Damon chided himself. This was not the time for self-loathing! His kitten needed him to make things better.
Damon released a sharp breath, together with some of his negativity and then he got an idea.
He scooped Talia into his arms and started walking out of the living room. “Let’s go.”
”Where?”, Talia asked while wrapping her arms around his neck to stabilize herself.
”For a run.”, he said. “When I feel overwhelmed, a run helps with clearing my head. Let your wolf take over and go wherever your paws carry you. I will be right behind you, kitten, so don’t worry about anything and just run.”
Jade gaped at the scene of Damon carrying Talia princess style. She followed news about Damon for years and she was confident that he was never this caring toward any female. This proved that Talia was Damon’s fated mate and that Jade messed up big time.
Mindy looked through the window to see Damon carrying Talia all the way to the back of the garden, and then their clothes exploded into tatters to reveal two wolves, one black and the other light gray. When they were standing next to each other, Talia’s light fur made Damon’s even darker, and Damon’s black fur made Talia’s nearly white. It was like they amplified their colors to become opposite, yet they stood together to create a harmony like they belong next to each other.
Two wolves rubbed their heads together for a few seconds before they dashed into the forest, disappearing among dense bushes.
Mindy jolted when a pair of arms snaked around her waist as Gideon approached her from behind.
”Do you want us to go for a run, princess?”, Gideon’s breath splashed on her ear.
Mindy’s lips lifted into a smile as she remembered their wolves running and bonding on the previous night. It was exhilarating. But Mindy had something else on her mind. “How about we check out a house?”
”A house?”
”It’s close by. Talia suggested it as a temporary solution until we find something better, and if we love it, we can keep it.”
”How close is it?”
Mindy shrugged. “I’m not sure. Talia showed me the general direction. We can ask one of the guards. What do you say?”
Gideon looked at Mindy helplessly. How can he say anything other than, yes?
With Gideon and Mindy leaving the living room, Dawn, George, Maya, and Caden were left with Doctor Travis who was going through the motions of doing a health checkup on Jade. Travis figured that there was nothing wrong with Jade, but since Talia and Damon told him to check on Jade, he had to do it.
Jade didn’t resist when Travis listened to her heart, or when he asked her to open her mouth, and she blinked when he pointed a flashlight in her eyes. It distracted her from staring at George.
”You are Commander in the Red Moon pack.”, Jade said to George after some time. He looked familiar as she saw his picture somewhere, and now that the commotion settled, she connected the dots about who he is.
George’s silence was confirmation, and Jade’s eyes moved to Dawn who was definitely cozy with him. Jade noticed the mark on Dawn’s neck. If Dawn was not George’s mate, they wouldn’t be that close.
”How come your mate is an Alpha?”, Jade asked George.
George narrowed his eyes at Jade. Should he just kill her now and remove the risk of Alpha Edward finding out? And why was Jade blabbering in front of Doctor Travis?
Dawn giggled and hugged George. “He was lucky. Not everyone gets as his fated mate Alpha’s daughter.”
Travis’ hands paused for a moment. He knew Dawn’s parents and they were definitely not Alphas, but he didn’t want to meddle. While working as the main doctor in the pack hospital, Travis heard all kinds of secrets and he learned to keep them to himself. It was for his safety.
”Dawn, no…”, George said but Dawn gave him a comforting smile and he knew that she said that to conceal his identity. If Jade talks about how George’s mate is Alpha’s daughter, George won’t be targeted even if Alpha Edward hears about this, but it won’t change the fact that the old fart will covet Dawn.
”Alpha’s daughter?”, Jade asked suspiciously. She was confident that she knew everyone who was someone. “And who is your father if I may ask?”, Jade asked Dawn, thinking that maybe she is a child from an affair. It happens.
”You shouldn’t ask such questions.”, James said from the door with Cornelia one step behind him.
James arrived in time to hear Jade asking about Dawn’s background and he frowned at the people in the room.
Maya, Caden, Jade, Travis, Zina, George, and Dawn.
Where was Talia? Wasn’t she the reason why they came early from the human city?
”Talia and Damon went for a run.”, Dawn said, answering James’ question he didn’t ask aloud.
Zina and Dawn called Cornelia to the side to give her updates on what happened, and Maya and Caden tagged along because they wanted to hear it also.
James’ lips lifted into a smile as he comprehended the situation. This was perfect! Because of this summon, they left Petra, Erik, and Zack in the human city, and it was just him and Cornelia. Since Talia was well enough to go for a run, James and Cornelia can go to his room. Privacy. He will introduce Cornelia to the PlayStation and show her how to use the controller and they will be close and… Ah! He was getting hard already!
”Future Alpha James”, Jade called, and James’ smile fell as he turned to look at her suspiciously. What did she want?
”You need to help me clear up this misunderstanding.”
”I don’t need to do anything.”, James said dryly. “Who are you?”
Jade’s eyes widened. How was it possible that he didn’t know her? How embarrassing! She cleared her throat awkwardly. “I am Jade from the Silverfur pack. My father is Beta Milo.”
With James not saying anything, she continued. “I came here to…”
”She came to seduce Damon.”, George interjected. “Unfortunately, Jade assumed that Talia was Omega, so she showed her ugly face which earned her a punishment of staying in the Dark Howlers pack and working as Omega until she proves her sincerity.”
James understood that keeping Jade here meant containing the information leak. It was a smart move, but… “Why did she get to work instead of staying in the dungeon?”
”If she makes a mistake, she will end up in the dungeon.”, George explained.
”They want me to work. I am a model, Beta’s daughter. How can I work as an Omega? My hands will be ruined.” Jade’s expression was pitiful. She hoped that James will use his status to get her out of that mess.
”I see…”, James said thoughtfully. “So, what do you want me to help you with, Miss Jade? Do you expect me to justify why you came to seduce an Alpha who has his fated mate? Or do you want me to urge Alpha Damon to place you in the dungeon right away so that you avoid ruining your hands?”
Jade couldn’t believe this. What the heck was James talking about? She wanted neither of those! She wanted to go home!
