"I assume you are here because you have a plan.", Tyler said while his eyes shifted from Talia to Axel.
Talia responded, "As soon as Alpha Sophia and Alpha Isaac sign the document and Cassandra performs the ceremony, I will become the Alpha of the Midnight Guardians pack."
Meg, Kai, and Tyler gaped at Talia while processing this information.
Kai was first to recover. "They agreed to hand over the Alpha position, just like that?"
"It's either that or I issue an Alpha challenge. Do you think they have a chance?"
Tyler, Kai, and Meg turned to see Alpha Isaac and Alpha Sophia sitting on sofa chairs with sour expressions. In the next moment, Talia's Alpha aura enveloped three young people. It was strong, yet gentle like an embrace all over, and they all turned to gawk at Talia who continued talking like she was discussing the weather.
"I will make Axel my proxy, and he will assign you duties. The Midnight Guardians pack will be in your care while we go to the realm where witches are. Based on information Cassandra has, black runes originated from witches, and we will seek their help in reverting Damon's condition." That was the short version.
Tyler, Kai, and Meg looked at Axel questionably who confirmed what Talia said. "We don't have much time. So, let's get started."
Axel delegated duties with ease. Since they were teens, Axel, Tyler, and Kai role-played how things will work when Axel becomes an Alpha. The only difference was that this time, it was real, and Kai got to share his part with Meg.
In the middle of talking, Axel stiffened and turned to look at Talia.
"What?", she asked.
"It's Damon.", Axel said and everyone looked at him with anticipation as he continued, "Our scouts spotted him close to the portal to the outside world."
Talia released a shaky breath. "Tell them to let him go through."
"You are letting him go?", Meg obviously didn't approve. "With his memories tampered, who knows what might happen?"
"What's the point in keeping him here if he doesn't recognize me as his mate? He probably wants to go home. That's what I would do. With him on the other side of the portal, we will get more time to make things right. Also, when he sees my things there, it might jog his memory.", Talia said while fighting the sadness that was overwhelming her.
Meg realized that Talia was right. "It's more than things, Talia. You have friends there."
Talia realized that Meg was right. Maya and Caden were there, and also Dawn, Zina, and Stephanie. They will definitely ask about Talia. She wished to contact Mindy somehow. That spitfire would give Damon a piece of her mind for showing up without Talia.
The preparations for the ceremony were made on the terrace which opened up to a garden that looked like a meadow with low shrubbery.
Axel told Talia that this was one of the rare dwellings above ground, reserved for the Alpha family. Other than living quarters, it has a study, meeting areas, and rooms that should be for hosting and entertaining guests, but they were not used for ages. "Now that you are going to become the Alpha. This will be your home."
Talia was not sure she wanted to settle in that place, but she didn't have the heart to say that aloud because Axel looked kind of happy. Well, she would be happy to have a brother if she didn't lose her mate on the same day.
Axel used the mind-link to send a summon to all members of the Midnight Guardians pack, without telling them the reason.
Cassandra and her helpers prepared everything in under an hour.
Kai, Meg, and Tyler were busy discussing how things will work going forward with Kai's and Tyler's parents, and Talia used this time to ask Axel about the Midnight Guardians pack.
Axel understood this as Talia's attempt to keep her mind occupied and not think about Damon and the danger that might await them while seeking help from witches.
Cassandra warned them that witches are wicked and that they will try to take advantage of the situation. Talia cringed while thinking about Cassie, Elders, Lisa, Nora, Marcy, Alpha Edward... can people be more wicked than that? She hoped that the answer will be, no.
"We are not many. Under five hundred bodies.", Axel started his talk about the Midnight Guardians pack. "Every mated pack member has some abilities. Some are useful for tracking, some for transportation, and then there are those like an ability to attach and detach limbs at will." Axel stifled a chuckle. "Poor Steve. That's a useless ability, but it would be handy if he ever goes outside for Halloween…" Axel cleared his throat when he saw that Talia was not amused by this, and he continued seriously, "The nature is mostly untouched, the animals are plenty and so is clean water."
"The nature is beautiful here.", Talia said. There was no pollution. "You don't need to worry about humans freaking out if they see you shapeshift or move too fast." Tatiana was talking about this as the biggest challenge while living among humans.
"True, but people still want out.", Axel said.
"Why?"
"Because our mates are not here."
Talia remembered the scenes from the cafeteria where couples sitting together was a rare sight, and she realized how that IS a problem. If no one had a mate, they would probably be fine, but with people like Kai and Meg snuggling, others definitely noticed what they were missing and were eager to go out.
"Are your parents preventing them from going?"
Axel was not sure how to respond to this.
"Not intentionally.", he said. Seeing Talia's confused expression, he clarified, "In the interest of keeping our secret safe, exit is strictly controlled. Unless one has official business outside, exit won't be allowed, and you can imagine that regular pack members don't have a valid reason to step outside. We have people sneaking out occasionally when they become desperate…"
Talia thought about how this was something she can work with. Axel is established as the future Alpha, but she is an unknown variable, an outsider. Other than showing them her powers, Talia will need to assure them that she won't harm them or abuse her newly acquired position, and this might be it.
By the time ceremony was ready, around four hundred people gathered in the garden, standing densely packed and looking toward the terrace to see their leaders, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma family with the oracle and her helpers, and a new face (aka Talia).
Cassandra stood in front of the altar where a fire crackled already, and others stood around her to form a semicircle, Cassandra's helpers were ready with herbs, crystals, and other ingredients that should be passed to the oracle during the ceremony.
