"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 fireplace.
"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 before coming 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 circular driveway and the road that disappeared among the trees.
She remembered the plants 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 planned to hide or sneak around, but the fact that no one could track her was a layer 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 she comes 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 will come 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 accepted 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 explained, "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 acceptable. 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't comment on that. Other than Olivia, she didn't have friends, so Talia didn't feel comfortable committing 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 plan 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 brunette. "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 brunette 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 is complicated. 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 accepting them, or pushing them away…"
Talia understood that Damon's love life is complicated.
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 relaxing, 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 red lacy bra and a matching thong. There were three sets; one hot red, one dark red, and one black.
The panties were thongs, while bras were slightly different. The dark red one was lacy, the hot red bra was mesh-like, and the black 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 seem comfortable, not even a little bit.
She will sleep anyway, and she decided to go commando (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 Cinderella book and placed it on the bedside table, next to the medicines. Talia didn't care much about the clothes, but that book was precious.
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.
