Damon was standing in the hallway and eavesdropping on the conversation between Talia and Maya with his ear pressed against the door of Maya's room.
Why was it taking so long?
Everything Maya said was right, but based on previous experiences, Damon concluded that Talia's reactions are unpredictable, and he didn't pick up any distinct good or bad emotions from Talia through the mate bond, so he was restless.
When he heard Talia thanking Maya and exchanging good night wishes, Damon quickly took a few steps back and leaned his shoulder on the wall.
Damon stuffed his hands in the pockets of his jeans while hoping that his pose was cool enough.
He didn't want to appear desperate.
Alphas don't do desperate.
Talia stepped into the hallway and paused when she saw Damon.
She didn't think that he would wait for her.
Her eyes moved over his form, and she was very familiar with the perfect landscape his muscles are forming under those clothes. How can a man be so sexy by just standing there?
Their gazes met, and Talia's heart skipped a beat.
His icy-blue eyes were full of yearning and silenced desires and somehow, she knew that he was waiting for her to make a move.
What did she want to do?
Talia remembered Maya's words about how when werewolves love, it's without restraint, sizzling, wild, and those were emotions Damon invoked in her.
Was there a need to suppress any of those?
Damon already knew she was in love with him. Hiding it was impossible and denying it would be in vain.
And Maya also mentioned scent and flavor and the importance of touch. Yes, when Damon touches her, Talia would crave more of Damon and lose her inhibitions.
Was that only product of her mad love for him, or were they actually mates?
Talia knew that without her wolf she couldn't get her answers on her own, and she didn't dare ask Damon out of fear what his answer will be.
If he confirms they are not mates, everything would collapse immediately, and if he says they are… how is she qualified to stand by his side, as his Luna?
How Talia saw it, it was better not knowing and just enjoying the present because if she knew the answer, one way or another, she would overthink it and it would ruin everything.
Like this, when it was just the two of them, Talia was able to imagine that Damon was not an Alpha and she was not some no-name she-wolf he found in the attic. Like this, their pasts and backgrounds were not important because they were two ordinary people. Damon and Talia. Equals.
Talia looked at the man in front of her who now fidgeted from one leg to another while facing her unreadable expression, and she acknowledged that she loved every part of him. His scent, his touch, his flavors, his heated gaze, the way his muscles rippled under her palm… she loved it all. She even loved his mood swings that somehow always ended with him embracing her, and she wanted to feel it again.
Pushing all her insecurities aside, Talia dashed toward Damon.
Damon caught her as she jumped on him while wrapping her legs around his waist, and he eagerly responded to her kisses.
Damon turned on his heel, pinning Talia against the wall and she moaned into his mouth when he pressed his erection against the cradle of her thighs.
Talia really loved the way Damon held her like she weighs nothing, and even with all that strength, he handled her with care, and he made sure that it was good for her.
Talia gasped when she felt his hand under her top.
"Not here… Our room…", Talia said breathily.
Damon smiled and spoke into her lips, "Our room? Does that mean you gave up on the silly idea to move out?"
Talia tilted her head to see him better and her eyes sparkled with mischief. "It depends. Will you remind me that I'm yours?"
Damon needed a moment to process Talia's words, and then he tightened his hold on her and dashed up the stairs with urgency, leaving behind Talia's giggles that echoed down the hallway.
Damon was elated that Talia made the first move, she came onto him, and she said that she wanted him to remind her she is his. He was up to the challenge.
"Mmm…", Talia groaned in protest when kisses and small bites on her neck and shoulder pulled her out of her much-needed sleep.
"Sorry, kitten, but we need to wake up so that we can have breakfast and check if there is anything urgent we should handle before Elders come."
Talia's eyes snapped open, and she was wide awake. Elders are coming!
They will try to persuade Damon to stick with Marcy as his Luna and they will scold him because he attended an important party and got photographed with some other woman (aka Talia) when Marcy was right there.
Talia didn't meet any of the Elders, but she already didn't like them.
The thought of losing Damon was unbearable and Talia hugged him tightly.
Damon chuckled. "Should I take this as… you don't want to get out of bed?"
Talia knew very well what he meant by staying in bed. His erection pressing on her thigh spoke volumes and reminded her of a wild night full of carnal pleasures they shared, but she didn't want to admit it.
"It's early."
"Get used to this, kitten, because I won't let you sleep in anymore.", Damon said matter-of-factly. "Yesterday I was awakened by an issue with rogues at the border, and I found you with some guy putting crazy thoughts into your head about leaving me."
Talia pouted. She wanted to stay in bed longer to avoid Elders, and Damon's company was a bonus, as for the rest… "That SOME guy is a shaman, and he was not persuading me to leave you. We were talking about my wolf."
Damon cocked an eyebrow. "What did he say?"
"Gideon said that I am suppressing myself, and that's harming my wolf."
"Suppressing?", Damon repeated while nodding. "I agree."
Considering the hostility Damon harbored toward Gideon, Talia thought that he might say how that's rubbish, but he ended up agreeing. "You do?"
"You grew up learning to diminish your presence. They treated you lower than Omega.", Damon said while gritting his teeth. "… but you are born to stand out."
"How do you know that?"
Damon would be blind not to notice how amazing Talia is. The moment her confidence peeks through the fence of her insecurities, Talia is like a Goddess everyone wants to worship. But that was not something he could back up with evidence, so he chose to tell her something Talia was well aware of.
"The fact that your wolf could talk means that your background is exceptional."
Since they were on this topic, Damon decided to share one more bit of information he acquired.
"My people checked official records of the Red Moon pack regarding orphans in the last two decades, and there is no evidence you were there. I don't think that the old Alpha brought you to the Red Moon pack accidentally and they forgot about you. I believe they were hiding you, and that's why they didn't make you join their pack and establish the mind-link when you got there."
The best-kept secret is the one no one knows about, so it's no surprise that there were no records of Talia staying in the Red Moon pack.
Damon wondered if Alpha Edward was aware of Talia's existence and why they would allow Talia to grow up as an undocumented orphan the old Alpha picked up who-knows-where.
Talia let out a long breath. "That all sounds fantastic, but it's of no use if I can't awaken my wolf."
Damon knew that Talia wanted to rely on her own abilities, and he admired that side of her. Actually, that was also proof that she was not an Omega. A werewolf who craves independence is a sign of strength, and he suspected that she has an Alpha bloodline.
"That's why you should take care of your body and don't suppress your desires. Keep in mind that I will support you so if you want something, just go for it."
Talia felt a wave of heat splashing on her cheeks. "Maya said the same thing." About going for it, with IT being Damon.
"Did she?" Damon feigned ignorance. He was eavesdropping and he knew very well that Maya said that about him. "Maya is wise, you should take her advice."
Talia's cheeks heater further and she wondered if Damon can read minds. "Didn't you say that Elders are coming, and we should get ready for the day?"
"No need to rush.", Damon said. "Remember that starting today, you are my Luna."
When Talia nodded in understanding, Damon continued, "In order to prepare for Elders' visit, you should take your role seriously and get into the character."
Talia had a feeling that this was a trap, but she still asked, "How?"
"The first thing a good Luna should do is to please her Alpha.", Damon said with lust clouding his icy-blue eyes. "Don't suppress your desires, kitten. I know you want me."
Talia wanted to say something snarky in return, but he moved to kiss her neck and his hot palms glided over her body, setting her soul on fire.
Within seconds, Talia gripped Damon's back while plunging headfirst in the wave of lust that crashed on her.
He was right. She wanted him. Desperately.
