Talia and Damon stood on the elevated platform at the entrance to the Shifters nightclub that provided a good view of the space and the crowd that filled it.
Maya and Caden were on the left, and Dawn and George were on the right, both a step behind Damon and Talia, showing non-verbal respect for their positions as Alpha and Luna.
Zina was also with them in the group, and now she really felt that she was dateless. If Talia had any power to attract mates, Zina hoped it will take effect soon.
It took a second for people in the nightclub to start nudging each other as they turned toward the elevated platform, and it seemed that even the music quieted down.
This was not Talia's first time in the Shifters nightclub, but the place looked more packed than ever before.
'Most of the crowd is from the Dark Howlers pack.', Damon spoke to Talia through their private mind-link. 'Last night the Shifters was closed due to the pack run, and people came here tonight to make up for it and to celebrate their Luna. Many businesses in Darkbourne closed early and some suggested that the day of your Luna ceremony be a holiday.'
Talia's insides trembled from anxiety and she hoped it didn't show. Why was everyone looking at them?
Damon lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back of her palm, right there, for everyone to see.
'Our people want to welcome you.', Damon said.
Talia was not sure if the crowd was welcoming because they were just looking at her.
Damon raised his head and his howl was louder than the music.
"AWOOOO!"
Before his howl ended, the whole nightclub shook with the uproar of howls, claps, whistles, and cheers.
'They are happy you are here.', Damon spoke into Talia's mind. 'Do you want to respond to them?'
Talia looked at Damon apprehensively. All that was for her? She didn't have the pack mind-link to peer into their thoughts and emotions, but she could see that they were smiling, and the mood was good. It didn't seem right for her just to stand there and not reciprocate. But… Should she start shouting? Or howling? Nothing seemed appropriate. She was the quiet type.
Seeing her reluctance, Damon said, 'Let's do it together. One, two…' And he opened up for her to feel his excitement and pride, but mostly happiness.
Talia gasped for air as emotions swelled within her, and then both of them howled, "AWOOOO!"
The crowd in the nightclub was jumping and the noise increased further when Damon raised Talia's hand that he was holding, high above their heads, and Talia was confident that all eyes in the club were on them. It was nerve-wracking and heartwarming at the same time. Somehow, this noisy bunch of people made her feel welcome.
Damon pulled her closer and gave her a mind-spinning kiss as the crowd below them exploded in another wave of noise. Damon smiled into the kiss. He was enjoying it.
People were visibly excited, but they were all orderly as they parted to open up a path for their Alpha and Luna to reach their VVIP booth.
Talia met many eyes that observed her with curiosity, and she was pleased with herself that she projected confidence. Damon's proximity gave her the courage to stand tall, and she didn't want to disappoint him by shrinking and appearing insecure. As Damon's Luna, she needed to show the Dark Howlers pack that she can take care of their Alpha and of the whole pack.
They all sat on sofas in pairs, except for Zina (she didn't have a pair).
Zina wanted to leave and mingle, but at the same time, the appeal of being in the VVIP booth was urging her to stay.
"How about we go to the bar for some girl-time?", Maya suggested.
Talia glanced at Damon, silently asking him what was going on.
'Caden and I want to talk to George.', Damon spoke to Talia into their mind-link, and Talia understood that this might be something for Dawn not to hear. She was curious but she knew that Damon would give her a heads-up if he could.
"Sounds like fun.", Talia responded to Maya, and Dawn and Zina followed.
Zina, Dawn, Maya, and Talia sat at the bar in the Shifters nightclub, each with a colorful cocktail that Katya personally prepared for them.
Pierce, Liam, Caleb, and Lulu found them quickly. They saw them entering the club, but they didn't dare go into the VVIP booth without invitation. But now that the ladies came to the bar, they decided to approach them.
Sandy was in the pack hospital, giving Keith company for the evening. They were taking turns so that Keith was not bored while waiting to be discharged.
"Guys, why do you look like you are guarding Talia?", Lulu asked while eyeing Pierce, Liam, and Caleb who were standing to form a protective half-circle around Talia as she was sitting on the barstool.
"We are her guards.", Liam responded matter-of-factly.
"You don't need to do this.", Talia said.
Caleb shook his head. "Do you think that Alpha will forgive us if anything happens to you and we are around?" He leaned closer to continue in a lower voice, "Besides, standing next to Luna is increasing our popularity."
Talia laughed at Caleb's cheeky expression.
Pierce ordered a round of shots to toast for their Luna, and the mood became lively quickly.
In the VVIP booth, George was going through the folder that Caden gave him. It contained information about Penelope Faith, twenty-two years old daughter of Alpha William Faith from the Night Sentinel pack.
When looking at the number of pack members, the Night Sentinel pack was the third pack in North America. However, their influence was not significant as they were sixth in terms of the military and fourth in terms of economy, and they were ranked eleventh when looking at the size of their territory. But they couldn't be dismissed as insignificant either because Alpha William formed various alliances with other packs, and one of those was with the Red Moon pack.
George flipped through the files that were in the folder to see pictures and information on Penelope Faith. Her education, hobbies, friends, favorite foods, music, books she likes to read… it was detailed.
"I assume there is a reason why I'm looking at this.", George said.
Damon took a sip of whiskey from his glass before responding, "We are watching movements of Alpha Edward. His interaction with the Night Sentinel pack increased in the last few weeks, and our spies confirmed that he is putting an extra effort for Penny to attend James' sixteenth birthday."
George cocked an eyebrow as he picked up something amusing. "Penny? Are you so close to the daughter of Alpha William to address her by a nickname?"
Damon froze and cursed at himself silently. These small things will get him in trouble!
Actually, he forgot about Penelope as she was one of many, but when he saw the blonde in those pictures, and her name in the files, he got a flashback or two.
Should he tell George how Penelope was one of his bride candidates that he explored thoroughly about two years ago? It was one night and a number of unanswered texts and voicemails. Damon decided not to share those details. His past was not important. Damon was glad that Talia was not nearby because he didn't want to risk another meltdown.
Damon cleared his throat. "The point is that Miss Penelope will attend James' birthday party. I suggest you keep an eye on her. We know that Alpha Edward is trying to secure his alliances through marriages."
George didn't understand why he should be concerned with that woman. For years, there were many females buzzing around James, but it was nothing serious because… "Alpha Edward won't pressure James to choose his mate before his eighteenth birthday."
"I was not talking about James.", Damon said, and seeing George's confused expression, Damon clarified, "I'm sure you know that there is a shortage of unmated young Alphas who are willing to mark a chosen mate, so ambitious ones will target the next best thing. You are the youngest Commander of the Red Moon pack, with the position just below Beta Raymond. Officially unmated. Available."
George's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets when he realized, "Are you saying that Alpha Edward wants to set ME up with this woman?"
