Damon pulled his hand away from Marcy's grasp. "Yes?"
"I was wondering, what are your plans for tomorrow? Is there anything that involves me?" Marcy really wanted him to talk about the announcement that she will be revealed as his future Luna. Then everyone at the table will get a reminder of how important she is.
Damon put a piece of meat into his mouth, and then he scooped some mashed potato and gravy, and he chewed all that slowly while remembering Caden's words about how Marcy expects Damon to announce that Marcy will be his Luna, but Damon had no intention of doing that. However, he couldn't tell her that without remembering the missing pieces.
Marcy thought that a forever passed before Damon spoke.
"I have a lot of things pending that need to be prioritized. When I have something solid, involving you, you will be informed."
Marcy was not pleased with this response, but there was nothing much she could do.
Damon was not rejecting her, but he was not welcoming either. Was this another test? Or was this how her life will be going forward?
Marcy pressed her lips into a line while thinking about her parents. They were not lovey-dovey either, at least not in front of others. Will Damon be more caring when it's just the two of them? It's not that Marcy was expecting sizzling passion and romance, but after experiencing bliss in George's embrace, Marcy's idea of how a couple should act included desire and some level of conversation that goes beyond Damon issuing orders and Marcy sitting obediently until she was needed.
Marcy got an idea.
"Alpha Damon, I was wondering if you can join me for a walk after dinner."
Damon looked at her blankly. "A what?"
"A walk.", Marcy repeated. "There are a few things I would like to discuss with you, in private. Maybe in the garden?"
Damon's vision blurred as Marcy's image overlapped with another face. That other face was barely noticeable, but Damon saw honey-colored eyes and copper-colored hair and he really hoped to see more of it, because it made him feel something.
"Sure.", Damon responded robotically. "Whenever you are ready."
Marcy gulped some water with haste and stood up. "Now is fine." She couldn't eat in this awkward atmosphere anyway.
Damon followed after Marcy, and they left the dining room in silence.
"Do you think she will try something?", Mindy asked in a whisper.
"Definitely.", Dawn responded, and she went to check Damon's plate and she frowned. "He didn't finish his food."
"How much did he have?", Maya asked.
"Well, he finished the steak and for the rest... about three quarters. It's difficult to tell because he mixed gravy with mashed potatoes.", Dawn said.
"Now what?", Mindy asked.
Gideon responded, "Now, we wait. Cornelia said that it will take some time for the potion to work and if he didn't have the full dose, then..." He was not sure what then.
"Wouldn't it be best for Talia to be with Damon?", Maya asked. "If the magic is cracked even a little bit, the bond could break through."
They all looked at Gideon. He was the expert in that area.
Unfortunately, this was beyond Gideon's expertise. He wanted to tell them to ask Cornelia, but he remembered that the witch said this was the first time for them to create a potion that would suppress the dark magic, and they didn't have much time to test it.
However, Gideon knew one thing. "If Damon's emotions are unstable and Marcy and Talia meet in front of him, it might push him either way."
Mindy groaned and Gideon turned to talk to her. "I know it's hard, but we can't forget that Marcy knows she is the second woman, and she is consciously taking over Talia's spot. If Damon is not accepting of Talia decisively, Marcy will take advantage of it and Talia will be deeply hurt just by the fact that Damon is entertaining Marcy. I suggest that we give him some time. They are just walking in the garden. In the worst case, the potion didn't work, and we need to try again." Cornelia said that there are three doses.
"In one minute, I will go and check.", Caden volunteered.
"No.", George rejected Caden's idea. "If you go, your Alpha will look at it as disrespect. Remember what Talia said. If this fails, we can't risk that he puts all of us in the dungeon because there will be no one to watch over him and the Dark Howlers pack. You and Maya need to stay neutral unless Damon is on the verge of making a big mistake."
"Should I go?", Mindy offered. She had no problems telling Damon what was on her mind or giving a slap or two to Marcy. Mindy was still vexed by what happened earlier with Cornelia, and Mindy had extra energy she would gladly spend on Marcy.
"I will go.", George said. "I am not Damon's subordinate, and I can get Marcy to back down just by reminding her of a few things."
Dawn frowned at George's words, and he gave her hand a gentle squeeze to reassure her that he got this under control. George didn't want to get close to Marcy either, but there was no one else better for the job.
In the garden…
Marcy walked half a step behind Damon, wondering how to start a conversation. She was really itchy to get confirmation of how she will be his Luna. That will make her father happy, but more than that, Marcy saw that as her ticket to freedom. Sure, she will be tied to Damon and to this pack, but in her opinion, anything was better than being stuck in the Red Moon pack as a princess without any real power.
They passed by one bench nestled between two tall rose bushes, and Marcy frowned a bit when Damon paused to stare at the bench, but then he continued walking.
Marcy wanted to say how that was a good spot to chat with privacy from any prying eyes, but Damon was moving further into the darkness, making Marcy uneasy.
There were no lights in the garden, and with every step, the visibility was reducing. This was Alpha Damon's territory and if he wanted to get frisky, they could go to his room, or hers, or just about anywhere… was there a need for the darkness?
Lost in her thoughts and diminishing visibility, Marcy's leg brushed against one rock, and she lost balance. Her hand waved wildly, and she latched herself on Damon's arm.
It was accidental, but Marcy thought of this as a happy accident and she had no intention of letting go.
Damon paused and stared at Marcy who was now holding him, and she didn't let go even after she regained her balance.
"Alpha Damon…", Marcy called sweetly, and she squeezed his firm bicep.
Damon didn't like that she was holding him, but something else got his attention.
Damon inched closer, his face hovering above Marcy's and she thought that he will kiss her, but to her disappointment, he just sniffed the air.
"Your scent is not right."
