"This party has a horrible timing, but it's too late to cancel.", Maya said. "First guests are arriving as we speak. Everything we planned either failed or was only halfway done and that brought us to the current situation where most of the guests will expect to see Marcy as our future Luna."
Damon pinched the roof of his nose. They had one thing that could discredit Marcy as his Luna, the video of George accepting Marcy's rejection. Unfortunately, that would disclose George's identity, and Damon wanted to avoid that if possible.
In Damon's opinion, George could be a valuable pawn, or maybe even an ally, but if they announce that the Alpha of the Frostcrest pack is alive, George will turn into an enemy and will be a threat, assuming that he lives long for that. And Damon knew that Talia won't forgive him if he endangers Dawn's mate.
They needed another way to deal with this situation.
"Any last-minute ideas?", Damon asked his Betas.
"I think that you should tell everyone that Talia is your mate, right away.", Caden said. "You know how they are, echoing each other's nonsense and finding strength in numbers. The longer we delay this, the more they will reinforce the idea that Talia is your assistant, and with Marcy not showing up, they will assume that she is going for the dramatic effect of the main guest coming last."
Maya didn't think it was that bad. "We don't need to announce Talia as the Luna right away. I agree. Guests will talk among each other, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. We can use that to sway opinions." She made a dramatic pause before continuing. "We can discredit Marcy and remind people about Talia's recent contributions. The more people have a favorable opinion of Talia, the better. And then, there is the bond. People who believe that the mate bond is sacred, won't dare to raise their voices against Talia."
"But I'm not marked.", Talia reminded everyone. "Why would they believe I'm Damon's mate, and not an excuse to reject Marcy and stir trouble with the Red Moon pack?"
"Shaman Gideon could help with that.", Caden said.
"Is he coming?", Damon asked.
Maya shook her head and shrugged, indicating that she was not sure. The man didn't RSVP, and his mind-link was shut down, so it was highly likely he had no plans to attend this event.
"Do you think he can help?", Talia asked as the spark of hope ignited in her.
"Definitely.", Maya and Caden said in unison, and Maya explained, "He could perform a ritual that will confirm you are mates. Many of these old geezers respect him because they believe that he is the spokesperson for the Moon Goddess."
Talia looked at Damon. "We need to make sure he comes."
Damon made a face. "Do you think I should drag him here?"
"I know you have a grudge with him, but we can ask him politely. In person.", Talia said.
Damon groaned. "He doesn't like me." And Damon didn't like him either.
"He was nice toward me.", Talia reminded Damon. Gideon was nice, all to the point when Damon came and broke the door and dragged Talia out of there.
"Nice doesn't cut it, kitten. Our grudges run deep."
Talia looked at him stubbornly. "I want to try."
Maya and Caden took a step back, ready to watch the show because this was their Luna standing up to the Alpha. The only thing missing was the popcorn for Betas to munch on.
Damon was exasperated. "We can't go now. It takes at least half an hour to reach there and come back, and who knows how much time it will take him to get ready, assuming that you can convince him to come. Guests are here, what will they say if hosts don't show up for the first hour or two of the party?"
"Host.", Talia said.
Damon didn't get it. "What?"
"Host.", Talia repeated. "They are expecting you. Not the two of us."
Damon's brows came together in a frown when he realized… "You want to go there without me. That's not happening."
Talia steeled her resolve. "You need to stay here, appear among guests, and stir the conversation in the direction where Marcy is bad and I'm good. I'm not needed for it. Actually, it's better if I'm not here because I will just sound like a bitter woman, and people will think that you are saying nice things about me only because I'm present."
Damon puffed his cheeks. Somehow, Talia's words made sense. But there was no way he will let her go alone. "Maya will go with you."
"No.", Talia firmly rejected.
Damon couldn't believe this. "What?"
"There are more than fifty guests. If you want to sway the opinions effectively, you will need more people. Who is better than Maya and Caden?"
"You are not going to see Shaman on your own."
"I won't go on my own, but I can't go with two people who are the most reliable."
Both Maya and Caden puffed their chest at Talia's words. She called them reliable.
Damon narrowed his eyes at Talia. "And who will go?"
Talia thought about her options. Everyone was mated or somehow important, leaving her with one person… "Mindy."
Damon didn't like this. Whenever Talia and Mindy were on their own, Mindy would end up corrupting Talia in some way. Damon will never forget that wretched dildo. While on the topic of that dildo, Damon flicked it through the window, and the thing just disappeared. Damon assumed that someone found it and took it away. It's a purple thing, definitely standing out in the green foliage of the garden.
Seeing that Damon's frown was deepening by the second, Talia added, "Assign two warriors to accompany me. I trust Mindy. She is quick-witted, and she can help me persuade Shaman Gideon to come…"
Travis reached in front of the room on the second floor of the packhouse and he knocked on the door.
"Coming!", Dawn shouted, and Travis could hear rushed footsteps.
The door opened and Travis blinked at the sight of Dawn who was wrapped in a towel and holding it bunched at her chest level. Travis' eyes moved on their own, to confirm that the towel covered Dawn's important parts as the towel ended just below her buttocks.
"Doctor Travis!", Dawn exclaimed and took a step back. She was expecting Zina to bring her the dress.
Nudity is not a big deal, and she was not even nude, but Travis appeared unexpectedly, and she was startled.
Travis opened his mouth to say something and then he groaned when an unmistakable Alpha aura hit him full force.
His vision blurred, but he definitely saw George pulling Dawn to stand behind him.
Travis cursed his luck. What the hell? Was George an Alpha also?
He wanted to be a doctor and save people, but at this rate, he should change his profession because it's too dangerous.
Maybe he should spend his day in the gym, with warriors and other sport-ish people, like Keith. Travis remembered that Keith was on survival training in the mountains, and Travis thought how that's not a bad place to be. Anything was better than this.
"George…", Dawn called while tugging his arm. "That's the doctor. He came to check on you. It's my fault for opening the door like this."
George exhaled sharply and stabilized his emotions and Travis was able to breathe when the aura pressing on him subsided.
"Please, come in.", Dawn said sweetly to Travis. "You can do the check-up and I will go and find something to put on."
"My clothes are in the closet.", George said. "Pick something."
Dawn's cheeks heated at the thought of wearing his clothes. She nodded in small jerky movements and then dashed into the closet.
Travis wished that she didn't leave because she could control this unreasonable man.
George moved from the door and gestured to Travis to enter, and Travis was not sure if that was a good idea, but he steeled his resolve and reminded himself that he is a medical professional. He can do this.
