George entered the study and paused at the sight of Talia who was there with Damon.
George wondered if Talia will be part of this secretive talk. Or maybe he overthought everything and this was just to discuss Marcy's condition. Maybe.
George decided to start with pleasantries.
"I failed to congratulate you on finding your mate and your Luna.", George said to Damon. "Pardon my tardiness. I wish you all the best in the years to come."
"No need to apologize.", Damon responded. "It's understandable, considering the commotion the news caused with the Elders."
George remembered the circus from the previous evening. It didn't match the image of a scary and stern Alpha that Damon usually carried. If that happened in the Red Moon pack, Alpha Edward would execute the ringleaders on the spot, to set an example for others, yet Damon just stood there and allowed it to unfold.
George had to ask, "Are your Elders always so disobedient?"
Damon was amused that George asked him so bluntly, but he didn't mind. It was refreshing not to guess what was on the other person's mind. "They are remnants of the system I'm trying to abolish."
"What's stopping you from reminding them who is their Alpha?"
Damon didn't feel like explaining his failures. Sure, he could suppress the Elders and send them to hell, but Caden was right… if Damon did that, it would come with consequences. Many of those Elders are bellowed grandfathers and grandmothers to many from the Dark Howlers pack, and if it was just a few Elders, Damon could punish them, but with most of them causing a ruckus, Damon ended up letting it unfold.
Damon already decided to deal with them covertly. No one will get away with challenging him or his Luna, but it wouldn't be wise to strike them openly with so many eyes on him.
Instead of answering George's question, Damon had a question of his own. "Are you asking this for your future reference, Alpha George?"
George's brows furrowed when Damon confirmed George's suspicion. He knew, but the question was, how much Damon knew?
George glanced at Talia and Damon spoke, "Don't worry about Talia. We can talk in front of her."
Talia was not sure if she can contribute, but she wanted to be present. If nothing else, she will silently support Damon.
Talia glanced at Damon and she smiled as Damon continued, "Talia is my mate, my Luna, my equal. What I know, she knows."
George cleared his throat awkwardly. Did Alpha Damon need to be lovey-dovey right in front of him? He decided to go back to the topic. The sooner they finish, the sooner he can go back to Dawn. "How much do you know?"
"I know that you are George Shaw, Alpha of the Frostcrest pack. I can understand why you are concealing your identity, but I don't know what are you doing in the Red Moon pack." Damon leaned over his desk. "Of course, considering the fate of the Frostcrest pack, I have a few guesses and I wonder if you will tell me which one is the correct one."
George frowned. He didn't like his current situation. Before admitting anything, he needed to clarify. "Does James know who I am?"
Damon shrugged. "If he knows, he didn't find it out from me."
"I assume there is a reason we are having this conversation in private."
Damon raised his hands, palms facing George, indicating to him to tone down the hostility.
"I mean no harm. I only hope we can collaborate."
"You mean, blackmail?"
"That's not how you call a deal that would benefit both of us."
George released a long breath. How is it beneficial for both, if Damon can blackmail him, yet George had nothing? "What do you want, Alpha Damon? I am not a person who plays games."
"I believe that Alpha Edward knows what happened here last night, and it safe to assume that he is not happy. I would appreciate your assistance so that things don't go out of control."
George now knew where this was going. "In exchange for keeping my identity a secret?"
Damon confirmed and added, "Among other things."
"Other things? Like what?"
"That would depend on what you need.", Damon responded. "As long as it's not putting any of my people in danger, I am willing to assist you in whatever you are doing. Take your time and think about it but I hope you will realize the urgency in dealing with Alpha Edward. If things escalate, the deal is off the table."
George thought about his options for a moment before saying, "What do you think I can do to pacify Alpha Edward? He sent Marcy here with an intention for her to become your Luna. Anything less than that won't make him happy. It was my duty to escort her here, and I did, but Alpha Edward's wrath won't be selective. I will be punished for Marcy's failure even without him knowing what happened between us."
George couldn't make himself say the words that he and Marcy were mates. Or did Damon know that George and Marcy had sex? George didn't want to think about it.
"You will find out that James will lend you a hand.", Damon said. Seeing that George was alerted, Damon added, "He doesn't know your identity, nor about what happened between you and Marcy. However, James was aware that you and Marcy were not available, and he covered it up for Alpha Edward in your absence. I suggest that we call James here and discuss options. But I wanted to talk to you first and see if you are OK with it."
George made a face. "You sound like I have a choice."
"Great!", Damon exclaimed while ignoring George's sarcasm. "Do you have anything you want to tell me in private before James joins us?"
George shook his head, indicating that he doesn't.
Before calling James, Damon decided to make a few points. "Your real identity is not important for this, however, James will need to know that you and Marcy were mates. I don't expect that you will spill your secrets, but if we are going to prevent a war, we need to be open about things that are relevant. So let me ask you again, is there something you wish to tell me?"
George was about to say no, but then he paused. Damon agreed not to disclose his real identity, which meant that George still had his possibility of revenge. And the fact that Damon was willing to negotiate meant that Damon won't use him as a scapegoat in this whole thing.
George's opinion of Damon improved, and he decided to share one thing.
"I suspect that James is not Alpha Edward's son."
