As they finished breakfast, everyone dispersed to accomplish their tasks.
James headed to the human city with his new friends. James saw that Petra, Erik, and Zack would occasionally stiffen as if they reminded themselves who James is, but James didn't mind. He was used to it.
Mindy, Kalina, and Maya went to Darkbourne to check on a few things for the upcoming party. Marcy volunteered to do it, right before Talia snapped and held her down while showing her the graphic video, and then there was the whole rejection business… long story short, Marcy was unavailable, so Maya took it on herself to finalize those tasks, and Mindy and Kalina decided to accompany Maya.
Caden accompanied Tony, Paul, Nate, and Greg for training. Their schedule included training in the morning, and after lunch, they will help with setting up the event hall and the garden for the upcoming party.
Tatiana and Maddox went back to her room after promising that they will make appearances at the party. Damon was hoping that Maddox will be more present, but considering that he just found his mate, Damon didn't insist.
Maddox's situation was a painful reminder for Damon that if he was not an asshole when he met Talia, he and Talia would spend the first few days (probably longer) indulging in each other. When they come out of the room, Talia would wear his mark, regardless of her wolf's presence.
But Damon messed up, big time, and it was weeks already, yet Talia was still not marked. This combined with external threats to Talia's safety, and Axel wanting to take her away… it was all driving Damon mad.
At this rate, Damon feared that it won't happen. He was stupid at the beginning, and now they were stuck with her wolf's conditions, and there was also Axel's warning how they should give it at least few days to adjust to the marking. What was that about?
Part of Damon considered letting his wolf out to mark Talia, and he would deal with Talia's wolf and anything else that comes later.
Sometimes it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission, but Damon was not sure which one this was. What if the mess escalates into something that's too much and he really endangers Talia?
Damon was frustrated. He was never indecisive. Damon's nature was to do what his instincts tell him, but since he met Talia, he was doubting himself like never before.
After breakfast, Talia had a task to go with Dawn and visit Marcy and George. They would deliver fresh food, herbs, and check on the situation there.
Shaken up by recent events, and nervous about what's coming, Damon decided to tag along.
"Don't you have pack-related work to do?", Talia asked Damon when she realized he was serious about coming with her.
"Kitten", he called with all the importance in the world. "Didn't you notice that whenever we are apart, something bad happens? We should stick together. Besides, I want to hear what Travis has to say."
Talia gave up. If Damon was fine to neglect his work in order to follow her around, she wouldn't object. She liked his presence. The only downside was that Dawn was super-stiff with Damon around.
In the kitchen, Damon waited on the side and checked emails on his phone while Talia and Dawn packed food. For people who didn't know what was going on, the official version was that Damon and Talia will have a meal in the forest.
Stephanie, Zina, Ivy, and Lily were also busying themselves in the kitchen with clean-up after breakfast.
Because Lisa was in the dungeon, and it was somewhat because of her, Talia was not sure how to look at Stephanie and she couldn't wait to pack stuff and get out of there.
"Is this the right time to have a meal in the forest?", Stephanie asked Damon with disapproval in her voice. "I know you kids like to have fun, but there is so much to do with the upcoming party."
Damon nodded in agreement. "It's exactly because of the party that we will do this. It will help us change the scenery as we go over the schedule. Maya is handling things in the town with Mindy and Kalina, and we will all be back in time to set up things here."
Stephanie exhaled helplessly and shook her head. She didn't approve, but Damon was the Alpha, and he knew what he was doing. Hopefully.
"If you are not here when I return, I will meet with you in the sweet shop.", Dawn told Zina.
"You have plans?", Talia asked.
Zina confirmed. "We will take Ivy and Lily to enjoy the best lemon pie in the area."
"Just make sure you don't stay too long.", Stephanie reminded them. "At ten-thirty, I want us to start with lunch and food prep for tonight."
"Sure, sure…", Dawn and Zina responded in unison like it's not a big deal.
Stephanie was flustered. Just yesterday Maya told her that they will have this big party, and now everyone was going to relax and enjoy. Don't they have a sense of urgency?
Stephanie felt like the only grownup in the room that was stuck with a bunch of kids who only want to play.
Talia, Damon, and Dawn reached the house where Marcy and George were.
They took a longer route because Talia wanted to get some fresh herbs from the forest.
Travis was there already, sitting in the living room.
"Don't worry about it. I finished the exam a minute ago, so I'm waiting to tell you the results in person", Travis said when Talia apologized for running late. He didn't dare be disrespectful toward his Luna even though Damon didn't announce it.
Dawn went into the kitchen to prepare a tray with food for George, and Damon and Talia sat on the sofa to hear updates from the good Doctor.
Travis spoke for a few minutes, which could be summarized with, "There are no significant changes to their conditions."
Actually, their states were slowly declining, which was not unusual considering that they were not getting out of beds, and the extent of how much IVs could do was limited.
"They are fine for now, but if this continues for the next few days, I will recommend that we move them to the hospital where they can get extensive care. If they were humans, they would be hooked up to machines already."
Damon didn't like it. If Marcy and George are moved to the hospital, people would find out about their condition.
Sure, people working in the pack hospital are members of the Dark Howlers pack, and Travis can decide who from the staff can approach the patients, but there are ways to find out things by hacking into security feeds, or into hospital records. Nothing was completely secure.
