Talia was in the study with Maya, James, and Cornelia.
"You are a what?", Maya asked Talia in disbelief.
The lack of response from James and Cornelia told Maya that the couple knew about it already!
"I am the Alpha of the Midnight Guardians pack.", Talia repeated.
"How? When did that happen? Aren't you Damon's mate? Can you lead two packs? Or will you merge them into one?..."
Talia lifted her hands, to stop Maya's flood of questions. She didn't have answers to those anyway.
"It's a long story, but Alpha Isaac and Alpha Sophia are relieved from their positions. I am the Alpha, and Axel is my proxy with his mate, Luna Yasmin. Yasmin is a witch, from the same Coven as Cornelia. I don't have much time, and I need your help."
"What's the rush?", Maya asked.
"As the Alpha, I want to attend the Council of Alphas.", Talia said.
"If you want to attend it, why didn't you go with…", Maya's voice trailed when she realized, "Damon doesn't know."
Talia spread her arms helplessly in front of Maya's accusatory look. "I tried to tell him, but he was busy with other stuff and there was no right time. Besides, didn't you see how worried he was about my safety? He wouldn't let me go."
Maya couldn't believe this. "And what do you think, how will he react when you waltz into that meeting?"
That might be a problem, but… "Damon told me that he would never oppose me in front of outsiders. No matter what he thinks, once I'm in there, he will know that's my way of helping him, and if he causes trouble it will only hurt him and me. He might be angry, but he would never put me in danger. It will be alright."
Maya pinched the roof of her nose. "Great. Just great. You plan to get into trouble, and you just made me an accomplice." She released a long breath. "Tell me what do you plan to do?"
Talia glanced at Cornelia. "Cornelia will teleport me to the Lightclaw pack. Kalina is expecting me, and I will meet up with Axel there. It's the closest one to the location of the meeting."
"You already figured all that out.", Maya grumbled. "Why do you need me?" She thought of something. "Do you want me to go there as your Beta?"
"No.", Talia rejected Maya. "People know you are Beta of the Dark Howlers pack, and if you appear there, they might question my presence also. I need you to ensure no one knows I'm out at least until the Council meeting starts. Cornelia will return soon, but I will stay overnight. If Damon or Caden call to ask about me, I need you to tell them that everything is fine."
Maya pursed her lips. "Did you forget that two guys are standing in front of the study right now and they will have a shift change every four hours?"
How could Talia forget that Liam and Pierce had the first shift of guarding Talia? "That's where you come in."
"Why don't you just tell them that you will be away?"
"They are warriors.", Talia said matter-of-factly. "They have orders from Damon to keep an eye on me, and if I tell them otherwise it will be opposing Damon's order and forcing them to pick between the two of us. I can't do that to them, or to Damon. I already argued with them to wait outside."
Maya made a face. "In order to spare the feelings of your guards and Damon, you are throwing me into the fire?"
Talia looked at Maya guiltily. "When you put it that way, it sounds bad."
"Do you know what else sounds bad?", Maya asked grumpily. "You going there, and something happens to you. Damon will cause a bloodbath until he finds you and none of us will survive until the pack run. Did you think about that? Who knows you will be going there?"
Talia hesitated. "Axel, James, Cornelia, and you." She spoke to Kalina and told her that she will come to visit, but without any details.
Maya was outraged and she looked at James and Cornelia, her furious expression was asking them why they didn't talk some sense in Talia, but the duo in question was just sitting in silence. They didn't want to meddle. Talia told them that Cornelia only needed to take Talia to the Lightclaw pack, and their involvement with this flaky plan was over. James talked to Talia about the Council, and he believed that she will know what to do.
Maya exhaled in frustration. "So, no one relevant knows. Talia, what are you thinking? This is not about you sneaking to eat ice cream when it's not allowed, this is about you going into the enemy territory, without a plan and without alerting your allies. It's suicide."
Talia was touched, and she knew that Maya means well, but she was running out of time, and she needed to show that she can handle this. She must do this for herself, for Damon, and for the Dark Howlers pack. What's the point of her being Luna or Alpha, and what's the point of her powers if she will hide while her mate is fighting for them?
Talia stood up and spoke with confidence.
"Alphas are gathering with an intention to band against Damon because they are greedy. If things don't end well, the Dark Howlers pack will suffer. Damon needs all the help he could get. Would you be able to sit it out if Caden is in trouble and you believe you can help him?"
Talia's eyes started glowing in silvery light.
"Did you forget who I am? I am the Alpha of the Midnight Guardians pack." The silvery glow pulsated all around Talia's body. "There is a reason why Axel is not the Alpha. Do I need to tell you which one is it?"
Maya gaped at Talia who was now completely shrouded in silvery light. Maya saw Talia glowing like that when she was saving Damon from the black mist the previous evening, but now that Talia was standing in front of her, it looked much more impressive.
Maya wondered, did Talia ask her something? Yes, it was about the rules of how Alpha was being determined and Maya knew that only power matters because in their world, the strongest ones stand at the top, and right now Talia looked like her position was not on the top, but way above everything on Earth.
The silvery light splashed on Maya, making her feel like a pleasant breeze enveloped her, bringing peace and happiness with it. Maya never felt anything like it.
Without thinking, Maya lowered her head. "I understand, Alpha Talia. I will do my best to assist you."
"Thank you, Maya.", Talia said with relief obvious in her voice. She really didn't want to argue or use force. After all, Maya was her friend and Talia didn't want to remind her of Damon's instructions that said how Talia is an Alpha, Damon's equal, and that members of the Dark Howlers pack should treat her as such. Maya included.
