Damon and Talia agreed that Cassie's biggest problem was credibility.
'We can't deny that she knows things,' Talia spoke to Damon through their private mind-link. 'Did she get her hands on the report from the attack on the Blue River pack?'
'It's not a secret that rogues are not at their usual locations,' Damon said. 'Alpha Richard shouldn't know that rogues were after you during Tanya's Luna ceremony. Only a few of us knew about it, so Cassie's information might come from the rogues. At the same time, we can't dismiss the possibility of spies in the Blue River pack. Regardless of which one is it, Cassie wouldn't be here without an agenda.'
Damon was concerned about Cassie's motive. Did she come here to harm Talia?
Damon put his arms around Talia protectively before asking Cassie, "What's in it for you? Don't tell me you are here from the goodness of your heart."
Cassie pressed her lips into a line at the sight of Damon hugging Talia.
Cassie was not delusional. She knew Damon and Talia were mates, and she didn't stand a chance of getting back together with Damon, but Cassie and Damon shared many heated moments, and Cassie gave him her first time, yet he never held her like that. And even after all their history, he was still doubting her. It hurt.
Cassie swallowed her grievances before speaking. "There is no point in me talking further since you don't believe me. Unless you confirm that my information is valid, you won't negotiate."
Talia cocked an eyebrow at Cassie. "You want us to negotiate?"
Cassie shrugged. "Isn't that how things work? You have something I want, and I have information that can make your life easier."
Talia didn't like this. Assuming they believe Cassie and they miss Ashton's birthday, then what? Why would Cassie prevent them from going there? Were rogues planning to attack the Dark Howlers pack? Or did she come here to swindle Damon into believing her, and then she will harm him?
Talia wrapped her arms around Damon protectively.
Cassie's expression turned sour when Talia hugged Damon, and he adjusted his arms to accommodate her there. No matter what Cassie and Damon did in the bedroom, Damon never allowed Cassie to hold him in public.
"I'm confident that you predicted this outcome," Damon said to Cassie. "You wouldn't be here if you didn't have a way to convince us to collaborate. What do you suggest?"
"I suggest you believe me, but then… you probably won't." She didn't think this far. Cassie fished a piece of paper from her pocket and gave it to Damon. "You can reach me on this number. No one knows I have this phone. Once you confirm I was telling the truth, give me a call, and we can negotiate. There is more." Cassie gave him a meaningful look. "Much more."
Damon snorted. "If you have such information, what gives you the confidence I won't interrogate you right now?"
Cassie's face paled. "You won't do that. I am much more useful as your ally. If you harm me and I am lying, you will provoke the Steelbite pack for no reason."
And with that, Cassie turned toward the trucks and headed to get another box to carry into the warehouse. It was tough work, but at least no one was scolding or beating her.
"She could be here on Alpha Richard's orders," Talia said.
Damon puffed his cheeks. "I agree. However…"
"We can't dismiss Cassie's warning either." Talia finished Damon's thought. Talia's hand subconsciously moved to her belly. "What will we do?"
"First, we will warn Cristian about this."
It was not unusual for rogues to target packs during an event where members from other packs were among guests. Rogues would use the celebratory mood and the fact that outsiders were in the pack to sneak in and cause damage. It was normal to have occasional fights that ended up with injured on both sides. However, now that rogues started grouping together, the situation was serious.
Talia looked at Damon. "We should see what rogues are up to. Did you hear anything about Steph and Lisa?"
Damon didn't want to talk about it. Talia was pregnant, and she shouldn't get upset, yet here she was, looking at him with concern while thinking about the bad stuff.
They had a peaceful few days of handling administrative work and enjoying each other's company, and now this. If he knew that coming here would bring them back to the topic of rogues and other nasty things, he would send Caden to watch over this tribute delivery.
"Let's talk to Maya about this tonight," Damon said dejectedly.
Talia looked up at Damon whose expression didn't conceal his displeasure.
"Damon?" Talia called. "No matter what it is, we will handle it."
Damon smiled, happy to see the determination in Talia's gaze. "Yes, we will. I won't allow anything to happen to you or our little bean sprouting in your belly."
Talia's eyes clouded with tears. There was a life growing within her, and it was Damon's and hers, and she couldn't be happier.
Damon gave her a soft kiss before suggesting, "Let's go to the packhouse and do something to improve the mood." He didn't want to watch people unloading things anymore.
Talia had a different idea. "Did you forget we need to buy a present for Ashton? Afterward, we can go to the sweetshop and eat some yummy cakes."
Talia and Damon returned to the packhouse later that afternoon. They finished shopping and eating sweets, and they even brought some cake to keep in the fridge, for later.
Talia was pleased with the present they got for Ashton. It was a model of a plane that needed assembling, and it could fly while operated remotely (assuming the assembly was done right). It was complicated, but Talia remembered how Ashton was acting like a little adult, so she thought that he would like this gift that's for older kids.
Damon and Talia still didn't discuss if they would go to the party, but even if they didn't, they would send their gift.
Talia saw Cinna falling on the floor when Damon knocked it down with the bag he put on the sofa.
"You are doing that on purpose," Talia called him out. Once or twice might be accidental, but Talia already found Cinna on the floor numerous times, a few times too close to the trash bin, while Blackie was always right where she left him.
The only one coming here was Rosa, and she wouldn't dare throw their stuff around. That left Damon as the culprit.
"Doing what?" Damon asked like he had no idea what she was talking about.
Talia went to pick up the plush toy from the floor. "Don't spoil our child's first toy."
Damon paused as he realized what Talia was talking about. "You will give that thing to our daughter?"
"That THING is my first toy. It's a beautiful plush puppy. I want to give her to our baby."
Damon was glad that Talia was considering giving that wretched toy away, but to their child!? He didn't like it. "Why don't we give Cinna to Ashton?"
"He is six years old boy. Plush toys are probably boring for him."
"My daughter's firsts will come from me," Damon squeezed through his teeth with more venom than he intended to let out.
