~ the Red Moon pack ~
Cornelia came with Damon and Talia to George's villa via teleportation spell.
Keith, Arya, Mindy, and Gideon were on their way via an armored Mercedes van with tinted glass and a luxurious interior. Keith was driving, and no one would dare to stop them and look inside, knowing that it was for the delegation from the Dark Howlers pack.
Keith and Arya were going as Talia's guards, Mindy was Luna Talia's aide, and Gideon had no intention of leaving Mindy to go there without him. Talia requested her other guards (and their mates) to stay in the pack and be vigilant.
James told Damon and Talia that they got a spot reserved for their van in the underground parking. Once the van from the Dark Howlers pack reaches its destination, Cornelia will teleport Talia and Damon close to it. Like that, Talia and Damon got extra time to meet Dawn and George and discuss last-minute strategies.
James wanted to be present as well, but he had a final fitting for his suit, and his mother was fussing about him, so he couldn't leave the packhouse without making it a big deal and attracting attention.
Dawn and Zina welcomed Talia, Damon, and Cornelia, and the females moved to the study. They didn't want to risk anyone seeing the newcomers, and Damon decided to stay in the bedroom and do some work from his laptop so that Talia could have some girl time until George returned from his duties.
Zina's neck was covered with a scarf because she wanted to make it a surprise after Dawn shared updates.
Talia was concerned to hear that Dawn and Zina had ended up being invited to the party. And it was not just any invitation; it was from Alpha Edward directly. Dawn skipped the part about Owen because she left it for Zina to tell, but she mentioned going to the market and confronting Omegas, which reached Alpha Edward's ears.
Talia didn't like that Zina caused a ruckus. Her explosive friend would always speak her mind, but Talia didn't see the point in scolding Zina over something that had happened already.
"I thought you said you have good news," Talia reminded Dawn.
"I do," Dawn said.
"How is that good? What if Alpha Edward makes a move on you? Will George sit and watch? What if Alpha Edward figures out you are an Alpha?"
Zina pressed her lips into a line at this. Talia knew that George and Dawn were Alphas, yet Zina didn't. The fact that Dawn kept secrets from Zina while sharing the same with Talia, stung Zina unexpectedly.
Talia asked her last questions. "Do you have anything to wear for the event? Or should we figure it out?"
This reminded Dawn of one small thing. "Nora will be here shortly to help us get ready."
Talia couldn't believe this. "Nora? As the Nora who spent time in the dungeon of the Dark Howlers pack?"
"That one," Dawn confirmed.
"She will recognize you."
"She will," Dawn agreed.
Talia spread her arms helplessly. "I am still waiting to hear the good news."
Dawn looked at Zina, who pulled the scarf down in slow motion.
Talia's eyes widened when she realized that thing on Zina's neck was not a hickey.
"You are marked. By whom? Don't tell me it's someone from the Red Moon pack."
Zina quickly raised her hands, indicating to Talia to calm down. "I know what you are worried about. Owen is a good guy."
Talia didn't believe it. She lived in the Red Moon pack long enough to know that there were no good guys there. Bad guys called shots, and others submitted. Even if her mate was the best in the world, if he submits to the corrupted ones, Zina will become collateral damage.
Talia turned to Cornelia, who had been sitting quietly from the beginning. "Did you know about this?"
"I knew that Zina found her mate," Cornelia admitted.
"Talia," Zina called pleadingly. "Can you give him a chance and not jump to conclusions?"
"Fine. Tell me about him."
"Owen is a Lieutenant. He has no family here, and he hopes to talk to you and Alpha Damon."
"Why?" Talia asked.
"I suggested to him that we live in the Dark Howlers pack," Zina responded.
"And he agreed to it?"
Zina was not in a position to confirm, but… "He agreed to talk to Alpha Damon. I hope you will welcome us if he decides to leave the Red Moon pack."
How could Talia say no to that? But there was the possibility of Owen wanting to switch sides and be a spy for Alpha Edward. As a Lieutenant, Owen would be stupid not to know about the friction between packs. Would he accept to come to a hostile pack just because Zina asked him to? No matter how accepting people in the Dark Howlers pack were, once they discover that Owen was from the Red Moon pack, they won't be welcoming.
Talia needed a way to assure herself and everyone else that Owen didn't mean harm to the Dark Howlers pack.
"Will he take the blood oath?"
"Is that a requirement to join our pack?" Zina responded with a question.
"For someone from the Red Moon pack, yes."
Zina was about to protest, but Dawn put her hand on Zina's shoulder with, "How about you have this discussion after Owen comes here?"
Zina agreed to this. Surely, when Talia sees Owen and how lovey-dovey they are, Talia will not doubt Owen's sincerity.
With the important updates out of the way, Zina turned to Cornelia. "Can you take me home? I need a dress for tonight, and I would rather take something mine than let Nora pick for me. Knowing Nora, she will probably give me a dress with faulty stitches, so I end up naked halfway through the party."
Cornelia narrowed her eyes at Zina. "I am not a transportation service."
"I will make it worthwhile."
"How?"
Zina was ready for this. "I can let you go through my closet. Pick a dress of your choice."
Cornelia thought about it. They were about the same height. Zina was bigger than Cornelia in the chest area and smaller in the hips, but with some alternations, it might work.
"Two dresses," Cornelia demanded.
Zina rolled her eyes. "Fine."
It was mid-afternoon when George and Owen arrived. They didn't come for lunch because they wanted to finish the work in order to be free for the rest of the day.
Talia and Damon greeted George and Zina was right there to introduce Owen.
They didn't have much time to socialize because the group from the Dark Howlers pack was less than an hour away, and Talia also confirmed that Sandy and Tyler from the Midnight Guardians were coming.
People from the Midnight Guardians pack usually don't attend these events, so Alpha Edward made sure that information leaked about Alpha Natalia coming to his party. Talia wondered how the old guy will react when he realizes why she was making an appearance.
Since Owen was not familiar with many details, he was waiting in the living room with Zina. He was nervous.
"It will be alright," Zina assured him. "They are good people."
How Owen saw this, the only good thing about the situation was that Zina was by his side.
