Talia was sitting at the bar and mixing her pink cocktail with the tiny umbrella while wondering how much time had passed. Was it too obvious that she made herself available on purpose? Was that why no one had approached her so far?
"Alpha Natalia," a male voice got her attention, and Talia perked up. Someone took the bait!
"I am Beta Milo from the Silverfur pack. I wonder if you remember me."
Talia was pleased that someone had made a move. "Of course, I remember you, Beta Milo. We met at the Council of Alphas."
"It's an honor." He looked around. "I don't see your Beta here."
"Betas," Talia corrected him. "Meg and Kai are enjoying this event. It is a party." Talia was itchy to skip the useless chit-chat. "What brings you here?"
Beta Milo shifted on his feet awkwardly. "This is about my daughter."
Talia didn't get it. "Your daughter?"
"Yes, my daughter, Jade. I'm not sure if you got a chance to meet her."
Talia needed a moment to connect the dots.
Jade… the Silverfur pack… Beta's daughter… Jade... JADE!
Jade was the latest on the long list of females who dared to come to the Dark Howlers pack with the intention of claiming Damon as hers!
'Kitten? Do you want me to handle him?'
Damon's voice pulled Talia out of her thoughts. 'No need. Unless he is hostile, let me talk to him. Please.'
'Feel free to provoke him into hostility. I'm ready to beat him into submission and make this party more memorable.'
Talia bit the inside of her cheek to prevent herself from smiling. Beta Milo will think she was flirty!
Where were they? Oh, yes, he brought up Jade, the wretched woman who was now doing hard work at the Dark Howlers pack with Omegas, and the WW Magazine published an article about it. But if Talia said she was familiar with that, it might be suspicious. After all, why would the Alpha of the Midnight Guardians pack bother with gossip about the daughter of a Beta from another pack?
"No. I didn't meet your daughter, Beta Milo. Is she here? Do you plan to introduce us?" Talia asked.
"I wish," he said. "Jade could learn a lot from you, but unfortunately, she is being detained in the Dark Howlers pack."
"Detained?"
Beta Milo nervously looked around. "Pardon my crude choice of words. Officially, she is there doing charity work, but I know that's not my Jade. She is there against her will. Her agent called to tell me that she missed her latest fashion show, and Jade would never miss those. I tried talking to Alpha Damon about Jade's situation, but he refused to answer my calls. Something is wrong. I know it. Please, as a female, you should understand. She is my only child, not used to harsh conditions."
Talia's eyes widened when she understood where this was going. "You want me to talk to Damon about your daughter."
"If it's not too inconvenient…"
"What's in it for me?" Talia cut him off impatiently.
He looked at her in disbelief. "What do you want?"
"Surely you know that Alpha Damon and I are on good terms. However, our relationship is rather new and fragile. If I'm going to ask for a favor, it won't come for free."
Beta Milo swallowed hard. "Can you at least find out why she was detained and her current circumstances? Based on that, we can negotiate further."
Talia leaned closer and spoke in a low voice. "Your daughter is detained because she crossed Alpha Damon's bottom line."
His eyes flashed. "So, you know about it!"
Talia shrugged. "Yes and no. I don't know because I have never heard of your daughter, but it's not difficult to deduct that considering her status, if she was detained, she offended Alpha Damon enough for him not to worry about offending you. I'm sure you heard recent rumors."
"What rumors?"
"About the females that were imprisoned and disappeared because they dared to insult his Luna. Do you know why your daughter went there? Was it an official function, a social visit, or did she go there to seduce him?"
Beta Milo's expression stiffened.
Talia made a face. The old guy not only knew, but he probably encouraged her to do her best and get into Damon's bed. Bastards! They were all in this together, set to take Damon away from her!
"Beta Milo," Talia called. "Are you aware that you are looking at the Alpha of the Midnight Guardians pack? Is my title worthless in your eyes? I wonder what gave you the courage to speak to me openly about going against my ally in order to save a random woman. It would be different if you offered me some compensation, yet you thought I would do it because I am a woman. Is the Silverfur pack so misogynic?"
Beta Milo's lips were moving, but no sound came out. What came out of him were beads of sweat that covered his body, making him look like he had just come out of a shower. His whole body shook as he bent awkwardly under Talia's pressure.
"You should think before you talk, Beta Milo. Is your Alpha aware you are here, instigating me to work against the Dark Howlers pack? Do I look like an easy target to manipulate? Is it my age or gender that gives you the courage to look down on me?"
Beta Milo saw dark spots, and he was sure someone had turned off the lights. "That's not what I'm…"
"What are you trying to do? You are old enough to know that your actions might provoke a war." Talia sneered. "You are lucky that this is a party, and I don't want to ruin it for Alpha Maddox and his Luna. Your Alpha will hear from me."
Talia slid from the barstool and walked out while ignoring all shocked gazes directed her way.
She knew that she exaggerated, but she was royally pissed that the man came with a request for Talia to speak up for Jade, a woman who called her Omega just because she was holding a tray with food, a woman who came to seduce Damon while pretending there was some deal between them. Shameless!
She needed a moment to calm down, so Talia decided to go into the section of the garden that was not set up with tables and chairs and not illuminated with fairy lights. It's not like she needed lights to see anyway.
Talia found an unoccupied bench nestled between two rose bushes, and she sat there searching for solitude. Looking around, Talia realized that the bench was quite hidden. Should she call Damon and steal some kisses? Sneaking around sounded exciting, and she could use his proximity. Where was he? Would he let her come out here on her own?
Talia was about to mind-link Damon when she heard rapid steps approaching. Her head snapped that way to see a child running toward her. It was a boy, about six-to-seven years old, with a head full of short blonde hair. He wore black pants and a white shirt, dressed up for a party.
Talia thought it was kids playing, but his expression showed distress.
The boy zoomed past Talia, leaped over the bench, and squatted between rose bushes.
He was breathing heavily, but he managed to whisper, "Please, don't tell them I'm here. I will make it up to you."
