Talia's excitement related 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 elaborate?", 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 plans 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 elaborate 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."
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 the largest 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 your company. You remind me of my daughter. This is also something to keep you occupied until you get used to the pack and figure out what you want to do." Before Talia could respond, Stephanie asked, "Do you have plans 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 the community 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 you company, 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 place 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 plate 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 eyes landed 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 plan 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 your company.", 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 cabinets, 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 fireplace 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-black hair and a set of warm chocolate-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 the computer.
Talia let out a long breath. "I feel guilty."
Damon didn't get it. "About?"
"You have so much work, yet you accompanied 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 glanced 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 placed 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 become 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 cabinets and placed 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 the last 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.
