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 place 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 bullies come into the room? How will that be different compared 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 escalating 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 play 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 accuse 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 flashed in outrage.
'PAK!'
Talia saw stars when a hard slap landed on her cheek, and she stumbled backward.
'BAM!'
Something heavy slammed against the wall and a second later, 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 glistening landscape of his back demanded attention no matter how much her cheek stung.
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 plan 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 slap.
Every muscle in his body ached to choke the life out of Cassie, and just his glare 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 the commotion. 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 glared 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 welcome 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 explain 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 relationship, I will not punish Cassie and my warriors will escort her unharmed. But from today onwards, Cassie is not welcome 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 blame 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 things later.
Damon was furious and guilt-ridden.
If he chased Cassie away earlier, this wouldn't happen.
If he didn't allow Cassie to come 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 slap, 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 consolation, 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 misfortune comes when he is nearby..."
In the hallway, Damon frowned and stuck closer to the door. Did Talia call him a jinx?
