Talia held onto Damon as they walked down the hallways of the packhouse, and she was grateful that his arm was firmly around her.
This place was much more than a hallway for her. It was a place where she grew up hiding and she didn't know how to feel about it.
Two Ogas bowed deeply as they passed, and then they rushed about their business.
So far, other than Ana, no one recognized her.
There was a ti when Talia was also moving along these hallways with her head held down. Attracting attention was never a good thing.
Talia shook off the unpleasant emotions that were creeping up on her.
Being in this space with Damon by her side felt surreal like it was happening to soone else.
Talia glanced at Damon to see him looking forward with confidence that spilled on her.
Right. She had no reason to be afraid.
She was Alpha Natalia Moonrider, and she had Damon and many friends, and she was not alone anymore. This was her ti to shine as the Alpha of the Midnight Guardians pack, and as Damon's Luna.
Their group of nine reached the double door that was guarded by two warriors who bowed their heads. Even without knowing who other people were, everyone knew Alpha Damon.
Sandy stepped forward to pass a piece of paper.
The warrior read what was written there, and his eyes flashed before he turned to step into the event hall with urgency.
"Alpha Damon Blake and Alpha Natalia Moonrider!" A voice bood from the door and everyone turned to see two people coming in with more behind them.
Damon's black outfit made him dark and mysterious, and Talia's white cocktail dress gave her an air of light and youth.
Damon's arm was behind Talia, and people quickly zeroed in on his hand that was on her waist. Damon had a reputation as a womanizer, so they wondered if he used his charms to co with Alpha Natalia as his date. What about his Luna?
Alpha Damon and Alpha Natalia were close at a few previous events, but their interaction was ambiguous at best. There was nothing ambiguous about how close they were now.
Talia looked up at Damon and smiled, sensing that his previous anxiousness disappeared.
Damon would never show weakness in front of others, and the truth was that he was waiting for this mont. He wanted to walk into any room with Talia as his mate, and it was finally happening. It was a big deal.
Damon and Talia walked into the crowd that parted to make space for them.
Cornelia, Mindy, Gideon, Sandy, Tyler, Keith, and Arya were behind the couple.
Jas was talking with a group of people when his eyes landed on Cornelia. She was beautiful with pearls in her hair and a baby-blue dress that provided a fantastic contrast to her dark skin. He balled his hands into fists firmly, as a reminder that he shouldn't go there. Not yet, at least.
'Did you know about this?' Alpha Edward's voice sounded in Jas' head.
'Know about what, father?'
'That Alpha Damon and Alpha Natalia are this close?'
'I never t Alpha Natalia, so I wouldn't know. But our reports said they are close without details on their relationship. Do you want to ditch this group and investigate?'
'No. Keep what you were doing. I will take care of this,' Alpha Edward responded.
Jas couldn't believe that his father still didn't connect that Talia is Alpha Natalia from the Midnight Guardians pack. Sure, Talia would put so makeup on when she ca out as Alpha Natalia, and she would lift her hair into a stylish bun, but it was still the sa person.
There was also the possibility of Alpha Edward denying the possibility of Damon being mated to Alpha Natalia, to the point of not seeing what was right in front of his eyes.
...
"Alpha Damon," a gravely male voice reached them, and Damon's expression tightened.
"Elder Parker." Damon didn't bother with a fake smile. He didn't like the old guy.
Elder Parker bowed before calling, "Alpha Natalia." His eyes lingered at the point where Damon was holding her. "I don't think we've t. I am Elder Parker of the Red Moon pack. I heard many things about you. It's such an honor for you to grace us with your presence."
Without waiting for Talia's response, Elder Parker turned to Damon. "I thought you will attend this event with your Luna."
"I am," Damon responded, completely aware that almost everyone was listening.
Elder Parker's smile fell in slow motion to be replaced with utter shock. "Are you saying that you… and Alpha Natalia…"
Damon cocked an eyebrow at him. "I am surprised you didn't know about it. It's not like we were hiding it, and we already attended so many events together."
Elder Parker had difficulty accepting it. "But your Luna's na is… Talia."
"My fated mate's na is Natalia Moonrider. Most people call her Talia, and her friends call her Lia. It is the sa person. Did your eyes stop working considering your advanced age?"
"But… but…" Elder Parker stuttered while looking at Talia in disbelief. "You are…"
"I am Alpha of the Midnight Guardians pack, and I am Luna of the Dark Howlers pack," Talia said like it was a totally normal thing, and then she narrowed her eyes at Elder Parker. "Do you have a problem with it?"
If anyone pretended to talk, now they dropped it as only music was heard in the event hall. No one moved a muscle.
Elder Parker gaped at Talia. A sudden chill enveloped his body, preventing him from moving a muscle.
'What's his problem?' Talia asked Damon through their mind-link.
'Uhm… Elder Parker was one of the biggest advocates for Marcy to be my Luna.'
Talia's expression darkened. She thought that the old geezer ca to talk, to get more information. Did he co to try to push Marcy or so other woman on Damon because he assud that Damon left his Luna behind?
'We should get rid of these pompous bastards who think they can control others!' Liseli raged.
'If we do that, not many will be left,' Talia responded. 'Besides, we have bigger fish to fry tonight. This guy is just bitter that he didn't get his way.'
"Excuse us," Mindy said to Elder Parker impatiently. "You either have sothing to talk about, or get out of our way." She didn't like the old guy blocking their path, and her pregnancy hormones made her temper flare.
Seeing that Elder Parker didn't move, Tyler stepped forward and extended his arm to push the male to the side before gesturing to Damon and Talia that they can go ahead.
Damon had a destination on his mind. On the right was a bar, and he spotted Maddox and Tony there.
Kalina and Tatiana were at one table with Lidia who ca with her mate, General Jordan, as part of the delegation from the Spring Leaf pack.
They all had their tasks. Cornelia went to greet the Wilkow sisters. Through casual chatter, masked as talking to Lunas of two packs, Cornelia will hear if they detected anything suspicious. Mindy and Gideon went to search for the Shaman of the Red Moon pack. Sandy and Tyler took a seat at the table that had a good view of the bar.
Keith and Arya were sticking close to Talia, just how Damon ordered them to.
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