Damon could feel Talia's insecurities and he hoped that his words will give her the boost she needs to stand proud.
"If anyone from the Red Moon pack approaches you, you should treat them the same as you would anyone else. Remember that you grew up with your grandparents and you were never in the Red Moon pack. Even if they say you look familiar, stay cool. They don't have evidence to support any claims about your background. Don't let anyone bully you, Talia, and don't be afraid to stir trouble. I know you can talk back, and if it takes more than talking, I will be right next to you."
Talia nodded, but Damon knew that his words didn't produce the desired result.
Of course, those people bullied her for nearly two decades. How can it be easy for Talia to face them?
He got an idea.
"If you fear that they might recognize you, pretend you are someone else. Use a different name so that no one connects who you are."
Talia's brows furrowed. "A different name? That's not necessary. No one called me Talia since Olivia left, and even when she was around, we never went out in public, so…" Talia's voice trailed.
Damon was curious. Talia told him that Olivia left a few years ago. How is it possible that no one addressed Talia by her name? "Did you use a different name?"
Talia shook her head. "No one bothered to ask what my name is. They would call me 'slave' or 'roach' or 'rat'."
Damon felt rage rippling through him. How dare they treat his mate like that!?
Damon has a habit of ignoring things he doesn't deem important. While they were at the Dark Howlers pack, it was like an isolated bubble, with only Damon and Talia, but now that they are out of his territory, Damon became aware of other existences and how they are impacting them.
Damon took a few deep breaths, filling his system with the addicting scent of freesia and he was not sure if he will be able to keep his cool if Alpha Edward, Marcy, or anyone from the Red Moon pack comes in front of him.
He silently swore to make them eat their words and to suffer the same treatment Talia did. Maybe they were not directly mistreating her, but the fact that they neglected Talia, enabled others to bully her. Bastards!
"It won't be easy to see them, but I hope you won't give them more importance than they deserve.", Damon said after he calmed down. "Regardless of who you were, you are going with me, as my partner. No one can touch you. I will guarantee your safety and you can do whatever you want. Feel free to ignore them, curse them, or punch them in the throat, I've got your back."
Talia shook her head while remembering the killer move he kind of taught her, but there was no teaching because cheeky Alpha wanted to cuddle in the middle of the training center.
"It's nothing like that. I don't want to cause trouble."
"Do you know who I am?", Damon asked sternly.
"Alpha Damon", Talia responded.
"That's right. I am the Alpha of the Dark Howlers pack, the largest pack in North America, and no one will dare to mess with me unless they have a death wish and because you are going with me, they will be stupid if they come after you." His gaze softened. "You are so much more than just my date, kitten. This will be the first time for me to attend an official function with a date. Many will wonder who you are and don't be surprised when you hear questions related to becoming my Luna because Alphas don't bring with them dates that are not important. I am concerned only about one thing…" He licked his lips nervously. "I hope that I won't disappoint you."
Talia blinked while processing Damon's words. He said so many things... and it all sounded important!
Did he say that this is his first time to bring a date? And did he say that she is important?
Talia told herself to ignore any Luna nonsense, but this somehow touched her heart and she ended up smiling at the insecure Alpha.
Talia was unaware when she moved closer to Damon, or when she kissed him, but they were definitely kissing.
It was a slow and gentle kiss full of emotions she would never put into words and Damon was high on the fact that she kissed him first.
This was the first time that Talia initiated a kiss, and he couldn't be happier about it.
When Damon landed the jet on a private strip that was surrounded by a scarce forest and rock formations, he turned off the engines before helping Talia unbuckle.
Talia peered through the window to see that a black Cadillac XTS limousine was waiting for them, with a driver standing in attention next to it.
It really looked like they are a major delegation from a foreign country. Well, in the world of werewolves, they were.
"Put these on.", Damon said before they exited the jet, and Talia blinked at the sight of panties that were in his hand.
She snatched the panties and quickly shimmied inside them while pulling the skirt lower so that she doesn't expose herself to Damon's amused gaze.
When her bottom and her most intimate area were covered with that small piece of fabric, Talia looked at Damon with a smile. "Thank you. I feared that you will make me stay like this all day." Or longer. Maybe Damon doesn't wear underwear, but she definitely felt the loss of that important piece of garment.
Damon's face turned serious. "I will never allow strangers to get a glimpse of what's going on between us. Do you know why?"
Talia pressed her lips into a line. Why? Is it because of privacy? No, that was too obvious. "Why?"
Damon crossed the distance between them and held her chin with his thumb and index finger, making her look up at him, but what really locked her in place was his intense gaze that threatened to swallow her.
"Because you are mine.", Damon said with all the possessiveness in the world and Talia felt strength seeping from her legs.
Did she get aroused just now?
Damon's smirk told her that he can smell her. Damn it!
Talia couldn't believe this. What's wrong with her?
Damon said that Talia is not submitting to him, but he was wrong. Sure, she didn't feel the impulse to bow her head to him, but Talia was ready to give him whatever he wanted.
Talia and Damon sat in the back of the limousine for a ride to the packhouse of the Lightclaw pack which shouldn't take more than fifteen minutes, based on the information driver gave them while putting their suitcase in the trunk.
Inside, plush carpet covered the floor, two rows of comfy leather seats were facing each other, each wide to sit three people for a total of six passengers in the back. There was also a minibar and a remote to control the AC, music, windows, lights, and several other functions Talia didn't understand.
Damon's hands were around Talia in a loose embrace, and she leaned sideways on him while observing the landscape of reddish rocks, low bushes, and scarce trees that were occasionally interrupted by small creeks.
The afternoon summer sun was heating the land mercilessly and it was very different from the scenery at the Dark Howlers pack which is filled with tall and lush trees that are blocking the sun and providing thick shade.
"Where are we?", Talia asked Damon without removing her gaze from the window.
"Colorado.", Damon responded.
Talia turned to him and raised her eyebrows questionably, silently telling him that she needed more information.
Damon chuckled and got his phone. "Let me show you on the map…"
His arms were around her and he rested his chin on her shoulder while fiddling with his phone in front of her.
"Here…", he said while pointing at the map, zooming in and zooming out as needed. "We are here, and our home is here. With a car, we would need to take this highway, and then this one…"
His breath splashed close to her ear, and she took a shaky breath. It was difficult to focus on what he was saying because he was so close, and the butterflies in her stomach were going crazy.
Talia turned to face him, and their noses nearly touched.
"You are doing this on purpose, aren't you?", Talia asked breathily.
"Doing, what?", he asked innocently. "Being close to you?"
Talia nodded.
"I don't have a choice, kitten. I can't stay away from you."
"Then… don't.", she said.
Damon smiled. "I won't, kitten. You will never get rid of me."
Their lips connected, initiating a steamy make-out session, and neither of them noticed when the driver lifted a divider so that he doesn't see or hear what's going on in the back of the limousine.
As the seasoned driver of the Lightclaw pack, he knew when privacy is needed.
