"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 accidentally. Do you remember the gas station where Alpha Damon went out to purchase snacks on his own? It's the stop where you switched places 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 accuse us of kidnapping or stealing."
Talia's eyes widened. "I agreed to come 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 his complex 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 accepted 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 to come. 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 plan when he snuck Talia inside the trunk, and it didn't seem that Damon knew what to do with Talia two days later, but Maya couldn't tell her that they are mates. It was not her to tell.
After Maya left, Talia laid on her bed and stared at the ceiling while thinking about Maya's words and things that happened in the last 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 her coming 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 slacking because Talia was practically invisible.
Maybe Anna will miss a person to bully, but that's it. They called her a slave, 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 the common 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 Layla 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 eccentric, 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 accused 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 uncomfortably clingy, while the other one is distant and heartless. That would explain 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 accuse 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 can come 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 will come 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 plan ready.
Her current tasks: eat and sleep.
She ate before showering, so now it was time to rest, and everything else will come later.
Talia hugged a pillow and drifted off to sleep.
Damon spent most of the day with his warriors, training.
After last 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 from last night.
He didn't know if Talia just got lost, or was really planning 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 glanced 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 manipulated. 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.
And then he placed her on the bed and covered her up and he sat next to Talia while holding her hand until late morning.
