Damon left Marcy's room feeling victorious, but also apprehensive about meeting Talia's eyes.
While he was in that room with Marcy, Damon felt Talia's unsteady emotions bouncing on him, and he was on the verge of dropping everything and just going to hold her. She needed comforting, and he needed assurance that she won't leave. He was never so insecure. Maybe because he never truly cared about someone before.
Damon hoped that Talia knew he held Marcy's hand only for the show, and all the nice things he said were only to get Marcy to cooperate.
He tried to focus on the positives.
With this, level of alertness in the territory of the Dark Howlers pack can be lowered. No matter what Alpha Edward hears after his conversation with Marcy, he will think that it's information from people who don't know what's really going on.
In the meantime, Marcy will send to her father a few updates that James prepared already. Damon couldn't believe that everything played out how the teen predicted.
Damon really admired James' mind. The boy is a genius!
Damon was thinking about how to recruit the teen, but James was right… his father won't let him go because Alpha Edward doesn't see James as a smart kid, he sees James as his successor.
However, in two years, James will have his eighteenth birthday and his cover will crumble when his aura doesn't awaken. Damon took a mental note to poach the boy at that time. If he can have James as a strategist, Damon was ready to make him his Gamma.
This three days-long delay will be enough for Damon to mark Talia and they enjoy being lovey-dovey in the cabin, away from it all. Even if the sky was falling, Damon would prioritize solidifying his bond with Talia. No more waiting. With dangers pressing on them from all sides, he needed to know that she was his, or he would lose his mind. And once she wears his mark, and they step out as Alpha and Luna of the Dark Howlers pack, everything else will be settled… somehow.
This three days-long break will give James more time to play, and George and Dawn will indulge in the activities as newly found mates.
Everyone wins!
Well, not everyone. Someone needs to work.
Caden and Maya have tasks to monitor the situation and catch any people who attempt to get in touch with Alpha Edward.
Damon didn't get a chance to talk to Maddox and Tony about their plans, but they can either continue what they were doing, or go home. At this point, they can't contribute, and they were not in the way either.
Once three days are up, Talia and Damon will return, and they will move on to the next stage of James' plan.
When Damon reached the kitchen, he found Dawn, George, James, Travis, and Talia. They were looking at the screen that showed Marcy on the bed rolling and giggling. She was obviously pleased with this outcome, and totally oblivious to the camera in her room or that her happiness will collapse in three days.
Damon pressed his lips into a line while wondering how Marcy will behave when the truth slaps her on the face. Telling her a pretty lie in order to manipulate her was wrong, but Damon knew that he couldn't tell her the truth in advance.
James said that Marcy is a bad liar, and even if she wanted to collaborate with them, Alpha Edward would see through the deception. Marcy might be willing to lie, but she won't be brave enough to go through it.
Based on James' assessment. It was crucial for Marcy to believe the lie because only like that she could make Alpha Edward believe it.
Well, she will enjoy her bliss for three more days before they tell her what's really going on.
Damon didn't like this. He was a warrior, and not a schemer. This lying made him feel icky all over. But he reminded himself that Marcy wanted to be his Luna with a mate by her side, and she beat Talia, twice. Marcy did a lot of selfish things without considering who gets trampled. With that in mind, Damon felt less guilty.
"Travis…", Damon called. "The fact that Marcy is here is no longer a secret, but we don't want to publicize it. Marcy is not allowed to leave the house. Pick a few trustworthy nurses to come and check on Marcy once or twice a day, just to make sure her condition doesn't worsen. Tell Caden and Maya who are nurses you picked, so they notify the guards. Zina can coordinate with them to bring Marcy her meals."
George stood up and pulled Dawn with him. "We are leaving.", George said.
Damon nodded in acknowledgment. "You have three days. After that we move onto the next stage."
George's eyes darted toward James. "Will Marcy cooperate after finding out the truth?"
James smiled smugly. "By then she will be too deep to back off. Don't worry. I got it all figured out." He glanced at Damon. "Anything else, or can I go?"
Damon knew that James was irritated because he had to stop his fun to attend this. "If you want to join your friends, I will arrange for a warrior to take you there. And if you don't, there is the latest PlayStation console in your room with a few games that should keep you busy for a while."
James' eyes lit up. "I will check out the game console." James walked out of the kitchen in hurried steps. PlayStation!
With that, Damon looked at Talia who had a small frown on her beautiful face. He could feel that she was troubled. It's not that he was holding a woman's hand, but this was Marcy. She wanted to be his Luna. She already experienced his touch and Talia ended up watching the video recording.
Damon knew, if roles were reversed, he would blow a fuse just by seeing Talia in the same room with a guy who put his hands on her.
"Give me a moment, kitten.", Damon said and moved toward the sink.
He used the dishwashing liquid to soap his hands and he washed them thoroughly before patting them dry with a towel and turning to Talia who was now smiling a little.
She knew that he washed hands because of her, and she appreciated the gesture. She didn't want to think about Marcy or anyone other than Damon.
"Can we go now to the cabin?", she asked.
Damon's heart flipped in his chest, and he licked his lips nervously. It was happening! But first, a few more things.
"I will ask Steph to pack us some food for the road and in the meantime, we can pick a few changes of clothes to take."
Damon extended his hand toward Talia, palm up, and her delicate hand slid into his big one, their fingers interlaced, and Damon was glad that Talia was not upset.
They were getting ready to leave for the cabin, and he will mark her, and she will be his completely. Finally.
