Talia suppressed the tsunami of emotions and turned to look at Meg and Kai. "Now what?"
Kai responded, "One of us will come when it's safe to bring you more food and news but be prepared that it might be days. We can't risk someone suspecting that you are here."
"How many people know about this place?", Talia asked.
"It's me, Meg, Tyler, and Axel. We found this place years ago and would come here occasionally to hang out. It was like our hideout. Meg and I use this place when we want solitude during a run." His eyes shifted to Meg who smiled at him as they remembered some frisky scenes.
Kai cleared his throat and continued talking to Talia, "I never picked up any other scent. But just in case… stay here in the back. Alphas won't alert everyone of your absence, but someone will be searching."
Talia didn't know the details, but she was aware that Meg and Kai were knowingly working against their Alphas, which meant against their pack.
A sliver of doubt shot through her mind. Why were they risking so much for her and Damon? Was it just because she helped Meg once or was there more to it?
In any case… "Thank you.", Talia said to Kai and Meg.
Kai's expression hardened. "Thank us when we get you out of here. Until then, sit tight."
"If we get out of here, then what?", Talia asked dejectedly. Will Alpha Isaac and Alpha Sophia allow them to just be?
"WHEN you get out of here, you will be safe.", Kai said with confidence. "Our primary directive is to conceal our powers. No one will go after you if that means risking exposure. Since both you and Alpha Damon have abilities, you should not use them openly in order to avoid being hunted. There are people who will do anything to get ahold of your powers, use them for their benefit, or maybe dissect you in the hope to replicate them. Alpha Isaac and Alpha Sophia will count on that fear to keep you in check, and they will leave you alone."
"How can you be so sure?", Talia asked.
"I heard rumors about people who left.", Kai said. "We are warned about dangers, and Alphas are controlling who can get in and out of our territory. However, no one went after those few that sneaked out. Both you and Alpha Damon are high-profile individuals. Going against you would attract attention and we don't want that."
Talia knew that Kai was giving her a pep talk. It sounded good, but even though an open confrontation was not an option, secret plots were definitely a possibility.
"Don't lose hope.", Meg said to Talia seriously. "This is temporary. Alphas will be looking at the portal because Tyler left traces in that direction and rubbed your clothes to leave your scent. Alphas will assume that you left. We will find a way to get you out. Until then, try to rest and stay close to Alpha Damon. Your proximity will help him recover."
After saying the last few words of caution and encouragement, Meg and Kai left the cave and Talia found herself in silence that was disturbed by faint trickling sounds she guessed was a small stream of water Kai mentioned.
She released a long breath and looked at Damon who seemed to be in deep peaceful sleep. Medicine was working, and that allowed Talia to relax a bit.
A black rune flashed on his right shoulder, looking like a tattoo, and Talia remembered a hot afternoon on the beach when silly Alpha asked her to draw something on him with a permanent marker. His smile was brighter than the sun while she doodled a bird that turned ugly, yet Damon wanted to make a tattoo out of it because he thought that she likes them.
"Silly man…", Talia said and released a shaky breath while pushing an unruly strand of raven black hair from his forehead. "It's not about the tattoo. It was never about anything other than you."
A tear rolled down her cheek. Kai and Meg didn't tell her, but she knew that Damon might be crippled, they had no idea if he will wake up, he was tortured, and it was all her fault.
The strong, cheeky, caring, and overbearing Alpha was now unconscious, and the only thing she could do was wait and hope for the best.
Her body shook as the anxiety, fear, dejection, and anger rolled through her in waves, threatening to unhinge her.
She suppressed her urge to go back there and crush this whole damned place into smithereens.
Would she have enough power to do that? Will they catch her and put some restrictions on her before she can make real damage? But even if she has an infinite amount of power and no one stops her from wreaking havoc, it won't change the fact that Damon was like that because she marked him and because she made wrong decisions. What kind of Luna puts her mate in danger?
Talia released a slow breath while telling herself that the only thing that matters is Damon, and everything else will need to wait.
She laid next to Damon on the crude bed and snuggled close, hoping that her proximity will help him snap out of it.
The sparks that prickled her skin where they touched told her that Damon was there, alive, and she inhaled his scent that reminded her of her favorite things: forest, dark chocolate, and Damon.
"Kitten...", a familiar deep voice called and Talia's heart swelled at the sight of icy-blue eyes that looked at her with endless love.
"I really want to kiss you, but I fear that you won't like it. I fear that you will reject me. Tell me, kitten, can I kiss you?"
Her insides melted. He was so gentle and caring and nervous, and she loved him more. How can she deny him the kiss?
Before their lips connected, they were on the bed and he was pressing her hand against his bare chest.
"There. You will get used to touching me in no time."
Talia smiled at the cheeky Alpha. "Why would I get used to it?"
His lopsided smile made her heart flip. "Your memory is flaky, Mrs. Blake. As my wife, I expect you to touch me. Everywhere."
Before she could respond, the scene changed, and she ended up squatting next to the tub and washing Damon who was relaxing in the bubble bath.
"You like this, don't you, kitten?"
"No.", she lied. "Why would I like serving you?"
"Serving me? This is your punishment, not a job. If you see it as a job, I should increase difficulty…"
He yanked her hand and she fell into the tub where he was. Talia's heart rate increased. Not because of the sudden movement and intimacy, but because she knew that after this, he will remove her bra, and they will watch fireworks, and then… then he will carry her to bed and they will make love... for the first time.
Every time with Damon was like the first time.
Talia opened her eyes to find herself in a dark cave. Why was she wet?
It took her a few seconds to realize where she was and why, and that the wet sensation was from Damon who was drenched in sweat.
Talia scrambled to get the medicine. Meg told her that they are already overdosing him, so there was no set time when she should inject him with medicine, but to observe his condition. Damon's body was burning, and he was sweating profusely, so this was definitely the time.
Talia cursed herself. Why did she fall asleep?
With shaky hands, she opened the bottle, filled the syringe, and administered the injection.
After keeping the things aside, she sat next to Damon and stroked his forehead while smiling sadly at the thought of her dream. It was their first kiss, their first intimate moments. He was always caring and intense and he put her first.
Talia pressed her lips into a line and steeled her resolve while wiping the tears with the back of her palms. She wanted to be useful. She wanted to do whatever she could to help him.
Talia tore a corner of the blanket and went to find that stream of water. She will start by washing Damon's body. It might not be much, but it will be something.
