From the moment the painful shift into the wolf form ended, Talia retracted to the back of her mind, letting Liseli take over. The old beast was craving freedom and to stretch her paws, and Talia was not in the mood to interact with anyone, so this worked for both of them.
Liseli felt Caleb, Pierce, Liam, and Lulu in the area but since the four guards were only keeping watch from the distance, she didn't bother with them.
After a short run, Liseli settled at the top of a rock, and she gazed into the water while enjoying the wind that ruffled her fur.
'Do you want to talk about it?', Liseli asked Talia.
'No.'
'Are you sure?'
'There is no point.', Talia responded. 'I have no right to judge Damon for how he acted before we met, and tonight the dark magic blocked our bond so he couldn't recognize me. When I think about it from that perspective, I shouldn't be upset and I should forgive him, but I can't erase this feeling of disgust. He hurt me. Should I neglect how he made me feel because he was not himself?' Talia wanted to punch something and release the frustration that was bubbling inside her. 'And here I am, talking about it even though I said I won't. Why am I this angry? Why can't I shake it off?'
'It could be the effect of dark magic.', Liseli responded. 'I feel remnants of it inside us. It happened during the ritual.' And when they found Damon collapsed on the bedroom floor when the potion was taking the effect.
'I don't feel anything.', Talia said.
'Yes, you do. It's the anger you spoke off. It's messing with your emotions and preventing you from forgiving Damon.'
Talia was not convinced. 'Does he deserve to be forgiven? He was an asshole and now suddenly he changed his ways, and he gets a clean slate? Shouldn't he pay for all the wrongs he did?' Talia paused when she realized that this was not her usual self. Maybe she was corrupted by negativity. 'How can I get it off?'
'I'm not sure.', Liseli responded honestly. 'Only light can chase away the darkness.'
Talia groaned irritably. This was not the time for riddles. She needed solutions!
Liseli's words were simple, but Talia's thoughts and emotions were a mess, and she couldn't suppress the darkness she never felt before. It was gnawing at her heart and making her feel uncomfortable in her skin. Was it really due to the dark magic? How can she get rid of it? Talia wanted to be herself again, this didn't feel right.
'Damon is here.', Liseli said to Talia.
Talia's heart skipped a beat. She was really missing his proximity, but… 'I don't care.' She didn't want to talk to him. Not yet. The negativity bubbled inside her and Talia feared that she will say something that can't be taken back.
The memory of him taking advantage to feel her out while others were watching was making her nauseous.
Would he go all the way if she was willing? How many women allowed him to go all the way without privacy? And did he really think that any woman would enjoy such an experience? He was such an idiot! Actually, females like Nora would enjoy having witnesses to confirm she spread her legs for an impressive Alpha like Damon, but that didn't make Damon any less of an idiot!
For Talia, making love was intimate and sacred, every touch was meant only for the two of them to share, and he ruined it!
'You could have blasted him.', Liseli said. 'But instead, you allowed it to happen while trying to talk sense into him. On the bright side, it worked.'
Talia snorted. 'Great. It's my fault that my mate is a lecherous bastard. Thank you, Moon Goddess!'
'It's what the Moon Goddess arranged.', Liseli said. 'Damon is a handful. You are probably the only female that can handle him.'
'You wanted to say that I'm the only female stupid enough to forgive him repeatedly! What about ME? Don't I deserve a caring man who will respect me after all I've been through?', Talia asked grumpily. 'Besides, since when are you taking his side?'
'He is your mate, child.', Liseli responded. 'You have two choices. Accept him or reject him, and I know you won't do the latter, so it's better if you embrace the reality that you are stuck with him and shorten your suffering.'
'It seems to me that suffering is all I do.', Talia was NOT happy.
'Don't allow negative emotions to guide you. Think about things before you do something you might regret.', Liseli advised Talia.
'I know it's not fair. Since we met, Damon was trying and what happened tonight was not Damon's fault. It was the dark magic, it was Cassandra, and Alpha Isaac and Alpha Sophia and Alpha Edward, and Elders. Oh! And it was Marcy and Cassie and Ashley and Nora, and it was how he grew up on his own, and it was always someone else, and it was NEVER his fault. Even before I realized Damon was my mate, everything with him was a struggle. Why can't we just be happy?', Talia ranted. She wanted to be happy, damn it!
'Happiness doesn't come easily.', Liseli said. 'I should know.'
'I'm sorry, Liseli.', Talia said quickly. She forgot that Liseli was apart from Sapa for centuries and that she was fed lies about how Sapa moved on and forgot about her, yet Liseli survived, and here she is, finally able to be with Sapa, but Talia was ruining it for her.
'Don't be sorry, child.', Liseli said. 'It's normal to feel what you are feeling. It would be strange if you could set aside your grievances and just forgive him. But I have a feeling that remnants of dark magic are amplifying your negative emotions and you aren't thinking clearly. Alphas are dominant, overbearing, and crude, but they would never hurt their mate. Don't judge him based on how he treats others.'
Talia was confused. Was Liseli telling her to forgive Damon or not? 'What should I do?'
'You love him, and I can tell you from my experience that every minute with your mate is worth it. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't let him grovel and show his sincerity.'
'How about I give you privacy and you spend time with Sapa?', Talia suggested. By tomorrow, her emotions will simmer down, and she might be able to talk to Damon.
Liseli disapproved. 'I can't be happy with Sapa if you have this tension. We are sharing emotions, girl. So out with it.'
'What are you expecting me to do?'
'For a start, listen.', Liseli said and turned her head to see a big black wolf approaching them slowly with his head lowered in submission.
'Don't allow one bad incident to ruin everything Damon built so far.', Liseli continued advising Talia. 'Damon changed, and he did it for you. No one would make an Alpha humble himself like this other than you. Open your mind and your heart and hear him out...'
Damon was almost at the rock where Talia was when his steps halted. His head went even lower, nearly touching the ground, and he whimpered.
