Ch. 451..460

Chapter 451 Lovers from the beginning of time (3) [Bonus chapter]

Talia writhed under Damon, trying to get him to move faster, but he just murmured close to her ear how much he loves her and continued his torturously slow ministrations.

It was wonderful, it really was. She could feel his sincerity and his intention to make her feel good but slow and gentle was not what she needed at that moment.

She wanted to feel his power and passion.

She wanted Damon who was unrestrained and outrageous.

She wanted him to plunder her insides.

And she was determined to get it.

Frantic for more, Talia's hands glided lower on his back, and she dug her nails into his firm ass, pulling him closer and rocking her hips against him.

"Gods! Woman!", he squeezed through his teeth.

"Your woman.", Talia said. "Please, don't make me wait. Don't make it slow. And don't make it gentle. Not now. I need… Ah… Mmm…"

Her words were lost in moans when Damon's hips picked up the pace.

At the feeling of Talia pulling him in desperately, Damon's weak control snapped, and he gave in to his urges. After all, she was eager and he was also, and they can take it slowly later. They had three days.

Damon lifted himself to sit with his legs crossed in the lotus position, and Talia gripped his back to follow him without them disconnecting.

She straddled him and hugged his neck firmly, unwilling to let go, ever.

"Fuck!", he cursed when she moved, her pace not much slower than his, yet the small rotation of her hips threatened to push him over the edge too fast. Damn, she was perfect.

He pushed her damp hair to her right side, to remove the obstacles from the spot where he will mark her. His urge to put his lips there was driving him to the edge of insanity.

"Ah, Damon…", she moaned close to his ear, the words spiraled from his brain straight into his groin area, and he couldn't believe that his arousal swelled. Seductress!

Talia's legs started shaking and slowing down her movements, so he gripped her hips with his right hand to pull her to him, and his other hand landed on the ground behind him as support while he thrusted into her vigorously.

Her body arched backward, and outrageous sounds ripped from her throat, Damon's name mixed in with a string of vowels and curses, and Damon was sure that he never heard anything so beautiful in his life.

The visual of her bouncing on him nearly made him come. Her head was thrown back and her jaw slack, her breasts jiggling, the sheen of sweat sparkling under the moonlight… it was the sexiest image he saw in his life.

Damon could feel the pressure building in both him and Talia, and something told him that his mouth should be closer to her neck. It was the instinct he pushed away many times before, but not tonight.

Talia gasped at the speed Damon pushed her to lay on the grass, yet her back landed softly as he controlled his speed and force expertly, confirming that he won't hurt her even when he was lost in passion.

He was quick to continue thrusting into her, and Talia's face flashed into his view, full of lust and love, and he was not sure if he saw silvery sparks in her eyes, but this was not the time for technicalities.

Talia's fingers dug into his back, her arms coiling firmly just under his armpits, and her face was buried in his neck, frantic breaths splashing on him and making his hair stand on ends.

When merging with Damon, Talia would always lose herself in pleasure, her whole world zeroing on the sensation of his hard length sliding in and out of her, and Damon all around her, pushing her toward the rapture with every thrust, but this time, it was different. This time, Talia was not lost. Actually, it felt like she found a part of herself, something she forgot a long time ago. Possession. Belonging.

She wanted to give herself to Damon in body and spirit, and she also wanted everyone to know that he was hers. Completely.

His tongue moved flat over her neck, making her skin ripple in goosebumps, and she felt the urge to do the same.

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The sensation of their bodies moving together was thrilling, and the fact that they were in the open, made them feel like they were sharing their love with the rest of the world.

Damon was focusing on Talia's neck, nibbling and kissing, in order to prolong his pleasure and not come first. They needed to do this together.

Every fiber of Damon's being was trembling, telling him that the time was nearly there, and his fangs elongated without him even trying.

Emotions swelled within Damon and an otherworldly growl bubbled in his chest and burst from his throat, and his heart soared when Talia did the same, like she was responding to his call. He never made such a sound, yet he knew that it was a sign of claiming and belonging.

Talia muffled her frantic moans into his neck as she gripped him tightly, her rapid breaths fanned the left side of his neck, and he knew that she was on the brink of an orgasm.

"Don't hold it in, kitten...", he rasped. "Let it out. Let me hear you..."

And then he started the countdown. 3… 2…

Damon groaned when a piercing pain assaulted his neck, making him feel like he was being burned alive.

What the hell!?

Before he could process what happened, his head dipped and his fangs sank in Talia's flesh, releasing his venom and embedding parts of him as her new normal, yet he felt that he was also undergoing some changes as fiery liquid traveled through his veins.

Damon growled when her insides coiled around his throbbing cock, and both he and Talia shivered in their orgasm that was amplified by the scorching sensation that flowed into their bodies from the neck down.

Damon unlatched himself and he laughed weakly when he realized that Talia was releasing low growls while licking his neck, the spot where she marked him. It was painful, tingly, and super-sensitive to the point of making him aroused like he didn't come just a few seconds ago.

He was not sure what to think about Talia marking him because his consciousness was fading, but he knew that the circle was closed as their bond strengthened and was growing into something mysterious and wonderful.

Damon focused on licking those few drops of blood that trickled from Talia's neck. He needed to help her heal before his strength leaves him completely.

The sensation of her tongue on his neck sent shudders through his body, and he was pleased to know that he will wear her mark, and she will wear his.

He couldn't wait to see how they turn out.

Damon didn't realize at what point he slumped over Talia, but he managed to push himself on the side so that he doesn't crush her with the weight of his body. He felt her arms wrapping around him, holding him close, like she will never let go, and he hoped she never does.

The last spec of energy seeped out of his body as he pulled her into him, and then darkness descended on his senses..

 

Chapter 452 Call for help (1)

The cloudless sky was colored in oranges and purples, looking magnificent as the sunrise was announcing another hot summer day. Everything was completely still, the only sounds coming from two bodies as they breathed while lying on the grass.

Talia's eyes fluttered open, shaking the morning dew that gathered on her lashes.

It took her a moment to realize that she was lying on the grass, with Damon next to her.

She stuck to Damon's firm body, seeking his warmth. Why the hell were they out in the open, completely naked?

Mental images flashed: their wolves, the sad story and reunion, Damon's gentle gaze, fiery touches, and powerful thrusts, and there was a bite. Two bites.

Her head whipped to see Damon's left side of his neck, and she couldn't see anything other than his perfect skin. He was slightly pale but no less handsome.

Talia was confused. Did she imagine biting him? Sure, Damon heals fast, but there should be a mark, right?

Talia reached to touch the left side of her neck. It was tender, but there were no bumps that would indicate a wound.

If she imagined events from last night, why were they naked here?

Talia closed her eyes to feel for any changes. There was nothing in particular, yet her senses were heightened. It was almost like she connected with nature to feel each plant and animal in the area, caressing them with her mind. Unbelievable.

Talia looked at Damon's handsome features and her brows came together when she realized that he was still sleeping. Damon would always be the first one to wake up, and now she even moved, yet he didn't twitch.

She wondered if she should let him rest more or wake him up, but then… werewolves or not, they should go to the cabin.

"Damon?", she called softly.

Nothing.

"Damon?" This time it was louder.

Still nothing.

She gave him a small nudge and when he didn't move, she pushed herself to sit on her knees.

Talia gaped at his form that glowed in silvery light all over. She didn't notice it up close, but now that she stepped back, it was clearly visible.

Reluctantly, she put her palm on his chest and shook him a bit.

Why was he not reacting? This was not like Damon. Was something wrong?

With every passing heartbeat, her worry was increasing and gnawing on her insides.

Why was this happening in the middle of nowhere? How can she call for help? And who can help anyway?

It took her a few endless moments to realize that she was not alone.

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'Liseli?', Talia called in her mind, hoping that her wolf will respond.

'Yes?'

Talia released a breath of relief.

'What's wrong with Damon?'

'Nothing. He is adjusting to the powers he received through our mark.'

Talia took another look at his neck. It was clean.

'Why is the mark not showing?'

'Our mark is more than flesh deep. It connects the souls.'

Talia's breath hitched. 'Our souls are connected?'

'Almost.', Talia's wolf responded. 'The connection will be complete if Sapa and I do the mating ceremony.'

Talia noticed the IF part, and she knew Liseli was still struggling to accept that she was fed lies by her mother and sisters.

'Will you bite Sapa?'

Liseli snorted. 'We are not barbaric like humans. Our mating is more spiritual. We open our minds and hearts and accept each other completely. No secrets.'

Talia understood that the mating for wolves is something along the lines of how Sapa and Liseli shared their memories.

'I think that's wonderful, Liseli.' Only by fully opening up to the other, she could enjoy the feeling of being accepted unconditionally. 'I wish that Damon and I can do the same.'

'You can', her wolf said. 'We are the same but if you need distinction, you can think of it as you and Damon will connect by the flesh, while Sapa and I bond our souls.'

Talia wanted to ask for details, but Damon released a slow groan, drawing Talia's attention back to him, and her anxiousness was swelling again. Yes, her wolf said that this was part of the process, but Talia was uneasy.

She touched his forehead and felt his warmth. Talia paused when she realized that Damon was burning.

'Why does he have a fever? Is this normal?'

'I'm not sure', her wolf admitted. 'It's not like I've seen marking like this one. I can tell you that with your bite, he received a part of your power, and his body is adjusting to it. But anything beyond that is just a guess.'

Damon groaned again, and Talia was now panicking.

Was his temperature rising, or was her anxiousness muddling her senses?

One way or another, she didn't want to leave him on this grass.

Talia tried lifting him, but he was too heavy. Damn it, why did he weigh a ton?

And the fact that she was tugging on him, and he didn't react, only scared her more.

She remembered one thing. 'Liseli, can you help him?'

'What do you have on your mind?'

'When Meg was in the car after Kai marked her, I helped her channel that energy out and she was better. Somehow, I knew what to do. It was you guiding me, right? Do it again.'

Liseli hesitated. 'This is a natural process. If we interfere recklessly, it can have negative consequences.'

Talia bit her lower lip nervously. Damon didn't look good. Was she really supposed to just sit and wait? 'Can we help him just a little bit?'

'OK. Touch him.'

In the next moment, Talia's palms were on Damon's pecks.

Talia looked at Damon's handsome face in anticipation of something happening. Unfortunately, there was nothing.

'Liseli?'

'I'm trying!', Liseli responded in a strained voice, and then she snorted. 'It's not working.'

'Why?'

'Because Sapa is strong. That friend of yours had a weak wolf. Well, weak by our standards. Sapa is different. He is the strongest wolf I know.', Liseli's last words were full of pride and love.

'Aren't you stronger than Sapa?'

'Not really. Our strengths are different. If we need to fight it out, without regard of hurting the other, the outcome would be uncertain.'

Talia exhaled dejectedly. 'So, now what? We just wait and hope for the best?'

'Yes, unless you know of a powerful witch that can help channel the powers of the Moon.'

Talia made a face. Yeah, right. How on earth was she supposed to know a witch? The closest to that was the oracle that Axel mentioned.

Talia's expression lit up when she remembered… Axel!

They were leaving the Dark Howlers pack because they wanted to help Meg, but for that, they needed to go to the Midnight Guardians pack.

She dashed into the cabin to get her phone. Damon told her that she can leave her phone in the packhouse, but she still sneaked it into the bag. She kept it off because she had no intention of using it, but now it will come in handy.

Talia truly hoped that Axel will know how to help Damon.

 

Chapter 453 Call for help (2)

~ The Midnight Guardians pack ~

Axel groaned when his phone woke him up and it took him a moment to realize from where the noise was coming.

He sprang into a seated position when he realized that something important was happening.

If anyone from the Midnight Guardians pack wanted to contact him, they would use mind-link. And if it was an outsider, only a handful of them had his number.

Axel scrambled to get his phone and his eyes flashed when he saw the name flashing, "Talia".

He reached into the drawer of his bedside table to grab a handful of purple crystals and scattered them around him. The time in the territory of the Midnight Guardians pack flowed differently compared to the outside world, and these crystals created a temporary dimension-tunnel for the cell phone signals to travel.

Axel took a deep breath to compose himself before answering, "Hello?"

"Hi… Axel…", Talia's voice came out choppy. "I need your help. I…", she hesitated.

"Tell me.", he urged her.

"It's Damon."

Axel frowned, and his eyebrows shot up when Talia continued, "He has similar symptoms like Meg when you took her from…"

"He what?", Axel interrupted her.

"He is unconscious and glowing. You know what I mean."

"No, I don't. Why would he…"

It was Talia's turn to interrupt Axel. "Because I marked him."

Axel stared at his phone and then rubbed his eyes as if to confirm that he heard what he heard.

Sure, he knew Talia had powers that would link her to the Midnight Guardians pack, but how on Earth did she mark Damon? Damon was the most powerful Alpha of their generation, and if she marked him, doesn't that mean he submitted to her? Delicate Talia made Damon submit? He saw her swimming very fast, but he never imagined that she would be stronger than Damon. This was difficult to process.

But if it was true, it confirmed Talia had Alpha blood, and there was only one Alpha family in the Midnight Guardians pack. Sure, there was always a chance that Alpha from another pack mated with someone from the Midnight Guardians pack, but still… he pushed those thoughts for later.

"Are you sure?", Axel asked, wondering if this was some strange joke.

Talia exhaled in frustration. She didn't think that he will doubt her. "Why would I lie, Axel? Last night, we came to this cabin, and we had dinner and then…" She really didn't want to talk more, but it was obvious that Axel needed more details. "One thing lead to another, and he said that we should give in to our instincts, and I marked him. I woke up this morning to see him unresponsive and glowing. Can you help us? Please? He is burning up and groaning. I think he is in pain and… Tell me what to do."

Axel pursed his lips while thinking. Of course, he could help her. But the question was if he will be allowed to. "Don't try to wake him up forcibly. There are things…" He paused. "Give me a bit to figure out something. I will call you back."

Axel ended the call without waiting for Talia to respond.

His brain scrambled for options on how to deal with this situation.

He asked Cassandra to come and verify if Talia was the child from the prophecy, and Cassandra was considering it, but his parents objected, saying how they can't risk Cassandra leaving and getting in danger. She knew too much and was too precious for the whole pack.

His parents were adamant about Axel staying away from Talia, saying how they need to focus on their pack, and not on outsiders, but… now that Damon is awakening his powers, he is not really an outsider.

Axel didn't tell his parents that Talia and Damon are fated mates, but if he tells them about the situation, they were bound to find out.

He scooted out of the bed and decided to deal with this head-on. After all, his options were to ignore Talia's request for help or to involve his parents. No one gets in or out of their territory without approval from Alpha Isaac and Alpha Sophia.

- - -

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- - -

Talia was sitting by Damon's side, holding his hand, and stroking his hair.

She dressed up and struggled to pull a pair of shorts on Damon before covering him with a blanket.

His temperature was going up and down in waves, and he would groan occasionally, but he didn't open his eyes, and that scared her.

Axel called to tell her he was coming, and to keep her phone powered on, saying that they will find her based on the GPS coordinates, but he didn't say who was coming or when. They took hours to reach here from the packhouse, what if Axel can't reach today?

A helpless sob escaped her lips, and she leaned her forehead on Damon's chest.

"I'm sorry, Damon. I screwed up again. If I knew, I wouldn't give in to my urge… I wouldn't… Please, come back to me…", she spoke in whispers and hoped that he will hear her and wake up.

"Talia?", Axel's voice came from the side, and she whipped her head that way to see Axel and another man coming out of the bushes. The road was another way. How did they get there so quickly?

The unknown man was an older version of Axel, and he looked at her like he hoped to see what was under her flesh.

"Axel…", Talia said while turning to face them without standing up. She didn't want to increase the distance between her and Damon. "I assume that's Alpha Isaac."

The older man nodded stiffly, and his eyes moved to look at Damon.

"Thank you for coming.", Talia said. "Damon is like this for at least two hours, probably longer. Can you help him?"

"We will need to take him with us.", Alpha Isaac said with finality.

Talia pressed her lips into a line. She was hoping that they will give him medicine, or maybe perform a ritual, and Damon will be fine. But now it seemed it was not that simple.

"Can you tell me what's going on and how you will help?", Talia asked.

Axel stepped forward and observed Damon. "We can't be sure until we examine him thoroughly, but it seems that his powers are awakening. We have ways to make this process smoother, but we can't do it here."

"Is that why you took Meg with you?"

Axel confirmed. "She is doing well and looks forward to seeing you."

Talia was alerted. She had no intention of leaving Damon's side, but what if this was a plot to get her into the Midnight Guardians pack?

A sense of crisis descended on her. Those were two Alphas. If they want to take her away forcibly or harm Damon, how can she fight back?

Can she trust them?

What were her options?

Talia looked into Axel's golden-honeyed eyes and wondered if she made a mistake by calling him.

'He looks sincere', Talia's wolf spoke in her head.

'Are you sure?'

'Nothing is certain, but he has no ill intentions toward you.'

'What about toward Damon?'

'I don't know.', Liseli admitted. 'But if he doesn't want to hurt you, he won't harm Damon either.'

Under those brave words, Talia could clearly feel Liseli's uncertainty.

---

 

Chapter 454 Call for help (3)

Talia stared at two men who stood above her and Damon.

Liseli told her that Axel won't harm her, but what about Alpha Isaac?

The man's gaze made Talia uncomfortable at first, but then he was completely focused on Damon, his brows slightly pinched and Talia would give anything for a mind-reading ability.

She was painfully aware that Axel and Alpha Isaac they were here, in the middle of a forest… no witnesses. If they wanted to harm her or Damon, Talia couldn't stop them. It was too late to backtrack out of this, so she decided to roll with it.

"How do we do this?", she asked.

Alpha Isaac moved closer and squatted next to Damon.

Talia tensed but didn't interfere because the man was visually inspecting Damon's face without reaching to touch him.

She reminded herself that they came to help.

"Axel tells me you have powers.", Alpha Isaac said without looking at Talia. "What are they?"

Alarm bells rang in Talia's head, and she glanced at Axel who looked at her with curiosity. She concluded that Kai was true to his words and didn't tell him what happened in the car. But then… maybe he did, and Axel knew, and Alpha Isaac knew as well, and this was just a test.

How can she respond to the question about her powers when she was not aware of what she can do? Should she tell them that she was still figuring out that part, but so far she managed to swat away people without touching them, stop the water currents, energize Marcy's spirit to the point of bringing her out of the coma, and heal Damon and herself?

'Don't reveal more than necessary', Liseli spoke into Talia's mind. 'Little steps. Don't trust them until you know their motives.'

Talia was glad that Liseli was there to give her this advice. It made sense.

"Healing.", Talia responded. It sounded safest. She didn't want to appear as a threat.

Alpha Isaac's brows came together in a frown, and he turned his head to look at her.

Talia couldn't read his expression. Did he just confirm that she lied? Her heart thundered against her chest, and she hoped that he can't hear it.

"Healing…", he repeated and gestured at Damon. "Why didn't you heal him?"

"I can heal wounds of the flesh. I tried with Damon before calling Axel, it didn't work.", Talia responded, relieved that her voice stayed steady.

Alpha Isaac regarded her for a long second and then he lifted his arm to his face.

Talia's eyes widened when he bit his forearm harshly.

"Show me.", he said, and Talia stared at his bloodied forearm. What the hell?

She couldn't believe this. Did he bite off part of his flesh? What if she was lying? Even with his werewolf-enhanced healing, it was extreme.

But Talia understood that this was a test.

'Liseli, I will need your help with this. Just enough power to heal him, but not too much', Talia thought and put her palm to hover an inch above Alpha Isaac's wound.

Talia's palm radiated with heat, and then it cooled as the silvery light spread downwards and Alpha Isaac's wound healed at the speed visible to the naked eye.

Alpha Isaac's attention moved from his wound to Talia and his lips pressed into a line as he saw her eyes flickering in silvery light.

- - -

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- - -

Axel observed all this without a word and when Talia retracted her hand from Alpha Isaac's arm that had no remnants of the wound, she glanced at Axel to see him smiling at her.

She didn't know why, but Axel's expression warmed her heart. It was like he was silently telling her that she did good, encouraging her to keep going.

But she couldn't be happy. Not with Damon lying on the ground, and Alpha Isaac testing her like he didn't trust her motives.

"Is that enough, or do I need to pass another test?", Talia asked Alpha Isaac and before he responded, she turned to Axel, "Damon is not well, and that's why I called you here. Can you help him? Will you help him? If it's a no, then please help me carry him into the cabin, and you can leave. I will figure out something."

Alpha Isaac looked at her with a scowl. "And what will you do?"

Talia was not sure what she could do. "I would call Damon's Betas and the pack doctor, and…"

"No!"

Alpha Isaac snapped before Talia could say that she would call Gideon also.

"No one should know about this.", he squeezed through his teeth with eyes flashing in a warning.

Talia's expression steeled with resolve. "Then you better help me. Or leave. At this rate, you are not helping."

Alpha Isaac narrowed his eyes at her. "You obviously don't understand the dangers if people see him like this."

"I do. I heard it all before.", Talia barked back. She was irked that he would think about hiding the magic-wielding secret like it was more important than helping Damon. Was his life in danger? Talia prayed silently that it was not, but he was not fairing well either.

Alpha Isaac and Talia were engaged in a silent staring contest, neither willing to back down, and Talia felt the air changing. Was he using his Alpha aura to surpass her? She had no intention of shrinking.

"M-hm…", Axel cleared his throat. "We came here to help, Talia."

"But?", Talia asked stiffly without looking away from Alpha Isaac.

"As you heard, we need to take him with us."

Talia turned to look at Axel. "Then, why are we still here and your father is inspecting me like I'm an impostor?"

Axel shot a glare at his father, but then he responded to Talia. "I told you before. Not everyone is welcome to our territory. He was just making sure that you are one of us."

Talia swallowed a mouthful of air when she remembered that conversation. Axel also told her that once one is in the territory of the Midnight Guardians pack, he can't leave. Was she going willingly to a place where they will imprison them?

Damon groaned and Talia's heart leaped in hope that he was waking up, but then it cracked when she saw beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He was not getting better.

Talia put her hand on his cheek and prayed silently that she was not making a mistake.

"Will I be able to stay with him?", she asked in a whisper.

"Of course.", Axel responded. "We will never keep you away from your mate."

Talia's head whipped to look at Axel. "Never?"

"We respect the mate bond above everything else.", Axel said solemnly.

She wanted to ask how does the respect of the mate bond stack against them keeping their secret about magical powers, but this was not the time to stir that topic.

Talia gave a small nod and turned to look at Damon. He needed help, and as long as the two of them can stay together… they will figure out the rest. Somehow.

---

Chapter 455 In the Midnight Guardians pack (1)

Talia opened her eyes and looked around the unknown room that had pastel green walls and the window allowed for the light from outside to seep in, but it was somewhat dimmed, and Talia guessed that it was either cloudy or maybe it was getting dark.

Her movements were somewhat sluggish but other than that she felt fine.

How did she find herself here?

"Talia?", a female voice came from the side and Talia blinked to get into focus Meg's welcoming expression.

Meg's presence confirmed that Talia reached her destination, the Midnight Guardians pack. Well, at least she was greeted by a familiar face.

"Meg? Where am I?", Talia croaked while pushing herself up on the elbows. She was lying on the bed.

"Easy…", Meg said while helping Talia get into a seated position. "Here drink this." She passed her a glass with transparent liquid and Talia gave it a sniff.

"It's water.", Meg said with amusement in her voice, and when Talia started drinking, Meg answered Talia's original question. "You are in the Midnight Guardians pack. This is the center for people who need help with their powers. I know you are confused but give it a minute. It's a standard procedure for newcomers to be unconscious while passing the portal. It's for everyone's safety."

Talia cursed internally. Axel told her that they will need to blindfold her, and she agreed as long as she gets to hold onto Damon, yet they did something to knock her out. How long was she unconscious?

Talia jerked glass away from her lips. "Damon…"

"He is fine.", Meg said with haste and then added, "I mean… maybe."

"What do you mean, maybe? I want to see him.", Talia demanded. She kept the glass back on the bedside table and started scooting off the bed. She was eager to reunite with Damon. Why did they separate them?

"He is with healers.", Meg said. "Cassandra is personally looking after him."

"The oracle.", Talia said, and Meg nodded in confirmation.

"Don't you have other people who could help Damon?"

"We do, but it's not every day that Alpha is awakening his powers. Cassandra wanted to make sure nothing goes wrong. She is the best. She took care of me when I arrived. It's an honor.", Meg said. "I am so excited that you finally went through with the marking, but I must say that I'm surprised that you marked him."

Talia looked at Meg while wondering how much sincerity was behind that smile. Sure, Talia knew Meg from before, and she had a good opinion of her, but the truth was that they spent one shopping trip together, and then Meg recognized Kai as her mate and... that was not much to establish a trustworthy relationship.

"You know I marked him?", Talia asked.

Meg nodded. "Axel told me when he said you and Damon are coming."

Talia was not sure what to believe anymore. It all made sense, maybe too much.

She wanted to call to her wolf, but somehow she got a feeling that she shouldn't, and she remembered Liseli's words to not reveal more than necessary. Who knows, maybe these magical people have a way of detecting that her wolf is special.

Little steps, Talia told herself. She will be careful, but if she treats everyone like they are enemies, she won't accomplish anything.

"How long are we here?"

"Two, maybe three hours.", Meg responded.

"Can I see Damon?"

"Of course. But maybe you should wait a bit. It takes a few minutes for the drowsiness to clear up."

One word stood out for Talia, drowsiness. Did they drug her? What the hell!?

"I'm fine.", Talia said. She was not fine. Her arms and legs were heavy and stiff, and her stomach was churning, but she needed to see Damon.

Meg looked at Talia skeptically, but she understood Talia's urgency. "Let me take you to him."

Talia followed Meg through the narrow hallway, and Meg chattered happily, yet Talia didn't hear a word of what Meg said. It was difficult to focus. She was anxious about this whole situation, they separated her from Damon, and her mind was still cloudy.

They took a flight of stairs down and then Meg stopped in front of one door.

"Talia…", Meg called to get her attention. "It might be difficult to see what's in this room. But remember, people here are trying to help Damon, and please… don't touch anything."

Talia gave a stiff nod. Did Meg think that those words will calm her down?

The door opened and Talia held her breath.

"Follow me", Meg said and stepped into the room.

They found themselves in a small hallway that had a big glass window on the right, looking into a room.

Talia's eyes fell on Damon who was lying on the platform that was made out of one big flat rock, and it had mysterious patterns etched into it. The patterns pulsated in silvery light making it look like they are taking energy from Damon and carrying it into the ground.

The shimmer around his body was much fainter than it was on the meadow, but it was still there.

Talia put her palms on the glass, wishing to pass through it.

"You can come inside…"

Meg's voice got Talia's attention and Meg gestured toward the door on the side that will take them to the room where Damon was.

Talia's eyes went back to Damon as she moved toward the door, and then into the room that was filled with various herbal scents which seeped from incense burners that were placed in each corner.

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Talia didn't stop until she was next to the platform where Damon was. She reached for his hand.

"Don't!", Meg exclaimed, but Talia was already holding Damon's hand, and lifted it up to lean her cheek at the back of his palm.

"You shouldn't touch him.", Meg spoke from behind Talia.

"It's fine, Meg…", a deep female voice sounded in the room. "You must be Talia."

Talia blinked and turned to face an older woman with waist-long black hair who smiled at her. The woman wore a white sleeveless dress that had a wide red sash at the waist level, and numerous bracelets and necklaces made out of small rocks, shells, and bones. Her face didn't look older than fifty years old, but her dark eyes spoke of centuries-deep wisdom.

"I am Cassandra. I heard a lot about you from Axel."

Talia nodded faintly and squeezed Damon's hand firmly like she was afraid to let go.

"I'm sorry oracle", Meg said with her head lowered. "Talia is a good person. She is just in shock."

Talia realized that she was rude for not greeting the oracle with respect, but she didn't like that Meg was making excuses for her.

Talia was not interested in shallow pleasantries when Damon was in trouble, and not when that woman made her wary. Everything about this place made Talia's hairs stand on the ends. They knocked her out without permission, she was in an unknown place, surrounded by strangers, and Damon was unconscious. How can she relax?

And why would Talia bow to the woman when every fiber in her being told her that Cassandra should be the one showing respect?

 

Chapter 456 In the Midnight Guardians pack (2)

Author's note:

Thank you, Peaches1, for the Magic Castle gifted on March 27, 2022!

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Note: comments that matter, gifts, and votes are available only on the NovelFire platform , where this novel is published.

Thank you for reading my story from the original source and not supporting people who are publishing my work without permission!

Now back to the novel... :)

- - -

"Don't worry about it, Meg. I understand.", Cassandra said with a smile when Talia didn't greet her respectfully, even after Meg's reminder. "Kai was also ignoring protocols when he brought you here. The mate bond makes us do things we can't control. You can get a chair for Talia."

"Is it safe?", Meg asked.

Cassandra confirmed. "He won't hurt her."

"Why do you think Damon will hurt me?", Talia asked warily.

Cassandra glanced at Damon and then spoke to Talia, "His powers are awakening, and we still don't know what they are. At this point, he is unstable and might harm others unintentionally. That's why he is here. But you are his mate, and as such, his abilities won't work on you."

Talia was not sure if that made sense. If abilities don't work on mates, how was she able to heal him? But she didn't care about the details. Even if Damon was about to destroy everything in his reach, she had no intention of stepping away from him.

"How is he?", Talia asked.

"He is stable, but not responding to medications as expected.", Cassandra responded. "We are increasing the dose gradually. He is strong."

Talia smiled a little as pride swelled within her. Yes, Damon is the strongest.

Cassandra gestured to Meg to leave. "I'm sure that Talia will want some privacy."

"I will come and get you for lunch. In about one hour.", Meg said to Talia and she left before Talia responded.

Talia definitely wanted privacy, but Damon was unwell and she had many questions. "Cassandra, can you tell me what's happening?"

Cassandra stopped in her tracks and turned to face Talia.

"What do you want to know?"

"Everything. Maybe all this...", she waved toward Damon and the glowing stone platform, "Is normal for you, but it's not for me. I want to understand the situation."

Cassandra nodded in understanding and started explaining, "The powers that are awakening are unstable at first, and can flare at the slightest stimulation. The medication we gave him is helping him absorb the powers."

"What about this platform?"

"It's helping to drain excess.", Cassandra said. Seeing that Talia pressed her lips into a line, Cassandra added, "It is not taking what's inside him. Think of it like scooping foam from the top of boiling milk to prevent spilling over the edge."

"How long will this take?"

Cassandra shrugged, indicating that she is not sure. "It depends on his body and his ability."

Talia was not happy with all these unknowns. It all sounded fine, but she had no way of confirming that it was true. But at the same time, what were her options?

Since she came here, Talia didn't let go of Damon's hand. She could confirm that his temperature was stable and he was not groaning like before. He was definitely in better shape compared to what she saw in the meadow and that told her that Cassandra is helping him.

"Thank you for explaining. I apologize for being rude. I am just worried about him.", Talia said.

Cassandra gave her a reassuring smile and left the room.

The door closed and Talia's eyes moved over the space. Chairs, cabinets with glass doors so she can see boxes inside. On the opposite wall was a table with various jars, containers, spoons, and a small weighing scale. Talia guessed those are for mixing the medicine.

Talia had a feeling that someone was watching her, but no matter how much she looked around, she didn't see any cameras. However, that didn't mean they didn't have them. She remembered the latest cameras Damon installed in the packhouse. They were tiny and came in various colors to blend in with the surroundings. Unless one looked carefully and knew what to look for, it was nearly impossible to see them.

Talia leaned over Damon and put her forehead on top of his.

"Wake up, Damon…", she called, her voice barely above a whisper. "We are in the Midnight Guardians pack. I don't know if that was the right thing to do, but I believe they can help you. Please, wake up. I need you…"

- - -

When Meg returned to take Talia for lunch, Talia was not willing to leave Damon's side, but she knew that Meg was right. She needed to eat, and a walk would do her good. In addition to that, she needed to explore this place. Something told her that she should come up with exit strategies.

"If anything changes, they will let us know.", Meg assured her.

Talia was surprised that Meg led the way down another hallway, and Talia wondered if the Midnight Guardians pack was completely underground. Is that why no one knows where they are?

Meg chatted about her life with Kai, and how she was training with him to be a Beta once Axel takes over as the Alpha. Meg was visibly excited.

"What does your family say about it?", Talia asked.

Meg's smile stiffened. "They still don't know. I mean, Axel told them that I'm mated to his future Beta and that I will be in touch when I can. I'm sure that my mother is happy to know that my mate is not from the Lightclaw pack, but still… she is probably worried."

Talia wanted to ask Meg about her plans to visit her family, but by then they were in a big space with many tables and benches for people to sit. There was a line where people stood with trays in their hands, and the scent of various foods permeated the air, making the whole space look like a cafeteria.

Windows were high on the walls, with the same dim lighting Talia saw in her room and in the room where Damon was, and she suspected that this is some artificial lightning. They were truly underground.

"Come…", Meg tugged on Talia's arm. "Kai and the guys are already there." She gestured to the left, and Talia saw Axel, Kai, and Tyler sitting at a table and waving at them.

Talia followed Meg's example and took a tray to stand in the line.

Talia noticed many curious gazes on her, but she knew it was because she was a new face.

The line moved slowly, and Talia thought of using this opportunity to get some information.

"I see you can control your ability."

"Yes.", Meg responded enthusiastically. "Actually, I'm still practicing to control my strength, but I am confident that I won't break stuff accidentally."

"And you are not glowing anymore.", Talia stated the obvious. "How long did it take you to get the hang of that?"

Meg puffed her cheeks. "At least a week for the energy to stop showing, and then two more weeks so that I don't blow up stuff accidentally."

Talia gaped at Meg. "Did you say, three weeks?"

Meg bobbed her head. "Give or take a day."

"But… It's only been a few days since you left the Dark Howlers pack."

Meg's mouth formed a big O when she realized, "No one told you. Time here passes differently."

 

Chapter 457 In the Midnight Guardians pack (3) [Bonus chapter]

Talia's ears perked up when Meg said that time passes here differently. "How differently?"

"A day outside is about a month in the Midnight Guardians pack."

Talia stared at Meg while processing this information.

From Talia's perspective, Meg left two-three days ago, yet for Meg that was two-three months. No wonder Meg was so sad when she said how she didn't visit her family. She really missed them, yet they saw it only as a few days of separation. For them, she would still be in the Dark Howlers pack for training.

Talia was relieved to think that Maya and Caden will not freak out about her and Damon's absence. They had three days, and since Talia and Damon were here, that would be three months. Why didn't they come here for their little escape?

Talia's mood dropped when she reminded herself that Damon was unconscious, and it was uncertain if they will face trouble when they decide to leave this place.

Meg mentioned a portal and there might be more things to consider. Talia took a mental note to slowly probe for information, without being too obvious about it. If she learned anything about the Midnight Guardians pack so far, that was how they were secretive.

Meg and Talia reached the serving area, and Talia took salad, fried chicken, and corn on the cob. There were many options, and Talia was confident that Damon would take steak and cut it for her. She really missed him.

"Make sure you take chocolate pudding…", Meg said while putting one cup on Talia's tray. "They are the best."

Talia looked sadly at the pudding. She could smell the cocoa and it reminded her of Damon.

"Are you alright?", Meg asked.

"Yes, yes." Talia didn't want to explain. "Thank you."

…

"How are you feeling?", Axel asked Talia when she and Meg joined them at the table.

Talia's expression stiffened when she remembered that Axel knocked her out with some drug. OK. Maybe it was Alpha Isaac, but Axel was right there, allowing it to happen, and he didn't even warn her.

"Fine.", she responded curtly.

Axel realized that Talia's fine was not fine. "I apologize…"

"No need.", Talia cut him off. "Apology won't fix anything. If you are truly sorry about something, don't do it again."

Talia choked on her words as they reminded her of Damon. It was like he was standing right behind her and saying those same words while enveloping her in his presence. Her heart ached, and she really wanted to go back by his side. But she knew that skipping meals won't do good to anyone, so she started eating quickly.

"If it makes any difference…", Axel said carefully. "What we did was a standard protocol. It's for the protection of the pack and you. I promised that you won't be separated from Damon, and I made sure that doesn't happen."

Talia picked up the hidden meaning behind Axel's words. "Someone wanted me to be apart from him?"

"Only people who need help stay in the center.", Axel responded. "Think of it as a hospital. If you are healthy, you can't stay there."

Talia felt a little guilty. Axel seemed sincere, and she was sure that he had his own share of challenges.

"Thank you, Axel.", Talia said and resumed stuffing salad into her mouth.

"What do you think about our pack, Talia?", Tyler asked.

She swallowed before responding, "I don't have an opinion. I've seen the center where Damon is and this place."

"That's not much.", Kai said. "After dinner, we will go for a run to stretch our paws. Join us."

Talia understood that they will go outside and run in their wolf forms. She really wanted to get out from wherever she was, but then she remembered that she can't shift into her wolf form. "I will definitely join you for dinner. And after that, we will see."

"You should…"

"She was being polite.", Meg cut off Tyler. "I'm sure that Talia will rather be with her mate than anywhere else."

Tyler cleared his throat awkwardly and focused on the food in front of him.

- - -

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Later that evening, Axel came to see how Damon was doing.

"Talia left?", Axel asked Cassandra.

"About one hour ago. She fell asleep, and we carried her back to her room."

Axel thought how that was odd. "Why did you carry her?"

"The herbs in the room are like tranquilizers.", Cassandra said with a knowing smile. "I told her not to stay more than an hour at a time, but she insisted."

Axel pursed his lips. He wanted to check on Damon, but he was also hoping to see Talia. She barely spoke during dinner, and he wanted to see if Talia will loosen up in private. But if she was asleep, he will need to wait for the morning.

The door behind Axel opened, and he turned to see his parents.

"Tell us.", Alpha Isaac said to Cassandra as soon as Alpha Sophia closed the door behind them.

Cassandra glanced at Axel and Alpha Isaac waved at her to go ahead. "As the future Alpha, Axel should know that sometimes we make difficult decisions for the sake of the pack."

Axel frowned at these words. What did that mean?

Cassandra turned to look through the window at Damon. "His condition is the same. He is currently taking three times the maximum dose, yet his power is not diminishing. It's like a bottomless pit."

"What do you suggest?", Alpha Isaac asked.

"It depends on what you want to achieve.", Cassandra responded.

Alpha Isaac's eyes glazed, and Axel was alerted. Why did they switch to a mind-link?

"I want to know what's going on.", Axel demanded.

Cassandra nodded and responded, "Medications won't work. We need to use black runes."

Axel sucked in a sharp breath. They use those for prisoners, to suppress their magic abilities. "Alpha Damon is in the process of awakening his powers. Black runes might cripple him."

"Use your head, Axel.", Alpha Isaac said sternly. "He is not responding to medications. That should tell you how powerful he will be if he gets ahold of the powers he is currently absorbing. Damon is already the strongest Alpha. Do you really want him to get into a position where he can single-handedly decide the fate of werewolves as a society?"

"I understand, but…"

"There are no buts, Axel.", Alpha Sophia said from the side. "Everyone knows that Alpha Damon is impulsive. What will you do if one day he decides to go after our pack? He already knows our secrets. Do you think he will leave us alone or make us do his bidding? Will you be willing to stay under his thumb? All-out war will only cause casualties. By acting now, we are preventing future catastrophe."

Axel rubbed his forehead while struggling to accept this. He knew that the words of his parents made sense, but Talia called him for help, she trusted him, and... can he disappoint her again?

---

Chapter 458 In the Midnight Guardians pack (4)

Anxiousness and guilt were swelling in Axel about the things that were yet to happen. He had to try something. Anything.

"Wouldn't it be better if we try to build a good relationship with Alpha Damon? Didn't you tell me that he is trustworthy? As the most powerful Alpha, he can help hide our secret, or maybe we don't need to hide anymore under his protection."

"Your idealism is admirable, Axel. But history teaches us that powerful ones seek more power.", Alpha Sophia said. "People easily get drunk on power and think they became gods."

Axel couldn't deny that, but… "What about Talia? Did you forget that she might be the child from the prophecy? She won't approve of this. They are mates."

"No one will know.", Cassandra said. "Talia is sleeping, and this will be done by morning. Even if she suspects that something is off, she won't know what's going on. When Alpha Damon awakens, we will say that we did all we could."

"You mean, IF he awakens.", Axel hissed.

"Mortality rate is very low. I believe he will survive.", Cassandra responded.

"Don't argue with him.", Alpha Isaac said to Cassandra. "Start with preparations and let us handle Axel."

Cassandra nodded and got busy with some things, and Alpha Isaac turned to Axel. "As an Alpha, you need to put your pack first."

"I understand your point but that doesn't mean I agree with it."

Alpha Isaac frowned. "Are you opposing us?"

Axel exhaled in frustration. "Why is it always with you or against you? Why can't we explore other possibilities before doing something drastic?"

Alpha Sophia took Axel's hand in hers and gave him a squeeze. "Being an Alpha is an honor and responsibility. You should know when it's time to think, and when you need to act decisively. Your father and I did many things we didn't like personally, but our pack is safe and that's what matters."

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"Talia… Talia…", Meg's urgent voice sounded, and Talia mumbled as she was shaken awake. "Snap out of it. We need you. Damon needs you."

Talia coughed at the sour smell that invaded her senses. What was that? She blinked once, twice, and then her eyes sprang open. "What's going on with Damon?"

It took her a moment to realize that Meg and Axel were in her room. How did she find herself here? Did she fall asleep on the chair next to Damon?

Talia's mind was fuzzy ever since she arrived at that Dark Howlers pack and she wondered if they did something to her. She was trying to figure out their current situation, and find how to leave this place, but it was difficult to focus.

Meg opened her mouth to speak, but Axel put his hand on Meg's shoulder, indicating that he will explain.

'THUD!'

Talia was shocked when Axel plopped on his knees.

"Please, forgive me, Talia. I didn't think it will come to this."

Talia didn't get it. "What happened? Is Damon alright?"

"He is fine, but not for long.", Axel said. "They are afraid that he is too powerful, and they want to suppress him with a procedure that can cripple him. We need to hurry."

Talia swallowed hard. Was this really happening?

A strange sense of calm descended on her like she was watching all this and it didn't involve her.

'We need to hurry!', Liseli spoke in Talia's mind, and Talia could feel panic swelling within her.

'Wait. Wait. They lied and manipulated us from the beginning.' And it was all her fault. 'Acting without thinking will only get us in more trouble.'

'But what if he is right?', Liseli asked.

'I'm not saying Axel is lying. I just want to understand the situation first. The last thing we want is to break some rules and give them a reason to imprison us. We are strong, but we don't know how many of them are out there and what they can do.'

Liseli agreed with this.

"I assume you have a plan.", Talia said.

"It's not much, but…", Axel swallowed hard. "Tyler will cut off the security feed. That should buy us a few minutes. Meg will blast that place open and make a mess, and you will take Damon out. Kai is waiting outside to lead you to a hiding place. You will need to stay low for some time while we leave trails as if you are going for the portal. Once the coast is clear, we will help you get out."

"You want me to take Damon and hide? But he is unwell.", Talia said.

"I will give you medicine we use to stabilize the newly awakened ones. I don't know if it will work and to what degree, but if we leave him where he is now, he will definitely be harmed."

Talia looked at Axel skeptically. Other than wanting her to come to the Midnight Guardians pack, he didn't show willingness for anything else. Was this a plot to get her in trouble? Or to get Damon in trouble? And there was also... "Won't this get you in trouble?"

"Not if we do this right.", Axel said. "The official version is that you went to see Damon and suspected that something is wrong, so you caused a commotion which triggered his ability and things exploded. My parents are set to keep this a secret, so only Cassandra is there, and you will inject her with this…" Axel showed a syringe in his hand. "This causes a short-term memory loss and the person becomes susceptible to suggestions, so Cassandra will confirm the story how it was only you and Damon, and that you are running to the portal."

Talia pressed her lips into a line. "Your parents want to harm Damon?"

Axel exhaled helplessly. "Please, understand. They believe that they are doing what's best for the pack."

"And you?", Talia asked stiffly. "Why are you doing this?"

"I won't be able to sleep peacefully knowing that a person was harmed when there was a chance for another way."

Somehow, Talia could feel his sincerity and she knew he meant it.

Talia smiled a little and cupped Axel's cheek with her palm. "You are going to be a good Alpha, Axel."

"There is no need for formalities between us, Talia. I think of you as my sister.", he blurted out.

"That's sweet.", Talia said honestly. "Family is not defined by blood connections. Family is made of people who stand by your side when you need it."

Axel wanted to say how he believes that she really is his sister or at least half-sister, but before he could say anything, Talia jumped on her feet and asked, "How do we do this?"

And just like that, Axel's opportunity to tell Talia his theory was gone.

"We need to catch Cassandra by surprise. She has ways to prevent us from acting.", Meg said. She was nervous but also excited to do this. Meg was training for months (literally), and this will be the first chance for her to use her abilities for real. But she also didn't want to hurt Cassandra, at least not seriously, so she will need to control her power. "Tyler is waiting for us to give him a sign to shut down the security feed…"

"Do you have security in the room?", Talia asked.

Axel shook his head. "Not in the room. They don't want to leave records about what's going on in there. But there are cameras in the hallways. Tyler cut off the feed temporarily so that Meg and I can come here. I will go and distract my mother while you take Damon out." He glanced at Meg. "Remember to use mind-link only in emergencies and talk in code. My parents might be listening."

"You will be with your parents?", Talia didn't like this. "Wouldn't it be better if you come with us and help us carry Damon?"

Axel shook his head. "My mother has the ability to see things. That's why even though there are no cameras, she knows what's going on in restricted areas. She is watching."

Talia shuddered at this. She had a feeling of eyes on her, but she didn't see anything.

Axel was still explaining, "My mother's ability requires full focus, and she needs to know where to look. I will be with her and distract her until Meg and Tyler confirm that you made a safe distance from here. Stay in the hideout. Don't come out until one of us tells you it's safe. You will have water, food, and blankets there…"

---

Chapter 459 In the Midnight Guardians pack (5)

Talia and Meg were in Talia's room, both looking at each other in silence and waiting for a sign they can move.

"Talia?", Meg called in a whisper, like she was afraid that someone will overhear her. "I didn't thank you for your help back there. Kai told me what you did when we left the Dark Howlers pack."

"Don't mention it.", Talia responded, tense nerves made her voice choppy. Thinking that Damon was in danger, yet they were just sitting there was driving her nuts. "Do you know how long until we can move?"

Meg shrugged. "Axel needs to distract his mother and make it look natural."

Talia nodded in understanding. The silence was pressing on her ears, and she needed a distraction. "Are all buildings here underground?"

"Most of them.", Meg said. "At first, I thought it was strange, werewolves love free outdoors. But then Kai told me how that's their way of not disturbing nature. We can go out anytime so it's not a big deal."

"Tell me about this place. Talk to me about your training. Just talk…", Talia demanded, and Meg obeyed.

They both knew that the longer they delay, the further Cassandra was with whatever she was doing, but rushing recklessly will only get them caught and not help Damon.

…

Cassandra finalized the last rune on the floor with black chalk, completing the mysterious circle that she had drawn around the stone platform where Damon was surrounded by unlit candles.

She raised her arms up looking at the ceiling that had a skylight revealing dark purple sky above. The Moon was getting into the position to be fully visible through that long, narrow opening.

"Bless me, oh, Moon Goddess…", Cassandra spoke with a fervent expression of worshiping and pain. "One shouldn't have too much power. I am doing your bidding to save your children who turn to darkness when they have too much power, preventing a big disaster from happening…"

With one sway of her hand, numerous candles that were around Damon lit up and the stone platform hummed. In the next moment, the silvery light started flowing toward black runes much faster than compared to when it went straight into the ground.

Damon's head tilted backward, and veins popped on his neck as suppressed growl formed in his throat.

Cassandra swayed her arms up in the air and hummed unintelligible chants, her eyes rolled at the back of her head as she fell into a trance.

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Meg opened the door and after a quick glance, she confirmed that Cassandra was not in the small hallway.

"Crap!", Meg exclaimed angrily when she saw that Cassandra was doing the ritual. "I hope we are not too late…"

Meg was surprised when she saw Talia moving faster than she could follow with her eyes.

Cassandra was chanting and her mouth opened in shock when someone gripped her neck.

"Stop this!", Talia hissed while lifting Cassandra off the ground with one hand.

Cassandra wiggled her legs and tried to break free from Talia's hold. She didn't understand how can such a skinny girl be so strong.

"You can't stop this.", Cassandra struggled to talk. "This is the will of the Moon Goddess. He stepped on the path of darkness and needs to be purified."

Talia turned to see Meg sheepishly observe the stone platform where Damon was lying.

"I read about these.", Meg said while gesturing toward black runes drawn on the ground. "Whoever gets into the circle will be impacted. This is the first time I see such a complex pattern. Normally, they are used to suppress powers, but I think that this is much stronger than that."

Talia's heart clenched when she realized that some of those runes were flickering over Damon's body and he was frowning. Was he in pain?

Talia looked at Cassandra whose face was turning purple now. She flicked her hand and Cassandra plopped on the ground, gasping for air.

"Stop this!", Talia demanded.

"I can't. No one can until it's done. It's the Moon Goddess…"

"LIES!", Talia screamed and her whole body glowed in silver, making Cassandra and Meg squint.

Cassandra groaned under the pressure that Talia released, feeling like her insides were being squeezed to the point of nearly bursting.

Talia looked up at the skylight that was now showing the Moon fully, the moonlight giving her a power boost. "Do you think that the Moon Goddess will allow for something like this to happen?"

Cassandra stared at Talia like she was growing a second head.

Talia's whole body was illuminated, and even her hair sparkled silvery while flowing behind her without any wind. She looked like a Goddess that descended to Earth.

Talia turned to Damon and started walking while Liseli urged her to hurry. With one thought, all candles around Damon were extinguished. As Talia stepped on a black rune, it disappeared from there with a sizzle.

"Be careful…", Meg said pleadingly. If Talia ended up sucked up in that cruel ritual, they would be doomed. With Talia breaking the circle of black runes, the light stopped flowing toward the black runes and was steadily pulsating toward the ground, but one can't be too careful.

Meg released the breath she was holding when she confirmed that Talia was not affected.

"Come, Damon. It's time to go home…", Talia said while putting her hands under his armpits and lifting him into a seated position.

She remembered how much she struggled to put those shorts on him, yet how she lifted him with ease like he was a child. She wondered if this was the effect of his mark on her. It was invisible, but Talia could feel that it was there.

Talia beckoned Meg to come and give her a hand. Damon was big for her but then... Meg was only slightly taller than Talia. This obviously required team effort.

Meg gingerly approached and took Damon's arm to wrap around her shoulders and they pulled him away from that platform.

Talia held half of Damon's weight on her shoulder, and she turned to Cassandra.

"You speak of the Moon Goddess, yet you don't know her."

Cassandra's chin trembled. Silver strands of light danced around Talia's form, like electricity that could discharge with deadly sparks at any moment.

"The Moon Goddess loves when her children grow strong. Who are you to take that away?"

Cassandra scrambled backward until her back hit the wall. "It was an order from the Alpha."

"Keep telling that to yourself."

"Talia? We should go. Inject her with that stuff.", Meg reminded Talia that they were in a hurry.

"No. I want her to remember.", Talia said sternly and leaned to stare into Cassandra's petrified eyes. "Remember that even when one turns to darkness, there will always be light to lead him to the right path. But if you give in to the darkness and refuse to see the light, no one will save you. No one."

Talia extended her hand and pointed her index finger at Cassandra's forehead.

Cassandra's body flashed in silver for a moment, and then the woman slumped on the ground.

"What did you do?", Cassandra asked Talia shakily.

"I took away your power."

"What? No!" She was waving frantically, but nothing happened. She groaned in frustration and desperation. "Please. I need my power."

Talia smirked. "It will come back if the Moon Goddess finds you worthy. If you tell anyone what you saw here, your powers will never come back." She pointed at the skylight. "The Moon Goddess is watching. Start praying."

Cassandra pushed herself to sit and she prostrated herself while mumbling prayers that only she understood. And maybe the Moon Goddess.

She didn't react when Talia and Meg left the room with Damon in hurry.

"Can you turn off the glowing?", Meg asked Talia in a hushed voice. "Someone will see us from a mile away..."

Talia smiled and rubbed her cheek on Damon's shoulder. She had no idea what awaits them at the end of that hallway, but she was glad that Damon was with her. Talia made a silent vow to never let go of him, no matter what.

---

 

Chapter 460 Hideout (1)

Meg lead Talia through numerous twists and turns before the last tunnel narrowed and curved to become an opening between two rocks.

Once Meg and Talia stepped out with Damon between them, they found themselves in the dark lush forest.

"Good that you are out…", Kai called in an urgent whisper while making his way toward them. "Stay low. We don't want to risk being seen."

After giving Meg a quick kiss, Kai got on his knee, and they hoisted Damon for Kai to carry piggyback style.

Talia turned to see from where they emerged. The opening between two rocks looked natural, and if she didn't know that was the entrance to a network of underground tunnels and dwellings, she would just walk by it without noticing it.

She wondered how many such entry points exist. Many, probably.

Talia walked behind Kai and her eyes were trained on Damon's listless body. Her brows came together whenever she saw a black pattern slithering over his skin and she hoped that it was not permanent.

Liseli was growing restless, they had no idea what those runes were doing to Damon, but they could guess it was nothing good. However, this was not the time to act rashly.

'We need to pay attention and not get caught. Everything else will come later. Damon and Sapa are strong. Believe in them…', Talia coxed her wolf.

Everyone was tense. This was not a game.

Talia looked up to see tall trees with canopies connecting to block the sky completely, deepening the darkness that clung stubbornly as the dawn cracked in the face of the sunrise. Luckily, neither of them had issues with seeing where they were going.

The thick tree trunks were surrounded by bushes with occasional patches of grass and wildflowers that filled the air with a sweet fragrance. Talia spotted numerous rare plants she read about in books that Travis gave her, and it was beautiful, but Talia was not in a mood to appreciate any of that.

Part of Talia feared that this might be another trap. At the same time, she hoped that her instincts were right, that Meg and Kai were trustworthy, that Tyler did his part as expected, and that Axel was not watching all this with his parents like it's a twisted survival show.

On a few occasions, they stopped and listened, and then they would take a sudden turn like they were avoiding something.

Talia lost track of time as they navigated through the dense foliage.

Her anxiety was increasing because Damon was not showing signs of waking up, and his body seemed to twitch unnaturally whenever those black runes flickered on his skin. She wondered how far their destination was, wishing that it was close so that she can check on Damon properly, but also wishing that they keep moving as far as possible from that wretched place where Cassandra tried to harm Damon.

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Eventually, Kai stopped in his tracks. He turned to glance in all directions before ducking between two bushes on his right and his form disappeared together with Damon who was on his back.

Talia followed after him to find herself in a low tunnel that was wide enough for one person to pass without squeezing. Talia was half-bent while walking toward the beam of light ahead.

Eventually, the tunnel widened into a cave that twisted to the right. The cave walls were made of dark rocks with patches of moss, and the light seeped in through the opening that was on the high ceiling.

At the far end, there was a crude bed made of dried grass and leaves and two backpacks. A wide rock was sticking on the right and it had logs of various sizes stacked on it, obviously to build a fire in the circular area where the ground was charred.

Kai groaned while lowering Damon on the bed, and Talia rushed to help him.

As soon as Damon was down, Talia ran her hands over his face, feeling his temperature was high.

"He is burning up." Talia suppressed a sob that was stuck in her throat.

"It's time for the medicine…", Meg said and moved toward one of the two backpacks.

"Is this your place where you come in case of emergency?", Tala asked while looking around, trying to distract herself so that she doesn't start crying in front of Kai and Meg.

Backpacks were there when they arrived, and it was obvious that this cave was used before.

"Axel prepared these. I brought them here.", Kai said. "There is food to last you a week; dried fruits, cheese, and meat mostly." He gestured toward the left. "There, you will find a tunnel that opens to a small area that has a stream; water is safe for drinking. You have wood there and feel free to light a fire if you want." He pointed up at the opening through which daylight seeped in. "This tunnel branches while going up, so smoke will split and won't be visible. There are dry herbs next to the wood, put some in the fire to conceal the scent of smoke."

Meg found what she was looking for, and she said to Talia, "Watch me do it, so you can do it later."

Talia observed as Meg opened a light green bottle and used a syringe to measure the right amount of whitish liquid before injecting it into Damon's bicep.

"This will stabilize him, but for the most part, he needs to endure while absorbing the power.", Kai explained while looking at Damon with eyes full of awe. "This is more than any of us ever received, and the medication is barely working. I can't imagine how powerful he will be when the process is done."

Talia didn't think this was time to admire Damon's strength, as another black rune flashed on the left side of his ribs. "What are those?"

Kai pressed his lips into a line as he realized that they might have a problem. "I'm not sure. Black runes prevent us from using our powers. It's normally used for criminals while on trial or during imprisonment. However, the runes are drawn around the area where the person is, they don't transfer onto the body like that."

"The pattern Cassandra drew was different from what I saw in books.", Meg said. "These rituals usually require several healers to ensure nothing goes wrong. I don't think Cassandra was just blocking Alpha Damon's powers. I believe that her goal was… more than that."

"I can't believe our Alphas approved. That goes against everything they taught us.", Kai stopped talking abruptly when he saw Talia's expression stiffening in rage.

"Hey…", Meg called softly while putting her hand on Talia's shoulder. "Medicine is keeping him stable which means he will be alright. He only needs time. I'm sorry but we need to go. I'm sure that Alphas know by now that you and Alpha Damon are missing, but they will not start a full-blown search because they want to conceal what happened. However, with the morning coming, people will notice our absence."