Talia sat on the soft grass as she took in the sight of the seemingly undisturbed nature around her. It was peaceful.
The tall rocks formed a natural shelter at the back and curved slightly on the sides, opening up fully to a majestic view of the lake in front.
The light noise from the festival that was on the other side of the lake, felt like it's miles away.
"This is where I come when I don't want anyone to disturb me.", Keith said while taking a seat next to Talia.
Keith made sure he doesn't sit too close to Talia because he didn't want to risk Talia chasing him away. There was enough space for a bulky person to sit between them.
"What do you think of this place?", Keith asked.
"It's beautiful."
Talia always loved nature. Plants and animals were better than people (and werewolves), in Talia's opinion.
Talia didn't feel like talking.
She hugging her knees while staring blankly at the lake in front of her, and her mind was in a semi-shutdown mode which she perfected for situations when the reality was too harsh to bear. She used to space out like that when someone bullied her at the Red Moon pack, and she didn't think that she will end up in such a state after moving away.
Keith really wanted to know what's going on in her mind. What made her turn so distant and sad? Talia was right there, next to him, yet she was a hundred miles away.
Keith could see that Talia was upset and he was brainstorming ideas on how to cheer her up without being intrusive. He created a million virtual scenarios, and all of them ended badly.
The sunset hit Talia's face, making her copper-colored hair and honeyed eyes glow like they are made out of gold. She looked like a Goddess and Keith was lost in a daze.
Eventually, Keith broke the silence, "Beer?"
Talia nodded in agreement.
Keith opened two cans and gave one to Talia before turning to face her.
Talia drank the beer quickly. The bitterness matched her emotional state and she welcomed it. Talia remembered how on the previous night, when alcohol clouded her mind, she didn't think about Damon and what he was doing, and part of her hoped that this one can get her intoxicated so that she forgets about Damon completely.
"Slow down…", Keith warned her, and he shook his head in disapproval when Talia didn't listen.
Talia finished the beer and noticed Keith's stare directed at her. "What?"
"I was wondering if you will name him.", Keith said while gesturing toward the puppy plushie. There was no way that he will admit how he was lost in daydreaming which included embracing her.
Talia looked at the plush toy. It was a cute puppy with long ears and fur that was a warm brown color.
"It's a girl. I will call her Cinna.", Talia said after some time.
"That's an interesting name."
"It's short for Cinnamon." Talia thought how the reddish shade of brown reminded her of cinnamon, so she went with that.
Keith took the toy from Talia's hands and cradled her, like holding a baby. "Hi Cinna, do you like the name mommy gave you?"
Talia blinked. "What?"
"Now we are parents of a pretty girl. Look, she has your hair and my eyes.", Keith said while grinning like a proud father, and Talia stifled a laugh.
"I didn't realize what all was included when I accepted the toy.", Talia responded.
Keith was glad to see that Talia smiled. She was gloomy since they left the parade and Keith didn't want to ask for an explanation on what caused her mood to drop. He knew that it was related to Alpha Damon, but Keith guessed that it's better if he doesn't know the details.
"Can I have another one?", Talia asked while pointing at the remaining beer cans.
"Sure.", Keith responded right away. "But I hope you drink this one slower. Or are you one of those people who enjoy the hangover?"
Talia realized that her behavior was unsightly. "I will drink it slower."
Keith nodded in approval and handed her another can.
Talia took a sip of beer and cursed internally when she realized that her thoughts went to Damon again.
Why can't she stop thinking about him?
He is now with some she-wolf, in his room which is across the hallway from hers, and he is absolutely NOT thinking about Talia or about the fair or about his broken promise.
And he said that he can't stay away from her. What a joke!
The sad part was that she believed him. How stupid.
"Do you come here often?", Talia asked Keith with the hope that a chat will keep her mind busy, and she won't think about that Devil.
"It depends on how often I want privacy.", Keith responded cryptically.
"So, is this like your hideout?"
"Something like that."
There was no way that Keith will admit to Talia that this is one of his hookup spots.
Werewolves are creatures close to nature, and they don't mind getting frisky in the open.
Keith has a room in Katya's home, but he never brought a girl there because Katya would not let him hear the end of it. Every time Katya hears that Keith was with a girl, she starts getting nosy, like Keith found a wife candidate.
But if he said any of that to Talia, she would definitely misunderstand, so he decided to keep it short and devoid of details.
Talia noticed that usually chatty Keith was stingy with answers and acting mysterious, and she guessed that he didn't want to tell her the truth.
She snatched the puppy toy from his hand.
"Hey!", Keith exclaimed. "Be careful with our daughter. If you hurt her I will need to rush her to see Travis, and the poor guy is probably still sleeping. If I wake him up, he will be groggy and maybe misdiagnose her condition…"
Talia burst into giggles. Keith's expression was full of concern for their plush daughter, and it was hilarious.
"Don't worry, Cinna. Your mommy is drinking beer, but overprotective daddy is still vigilant…"
Both Talia and Keith laughed and that stopped when Keith abruptly gasped for air and lowered his head.
"Keith?", Talia asked with concern, and it took her a moment to see Damon standing a few steps away with an icy expression.
How did Damon find his way to Keith's secret spot?
Let's rewind a bit…
Damon rushed from the packhouse, convinced that something is wrong with Talia.
When Maya told him that the group who was with Talia has no idea where Talia went, Damon thought that he is going to lose his mind.
'Don't call our warriors to search for her now!', Caden spoke into the mind-link with urgency. 'Everyone will be alerted, and it will be the same as putting a neon sign above Talia's head for Alpha Richard and everyone else to see.'
'Give us a few minutes to look into this discretely.', Maya added. 'Talia is the MVP of the tournament. Someone saw her, we just need to investigate this without alerting people…'
They have warriors everywhere as covert security, and no incident was reported.
Damon eliminated the possibility of Talia willingly going with someone because she didn't really know anyone, and considering her inexperience, Damon was worried that she was tricked.
Was she kidnapped? Did his enemies already find out who she is? Did they connect that the woman who got Alpha Richard's interest is Talia? What if she was being tortured right now?
Damon cursed himself for sitting next to Talia during lunch. If he stayed away, this wouldn't happen.
He needed to find her.
The sliver of hope came when Maya confirmed that coach Keith is missing also, and he was in that same group with Talia.
A few seconds later, Caden said that Keith was spotted going with the MVP of the tournament (aka Talia) in the direction of Keith's house.
Damon suppressed all unreasonable scenarios and rushed in that direction.
Katya was startled awake via the mind-link from Maya less than a minute before Damon banged on the door of her house.
Katya didn't know where Keith went (she was sleeping when he came to grab the beer), but she remembered that he had a few spots he would use when he didn't want to be found. As an older sister, Katya knew everything about Keith.
Normally, Katya wouldn't rat on her brother, but this was her Alpha and she had to obey.
Katya gave Damon general direction and Damon was quick to pick up Keith's scent.
And that's how Damon found himself looking at Talia and Keith sitting on the grass and sipping beer in a good mood while talking about some mother-father nonsense.
Damon thought that Talia might be hurt and suffering, and this… What the hell is this!?
Damon was glad that she was OK, but why the heck was she here with another guy?
And why was Talia looking at Damon like he was not welcome?
Damon felt the urge to rip Keith's limbs off, and his fury was amplified by his wolf's rage.
'How dares he covet our mate!', Damon's wolf growled. 'Let's kill him right now as an example!'
Damon wanted to cripple Keith, and he would probably do so if Talia was not there. Damon knew that Talia is a gentle spirit and if Damon gives in to this raging madness, she will hate him.
He decided to deal with Keith later.
"Leave."
Damon's icy tone sent chills down Keith's spine and the latter could feel murderous intent.
Keith was about to stand up when Talia grabbed his forearm.
"Stay."
Keith felt like crying.
How on earth was he supposed to refuse a command from an Alpha?
And why was Talia's one word dispelling his urge to obey Alpha Damon?
