A stifled gasp from the door of the dining room got everyone's attention, and they didn't need to look there in order to know who it was. Marcy.
Earlier that morning, Caden told Marcy that Alpha Edward was asking about her and that she should contact her father before breakfast because she will have a busy day ahead of her. "Alpha Damon will share more information with you..."
Marcy was not happy that this request came on such short notice; she will be late for breakfast! But Caden was unusually respectful, making her feel important, and the thought of a busy day with Alpha Damon improved her mood.
Marcy was happy to hear the approving tone of her father, and she got carried away while explaining how things were going better than expected. Marcy told him that she was staying in the packhouse, Damon's Beta was treating her as his superior, last night the wretched assistant (aka Talia) was nowhere to be seen, and after dinner, Marcy and Damon went for a romantic walk in the garden. Marcy didn't mention George interrupting them because that was not important. The highlight of her report to Alpha Edward was that by the end of the day there will be big news for him.
Alpha Edward wanted to know the details, but how could Marcy tell him when she didn't know herself? However, she assured him that things were great and that he shouldn't worry.
"Wait until evening, daddy!", Marcy said excitedly. "By then, you will know everything and I'm sure you will be pleased."
"Alright.", Alpha Edward agreed, Marcy's enthusiasm was promising. He had a few questions.
"How is James doing? Is he behaving?"
Marcy almost mentioned the exotic beauty from last night, but then she thought how that might steal her spotlight, so she decided to skip it. "I don't see James much. With Alpha Damon's warriors protecting me, James and George are mostly away. I guess they are training but you know that I don't go to those dirty and smelly areas." She also didn't want to talk about George or his mate.
Alpha Edward was pleased to hear that George and James were busy. "What about Nora?"
Marcy's insides tightened. Normally, Marcy wouldn't think much about this. After all, her father was asking about everyone's status, like a good Alpha. But Marcy knew that Nora was sleeping with Alpha Edward and Marcy responded stoically with, "Nora knew why we came here, and even with that, she tried to seduce Alpha Damon, my future husband. Nora is in the dungeon and will stay there until she says that she is sorry, and she is convincing enough for me to believe her."
Alpha Edward didn't want Nora to suffer, but the priority was for Marcy to secure her position. "Make sure she is not mistreated. Explain that if she behaves, you will let her out before your Luna ceremony. We will come as a family, and Raymond will be upset if his daughter is locked up. People might ask questions, and we want to avoid negative publicity."
Marcy rolled her eyes while wondering who will be more worried, Nora's father or Nora's lover? But Marcy agreed with the point that if Nora is not present, it will be bad for them, and she can't let Nora be seen with bruises either. "I understand, daddy. I will talk with Damon about this when I get a chance…"
After her talk with Alpha Edward, Marcy fixed her hair and makeup, and she picked the perfect dress. She was already late, and she could at least be visually pleasing to her future husband.
What Marcy didn't expect was to see that the wretched assistant was back and sitting right next to Damon! And was Damon cutting the food on Talia's plate?
They were all quiet now, but Marcy heard lively chatter before she appeared. They were like a cohesive unit that stopped functioning the moment they became aware of Marcy's existence. Was that how they will greet their future Luna?
Since Marcy didn't move from the door, Damon glanced there and gestured with his knife toward several empty chairs. "Sit and eat something, Marcy. After breakfast, we will go to the study to discuss a few important matters."
Marcy pressed her lips into a line and walked toward one of the chairs. She was not hungry. She didn't want to eat. She wanted Talia out of there! Did he really expect her to enjoy a meal in that setting?
Was there a need for Talia and Damon to hold hands? And it was right there on the table, for everyone to see!
Marcy told herself to calm down. This was just another test. Alpha Damon wanted to see how his future Luna will behave in unexpected and unpleasant situations, and Marcy was determined to show him that she was up to the task.
Marcy was not the only one who had trouble swallowing the delicious meal that Stephanie and Zina prepared.
Mindy didn't like Marcy, and her irritation bounced on Gideon. The poor Shaman was confident that he will end up with heartburn after this.
"Eat, princess…", Gideon urged Mindy while offering her extra strawberries and whipped cream on a waffle with the hope to distract her. The food didn't do much, but the way he squeezed her thigh under the table got her attention and Mindy opened her mouth obediently to accept his offerings.
It was a similar situation with Dawn and George. Dawn was on pins and needles from the moment Marcy appeared, and no matter how much George acted like Marcy was not there, Dawn was not happy.
James was jumpy because of Cornelia, and Cornelia was mirroring James' emotions.
Maya and Caden feared that this plot to use Marcy against Alpha Edward will explode into an all-out war, and the three teens could feel the tension in the air, but they didn't dare say anything about it.
It was not a pleasant breakfast.
'Relax, kitten…', Damon's voice sounded in Talia's head. 'You know that this is Marcy's last meal before her world collapses.'
Talia didn't remove her gaze from her plate while responding to Damon, 'What if she doesn't cooperate? What if she decides that since she is going down, she will drag us with her?'
The truth was that James advised Damon to keep the charade going until they spill the truth to Marcy, but after the incident of forgetting about Talia, Damon couldn't make himself ignore his mate or pretend that she was not important. Damon knew that Talia needed comforting and assurance, and he needed it as well. If things collapse, there will be war, and Damon was ready for it.
How Damon saw this, Alpha Edward was set on getting his hands on what's Damon's, and Damon had no intention of giving it willingly. Whatever they were doing was only postponing the inevitable: an open confrontation between two packs.
'I know that this can backfire', Damon responded, 'But will you prefer that I go with their plan and make her my Luna? I would rather cut off my dick than be with her.'
Talia knew that this was Damon's attempt to put her mind at ease. 'It must be serious if you are willing to cut that off.'
Damon shifted into his seat. 'I am not willing. That's why I won't do what they want.' He was already holding her hand, and he lifted it to place a kiss on her knuckles while continuing through their mind-link, 'Every part of me is yours and yours only. Other women are not allowed close.'
Talia smiled at the cheeky Alpha who suddenly became romantic. Sure, others couldn't hear his words, but they definitely saw him holding her hand and kissing it.
Marcy did her best not to look at the lovey-dovey couple, but it was hard. Damon was all around Talia, Gideon was feeding Mindy, and George and Dawn spoke in whispers while eating from each other's plates. Among all couples, Maya and Caden were the most conservative one, and Marcy didn't care about Cornelia or the four teens at the table.
The only thing preventing Marcy from flipping the table and throwing an all-out tantrum was the thought that this was a test and that after breakfast she will find out the exact time when Alpha Damon will announce her as his Luna, and they will decide on a date when her Luna ceremony will happen, and after that, she won't need to endure.
