Chapter 944: Reorganization (5)  James and Damon stayed behind in the conference room to discuss deals that Damon should accept, and Talia went out to get some fresh air and to see what the situation was with resettling people.

The sun was rising. It was late morning already.

People filled the event hall and spilled into the garden. Tables that last night hosted a fancy party were now occupied by people who were having serious conversations in whispers.

Gideon and the Shaman of the Red Moon pack were surrounded by people who listened to their stories.

Estelle, Zina, and several other Omegas were busy bringing sandwiches and drinks for everyone.

Tatiana, Kalina, Mindy, Cornelia, Lidia, and Dawn were sitting at tables and talking to people who approached them in groups to discuss conditions in various packs and to sign up for which pack they wanted to join.

Alpha Adam, Alpha Maddox, Alpha Peter, and a few others were there also, but Omegas didn't dare to approach them.

Sandy emerged into the garden with a pitcher of lemonade in her hands. She kept it on the nearest table and went to Talia.

"The meeting is over?"

"Mhm," Talia confirmed. "Did Tyler find out something about Beta Raymond's location?"

"Shortly after the birthday cake was distributed, Beta Raymond went into the garden and outside of the range of security cameras." Sandy pointed at the forest on her left, indicating the direction where Beta Raymond went. "Tyler is now looking to see if he appeared on any other recording after that. Owen sent warriors in that direction to see if they could pick up anything. So far, there is nothing."

Talia wondered if Beta Raymond had fled to avoid the aftermath of the Alpha challenge. But it didn't make sense. He left before the challenge. Why would he run? There was no point guessing.

Talia got an idea, "What about Nora?"

"We caught her trying to flee with two suitcases of clothes and jewelry," Sandy said. "We didn't know what to do with her, and you were in the meeting, so we kept her in the dungeon."

Talia wondered if Beta Raymond was with Nora, but since that was not the case, "Ask her if she knows where her father might be. If she doesn't… keep her in the dungeon." Talia didn't have the capacity to come up with how to deal with Nora, so she decided to leave Nora to James and George to figure out. Those two knew Nora best.

Sandy went to deal with Nora, and Talia approached the table where Mindy was. She waited for two Omegas to leave before she spoke to Mindy, "Things look busy here."

"Many of them still need to decide what they want to do," Mindy said with a pout.

"That's understandable," Talia responded. "After a lifetime of no choices, people don't know what to do when they are presented with one."

"We can't leave them here. The Red Moon pack isolated them, and they had no idea what was going on outside. Omegas were influenced by stories about how everyone hates the Red Moon pack, and if they try to flee, they will be hunted. Currently, most of the brave enough to decide are opting to go to the Blue River pack because they heard stories about shelters. Unfortunately, the Blue River pack can't handle this surge of people. Dark Howlers pack has space and the ability to host them, but they think of us as the Devils, and I heard some saying that they would rather try their luck with rogues than follow the Black Demon."

"Black Demon?" Talia asked.

"That's what they call Damon."

Talia would think it was funny if it was not serious. People's lives were at stake, but how could they get them to accept going where they could get housing and jobs if they thought of it as hell?

Talia pursed her lips. James gave them until eight o'clock, and that time passed. "We need a marketing campaign."

Mindy looked at Talia in confusion. "How do we do that?"

"We have videos from the Summer Solstice festival and the recent mixer. The Red Moon pack didn't participate, and I'm sure they don't know about those. We can play those videos for these people to see."

Mindy's eyes lit up as she understood what Talia was talking about, and she got another idea. "We can also organize Omegas from the Dark Howlers pack to be available for video calls to answer questions. Talking to people on their level will have a bigger effect than if they talked to high-ranking members."

Talia approved. "Let's create hype about this and then organize a lottery. Make it sound like whoever gets the Dark Howlers pack gets a good deal. Since they don't know where to go, we might as well assign them to the pack that can accept them. I will talk to Alphas and get an estimate of how many people they can take in, so we do the lottery accordingly."

Talia and Mindy took a moment to admire their idea. It will work. It had to.

"While you talk to Alphas, I'm going to find Tyler," Mindy said. "He can help set things up."

Talia watched Mindy walk away with a spring in her step. It felt like the day became brighter.

A small breeze from the back brought Talia her favorite scent of the forest and dark chocolate.

"What are you thinking, kitten?" Damon's voice sounded close to her ear.

Damon was an expert in sneaking and stalking, and if not for the breeze, Talia would have been startled.

"So many things changed." She turned to face him. "Are we doing the right thing?"

"Alpha Edward was a bad man, and because of him, the whole Red Moon pack suffered. Uprooting this corruption was the best way to go."

Talia looked at the packhouse. "We should see if we can find Alpha Edward's secret documents."

Damon knew that Talia was referring to the stuff related to witches. "Let James handle it."

"James did plenty. He should rest and spend time with his mate. Once we return to the Dark Howlers pack, he will have a lot of work."

"Look who is talking," Damon said while giving Talia a meaningful look.

Talia was unsure if she could rest, but the food was right there. "How about we eat something?"

Damon had no objections.

He grabbed a plate with food and two glasses of lemonade, and the two of them walked to the side to sit on the soft grass under a tree.

While munching on sandwiches, Talia told Damon about the idea of promoting the Dark Howlers pack, and he approved.

"I see that getting Mindy as your assistant was a good move," Damon said. "You should make her your Beta. Make it official before she slips." As long as Mindy doesn't go back to gifting dildos, Damon was fine with her.

Talia didn't want to talk about Mindy. "I'm surprised that people are not running away from here."

"Giving them a choice is a good thing to do, but in practice, it doesn't work that way. Omegas are submissive by nature and inclined to follow orders, and Alpha Edward created an environment where even their basic will was broken. Right now, these people feel lost, and they are waiting for someone to tell them what to do."

"Do you think we are wasting time and energy while trying to soften their image of the Dark Howlers pack?" Talia asked.

"You are not wasting anything, kitten. Putting them at ease is what a good Luna would do. But the real relief will come in time when they realize that it's real. It will be an adjustment for everyone. You are doing wonderfully."

Talia leaned on Damon and closed her eyes. While thinking about her past self, she could relate to Omegas from here.

"It feels strange. I would come here sneakily, always wary that I would be caught and punished. It feels like that was something from ages ago, yet also fresh, like it was yesterday."

Damon couldn't imagine the hardships Talia went through before they met. She wouldn't talk about it often, and he didn't want to be nosy and make her uncomfortable, knowing that it was hard for her to go back to that time, so he waited to see if she would say more.

When he confirmed that was it, Damon kissed her temple. "I am proud of you."

Talia smiled. She was proud of herself as well.