Talia noticed Damon's displeasure. "What's wrong?" she asked.
Damon shook his head, indicating that it was nothing. He didn't want to tell her that he was disappointed because Keith and Liam didn't find their mates among all those scarcely dressed women that gathered there. Did the women need to come closer, or was Talia's mate-finding ability off?
'Tell me', Talia persisted, this time through their private mind-link. Was he upset because of what Keith said? Or because Evanora left them on their own? Or…
"I'm sorry for being late", a breathy voice came from the side, and Talia, Damon, Keith, and Liam turned to the door to see a slender female who appeared to be in her mid-twenties. Her shoulder-length chestnut-colored hair framed her petite face, and her bare ample bosom rose and fell as she was breathing heavily.
"I am Amelia", she said while her gaze traveled over four faces. "The High Priestess instructed…"
Amelia's voice trailed, and her big brown eyes widened at the sight of a muscular young man who stared at her as possessed.
Talia blinked while wondering what made Amelia freeze. The witch looked like she had seen a ghost.
Liam was now walking toward Amelia, his intense gaze never leaving her form. His movements were fluid, making him resemble a hunter who was stalking his prey.
Talia placed her palm over her chest and held it there firmly because this was fantastic. Mates!
Part of Talia feared that this will spark more nonsense about her nonexistent matchmaking ability, but she was happy for Liam.
The scene of mates recognizing each other was familiar, always different, and absolutely breathtaking. It was such a special moment when two halves come together as one, and Talia felt tears pooling at the corners of her eyes. Happy tears.
Liam stopped when he was half a step away from Amelia, and he took a deep breath, his eyelids falling heavy under euphoria that was triggered by her grassy scent, which reminded him of vetiver. It was dry, earthy, woody, leathery, and smoky at the same time, stirring his memories of childhood when he was idling in the unkempt grass on a warm summer day.
Amelia's scent invoked in Liam emotions of being carefree and mischievous, and just how he cherished those long-forgotten memories, he knew that from this moment onward, he will cherish the woman in front of him. She was his home.
"I am Liam", he said.
"Amelia", she said while blinking rapidly, her cheeks growing increasingly red as his proximity flustered her. She never felt anything like it, but she was confident that the man in front of her was her soulmate. And he was smoking hot.
Liam raised his hand and brushed Amelia's cheek with the back of his curled fingers; the electric current generated at the point of contact sent shivers through his body, and he wanted to touch her more, much more than what he just did. He wanted all of her.
"Mine", Liam growled. Tangible possessiveness radiated from him in waves, a powerful display that a werewolf would exhibit only toward his mate.
Amelia's smile reflected in her eyes as she reached to hold his hand, and then she turned and walked away with Liam right behind her.
In the receiving room… crickets.
Only a few days back, Keith saw Sandy and Tyler recognizing each other as mates; there was kissing and talking and congratulations, and then the couple went to seek solitude, yet Liam left without a word. Actually, he said his name and declared her as his, and that was it. And now he was on his way to have sex. Keith never saw anything so... quick.
Keith was the first one to make noise by clearing his throat. "Should we ask the high priestess to send someone else to accompany us?"
"Definitely", Damon said. Another unmated female so that Keith can get his mate also, and then Damon won't worry about the measly coach getting any funny ideas about Talia.
"Woah!" Talia exclaimed when she gathered her wits. "Liam found his mate!" She looked at Damon with excitement sparkling in her eyes. "Do you know what this means?"
Yes! It means that Liam was on his way to having sex, and lots of it! But Damon guessed that Talia's question was not related to sex, so he asked, "What does it mean?"
"The Dark Howlers pack just got a witch.", Talia said meaningfully.
Damon realized that she was right. As an added bonus, considering that Evanora entrusted Amelia to entertain them without other witches, it pointed to the possibility that Amelia had a high rank, which meant more power, more knowledge, and more benefits for the Dark Howlers pack.
Keith's insides tightened when he saw Damon looking at him sternly. Now what?
"Why don't you go and walk around? Maybe your mate is here.", Damon said.
Keith couldn't believe this. Was Damon sending him away to find a woman? It's not that Keith had anything against women. All witches he saw so far were easy on the eyes, but… Talia was right there! No matter what, Keith didn't want Talia to think badly of him.
Keith shifted uncomfortably in his seat before responding to Damon, "Respectfully, I need to refuse. I came here to guard Alpha Talia and to represent our pack. It's my first time here. Wandering on my own can be seen as inappropriate and disrespectful."
Before Damon could force Keith out to chase women, Talia interjected. "I agree with Keith on this one."
Damon frowned at Talia. Did she talk against him in front of others?
Talia took Damon's hand into hers and gave him a squeeze while trying to pacify her grumpy Alpha, "Witches are friendly but unpredictable. This is their realm, and we need to practice caution. If we act out of line, I am confident that they won't miss the opportunity to take advantage of the situation."
Talia remembered the whole mate-for-a-mate deal, and her discomfort swelled. What if the witches wanted to take Damon away from her? How would she survive if that happened?
Damon could see Talia's mood dropping, and he was quick to wrap his arms around her.
"Fine, fine", Damon said with urgency while patting her back and wondering what's got into her. He wanted to reprimand her, but how could he do that when she was pitiful to the point of showing her weakness in front of the measly coach?
Damon exhaled helplessly and kissed the top of Talia's head. His lips rested there as he spoke into her hair, "You were here before, and you know witches the best, so we will follow what you say. We will stick together unless they make other arrangements."
Talia fisted Damon's shirt. "No matter what, don't leave my side."
"I have no intention of leaving you.", Damon assured her.
Talia turned her head to look at Keith. "And you, be careful. Witches are full of tricks. Don't let them swindle you into becoming their breeding stud."
Keith had no idea how to respond to this other than, "I will be careful." Did Talia say, breeding stud? What the hell was this place?
Keith looked around to meet numerous eyes of witches trained on him, and he saw curiosity and hunger, which made his hair stand on ends. Suddenly, Keith wanted to go home.
