"Alpha Damon cares about you," Arya said to Talia while folding the map.
"That's what fated mates do," Talia responded. "They care for each other unconditionally."
"So I heard," Arya said in a monotone.
"You don't believe in fated mates?"
Arya paused and looked at Talia for a long moment before responding.
"The idea of unconditional love is something I can't comprehend. Since I remember, people have been nice to me. They are smiling, eager to indulge me, but it's all skin deep. Only one truly cared about me as a person and showed interest in what I could do, and that's Alpha Cristian. He gave me a chance to rank up as a warrior while others said that a pretty girl like me shouldn't get her hands dirty because I might break a nail."
"You admire Alpha Cristian," Talia said.
Arya didn't deny it. "I do. He acknowledged my desire to prove myself, and he didn't look down on me because I was pretty. I will prove he didn't make a mistake by believing in me."
"How is that related to mates?"
"People say that only mates can speak to each other's soul, yet Alpha Cristian did that to me. He is not my mate, and he is not available. Isn't that ironic? Among many who showed interest in me, I couldn't determine which one was honest and which one was attracted to my appearance. Some say my face is my blessing, but I see it as a curse."
Talia observed Arya's features, and she had to admit that even without makeup, Arya was one of the prettiest females Talia had ever seen. Well, everyone had their problems. Too much of everything was a bad thing, even beauty.
Arya didn't trust people, and that was the result of Arya's experiences. Talia didn't know what Arya went through, but it was obvious that Alpha Cristian held a special place in Arya's heart.
There was a dose of arrogance in Arya's tone, and Talia would usually let it pass because she was not the one to provoke others, but this time Talia needed to speak up.
"Alpha Cristian is a good Alpha who takes care of his pack members. He helped you just how he would help anyone else. Don't mistake his kindness for something else. You should be able to see the difference in how he treats his pack members and how he treats his mate."
Arya smiled wistfully. "Yeah. He is not fooling around like some other Alphas."
Well, Talia couldn't deny that some Alphas are fooling around even after finding their mates, but… "The bond is telling us who is our perfect match, but we have a choice to reject it." Damon told her that on the night when they marked each other (the first time). "Every relationship requires work, even the one between fated mates. But it's worth it. Once you meet your mate, you will realize how wonderful is to feel complete, and your mate will adore you no matter how you look."
Arya cocked an eyebrow at Talia. "I will believe it when I see it."
"You will feel it. That's the benefit of the mate bond. You will share emotions, and you will sense his sincerity."
"I hope it comes with proof."
"What kind of proof?"
Arya shrugged. "He should risk his life for me. Something that couldn't be faked."
Talia thought how that was extreme. But then… Arya was a warrior, and Talia had no idea about Arya's past, but it seemed she didn't have it easy.
"I wish you good luck."
"I don't believe in luck," Arya said. "Tonight will be successful because we have a solid plan, and we prepared…"
"I meant about your mate," Talia interrupted Arya.
Arya didn't expect this. "Well… thank you."
Talia stifled a laugh. Arya was visibly flustered. Somehow, Talia had a feeling that under that unapproachable façade, Arya was a good person.
"Arya," Talia called when Arya stood up to leave. "About me leaving earlier… It was nothing personal."
"I didn't take it personally."
"Good. I wanted to clear that up."
"Why?"
Talia shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe we can be friends?"
Arya paused. "Friends? With me? Why?"
"Do I need a reason to be friends with someone?"
"Yes," Arya responded without missing a beat. "I am a warrior, and I worked hard where I am while you… are not."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Arya gestured toward Talia, who was wearing a flowy dress. "You are like royalty while I…" Arya gestured toward her cargo pants and a tank top. "Am not. What do I have to offer in order to make you wish to be my friend? Or are you attracted to me?"
Talia felt her face twitching. This last question caught her off-guard. "What?"
Arya smirked. "It wouldn't be the first time for a female to hit on me."
In front of Talia's flabbergasted expression, Arya got bolder, and she moved to sit on the sofa next to Talia.
"Did I get it right? You fell for me?" Arya smiled condescendingly. "Do you think that just because an Alpha marked you, you are something special? If you are not Alpha Damon's Luna, you wouldn't be here."
'That does it!' Liseli shouted in Talia's head. 'Let me bite her head off!'
Talia snapped to her senses. 'No biting, Lis.'
'Put her in her place, on the floor! Push her through it! I want her to eat dirt! … '
Talia tuned out Liseli, but Liseli's hostility was still affecting her. The emerging violence got a boost from Talia's pregnancy hormones, which made Talia's Alpha aura leak.
"What did you say?" Talia asked icily.
Talia narrowed her eyes at Arya, whose arrogance was dwindling by the second.
Arya would blurt out things when she was angry, things she didn't mean to say. And now it seemed that she said too much, and she crossed the line. Talia was angry, and Arya wondered if she could get a re-do of the last thirty seconds.
"You think I fell for you? Tell me, Arya, which part of you is attractive? The one where you are pinning for a mated guy who has a happy family? Or did I fall for you because you are looking down on others?"
"I'm not looking down on…"
"LIES!" Talia exclaimed, now leaning closer to Arya.
"You are making yourself a victim like everyone got things served on a platter while you had to work for it." Talia touched the left side of her neck. "You think I am here because Damon marked me? It seems you forgot to look at his neck." Talia sneered, showing her elongated fangs. "My mark is right there, on his neck. I marked him first."
Talia snarled, and Arya feared that Talia will bite her.
Arya wanted to escape, but Talia was above her now, and Talia's aura paralyzed her. Arya was in many dangerous situations, but she had never felt that helpless before.
Talia pinched Arya's chin, and Arya could feel Talia's breath splashing on her face.
"If I want anything from you, I will take it. There is no need to ask because I am the dominant one. Just how you misunderstood Cristian, you misunderstood me as well. I am not kind because I am weak. I am kind because I choose to be. If I tell you to kneel and serve me, you will do so because I am an Alpha."
'CRACK!'
A sound of glass shattering was heard, and Talia looked in that direction to see bewildered Damon standing at the door with juice dripping from his hand where a glass used to be.
