All groomsmen had royal blue suits with golden embroidery on lapels. Maddox's suit was white with royal blue lapels and golden embroidery on it. They were all matching, yet Maddox was standing out.
People in the room were chatting in a good mood, and there was plenty of expensive liquor going around.
Caden, Kai, and Oliver chatted as Betas of their respective packs, Cristian was talking with Tony, James was checking his phone every few seconds, a few humans discussed business collaboration, and Gideon was in an especially good mood as he was grinning at his reflection in the full-length mirror.
The Shaman looked good in his well-fitted outfit, but his expression was still exaggerated and Damon guessed that Gideon's talk with in-laws went well otherwise, the old guy would be sulking. Damon wanted to ask if Mindy's parents commented on the Shaman's age, but he decided to keep that for later, or maybe he could ask Talia to talk to Mindy and get more details.
Maddox was standing in the corner with his hands in his pockets, and his intense expression directed at the carpet gave him the appearance of someone deep in thoughts. Maddox was an Alpha, and they always had important things to handle, so no one disturbed him. No one, except for Damon.
"Is there a crisis only you know about?" Damon asked while approaching Maddox with two glasses of amber-colored liquor.
Maddox accepted the glass and downed it in one go without a word spoken.
Damon's hand with the second glass was left hanging in the air. He was going for a toast, but Maddox drank his drink immediately.
"Do you want this one?" Damon asked jokingly.
To Damon's silent outrage, Maddox took the second glass and gulped the contents like a parched man drinking water.
Damon was not worried that Maddox would get drunk. The two were drinking buddies, and Damon knew that Maddox had an enviable capacity, but this behavior was unusual.
"What's wrong?" Damon asked.
Maddox snapped to look at Damon. "What could be wrong?"
Damon shrugged. "I don't know. You tell me."
Maddox looked at other people in the room, and then his eyes settled on Damon.
"I…" Maddox started and paused. He puffed his cheeks and ran his hand through his hair. He leaned closer to Damon and spoke in a hushed voice, "What if this doesn't make her happy? What if I don't make her happy?"
Tatiana had a very good life before she met Maddox. She was a successful designer with a top-notch company, surrounded by luxury and all the good things in life while many people were sucking up to her. And now, she was making drastic changes in order to accommodate him. She left her life in Europe, moved her company, she will be tasked to act as a Luna by his side, and her business will start from scratch in the US.
And what did he do?
Maddox had a feeling that when compared to Tatiana's sacrifices, he was lacking, and Tatiana knew it. Of course, she knew it. Tatiana was brilliant and had a very sharp business-oriented mind; she was definitely aware that accepting Maddox as her mate came at a loss for her, yet she still went with it. Sure, he could feel Tatiana's emotions through their mate bond, and he was confident that she wanted this, and she was happy, but what if she regrets it later?
Damon needed a moment to process this. Was the mighty Alpha Maddox insecure? It looked like it.
Damon would make fun of Maddox if the groom didn't look like he was about to hyperventilate. Damon couldn't allow that to happen because this was important to Talia. Talia was over the moon that she got a role in the ceremony, and Damon had no intention of allowing Maddox to ruin it by passing out, canceling the thing, or running away because of what-if scenarios that probably won't happen.
"You are fated mates. Being with you will make her happy.", Damon said with confidence.
Maddox scoffed. "That would be valid if Tanya is a regular woman."
Damon rolled his eyes. If Maddox knew how special Talia was, he wouldn't mention any other woman, but Damon couldn't disclose Talia's amazingness, so he had to focus on Tatiana.
"What makes Tanya special? Does she have a dick between her legs? Or three boobs?"
Maddox's expression darkened, and he released a low growl. He knew that Damon was joking, but this was no time for jokes.
Besides, there was no dick involved. Tatiana was 110% woman, a hot one that smelled and tasted of strawberries! And Maddox wouldn't mind another boob to play with. Two were fun, and three would be even better.
"Relax, man," Damon said while patting roughly Maddox's shoulder. "It's just your insecurities acting out. Our mates love us more than what we deserve." This time, Damon was serious.
Maddox looked at Damon hopefully. "You think so?"
"I know so," Damon said smugly. "And you should know as well."
"I should?"
Damon nodded confidently before reminding him, "I remember that when you met Tatiana, you were so badly smitten that you were a complete klutz, and you forgot about two she-wolves in your room."
Maddox's nostrils flared in anger. Did Damon need to remind him of that blunder that nearly cost him his mate? He put so much effort into winning her back, his own mate... That was unheard of! And Tatiana almost drowned in that wretched kelp forest while searching for non-existing mermaids at the bottom of a lake.
Damon saw that Maddox was about to snap, so he quickly continued, "My point is that she forgave you. You messed up, big time, and she forgave you. That should tell you how much Tanya is into you. Don't doubt the mate bond. The Moon Goddess is never wrong, she gives us what we need. You need Tanya, and she needs you, and that won't change unless one of you is stupid to sever the bond. Your Luna is many things, but stupid is not one of them."
Maddox realized that Damon was right.
"Thanks. I needed to hear that", Maddox said.
Damon frowned at Maddox's silly grin. It didn't suit him.
"Remember who you are, Max. You are the Alpha of the Blue River pack. We move with confidence, and we crush our enemies. That wussy expression should be left for when it's just you and your mate. She will appreciate you showing your soft side, but everyone else will use it against you."
Maddox released a sharp breath and composed himself. "I'm not going to say you are wrong, but I will say that it's easy for you to talk as an outsider. When your mate has Luna ceremony, I will be standing on the side and laughing while you bounce off the walls."
"That won't happen," Damon snapped.
Maddox chuckled with, "We will see," and waved his hand on the side. A second later, an Omega was there with two glasses of amber liquid. Maddox took them both and gave one to Damon.
"Thank you for being here, Damon," Maddox said seriously, and he meant it.
Damon was the only Alpha with whom Maddox could hold a conversation without fearing that Damon would backstab him for power. For shits and giggles, yes, but not for power.
"I wouldn't miss this for anything in the world," Damon responded, and they clinked glasses before downing them.
