Two Elders realized that there is much more to Talia than they thought.

Now that Damon mentioned it, they recognized Talia as the girl who was the team spirit at the tournament. The whole soccer team was kneeling in front of her and people cheered. It was quite a spectacle.

They also heard warriors praising a mysterious medicine that was super secretive.

Two elders were not familiar with the tribute from the Steelbite pack, but Damon wouldn't deceive them with something that can be easily proven.

On top of all that, Damon mentioned the Moon Goddess.

But even with all that, how could Elder Samson and Elder Charlie give up easily?

By helping Marcy become the Luna of the Dark Howlers pack, these two will definitely be close to Alpha and Luna, no matter how Damon feels about them. Marcy will be grateful that they are on her side and she will use her womanly charms to sway Damon, and the Elders could become Alpha's advisors again. With that, their influence in the pack will increase.

At their age, Elder Samson and Elder Charlie can't win a duel, so they need to rely on other ways to stay in power. It's normal for werewolves to crave power, it's like a drug to them. Only Omegas are submissive while everyone else is clawing to get to the top.

Elder Samson and Elder Charlie were aware that they already had agreements with Alpha Edward and Elder Parker. If they back down now, wouldn't they suffer consequences?

Unfortunately, when faced with the scenario of Damon finding his fated mate, all their plans for the future started cracking.

Now what?

They were stuck between a rock and a hard place, unable to move forward or to retreat.

"This girl secured us a tribute?" Elder Charlie wanted to know more about it, hoping to find a weakness that can be exploited.

Damon's expression darkened. "THIS GIRL has a name, and it's Talia. I suggest you remember it because soon she will be your Luna. Talia was in the position to ask for anything she wants, yet she asked Alpha Richard to give tribute to the Dark Howlers pack. We still didn't determine the date for her Luna ceremony, yet she is contributing to our pack. Based on the information I received about Marcy from the Red Moon pack, her days consist of sitting at home and relaxing."

Damon glanced nervously at Talia. "It's not that I would ever consider Marcy as my Luna. I was just making an objective comparison."

Elder Samson frowned. "If you didn't consider Marcy as your Luna, why did you go to the Red Moon pack to settle the engagement?"

Damon tightened his hold on Talia like he feared that she will leave him right then and there. He could feel that her emotions became unstable. Was it because he said that he was gathering information on Marcy? Or because Elder Samson brought up the point that he went to meet Marcy?

"There was no settling of anything. It is one thing what they planned, and another what actually happened.", Damon said stiffly. "The point here is that Talia is more than qualified to be my Luna, and us being fated mates means that our union is blessed by the Moon Goddess. Anyone who thinks otherwise is welcome to challenge me openly. As for the ones who try to scheme and cause discord in our pack, I won't hesitate in punishing everyone involved."

Damon continued in a dangerously low voice. "Besides a few people I trust, the two of you are the only ones who know that Talia is my fated mate. If this news spreads before we announce it officially, I will know whose lips were loose. You are aware of my reputation related to defending my pack. If anyone dares to jeopardize my mate, I will show no mercy."

Both Elders swallowed hard.

Damon was clear that the consequences of messing with Talia will be dire.

The two Elders didn't have a problem in keeping Talia's importance a secret. Surely, Damon will announce it soon. However, they had another problem.

Both Elder Charlie and Elder Samson made agreements with Elder Parker and Alpha Edward, and the purpose of their visit today was to seal the deal with Damon. If this with Marcy falls through, who knows what Elder Parker and Alpha Edward will do?

"But… what about Marcy?", Elder Charlie asked.

Talia looked at two Elders and the displeasure that bubbled inside her exploded.

"What about Marcy?", Talia snapped. "Why are you talking like Damon is breaking up a long-term loving relationship? There is nothing going on between them. Nothing. Or do you think I will allow my man to keep a woman on the side?"

Damon's heart soared. Talia just claimed him as her man!

He wished that he recorded this so that he can replay it later.

Elder Charlie was irked by Talia's attitude, but he felt the urge to bow his head. "Well, no, but…"

"But, what?", Talia interrupted him angrily. "You are old and should be wise. Is it better to tell Marcy before she comes here that the role she is coveting is taken, or should I do it instead of you at the doorstep of my home?"

Elder Samson lost color from his face as he realized, "You want US to tell Alpha Edward that Marcy won't be the Luna of the Dark Howlers pack?"

"It seems your brain is working fine, given enough stimulation.", Talia said, and Damon stifled a chuckle while hiding his face behind her back. Ah, his mate was on fire and Damon loved every minute of it.

"Preposterous!", Elder Charlie protested. "Why do you want us to deliver bad news?"

Talia's irritation swelled. "Seeing how the two of you are standing up for Marcy, there is no place for doubts about who from within our pack worked with Alpha Edward. As respectable Elders, you should own it and clean up the mess you made. Find a peaceful way for Marcy to give up on a position that belongs to me, and make sure not to reveal my existence."

Talia stood up from Damon's lap and narrowed her eyes at two Elders. "I didn't forget that you neglected the simple courtesy of greeting me as your Luna. Your disrespect offended me and your Alpha. It makes me wonder if you did that on purpose or are you just simply foolish?"

Damon had an urge to pull Talia into his embrace and to kiss her senselessly. How can she be so amazing?

Did she notice that not only two Elders, but Maya and Caden also lowered their heads for her?

Of course, she didn't notice. Talia doesn't notice these things, but Damon does, and he was damn proud of his little mate.

She was like a firecracker, putting everyone in their place, and Damon enjoyed the show profusely.

…

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...

Two Elders left Damon's office in a daze, and only when the air from the hallway hit them, they realized their clothes were drenched in sweat. Just what the hell was that?

Caden and Maya silently left the office as well, to make sure the Elders really leave the packhouse, and by the way Damon pulled Talia to sit on his lap, it seemed that lovebirds would like some privacy.

When Talia realized that it was only her and Damon in the study, she looked at him apprehensively.

"Did I cross the line?"

"Nothing is too much for you, kitten. You did amazing.", Damon said dotingly.

Talia smiled brightly. She enjoyed the compliment for a few seconds, before asking, "Do you think they will handle Marcy?"

Damon shrugged. "There is no way to tell, but if they fail, I will make sure she gets the message. I don't want to risk her coming here and making you uncomfortable. Now that these two Elders are aware I have a mate, they won't dare to cooperate with Alpha Edward."

Talia pressed her lips into a line. Why did he make it sound that he was arranging for Marcy to not come only for Talia's sake? Did that mean, if Talia was not here, Damon would be OK with Marcy? Talia pushed those thoughts to the side.

"Will you use the same mate story to deter Marcy? What if Alpha Edward opposes? If he made these two Elders work for him, there are probably others. What if..."

"Let me worry about that.", Damon interrupted Talia's next what-if scenario.

Talia nodded obediently and then her eyes lit up when she remembered one detail.

She craned her neck, for Damon to see. "Do you think they noticed the hickey?"

Damon stared at Talia's neck, gave it a sniff and a lick, and even though Talia giggled while wondering what he was up to, his brows were furrowed to form a serious expression. He was not playing.

"I thought you changed your mind and covered it with makeup, but now I know you didn't. There is no hickey, kitten."

Talia was confused. "What? It was there." She checked in the mirror of the bathroom where she was tidying herself after Damon left to meet the Elders.

"I know.", Damon said. He remembered the dark red mark on her neck he left behind.

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