Maya waved with the paper in her hand. "Lisa is also on the list."
Dawn inhaled audibly. "Are you saying that Lisa found a mate? Who is that unfortunate soul?"
"I don't know.", Maya said, obviously displeased by this. "I was making calls to congratulate newly mated couples and to inquire if they will need help with relocations, or maybe a new place to stay because some of them were in single-bedroom apartments. That's when Steph told me that Lisa found her mate and she went with him. Steph didn't know more than that."
Talia's brows came together as her instincts told her that something was wrong.
She should be happy for Lisa. Didn't this mean that Lisa's negativity will end? But after remembering Lisa's attitude that got her into the dungeon, Talia couldn't relax. She looked at Damon. "Can you use your connection to the pack and find out who he is?"
Damon's eyes lost focus for a moment, and then he shook his head. "Lisa shut down her mind-link, or she is far away, and I can't reach her."
Talia didn't like this. As an Alpha, Damon was able to reach any pack member within his territory, and he should be able to force his way into anyone's mind. Talia heard how seasoned werewolves with strong will can keep Alpha out, but Lisa was neither strong nor trained. Was Lisa out of the Dark Howlers territory? Why would she leave?
"Is her mate from another pack?", Talia asked.
"That's possible.", Caden responded. "Our borders are open to the Spring Leaf pack, and the Blue River pack. Their members shouldn't come here without announcing their intention to do so, but everyone was excited about the pack run, and slipups were possible."
"We can't blame people for wanting to join their pack in the run.", Damon said, even though he didn't like lapses in security. He could understand that no one wanted to miss the pack run because they had to be on duty, and he heard that some patrols joined the run for a short stretch, but he didn't want to punish them for doing so.
How Damon saw this, the biggest asset of the Dark Howlers pack was their members. Children and elders were secured in Darkbourne, and others were all participating in the run. If someone used this window of opportunity to steal, at most, they would take some items that can be replaced.
Talia had another concern, "Don't you think it's suspicious that Lisa didn't tell her mother who her mate is?"
Maya didn't think it was a big deal. "When mates find each other, they seek solitude. Lisa probably didn't want to say much to avoid Steph coming to check on her. And don't forget that Lisa grew up in the Lightclaw pack where females are more obedient. The fact that Lisa contacted Steph to explain her absence was more than most of the females from the Lightclaw pack would do."
Talia wondered if she was worrying for no reason. Everyone seemed relaxed and happy that Lisa found her mate. Surely, it was a good thing.
Talia hoped that Tony and Kalina will change the Lightclaw pack because it was not fair for a female to forget about her past because she found a mate. However, wasn't that what Talia was doing?
She didn't only leave her past at the Red Moon pack behind after finding Damon, but she refused to accept her identity as Talia Moonrider also, completely disregarding Alpha Isaac and Alpha Sophia as her parents. Would she act differently if they showed remorse and asked forgiveness for abandoning her when she was a baby? Talia was not sure.
Keith cleared his throat from the door to announce his presence, and Damon waved at him to enter and take a seat.
"I believe you all know Keith.", Damon said. "Since yesterday, Keith is Talia's head guard, responsible for Talia's safety."
Keith tensed under the weight of his new responsibility, Talia's safety. Did that mean he will get to live in the packhouse? Keith left those thoughts for later.
"Did you have breakfast?", Talia asked Keith who took a seat on a sofa chair.
"Yes.", Keith lied. He was anxious about coming here and he couldn't eat.
"Help yourself with those.", Talia said to Keith while gesturing to snacks that Zina previously arranged on the bar counter. Keith said that he ate, but she saw him eyeing the food.
Seeing that he didn't move, Talia insisted, "Fill up the plate, so that we can start."
Keith stood up and turned to face Damon with a determined expression. "Alpha", Keith called. "Before I start as Luna Talia's head guard, I want to do one thing."
Talia didn't like that he was so formal. "What do you want?", she asked.
Keith glanced at her, but he spoke to Damon. "I want to do a blood oath."
Talia's stomach dropped. That was such a big responsibility. "Why?"
This time, Keith spoke to Talia. "Alpha Damon said it. I will be responsible for your security. I don't want you to have any reasons to doubt me. I will do my best to keep you safe, or it will kill me."
Before Talia could object, Damon said, "Alright. We will arrange it with the Shaman."
Keith nodded in agreement and moved to the bar to grab food.
Talia looked at Damon helplessly. They spoke about Talia's guards taking the blood oath after Gideon suggested it, and Talia was firmly against it. Damon wanted all her guards to take the oath, but Talia thought that they can protect her without putting their lives on the line. Actually, Talia didn't want any guards because she didn't want any of them to be harmed in her place.
'Is that necessary?', Talia asked Damon through their mind-link.
'Keith thinks it is. As a warrior, he is used to putting his life on the line. This oath will be a show of his sincerity. By denying his request, you will look down on his resolve and insult him.'
The truth was that Keith was unsettled by the idea of the blood oath. Who would be alright knowing that one can seriously harm him, and maybe even cause death, with a mere thought?
However, as Talia's guard, Keith would be responsible for her safety, which meant for her life. A blood oath was a way for Keith to prove his loyalty, and it will also serve as a reminder of his place whenever his mind wanders where it shouldn't go. Keith will be Talia's guard, her servant, and nothing more.
Their talk lasted until mid-morning.
Damon didn't go into too many details because of the wide audience, but he wanted everyone to know that Maya and Caden will be in charge of the Dark Howlers pack while Damon and Talia were absent, and they also discussed several scenarios related to the Red Moon pack and Alpha Edward.
Talia hoped that Dawn won't leave with George before they return, but just in case they do, she made a point that they can't go without Nora. As expected, Dawn and George were not excited about anything related to Nora.
Damon and Talia were planning to head out the next day, and with that, Dawn, George, Maya, and Caden went to deal with their matters.
This left Damon, Talia, and Keith in the lounge, and Keith was not prepared for what he was about to hear.
