The Alpha's Bride

Chapter 1010 Checking on friends

Damon and Talia walked around the event area while observing the crowd and occasionally stopping to chat as good hosts.

Talia's intention was for people to see them before they disappeared for a while. The plan was for Damon and Talia to travel and enjoy privacy for a month with the clause that for one week they were not to be disturbed even if heaven collapses. Beyond that, they could be contacted in case of an emergency, and Talia hoped that no emergency will happen.

Talia leaned on Damon, and she basked in his love that poured into her through their mate bond. That perfect male specimen was powerful and arrogant, yet he was so caring and considerate toward her. The fact that Damon was proud to have Talia by his side made her heart full.

This was a far cry from Damon trying to hide her because he was ashamed of her. Did he ever hide her? Talia remembered the Summer Solstice festival when he got really close in front of the clocktower to whisper into her ear how he can't stay away from her. She also remembered that same evening they spent among the vendor stalls, and she realized that Damon always held her close. She couldn't feel his emotions, but he was always right by her side, looking at her, talking to her, holding her hand, and making her blush.

"What's going on, kitten?" Damon's husky voice sounded close to her ear.

"I was blind," Talia said.

"You were?" Damon wanted more information.

Talia shook her head helplessly. "I'm sorry for not realizing sooner we are mates." Damon came to the attic and held her and licked her wound and insisted on taking her out of that hell, and he gave her a home, and food and… "I didn't know what it means to have a mate." And even if she knew, she would never think that a no-name wolfless she-wolf could be mated to such an exquisite male.

Damon touched her chin. "But you know now, right?"

"I do," Talia responded dreamily and leaned on Damon while continuing through their mind-link, 'You are my rock. You make me nervous, happy, and safe.'

'And horny,' Damon added, and Talia burst into giggles.

'That too.'

'I wish you could see the way I see you, kitten.'

Talia was curious to know more. 'How do you see me?'

'Naked.'

Talia was speechless. She thought he would be lovey-dovey, but he was shameless.

Before Talia could recover, Damon asked, 'How long do we need to spend in this crowd before I can stop imagining you squirming under me? I want your ankles on my shoulders, kitten, and I want them now.'

Talia looked at him smugly. 'What if I want to be on top?'

'There will be no objections from my side,' Damon quickly responded.

Talia tugged him to keep walking. "Come on, Damon. A bit more, and then we can go…" She wanted to go too, but if she didn't at least make eye contact with her friends before leaving, she would feel guilty about it.

They have seen Cornelia and James dancing. Cornelia's fingers were in James' hair, and they whispered something that made them both smile.

Maddox and Tatiana were sitting at the table and chatting with Gideon, Mindy, Alpha Desmond, and Luna Edith. Six of them were enjoying snacks and sipping colorful beverages.

Olivia was with Travis at another table with Olivia's parents. The mood there was harmonious.

Maya was talking with several females while Caden held Maya from the back with his palms pressing her perfectly flat belly. Caden was beaming at the thought he would be a father. Triplets!

George, Dawn, Owen, and Zina were sitting at a table. George was quiet, and others were talking over each other. It sounded like a heated argument, but they were laughing, so it was all good.

Tony was on a bench with Kalina's legs on his lap. He was kneading her feet, and she looked at him dreamily.

Jordan, Lidia, Pierce, and Daria laughed at Jordan's joke. Jordan was a big muscular guy and didn't look like a comedian, but looks could be deceiving.

While walking among the area with food, Talia and Damon saw Chef Page behind a stall that served ramen. His assistant was a female who introduced herself as Clarissa, and Jane was there as well, offering extra spice to prepared bowls of ramen. Jane wore a small backpack with Cinna's head sticking out of it. They looked like a tight family, and Talia's heart was swelling with warm and fuzzy emotions while talking to them.

Zack, Erik, and Petra were in the area where kebobs were grilled. The trio munched on delicious meat while chatting in a good mood. Zack, Erik, and Petra were surrounded by teens, and they sat on a rock that made them above others, an obvious sign of their status.

Zack's eighteenth birthday was two weeks ago, which put him at the top of the list of unmated males of the Dark Howlers pack.

Many unmated girls were trying to get close to Zack, hoping to confirm they were mates. Even if the girls were underage, Zack should be able to sense the bond, but he didn't react, which made the girls dejected. Zack was a handsome boy, the best scout in their generation. The recent upgrade in his status gave him open access to Caden and Maya and, by extension, to other high ranking members also. Zack was a good catch by any standards.

Erik was one month away from his eighteenth birthday, so girls were not neglecting him either.

Petra had her hands full of chasing away girls who wouldn't take no for an answer from her two best friends (Zack and Erik). Her glaring down at females was funny to watch.

'It will be not-so-funny when she comes of age,' Liseli chimed into Talia's mind.

'Why?'

Liseli exhaled dramatically. 'You are so focused on what the girl is doing that you don't notice the brown-haired boy.'

Talia understood that the brown-haired boy was Zack. He was smiling at Petra. Talia thought that Zack was amused by Petra's protectiveness, but now that Liseli mentioned it… 'Are Zack and Petra mates?'

Liseli hummed in confirmation. 'And Zack knows it.'

Talia sighed dreamily.

"Is our walk over?" Damon asked Talia without bothering to conceal his impatience by talking through their mind link.

Talia cocked an eyebrow at Damon, and she used their private channel to ask, 'Can Sapa sense when someone is mated?'

Damon's expression fell. He was hoping that the walk was over and it was sexy time. But Talia asked him a question, so he responded, 'Yes.'

'Did Sapa tell you that Zack and Petra are mates?'

'No,' Damon responded, and a second later, he added, 'The old guy says it's not our circus and not our monkeys.'

'Did he call me a gossip!?' Liseli raged in Talia's mind.

Since Talia was pregnant, they couldn't shift into wolf form. On top of that, pregnancy hormones affected the ancient wolf, making Liseli irritable.

"Let's keep on walking," Talia said, hoping to get distracted by something else.

Cristian and Michelle were holding each other and watching Ashton who was squealing with joy in the bouncy house with a bunch of other kids.

They saw a lot of people having fun, but Damon noticed that someone was missing.

"Where are Keith and Arya?" Damon asked suspiciously. Those two were always sticking to Talia, but now that he thought about it, Damon didn't see them since they cut the cake.

Talia smiled knowingly. "Shortly after our ceremony, Arya showed signs of heat, so…"

Damon's eyebrows shot up. He knew where this was going. If Arya got pregnant, Keith and Arya would be busy with their pup, which was a good thing because the duo would do something other than breathe down Talia's neck.

On the other side, if Keith and Arya became parents, Talia would lose reliable guards, and Damon had to admit that Keith and Arya were perfect for the job. Creepy, but still perfect.

With the full circle completed, Talia wanted to check on another person. "Let's make sure my father is alright, and then we can go."

Damon's eyes lost focus, and in less than a second, he confirmed Valerian's location.

Talia and Damon found Valerian in the garden behind the packhouse. Cassandra was there also, standing a few steps away from Valerian in silence.

"Why are you not enjoying your party?" Valerian asked when he noticed Talia and Damon approaching them.

"I wanted to check on you," Talia said. "How are you doing?"

Valerian released a long breath. "A little bit better. Are those two alive?"

Damon knew that "those two" were Sophia and Isaac. Damon was getting real-time reports from soldiers. "They received care for their injuries and are transported to the human city as we speak."

"Do you know what will happen to them?" Valerian continued probing.

"They will be left in an apartment that is furnished and has food for about one week. They will also get identification documents like humans. After that, it will be up to them," Damon responded.

"You are generous toward people who hoped for your death," Valerian said.

"In this way, we will get to keep an eye on them. Besides, they are Axel's parents, and if I allowed them to die, Talia would be upset. She cares about her cousin." Damon's eyes flashed dangerously. "But don't assume I am generous. Someone will pay them a visit every few days to remind them that no place is safe."

Valerian nodded in approval. "They will get to experience living a life similar to what Natalia had."

"Exactly," Damon confirmed.