Gideon was in a predicament.
He could deny Petra, but how can he disappoint his pumpkin-infused beauty when she looked at him with those sparkles in her eyes? But if there was a way to find out who is whose mate earlier than their wolves would allow it, everyone would be doing it. Did Petra come here to make him look incompetent in front of Mindy?
Gideon turned to Petra. "You said that James doesn't feel the bond and that's why he is keeping his distance from Cornelia. What are you expecting me to do about it? Force him?"
Petra shrunk when she realized that Gideon's mood worsened, but she couldn't give up. "I apologize. I know Cornelia is your cousin, but I saw them last night. James was flustered when he saw her. He is always calm and composed, but in front of Cornelia he was like a teenager who met his first crush."
Mindy giggled. "Well, he is a teenager, and she is his crush. Maybe not the first crush but will be his last. We will take care of it."
Petra's eyes widened. "You will?"
Gideon turned to look at Mindy. "We will?"
Mindy smiled knowingly and spoke to Petra, "Your task is for James to not leave the packhouse before Cornelia. I will let you know when things are set. And make sure he doesn't suspect anything." She turned to Gideon. "We will need Maya's help."
Gideon was curious to find out what was on Mindy's mind because it appeared that she had a plan. His mood dropped when he realized that this mate nonsense will cut into their lovey-dovey time. Ah, if he knew, he wouldn't agree to stay in the packhouse!
In the study…
Marcy was sitting on a chair, and she looked at the other people present.
George, Dawn, James, Damon, Talia, Maya, and Caden.
She could understand that Maya and Caden were there as Damon's Betas, and James and George as representatives of the Red Moon pack, but why were Dawn and Talia there? OK. Maybe Talia was still in her role as Damon's assistant, but what about Dawn?
What rubbed Marcy the wrong way was that Talia was sitting in Damon's executive leather chair with him standing behind her. This made Talia look important, and Marcy was sitting on a regular chair, damn it!
Talia was not comfortable with being in the same room with Marcy, but Damon told her that there will be a good show to watch and that he will give Talia a choice of delivering a final blow to the woman who dared to bully her at the Red Moon pack. Until then, Talia was to let him handle things.
"Thank you for coming here.", Damon started. "I wanted us to have this conversation so that we are all on the same page about changes that are coming for the Dark Howlers pack."
Marcy lifted her chin. It's happening!
"Tomorrow evening is the full moon, and we will have our first pack run in a decade." He turned to George and James. "I hope you will join us as guests. I will be leading the run with my mate, and my future Luna."
Marcy blinked rapidly. Did he say, mate? Surely, he thought, 'chosen mate', right? RIGHT?
Marcy would feel better if Damon used names, like, if he said that he would lead the pack run with Marcy.
"We appreciate the invitation, Alpha Damon", George said. "However, we will need to refuse. Pack runs are your chance to demonstrate leadership and establish the hierarchy. Guests will only bring confusion. We will be there for the ceremony."
James nodded in agreement with George's words and Damon didn't object. It was all for show anyway.
"Do you know how you will start the run?", Caden asked.
"After Shaman is done with the ceremony, my Luna and I will shift into our wolves and…"
Marcy didn't hear the rest because her ears were buzzing. Did Damon say they will shift into their wolf forms? Problem! After she rejected George, Marcy's wolf was weakened, and after George accepted rejection, Marcy didn't feel her wolf at all. How was she supposed to shift?
"Miss Marcy, are you alright?"
Maya's question got Marcy's attention and she quickly schooled her features.
"Yes, yes. I was listening." And it will be LUNA Marcy soon!
Damon cleared his throat and repeated the last part, "As I was saying, other details will be left to my Luna to decide."
Marcy wondered how much she missed. What was she supposed to decide?
Another red flag appeared when Marcy realized that Damon was looking at Talia, and then Talia spoke, "I don't want to break traditions. I will talk to Shaman Gideon to see protocols related to the pack runs when Damon's parents were leading the pack, and unless something is against what we stand for, we will go with it."
"Good approach.", Caden praised Talia. "It will definitely score you points with older generations…"
Marcy's stomach dropped as she refused to accept this. Why were they talking to Talia like she was the star of this pack run? And they ignored Marcy completely. Marcy told herself that this must be another test. As the future Luna, she needed to speak up and take the place that belongs to her rightfully.
"Excuse me", Marcy spoke under her breath while standing up from her chair in slow motion. When everyone looked at her, Marcy asked, "What is the meaning of this?"
"Were you not paying attention, Miss Marcy?", Damon asked. "We were discussing how I will lead the pack run with my future Luna."
Marcy smiled nervously as an ominous feeling gripped her heart. "Shouldn't I be involved in this discussion?"
Damon cocked an eyebrow at her. "I apologize for the inconvenience, but your status doesn't qualify you to participate, not even as a guest."
"I don't qualify?", Marcy asked in disbelief. How can she not qualify? She should be the star of the pack run!
"Someone who came to my pack with an intention to deceive me and become my Luna, doesn't qualify.", Damon said in a flat voice and Marcy felt her insides churning.
"Deceive you? What do you mean?"
"I think you know exactly what I mean."
"You-you...", Marcy stuttered. "You want to do this without me? That's not acceptable!"
"This is my pack. I can do whatever I want."
"But… you promised! You can't go back on your word!" Marcy was shaking now. Why was no one helping? They all watched as Damon collapsed everything she believed was true!
"What did I promise?", Damon asked.
"You promised that today you will make me your Luna!"
"No. I said that today I will announce who my Luna will be and that's what I'm doing. It has nothing to do with you, Miss Marcy, it never did. Talia will be the one to lead this pack with me."
Marcy gaped at Damon like he was growing a second head.
