Talia never saw Damon act in such a violent manner, but somehow, she was confident that under all that rage is a man who was concerned about her, and he wouldn't harm her.

Talia's arms circled around Damon, and she buried her face in his chest.

Talia is not a crybaby and there was no reason to cry, but her eyes were prickling with tears that threatened to fall and she couldn't explain all the conflicting emotions that raged within her.

Anger, sadness, relief, joy... contradictory, but they were all there, making her want to sob and laugh and break something, and Talia pushed herself further into Damon, seeking comfort. He is powerful and knowledgeable, and she hoped that he can disperse her emotional storm.

Every time Talia inhaled Damon's addictive scent, her heart calmed a bit and she remembered that she messed up.

If she didn't come out of the ladies' room to stand in the hallway, Marcy and Nora wouldn't approach her, and she wouldn't get upset and come out, and there would be no need for Damon to search for her and those guys wouldn't get a beating... It was all her fault.

"I'm sorry, Damon", Talia said in a small voice.

"How many times do I need to tell you that I don't want to hear your apologies? If you are truly sorry, don't do it again. Don't leave me…"

Talia didn't want to leave him. She only wanted some space to think and calm down.

Is that why he was upset? Because he thought that she left?

How was she supposed to know that her desire for space would end up with two unconscious guys, and… It was all a mess, but somehow, in Damon's embrace, Talia found peace.

If Talia remembered that Damon's proximity comes with this calm, she would go to him right away instead of going to find solitude. How could she forget that Damon has the power to shut down all the noise?

Damon let out a long breath and he wondered if he freaked her out. "I didn't mean to teach those guys a lesson in front of you, but when I heard that bastard talk trash, I lost it. Did I scare you?"

Talia shook her head, indicating that she was not scared, but… "The guy who was talking trash was drunk. The other guy was apologizing, yet he got more beating."

Damon thought for a moment before responding.

"Being drunk is not an excuse for bad behavior. No one gets to disrespect you. No one.", Damon said sternly and glanced at Gordon (aka the guy who got more beating). "As for this guy, he is guilty by association."

Talia was speechless. Touched, but still speechless. Damon justified beating up a guy who was not at fault, other than being there.

Now that Talia thought about what happened, Gordon probably brought his drunk friend here to sober up and not make a scandal at the party, and they both ended up meeting Damon's fists.

Damon didn't want to talk about it anymore. Those two guys were not important.

Damon buried his face in the crook of Talia's neck and took a deep breath that filled his system with the sweet citrusy scent of freesia.

He heard that drunkard saying how Talia is no one, that Damon abandoned her, and that she is not important because Damon didn't mark her.

Damon placed a small kiss at the base of Talia's neck, right where his mark should come, and Talia released a shaky sigh while fisting his shirt in an attempt to stabilize herself. That was such a sensitive spot.

"Kitten", Damon murmured, and his lips moved against her skin. "I really want to mark you. Right here…" He licked the spot and Talia's legs gave in. Thanks to Damon's embrace she didn't fall down.

"Can I?"

Talia's mind was spinning. Did he ask her something? "What?"

Damon lifted his head to look at Talia. "Will you wear my mark?"

Talia stared at Damon in disbelief, confident that her ear malfunctioned because there was no way that he said what she thought he said.

What's up with that emotional gaze? She could drown in his icy-blue eyes but… was Damon nervous?

Did he ask about marking her? Like mark-mark?

For werewolves, marking is forever. It's more than a marriage, it's a lifetime commitment that strengthens an existing mate bond or creates one if it doesn't exist.

This outrageously handsome specimen who smells of the forest and dark chocolate just asked her if she would be willing to wear his mark? Was she dreaming?

"Do you know what you are saying?", Talia asked breathily when she found her voice.

She wondered, how much did he drink? Or did he eat something funny?

Damon couldn't believe that Talia was doubting him. If this was any other girl she would jump on him already, but this was not just any girl. This was Talia and she was worth it. She was the only one worth it.

Damon nudged her nose with his. "I know that you are the only one who can be Mrs. Blake, the only one with whom I want to dance, the only one with whom I can see myself in the future. I will not do it without your permission, but…"

Damon stopped talking and he let out a long breath as he observed Talia's face. She was practically non-responsive.

He thought that after she agrees to marking, he will tell her about potential consequences to her wolf and warn her about the pain that will come when he injects her with his venom, and probably recommend that they seek advice from the pack doctor or the shaman, but how can he talk about any of that while she was paralyzed?

"Blink twice if you can hear me.", Damon said.

Talia blinked twice and Damon smiled helplessly.

He couldn't believe that he was asking for permission to mark his own mate. As an Alpha, Damon was used to claiming what he wants, and everyone bows to his will.

Alphas mark their mates on the same day they recognize each other, yet Damon ended up suppressing his wolf at the back of his mind so that he can resist the urge to sink his teeth into Talia's neck, and not give in to the maddening arousal which storms his system whenever Talia is nearby.

If she could feel the bond, this would all be so much easier, but without the bond, he needs to win her heart, her mind, her trust... So much work, damn it!

Damon cupped her cheeks into his palms and looked into her honeyed eyes while saying, "I had many firsts with you, kitten. And this is the first time I want to mark someone. I am not playing. Think about it." And get used to the idea that we will be together forever.

Talia's lips stretched into a smile that reached her eyes.

The idea of Damon marking her was too fantastic and it was floating at the top of Talia's mind, just how oil stays above water, but she definitely heard the part where Damon said that he was not toying with her.

Talia's arms moved around Damon's neck, and she got on her toes and Damon eagerly welcomed her kisses.

…

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"Don't let me disturb you…", Maddox grumbled while checking the condition of two poor guys who were unfortunate enough to be on the receiving end of Damon's anger.

Maddox knew that Damon was agitated after Elder Parker approached them, and then it got worse when Mindy said that Talia met two women from the Red Moon pack which caused Damon to fiddle with his phone for a few seconds before dashing away.

Maddox didn't understand the situation, but considering Damon's state, Maddox thought that he should follow him.

Maddox was right behind Damon, but without knowing where Damon was going and with the guests crowding, Maddox lost him, and it took him some time to track Damon in the ocean of various scents.

When he finally found Damon, Maddox was not sure what to expect, but it was definitely not the scene of Damon and Talia making out with two unconscious guys around them.

Damon inched away from Talia with difficulty.

"Thanks, Max.", Damon said. "Please, take care of them."

Talia's eyes widened in horror. How come she didn't realize that Alpha Maddox was there? Did he see them making out? Definitely. Oh, God! Now what?

Talia stuck closer to Damon while hiding her face in his chest, hoping that she can merge with Damon's body or maybe turn invisible because facing Alpha Maddox was too embarrassing.

Damon smiled at the silly girl in his arms, and he tightened his hold on her.

Maddox looked with a confused frown as Damon scooped Talia in his arms.

"You are leaving me to clean up your mess?", Maddox asked in outrage.

"Talia is upset.", Damon said with a straight face. "I need to comfort her. Tell Mindy and Kalina that Talia is out for the night. If they want more girl time with Talia, they can have it in the morning."

Maddox's lips twitched. He couldn't believe this! Did Damon just turn him into some messenger?

And what comforting!? Talia was fine! It was obvious that they were going to get frisky!

But then… Maddox remembered Talia's shy behavior that hinted at the possibility that she was inexperienced in pleasures of flesh so… maybe… ah, who knows?

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