Marcy was not sure what to think about this. Too many things happened, and it was difficult for her to wrap her head around current events.
After George severed their mate bond completely, Marcy thought she was going to die, but then she woke up and Damon showed up and said that she was poisoned and he will protect her, find the culprits, and make her his Luna.
Were those all lies? Was George in this from the beginning? Marcy was not sure, but her hatred toward George was tangible.
Last night's events filled Marcy with the hope that she will escape her father's grasp, and the only ways were for Marcy to disappear or to stand at the top, as Alpha Damon's Luna. Of course, the option of Marcy having it all was much more pleasing than living in the shadows.
That same morning, Marcy woke up as the princess of the Red Moon pack, convinced that she will be the future Luna of the Dark Howlers pack, yet now she felt the ground shifting under her feet with everyone in this room knowing that she came here with her mate and a bag of lies.
But... Were those lies?
Marcy looked at Damon and pressed her lips into a line. He was handsome and powerful and if he treated her well, she would do the same in return. They could have been allies, helping each other achieve their goals, but he choose Talia which left Marcy in a difficult situation.
Marcy's hatred for Talia swelled. If not for Talia, Damon would accept Marcy and everything would be fine!
Marcy was painfully aware that James was right. She couldn't go home. Her father would punish her brutally. But how will they protect her from the wrath of Alpha Edward? James seemed confident, so Marcy forced herself to focus on the words that were on the papers she received.
With every passing moment, Marcy's expression changed, and her heart beat so quickly that she thought she might pass out.
Eventually, Marcy spoke without lifting her gaze from the papers. "You want me to say that I'm abandoning my family because I'm traveling the world?"
"Yes and no.", James said. "You are not abandoning our family, just Alpha Damon, and the position of his Luna. The official story is that you grew up in Europe, and you saw its wonders. As such, you are curious about what else the world has to offer, and you don't want to be tied to the territory of one pack as their Luna. Not if the Alpha is not your fated mate. See, like that, our father will be convinced that you are not here. Alpha Damon was kind enough to provide decoys who will travel with your identity so that it looks like you left the country. If our father wants to search for you, he will look in Japan or in India where leads will point him, and not blame Alpha Damon. Actually, no one will blame Alpha Damon, so our father won't have allies to attack the Dark Howlers pack no matter how greedy he is. Everyone wins."
Marcy narrowed her eyes at James. Everyone wins except for her. "What do you get from this?"
"I get that when I take over as the Alpha, I don't need to deal with the mess of a war.", James responded and gestured toward the papers in Marcy's hands. "This arrangement is temporary. When I become the Alpha, you can return and take back your identity if you wish. Or would you rather risk going back now so our father can kill you in a fit of anger?"
Marcy knew that Alpha Edward will punish her, but killing was too extreme. "Father won't kill me."
"Let me tell you about the current situation, Marcy. Everyone knows that you have your eyes set on Alpha Damon and being his Luna. You spent days in his packhouse, and no one will believe that you didn't sleep with him. Do you think that any respectable Alpha would take you for his Luna with that reputation? Our father invested years and a lot of money in grooming you so that you can help him seize more power. The moment he realizes you are of no use to him, you will wish you are dead."
James leaned closer to Marcy. "Or do you think that father set you up as Alpha Damon's Luna because of Damon's good looks and he wished for you to have a happy life together? Any unmated Alpha would do, and if that's not an option, he would set you up to be someone's mistress. Or maybe he would keep you at home so you can entertain his guests who want to shag more than just Omegas. There are options, but none is good for you. Unless you want to be used like a sex doll for the pleasure of others."
Marcy shuddered at this thought, but for the first time, she believed James. Nora was sleeping around, and Marcy suspected that her mother was doing the same. There was no way that Alpha Edward didn't know about it, and he allowed it to happen. Heck, maybe he even encouraged it. Marcy wondered if that was the reason why Nora's mother left the pack.
Marcy turned to Damon. "Promise me protection."
Damon cocked an eyebrow. "You are in no position to set demands. But I can give you a different identity. What will you do with it, will be up to you."
Marcy knew that she was cornered. It was either to take this flaky deal or to return home and suffer punishment. Running away on her own was not an option. Maybe if she had more time, she would come up with a plan, but time was a luxury she didn't have.
Marcy cursed herself internally. If she didn't waste time daydreaming about being Luna of the Dark Howlers pack, she would be able to come up with something. But it was too late for regrets. The only thing she could do was go with it and hope for the best.
"How do we do this?", Marcy asked Damon and Maya was quick to stand and provide instructions, "You have one hour to memorize that speech and make it believable. It will be broadcasted over the live stream for everyone to see…"
Marcy returned to her room in low spirits. She was completely defeated.
She glanced around to see that the laptop, tablet, and cell phone were not there. Of course, Alpha Damon got those removed so that she can't contact outsiders.
Marcy laughed weakly at her own predicament. Even if he gave her a phone, she had no one to call. People she knew either didn't care or would be glad she was in a pinch, but none of them would dare to get their hands dirty and risk angering Alpha Edward.
Marcy threw sheets of paper on the bed and stared at them blankly while remembering James' confidence while he explained to Marcy how she should deliver the speech, pointing out a few key words to maximize the effect of people siding with her.
"It's in your interest to appear believable. Like that, father won't dare to search for you openly, and even if someone recognizes you, they will shield you from your controlling father. Remember, you are not giving up a marriage or running away from home. You are fighting for your hopes and dreams…"
Marcy looked at her little brother and she wondered when did he start talking like a grownup. If he read that speech, she would believe him. James was amazing, and Marcy… was no one. She was unable to keep her mate and she failed in getting married, two things that come normally to most she-wolves.
Marcy slumped on the bed and cursed under her breath.
All this was such a shit-show, and only two months ago she was in Paris, enjoying her life and dreaming about travel and making macaroons as her next class that might allow her to open her bakery.
Actually, she could still do it.
Damon will give her a different identity, and with that, she could go wherever she wanted and there were many places where she could perfect her macaroon-baking.
