared at his tattoos. There was a cross and some geometric shapes, a sun, and¡­ ¡°Is that a cheetah?¡±, Talia asked and Liam nodded smugly in confirmation.


    ¡°Why a cheetah?¡± She thought that werewolves would rather have wolves (or at least dogs).


    ¡°Cheetah is the fastestnd animal.¡±, Liam responded smugly. ¡°And why I have it on my skin, you will find out during the game tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Liam is the fastest guy on our team.¡±, Pierce said like it¡¯s not a big deal. ¡°But tomorrow you will see that it¡¯s not only about the speed. Footwork is what counts.¡±


    Talia understood that Pierce is proud of his skills on the field. She squinted while trying to remember what game they will be ying. Ser?


    Liam snorted. ¡°What¡¯s the point of the footwork when you can¡¯t reach the ball?¡±


    Pierce responded something, and Liam said a few words in return. Talia¡¯s mind was getting clouded from the alcohol and she couldn¡¯t understand what they were saying, but she knew they were bickering.


    Keith ced his hands on Liam¡¯s and Pierce¡¯s shoulders and gave them a harsh squeeze.


    ¡°How about you save that energy for the game?¡±


    At Keith¡¯s words, both Pierce and Liam closed their mouths and nodded.


    ¡°Talia!¡±, an excited cry came from the side and Talia saw a blonde pixie cut hairstyle that was bobbing through the crowd.


    Talia waved at Dawn and Zina, hoping that the neers won¡¯t notice how buzzed she was, but Talia didn¡¯t miss that Dawn and Zina were immediately eyeing Keith, Liam, and Pierce.


    Zina and Dawn know who Liam, Pierce, and Keith are, but they are not in the same circles, because Omegas don¡¯t mix with warriors and Keith is something like a celebrity trainer who earns an unimaginable amount of money with his line of protein shakes.


    Pierce gestured to Katya to add more beers, and soon each of them had one.


    After finishing the beer he was holding, Keith excused himself, saying that he has an early start in the morning, and he reminded guys not to stay too long and not to get wasted.


    The truth was that Keith didn¡¯t want to leave, but he had duties before games start, and as the main coach from the hosting pack, he couldn¡¯t mess up and bete, or worse¡­te and hungover. He was nning to head home when he saw Talia, and that was a long time ago.


    ¡°Will you be OK here?¡±, Keith asked Talia to what she confirmed with a nod and a silly grin on her face.


    ¡°We will watch over her.¡±, Dawn said while hooking her arm around Talia¡¯s neck. ¡°And no one can bully us with Beta Maya here.¡±


    Keith looked at Talia with aplex expression for a few long seconds, and then he shouted at Katya, ¡°Don¡¯t give them any more drinks! I need them to y a good game tomorrow!¡±


    Talia thought that Keith sounded like a concerned parent.


    If Talia knew that Keith really wanted to take her home, maybe she would put up a guard against him, at least a little bit.


    ¡°Now that the coach is gone, how about that dance?¡±, Liam asked Talia as soon as Keith was out of sight. Maybe Talia didn¡¯t notice, but Pierce and Liam noticed that Keith was hovering around Talia while making sure that no other guy gets too close.


    Talia shook her head and swayed a little before leaning on Dawn. ¡°I didn¡¯t drink enough to dance.¡±


    ¡°Then we should drink some more!¡±, Zina eximed, and Pierce and Liam cheered. Katya will not give them drinks, but if the girls ce an order, then there will be no obstacles.


    ¡­


    Damon arrived at the Shifters nightclub with Caden, Alpha Maddox, Mindy, and Axel.


    They stepped through the doors and stood on the tform that was five steps above the rest of the nightclub.


    It was inevitable that Damon¡¯s appearance will stir themotion as people nudged each other to pay attention to the five striking people that entered the nightclub.


    She-wolves couldn¡¯t help but swoon over Damon while his eyes swept the space with his signature half-frown of a predator who shouldn¡¯t be disturbed recklessly.


    Damon¡¯s hair was slicked back with a few messy strands falling carelessly on his forehead, and the ck leather jacket gave him a dangerous biker vibe. Definitely a bad boy.


    Damon¡¯s appeal was enhanced by thepany of four other impressive individuals by his side.


    Werewolves have their informationwork and magazines, and they knew who the neers were.


    The Werewolf Weekly Magazine (aka the WWM) has a dedicated section for young and uing Alphas. Damon, Maddox, and Axel are celebrities, while Mindy is often featured as a young goodwill ambassador who will be an amazing Luna.


    Caden was also popr, but after he mated with Maya, they stopped featuring him. After all, avable hotties sell the magazine better. The magazine reached to Caden and Maya to be shown as a couple, but they wanted details rted to their work as Betas, so Caden and Maya refused because they didn¡¯t want to disclose the inner workings of the Dark Howlers pack.


    Damon¡¯s jaw tightened. The crowd and noise were familiar. This is the ce where he came numerous times to pick hispany for the night, but now the only thought on his mind was to leave as soon as possible.


    Damon reminded himself that he can have one drink before heading back. He wille up with an excuse how there is something he needs to handle. And that something is cuddling with Talia because he was confident that Talia will be done with her girl time.


    The Shifters nightclub is in the territory of the Dark Howlers pack and the owner (aka Katya) is a pack member, so naturally, Alpha Damon has his private booth that no one else would dare to use without Damon¡¯s approval.


    The booth is elevated with a metallic rail separating it from the rest of the nightclub. There are two low tables with one curved sofa where at least ten people can sit without touching each other. That booth is the only area where colorful lights will never hit, giving it privacy in the darkness, while people who are in that booth can clearly see the rest of the nightclub.


    Of course, Talia (just like everyone else) noticed a wave ofmotion as five people made their way to the VVIP booth.


    Damon¡¯s booth was on the opposite side from where the bar was, and it was in the dark, but Talia saw Damon climbing up. She would recognize him no matter how far away or how dark it is.


    Darkness and distance were not a problem for Talia, and she never realized that others couldn¡¯t see clearly when she was able to spot every detail, like it was close up, during daylight.


    Subconsciously, Talia held her breath as she soaked in Damon¡¯s every move. There was a majestic aura around Damon that projected danger and confidence and he was beyond handsome.


    Unfortunately, that good eyesight allowed her to see Mindy walking close behind Damon, and piercing pain in her chest clenched her heart.


    Talia didn¡¯t get it. Why did she care about Alpha Damon? Yes, they spent some time together, but she was careful not to allow her imagination to run wild, and she repeatedly told herself how Damon¡¯s attention doesn¡¯t mean anything; she was a temporary entertainment, a pet, a charity project¡­ How did she find herself trapped in a web of fantasies that didn¡¯t even form in her mind? It didn¡¯t make sense. Nothing made sense.


    Talia shook her head, together with any negative emotions that swelled within her. She will not allow him to spoil her mood.


    With the corner of her eye, Talia thought that she saw Damon holding his chest just before he disappeared into the darkness, and Mindy moved with haste to support him.


    Of course, Mindy will support him.


    Talia told herself not to care. If Damon is unwell, Mindy will take care of him, and Talia doesn¡¯t have the right to get close to him. Her role in his life is done.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    Talia took a big gulp of chilled beer, hoping that it will erase the thoughts and emotions that weighed on her.


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on:


    mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 87 The Shifters Nightclub (4) [Bonus]

    ¡°Well, isn¡¯t that a visual treat for us singledies?¡±, Dawn asked with a sigh while she squinted toward the booth that was hidden in the darkness. ¡°Axel is such an eye candy. I wish I could go there and introduce myself.¡± She eyed Maya not-so-discreetly and Dawn frowned when she saw that Maya ignored her.


    Maya got the message, loud and clear. Dawn hoped to get ess to that booth, but Maya knew that Axel is one of the rare Alphas-to-be who is not living a licentious lifestyle, and she didn¡¯t want to offend him.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    The rumor is that members of the Midnight Guardians pack are all waiting for their mates and won¡¯t fool around, which is extremely umon for werewolves who have high libidos and are exposed to nudity from young age.


    Unfortunately for Axel, that same rumor is making him more appealing because many women (and some men) have set as their goal in life to take Axel¡¯s first time. Due to that, when in public, Axel has a perpetuate frown that should repel weak-willed hopefuls.


    Maya looked at Talia who was drinking her second beer a bit too fast.


    ¡°Maybe you should slow down.¡±, Maya advised Talia. Drinking and partying is one thing, but Talia was already swaying on that barstool and if Talia passes out, the makeover anding here will be for naught.


    Talia didn¡¯t want to slow down. The ache in her chest was getting unbearable and she weed the numbing sensation that alcohol provided. At this point, Talia wanted Maya to leave so that she can drown her sorrows and forget about fantasies that will nevere true.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you join Caden?¡±, Talia asked Maya while gesturing in the direction of the VVIP booth.


    ¡°I came here with you.¡±, Maya said. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be fair to leave you on your own. Of course, if you want to join me there, that¡¯s a different thing.¡±


    Talia refused. There was no way that she will subject herself to watching Alpha Damon with the woman who will warm his bed tonight, and maybe in the future as well.


    Talia was drunk but firm on having fun tonight, and tomorrow she will work on leaving the packhouse¡­ or maybe she will work on that after the festival is over, and Maya and Stephanie have time to talk about Talia¡¯s next sleeping arrangements.


    ¡°I am not on my own.¡±, Talia responded with the best smile she could muster and gestured toward Dawn, Zina, Liam, and Pierce. ¡°Go and be with your mate. I don¡¯t want Caden to hate meter.¡±


    Maya nced at Dawn and Zina. ¡°I will count on you to watch over Talia.¡±


    Dawn and Zina nodded earnestly and burst into giggles because they were tipsy. The mood was good. They stiffened when they heard Maya talking to them through the mind-link, ¡®If anything seems off, mind-link me directly. Don¡¯t let anyone bully Talia.¡¯


    The energy in the club was positive, but this was a bunch of werewolves with explosive tempers. There were visitors from other packs, and they were drinking. A fight could erupt at the slightest provocation, and it could get nasty at any moment.


    Maya leaned closer to Talia, ¡°If you need me, you know where to find me. I won¡¯t leave the club without you.¡±


    Talia was grateful for this reassurance that reminded her how Maya is a good person.


    ¡­


    Maya made her way through the crowd and climbed the stairs to the elevated booth, finding Caden there who weed her with a big smile on his face and arms open wide. Maya returned his smile and sank into his embrace. She relished his scent and soothing touch; it¡¯s something that only a mate can provide.


    Maya nced at Damon who was fiddling with his phone, and she wondered if he will notice that Maya is with them and not with Talia. She decided to give him a few minutes, and if he is still passive, she will give him a hint or two.


    Axel¡¯s gaze was trained on the crowd, and he looked like he was contemting something seriously, so others didn¡¯t want to disturb him.


    Alpha Maddox was watching Mindy who downed her drink in one go before standing up abruptly.


    ¡°Who wants to dance?¡±, Mindy asked enthusiastically only to face her brother¡¯s frown, and Axel and Damon didn¡¯t look willing to party either.


    Seeing that Axel is grumpy, Mindy moved to stand in front of Damon. ¡°As a host, shouldn¡¯t you entertain me?¡±


    Damon lifted his gaze from the phone in his hand and cocked an eyebrow at Mindy. ¡°What do you want?¡±


    ¡°To dance.¡±


    ¡°As a host, I came to the club with you, and I¡¯m allowing you to use my booth. If you want to dance¡­¡±, Damon gestured toward the crowd, telling her silently that he was not interested.


    That whole evening, Damon was not feeling well, and asionally his chest ached like something was really wrong. He tried talking to his wolf, but he got only silence in response which made Damon more irritable. He was NOT in the mood to entertain anyone.


    At Damon¡¯s rejection to join her on the dancefloor, Mindy rolled her eyes dramatically and went down on her own. Those Alphas were stiff and boring, and she wanted to party.


    Mindy¡¯s schedule is usually packed with activities rted to the Blue River pack and this was one of the rare asions where she was free to indulge in whatever she wanted. Sitting in a dark booth with her brother and two grouchy guys was not her idea of having fun. Maya and Caden didn¡¯t count because they were making out.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry about Mindy being a pain in the ass.¡±, Alpha Maddox said to Damon to what thetter responded with a stiff nod.


    He didn¡¯t want to talk (or think) about Mindy. She was Alpha Maddox¡¯s sister, and that was it.


    Damon checked the time and wondered if it was too early to bolt out of the nightclub. Was Talia done with her girly activities? He really wanted to cuddle and to feel the delightful sparks while the sweet citrusy scent of freesia lulls him to sleep.


    It took Damon a minute to process that Maya was there. What about Talia? Did they finish their girl time and Maya came to the club? If that¡¯s the case, he can go back home right away.


    Damon didn¡¯t care about interrupting the lovebirds. He did that many times before.


    ¡°Are you done with your girl time thing?¡±, Damon asked Maya and when he saw the sparkle in her eyes, unease swelled in his chest.


    He knew that look. Maya was up to something. Something he probably won¡¯t like.


    Other than Stephanie, Maya was also suggesting that Talia leaves the packhouse; actually, Maya said that she will handle Talia¡¯s move to a different location.


    Damon told himself that Maya wouldn¡¯t stage a move for Talia in the middle of the night, but his intuition was telling him to be alert.


    ¡°We are not done. It¡¯s still ongoing. I came to check on my mate.¡±, Maya responded with a smile while tightening her hold on Caden.


    Damon¡¯s face darkened when he understood that Talia is nearby, in the club probably. Without Maya. With whom is Talia? On her own or with someone? He was not sure which one of those two was worse.


    ¡°Where is she?¡± Damon didn¡¯t say Talia¡¯s name because Maya obviously knew who the target of Damon¡¯s interest was.


    Maya stood up and walked to the metallic rail with Damon one step behind her.


    Damon followed Maya¡¯s sight and he spotted Talia at the bar.


    It was far away, but with his werewolf enhanced sight, Damon could clearly see Talia chatting andughing and she was beautiful. The clothes fit her well, showcasing her wless skin just enough to tease without exposing too much, and he wanted to see more. Much more.


    Talia¡¯s hair was straight, and Damon could feel its silkiness between his fingers because he caressed Talia¡¯s hair many times before (mostly while she was sleeping).


    After a moment of daze, Damon paid attention to Talia¡¯s surroundings and his mind exploded.


    Who the hell were those two guys!?


    Why were they so close to Talia?


    And what was Talia wearing? Why was she so exposed for everyone to see?


    Damon noticed that Talia was staring at Liam¡¯s arm that was covered in tattoos. He wondered, is Talia into tattoos? Maybe he should get a few.


    No, wait! What was he thinking? That¡¯s not important now! Who cares about tattoos when Talia stood up from the barstool and she was chummy with two guys that are NOT Damon?


    If he had any supernatural abilities, Damon would teleport right there, in front of Talia, and make both Pierce and Liam taste his fists.


    Where was Talia going?


    Why did she hook her arm with that dark-haired nobody (aka Pierce)?


    Damon¡¯s frown deepened and he didn¡¯t blink as Talia walked with Dawn, Zina, Pierce, and Liam into the dancing crowd. Of course, his mind filtered out Dawn and Zina, showing him only Talia with Pierce and Liam.


    Did that scrawny tattooed guy (aka Liam) put his arm around Talia¡¯s waist?


    WHAT THE FUCK!?


    Maya flinched when she heard the sound of metal creaking and she stepped away from Damon when she realized that the source of that sound was Damon gripping the rail.


    She swallowed a mouthful of air. Maybe making Damon jealous was not such a good idea.

 Chapter 88 The Shifters Nightclub (5)

    Talia was unaware at what point alcohol started clouding her mind and removing inhibitions.


    After three sweet cocktails, Talia was only slightly buzzed when she danced with Keith, but by the time she reached the dancefloor the second time, Talia was giggling uncontrobly.


    She could see the smiling faces of Dawn, Zina, Pierce, and Liam,ing in and out of focus among many others.


    The booze coursed through Talia¡¯s system, and there was loud music that shook her insides, and people danced, and the mood was good, and Talia raised her arms in the air and wiggled her hips and jumped like the rest of the crowd. Her legs were wobbly and she would fall down if not for her bumping into people around her.


    Maya told her that they will drink and dance to improve her mood and Talia did the drinking part. Now, it was time for dancing.


    Talia didn¡¯t want to think about Alpha Damon or Miss Mindy or any other Miss who is way above her. She didn¡¯t want to be reminded that she is undesirable. Talia also didn¡¯t want to think about her independence or anything other than letting loose and dancing until her legs give uppletely..


    Alcohol helped numb all of Talia¡¯s emotions and she was blissfully unaware of the gazes she attracted.


    A pair of strong handsnded on Talia¡¯s hips from behind, and after a few failed jumping attempts, Talia realized that someone is holding her in ce.


    Talia turned to face a tall, muscr guy with a head full of ck hair and her heart skipped a beat. But that was only for a moment because his eyes were not icy-blue, and his scent was off.


    ¡°I see you are having fun, and I thought of joining.¡±, the guy said to Talia, and the strong scent of alcohol sshed on her face. She had cocktails and beer, and this was the scent of hard liquor.


    Talia shook her head, trying to dispel the dizziness caused by her drunken condition and to focus on what¡¯s happening because no matter how drunk she was, this didn¡¯t feel right.


    She put her hands over his and tried to pry herself free, but he was much stronger. It was like trying to move a mountain with floppy hands.


    ¡°No, thank you. I¡¯m dancing with friends tonight.¡±, Talia said with a slur, thinking that will be enough to deter him.


    The guy looked above Talia¡¯s head. ¡°I see a lot of people dancing, and no one is bothered that I¡¯m here. You don¡¯t mind, do you, sweetheart?¡±


    Talia craned her neck to see behind her, and she couldn¡¯t see Liam, or Pierce, or Dawn, or Zina. Of course, the ce was packed, and people moved, unless they held each other, it was easy to separate. They could have been only two steps away, but other bodies blocked them from her visual range.


    And just as the guy said, no one was bothered that he was there, holding her in ce, and for some reason, he wanted to dance with her.


    Talia was unaware that Maya was observing the situation from the VVIP booth, and she mind-linked Dawn and Zina to pull Liam and Pierce away from Talia. She didn¡¯t want Talia¡¯s new friends to be crippled on the same day Talia befriended them.


    Talia squinted at the guy who was not willing to let her go, and she wondered, why would he want to dance with her? He was so much taller and wider, and Talia never saw herself as attractive, but she was very familiar with the sensation of being bullied.


    Talia put her hands against his hard chest and tried to push him away, only to get chuckles from him in response to her feeble attempts to break free.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think the girl is willing to be with you.¡±, a gruff voice full of malicious intent came from the side and Talia froze. Why did it sound so familiar? Is her imagination ying tricks on her?


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you mind your own business?¡±, the guy who was holding Talia asked angrily.


    ¡°She IS my business.¡±


    And the next thing Talia saw, was a fist flying only inches away from her head, straight into the nose of the guy who was holding her.


    Blood. A lot of it.


    Before she could react, a ck leather jacket fell over her face, and she lost the ground under her feet while screams andmotion around her melded with the loud music from the nightclub.


    Talia inhaled sharply, the scent of the forest and dark chocte from the jacket entered her system, and the swaying of her whole body told her that she was being carried through a noisy crowd, and then she cked out.


    A few minutes ago¡­


    Talia danced like she had no care in the world, and Damon¡¯s eyes were observing several guys who were watching her. She is a beauty.


    Even from afar, Damon could see that Talia was intoxicated. And she did it without him to protect her. Uneptable!


    Damon thought of letting things roll and to see what happens. Maybe Talia should experience being manhandled so that she knows not to put herself into these situations.


    But when he saw a guy actually putting his dirty hands on Talia, Damon couldn¡¯t stay on the side.


    He suppressed his Alpha aura because he didn¡¯t want to attract unwanted attention. There are too many eyes in this club, and he didn¡¯t need to make that guy submit because he can just punch some sense into him.


    Just as Damon guessed, the guy was drunk stupid, and he dared to ask, ¡°Why don¡¯t you mind your own business?¡±


    She is my mate, you asshole!


    The guy was not from the Dark Howlers pack, and it was obvious that he didn¡¯t recognize Damon.


    Damon punched him. That felt good. The guy stumbled backward, hitting people behind him, igniting a massive fight that swelled through the nightclub like a violent tidal wave with Damon at its center.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Damon swiftly wrapped Talia in his jacket, covering her face with determination to take her out of the club. Whatever girl party time she had going on, it was over.


    ¡®Caden, I¡¯m out for the night. Maya, I¡¯m taking Talia with me, she is piss-drunk.¡¯, Damon spoke into the mind-link angrily and Maya cringed, knowing that she will get a scolding tomorrow.


    Damon released a bit of his aura with an intention to keep others at bay, but that didn¡¯t produce the desired effect on intoxicated people who were itching for a fight.


    Without much space to maneuver and needing at least one hand to block iing stray limbs, Damon hoisted Talia over his shoulder, with her head falling against his back like a sack of potatoes.


    The moment he secured Talia on his shoulder, Damon saw a fisting his way.


    Damon grabbed the fist and applied pressure. Loud music covered the horrid vail of the unfortunate person who didn¡¯t see that he was aiming for the Devil himself, and Damon felt the vibrations of bones cracking before letting go of the guy. That will need a medic.


    Damon skillfully dodged and blocked hits that wereing his way and he even delivered a few punches before he reached the exit with unscathed Talia as a trophy.


    ¡­


    The moment the fresh breeze hit Damon¡¯s face, Talia started struggling.


    ¡°You bastard! Let me go!¡±, she shouted while wiggling her legs. Talia would probably punch or p him, but her upper body was wrapped in his jacket, blocking her sight and obstructing her movements.


    ¡°I told you I don¡¯t want to dance, and you kidnap me? Wait until Beta Maya finds out! Alpha Damon will break your legs!¡±


    Damon paused when he heard Talia¡¯s threat how he will break his own legs. Just how wasted was she?


    Damon was facing a dilemma. Letting her down was not an option because a lot of people were watching. He was not ready for others to see the face of the girl he was carrying, not before they talk it out and he exins how important she is, and he needed to be certain that she won¡¯t run away.


    But Talia was squirming, and if he tightens his hold, he might hurt her, yet if he doesn¡¯t, she will fall.


    He got an idea.


    ¡®SMACK!¡¯


    Damon pped Talia¡¯s butt and she let out a soft cry before going limp again.


    He spanked her as a warning to stop wiggling, and he didn¡¯t think she will pass out.


    Damon panicked. Did he hit her too hard?


    Damon dashed toward his SUV and put her in the front passenger¡¯s seat with haste before removing the jacket just enough to check on her. He released the breath he was holding when he confirmed that her breathing was steady.


    He lowered the seat and strapped her in without unwrapping her from his jacket.


    Damon started the car and reached for her hand, the delightful sparks eased up his raging emotions a bit and then he drove toward the packhouse.


    Only when they were away from the Shifters nightclub, Damon loosened up the jacket to reveal Talia¡¯s sleeping facepletely.


    He shook his head in disapproval. What if this was not him but that other guy?


    Damon cursed under his breath.


    She was so beautiful and helpless, and he had an urge to go back to the nightclub and beat some more that scoundrel who dared to put his hands on Talia. While at it, he would find those two guys who were sticking to Talia at the bar and use their bodies as punchbags to let out some steam.


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on:


    mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 89 How Special Is She? [Bonus]

    When they reached the packhouse, Damon could see that Talia was still out, and she didn¡¯t react when he turned off the engine, or when he nudged her a little while calling her name, or when he carried her upstairs princess style.


    He was determined to scold her for her irresponsible behavior. What would happen if he didn¡¯t interfere? Why can¡¯t she be more careful? What was she thinking?


    Doesn¡¯t she know how adorable andpletely defenseless she is?


    But just as he reached the third floor of the packhouse Talia snuggled close to him and nuzzled his neck with her nose as she released a soft moan that shook his insides. To make things worse, Talia¡¯s warm breath slipped into his shirt, making him tingly all over, and the pressure in his groin area increased.


    He forgot what he was nning to do.


    ¡°Damn it!¡±, Damon cursed under his breath. He was supposed to be angry and not horny.


    Talia had him wrapped around her little finger and she didn¡¯t know it. Silly girl..


    Damon stood in the hallway while facing a dilemma, Talia¡¯s room or his?


    It should be his, but considering Talia¡¯s state, he didn¡¯t want to add to her confusion in the morning, so he took the door on his left, into Talia¡¯s room.


    Damon ced Talia on the bed, and he hovered above her while contemting if he should change her clothes into something more sleep-appropriate. But what if she wakes up halfway and thinks that he is a creep, about to molest her?


    He didn¡¯t know what to do about Talia¡¯s clothes, but he decided to change into something morefortable before joining her in bed.


    No matter how wasted Talia was, Damon was determined to get his cuddles. After seeing her too close to some other guys, Damon neededforting.


    Damon was about to move when he felt Talia holding onto his hand and he froze while looking at her sleepy face questionably.


    ¡°Don¡¯t leave me, Damon¡­¡±, she whimpered, her voice barely above a whisper, but he heard her clearly.


    In the next moment, Damon was in the bed, cradling Talia in his arms.


    Was her request for tonight, or for forever? At that moment, it didn¡¯t matter as his forearms rested against the skin of her exposed lower back, charging him with an extra dose of delightful sparks, and she snuggled closer to him, her little hand holding onto his shoulder.


    ¡°I won¡¯t leave, Talia. I will never leave you¡­¡±, he murmured, and he meant every word he said.


    Damon feared that Talia will leave him, but it seemed that she had the same concerns, and that should be a good thing.


    Damon was aware that Talia was drunk, and she won¡¯t remember saying those words in the morning, but he will remember them, and he was confident that this was a move in the right direction because now he knew that she needed him at least a little bit.


    Talia rxed against Damon, and her arm moved from his shoulder to his waist, and then she snored softly.


    Damon looked at the beautiful woman in his arms, sleeping peacefully, absolutely unaware of the mind-shattering effect she has on him.


    Talia¡¯s sweet citrusy scent of freesia made him dizzy, and his nerves tingled from amazing sparks of the mate bond, and he buried his face in her hair, taking deep breaths while enjoying Talia¡¯s proximity and he wished that they could stay like that forever.


    ¡­


    It was dawn when Keith got out of his room and he followed the scent of breakfast into the kitchen. Eggs, bacon, coffee.


    ¡°When will that be done?¡±, he asked Katya who was flipping pancakes.


    ¡°By the time you get yourself a coffee, it will be ready.¡±, Katya responded.


    ¡°Coffee or milk for you?¡±, Keith asked, confirming if she ns to sleep or stay awake.


    Normally, Katya works at night and sleeps during the day, and they see each other in the morning and evening. But today is the festival, so she might stay up longer.


    ¡°I will have milk only. Afterst night, I need some sleep. I will join the events by the time you give out trophies.¡±, Katya responded. ¡°Pour coffee for Oscar also. He is in the shower.¡±


    Keith hummed and grabbed three cups.


    After finishing college, Keith returned to the pack and he wanted to stay in an apartment, but then Katya offered him a bedroom in a two-story home where Katya is living with her mate, Oscar.


    Keith agreed and he moved into the spare guest bedroom on the first floor. Keith doesn¡¯t need more than a bedroom with a bathroom because he usually spends his days in the gym, or in the Shifters nightclub. Hees home only to sleep and change clothes, and even that he sometimes does in his office in the training center.


    By staying in his sister¡¯s house, Keith gets to eat her cooking. If he is on his own, Keith would probably live off gran bars and protein shakes.


    ¡°What happenedst night?¡±, Keith asked before taking a bite of toast.


    Katya groaned. ¡°There was a huge fight. Every time we have other packs visiting there is a scuffle or two, but this time, the whole club was swept away. We had ambnces from the packhouse hospital and from the human hospital. Luckily, Alpha Maddox and Axel were there to calm their people. Beta Caden called several of our patrols to help out, and that¡¯s why Oscar is up already. We returned together from the Shifters after cleaning up the mess.¡±


    Keith understood that the situation was bad because normally the bouncers from the Shifters are enough to settle down rowdy patrons, and there is no need to call warriors.


    While thinking about a violent fight in the nightclub, Keith became restless. ¡°Do you know if Talia was there?¡±


    Katya grinned. ¡°You are worried about her, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    He didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°So?¡±


    ¡°You like her. And I mean liiiiikeeee her.¡±, Katya said in a singing voice.


    Keith rolled his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s not like that. Her wolf is hurt, and she doesn¡¯t have the¡­¡± His voice trailed when he noticed Katya grinning at him.


    ¡°Did she invoke your protective side?¡±


    ¡°Are you saying that it¡¯s wrong for me to worry about someone?¡±


    Katya shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s not what I said. But I saw youst night. You were trying to impress her. You made a drink especially for her, you danced like a true gentleman, and there was a silly grin on your face while she didn¡¯t seem to be lovestruck. With all the girls swooning over my lovely baby brother, there is no need for you to put an effort to get yourself a hookup. There were several dozens of she-wolves who would apany you for the night without questions asked, yet you left on your own. How special is she?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not like that Kat. She is a nice girl. That¡¯s all to it.¡± Keith narrowed his eyes at Katya who looked at him mockingly, obviously not believing what he said. He decided to change his tactic. ¡°You never meddled in my life, Kat. I¡¯m here for the food, but if you turn into a nosy older sister, I will move out and live on my own.¡±


    Seeing that Katya pressed her lips into a line, Keith knew that she got his message: it was none of her business why he made a drink for Talia, and why he talked and danced with her without trying to pick her up for the night. Besides, even if he wanted to make a move, he knew that Talia was not a girl like that, which is unusual for werewolves, but he interacted with many humans during his college days and he is familiar with those naive eyes that don¡¯t see iting.


    Talia was abused, but she was not broken. Her innocence was still there and he found it refreshing.


    Keith felt like protecting Talia, and not taking her to bed. But Katya will probably not get that. Actually, even he didn¡¯t get it because he ssifies women in his life as clients, bed warmers, or non-important, and Talia didn¡¯t fit into any of those categories.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t answer my question.¡±, Keith reminded Katya. ¡°Was Talia hurtst night?¡±


    ¡°She was not in the pile of injured and passed out people, so she either left before the fight started, or she was well enough to leave on her own before Doctor Travis started taking a headcount.¡±


    Keith rxed and put a forkful of eggs into his mouth. He had a number of things that needed to deal with before the games start, and he wondered when Talia wille. She said that she wille in the morning to watch games, and they have lunch ns and exercise in the afternoon, and after that, he will take Talia to the fair and win her a stuffed toy.


    Keith didn¡¯t want Katya to find out about his ns for the day because she will get more ideas about him and Talia.


    She is a nice girl, and there is nothing more to it. Right?

 Chapter 90 Post-party Aches

    In the packhouse¡­


    Talia woke up with a muffled groan. Her head felt like it¡¯s about to pop, thanks to the fierce hangover she earned after herst night¡¯s partying.


    She opened her eyes with difficulty and squinted at the blinding sunlight that intensified her headache.


    Talia ced her hand over her eyes and took a deep breath that filled her system with the scent of the forest and dark chocte.


    Talia looked around to confirm that she was in her room, in her bed, alone. But Damon¡¯s scent filled the bedsheets and the pillows, its concentration telling her that he was there for a while and that he left recently.


    She checked herself only to see that she was wearing a silvery top and ck leather pants. Ah, right¡­ Maya gave her a makeover and they went to the Shifters nightclub.


    Wait! How did she find herself here?


    Talia remembered cocktails, and Katya, Keith, beer, Pierce, Liam, and Dawn and Zina were there, and her legs were wobbly and¡­ Oh, God! Was she dancing? But what happened after that?


    For the next few minutes, Talia was focusing mightily while trying to remember how she reached the packhouse, but there was a gap in her memory, and she hoped that she didn¡¯t embarrass herself.


    The only logical conclusion was that Talia drank too much (fact), and that Maya brought her back (false), and that Damon sneaked into her roomter (almost true).


    Talia didn¡¯t understand one thing¡­ why would Alpha Damone to her room if he had Miss Mindy to give himpany?


    Images of Damoning into the nightclub with Mindy shed in Talia¡¯s mind and this time they were so close that Mindy was almost leaning on Damon before they entered that wretched dark booth which is obviously for only important people¡­ people like Alpha Damon and Miss Mindy and not the ones like Talia.


    At the mental image of Mindy sticking to Damon, Talia¡¯s heart ached, and when she thought that Damon brought Mindy to his room, Talia felt nauseated.


    She decided to focus on something else. There was no point in thinking about Alpha Damon and his women because Talia will leave the packhouse soon and all this will be behind her.


    She would talk to Stephanie and Maya about moving right away, but today was Summer Solstice, everyone was busy, and even Talia had ns. Lots of them. But before all that, Talia needed to help Stephanie with breakfast preparations. While at it, Talia will also eat and maybe pack some food to bring along to the festival because she has no money and Talia nned to spend her whole day there.


    Talia nced at the time and frowned in displeasure because it was time to get ready or she will bete to help with breakfast preparation.


    ¡°Oww¡­¡±, Talia cried softly while scooting out of the bed with an intention to start her day with a shower.


    Every muscle in her body ached and she remembered that yesterday she exercised, so that would exin the pain, but why did her butt ache the most? What the heck happenedst night? Did she fall on her behind?


    ¡­


    While Talia was getting ready for the day, Damon was in his office with Alpha Maddox.


    Damon really wanted to wait for Talia to wake up so that they can talk aboutst night.


    It was obvious that Talia can¡¯t stay locked in the room and that he can¡¯t stick to her all the time, especially when he has these extra duties, so Damon thought ofing up with some rules that will keep her safe and give him a piece of mind.


    What kind of rules?


    Rule number 1: Talia can¡¯t drink unless Damon is present. That rule is non-negotiable.


    Rule number 2: Guys (other than Damon) can¡¯t get into the touching distance with Talia, unless it¡¯s for a handshake. Another non-negotiable rule.


    That¡¯s as far Damon got with his rules when Caden mind-linked him that Alpha Maddox wants to talk to him urgently.


    ¡®We can talk during breakfast.¡¯, Damon grumbled. He didn¡¯t want to leave the bed.


    ¡®It needs to be in private.¡¯, Caden responded.


    ¡®Fine. Then, we will talk after breakfast.¡¯


    ¡®Alpha Maddox said that it¡¯s urgent, and that means as soon as possible¡­¡¯


    Damon was not willing. He really wanted to stay longer and cuddle.


    Talia was sleeping and clinging onto him and even though he was aroused, and he knew that if he doesn¡¯t help himself, his balls will ache, he still enjoyed Talia¡¯s proximity profusely.


    To make up for theck of physical intimacy, Damon would daydream about Talia, their first kiss, first intimate touch, first orgasm¡­ there were so many firsts to n for.


    But instead of enjoying his morning of cuddles before the hectic day, Damon had to get out of bed, away from Talia, so that he can talk to Alpha Maddox. He didn¡¯t like it, not even a little bit.


    However, Damon is Alpha first and guests will leave within a day or two, and they had a number of other guestsing that morning and visiting through the day, and Damon knew that his personal matters will need to take the back seat, for today.


    Back to the present¡­


    ¡°You wanted to talk about something?¡±, Damon asked Maddox.


    Maddox hummed in confirmation. ¡°We know each other for a long time, so I will skip the intro and go straight to the point. I saw what you didst night in the Shifters nightclub.¡±


    Damon knew what Maddox was talking about, but he still asked, ¡°What did you see?¡±


    ¡°I saw you starting a fight and carrying a girl outside of the club. The same girl that brought us snacks and served dinnerst night. Your Beta Maya said that the girl¡¯s name is Talia.¡±


    Damon told himself to y it cool. ¡°Is that the reason why you dragged me out of the bed?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Why are you interested in my private life?¡±


    Maddox shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not me, Damon. It¡¯s Alpha of the Steelbite pack.¡±


    Damon didn¡¯t get it. How was Cassie¡¯s father involved in this? ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Alpha Richard is seeking information rted to the Omega that is seen in your packhouse and fits Talia¡¯s description. Considering that you don¡¯t have hundreds of Omegas milling through your packhouse, it¡¯s safe to assume he is interested in Talia.¡±


    Damon had a bad feeling about this. ¡°What does he want?¡±


    Maddox didn¡¯t know the details because Alpha Richard didn¡¯t disclose much. ¡°The word is that he will pay for any information, and he also said that the girl is important to you.¡±


    Damon pinched the roof of his nose. THIS is why he wanted to hide Talia, yet based on a few hints, they assembled the puzzle which put a target on Talia¡¯s back. If he knew it wille to this, instead of chasing Cassie away, Damon would put her in the dungeon and keep her there until she forgets about Talia and him.


    Damon decided to share some information with Maddox.


    ¡°I ignored Cassie¡¯s obnoxious behavior, but Cassie crossed the line when she pped Talia during one of her tantrums. I kicked Cassie out and told her that she can¡¯te without an invitation. Cassie can¡¯t do anything to me, so they are trying to find someone else for Cassie to vent her anger.¡±


    Maddox chuckled. ¡°You kicked out Cassie because she pped Talia. I have nothing against punishing Cassie, she needs to be pulled down by a few notches, but your behavior fromst night showed that Talia is more than just an Omega.¡±


    Actually, Alpha Maddox knew that Talia was not an Omega. She was not submissive. Talia lowered her head consciously, Omegas do it on an instinct.


    Damon didn¡¯t want to say that Talia is his mate. She should know that first and he didn¡¯t want to risk someone else telling her.


    But there were things he could share with Maddox.


    ¡°When I found her, Talia was covered in injuries and starving. Currently, Talia is staying in the packhouse, and we are working with a doctor on her nutrition and exercise regimen while keeping track of her physical and mental health. I don¡¯t limit Talia from doing what she wants, butst night she drank too much, and I took her home.¡±


    Maddox listened with a solemn expression. ¡°That ismendable. However, you kicked out Cassie after she confronted Talia, and now Talia is on the list of people associated with you. A victim of abuse needs a stable and supportive environment in order to bounce back. It¡¯s not a secret what Cassie was doing here and that you are facing challenges that go beyond women who are fighting to be your Luna.¡±Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Damon didn¡¯t like where this was going. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s best if I take Talia to the Blue River pack. You know what we have there. For girls like Talia¡­¡±


    ¡°No!¡±, Damon snapped.


    What was this nonsense about Talia going to a different pack?


    Maddox didn¡¯t want to argue. ¡°As I said, your efforts aremendable, but I believe that you can think about this rationally and give Talia the best chance to bounce back. She is young and it¡¯s not toote for her to be a functioning member of society, but she won¡¯t reach there if she is forced to share space with women like Cassie.¡±


    Damon rubbed his forehead forcibly. ¡°Cassie is banned froming here.¡±


    ¡°Are you going to ban every woman who treats Talia harshly?¡±


    ¡°If needed, yes!¡±


    Maddox lifted his hands in surrender. ¡°Alright. I see that you need some time to think about it. Until you decide what to do with Talia, I suggest that you stay away from her.¡±


    ¡°What!? Why?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not the only one who got a message from Alpha Richard. There will be many people at that festival looking for a small and skinny girl with copper-colored hair who is regr in your packhouse and close to you. The more people believe that Talia is important to you, their interest in her will increase¡­¡±


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on:


    mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 91 Private Talk With Axel

    Talia came down the stairs, her legs filled with piercing aches with her every move.


    Talia wished to stay in bed, but she had toe down because she needed to help with breakfast and there was no way she would allow this to prevent her from seeing the festival.


    ¡°Miss Talia¡­¡±, a deep voice called the moment Talia reached the hallway on the main floor and Talia saw Axel looking at her.


    ¡°I saw youst night, and I took the liberty of asking for your name from Beta Maya even though I didn¡¯t get a chance to introduce myself. My name is Axel, and I am visiting from the Midnight Guardians pack. May I have a word with you?¡±


    Talia blinked. This was Axel, the future Alpha of the mysterious Midnight Guardians pack. Talia knew that because Dawn couldn¡¯t stop talking about him and Dawn said that he barely spared her a nce no matter how much she tried to get close to him while setting the dishes on the tablest night, yet here he was, asking Talia for a chat, and he called her ¡®Miss Talia¡¯, like she is someone important. Talia liked that.


    Talia nced left and right to confirm if there is anyone else in sight, but there was none.. Just the two of them. ¡°How can I help you?¡±


    ¡°In private, please.¡±


    Talia blinked. Private? Other than her room (or his), Talia didn¡¯t know about any other private ce, and being alone in the room with a stranger didn¡¯t seem appropriate. ¡°How about the garden?¡±


    Axel nodded in agreement, and he smiled a little. ¡°Lead the way, Miss Talia.¡±


    There it was, the ¡®Miss Talia¡¯ again.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡±, Axel asked when they stepped into the garden.


    She looked at him questionably and he exined, ¡°The way you move, it¡¯s differentpared tost night. Did you get hurt?¡±


    Talia was embarrassed to disclose that her body feels like she is about to fall apart after half an hour of exercising. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡±


    She stopped walking and nced around. ¡°I believe this is private enough.¡± They were not really far from the packhouse, but she didn¡¯t want to go too far away because she had no idea why would someone like Axel want privacy with her.


    Axel saw that Talia was ufortable and he gestured to the nearby bench. ¡°How about we sit?¡±


    Talia weed the sitting offer because her legs were killing her. If Axel didn¡¯t stop her in the hallway, by now she would be in the kitchen, preferably seated and helping with breakfast preparations.


    They sat on the bench, facing each other and the silence stretched between them.


    After some time, Talia cleared her throat. ¡°I don¡¯t want to appear rude, but I need to head to the kitchen in order to prepare breakfast so¡­¡±


    Axel understood her point. He knew what he wanted to say, but he was trying to find the right words so that he doesn¡¯t appear like a creep.


    Eventually, he spoke, ¡°Miss Talia, what can you tell me about yourself?¡±


    Talia paused. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Are you born in the Dark Howlers pack? What about your parents?¡±


    Talia swallowed hard. Why was he asking about her background? Is Axel asking on behalf of Marcy and Alpha Edward? Was she in trouble? Did she bring trouble for Alpha Damon?


    She told herself to calm down. Maya prepared the coverup story and if Talia just blurts out the truth, she will probably mess it up big time.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know who my parents are. I grew up with my grandparents up in the North, and after they passed I headed South with the hope to find a pack to settle. I have no idea how long I was wandering but I bumped into Beta Maya and Beta Caden, and they offered me toe here.¡±


    ¡°How old were you at that time?¡±


    ¡°That happened about two weeks ago.¡±, Talia admitted. Ten days ago, to be precise.


    ¡°Your grandparents didn¡¯t speak about your parents?¡±


    Talia¡¯s mind worked a million thoughts a second. ¡°My parents were killed by rogues when I was a baby. They were together for less than a year before they perished, so there was not much to tell.¡±


    Axel could see that Talia was notfortable. ¡°I apologize for asking personal questions.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not a problem. It happened a long time ago.¡± This part was the truth. A long time ago Talia epted that she doesn¡¯t have parents or a loving family. She was anxious about another thing¡­ ¡°Why are you curious about my background?¡±


    ¡°When I saw youst night, you reminded me of someone.¡±, Axel responded right away. ¡°Let me ask you one more question. Are you happy here?¡±


    Talia opened her mouth to respond, but a low voice came from behind her, ¡°Are you trying to poach my people, Axel?¡±


    Talia whipped her head in the direction of the neer, and she saw Damon walking toward them while his re didn¡¯t leave Axel. It was obvious that Damon was angry.


    Damon ended his talk with Alpha Maddox and then Maddox stood by the window and said, ¡°It seems that your girl is attracting attention¡­¡± And that¡¯s how Damon saw Axel and Talia sitting on the bench in the garden, and Damon hurried to see what the heck was going on.


    Damon reached in time to hear Axel¡¯s cheesy line how Talia reminds him of someone and asking Talia if she is happy. What was that supposed to mean? Was he trying to pick her up? Isn¡¯t Axel supposed to live as a celibate until he finds his mate? And Talia was obviously NOT Axel¡¯s mate because each person can have only one mate and even if Talia can¡¯t feel who her mate is, her mate is Damon! What was Axel trying to do?


    Axel smirked. ¡°I was only asking thedy if she is happy here.¡±


    Talia sucked in a sharp breath. First, ¡®Miss Talia¡¯, and now, dy¡¯.


    Why would Axel, the future Alpha, treat her with such respect? Maybe that was normal for him, but for Talia it was new, and she liked it. After a second of soaking in this new way of addressing her, Talia became cautious. What if Axel is nice because he wants to trick her?


    By now, Damon was standing next to Talia.


    ¡°Is she happy? Of course, she is happy.¡±, Damon grumbled while pulling Talia to stand up from the bench and pushing her roughly to stand behind him.


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t look happy to me.¡±, Axel said.


    Damon¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°What does that mean?¡±


    ¡°She is obviously hurt.¡±


    Damon turned to look at Talia. ¡°You are hurt?¡±


    Talia was quick to deny it. ¡°No, no. I¡¯m not.¡± Why was Axel getting her in trouble with this Devil?


    ¡°Talia is so scared of you that she won¡¯t say it openly.¡±, Axel said. ¡°Last night she was fine, yet today she is barely walking.¡±


    Damon¡¯s face fell. How he saw it, there was only one reason why she would be hurt so bad that she can¡¯t walk properly.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry Talia. I didn¡¯t mean to spank you that hard.¡±


    Talia¡¯s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets from shock. Did she hear him right?


    ¡°I know it¡¯s none of my business what you do in the bedroom, but you can¡¯t be so rough with your women.¡±, Axel said, and his grimace showed how disgusted he was with Damon¡¯s behavior.


    ¡°I¡¯m not his woman!¡±, Talia squeaked. If Miss Mindy or someone else heard this, Talia was sure that her head would be detached from the rest of her body, soon.


    Damon red at Axel. ¡°It¡¯s not what you think.¡±


    ¡°And what am I thinking?¡±


    Damon wanted to say how it was none of Axel¡¯s business, and even if Axel¡¯s insinuation was correct, it wouldn¡¯t be a big deal because werewolves talk about sex openly. But Axel was different and he was making it sound like Damon was using Talia for some twisted activities, so Damon had to exin. ¡°I was carrying Talia, and she was moving too much. I spanked her so that she stops squirming.¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you keep her down or ask her to stop moving?¡±


    ¡°I was in a hurry.¡±, Damon said.


    ¡°And when you are in a hurry, you hit women?¡±


    Damon¡¯s irritation swelled. ¡°Don¡¯t twist my words. That¡¯s not what I said.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly what you said¡­¡±


    Talia listened to this bickering with her mouth half-open. Howe she doesn¡¯t remember any of it? Was Damon making this up? Or did he spank her¡­ Wait! That would exin her butt-ache.


    Talia inhaled forcibly. ¡°Please, can you stop talking about it?¡±


    Both Damon and Axel turned to look at her and she continued, ¡°I am fine. Can you just forget about this? I need to go and prepare breakfast.¡±


    Talia took a step back and in a moment, Axel was next to her, holding her hand in his.


    ¡°Miss Talia, please, don¡¯t make life-changing decisions rashly. I want you to know that you have options. You can always find a refuge in the Midnight Guardians pack.¡± Axel paused and reached for the pocket of his pants before handing her a business card. ¡°Here is my personal number.¡±Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Damon saw red. He shoved Axel away from Talia before standing between the duo with Talia behind him.


    ¡°Axel, you are here as a guest. How dare you suggest that Talia leaves me when I¡¯m right here?¡±


    ¡°Would you rather I do it behind your back?¡±, Axel asked without flinching under Damon¡¯s pressure. ¡°How I see it, Miss Talia is not having an easy time here. Unlike you, I¡¯m not trying to force her into anything. I don¡¯t think that ady like her should settle with belief that this is as good as it gets. If you want her to stay with you, you should treat her well.¡±


    Talia¡¯s mind was spinning. She didn¡¯t understand what was going on, but she had an urgency to leave. ¡°I¡¯m going to the kitchen.¡±


    ¡°Miss Talia!¡±, Axel called after her. ¡°Call me anytime. We can stay in touch even if you are happy here¡­¡±


    Talia gritted her teeth to suppress the ache in her legs while speeding up toward the kitchen. What the hell was going on?

 Chapter 92 Obstacles Before The Festival [Bonus]

    Talia reached the kitchen that was already bustling with activity. Stephanie, Zina, and Dawn were working in full swing, and based on the mess, Talia could see that they started a while ago. Talia felt guilty foringte.


    To her surprise, no one scolded her.


    ¡°Oho! I was not sure if you will make it!¡±, Dawn eximed excitedly, and Talia frowned at the loudness of Dawn¡¯s voice.


    ¡°Looks like hangover¡­¡±, Zina said and pushed a small packet with pills in Talia¡¯s hand. ¡°This will help. Take two right away and in fifteen minutes the headache will subside.¡±


    Without a word, Talia opened the packet and Dawn was already handing her a ss of water with advice, ¡°It¡¯s important to stay hydrated.¡±


    Talia gulped the pills and then thanked Zina and Dawn while Stephanie was ushering them to continue with their breakfast-preparing activities..


    Zina was chopping vegetables that will be ingredients for quiche, and Dawn was working on molds made out of pastry for the same dish.


    Talia got the task to prepare the mixture for waffles.


    ¡°We are expecting eleven people for breakfast.¡±, Stephanie said to Talia so that she can make enough waffles for everyone. ¡°Including the four of us, make that fifteen, and count that each will eat at least two pieces.¡±


    Talia confirmed. ¡°Got it. There will be no less than thirty waffles.¡±


    After reading the instructions on the box with powdered waffle mixture, Talia went to fetch the milk, and she asked Zina, ¡°How did you know I will need hangover medicine?¡±


    ¡°Beta Maya told us that was your first time getting wasted, so I guessed that you won¡¯t be prepared.¡±, Zina responded.


    ¡°She told you that?¡± Talia was not sure how she felt about Maya advertising Talia¡¯sck of experience.


    Dawn responded. ¡°Don¡¯t me her. We insisted to confirm you are fine. After we lost you in the mess in the nightclub, we were worried.¡±


    Talia was confused. She still didn¡¯t process the information she received in the garden, but it seems there was more. ¡°You lost me in the mess? What mess?¡±


    Dawn and Zina took turns narrating the massive fight that happened in the Shifters nightclub. Of course, per Maya¡¯s instructions, they omitted the part that they stepped away with Pierce and Liam when Maya mind-linked them, and because of that neither Dawn nor Zina saw Damon approaching Talia (and starting the fight).


    ¡°You really don¡¯t remember?¡±, Zina asked suspiciously.


    Talia shrugged. ¡°I really don¡¯t. I remember dancing with Keith and then you guys showed up, and the next thing I know, it was morning. Other than the headache, my every muscle hurts, but I have no regrets. It was fun and the pain is the proof thatst night happened.¡±


    Dawn grinned. ¡°Dancing with Keith. No wonder you are in pain.¡±


    Talia didn¡¯t get it. ¡°What?¡±


    Zina leaned over the kitchen ind like she is about to tell a secret to Talia, but she didn¡¯t lower her voice, ¡°Everyone knows that Keith is our expert trainer. He can move and stretch your every muscle. And I mean EVERY muscle, even the ones you never knew you had.¡±


    Dawn giggled. ¡°That exins why Talia is achy all over. After a night with Keith, that¡¯s normal.¡±


    Talia understood that Zina and Dawn implied how she slept with Keith, and her face exploded in fierce blush. ¡°I didn¡¯t spend the night with Keith. My ache is because yesterday he put me on a machine for running and I strained myself.¡±


    Dawn and Zina wiggled their eyebrows and Talia realized that her words came out wrong. Actually, they were not wrong, but Dawn and Zina definitely interpreted it differently.


    ¡°Look at that flustered expression. Isn¡¯t it cute?¡±, Dawn teased.


    ¡°Whatever you say, Talia, we will believe you.¡±, Zina chimed in with a stifledugh.


    Talia was exasperated. No matter what she said, those two were twisting it.


    ¡°Girls, really, nothing happened between me and¡­¡±, her words trailed when she saw Damon standing at the door, his grim appearance was like an omen that death is approaching.


    Unfortunately, Zina and Dawn were facing Talia and they didn¡¯t see Damon behind them.


    ¡°Sure, sure¡­¡±, Dawn said teasingly. ¡°I believe you, Talia, when you say that nothing happened between you and one of the most desirable bachelors.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t deny it, girl.¡±, Zina said matter-of-factly. ¡°There is no shame in having a healthy sexual life!¡±


    The temperature in the kitchen fell down significantly, giving Talia shivers and she felt an urge to flee but her legs refused to budge.


    What the hell were those two bbermouths saying? And why did Damon¡¯s expression turn even worse?


    ¡°Talia¡­¡±, Damon¡¯s low voice made everyone freeze. ¡°I want you in my office. Now.¡±


    Talia felt like crying. Is he going to kick her out of the packhouse? She was nning to move out, but not today. Well, maybe that¡¯s for the best. But he was definitely angry, and she didn¡¯t think that going to his office will bring anything good.


    Talia looked at the waffle maker like it¡¯s her lifeline. ¡°But I am¡­¡±


    ¡°Now!¡±, Damon cut her off.


    Stephanie let out a long breath. Damon was not in a good mood and Dawn and Zina were practically non-responsive under his Alpha pressure. Actually, even Stephanie had to exert quite some willpower not to bow her head in submission which told her that it¡¯s serious.


    ¡°Go and see what Alpha wants.¡±, Stephanie told Talia. ¡°He doesn¡¯t like to be kept waiting. I will continue with waffles.¡±


    Talia cursed her bad luck. The day started with hangover and aches, and then it turned confusing with Axel, and talk about spanking, and now this. Talia only wanted to grab some food and go to the festival, but she needed first to cross the obstacle called grumpy Alpha Damon.


    Will he spank her again? Or maybe it¡¯s not ¡®again¡¯ because she doesn¡¯t remember the first time.


    Reluctantly, Talia moved toward the door and walked to the study with Damon one step behind her.


    The only good thing in this situation was that the hangover medicine Zina gave Talia started working, so her body stopped aching.


    ¡­


    Talia entered the study and she jolted when the door closed behind her with a bang.


    All air left her lungs when Damon hugged her from behind. She didn¡¯t dare to move while his nose moved over the skin of her neck.


    Damon heard Dawn and Zina in the kitchen insinuating that Talia was rolling in the sheets with someone, and as much as he hated what he heard, Damon knew that it¡¯s just girls gossiping because she was spending her nights with him, and Damon was actually upset because of what happened in the garden.


    ¡°Talia¡­¡±, he murmured. ¡°You promised you won¡¯t leave me.¡±


    Talia felt the heat of Damon¡¯s body warming her back and her urge to lean on him caught her by surprise. Why are her self-destructive tendencies resurfacing whenever Damon gets close?


    ¡°I did. As long as you need me, I won¡¯t leave.¡±, Talia reminded him of that use. Words were not enough, and his actions were pointing to the possibility that he doesn¡¯t need her anymore because he has Miss Mindy.


    ¡°Ah!¡±, Talia cried when Damon scooped her in his arms and carried her like she weighs nothing.


    Damon sat on the sofa and ced Talia in hisp, his arms holding her against him firmly and he buried his face in her neck.


    ¡°I need you, Talia. You can¡¯t leave me.¡±


    Talia¡¯s insides jolted and she had goosebumps all over when his lips moved over her skin.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go with Axel.¡±, he murmured. ¡°I promise to make you happy, so you will never think of leaving me.¡±


    Ah, the clingy Damon is here. Talia put her arms around him and gently patted his back tofort him.


    She really had no intention of heading to a mysterious pack with an unknown guy. Ten days ago, Talia took a gamble of leaving with a stranger and she was still not sure if epting Damon¡¯s offer toe to the Dark Howlers pack was a good or a bad move, but she knew that she couldn¡¯t go through another round of stress.


    ¡°I won¡¯t go with Axel.¡±


    Damon lifted his head to look into Talia¡¯s face and he smiled a little, obviously pleased with her response. ¡°What did Axel want?¡±Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°He asked about my background.¡±


    Damon was alerted. ¡°What did you say?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡±, Talia said immediately. ¡°Maya told me what to say if anyone asks those questions. I won¡¯t put you or your pack in trouble.¡±


    Damon¡¯s heart cracked at her choice of words. ¡°OUR pack, Talia. Don¡¯t treat me like a stranger.¡±


    Talia realized that she spoke without thinking. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I guess I need more time to¡­¡±


    ¡°Shh¡­¡±, Damon shushed her. ¡°It¡¯s OK. I won¡¯t rush you into anything.¡±


    He cradled her cheek with his palm. ¡°I look forward to the time when you treat this ce as your home.¡±


    Somehow, Talia suspected he was talking about more than just the pack.


    Damon looked into Talia¡¯s inviting lips, and he really wanted to kiss her there, but he knew that this was not the time, and it will be counterproductive.


    He leaned his forehead on Talia¡¯s and took a deep breath while Maddox¡¯s warning echoed in his mind.


    Damon wondered how to spend the day away from the girl in his arms while keeping his cool. Was that even possible?


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on:


    mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 93 On The Way To The Festival

    Damon cradled in his arms Talia who was sitting in hisp, and for the first time in his life, he had no idea how to deal with the day that was ahead of him.


    The guests were in the packhouse, and more were on their way, and he had responsibilities and many eyes were on him, yet the only thing he wanted was to curl up with Talia and not leave the study. Or maybe they could get into his car and drive away, somewhere far, where no one will recognize them. That will work also.


    Leaving or not showing up would be irresponsible. His pack members are expecting him to be there, after all, this is one of the biggest celebrations his pack is hosting. And his allies will want to see him, and his enemies are watching also. Damn it!


    He had an option to take Talia with him, but it wouldn¡¯t be fair to put her on a spot like that without an exnation and he feared that if he tells her what it means to stay by his side in public, she will run away.


    ¡®What am I supposed to do?¡¯, Damon asked his wolf.


    ¡®No matter what you decide on, there will be a price to pay..¡¯


    Damon looked into Talia¡¯s honeyed eyes that were unspoiled and he decided. No matter what, he was not willing to gamble with Talia¡¯s safety.


    ¡°Talia, just how you need time, I want you to be patient with me.¡±


    She didn¡¯t understand. It was totally out of context. ¡°Patient?¡±


    ¡°There are things I need to tell you. Important things. It¡¯s a long story, and I regret that I can¡¯t spend this day with you, but I hope you will be able to have fun. What I¡¯m trying to say is, don¡¯t leave with Axel or with anyone else until you hear me out, but the timing is not right so¡­¡± He licked his lips nervously. ¡°Give me time, OK?¡±


    Talia had no idea what he wanted to talk about, and she told herself not to overthink it because Damon suffered from severe mood swings and there was a high probability that the timing will never be right. By noon (if not sooner), he will forget that they had this conversation.


    ¡°OK. When you want to talk, you know where to find me.¡±


    Damon hummed in approval and buried his face into Talia¡¯s neck, inhaling her sweet citrusy scent of freesia while relishing the delightful sparks that made him feel alive.


    ¡°Thank you, Talia¡­¡±, his breath caressed her skin and Talia¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    Damon really had so many things to tell her, yet when they were alone, he would fall into a daze caused by her proximity, and everything faded into a blur, leaving only him and Talia in focus like they were the only two people in the world.


    Talia let Damon hold her and she exhaled helplessly.


    She was with Damon for ten days, yet it felt like ten years or maybe ten eternities, and she vaguely remembered how her life was before he became part of it.


    As much as Talia felt joy when Damon was giving her attention, like now, it was that much harder every next time she saw him with Marcy, or Cassie, or Mindy, or whichever woman came after. It didn¡¯t matter which woman was by his side because Talia was hurt that it was not her.


    But now it was just the two of them, and Damon¡¯s heat was all around her as his delicious scent of the forest and dark chocte coursed through her system, and she leaned on Damon and soaked in his presence like it¡¯s herst chance to feel him like this.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    ¡­


    Talia walked toward the Darkbourne, happy that she avoided any further drama.


    After leaving the study (and Damon¡¯s embrace), Talia went straight to the kitchen, and she was dejected that Stephanie, Dawn, and Zina finished preparations. Talia really wanted to help, but unexpected things happened.


    Dawn and Zina were excited to touch up their makeup before going to serve breakfast in the dining room, but Talia had no intention of showing her face there.


    Talia swiftly ate one waffle and was about to leave when Stephanie gave her an insted bag. ¡°Take this, Talia. I prepared it for you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Steph¡­¡±, Talia said, genuinely touched.


    Talia¡¯s original n was to pack some food and take it with her to the festival, but after not being able to help with breakfast, she was embarrassed to take anything that didn¡¯t fit into her mouth.


    ¡°Do you know where you are going?¡±, Stephanie asked.


    ¡°The games will start soon, and I don¡¯t want to miss it. I hope to see everything.¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you go with Maya?¡±, Stephanie asked.


    Talia shook her head. ¡°Maya has many duties as a Beta, and I am not a child. Even if she is not busy with guests, I can imagine that she will want to spend time with Caden. I can¡¯t expect her to hold my hand, so I don¡¯t get lost.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you are not familiar with Darkbourne¡­¡±, Stephanie said. ¡°Come here¡­¡±, Stephanie called while getting a notepad and pen.


    Stephanie drew a rough sketch of a few streets of Darkbourne with several interest points, including where the fair will be, where the sports fields are, and how to reach there from the packhouse.


    ¡°If you walk leisurely, it will take you about twenty minutes to get there¡­ If you are lost, just ask anyone to direct you to the town square with the clocktower, that¡¯s the center of the fair¡­ anyone can show you which way to take in order to return to the packhouse¡­¡±


    ¡°Will youe to the fair?¡±, Talia asked.


    ¡°Maybeter.¡±, Stephanie responded with a smile, but Talia noticed that Stephanie¡¯s mood dropped.


    Stephanie was hoping that Lisa wille, and she made ns with her daughter, yet Lisa decided to stay in the Lightw pack because of her boyfriend, Anthony, and Stephanie was not in a festive mood. How can she be happy when she knows that her daughter is hurting?


    Stephanie lost her husband, and she has only Lisa, and as much as she hopes that Lisa will snap out of her infatuation with Anthony, Stephanie can¡¯t force her.


    Knowing that everyone will be at the fair, Stephanie decided to stay in the packhouse where she won¡¯t need to force a smile. If she changes her mindter, she can alwayse to the fair, but Stephanie didn¡¯t want to make any promises, and Talia didn¡¯t feel like she had the right to insist, so she dropped the topic.


    Talia left swiftly, while everyone was busy with breakfast. On her way from the kitchen to the main entry (or main exit, in this case), Talia heard Miss Mindy talking and several other unknown voices and Talia rushed out, happy that no one stopped her.


    Talia didn¡¯t want to risk Alpha Damon asking her to join them at the table, and she didn¡¯t want to be sad in case he doesn¡¯te to look for her either, so she left first.


    Anyway, Damon already said that he won¡¯t be able to spend the day with Talia, and that meant he will be busy with guests. Guests like Miss Mindy and other important people.


    Talia was confident that among the guests there were several other females. Will any of them throw herself at Damon? Will she seed to be Damon¡¯s Luna? Or maybe hispany for tonight?


    Talia pushed those thoughts away. What was the point? Even if Damon held Talia¡¯s hand and brought her to the table to sit by his side, Talia would just be ufortable. This was the best possible oue for everyone.


    She reminded herself to focus on things that matter. Tomorrow, she will think about moving out of the packhouse and figuring out her life, but today she will have fun at the festival, and Damon¡¯s presence (or absence) won¡¯t make a difference.


    Talia had ns and determination to make the most of it.


    Only when Talia was walking on the road that lead to Darkbourne, and the packhouse was hidden from sight behind the tall trees, Talia peeked into the insted bag to see what Stephanie packed for her.


    There were two quiches, a bottle of juice, two apples, a gran bar¡­ and a side-pocket had $100, broken down in ten bills, $10 each.


    Talia felt her eyes prickling as tears threatened to fall. No one ever took care of her like that, and Talia imagined that if she had a mother, she would wish her to be just like Stephanie.


    Talia took a mental note to thank Stephanie properly. Somehow.


    The sound of a caring from behind got Talia¡¯s attention and she swiftly dashed between bushes that were next to the road. She didn¡¯t bother to see who was in the car because she was determined to enjoy this sensation of freedom that touched her the moment she stepped outside of the packhouse.


    She continued walking several meters away from the road, close enough not to wander, but far enough so that others don¡¯t spot her.


    Talia always liked the forest and she smiled at the rays of sun that peeked through the tree canopies, darting with the breeze that moved the leaves, like a weing light show of nature. There were no worries or bullies or anything else that could cause her stress. As a bonus, from the forest, Talia wouldn¡¯t know with whom Damon is spending his day or night, so she wouldn¡¯t be sad.


    She wondered, why was she cooped in her room all the time, when she coulde here?


    Talia was walking toward the distant noise of the festival, and she was making ns to return here with a book and read in peace. Tomorrow.

 Chapter 94 The Summer Solstice Festival (1)

    Damon was driving toward Darkbourne while trying to spot Talia and with every passing minute, his anxiety was increasing. Why did she leave on foot without saying anything?


    Earlier that morning, after Talia left the study, Damon finished some work and went to the dining room in time for breakfast. He greeted the guests, but he couldn¡¯t eat.


    Last night Talia didn¡¯t join for dinner, and when he saw her the next time, she was in the Shifters nightclub with two guys sticking to her. This time, Talia didn¡¯t join for breakfast, and Damon had a bad feeling about this.


    Sure, Damon knew that Talia will probably go to the festival, and he instructed Maya to apany Talia, but Maya was at the table, munching on quiche, while Talia was unounted for.


    ¡®Where is Talia?¡¯, Damon asked Maya through the mind-link.


    ¡®Why should I know?¡¯, Maya responded with a question.


    ¡®I asked you to take her to the festival..¡¯


    ¡®Are you expecting me to skip breakfast and neglect my duties because Talia needspany?¡¯


    Damon let out a low growl. ¡®Maya, did your bravery increase because I didn¡¯t punish you for allowing Talia to get drunkst night?¡¯


    Maya forgot about that. Damon didn¡¯t bring it up and she hoped that he won¡¯t, but the reality was different.


    ¡®I apologize, Alpha.¡¯, Maya responded with haste. ¡®I spoke with Talia about apanying her to the festival, but we didn¡¯t discuss the details. I was thinking of checking on her after making sure that everything is in order with guests.¡¯


    Seeing that Maya was not helpful, Damon stood up and headed to the kitchen, guessing that Talia was there. If this is any other day, Damon would assume that she was in her room, but he already saw Talia, so he knew that she was awake and ready for the day.


    In the kitchen, Damon found Stephanie sipping coffee while staring absentmindedly through the window.


    ¡°Where is Talia?¡±, Damon asked Stephanie.


    ¡°She left for the fair.¡±


    Damon frowned. ¡°With whom?¡±


    ¡°On her own.¡±


    Damon didn¡¯t like this. If she went on her own, that means she was walking. Didn¡¯t Axel point out how Talia was in so much pain that she barely walked?


    ¡°When did she leave?¡±


    Stephanie was not sure. ¡°A few minutes ago.¡±


    Damon rushed to his car and that¡¯s how he found himself driving and looking around, hoping to spot Talia.


    He wanted to give her a ride to town and warn her to be careful and¡­ he didn¡¯t know what else he could say because he really wanted to be with her, but he was torn between his duties and dangers and this feeling of helplessness that mixed with rage and gnawed on his insides.


    Damon cursed under his breath. He thought that he was making progress with Talia, yet with every passing day, it felt like she was drifting away. Even now, she went to the kitchen and then left the packhouse, ignoring himpletely.


    Should he ask Talia to notify him before she leaves the packhouse? If he thought of that just a bit earlier, she would be in the car with him now, instead of who-knows-where.


    Damon knew that Talia loves the forest; did she go off-road? He hoped that she will stick close to the road so that he can see her.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Unfortunately, he reached Darkbourne without spotting the girl and his chest tightened.


    Damon told himself to calm down. Talia probably took the route through the forest, and he missed her, but that won¡¯t change the fact that he was unable to find her, and he feared that one day she will be out of his reach, for real.


    Without any bright ideas on how to find Talia, Damon turned the car and drove back to the packhouse where he left guests having breakfast. On this day, Damon needed to y his role of an Alpha no matter how much his soul cried for Talia¡¯s proximity.


    Actually, for the sake of Talia and her safety, Damon needed to pull himself together and act like everything is fine.


    Alpha Maddox warned Damon that there will be many people watching, and if anyone suspects that Talia is the girl Alpha Richard is curious about, she will be in danger. Damn it!


    ¡­


    The sports fields were on the opposite side of Darkbournepared to the packhouse, so Talia got to pass through the busy main street, and she saw the town square that was bustling with activity while everyone was doing final preparations for the festival.


    In the center of the town square is a clock tower, decorated with colorful streamers and little triangle-shaped gs, and there is a small fountain and a lot of balloons.


    Numerous mobile stalls were lined up to create several passages where one could y games or buy food and various merchandise, and Talia was curious to see what are the offerings.


    Talia took a peek to see two teenage girls arranging paper fans and nes made out of seashells, another stall offered dreamcatchers of various colors, and the next one had palm-sized stones that had messages written on them.


    A bit further away, two bulky guys were pushing a big machine in ce that hads on each side and a basketball hoop at the far end. Talia guessed that this is a game where one needs to throw the ball into the hoop a few times and not miss in order to win a prize.


    Talia read about those kinds of games online while doing her research in preparation for the uing festival. Exciting!


    One stall had plush toys hanging in three rows, and each toy had a small swaying target above it.


    Talia¡¯s insides fluttered at all the positive energy around her. People were smiling andughing and singing with the music that sted from speakers that were attached to roofs of several stalls, and Talia was looking forward to seeing how amazing it will be when the fair actually starts in a few hours.


    There were many other stalls that Talia didn¡¯t get to check, but she left them forter because she didn¡¯t want to bete for the games.


    Several streams of people converged into a single street and Talia knew that¡¯s the direction of the sports fields. At this rate, she didn¡¯t need the map that Stephanie gave her. Talia only needed to follow the crowd.


    At the end of the street was a big open area, and vendors offering snacks and various gadgets for cheering were lining the main path on each side.


    Talia took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of popcorn that mixed with hotdogs. Mouthwatering.


    She nced at the massive hands made out of sponges, hats with logos of teams that will participate, as well as t-shirts, pom-poms, blowers, and several other things she couldn¡¯t recognize.


    The bleachers were getting packed with the audience, while some guys in jerseys were running on the big grass-covered field to warm up. There was one other field on the right with a massive bouncy house where kids were screaming excitedly, and on the field behind it, several people were busying themselves on setting up the hot air balloon that will offer rides.


    Talia was focused on the central field, where the games will be yed. She headed to the side that had a sign ¡®home team¡¯, and she was happy to see a few isted empty seats in the first few rows. Everyone came in groups, so those few seats were left for loners, like Talia. She didn¡¯t mind.


    Talia thought that meeting with Keith, Liam, Pierce, Caleb, Lulu, and Sandy will be easy, but now that she saw all the crowd and themotion where the participants were, Talia realized that there is a chance she won¡¯t see them at all other than while they are ying the game. But she didn¡¯t allow that to discourage her.


    Talia took a seat in the second row and observed all the cheery faces around her.


    Even with all the people crowding the seats, she spotted several vendors with trays who were snaking between seats and selling snacks.


    It was very lively.


    Talia¡¯s sight froze on the North side of the field. There was a covered area that towered above the bleachers and Talia didn¡¯t need to guess for whom that¡¯s reserved. Of course, it was for Alpha Damon and his guests, a VVIP lounge of some sort. The lounge was empty, so Talia guessed that they are yet to arrive.


    She forced herself to look away because any thoughts about Damon wille with an unpleasant bacsh she didn¡¯t want to experience, yet she knew that it¡¯s inevitable.


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on:


    mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 95 The Summer Solstice Festival (2)

    ¡°Talia! Talia!¡±, a voice reached her, and Talia saw Liam waving at her from the field enthusiastically.


    Just like a number of other yers on the field, Liam was wearing a dark grey jersey with an outline of a wolf howling on it, and it had number 7.


    If not for the low wall divider between the audience and the field, they could meet in a few steps.


    Talia waved back at him in a greeting, hoping that his shout didn¡¯t attract too much attention in all the noise from the music and people talking.


    Of course, Pierce was among people who heard Liam¡¯s shout and he was quick to join.


    Pierce was wearing the same jersey as Liam, but his had a number 5 on it.


    ¡°Good that you made it!¡±, Pierce said with a big smile.


    ¡°I said that I wille and cheer for you, right?¡±, Talia responded without shouting, confident that they can hear her..


    Other than Pierce, Keith also heard Liam calling Talia and he craned his neck to see where she is. He perked up when he saw that Talia was on her own.


    ¡®Ask Talia toe here¡­¡¯, Keith spoke to Liam and Pierce through the mind-link.


    Keith was pleased to see that Talia followed their instructions to the door that opened to the sports field.


    ¡°Hi, Keith¡±, Talia greeted him while eyeing other guys who were around him and she smiled when she saw that Caleb, Lulu, and Sandy were there also, their familiar faces greeted Talia enthusiastically.


    They were all wearing dark gray jerseys, except for Sandy whose jersey was dark green, and it had number 1 on it.


    Keith was wearing dark gray joggers and a matching jacket that said ¡®COACH¡¯ on his back, and there was a silvery outline of a wolf¡¯s head below it.


    Seeing that Talia stopped a few steps from others, Keith waved at her toe closer.


    ¡°Why did you sit there?¡±, Keith pointed toward the audience from where Talia came. ¡°Didn¡¯t I promise you the best seat to see the game?¡±


    Talia was not sure if there is a better spotpared to that VVIP booth, and her previous seat was quite good also, but then she saw Keith gesturing toward the bench that is reserved for yers, coaches, and other people who are important for the game. It was right there, next to the field line.


    ¡°Everyone!¡±, Keith called. ¡°This is Talia. Treat her well.¡±


    yers¡¯ greetings melded into indistinct murmurs that were apanied by nods and casual waves. A few people observed Talia curiously, but most of them were trying to focus on the uing game and they didn¡¯t have time to focus on the neer.


    Talia was a bit intimidated by the situation she found herself in, and she didn¡¯t dare to look at the audience, confident that some of them were looking her way.


    ¡°Is it OK for me to be here?¡±, Talia asked Keith nervously. Standing on the field with yers wearing jerseys and surrounded by thousands of people who were seated in the audience was not Talia¡¯s style. She preferred to stay invisible.


    ¡°Absolutely.¡±, Keith assured her. ¡°I thought you wille with Beta Maya.¡±


    ¡°She is busy with guests and other things, so I came on my own.¡±


    Keith moved closer to Talia and he observed her while confirming that she has no injuries. ¡°Katya told me that you left before the fight started. Are you alright?¡±


    Talia was touched by his concern. ¡°I woke up with a hangover, but after taking the medicine, I¡¯mpletely fine.¡±


    Keith shook his head in disapproval. ¡°Next time, be mindful of your limits. If I knew you will drink yourself into a hangover, I would insist that you leave with me.¡±


    Leave with him? Would he take her to the packhouse, or¡­? Talia remembered naughty talk with Dawn and Zina when they insinuated that she spent the night with Keith, and Talia¡¯s face exploded in blush.


    Of course, Keith noticed that Talia got flustered. He chuckled. ¡°I was talking about dropping you off home before you got wasted, but it seems you have something else on your mind. I will give you a dor for your thoughts.¡±


    Talia lowered her head in embarrassment. What was she thinking? There was NO WAY she will talk about it ever.


    Keith thought that Talia was adorable, and he wanted to pinch her cheeks and tease her more, but people were watching, so he decided to tone it down. He patted her shoulder. ¡°I was just joking. You can roam around or just sit on the bench. I need to give a few more instructions to my team before the game starts¡­¡±


    Talia scurried to the bench. She didn¡¯t want to attract any more attention.


    ¡°It seems that Keith likes you.¡±, Lulu said while taking a seat next to Talia.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t he nice to everyone?¡±


    ¡°You call that nice?¡± Lulu gestured toward a group in dark gray jerseys who were listening to Keith who was waving wildly while shouting some things Talia didn¡¯t understand.


    Talia had to admit that Keith¡¯s expression was serious, and she wouldn¡¯t trade ces with any of the people who were currently facing Keith.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    ¡°Howe you are not with them?¡±, Talia asked Lulu.


    Lulu pointed at the number 26 on her jersey. ¡°I¡¯m a backup, and Keith is giving instructions on strategies for the beginning of the game. Since it can get rough, we need quite a bit of substitutes in order to maintain eleven functioning yers on the field.¡± Lulu gestured to another group of people in dark gray jerseys who were standing a few steps away, indicating that they are backups also.


    ¡°I see¡­¡± Talia said thoughtfully. ¡°Substitute. Does that mean you will yter?¡±


    Lulu confirmed. ¡°When someone gets hurt. It seems that you don¡¯t know much about ser.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s my first time watching the game.¡±, Talia admitted.


    She knew that it was about people chasing the ball and trying to kick it into the opponent¡¯s ser goal, and she heard that it¡¯s more intensepared to the game that humans are ying, but that¡¯s as far as her knowledge of the game went.


    Lulu started exining, ¡°Sandy is a goalie. That¡¯s why her jersey is a different color. She is the only one who can touch the ball with her hands¡­ Liam is a winger. He is the fastest on our team¡­ Pierce is ying defense, he is in the center¡­ Caleb is also a defensive yer¡­¡±


    Talia understood that numbers for the first batch of yers signify their position in the game, while backups are mostly random, but each of them has their stronger and weaker points.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you the invisible girl who put us on high alert?¡±, a tall guy with a head full of red hair asked while towering above Talia. He wore a dark gray jersey with the number 10 on it.


    Talia didn¡¯t get it. ¡°Invisible girl?¡±


    Lulu saw that the mood was tense, so she tried to ease it up a bit. ¡°Mark, this is Talia. The coach said that she can be here. Talia, this is Mark.¡±


    Mark didn¡¯t pay heed to Lulu¡¯s attempt at making them friends. He narrowed his eyes at Talia. ¡°A few nights ago, we were all searching for you in the woods, and I nearly tripped on you. I never saw anyone being so good in concealing his presence. I was not expecting praise for finding you, but I definitely didn¡¯t expect Alpha to nearly rip my throat off.¡±


    Talia had no idea what he was talking about. Invisible? Someone was searching for her? Damon nearly bit his throat off?


    Talia didn¡¯t know that the man in front of her was part of the patrol who found Talia when Damon panicked, thinking that Talia left the pack, and she actually fell asleep in the forest when she got tired while collecting herbs. The patrols couldn¡¯t sense her because she consumed nts that concealed her scent.


    Mark was curious about Talia¡¯s strange absence of scent. Here, in the crowd, no one would notice, but that night, Mark was in the forest, and as an experienced tracker he was supposed to pick up Talia¡¯s scent, yet there was nothing. How could he ept that? And to make things worse, Alpha bared his teeth at him like he was the enemy.


    That night was unpleasant for Mark, and he med Talia for it.


    ¡°Chill, Mark.¡±, Lulu said. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯ve got the right person? Why don¡¯t you focus on the game instead of scaring the new girl?¡±


    Mark cocked an eyebrow and left but Talia couldn¡¯t shake off the unpleasant feeling. She could sense that Mark didn¡¯t like her.


    Lulu tried to smoothen the situation. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about him. Mark got to y offensive midfielder this time, and it got into his head.¡± Seeing that Talia¡¯s brows were still furrowed, Lulu added, ¡°Mark is not a bad guy. He is just on edge because of the game.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this a friendly game?¡±


    ¡°Of course, it is. But we are hosts and most of the people here will be cheering for us. If we lose in the first round, it will be a big downer, so we need to do our best and reach the finals. The pressure is much more than when we are the guest team.¡± Lulu proceeded to exin how teams will meet in elimination games, and the top two will reach the finals to win the trophy and a lot of bragging rights.

 Chapter 96 The Summer Solstice Festival (3)

    The crowd of yers in dark gray jerseys that were around Keith formed a line and started a light jog to warm up, leaving a few yers to stand on the side and stretch.


    Keith used this breather to join Talia and Lulu on the bench, but before Keith could reach the bench, a teenage girl approached him with haste. ¡°Coach!¡±


    Keith looked behind her like he was expecting someone, and then he asked the girl, ¡°Where is Rosie?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, coach, but my sister found her matest night.¡±


    Keith¡¯s face fell. ¡°Does that mean she won¡¯t make it?¡±


    The girl looked at Keith and shook her head guiltily. She pushed some things into his hands, mumbled an apology, and left.


    Keith dragged his feet to the bench and plopped on it. ¡°I hope this is not a sign of how the rest of the day will go.¡±


    ¡°Who is Rosie?¡±, Talia asked Lulu in a whisper.


    ¡°She is our team spirit.¡±, Lulu responded and pointed at things in Keith¡¯s hand. ¡°Those are parts of her costume.¡±Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Talia didn¡¯t get it. A team spirit with a costume?


    Keith rubbed his face irritably before adding to Lulu¡¯s exnation, ¡°Rosie was practicing our cheering dance. If I knew this would happen, I would get a few more girls to practice as a backup.¡±


    He was frustrated to make this rookie mistake. But this was his first year to be the main coach. So far, Keith was assisting the previous coach who decided four months ago that he wants to travel the world, leaving Keith to manage all these sport-ish activities in the pack.


    Keith was knowledgeable about the game, strategies, and training yers, and he focused on those aspects which made it easy to miss the misceneous things that are part of the whole experience. He really needed a team manager.


    Seeing that Talia was looking at him nkly, Keith pointed to the other side of the field, where another team was warming up. ¡°Do you see that girl in the blue skirt?¡± Talia nodded, and Keith continued, ¡°She is the team spirit for their team. Every team has one, and now we don¡¯t.¡±


    Keith hid his face in his palms and let out a string of unintelligible sounds that was a mix of groans and curses.


    Talia wanted tofort him, but she didn¡¯t know what to say, so she kept quiet.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you giving up too early?¡±, Lulu asked Keith.


    ¡°Game starts in ten minutes. Where will I find a cute girl that doesn¡¯t have other ns, and can learn the routine?¡±, Keith grumbled.


    ¡°Is routine necessary? As for a cute girl who is avable, we have one right here¡­¡±


    Talia¡¯s face fell when she realized that Lulu was talking about her.


    Before Talia could object, Keith was looking at her with sparkles in his eyes. ¡°Talia, you need to do this, for the team. For the pack.¡±


    ¡°Do, what, exactly?¡±, Talia asked robotically.


    Without a word, Keith ced a headband on her head. It had ck wolf ears.


    ¡°Give me your hands. These are your paws¡­¡± he put fingerless gloves on Talia, and while she was looking at her now furry hands, Keith reached into the sports bag that was on the ground, next to the bench.


    Talia didn¡¯t move a muscle when Keith pulled over her head a dark gray jersey with number 0 on it which was big enough to fit over Talia¡¯s clothes and have additional space.


    Keith adjusted the headband that was on Talia¡¯s head and hummed in approval. ¡°Now you are the spirit of Dark Howlers team. Perfect.¡±


    And just like that, Talia became the team spirit.


    ¡®Everyone!¡¯, Keith mind-linked team members. ¡®Rosie is out, but Talia agreed to be our team spirit. Let¡¯s show her our support and she will give us hers.¡¯


    ¡°Awoooo!¡± Howls erupted from the field, and even Lulu and Keith were part of the sudden noise and Talia shrunk.


    What the heck was going on? She came to check out the festival and watch the game. How did she end up in a costume? If she knew it wille to this, Talia would stick to her seat in the audience and note to the field.


    Keith put his hand on Talia¡¯s back. ¡°They are happy to have you here as our team spirit. We all are.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how to be a team spirit.¡±, Talia said weakly while brainstorming exit strategies.


    ¡°Cheer for us to win. Think of it as moral support. Other than that, you need to be cute, and you have that covered.¡± Keith ended with a wink, and Talia felt her cheeks warming.


    Keith said that she is cute. That was a first. No one ever called her cute and Talia was not sure how to respond.


    Should she thank him for thepliment? What if he didn¡¯t mean it and she makes a fool of herself when she thanks him?


    Before she could think of something to say, Keith was on his feet, and he was shouting instructions at two people in dark gray jerseys who just came to the field. The game still didn¡¯t start, but they werete for warmup.


    Talia was totally out of herfort zone with this whole team spirit thing, but Keith was her personal trainer, and he was nice to her, and if she could help him out by wearing this costume, she was determined to go through it. Well, at least she will try.


    ¡°Congrattions on bing the team spirit.¡±, a man said while plopping on the bench next to Talia and she jolted in fright.


    ¡°Doctor Travis!¡±, Talia eximed when she recognized the neer.


    Talia was happy to see another familiar friendly face!


    Travis rubbed his eyes and looked at the field. He was holding onto a disposable cup and Talia picked up the scent of coffee.


    ¡°Is the hospital busy?¡±, Lulu asked.


    Travis nodded. ¡°It¡¯s crazy sincest night. Luckily, it was just a bunch of cuts and bruises with a few broken bones and no casualties other than my sleep. Cathy was supposed toe with me, but she is sleeping in the staff room, and I couldn¡¯t wake her up. We all had a sleepless night.¡±


    Travis threw a side-nce at Talia who was looking at him with sparkles in her eyes. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that? Do I have something on my face?¡±


    ¡°Uhm¡­ no¡­ it¡¯s just¡­¡±, Talia stumbled over her words. Waah! If she tells him that she is happy to see him, he might misunderstand. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you will be here.¡±


    Travis smiled at Talia who waspletely flustered, but he didn¡¯t want to tease her. He gestured toward the group of yers that formed a semi-circle in front of Keith. ¡°Someone needs to fix them up.¡± He looked at Talia with amusement. ¡°How did you be the team spirit?¡±


    Talia looked at her fuzzy hands helplessly. ¡°The original team spirit found her mate and couldn¡¯te, and they needed someone, and I was here so¡­¡±


    Travis stifled augh. Talia was obviously ufortable but pushing herself to do it.


    ¡°You will do great. Don¡¯t worry about it. It¡¯s just about shouting ¡®GO HOWLERS¡¯ and doing a few cartwheels when we score a goal.¡±, Travis said to Talia and then he yawned.


    Talia thought that she is going to pass out. ¡°What?¡±


    Lulu giggled. ¡°He is messing with you. You don¡¯t need to do cartwheels, but shouting is encouraged.¡±


    Talia shrunk between Travis and Lulu while wishing for an invisibility spell.


    Several more people got onto the field, each wearingpletely ck outfits and Lulu told Talia that those are referees. ¡°Coaches take turns being referees with the rule that one can¡¯t be a referee when his team is ying¡­¡±


    Talia was grateful for the exnations that Lulu provided. It helped her understand what¡¯s going on.


    ¡­


    Up in the VIP area, Damon took seats with his guests, and he red at Maya with displeasure which Maya caught, but she pretended that she didn¡¯t notice.


    She knew that Damon wanted her to go and find Talia, but Talia is not a child, and Maya was confident that Talia will manage.


    However, Maya felt guilty because she would go and find Talia if not for Damon¡¯s stubborn insistence without any exnation.


    If Damon said that he cares about Talia, that he was worried about her, or anything¡­ it would be different, but Damon was in his dictator-mode where he would boss people around and Maya didn¡¯t like it because matters of the heart can¡¯t be forced, and his behavior was contradicting everything a mate should do. If Maya didn¡¯t witness Damon cuddling with sleeping Talia in the back seat of the car on the day when they left the Red Moon pack, Maya would never guess that Talia is Damon¡¯s mate.


    It took Maya a few deep breaths to push aside the negativity that Damon caused and to focus on Talia and check where she was.


    Considering that Keith was one of the few people Talia knew, Maya guessed that Talia will be with him and a few yers she met in the training center. After all, they talked about watching games and Keith mentioned securing seats for them.


    Maya stood up and looked at the field, where the home team was. Thanks to her werewolf-enhanced vision, it took Maya only a few seconds to spot Talia sitting on the bench between Travis and Lulu and she smiled when she saw a pair of fuzzy ck ears on top of Talia¡¯s head.


    Since Travis was one of the few people who were familiar with Talia¡¯s circumstances, Maya mind-linked him, ¡®Let me know when Talia wants to leave the field. She is new and I want to keep an eye on her.¡¯


    ¡®Of course, Beta Maya¡¯, Travis responded right away.


    Satisfied with this, Maya went to sit next to Caden while ignoring Damon¡¯s re.


    Author¡¯s Note: Hello readers, if you like my story, don¡¯t forget to follow my book and my author¡¯s page.


    If you want to support me or get advanced chapters, mail me on:


    mynovel200@gmail.

 Chapter 97 The Summer Solstice Festival (4)

    In the VIP area¡­


    The unease in Damon¡¯s chest was increasing by the minute and the only thing that prevented him from flipping the table with all the drinks and snacks was that he was surrounded by Alphas and other high-ranking individuals from neighboring packs, and if he makes a spectacle, they will definitely have many questions Damon was not willing to answer.


    ¡®What¡¯s the status with Talia?¡¯, Damon asked Maya through the mind-link when he couldn¡¯t take it anymore.


    ¡®What about her?¡¯, Maya asked nonchntly.


    Damon¡¯s hands balled into fists. ¡®You should find her and make sure she is fine.¡¯


    ¡®Why are you so concerned about her?¡¯, Maya asked. ¡®Talia is a big girl. I¡¯m sure she is fine.¡¯


    Damon couldn¡¯t believe this.. ¡®Are you disobeying me?¡¯


    Maya felt Damon releasing his aura and she realized that she was close to crossing the line.


    Maya is a brave and stubborn woman, but she wouldn¡¯t dare disobey Damon, mostly because that would draw a wedge between Damon and Caden. Maya was confident that if she defied Damon, it would mean she can¡¯t be Beta anymore and that would impact Caden as well. She didn¡¯t want to make Caden choose between his duty (and best friend), and her (aka his mate). It wouldn¡¯t be fair because Maya knew that they are all important to Caden.


    But Maya didn¡¯t want to tell Damon Talia¡¯s whereabouts. Why would she make it easy for him?


    If Damon is a man he thinks he is, he would go and take care of his mate, and not leave her alone while concealing the fact that they are mates.


    Maya didn¡¯t get it. Are all men so dense? How does Damon think this will end up? Sure, he believes that he is protecting Talia, but the truth is that he is alienating the poor girl.


    Mates are about security and unconditional eptance, and Damon was not doing any of that. Actually, by concealing her importance, he was sending a message that Talia was not good enough and even though Talia didn¡¯t understand it, she could feel it. It was obvious that Talia was avoiding him because his behavior was confusing at best, and he was probably scaring her as well.


    At this rate, they will crash and burn, and it will be Damon¡¯s doing and that¡¯s why Maya didn¡¯t care about Damon, but she was determined to help Talia see that there is a world outside Damon¡¯s presence and Maya hoped that will help Talia stand on her own two feet.


    Maya was aware that Caden shared her opinion on how Damon should disclose Talia is his mate, but Maya also knew that Caden is taking Damon¡¯s side in this whole thing. After all, the two of them are buddies for a long time and Caden always had Damon¡¯s back.


    ¡®Calm down, Alpha, you don¡¯t want your guests to suspect something is wrong.¡¯, Maya said in an official tone. ¡®Talia is safe. I¡¯m keeping an eye on her.¡¯


    ¡­


    Eleven yers from two teams that are ying in the first match stood in the middle of the field and listened to the referee who was telling them the rules.


    When that was over, they all turned to look at the VIP lounge where Damon stood up and spoke into a microphone, ¡°I want to thank everyone foring here to celebrate Summer Solstice with us¡­¡±


    Talia was standing next to the bench with other substitute yers, Travis, and Keith. They all stood up when Damon started talking, as a sign of respect.


    Talia couldn¡¯t focus on what Damon was saying because the sound of his voiceing from the speaker was distorted into an indistinct buzzing under the influence of Talia¡¯s rampant thoughts which shed with her emotions.


    Damon was there with Maya, Caden, Alpha Maddox, Mindy, Axel, and other guests and Talia couldn¡¯t believe that was the same man who was holding her in his embrace less than an hour ago.


    That was not Damon she knew.


    That was Alpha Damon, the scary Alpha, a stranger. He was standing above all, serious and overbearing. With just one nce it was obvious that he was reigning over everyone.


    Talia lowered her head because she didn¡¯t want to look at him anymore.


    She didn¡¯t want to be reminded how she doesn¡¯t belong there. Not now. Not ever.


    Did she want to be part of such a circle?


    The mental image of Damon¡¯s face when she was used of stealing food was suffocating. He just stood there and watched it happen. Talia will never forget that. And she will never forget that after she lowered her guard, she saw him getting cozy with Cassie¡­ and how could she forget the first time she saw him, with princess Marcy between his legs? Of course, she didn¡¯t belong there.


    That was not how she wanted to live her life.


    For Talia, it was crystal clear that Damon and his party are like creatures from a different dimension, and the only thing she didn¡¯t understand was why he would asionally show her a side of him that made her like him.


    Talia shook her head. She was such a fool to allow herself to have these feelings that came without any warning, and now they turned bitter, and she was tired of suffering because of something that lived only in her mind.


    She was like a child who had an invisible friend no one else can see.


    In her mind, Talia created a version of Damon who was clingy and gentle and sometimes funny, a Damon who made her feel safe and needed, a Damon who was cheeky and couldn¡¯t wait to hold her hand, a Damon who saw her as more than a temporary entertainment, more than a pet, more than a charity project, and he called her Mrs. ke.


    It was hard to let go of that Damon, but Talia knew it had to be done because he was not real.


    Talia felt a hand gently squeezing her shoulder.


    ¡°Are you OK?¡±, Keith asked in a low voice. ¡°If this team spirit is not your cup of tea, you don¡¯t need to do it.¡±Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Talia was d that he is not a mind-reader.


    She blinked her tears away and looked at Keith. ¡°The game is about to start. Where are you going to find another cute girl to cheer for you?¡±


    Keith paused for a moment and then chuckled when he realized that she repeated his words. ¡°You will do just fine, Talia.¡±


    ¡­


    The game started and the audience became lively, shouting cheers and curses when the ball would switch from one team to another, and the volume increased as the ball approached either of the ser goals.


    Talia observed the action on the field with her eyes open wide and her heart thundered in her chest from excitement.


    Liam was the fastest yer in the Dark Howlers team and Talia thought how the tattoo of the cheetah on his arm suits him.


    Talia stood on her feet when Liam got the ball and he rushed toward the opponent¡¯s goal.


    The whole audience erupted in screams when two yers in blue jerseys closed in on Liam and a momentter, Liam tumbled while clutching his leg.


    The referee pulled a yellow ticket as a warning to yers in blue jerseys and waved at medics to bring in the stretchers for Liam who was not moving.


    It all happened quickly.


    Talia pressed her hand against her mouth, and she didn¡¯t blink as they brought Liam toward their bench with Travis meeting them halfway and running with them out of the field line while asking Liam questions to assess his condition.


    Keith was quick to send the substitute yer in, and Travis was checking on Liam¡¯s leg as soon as medics kept the stretcher on the ground.


    ¡°How is he?¡±, Keith asked with concern obvious in his voice.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s broken, but a nasty bruise is forming¡­ Damn it! It¡¯s swelling already!¡± Travis looked up at Keith. ¡°I want to send him for an x-ray¡­¡±


    Keith cursed under his breath. The game just started, and he lost his fastest runner. But no matter how fast Liam was, those two were waiting to intercept him. It was obvious that the other team was aware of Liam¡¯s importance as the fastest yer, and they were aiming to take him out of the game as soon as possible.


    ¡°No.¡±, Liam objected. ¡°I want to y. Put some ice on it and give me painkillers. My wolf will heal it in no time. I¡¯ve had worse.¡±


    Keith and Travis exchanged nces, but Liam was determined to go back into the game.


    ¡°If in ten minutes there is no improvement, you are going to the hospital.¡±, Travis said and waved at Talia. ¡°Come and help to hold the ice¡­¡±


    Talia was happy that she can be useful.


    Travis sprayed an anesthetic on Liam¡¯s bruised leg and exined, ¡°This will numb you up, and ice will prevent the swelling¡­ take these also¡­¡± He gave two capsules to Liam. ¡°Stay still and I will check on you in ten minutes.¡±


    ¡°Flip the ice on every minute or so¡­¡±, Travis instructed Talia and then he went to scribble something in his notepad.


    Lulu and a few substitute yers who were standing around Liam to hear about his condition also turned to watch the game.


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