Elder Samson spoke seriously, "In the absence of a fated mate, Marcy from the Red Moon pack is the next best choice. Even if you have urges to sleep around, be discrete about it. You should do what's best for the pack."
Damon released a slow breath. Here they go again with the story of how they want what's best for the pack.
What about what's best for Damon? Of course, they wouldn't care.
A decade passed, yet these two Elders still looked at Damon like he is a child that can be used for their own agenda.
If this was before, Damon would tell them to scram and not to return unless they want to challenge him to a duel, but this time it was different. Now he had Talia, and Damon needed to turn the tables and make Elders serve him.
As much as Damon didn't put Elders in his eyes, their influence was undeniable, and he didn't want them to create waves against Talia once her role as the Luna becomes public knowledge.
"What makes you think that Marcy is the next best choice?", Damon asked. "Marcy being the daughter of Alpha Edward doesn't mean she will be a good Luna. If I want to do what's best for my pack, I should reject Marcy and wait for my fated mate. After all, only when Alpha and Luna are fated mates, the prosperity of the pack is guaranteed. Instead of advising me to give up on womanizing, you should come up with a good plan to reject Marcy as my Luna without offending the Red Moon pack. Or do you think that I should accept any woman just because she wants to be my Luna?"
Elder Samson and Elder Charlie were at a loss. Everything Damon said sounded right, but that's not why they came here.
"Marcy is not just any woman.", Elder Charlie said. "If you miss this opportunity, you will regret it."
"Are you threatening me?"
"No, no.", Elder Charlie was quick to deny it. "I'm just saying that since you didn't find your fated mate so far, the Moon Goddess has other plans for you. The Dark Howlers pack needs a Luna, and you can't wait forever. You are not a young boy anymore."
Elder Samson added, "It's undeniable that the Dark Howlers pack is prospering under your leadership. However, you are just one man with a handful of people who are holding the reins. You need to expand the circle of people who are on top of things, and Luna like Marcy will give you access to many valuable resources. Alpha Edward said that his people will be at your disposal if you need them."
Caden listened to this from the side, and he shook his head at their hypocrisy. They were making this sound like Damon would benefit from his union with Marcy, but actually, they want to use Marcy as an opening to inject their people close to Damon.
Caden was not sure if they got stupid with age or are just blinded by greed. Did they really think that Alpha Edward will share power after he sinks his claws into the Dark Howlers pack? At most, they will get some crumbs that Alpha Edward doesn't find useful… if Alpha Edward allows it.
Damon straightened his back and his expression turned serious while facing two Elders. "I recognize your sincerity and I acknowledge that you are thinking about what's best for the Dark Howlers pack."
Elder Samson and Elder Charlie exchanged confused gazes while silently confirming if they heard the same thing.
"You agree?", Elder Samson asked.
Damon nodded solemnly. "The Moon Goddess has plans for everyone, and she is always right. If I find my fated mate, I will turn into a man who has eyes for only one woman, and she will be perfect for me and for my pack."
Elder Samson opened his mouth to say something, but Damon was quick to raise his hand, gesturing that he was not done.
"Since you are thinking about what's best for the pack, I want to share sensitive information with you. I hope you can keep this between us, for now", Damon said, and when two Elders nodded in agreement, Damon reached out to Maya with the mind-link, 'Come in.'
Elder Samson and Elder Charlie both turned toward the door that opened, and they glanced at two figures who came in. The two Elders didn't show much interest in Maya, they were aware that she is Beta, but they couldn't stop their brows furrowing as they looked at Talia. She was familiar, yet not familiar, and the fact that she walked in front of Maya meant that Talia's status isn't low.
After closing the door behind her, Maya scurried to stand next to Caden. She didn't want to miss the show.
Talia's eyes locked with Damon's, and she walked straight to him, without paying any heed to anyone else in the room.
Damon's lips lifted into a smirk as Talia approached him and she sat on his lap.
"Who is this girl?", Elder Samson asked irritably. Didn't they just discuss Damon's womanizing, and how Damon will keep it low-key?
Damon wrapped his arms around Talia and rested his chin on her shoulder before responding. "This girl was with me at the Summer Solstice festival, you might recognize her as the MVP of the tournament. She accompanied me to the Luna announcement ceremony at the Lightclaw pack, and she is the only one who is staying with me in the packhouse. Gentlemen, this is Talia. My fated mate."
Damon felt his insides jolt when he officially introduced Talia as his fated mate, and he was not sure if that was him, his wolf, or Talia. Probably all three of them.
Elder Samson and Elder Charlie gaped at Talia like she was growing a second head.
Damon continued talking to Talia, "Talia, dear, these are Elder Samson and Elder Charlie. They came to express their concerns about me leading the pack without my Luna, so I decided to introduce you to them. I hope that's OK with you."
Two Elders couldn't believe the gentle tone Damon used to speak to Talia. Were they imagining things?
Caden snorted. "Is this how you greet your future Luna?"
Two Elders snapped out of their daze.
"Luna?", Elder Samson asked in disbelief. "What proof you have for that?"
Damon cocked an eyebrow. "Do I need to prove I found my mate?"
"No, no…", Elder Charlie said with haste. "If what you said is true, you met your mate weeks ago. How come no one knows about it?"
"Relevant people are aware of Talia's importance."
Damon's response made the faces of two Elders turn ugly. Did he say they are not relevant?
"What is her background?", Elder Charlie asked his next question.
Damon was ready for it. "It is being kept as a secret for now. For Talia's safety." This was the truth. "Does it matter from where she is? Talia is my fated mate. The Moon Goddess knows what she is doing."
At the mentioning of the Moon Goddess, both Elders gave up on pursuing information related to Talia's background.
"Why is she not marked?", Elder Samson asked.
Damon feared this marking question because if he exposes the truth of how Talia's wolf is not present, it might be used against Talia. Normally, that wouldn't be a problem because there are instances where an Alpha would have a human for a mate, but in this case, these Elders felt that they are entitled to meddle in Damon's affairs, and how can they just give up when they were so close to their goal?
Talia pressed her lips into a line. Why are these two old geezers so overbearing?
Damon told her not to anger the Elders because he will be in the role of offending them, while she just needs to be his mate, but how can she let him do all the work? And why were they talking about her like she was not in the room?
Talia steeled her resolve and spoke, "I heard that Elders of the Dark Howlers pack were removed from their roles as advisors, and I thought how that was disrespectful, but now I know it was justified. The two of you are not offering advice, you are meddling in the private affairs of your Alpha. That's unheard of." She narrowed her eyes at Elder Samson. "Do you have a mate? Did anyone tell you when to mark her or how to treat her? What Damon and I do in our relationship is none of your business."
Elder Charlie's eyes flashed in anger. "But it is our business, missy. If you want people to accept you as the Luna of the Dark Howlers pack, you need to think about the pack, and not just about your private business."
Damon snorted. "Don't make rash statements that can get you penalized. Talia will be a wonderful Luna."
"You don't know that.", Elder Samson snapped.
"But I do, you see…", Damon made a dramatic pause before continuing, "To address your concern of Talia being accepted by the pack members, Coach Keith said that their win at the tournament is thanks to Talia's role as the team spirit. Everyone cheered when she was crowned as the MVP of the tournament. Outside of the public eye, Talia is knowledgeable with gifts of nature, and she shared with us a special mixture of herbs that are increasing the success rate of our scouts. In terms of external relations, during our outing at the Lightclaw pack, Talia is the one who secured us a tribute from the Steelbite pack. And she did all that before getting official recognition as my Luna. Isn't she wonderful? Or are you doubting the will of the Moon Goddess?"
