Damon was about to dismiss Maya from his study, but then he thought of something. "I have a favor to ask."
"Shoot!", Maya responded enthusiastically. Damon promised a vacation, and she was prepared to do any chore or risk him changing his mind.
"I was hoping that tomorrow you can take care of Talia. Show her around the fair, make sure she has a good time."
Maya paused. Her first impulse was to verify if Damon and Talia spent the night together, how Caden told her that morning, but instead, she asked, "Didn't you take her out for the morning?"
Damon didn't deny it. "What does that have to do with tomorrow?"
Everything! "Nothing. But I hope you can clarify one thing. Why are you asking me to show Talia around? Out of everyone in this pack, you are the one spending the most time with her." And you are her mate, bozo!
Damon understood that Maya is implying how he should be the one showing Talia around. "I will be busy with events and delegations from other packs. Talia will be uncomfortable if I drag her around with me. When I get time, I will make sure to check on her."
Damon is set to watch competitions and give awards in the morning. He will probably have some breaks here and there, but with delegations from other packs present, Damon was not sure if he will be able to leave and spend time with Talia. In the afternoon, Damon has a meeting with other Alphas, but his evening is free, and he thought of finding Talia at that time.
While he is busy, he wanted to make sure that Talia is having a good time. Who would be better for that task than Maya?
Damon noticed that Maya's expression was not good. "Is that a problem? If not, I can ask someone else…"
"No.", Maya cut him off. "Not a problem. I will do it. Talia will have a good time. Anything else, Alpha?" That last word sounded more like a curse.
"That will be all.", Damon said while wondering what was the cause of Maya's drastic mood swing.
'Why was Maya pissed? Did I do something wrong?', Damon asked his wolf. He really didn't get it.
'You will find out tomorrow.', his wolf responded.
Damon had a bad feeling about this.
Maya stood in the hallway and thought about what to do.
Her blood boiled at the thought of Damon sleeping with Talia and spending time with her only when it fits his schedule. What about Talia? Does Damon expect that Talia will sit on the side and wait for him?
If they are mates, he needs to do his best for her and with her.
Maya grew up in a patriarchal pack where only males were warriors and decision-makers while females were expected to take care of the house and give birth to pups, and Maya hated it. Her mother was the smartest woman Maya ever knew, yet she was reduced to a housewife because her mate, Maya's father, didn't approve of Maya's mother getting a job and doing something other than cooking, cleaning, and laundry.
Since she was a teen, Maya went the extra mile to train secretly, and only after meeting Caden and joining the Dark Howlers pack, Maya was able to show her prowess as a warrior.
Maya clearly remembers how Caden ditched work and responsibilities only to spend a few more minutes with Maya, and this… just what is this?
No matter how timid and kindhearted Talia is, this treatment will hurt her feelings. It's not fair.
Maya cursed Alpha Damon under her breath. He was obviously taking advantage of Talia's docile nature.
Maya will not allow Damon to hold Talia under his thumb. That won't happen. Not on her watch.
Maya never meddled in Damon's private affairs, but she couldn't sit this one out.
Talia is a kind girl who suffered a lot and Maya didn't want to allow Damon to hurt her. Of course, Damon wouldn't harm Talia on purpose because she is his mate, but his ignorance can hurt Talia.
Maya knew very well that talking to Damon won't do any good, even if Maya reveals that she is aware Talia is Damon's mate. Damon is too stubborn to listen, but Maya has her ways, and she was determined to stand up for Talia.
After all, this impacts not only Damon but the whole pack, because as Damon's mate, Talia is the best person to be their Luna. If the Moon Goddess paired them up, she must have her reasons.
With all that in mind, Maya headed to the third floor of the packhouse.
"Busy?", Maya asked when she peeked into Talia's room.
"Not really.", Talia responded while keeping the book on the side.
Maya walked into Talia's room and closed the door behind her, with the task to probe the situation.
"Did you have fun with Alpha Damon today?"
"Yes.", Talia responded with sparkles in her eyes. "We went to the amusement park. It was very lively."
"Aww…", Maya said with a dreamy smile. "Caden took me there once before I became Beta officially, and I wish to go again. Tell me about the rides you took."
Talia felt that something was off. Somehow, Maya's enthusiasm seemed forced. "Aren't you busy?"
"What do you mean?"
"When you came here, I thought that you need help with preparations for the festival. Are you done with work, and you came to chat?" Talia pursed her lips and responded to her questions before Maya could. "No. There is too much work. I thought that we are close enough and you don't need to beat around the bush. Tell me what you need, and I will help if I can."
Maya couldn't believe that Talia saw through her. OK. Talia was off the mark about the reason, but it was true that Maya had a hidden agenda.
"You are right. There is a lot of work, but it's mostly final touches and I delegated everything. They will contact me if there are any issues. I really wanted to hear how your day went with Alpha Damon. He can be overbearing and insensitive, so I was curious. That's it."
Talia eyed Maya suspiciously but still responded. "Alpha Damon was fine. He let me pick the rides and we stopped for snacks. We would probably stay longer if not for this festival, but he said that we will go again."
Talia skipped a few parts, but she didn't lie.
"I see. Well, that's fine.", Maya gave up, seeing that Talia was stingy on the details. She had another strategy. "About the festival, do you have a plan when and where you will go?"
Talia's troubled expression answered Maya's question.
Eventually, Talia spoke, "I want to go, but everyone I know will be busy. I was hoping you can tell me the locations and timings of events so that I can go on my own. I don't want to burden anyone."
Talia was embarrassed to bring up the point of not having any money, but she won't buy any knick-knacks and she will eat before leaving the packhouse, so there won't be a need for her to buy anything. Just seeing the festival should be enough.
"What about Alpha Damon?", Maya asked.
Talia didn't get it. "What about him?"
"Do you want to go with him?"
Talia's eyes widened for a moment and then she shook her head. "He will be busy and there will be guests. I will only be in the way. Don't worry about me, I will manage."
There was also the detail related to potential rumors if anyone sees her with Damon. Holding hands and hugging when no one is watching is one thing but sticking close to him in public will only bring disaster.
Talia's humility tugged on Maya's heartstrings and with every passing second, Maya's sadness morphed into anger. Damon was a bad mate!
It was obvious to Maya that Talia was not aware of her position. As Damon's mate, it was Damon's responsibility to make Talia feel comfortable with him and others and to encourage Talia to take her rightful spot, by his side, as his Luna.
That's what Caden did when he brought Maya to the Dark Howlers pack. Caden was sticking to Maya like a postage stamp and she never felt like an extra who will get in his way.
With this, Maya understood the situation more-or-less, and she decided to act.
"I assume you are free now.", Maya said.
Talia thought about her book with sadness. It seems she won't do any reading today either. "Yes. I have a few hours until dinner preparations start."
"Are you up for the tour I mentioned?"
Talia blinked. "Now?"
"We can start and see how much we cover until you need to report to the kitchen…"
