Talia was overwhelmed.
'Was it OK to tell them we are mates?', she asked Damon through their private mind-link.
'Why wouldn't it be?', he asked back.
'I don't know. Isn't it too soon?' She was thinking that the issue with Marcy was still fresh and the danger from Alpha Edward was too real and what if this announcement only made things worse?
'Now I know I made a big mistake, kitten', Damon said. 'I was supposed to do this on the day I brought you here. Now stop doubting and look at our people who are eagerly waiting for your response.'
Talia turned to see numerous heads bowed toward her.
That Talia's movement allowed Keith to see her neck. His eyes flashed with disbelief and grief when he saw a mark there and he quickly bowed his head. His fist was clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and he hoped that no one noticed how shaken he was.
Katya told him that he shouldn't have his hopes up regarding Talia because Alpha Damon was sticking to her, but everyone was talking about Marcy being there and how she will be their Luna, so Keith assumed that Alpha Damon switched girls. It wouldn't be the first time, and Keith hoped that he will be able to comfort Talia, yet now it seemed that she didn't need comforting.
During that hellish survival training, Keith was thinking of ways how he can fix his blunder from the Summer Solstice festival, and how Talia will forgive him and they can start anew. However, Alpha Damon said how he will lead the pack run with his mate, with Talia, and that explained why Damon was so hostile when he found Keith sitting with Talia next to the lake and drinking beer, and why he put so much effort into replacing Keith as Talia's trainer. Talia was Damon's mate, from the beginning. Keith's heart ached.
"Thank you, everyone.", Talia didn't speak loudly, but everyone heard her. "I will do my best to be the Luna you deserve."
Damon touched her chin so that she looks at him. "Not Luna. You will be an Alpha, my equal."
People gasped and murmurs swelled through the warriors like an unstoppable wave.
Damon's arm wrapped around Talia's shoulders, holding her close to him as he spoke clearly to the people gathered, "Soon, we will announce the date when Talia officially steps out as the second Alpha of the Dark Howlers pack. You can expect a grand celebration, and everyone will be invited. Until then, I want you to know that Talia will be my equal and that's how I expect you to treat her from now on. Talia is my fated mate, and I'm confident that the pack will prosper with her leading us. Alpha Talia already has brilliant ideas on how to make our lives better and I hope you will all support her with sincerity."
Talia looked at Damon with newly found admiration. Can he be any sweeter? His every word tugged on her heart, and she hoped that she won't burst into tears in front of everyone to see.
"Long live Alpha Talia!", Maya shouted and then everyone raised their heads and the ground shook with the collective roar, "LONG LIVE ALPHA TALIA!"
Damon's joy hit Talia full force and her heart was full because she knew that her mate was proud to have her by his side.
That was all she ever wanted, a loving mate who would do anything for her, just how she would do anything for him, someone who won't be ashamed of her, and here was Damon, giving her everything she dreamed of and so much more.
Maya and Caden were silently praising Damon's choice to announce Talia's status here, before the pack run. Others might be swayed by the Elders, but warriors were loyal to Damon and now to Talia as well. They will return to Darkbourne and to their families, and they won't allow anyone to talk smack about Damon or Talia. With this, the success of the pack run was guaranteed.
"Keith?", Talia called when she noticed that his head was still lowered, and he was not part of the enthusiastic clamor.
"Yes?"
"Are you alright?"
"Of course.", Keith responded quickly while trying to avoid eye contact with Damon or Talia. He didn't want any of them to see his emotional turmoil.
'I am sorry, kitten.', Damon's voice sounded in Talia's head. 'If I did this on the first day you arrived, many problems would be avoided. I was so focused on external dangers that I neglected the fact that our people would welcome my fated mate and they would help me keep you safe.'
'There is no point in thinking about what-ifs.', Talia responded.
Damon agreed. 'Let's live in the present and plan for the future.' He glanced toward the warriors and spoke in a normal voice, "You should select your guards."
Talia was surprised by this. "My guards?"
"When we are apart, I want you to have a few trustworthy people protecting you. I know that you can take care of yourself, but sometimes our enemies will attack sneakily or overwhelm you with numbers. Remember, I need you safe." Damon waited for Talia to nod in agreement before he continued, "I can assign you a few capable warriors right away, but it should be someone you are comfortable with."
Talia didn't need to think about it. Anyone from the soccer team would do. They were all top-tier warriors, but a few stood out.
"Keith!", Talia called and turned to see him staring at her with his eyes open wide, like he might collapse from shock if she says the wrong thing. "Will you…"
"It will be my honor.", Keith quickly said and bowed his head again. He couldn't believe that Talia picked him to be her personal guard!
Talia's lips lifted into a smile. "Sandy, Lulu, Pierce, Liam, Caleb? How about you guys?"
They all confirmed and bowed with their fists over their chest.
Talia turned to Damon. "That's six. Is that enough?"
Damon didn't like a few candidates (the male ones). Keith was having feelings for Talia, Liam was the one with tattoos, and Pierce and Caleb were not peachy either, but he told Talia to pick, and it wouldn't be right to set restrictions now, so he swallowed his complaints. "It's perfect. If they don't perform as expected, you can replace them later."
Damon spoke to the six people Talia named. "Your first job is tonight. I want you in the packhouse at eighteen hundred hours sharp. All of you will be in the packhouse for the night, and possibly tomorrow morning also. At least two of you are to have a visual on Talia at any point in time until I dismiss you. Understood?"
Keith, Sandy, Lulu, Liam, Pierce, and Caleb confirmed.
Talia was excited. She had her personal guards! And they were her friends.
She was trying to imagine their reaction when she tells them that their first guarding job will be a failure because she needed to be somewhere else. Or maybe she shouldn't say anything and just give them a slip. They can't pick up her scent anyway, and she can say that she can't sleep when someone is in the room with her. As a precaution, Talia will tuck pillows under the comforter and make it look like she is sleeping in there. Perfect!
