Talia was on cloud nine.
Walking among the lively crowd and stalls with Damon by her side brought back happy memories of the Summer Solstice festival, but this was better. This time, Damon was not holding her hand. His arm was on her shoulder, holding her close to him, and her arm was around his waist. Everyone could clearly see they were a couple.
Talia was not an invisible girl anymore. Many people greeted her with big smiles and small bows, and vendors offered them free samples.
Damon stopped at a food stall with grilled meat skewers. Talia looked dreamily at the Alpha, who was making sure they got two skewers for each sauce flavor available.
Damon's hands were full when he turned to look at her questionably. "Do you want to eat here, or should we find a spot to sit?"
"There are tables that way, Alpha!" A vendor shouted over the clamor of the fair while gesturing to his right.
"Let's sit," Talia said. She would love a bench, or maybe something elevated so that she can watch the people and witness a scene of mates recognizing each other.
Damon refused to let Talia carry anything other than her backpack on her back, and even with his hands full, he managed to hover around Talia and ensure no one got too close.
The area with dozens of tables was in sight when Talia found a stall she was looking for.
She tugged Damon's t-shirt to stop before calling, "Chef Page, how is business?"
The people waiting in line moved to clear the space between Talia and the man who was selling ramen.
Chef Page bowed respectfully. "It's doing well. Thank you for allowing me to set up a stall."
"Nonsense!" Talia said while waving her hand. "Your food is delicious. I have craved your ramen since the Summer Solstice festival. When we finish these skewers, we will come here to place an order. Save us a bowl."
"I will be honored, Luna." He glanced at Damon and bowed again. "Alpha."
The moment Talia turned away, her smile fell. She could see the sadness behind Chef Page's polite expression.
'What's bothering you, kitten?' Damon's voice sounded in her mind.
She shook her head. 'I was hoping Chef Page would be happy to participate in this.'
'He lost his daughter. It will take more than one event to cheer him up, but this is a good start.'
Talia was not sure. What if this only reminded him of Lulu, who would be by his side and help him serve ramen? 'Do you think I did a good thing by asking him to come?' She knew that he wouldn't refuse.
'If he was home now, he would be alone with his grief. Like this, he can see that there are people who need him and are happy to eat his food.'
"Look who decided to join!" A cheerful voice reached them, and Talia recognized Mindy.
Talia turned to see that James, Cornelia, Mindy, Gideon, Tatiana, and Maddox were sitting at one table. It was such a strange group of people. People from three packs and a witch.
Mindy and Gideon were the glue that brought them all together. Mindy had a family relationship with Maddox and Tatiana, and Cornelia and Gideon were familiar because of her research that Gideon was interested in.
The nearby table was occupied by Kalina, Tony, Cristian, Michelle, Pierce, Daria, Jordan, and Lidia.
Damon and Talia joined them, and Talia found herself sitting between Maddox and Damon. Somehow, this was familiar also. At the Summer Solstice festival, Maddox was teasing Damon, who was pulling Talia closer to him, and… Talia shook her head helplessly. How come she was so oblivious to the signs that she was Damon's mate?
"Open wide, or you will get messy, and then I will need to lick you clean," Damon said to Talia.
Talia blinked to see a meat skewer hovering in front of her mouth and she opened her mouth obediently.
'I wouldn't mind you licking me,' Talia said to Damon through their mind link as her lips closed around the meat, and Damon cursed under his breath. He was always half-hard around Talia, and the slightest sign that she was willing would send a pulse of pressure into his groin. Like now.
Talia hummed in satisfaction as sweet and tangy flavors with the smokiness from grilled meat coated her tongue. She leaned on Damon while chewing happily.
For Talia, this right here… food, friends, and Damon… that was the definition of happiness.
Talia's eyebrows shot up when she saw one guy standing up with his eyes fixed on the noisy crowd that gathered around a stall where a vendor was taking bets for some guessing game he had set up there. A moment later, a female emerged from the crowd, and Talia squeezed Damon's hand excitedly when the two people met in the middle and kissed without a word. Mates!
"The female is from our pack," Damon said to Talia.
"The male is mine," Maddox chimed in. "My pack is growing."
Tatiana and Talia looked at each other helplessly. Why was everything competition? Will those two Alphas grow up?
Noise from the nearby table reached them, and Talia realized that Kalina and Cristian were arguing.
"What's going on there?" Talia asked, fearing that this might escalate. If Alphas start fighting, everyone will suffer. They will ruin the fair!
Mindy waved her hand, indicating to Talia not to worry. "Ivy and Lily found mates tonight. Their mates are twins from the Spring Leaf pack. Kalina is not willing to lose both of her helpers at once, and Cristian says it's normal for females to leave their packs, and… you can guess the rest. I don't understand why they don't agree that one couple stays in the Lightclaw pack and the other goes to the Spring Leaf. Like that, no one will be at a loss."
Talia nodded in slow motion while listening. She thought how Kalina and Cristian arguing was useless. Shouldn't they ask the mated couples where they want to live?
Talia had a good opinion of Ivy and Lily, and she was happy to hear sisters found mates who were brothers. But she couldn't see them separating. Two families will definitely want to stay close.
Without Talia noticing, they finished the meat skewers.
"Are you still in the mood for ramen?" Damon asked while collecting now empty plates and used napkins.
Talia nodded, and Damon kissed her cheek with, "Let me get it."
Talia understood that she should wait for him (and ramen) at the table. She had no objections.
Mindy whistled loudly after Damon while speaking to Talia, "If someone told me a few months ago that mighty Alpha Damon would dote on a female so much, I would call that person a liar. You turned him into a sub."
Tatiana threw a napkin at Mindy. "Stop talking nonsense. Did you forget that Talia is an Alpha? And even if she isn't, it's perfectly normal for a guy to dote on his mate." She turned to Maddox. "Isn't that right?"
Maddox nodded earnestly. "Absolutely! What do you want to eat next, my queen? Your mate will get it for you."
Mindy stifled a laugh. It was strange to see that her pompous brother was domesticated.
It's not that Gideon didn't treat her right, but he was not an Alpha.
Mindy knew that Alphas would never lower themselves for a female, yet here were Maddox and Damon, at the same table, willing to crawl if that would make their mates happy.
