Maya lifted her head to see that Talia was not glowing anymore.
"What's the plan? How will you get out of here without your guards noticing?", Maya asked. "I can distract them for some time, but not for the whole night."
Talia was pleased to see that Maya was onboard. "Cornelia prepared a teleporting diagram in the groove beyond the garden. We will sneak through the back exit using the blind spots of security cameras, and Cornelia will return the same way." Actually, if someone sees Cornelia returning, no one will care.
"I will also go with you.", James said. "Cora is still new in this realm, and I don't want anyone to take advantage of her." James had no intention to separate from Cornelia.
Talia didn't mind if James comes but she found it super cute that they were holding hands and there was that adorable nickname also. Cora.
Talia spoke to Maya, "The idea is that we will tell my guards how we are doing a sleepover in my room, or yours. The fact that I'm with you, the Beta, should make my guards relax a bit and they won't dare to come and disturb us."
Maya saw so many problems with this, but even if the crazy idea works, there was still one issue. "You sneaking out like that will be perceived as their incompetence. Damon will either punish them or relieve them of their duty. But even if a miracle happens and they come out of this scot-free, it will be a smear in their record as warriors."
"Not if I tell Damon that I used my power on them."
Maya's interest was piqued. "What power?"
"For them not to notice me leaving."
"Do you have such power?", Maya asked.
"No. But they don't know that.", Talia responded with a grin.
Maya looked at Talia helplessly.
"Maya, I know you are worried, and I am worried as well, but for other reasons. I took the herbs to suppress my scent so they can't track me and they won't care if Cornelia's or your scents are here or not. As for pacifying Damon, leave him to me. I gave him a slip several times and he won't have any right to call others incompetent because they lost me."
Maya agreed with this point. She remembered when Talia went into the forest and Damon summoned all warriors to search for her, and then he went to fetch Talia personally. Talia was skilled in moving without being noticed, it was like her super-power.
Maya had another question. "When are you going?"
Talia glanced at the time. "In fifteen minutes."
Maya was not happy with this. "If you can teleport there, why are you going this early? Why not at dawn?" Then Maya won't need to lie to Talia's guards for a long time, and with any luck, they will think that Talia is sleeping.
"There are things I need to settle in the Lightclaw pack before Alpha Magnus goes to attend the meeting.", Talia said.
Maya's eyes darted randomly as she connected the dots. "You want to persuade Alpha Magnus to support Damon."
"I hope I can do that.", Talia responded.
"You will need much more than hope, Lia.", Maya said. "Alpha Magnus is not an easy man to sway."
"All this is happening because Alpha Edward wants Marcy to be Damon's Luna. Alpha Magnus and Luna Alicia are fated mates and I believe that he will understand how pushing into Damon's arms Marcy or any other when he has a fated mate is not the right thing to do. It goes against the will of the Moon Goddess." Or something like that.
Maya puffed her cheeks. "You are forgetting that Alpha Magnus is a misogynist. Damon pampers you because of his feelings, because of the mate bond, because he doesn't want you for benefits, and because he sees women and men as equals. Luna Alicia is not so lucky as Alpha Magnus appreciates her in the bedroom and how she manages the packhouse, but when it comes to the pack business and important stuff, she is being pushed aside. No matter what your arguments are, you will be lucky if he doesn't kick you out of his study. Types like Alpha Magnus think of women as decorative vases."
Talia knew that Maya was saying that because she came from a pack where patriarchy ruled, and females were treated as baby machines that needed to clean and please their mates. And maybe the situation there was still the same. Talia wondered if she could persuade Damon to go there and see if they can make some changes, but she couldn't get distracted by those issues now.
"I don't expect it will be easy.", Talia said. "But I won't know unless I try. As for benefits, won't it be enough to think that we will be allies? Just by being on good terms with Damon and me, the Lightclaw pack will prosper."
Maya snorted. "Good luck with that." She looked at Talia seriously. "Alpha Magnus won't be easy to talk to. No matter what happens, don't lose your temper. If you use your power on him, it's a declaration of war."
Maya, Cornelia, and Talia went to Maya's room. It was on the second floor, and Cornelia and Talia decided to come out of the window, and then use the cover of bushes to meet with James who will be waiting for them in the garden.
"Keith and Caleb will want to see you on our shift change.", Liam told Talia as she was about to close the door of Maya's room.
"That won't be necessary.", Talia said. "We will be wearing nightgowns and if Alpha or Beta find out that you saw us like that, you will be in trouble."
Liam and Pierce exchanged concerned gazes. Damon told them that at any moment at least two guards should be looking at Talia, and she already spent half an hour in the study without them!
"Don't tell me that you want to join us in bed.", Maya said while standing behind Talia. "I will be with her. What can go wrong?" So many things, but Maya didn't dare say that aloud.
Talia wanted to talk with her guards and explain the whole sleepover thing, but Maya said how that won't be necessary.
"The more you talk about it, the more suspicious it will get. This is their first night in the packhouse and let them think that these sleepovers are normal.", Maya advised.
With all that settled, and guards accepting to stay in the hallway without intruding unless there is a cry for help, Talia moved toward the open window and looked down.
"How do we get out? Jump?" It didn't look safe.
"With this.", Maya said, and Talia's eyes widened at the sight of a long rope.
"Why do you have such a thing in your room?"
Maya smiled mischievously. "You don't need to know. I didn't think it will come in handy outside of bed."
Talia gaped at Maya. She knew that Maya and Caden were playful, but… ropes? The most she did with Damon was when he covered her eyes but then, maybe in a few years, they will be adventurous to try other things as well.
