~ The Midnight Guardians pack ~
Axel got a message through the mind-link that Alpha is back with six other people, and Axel rushed from his office to welcome them.
He found at the main entrance Damon, Talia, James, Cornelia, and three new faces (Keith, Sandy, and Liam).
Meg was there already instructing Omegas where to take the suitcases.
Axel was surprised to see that Talia came with so many people. James and Cornelia were familiar faces, as Axel saw them in the Lightclaw pack, but he didn't know who Keith, Liam, and Sandy were. Talia was quick to introduce them as her guards.
"Why didn't you say that you are coming?", Axel asked Talia and pulled her into his embrace while ignoring Damon's low growls of warning.
Talia patted Axel's back. "If I told you we are coming, you would make a fuss about it. Besides, didn't you say that this is my home? Do I need to announce my arrival?"
Axel puffed his cheeks in frustration. "I wouldn't make a fuss, but we would at least prepare some snacks and I would make sure everyone important is here."
Talia glanced behind Axel who was now shaking hands with Damon, to see Yasmin and Kai coming down the stairs.
Cornelia swiftly moved toward Yasmin, and the two witches hugged and started talking at the same time excitedly. For Cornelia, it was a few days since she saw Yasmin, but for Yasmin, it was months without seeing a fellow witch. It was good to see a familiar face.
Talia noticed that one person was missing. "Where is Tyler?"
"Tyler is on his shift to guard the portal toward the witches' realm.", Kai responded. "He will be back in time for dinner."
"I hope there are no incidents there.", Talia said and looked at Axel curiously.
"No incidents.", Axel confirmed. "We were busy here and we didn't get a chance to visit, but now that you came, we can go together."
He didn't want to say that he was nervous about meeting Evanora without Talia. What if Evanora doesn't approve that he knocked up Yasmin so quickly? Or what if Evanora wants to keep Yasmin there? Axel needed Talia as assurance that things will go well.
Meg got an idea. Since their Alpha was back, they could do something extra. "We should organize a welcoming dinner, something better than the cafeteria."
"Please, don't do anything extra for us.", Talia urged them. "I am fine with the cafeteria and everyone else is curious to see how things are done here."
Meg refused. "How can that be? People will be delighted that you are back."
Yasmin interjected. "However, it's already mid-afternoon, and if we try to organize a feast, it will be rushed. Let's have a regular meal today and announce a feast for tomorrow. Like that, we will have time to prepare a proper welcome."
Kai was on it. "For tonight, our warriors can go hunting."
Axel grinned. "Barbeque for everyone! We can make it lunchtime so that party continues until wee hours of the night..."
Meg ushered Damon, Talia, and others up the stairs. "Let me show you to your rooms. When you settle, we can all meet in the living area…"
Talia exhaled helplessly when she saw that Axel, Yasmin, and Kai were already planning the feast. They were visibly excited, and she couldn't stop them without being a party pooper.
Damon and Talia found themselves in a massive suite that had an entry and a sitting area. It was a corner room on the topmost floor with large windows on the left and in front that provided views of the forest. On the right, was a door that led to a bedroom, bathroom, and a walk-in closet.
The design was traditional, with upscale elegance that offered comfort.
Pastel blue patterned chairs and cushioned ottomans were in the sitting area around a long coffee table. There was a fireplace, a fluffy carpet, and antique-looking paintings and statues.
It should be warm and inviting, yet Talia walked around the furniture like it was dirty even though everything smelled fresh. The room was cleaned thoroughly and recently. Talia guessed that Omegas maintained it regularly, even in Talia's absence.
She couldn't stop her mind from wandering to the past and things that might have been.
Was this where her mother was sitting and caressing her belly while Talia was inside? Were her parents happy to have a child before they found out about the prophecy? Is this where Alpha Isaac and Alpha Sophia discussed giving Talia away? Were they sad to give her away? If she grew up in this pack, would she spill juice on that coffee table? Or would she play on that carpet?
So many possibilities and things that didn't happen filled this space, and Talia found it suffocating.
From the moment they stepped into the suite, Damon could see that this was an important area, worthy of the Alpha family.
Damon observed the paintings that hung on the walls, landscapes and animals mostly. He noticed a faint rectangle-shaped outline on the wall above the fireplace, where wooden art décor was hanging now. It was obvious that a big painting was there previously, for a long time; Damon guessed that it might be a family portrait of some kind and Axel removed it in order not to upset Talia.
Damon turned to Talia when he noticed that her emotions became unstable. He had an idea of what caused it and he knew that it won't be good to ignore the elephant in the room.
"Is this where Alpha Sophia and Alpha Isaac lived before you took away their Alpha positions?", he asked.
"I believe so.", Talia responded. Axel said that he will let her use the main bedroom.
"Where are they now?", Damon asked.
"I'm not sure. The last thing I knew, they were in the main house."
Damon peeked into the bedroom and then dashed into it.
"Come!", Damon called, and Talia followed to find him sprawled on the king-sized bed that had a floral cover.
He patted the bed next to him, silently telling her to join him.
Talia hesitated. "I don't think we should use this." She released a long breath. "I want to talk to Axel and tell him that he should take over the position of the Alpha of the Midnight Guardians pack." Talia felt that it was the right thing to do, yet her heart was aching.
Damon turned to the side and propped his head on his elbow. "Do you hate it that much?"
"This is not about me hating or not. It's about what people need and about what's practical.", she responded and Damon raised his hands, indicating that he won't meddle.
"No matter what you decide, kitten, I will support you."
Talia nodded gratefully.
Talia thought about this many times, and the conclusion was always the same.
No matter how Talia felt about it, the reality was that she wanted to be with Damon, in the Dark Howlers pack, and she never heard of an Alpha working remotely. Would she be able to think about the Midnight Guardians pack while being Damon's Luna?
On this side, Axel already knew people, and he knew the work, and it shouldn't be a big deal to let him take over everything, officially.
