"Don't you need to talk to Tony and the group he brought here?", Talia asked Damon softly, only for Damon to hear.
They finished with breakfast and were chatting over beverages while snacking on fruits.
Damon cocked an eyebrow at Talia. "Are you chasing me away?"
"Of course, not. But they came here to train. Shouldn't you spend some time with them?"
The truth was that Talia also wanted to chat with Kalina and Mindy, and Damon's presence made it impossible to have a girl chat. And because of Damon, Tony was there also.
Damon hugged Talia tightly and spoke into her hair like a child who was wronged, "They will be here for many days with plenty of chances to train and talk and…"
"And I'm not going anywhere.", Talia interrupted Damon. "I want to talk to ladies and see if they want to go shopping, and you have your things to do."
Mindy's eyes lit up. "Did someone say, shopping?"
Damon rolled his eyes at Mindy but didn't say anything. Mindy's blatant way of speaking always rubbed Damon the wrong way, but he ignored her on those few occasions they met because of Maddox. However, since Talia was here, this was his third time to see Mindy within a month and there were instances when he wanted to install a zipper on her mouth.
However, Damon knew that Talia was right, but that didn't make it easy to separate. He wanted Talia in his touching distance all the time.
Yes, he was going to the neighboring table, and he knew that soon they will head to the training grounds for Tony and his people to see the equipment, meet Damon's generals, and discuss upcoming training, but even if his distance from Talia was only three steps, that was three steps too many.
Damon looked at Talia and then gave her a long toe-curling kiss, right there in the garden, for everyone to see.
When Damon inched away, Talia was breathless and flustered.
"Think about me while I'm away, kitten.", Damon said with all the seriousness in the world, and Talia was not sure how to respond to this because his emotions confirmed his insecurities and yearning.
Instead of saying anything, Talia gave him a big hug.
Yes, Damon was an Alpha, feared and respected by many, but to Talia, he was Damon. Just Damon.
They held each other in silence, enjoying their mixed scents and everything was the way it should be.
Eventually, Talia spoke, "Focus on what you are doing, so that you finish as soon as possible. When work is done, we can have fun. I miss you already."
After a few quick kisses, Damon stood up reluctantly and beckoned Tony to follow him to the other table.
Maya joined Tatiana, Kalina, Mindy, and Talia, and five women started discussing plans for the next few days so that they can come up with what they needed to buy during their shopping outing.
Talia's eyes rested on the other table, and Mindy noticed.
Mindy playfully nudged Talia. "Damon will not disappear if you don't look at him."
"I know."
"So why are you looking there?", Mindy challenged her.
"I was not looking at him.", Talia said.
Before Mindy could ask more questions, Talia stood up to walk there.
Since Damon left and Maya joined, Mindy and Tatiana were leading the discussion related to girl-shopping and Talia noticed Meg glancing their way.
As someone who was ignored and neglected for most of her life, Talia was sensitive to these things.
Talia approached the second table and put her hand on Damon's shoulder. This small act made everyone look at Talia.
Talia glanced at everyone before asking Damon, "Is it OK if Meg joins us for the morning?"
Damon was amazed to see that Talia took the initiative to invite Meg. His little kitten was taking care of their guests, like a true Luna, and Damon was delighted to see her grow.
Tony frowned. "We came here to train."
Talia's gaze didn't move from Damon. "You said that there will be plenty of chances for them to train, and we are going shopping as a group only today."
How can Damon say no to that? "If Meg wants to join, I don't see a problem."
Tony's frown deepened. Why was everyone talking like he was not there?
Meg's eyes sparkled and she swiftly stood up and bowed toward Tony. "I will make sure to make up for whatever I miss."
Damon cocked a finger beckoning Talia to come closer. "I fulfilled your wish. How will you repay me for this, hmm?"
Talia's eyes flashed in shock as she didn't miss Damon's suggestive tone. But more than his tone, his left hand landed at the back of her knee and was inching higher under her skirt!
"In private.", Talia responded in an urgent whisper.
Damon's lips curved into a mischievous grin. "That's exactly what I had on my mind."
Talia was flabbergasted. She meant that they should discuss that in private, and not that she will repay him in private, but then… was there any point in arguing with Damon?
Talia moved her legs so that Damon's naughty hand can't reach her, and she swiftly leaned to peck his lips. "Thanks, you are the best." With that, Talia turned to walk away with Meg by her side.
Damon looked at two retreating backs, one belonging to a brunette-something and the other one was his mate's, his kitten, the most dazzling woman in the world.
He couldn't wait to be done with work and to return to his fun with Talia. Ah, he was hard already! That made it difficult to focus on a talk about training with five guys at the table.
Meg accepted Talia's invitation gladly, but when she reached the other table, she hesitated.
Meg grew up in the Lightclaw pack where hierarchy is strictly respected, and at the table in front of her was her future Luna (aka Kalina), a celebrity with an Alpha bloodline (aka Mindy), and a Beta (aka Maya). Talia and Tatiana didn't have any official standing but both of them had an exquisite aura that told Meg they are not to be trifled with.
Maya pushed the plate with fruits closer to Meg. "We will go to the beach at least once, so you will need a swimsuit. Other than that, we will go to a spa and maybe overnight camping…"
Meg listened as Maya was telling her plan of activities for the next few days and she relaxed seeing that everyone was acting normally.
Kalina scooted closer to Talia. "I see that you and Alpha Damon are still going strong. Actually, you are chummier than you were at my pack." She looked at Talia expectantly, obviously waiting for Talia to clarify her relationship status with Damon.
Talia glanced around the table. Everyone seemed friendly. Meg was totally focused on what Maya was saying, Maya and Mindy already knew, and it was only a matter of time before others hear about it also…
Talia's heart pounded wildly, and she inhaled forcibly before saying, "We are mates."
"I knew it!", Kalina exclaimed excitedly. "No wonder you are so clingy." Kalina glanced at Talia's neck. "Don't worry. It gets better after marking."
"It does?", Talia asked, genuinely curious.
Kalina nodded and craned her neck to expose Tony's mark on her neck. It looked like a dark brown tattoo in the shape of a wolf's paw that extended into a crescent moon.
"Once his mark is on you, it's like confirmation that you belong to him. Many guys won't hit on you once they see you are taken, and also, no one wants to provoke an Alpha.", Kalina explained and lowered her voice as she continued, "I assume you have your reason for not announcing it. Are you planning a big surprise party?"
Oh, boy. Somehow, Talia knew that she will need to explain this. Again. "It's nothing like that. Damon needs to deal with some things first."
"Like what?", Kalina continued probing.
Talia hesitated, unsure how to say this. But there was no way to make it sound more pleasant. "Marcy will be here tomorrow this time."
Kalina blinked once, twice, and then she asked, "Marcy, who? The one who came onto you in front of the restroom at my party?" And after that Marcy was trying to get close to Kalina, but that was not related to Talia.
