Damon looked at Talia helplessly. Her stubborn expression told him that this won't be easy.
"You are Alpha Natalia Moonrider," he confirmed. "I am not telling you to stay back on a whim. We can't have all Alphas going on the field and leaving this place unguarded. Tanya is pregnant and shouldn't use her aura. There are only a few Alphas present we can trust. You might think that us being here is more than enough to ensure everyone's safety, but the packhouse is large and full of guests, and some of them might be hostile. If anything happens, you can protect everyone in this packhouse."
"Why can guys go while women stay behind?" Talia protested.
"Maya will come."
"Maya and who else?" Talia asked. "Is any male staying behind?"
Damon made a face. "Tony will join us as a good practice of what he learned with us during training, and Kalina will stay with her pregnant sister and the rest of her family."
"Damon is right," James said. "I will also go. The more of us get out there, the faster the situation will be resolved, and we will minimize casualties."
"You should stay here, young Alpha James," Beta Oliver said. "If anything happens to you, we won't be able to explain it to Alpha Edward." He didn't trust anyone from the Red Moon pack.
Instead of responding to him, James looked at Damon. "I need to go. You know why."
Damon stared at James blankly, and he snapped to his senses when Talia spoke into his mind, 'Marcy is here.'
"Riiiiight," Damon said. He forgot about Marcy. Considering that Alpha Edward and Luna Layla were in the guestroom on the second floor, if this incident exposed Marcy, they would have a whole new shitshow on their hands. And James could prevent it.
"James will come with us," Damon confirmed.
Beta Oliver couldn't believe this. Since where was Damon friendly with anyone from the Red Moon pack?
James kissed Cornelia's cheek, and he spoke softly into her ear, "Cora, you stay here with Alpha Natalia, and don't use your powers."
Cornelia nodded obediently and gave him a quick kiss.
James knew that she agreed too quickly, but he didn't have time to convince her further.
James removed his shirt and gave it to Cornelia with, "Keep it for me when I return." As soon as they reach the cover of the forest, they will shift into wolf forms, and he didn't want to tear that shirt.
Talia was still processing Damon's words about how she should stay in the packhouse while he was out there fighting rogues. She knew that Damon's words made sense, but she couldn't agree with him either.
Talia stared at Damon, who discussed details with Beta Oliver, Caden, Maya, Tony, James, Kai, and Maddox.
Other than confirming where they would be heading, Damon was coordinating to ensure that things were calm in the Dark Howlers pack and the Spring Leaf pack. Those two packs combined borders with the Blue River pack, and a breach in security in any of them could cause trouble for the others.
Talia could feel the darkness gripping her heart. Somehow, every time they parted, she feared it might be their last one, and now there was danger, rogues... and she could see him in the forest with wolfsbane laced knife in his abdomen as the past replayed in her mind.
Talia turned to Keith. "Keith, you and guys stay close to Damon."
"They will stay here to protect you," Damon said right away.
Talia shook her head. "The trouble is where you are going. Isn't that why you are telling me to stay here where it's safe?" She continued through their mind-link, 'I know you fear I will use my abilities and get exposed, and I can accept that. But if you want me to stay where it's safe, I want them to go with you and watch your back.'
Damon puffed his cheeks. 'They are your guards!'
'No, they are not. Alpha Natalia came with Cornelia, Meg, and Kai. Keith, Caleb, and Lulu are part of your party. Besides, didn't you hear that the more people go there, the faster the situation will be resolved? They are capable warriors. Take them with you.'
After a moment of deliberation, Damon decided. 'Keith will stay here. The rest…'
'No, Damon,' Talia pleaded. 'Keith will go with you. It will make me feel better. Please. If one of them must stay, give me Lulu.'
With some people already walking out, Damon realized they were running out of time.
'Fine,' Damon agreed.
This time, they didn't care if anyone was watching. They hugged each other and kissed, and Talia released him with difficulty.
'Kitten,' Damon's voice sounded in Talia's head as she watched him run into the darkness after Maddox, Tony, and Oliver, together with Caden, Kai, Keith, Caleb, and a few more figures. 'Stay close to Lulu. Don't leave the packhouse. Don't use your powers. Don't expose yourself. Someone is always watching, and I don't need to remind you that Alpha Edward is on the second floor...'
Talia would complain about all those restrictions if she didn't know that Damon only meant well.
"Alright," Tatiana said. "Since everyone is awake, how about some herbal tea to help us relax while we wait for this situation to be resolved?"
"How are casualties?" Meg asked. She needed to do something. Meg was a Beta and a capable warrior with the ability perfect for obliterating enemies, but she was pregnant, and she couldn't go there. She had never felt so useless.
Tatiana shook her head, indicating that it was not good. One life lost was too many. "The pack hospital is on alert, ready to treat injured, and… we will know more soon."
They all moved to the living room.
Tatiana sat between Kalina and Varya on the sofa. Cornelia, Meg, Talia, and Lulu were also there, and a few more people would occasionally come, including Omegas who were bringing snacks and drinks that no one touched.
Tatiana's eyes would lose focus every minute as she was getting updates, but the time was dragging as they all were tense while waiting to hear what was going on.
'You need to decide, girl,' Liseli's voice sounded in Talia's mind.
Talia could sense Liseli was on edge, but her wolf didn't speak so far.
'Decide on what?' Talia asked.
'Will you keep your abilities a secret and watch your loved ones get hurt, or will you jump into the fray and remove the dangers.'
Talia exhaled dejectedly. It's not like she was not wondering the same thing many times before, but it was always as something distant, in the future she was hoping will never come. Yet now the ugly future was here, staring her in the face, mocking her for sitting on that comfy sofa chair and doing nothing other than worrying about Damon and Maddox and Tony and James and many others who were out there risking their lives.
If she knew about the dangers lurking in the shadows, it would be an easy decision, but Damon warned her that without knowing who all was after them, she would only be stepping into the spotlight.
'So, what!?', Liseli growled. She was listening to Talia's thoughts. 'Step into the spotlight and obliterate them with sheer power. That's what we do. That's why we have this power!'
'Calm down, Liseli. I know you are worried about Sapa. I am worried about Damon also and this time… let's trust them.'
