With Yasmin gone to the hospital, things settled down, and Talia turned to see Damon in the hallway.
He was leaning sideways on the wall and looking extra yummy with the ceremonial garment around his waist and his body covered in markings done with black paint. But the whole visual was spoiled by his troubled expression.
"What's wrong?" Talia asked while approaching him.
He shook his head. "After the ceremony, we were supposed to address our people, but with Yasmin…"
"It's OK," Talia interrupted him.
"No. It's not OK." He took her hand into his and placed her palm against his cheek. "I was supposed to tell everyone that now they have their Luna, but it didn't happen. I failed you again, kitten. I wanted to make this right."
Talia was touched by his sincerity, but she didn't think anything was amiss. Sure, Elders tried to sabotage her, and she was set to find out who was behind it, but she would never blame Yasmin or Damon for something out of their control.
"The ceremony was completed, and I am the Luna of the Dark Howlers pack. I can feel the energy of the pack and their trust in our leadership." Damon's leadership, and she hoped that in time they would accept her as more than just Damon's mate. "Yes, Yasmin went into labor, but if you look at our experiences so far, this was the closest thing to perfect we ever got."
"Next time, no pregnant women will be allowed," Damon grumbled.
Talia smiled helplessly. She accepted his condition of no children allowed for this ceremony. He said that it was for safety, and considering the latest incidents, everyone went with it, but Talia guessed that Damon didn't want Ashton around. The unsuspecting boy was at the fair with his grandparents.
Damon wanted to ban pregnant women? Doesn't that mean Talia will be banned as well as Meg, Tatiana, and Mindy? And there was one more point she wanted to address.
"Next time? How many Luna ceremonies will I have?"
"As many as you need until we get this right," Damon responded seriously. "I want everyone to know that you are mine and that you are my most important person. You are my mate, and I will do whatever I can to make you happy."
Talia looked at Damon dreamily. How could she say no to that?
Damon's arms wrapped around Talia's bare waist, sending a dose of addictive sparks as he pulled her closer.
Talia thought Damon would kiss her, but she saw him lick his lips while looking at her seriously.
"I'm not sure if I said this before. Welcome to the Dark Howlers pack, Talia. This was your home from the moment you stepped into this packhouse, and even before that, but now it's official. You are the mistress of this house and of this pack. It's all yours, just how I am." He regretted that he didn't do this on the day he brought her here.
"Thank you, Damon," Talia responded, and she really meant it. "This position, this house, this pack, I accept it, just how I accept you. Thank you for taking care of me so far. From today onward, I will take care of not just you, but of the whole pack as well. We will do this together."
Damon's insides shook when he felt her acceptance and adoration. She was so small and fragile, yet so powerful and determined, and he was confident that his heart was not capable of more love, but here he was… loving her more by the minute. She was perfect, for him. Only for him.
Talia got on her toes, searching for his lips, and their soft kiss turned hungrier with every heartbeat.
Little by little, Damon pushed Talia backward, and she didn't notice at what point they entered the room where Travis had been examining Yasmin before.
Talia snapped to her senses when Damon closed the door behind them with a kick.
"Damon…" She protested weakly when she realized that their destination was the bed. "Do we have time for this? Guests…"
"They are grownups who know that the ceremony is over," Damon cut her off, and then he closed the distance between them to plunder her mouth with his tongue.
Talia sank into the mattress with Damon on top of her.
'Besides…' Damon continued through their mind-link. 'I said I want to see what you are hiding under that skirt. Your mate is not a patient man.'
His lips latched on his mark on her neck at the same time his hand ventured at the cradle of her thighs, providing a sensory overload and making Talia forget about everything beyond the confinements of that bed.
Mindy was frustrated with Elders swarming around Gideon. She was looking forward to going to the fair, but this will take forever!
Elders think of themselves as influential people who provide guidance to younger generations, but they had a lot of questions about the Moon Goddess, mysterious energies, and the signs of abilities being awakened.
Mindy wanted to slap Elder Agatha when the old crow said how she knew that good were days coming because her left armpit was itchy. What nonsense.
Consumed in her angst, Mindy didn't realize that her Alpha aura was leaking until everyone quieted down to look at her.
The only one not bending was Gideon, as her aura didn't affect him. It was a perk of being her fated mate.
"Uhm…" Mindy cleared her throat. "As your Shaman said, you should all go home, meditate, and pay attention to changes in your body. This time is crucial. You wouldn't want to miss an ability awakening because you were here chattering."
Mindy could see people's eyes widening, and then they all nodded in agreement. Elders took turns thanking her and Gideon before dispersing.
"I thought they would never leave," Tatiana said from the side.
Mindy bobbed her head while walking to her sister-in-law. The Mindy-Tanya duo was getting along well from the day they met, and then Tatiana ended up being Maddox's mate, they were both strong-willed business-oriented she-wolves, and now they were pregnant at the same time. How could they not be close?
"I am surprised you are still here," Mindy said. And it was not only Tatiana. Maddox, Tony, Kalina, Cristian, and Michelle were also there. "I thought you went to the fair with Damon and Talia."
"We are waiting for you. Besides, Damon and Lia were seen entering a room while locked in a kiss. I assume they will take a while." Tatiana wiggled her eyebrows to what Mindy rolled her eyes.
She wanted to say that Alphas are unsatiable beasts, but then she remembered what Gideon did to her in the shed before the ceremony, so she kept that snarky comment to herself. She didn't hate it.
Tatiana gestured toward Mindy's ceremonial clothes. "Are you going like that?"
"Yes, we will go like this," Mindy responded for herself and for Gideon who was tidying up the altar.
Werewolves didn't mind going au naturel, and her ceremonial clothes covered all her important parts. However, knowing it was all right there, accessible, and that Gideon would be right by her side was turning her on.
"Give me a minute to help Gideon, and we can go…"
