"Let's think about this one at a time.", Talia said.
Damon, Maya, and Caden turned to look at Talia, all three wondering what she was up to.
"We are open to ideas.", Maya said.
"The pack run is a week from now. A lot of things can happen until then. I never shifted into my wolf form and I have no idea how that's done, but…" Talia glanced at Damon and smiled a little. "I am confident that if anyone can teach me to shift, that will be you."
Damon was amazed by her optimism, and he knew that it was fueled by her faith in him.
Damon's smile fell when Talia added, "And I will ask Shaman Gideon for help."
Talia remembered that Shaman was not very friendly when she visited that afternoon, but now he was mated to Mindy, and Talia thought that she can leverage that. Surely, after a night of sex, he should be in a better mood.
Damon was not happy that Talia would ask someone for help also. He wanted her to rely on him, but he knew that this was an emergency and he didn't want to sound childish.
"We have a week to figure it out and to come up with backup plans, so that shouldn't be the most pressing matter.", Talia said before switching the topic. "We can't allow Marcy to stay in this state. I don't know if I can help her, but I want to try."
"What do you think will happen if she wakes up?", Damon asked dryly. It was not good that Marcy was comatose, but in the case she woke up, Damon could imagine Marcy throwing a fit. Damon had a mate, and he made it public. Marcy won't be happy. He really didn't want another problem now.
"If she doesn't wake up, people will blame us. Let's not give Alpha Edward another reason to attack us."
Damon pinched the roof of his nose. He knew that Talia was right, but he didn't like the idea of her exposing her abilities.
"And third…"
Damon lifted his head to look at Talia because she had more things on her mind.
She looked at him with all determination she could muster before announcing, "I want you to mark me."
Damon felt butterflies going crazy in his stomach, and he forgot about all his worries while his eyes eagerly inspected Talia's face. Did he hear her right? Did Talia say that she wants him to mark her?
Damon was suppressing his urge to mark her for such a long time, that he was used to living with the knot in his chest, and now he can finally do what his instincts told him from the beginning… claim his mate.
Damon didn't realize that he was smiling foolishly. He didn't look like a scary Alpha who was facing dangers from outside and inside his pack; he resembled a love-stricken teenager who couldn't stop grinning while looking at his crush who was blushing because she could feel his erection poking her bottom.
"We have a plan.", Maya said. "I will go with you in the morning to talk to Shaman."
Damon dispersed his lustful thoughts. Carnal pleasures will need to wait a bit because they were still talking.
"I will go with Talia.", Damon said.
Maya didn't agree. "Your presence will make it worse."
"I'm not going as Alpha. I will go as Talia's mate.", Damon said. He had no intention of separating from Talia. Not now when all those Elders knew how important she was, and not now when she said that he can mark her. He will sink his fangs into Talia's tender neck and fuck her thoroughly.
Maya noticed the air around Damon and Talia changing, and she wanted to leave, but there was another thing. "Elder Charlie and Elder Samson emphasized that the younger generation needs to support Talia as our Luna. It doesn't matter if they said that as a trap, but let's make that blow up in their faces. Regardless of how the pack run goes, if enough people support Talia, the Elders will need to step back."
"I like the sound of that, but how do we make it happen?", Caden asked.
Maya smirked knowingly. "Do you remember the Summer Solstice festival?"
"Which part of it?"
"The soccer tournament.", Maya said, and she tried not to laugh at Damon's sour expression. It was obvious that he remembered soccer players kneeling and kissing Talia's hand and that was exactly what Maya was going for. "We need to get our team and Coach Keith back from their training. We all saw them showing respect to Talia. Maybe other people forgot Talia's contributions as the team spirit and her being crowned as the MVP of that tournament, but I'm sure that our team remembers it. They are some of our best warriors, and I'm confident that with them around, others will think twice before stirring trouble." She turned to Damon. "What do you think?"
Damon didn't have objections. He liked that Maya came up with a backup plan and he wanted them to finish this meeting as soon as possible. "Send order that they can return immediately. They will have two free days before they need to report to their regular duties…"
With that, Maya and Caden left the study.
Damon looked at Talia eagerly. They were alone. At last.
"So…" He licked his lips. "When can we…?" He didn't finish, but Talia knew what he was talking about.
"Axel said how we should give it a few days for marking. I assume that had something to do with my powers. Let's do the important things first."
"Like?", Damon asked apprehensively.
"Marcy and visiting Shaman Gideon.", Talia said. "You mentioned that you have a cottage nearby that can provide privacy. How about we go there tomorrow?"
Damon feared that Talia will say how it will take days or longer, but then she said 'tomorrow'.
"That's OUR cottage, kitten.", he corrected her before asking, "Tomorrow? What if you can't help Marcy?"
Talia shrugged. "If I can help her, that would be the best. But if I can't help her, then she will end up in the pack hospital and Doctor Travis will take care of her with Maya and Caden keeping an eye on things."
Damon still didn't agree on Talia healing Marcy, but she said it like it was a done deal. However, he couldn't deny her this. He was still thinking about marking.
"Regardless of how this goes, I will need to talk to George and James in the morning, and then we will visit the Shaman."
Talia smiled happily. "After that, you should deal with any urgent matters, and as soon as you are done, we can go to the cabin." Talia had another request. "I want to meet your wolf before marking."
Damon could feel that the old beast was happy that Talia wanted to meet him. And Damon was happy also. By tomorrow this time, his mark will be forming on Talia's neck and Damon was eager to see what it will look like.
