Caden saw that Damon's expression was changing and it dawned on him... 'You can communicate with Talia?', Caden asked through their pack mind-link.
Damon smiled a little. 'Since marking.' The second marking, but Damon didn't want to go into details.
Caden never heard of such a thing, but he never saw werewolves glowing either. With Talia, anything was possible. She was just one surprise after another. 'What does Talia say? Why is she here? Is she really the Alpha of the Midnight Guardians pack?'
'I don't know, Caden. She asked me to trust her.'
'And you don't?'
Damon was aware that Talia could probably suppress them all with her aura. However, Damon knew that Talia was a gentle soul, and he knew how vicious some Alphas can be. Other than a few people who were sitting there with him, everyone was waiting for Talia to trip and fall on her face. Alpha Richard was the one who hired mercenaries to snoop about Talia's identity, and he hated her for the embarrassment he endured at the Lightclaw pack. And there was Alpha Edward, one of the reasons why she spent most of her life hiding in the attic! Every fiber of Damon's being screamed to go there, wrap Talia in his embrace, and protect her from everything.
'I think that she is way over her head.', Damon said to Caden.
'I disagree.', Caden responded. 'I think that Talia is smarter and stronger than you give her credit.'
'Do you think I'm underestimating her?'
'No. But I think that you are overestimating yourself.', Caden said. 'This is not a fight you can win by yourself. Talia knows that and she wouldn't be here without a plan. Yesterday you announced to our warriors that she should be treated as an Alpha, your equal. Did you change your mind already? She surprised us many times so far, and I have a feeling that she will perform another miracle.'
Caden regretted that Maya was not here to see whatever Talia was about to pull out of her sleeve. Will it include more glowing? Maybe he should record it so Maya can see it later.
Damon looked at Caden thoughtfully. 'You are right. Talia visited the Lightclaw pack before coming here.'
Caden's eyes widened. 'Tony mentioned that him coming here as an Alpha was not the biggest surprise. He knew that Talia was coming. Was she behind Alpha Magnus' sudden retirement?'
When Damon confirmed, Caden really regretted that Maya was not present. She would enjoy this so much!
Damon used the mirror behind the bar to see that everyone was stealing glances at Talia and Meg, and Alpha Edward was staring at them openly.
Alpha Edward was in shock to find out that Alpha Magnus was replaced, but now another new face showed up. Talia's last name matched with the Alpha family from the Midnight Guardians pack, but he never heard Alpha Isaac or Alpha Sophia mentioning a daughter. Or was she Axel's mate who took his last name? That was a possibility, but then Axel should attend this meeting and not his mate.
Alpha Edward wanted to rip off that scarf that was around Talia's neck. He was unable to check if she was marked with that fabric covering her up!
"Since everyone is here", a Guardian spoke from the door. "The meeting will start in ten minutes."
Alpha Edward gave a meaningful look to Alpha Richard and then tilted his head toward Talia, silently giving an order for Alpha Richard to investigate the situation there.
Alpha Richard knew very well what Alpha Edward wanted, and with a stiff smile, he walked toward Talia.
"Alpha Talia, right?", Alpha Richard called, and Talia looked up at the man, wondering if he will recognize her as the woman who embarrassed him and his daughter (aka Cassie) at the Luna announcement ceremony at the Lightclaw pack. Based on the polite tone Alpha Richard used, Talia guessed that he had no idea who she was. Perfect.
"Yes?", Talia responded questionably.
Alpha Richard cleared his throat awkwardly because Talia was still sitting on that sofa, and he was standing. "I am Alpha Richard from the Steelbite pack."
Talia nodded in acknowledgment of his words but didn't say anything else.
Alpha Richard felt like slapping her. He is her senior, why was that skinny girl not showing him respect? "I was wondering if you know what this gathering is about."
Talia tilted her head. "I responded to a summon because I guessed it's important. Did I miss something?"
"We are here to discuss the unruly behavior of some Alphas and to sanction them appropriately.", Alpha Richard said cryptically.
Talia's eyes widened. "Did someone complain about my pack?" She turned to Meg. "How come I didn't hear about it?"
"No, no!", Alpha Richard was quick to say. "It's about someone else."
"I see.", Talia said. "I look forward to seeing the evidence."
"Evidence?", Alpha Richard asked and looked at Alpha Edward who didn't move from his spot, but he was obviously listening in.
"Yes, evidence.", Talia confirmed. "If the Council of Alphas was summoned to discuss someone's actions, with no evidence, it's just slander. We are all busy people with no time for dealing with gossip. My time away from the matters I should attend to costs money and potentially puts my pack in danger. If you are wasting my time, I expect to be compensated."
Alpha Richard stared at Talia unsure if he understood her right. "What?"
Talia exhaled irritably and glanced at Meg.
Meg took that as a cue to speak.
"Why do you look confused? My Alpha said that this should be important, and it better be supported by evidence, otherwise we are all wasting our time here and someone should pay for it."
At the bar, Maddox chuckled and elbowed Tony with, "Aren't you bummed that she is not your Beta?"
Yes! Tony wanted Meg to be his Beta! But Nate was right there, so he couldn't say that.
"Every person has his strengths.", Tony responded politically.
Alpha Cristian leaned closer to Damon so they are not overheard. Alpha Adam and his Beta were gone, but with everyone having werewolf hearing, he still lowered his voice to say, "I think I know why you kept your mate a secret so far. She is worth stealing."
Damon narrowed his eyes at Alpha Cristian, but he didn't respond. His kitten was awesome.
Alpha Richard didn't understand what Talia was trying to say. Was she a righteous person who expected evidence, or was just compensation enough to win her vote? But he couldn't clarify that in front of everyone.
Alpha Richard was aware of their audience as everyone was eavesdropping. He leaned closer to Talia and asked in a low voice, "Do you mind if we step outside and talk in private?"
Talia cocked an eyebrow. "I apologize Alpha Richard, but you are not my type."
'PFFFT!' Damon sprayed a mouthful of whiskey on the bar, and the bartender's frown told him that he won't be getting any more drinks. He was just wasting it!
Alpha Richard was flabbergasted. Why did Talia make it sound like he was making a move on her?
