At the introduction of Gamma Sasa, the crowd erupted in cheers, claps, and whistles, but what got Tyler's attention were unexpected reactions from people around him.
Sandy regretted not clarifying the mix-up about her name. She thought how Sasa was cute and didn't care how Tyler called her as long as it was with love. If she knew that he would announce it to everyone, she would find a chance between their lovemaking to tell him that crucial piece of information.
'PFFFFT!', a boisterous laugh burst from Liam, who couldn't hold himself back at the sight of Tyler's innocent confusion and Sandy's awkwardness.
Liam remembered how, on the previous day, Sandy and Tyler met, both overdressed and dazed at the sight of each other, and they were cool while going upstairs without care that everyone knew what they were about to do. And now they had this big blooper that Liam will remember for many years to come. Sandy got burned, and he didn't need to lift a finger!
Liam's only regret: not recording it.
Axel, Yasmin, Meg, and Kai were snickering. Keith was shaking with suppressed laughter while Talia, Damon, Cornelia, and James had funny expressions.
Tyler understood that something was off. But what was it?
Under that calm façade, Tyler could sense that Sandy was upset. Was it because all these guys here were laughing?
Due to the hierarchy, Tyler couldn't publicly challenge Axel, Talia, or Damon, so his attention fell on Kai.
"What kind of behavior is that? Did I laugh when you introduced your mate?" Tyler asked Kai, his voice full of indignation.
"No…", Kai responded while wiping the corners of his eyes from tears that gathered there. "But I introduced my mate by her proper name."
Tyler was perplexed. The crowd was cheering for his mate and their new Gamma Sasa, and his so-called friends were laughing like they had heard a joke. And what did Kai mean by introducing his mate by proper name?
"What?" Tyler snapped as irritation rolled through him. His hands balled into fists. He was about to jump on Kai and teach him a lesson, no matter who was watching.
"Sorry, Ty…" Sandy said in a small voice while tugging on his shirt. "My name is Sandy."
"You said it was Sasa.", Tyler reminded her, and her guilty expression told him that something was off. "I called you Sasa many times, and you never corrected me." Did she do it on purpose? Did she enjoy making fun of him?
Sandy pressed her lips into a line regretfully. She could feel Tyler's emotions through their mate bond. He was embarrassed, and there was some anger also with a hint of betrayal, and it was killing her on the inside.
"When we met, I was so smitten that my stutter from childhood returned, and you assumed that Sasa was my name. After that, I thought it was cute. No one ever called me like that; it was special. Something between the two of us."
"And the rest of the pack.", Meg added cheekily.
"Meg!" Sandy hissed at her. This was not the time for teasing. Sandy was in the middle of her first argument with her mate, and it was in front of Alphas and the whole pack to see.
"I'm sorry, Ty. I didn't mean to deceive you."
Tyler exhaled helplessly. How can he be angry at her when he could feel that she was genuinely sorry. The insecurity she projected was making his stomach churn painfully.
Tyler cupped Sandy's cheeks and kissed her on the lips. "I forgive you." And then he kissed her again.
"Everyone!" Tyler shouted at the crowd that was still cheering for Sandy (aka Gamma Sasa).
Tyler waited for everyone to quiet down before he spoke, "I need to correct myself. The love I have for my mate muddled with my mind, and I told you her name is Sasa. Her name is Sandy, that is Gamma Sandy for you. Sasa is a nickname that I gave her, and that is only for me to use. If I hear any of you call her Sasa, you will earn yourself time in the dungeon."
People erupted in laughter and cheers, and Tyler turned to see Sandy's blue-green eyes smiling at him.
Sandy knew that Tyler forgave her, for real. And more than that, he took the blame for this blunder, not caring about his image. For Sandy, at that moment, Tyler was the coolest person alive. And he was hers.
"Thank you, Ty."
"Anytime, Sasa.", he responded, and then he kissed her deeply right there for everyone to see.
Sandy's arms wrapped around Tyler, and they clung to each other while completely ignoring whistling and teasing from the crowd.
Talia could feel the emotions of the Midnight Guardians pack flowing into her, and she was overwhelmed by the positivity. They were excited that Talia was there and enthusiastic about the feast and the upcoming pack run, and they were happy for Tyler, but the biggest was their hope that soon they would find their mates.
For the members of the Midnight Guardians pack, Sandy was more than second Gamma, more than Tyler's mate. She was another proof that things were changing under Talia's leadership, and the flame of hope to find their other half was reignited for every unmated member of the pack.
Talia gasped at the energy that became tangible, and somehow, it all became hers, charging her to the point of her body buzzing, and she needed an outlet because it felt like she might explode.
'To all pack members!' Talia's voice boomed through the pack mind-link for every pack member to hear. 'I present you Tyler and Sandy, your Gammas! Let's give Sandy an appropriate welcome and wish the newly mated couple all the best!'
Talia glanced at Damon, and then she took a deep breath while raising her head to look at the night sky.
"AWOOOOO!"
Talia howled loudly, and Damon was quick to join her. A second later, the whole area shook from howls that merged into one loud thunder that scared many animals away.
Axel ended howling only when his lungs were completely devoid of air, and he looked at Yasmin, who observed everything with her eyes open wide.
"Was this too loud?" Axel asked Yasmin.
Yasmin shook her head and smiled widely. "I never saw anything like this. I can feel the energies converging around Talia, and I wonder if the upcoming ceremony can top this."
Axel realized that Yasmin was right. His parents led many pack runs, but they never had this charged-up atmosphere before the ceremony. Indeed, Talia was here to change things.
Talia was observing her surroundings with astonishment. It was beyond feeling the energies. She could see faint white strings from every pack member going into her. It was like all of them were connected to her, and she was connected to each and every pack member.
'Do you see this?' Talia asked Liseli.
Liseli confirmed with a hum. 'It reminds me of lights and colors we saw on the sphere that Guardians gave you when they tested your power.'
Talia had to agree with this. It was fantastic. She could also see faint dark lines from Liam, Keith, and Sandy going to Damon, and she wondered if the other ones were not visible because of the obstruction caused by the portal.
But… 'Is it normal to see these?'
Liseli's laughter sounded more like growling. 'You are the one defining normal, girl. Enjoy it.'
You can find the pic of Tyler and Sandy in the comments.
