Marcy answered Calvin's question and she hoped he won't notice that her insides were churning.
Would she be in this position if she had a choice? Absolutely not!
If things didn't take the wrong turn, Marcy would be giving this interview with Damon by her side. She would be holding onto his firm arm and proudly talking about her future as the Luna of the Dark Howlers pack. But things didn't work out as expected and she was lying about how she was not attracted to Damon, the position of his Luna, or Damon's riches, because she preferred traveling. What a joke!
Marcy was glad that this was not recorded, and on a few occasions when her expression cracked, Marcy covered it up as emotional instability because she feared how her parents will react to this.
As soon as Calvin's attention moved to James, Marcy headed to the study to meet with Damon. All this was humiliating, and she wanted to be done with it.
Marcy entered the study, and her expression froze at the sight of Talia who was sitting on Damon's lap. Damon's lips were resting on Talia's forehead and other than Damon's hand slowly raking through Talia's hair, they didn't move. Did they need to be lovey-dovey?
A mental image flashed in Marcy's mind, showing George and Dawn holding hands and feeding each other, and Marcy wondered if George would hold her like that and feed her if she didn't reject him. A moment later, Marcy pushed that thought away. There was no point in crying over spilt milk.
Talia didn't look toward the door, but both Talia and Damon knew who was there.
'I should get up.', Talia spoke to Damon through their private mind-link. Before Marcy arrived, they were holding each other and watching the security feed that showed what was happening in the living room.
'No. Stay here.' Damon's left arm tightened around her.
He didn't say more, but Talia knew that with every passing minute Damon's anxiety about forgetting what was important was rising. If this was Cassandra, the potion would wear off hours ago, but here was Damon, remembering everything, and fearing that it might all be gone in a second. Talia had similar fears as well, so she didn't object, and she leaned on him in a gesture of assuring him that he was not alone in this.
Marcy took a moment to compose herself and move to sit on a chair opposite Damon.
"I did my part.", Marcy said while trying to ignore Talia's presence. "It's your turn."
Damon reached into the drawer of his desk and got a folder that he pushed toward Marcy. "Here are your new ID, birth certificate, and a high school diploma. You will also find some background information on your new identity, and a cell phone. My warriors will take you outside of the territory of the Dark Howlers pack. You can pick one of the three cities listed on the first page as your final destination. After that, you will be on your own. You should know that it's in everyone's interest that you stay under the radar. Keep an eye on the news about the Red Moon pack. When James takes over, you can return, but that's something you should discuss with your brother."
"I know, I know", Marcy mumbled while checking the contents of the folder. When she was done, she looked up at Damon. "Is this all?"
"Should there be something else?"
"I was expecting at least one credit card." And there was no cash in there either. Marcy already gave her wallet and cell phone to Maya which left her without access to money. Sure, Marcy had had her designer's clothes and jewelry, but she didn't want to part with those unless necessary. Besides, how much money can she get by selling them as second-hand items?
"I don't remember promising you any money.", Damon said flatly.
Marcy gaped at him. "What?"
"Our deal included a different identity. The cell phone is extra.", Damon said and gestured toward the folder Marcy was holding onto.
Marcy's lips twitched as images of her grim future flashed in her mind.
"You are kidding.", Marcy said. "Who cares about identity or a phone if I'm broke? How will I eat? Where will I live?"
"Those are not my problems, Miss Dorsey.", Damon said, and Marcy cringed at the sound of that unfamiliar last name that should be hers going forward. Kim Dorsey. Such a plain name, like someone mixed a donkey and a horse, Marcy thought.
Marcy's ears perked up when Damon continued, "You want money? That's possible under one condition."
Marcy had a bad feeling about this, but she still asked, "What condition?"
Damon glanced at Talia. "Talia is the lady of this house, and she manages finances. If you convince her to give you money, I won't object."
Marcy made a face like she ate a fly. Was she supposed to ask Talia for money?
Marcy hated that Talia was Damon's mate, and she hated that Talia will be Damon's Luna, and she hated the most that Talia was sitting on Damon's lap like it was a totally normal thing. Talia will get to enjoy Damon's care and protection, and even his money, while Marcy gets to leave as penniless Kim Dorsey.
But even with all that, Marcy swallowed her grievances and asked Talia, "What do I need to do in order to get money?"
"Nothing.", Talia responded.
Talia knew that this was Damon's way of allowing her to get revenge on Marcy, but Talia had no interest in that. Talia wanted Marcy out of their lives. Marcy was Talia's bully at the Red Moon pack, and Marcy continued the same when she came here to steal Damon. How Talia saw this, Marcy had taken their peace, and that was already too much.
"You came here with an intention to be Damon's Luna. I told you, more than once, that we are mates, but you acted like that was not important."
"Yeah, so?"
Talia couldn't believe that Marcy would act like that was not important. "A mate for our kind is the most important thing. There is a reason why Alphas wait for their fated mates."
Marcy rolled her eyes. "I'm sure you would think otherwise if your father was breathing down your neck."
Talia's brows came together in a frown. "That is your father. If he was forcing you to do something against your will, you should have retaliated, and if you can't do it yourself, seek help. By coming here and doing what you did, you messed up not only with my and Damon's lives but the whole Dark Howlers pack. Do you think that your happiness comes before everyone else's?"
"But my father…"
"Stop!", Talia snapped, and she scooted out of Damon's lap to stand and face Marcy. She had a serious point to make and sitting on his lap was not helping.
"Stop blaming others for your shortcomings, Marcy. You came here to be a Luna. Is this how a Luna acts in the face of a challenge? She shifts blame? Be responsible for what you did!"
Marcy threw her hands in the air. "Fine! Do you want me to beg? Kneel? A public apology? Tell me what you want, I will do it, you will give me the money, and we will be done with this."
