Talia observed changes in Cassie's expression. Shock, realization, defeat. Somehow, it reminded Talia of the emotions she went through when Cassie accused her of stealing food in the kitchen of the Dark Howlers pack.
Cassie was far from the image of the pompous female who strutted into the packhouse while shouting, 'Damon, baby!' at the top of her lungs right after scolding Omegas for not handling her precious luggage with proper care.
Cassie stared at the WW Magazine. Sure, they published how she ran away from home, and in a way, she did. But Cassie was confident that her father would contain that information. Were Damon and Talia behind that article? It didn't matter.
"I… I…" Cassie started in a small voice. "I want a pack to settle in." She thought about it. Traveling the world sounded great, but Cassie was never on her own. Living outside of the protection a pack would provide was scary, and Cassie didn't think she could do it. Cassie didn't know much about humans other than their bodies were fragile.
As a bonus, as long as she was attached to a pack, she would be close to their kind, and there would be a chance to see Damon again. Damon was currently infatuated with Talia, but in a few years… maybe he would change his mind.
Talia had no idea what was on Cassie's mind, but it didn't make sense. "You want to stay in a pack? You have no Alpha aura, you are not a warrior, and you have no skills other than matching clothes and bossing others around, and those don't count for much. The only way for you to join a pack would be as an Omega. Will you be OK with it?"
No matter how progressive a pack is, an Omega does low-level jobs. Cassie was used to being served and not to be the one who served. Just her attitude alone would earn her punishments.
"Your whole life, you were in the limelight. You made sure to attend every party and appear in many articles." Talia pointed at the magazine. "Your face is famous. How long can you stay hidden? Your father doesn't care about you, but he cares about his reputation. He won't let you live in another pack. The best case will be if your father demands your return, and the worst will be if he forces it. Who will risk provoking the Steelbite pack because of you?"
Cassie pressed her lips into a line. Talia was right. Now that Alpha Richard was expecting a child, Cassie was disposable, but the old guy cared about his image. He would not only drag her back but also punish her publicly for everyone to see.
In general, packs wouldn't dare to go against the Steelbite pack or stir unnecessary trouble, but there were few that stood above others.
"What about this pack?"
"Keep dreaming, Cassie."
"You are keeping Jade here!"
"Not anymore," Talia said. "We let her go yesterday." And Jade and Cassie were not the same.
Damon and Talia waited for Alpha Adam to sign the tribute from the Silverfur pack before releasing Jade. Officially, the tribute was a thank you for allowing Jade to learn about the Dark Howlers pack, but everyone knew it was extortion. Alpha Adam was not willing, but he couldn't let the only daughter of his Beta be publicly humiliated further; it was reflecting negatively on the Silverfur pack.
The tribute was not much in terms of finances, but its message was immense. The Dark Howlers pack was showing supremacy over the Silverfur pack, and no one dared to interfere.
As part of the deal to release Jade, Talia requested that Jade attends James' birthday party. As Beta's daughter, Jade won't have an issue securing an invitation, and Talia wanted Jade to see with her own eyes when Damon and Talia appear, hand in hand, to reveal who Talia truly is.
Talia wanted everyone to be there, so she didn't need to repeat herself. If, after that, shameless women still come onto Damon, Talia will kill them without mercy. Liseli agreed.
With the revelation that Luna Talia and Alpha Natalia are the same person, the wolf world will explode, and Damon and Talia were ready. Once it becomes official that the two most powerful Alphas are fated mates, only idiots would dare to go against them.
Cassie's chin trembled. "Are you abandoning me after everything I've done?"
Talia's eyes flashed in outrage. "Why are you acting like I owe you a favor? Do I need to remind you how you treated me only a few months back? The first time we met, you accused me of stealing food, and the second time you claimed I stole a phone. On both occasions, you were eager to teach me manners with a delusion that you are Damon's Luna! One would think that you learned I was not an Omega after Damon kicked you out, but the next time you saw me, you acted like I'm the impostor that needs to be slapped!"
Talia took a deep breath to calm her raging emotions. "We are done here. A warrior is stationed at the door, waiting to hear where you want to go. Knock when you are ready but don't take too long. The Dark Howlers pack won't accept you, nor will the Midnight Guardians pack. If you have another pack on your mind, we will be happy to take you there, but don't expect us to call in favors for your sake. If you need to make a phone call, we can arrange for it, but you will do it with someone listening…"
Talia walked into the hallway, and the moment the door closed behind her, she found herself in a solid embrace that was infused with the scent of the forest and the dark chocolate.
"Are you OK?" Damon asked.
"Yes."
He could sense her unstable emotions. "You didn't need to do this. I could have…"
"What?" Talia snapped. "You wanted some time alone with Cassie?"
Damon exhaled helplessly. "No. If you let me finish, you would hear how I could have sent Caden and Maya to deal with her."
Talia felt guilty for snapping. She disliked Cassie because of how Cassie treated people. Cassie was also a walking reminder of Damon's promiscuous past, and Talia's hormones only made everything worse. Her stomach was not showing, but her temper was flaring uncontrollably. She didn't want to vent on Damon. He was her biggest support. He was her everything.
"Sorry, I just…"
"It's OK," Damon said while tightening his hold on Talia.
He knew that her pregnancy hormones affected her and Liseli. Talia was edgy and would go from raging to laughter in a matter of seconds as the stress from uncertain dangers was getting to her.
Damon tried telling Talia to relax and let him handle things, but that only made her angry, so he let her have it. Damon would let Talia have whatever she wanted, and even if she blew the world into pieces, he would be right there to help her clean up… unless she said that cleanup was not needed.
Damon decided to change the topic. "Are we ready for our trip?"
Talia nodded. "Dawn is expecting us. She said they have news."
Damon didn't like surprises, especially not this close to the event that Alpha Edward was hosting. "Do you know what news?"
"She said it's a secret, but we will love it."
Damon looked at Talia tenderly. "There was only one thing worth loving from the Red Moon pack, and I got her."
Talia's insides melted into an emotional mush because she knew he was talking about her. Can he be any sweeter?
