In the underground garage of the mall…

Talia, Maya, Mindy, Kalina, Tatiana, and Meg finished with their shopping and were putting things in the van with the help of the staff from the mall.

Neither of them thought she bought much, but there were six of them, and when all boxes and shopping bags came together, it was a lot.

Luckily, Maya suggested using the van to come to the mall so after folding unused seats, there was enough space for their purchases.

Tatiana and Mindy were in charge of making sure everything fits and nothing is squished or broken while Meg and Kalina helped. Maya started the van and was searching for the radio station that will play some cheery music and Talia used this opportunity to step to the side and check her phone.

Talia smiled dreamily at the messages she received from Damon in the last half an hour.

[I hope you are having fun]

[Buy whatever you like]

[Don't stray away from the group]

[I miss you]

[Stay safe]

[I can't wait to see what you bought]

[I hope there is something for me]

While shopping, Talia would occasionally respond to his messages, but he sent so many that she wondered if he was doing what he was supposed to do: training with Tony and others.

Talia looked at the group of ladies busying themselves around the van, and a novel sense of pride filled her chest.

She never shopped like that with girlfriends. Actually, she never shopped like that. Period.

The whole morning was exciting, and she didn't feel like an outsider.

Talia wondered how to thank Damon for it because all this wouldn't be possible without him.

When Talia told Damon that girls will go shopping, he gave her a credit card with words, "Don't look at the price tags, kitten. Nothing is too expensive for my Luna."

"I'm not sure I can accept this." She was not comfortable spending his money.

"Don't be silly.", he said with a knowing smile and gestured to her to look at the card.

Talia's eyes widened when she saw that the black card in her hand had a name: Talia Blake.

"When did you get this?", Talia asked Damon, unable to hide her surprise.

He cupped her face in his palms and gazed into her honeyed eyes while talking, "On the day you started working as my assistant, I changed my bank account to a joint one and added you. I was looking for a good chance to give you the card, and this seems to be the one. What's mine is yours, kitten."

His care warmed her heart.

She couldn't connect this feeling of happiness with the person she was a month ago. At that time, Talia was alone in the attic, mostly thinking about securing her next meal and concealing her presence from others, yet now she was daydreaming about a handsome Alpha who was hers only.

Since she met Damon, Talia's life changed drastically, and she got many things she never thought will happen, like friends and her wolf.

It was surreal.

Talia looked at Tatiana while wondering what's going on in the latter's mind. Whatever it was, it must have been related to Maddox, and it was probably painful and conflicting. But on the outside Tatiana was cool and composed, and she even smiled a little, and Talia admired that very much.

Talia knew how wonderful she felt in Damon's embrace, and she also knew how agonizing was the thought that other women enjoyed the similar treatment, and Tatiana actually saw two women in Maddox's room.

Talia wanted to comfort Tatiana, but other than their short exchange on their way to the mall, Tatiana didn't talk about Maddox, and Talia felt awkward bringing it up. And there was also the point that Talia was not sure what to say and not appear nosy. She didn't want to make it worse.

While thinking about the possibility of worsening the current situation, another thing popped on Talia's mind and she beckoned Maya to join her on the side, out of the earshot of others.

"What should we do about the party on the beach?", Talia asked Maya.

Maya immediately understood where Talia was going with that. The party was to celebrate Tatiana and Maddox as mates. However, the duo's current relationship status was not something that should be celebrated.

"Let's see what Kalina says." Maya decided to leave this decision to the person who knows Tatiana the best.

Kalina thought for a moment before responding. "Preparations are already ongoing, so let's keep it. My sister seems fine, but I know that she is hurting on the inside. A party might cheer her up. Just remove any mate-related message from the cake and say that the party is to celebrate all of us gathering."

And with that, girls entered the van and headed to the packhouse of the Dark Howlers pack.

…

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...

Damon, Axel, and Maddox lined up in front of the packhouse, waiting for the van with six young women to arrive.

Axel sent Tyler and Kai to train with others and he decided to stick around, eager to see Talia as soon as possible.

However, now that he was standing next to the Maddox who had a big bouquet of colorful flowers in his hands, Axel regretted not joining his Beta and Gamma. But the gray-metallic Mercedes van was approaching them, and it was too late to change his mind.

The moment the van appeared in sight, Maddox's body stiffened.

He was a nervous wreck.

First, he never gave flowers to any woman (his mother doesn't count).

Second, he was about to face the woman who slapped him. No one EVER slapped him and lived to talk about it, yet here was Maddox with flowers as a present for the one who violated his handsome face.

And third, he was about to apologize. Maddox NEVER apologized for anything in his life.

Maddox was only minutes away from embarking on the journey of many firsts and he was extremely uncomfortable, but the internet and Damon said that Maddox needs to go through this.

Axel agreed that this was the least Maddox needed to go through as penance for what he did.

Axel even hinted that this might be just a beginning, but Maddox dismissed it as exaggeration nonsense. Surely, Tatiana will see his sincerity and forgive him. Right? RIGHT!?

And it's not like he cheated! He was with those two women BEFORE he even knew that Tatiana exists.

The only faux pas he made was that he didn't consider the possibility that those two women were still in his room, but that was one small forgetfulness, and he shouldn't walk through fire because of that.

Needless to say, Damon was enjoying this. He couldn't wait for the van to stop and those doors to open because Talia was in there and because the show will begin.

Damon wondered if Maddox will crash and burn quickly, or if Tatiana will give him a slow and painful death.

Damon was 90% confident that Maddox's attempt to cajole Tatiana will fail.

With Talia's kind and forgiving personality, Damon had to jump into the freaking waterfall in order to get her to soften up, and considering Tatiana's prideful nature, just one bouquet of flowers won't be enough.

Damon wanted all this to be more theatric, but Maddox firmly refused to kneel and serenade Tatiana.

Maddox accepted the idea of presenting to Tatiana the biggest flower bouquet they could find in Darkbourne on short notice, and Damon doubted if Tatiana will give Maddox more chances after this poor performance.

All three guys straightened up when the van stopped.

The side door opened, and girls started milling out.

Meg stepped out first and went to the back to fetch the bags. Of course, she saw Maddox with flowers, just like all other women in the van, and they all waited to see what Tatiana will do.

Maya hopped from the driver's side, and she joined Meg in the back, pretending to search for the right bags with her eyes on the Maddox.

Maddox took a step forward apprehensively while looking at Tatiana who was getting out of the van. No matter how he looked at her, she was perfect. A Goddess.

The addictive scent of strawberries reached him and a mental image of Tatiana riding him wildly flashed in his mind. Yup, that's where she belongs, on top of him.

Maddox hesitated. What if this bouquet of flowers was not big enough?

Tatiana's frosty gaze skimmed over Maddox who was peeking on the side of the colorful arrangement, and she addressed Damon. "Alpha Damon, how nice of you to welcome us back personally and you even brought help. They can carry our bags upstairs."

Axel frowned. How did he become part of 'they' who should carry things? He doesn't even know half of the women there!

Tatiana walked around Maddox-statue and went straight into the packhouse.

Maddox needed a moment to process this. Did Tatiana ignore him? No, worse than ignoring, she treated him as help, an Omega… And he was holding wretched flowers and was about to apologize for something he didn't do! Damn it!

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