Ch. 501..510

Chapter 501 Yin Yang [Bonus chapter]

Talia ran up the stairs like the wind with Maya struggling to catch up to her.

Talia could feel Damon's pain clearly which came with his internal scream that threatened to break her heart into pieces. Regret. Sorrow. Desperation. Self-loathing. And she knew that he remembered, at least some of it.

"Damon!", she called from the door, and she crumbled to her knees by his side.

He was lying on the floor with a layer of dark mist around him.

'What is this?', Talia asked Liseli with her hands hovering an inch above Damon, fearing that if she touches him she might make it worse.

'He is fighting the dark magic.'

'Can we help him?'

'His Betas are watching.', Liseli said. 'I thought you wanted to keep your abilities a secret.'

Talia lifted her gaze to see Maya and Caden at the door with confusion and concern obvious on their faces.

'It doesn't matter.', Talai said to Liseli.

Caden wanted to go by Damon's side, but Maya held him back. Somehow, she had a feeling that Talia's got this.

Talia's hands started glowing in silvery light that mixed with the dark layer around Damon, making it turn grayish.

'More, we need more…', Talia urged Liseli.

Liseli didn't respond, but Talia knew that Liseli agreed. Damon was fighting not only with the dark magic, but also with the negativity because of what happened, and this was Talia's way of assuring him that she was by his side.

Maya and Caden stared at the scene in front of them that looked like it came from a science fiction movie.

Talia's whole body was glowing in silvery light that was merging with the darkness around Damon, making them look like a real-life Yin Yang sign.

'Damon… Damon… Do you feel me?', Talia spoke without using any words. 'I need you to wake up. I'm here. I need you. It's OK. Please, wake up.'

Talia didn't know if he can hear her, but she hoped she was helping him dispel the wretched magic that shut down the amazing connection they were sharing.

Talia's body trembled from exhaustion, days without sleep and not enough food took their toll on her body, but Talia didn't give up. She couldn't.

Some of his darkness seeped into her hands, but she didn't care. For weeks, Damon was by her side, patiently waiting for her to feel the bond and recognize him as her mate, and this was her turn to show support, in the only way she knew how.

She remembered when they met in the kitchen of the Red Moon pack. His expression was stern and scary, but later Talia realized how that was his way of showing concern. Damon wasn't upset that she was in the kitchen getting food, he was upset because she was hurt. She knew that now. From that moment onward Damon was obsessed with Talia's wellbeing, and even though there were moments she didn't know why he was doing things he did, now she was confident that he was doing everything he could to keep her safe.

In his silly, overbearing, reckless way, he was protecting her even when he jumped on rogues only to get himself stabbed with a wolfsbane-laced knife. Silly Alpha.

"Come on, Damon…", Talia spoke in a whisper. "You can do this. I am here. We can do this. Come back to me."

The silvery light was bright to the point of making everything in the room turn white and then it flashed in a blinding surge before it dimmed completely.

Maya hovered above Talia who was now slumped above Damon.

"What do you think?", she asked Caden.

"They are alive.", Caden responded and visually inspected two unmoving bodies, happy that they stopped glowing and the grayish mist was gone, and he hoped that was a good thing. "Let's move them to bed."

Maya and Caden lifted Talia with ease and placed her on the bed, and Damon was next.

Without opening her eyes, Talia scooted closer to Damon and put her hand on his chest.

Maya shook her head while observing the duo.

"What?", Caden asked.

"I wanted Cornelia to show me magic, yet Talia was right here, hiding a secret."

"Don't overthink it. I'm sure she has her reasons for hiding it.", Caden said. "It's best we pretend we didn't see anything until she reveals that on her own."

He tugged her to sit on the sofa. "Let's sit and watch over them. This might be a long night."

"What can we do if something happens?"

Caden shrugged. "Be a witness. Make sure no one disturbs them. That's what Betas do for their Alphas."

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Damon groaned lowly, and before he opened his eyes he felt a warm presence by his side. It was a familiar shape that fit perfectly with the curves of his body, and the sparks that ignited wherever they touched confirmed it was Talia.

He opened his eyes to see Talia's hair spread over his chest and smiled a little in relief. All the negativity he experienced must be a nightmare because there was no way that he forgot how important Talia was, and even if he didn't remember her, he wouldn't leave her behind in an unknown place. And she was right there, in their room, it was all good.

"Are you yourself?"

Caden's question made Damon look that way and he frowned. Why were Caden and Maya there?

"What do you mean?", Damon asked. The rumble in his chest made Talia stir and he tightened his hold on her.

"I mean. Do you know who I am? Do you know who she is?", Caden gestured toward Talia, and Damon's stomach sank. Was it possible it was not a nightmare?

Damon responded with a nod.

"Talia went through a lot of shit to get you back, Damon.", Caden said. "You brought Marcy into the packhouse, and she believes you will make her his Luna."

"I will fix it.", Damon said.

"I hope so. Are you OK now?"

Damon was not sure how to respond to this. Was he OK? His mind was in turmoil and his emotions were a mess, and Caden was talking again.

"Can we go to our room? If you feel anything is off with your head or your body, mind-link me. Don't keep this shit from me, man. This is so much bigger than you and your ego. I thought I lost you. We all did."

Maya didn't speak, but her troubled expression told Damon that she felt the same way as Caden.

"I will.", Damon said before calling, "Caden, Maya… thank you."

The Beta duo nodded, and they left the bedroom in silence.

Damon turned to look at Talia and he cradled her in his arms, pulling her as close as possible to his body, needing that physical touch to confirm that she was there, and this was real instead of those horrible images of him running through the forest, sitting at the dining table with Marcy by his side, leaving the cave after he shoved Talia away… His body trembled because he somehow knew that those were real also. How the hell was he going to make up this to Talia? How was he going to get over the heart-wrenching pain in his chest because he hurt his mate?

 

Chapter 502 The pretty and the ugly side (1)

Talia took a deep breath that filled her system with the addictive scent of the forest and dark chocolate. Damon. He was by her side, his solid arms were around her, and she wished that the last few days were just a bad dream, but the regret and sorrow that seeped into her through the mate bond told her that she was not imagining it, and she knew he was awake and drowning himself in the grief of what happened in the last few days.

Talia looked up to meet Damon's icy-blue eyes full of emotions directed at her.

"How are you feeling?", she asked.

"I am so sorry, kitten.", he croaked, his voice breaking.

She was saddened to see him like that but also relieved because she knew he was back. Her Damon was back.

"It's not your fault."

He shook his head. "And whose fault was it?"

"If I didn't mark you…", Damon put his index finger to stop her from talking, but she pushed his hand away. "No, Damon. I want you to know that it was not your fault. I marked you and when you didn't wake up in the morning and I realized that besides glowing all over you had a fever, I panicked, and I called Axel. He came with Alpha Isaac, and I agreed that we go to the Midnight Guardians territory, believing they will help you."

Damon's brows came together in a frown as he listened to Talia's story about how Alpha Isaac and Alpha Sophia feared that he was getting too powerful, and Cassandra performed dark magic, and how Axel, Tyler, Kai, and Meg helped them get into the cave where he woke up after three days.

Damon was shocked and fascinated to find out how he found himself without memories. There was so much information that he was not sure what to focus on first, but then Talia reached the point of him waking up and she conveniently skipped what happened during those three days, and he knew that she was sparing him from feeling more guilty than he already was.

"When I woke up, I was disoriented and confused, and the only thing on my mind was to return home.", Damon said. "I know it's not much of an excuse, but I really didn't know who you were. You were talking about dangers and asking me to stay, I couldn't feel the bond, and I thought that you are trying to deceive me…"

"Shh…", Talia shushed him because she could feel his emotions and she knew he was on the verge of hyperventilating. "I'm not done."

Damon pressed his lips into a line and tilted his head, indicating to Talia to continue.

"It wouldn't matter if you stayed because you couldn't remember me. I decided to go back and find out what they did to you and how to revert the process."

"You went back?", Damon asked breathily. "What about Alpha Isaac and Alpha Sophia?" Damon's expression darkened. Those two Alphas were set to harm him, and it caused him to forget about his mate, about the rightful Luna of his pack. That meant war!

Talia realized how that was another story, and she didn't want to talk about her so-called family or about her being the Alpha of the Midnight Guardians pack. Talia decided to keep those parts for later. "Axel helped me. Things happened and he took over the Alpha position from his parents." That was the short version with a few details omitted.

Damon felt jealousy swelling at the gentle voice Talia used when talking about Axel. Normally, Damon would blow a fuse, but this time he swallowed his grievances because he bailed on Talia, and he had no right to question her about what happened after that. He left her on her own, and his little mate managed to do the impossible. He forced himself to focus on what Talia was saying.

"After talking to Cassandra, we realized that she knew only how to use dark magic and she had no idea how to dispel it, but she said that black runes originated from witches, so we went to find them."

"Witches? How did you do all that in only one day?"

"Time passes differently there compared to here, and…" Talia stopped talking because there was so much to say, and she remembered that she can fast-forward through it. 'Can I show him?'

'Yes.', Liseli responded, glad that Talia remembered this form of communication. 'Get closer to Damon. Physical contact will help because Sapa is not here to accept the information.'

Just how they exchanged memories on the night when Damon and Talia marked each other, Talia scooted higher on Damon's body, and Damon didn't resist when Talia pressed her forehead against his.

"Relax and let me in, Damon.", Talia said.

Damon saw images flashing in his mind.

Axel and Cassandra walking with Talia through the sparse forest… silhouettes of women dancing in front of a bonfire… Evanora, Cornelia, the deal that Axel made in Talia's place… the moment when Axel and Yasmin touched for the first time in Evanora's office… Talia learning spells… Talia working in the kitchen… The celebration with witches… Axel and Yasmin in the fountain, holding each other and glowing… The witches following them back to the portal… The potion that was mixed in his food so that he remembers Talia.

Talia thought that was enough and she wanted to move away, but Liseli didn't let her.

And then Damon saw the scene in the cave when he pushed Talia away, and he felt her anguish when he left and the pain that went beyond her broken tailbone… and then he saw Axel hugging Talia and comforting her and telling her that he will help her get Damon back… and everyone gathered in the guest bedroom around Talia while planning to keep Marcy away from Damon… and Talia watching on the screen Damon having dinner and Marcy sitting in Talia's place and holding Damon's wrist.

Talia yanked her head away from Damon's.

'Why are you showing him this?', Talia asked Liseli.

'Because he needs to know. You can't show him only pretty things and hope that he will understand what you went through.'

Talia could feel Liseli's sadness. Sapa was not there.

'We will get Sapa back, Liseli. In two days.'

'Only if Damon understands how much we suffered to reach this point and how much is at stake!', Liseli said angrily.

Talia understood Liseli's anger. She reunited with Sapa only for Sapa to be taken away again, but Talia thought that making Damon feel worse than he already was, won't achieve anything.

"Damon?", Talia called when she saw that his eyes were closed firmly.

Damon wrapped Talia in a tight embrace and pushed her head into the crook of his neck, so that she can't see his face, but his whole body shook, and she knew he was crying.

"You went through so much without me, because of me, and I would do anything to take it back, only if I could.", he said in a broken whisper. "I don't deserve you."

---

 

Chapter 503 The pretty and the ugly side (2)

At the thought of Axel comforting Talia, Damon was torn that someone else supported his mate, because of the stupid thing he did.

Sure, at that time Damon didn't recognize Talia as his mate, but the emptiness he felt when they were apart should have made him stop and think about what was happening. Only Talia could fill the gap in his chest that was shaped so that she can fit in there perfectly, and if he was not a stubborn mule, he would realize that regardless of the mate bond.

Damon held Talia tightly as turbulent emotions shifted and changed, the happiness of their reunion and her holding him mixed with grief and sadness that cracked his soul because he was a complete asshole. Can he ever fix all the wrongs he did to her?

The mental image of Axel and Yasmin celebrating their union with magic and witches was a painful reminder that he never acknowledged Talia in front of his people.

Talia got to see how mates react when they recognize each other for the first time, and every time Talia was genuinely happy for her friends even though Damon never gave her such an experience. Actually, he sullied it because he was with Marcy at that time.

Damon cringed. When Talia saw him for the first time, Marcy was sucking him off, and then Talia faced Cassie, and many other women he shagged without bothering to remember them with the last one being Nora, yet even with all that dirt, Talia accepted him. This same evening Talia saw him close to Marcy, and she was still holding onto him.

Talia was such a beautiful soul and the only thing he did was hurt her over and over again.

Talia was recognized as the MVP of the tournament, others knew her as his assistant, but only a handful of people were aware of how important Talia really was. And she endured all the scornful looks and gossips, and even fought for him. He wondered if he deserved such a wonderful mate.

Damon's turbulent emotions crashed on Talia, breaking the dam that held her together, and Talia hugged him tightly while dissolving into sobs herself.

Talia was happy that Damon was back, she really was, but for days she was ignoring her grief, finding ways to push through her insecurities and keep going, and now it all swelled into an unstoppable tsunami that threatened to swallow her whole.

Damon prayed that she stops crying because it was killing him from the inside, but he knew that she needed to let it out.

He kissed Talia's hair and patted her back gently while waiting for her to cry it out.

Eventually, her sobs subsided, and he said, "I'm sorry that I hurt you so much."

"Don't think that way.", Talia responded through sniffles. "This was not your fault."

"But it is my fault.", he said. "If I was stronger, I wouldn't be influenced by some mumbo-jumbo."

Talia smiled a little. "But you are strong, Damon. You are my strength. Whenever I doubted if I can go on, I was thinking about you. You are my mate, my other half. We are meant to be together."

He wanted to say how he feels the same, but he couldn't because instead of remembering what was important, he was wandering aimlessly like a headless fly and who knew where he would end up if Talia didn't show up to rescue him.

Considering his history, it was only a matter of time before he messes up again.

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"How long will the potion work?", he asked, fearing that he will forget about her.

"I'm not sure.", Talia responded honestly. "Six to twelve hours, but it could be less or more."

They tested the potion on Cassandra, but Damon was much stronger than the Oracle, and that could mean that he will resist the dark magic, or maybe he resists the potion. I could go either way. And there was also the variable of Talia using her power to dispel the dark mist that seeped out of Damon's body. With any luck, he won't need more potion in the next two days, but Talia didn't dare to be so hopeful.

"If you feel strange, let me know and I will give you another dose. In two days, on the night of a full moon, I can perform a ceremony that will dispel the dark magic completely."

Damon didn't like this uncertainty. Was there nothing he could do other than wait and hope for the best? "I was stupid before we met, and this incident showed that I am still the same bonehead because I couldn't see that you are everything good in my life. Even if this thing wipes my memories completely, I need a foolproof way of reminding myself that you are my most important person."

Talia smiled a little. She knew he meant it, but how will he accomplish that?

Without letting go of Talia, Damon reached to the side table from where he got his backup phone.

He powered it on and recorded himself with a short message, "Trust Talia and drink what she gives you. You took her to see your parents."

Satisfied with this, Damon sent the video to Talia. "If I forget about you and I refuse to drink the potion, make me see this."

"Will that be enough?"

Damon kept the phone back and gave her a meaningful look. "You are the first woman I introduced to my parents. Even if I forget about you, I will know what it means that I took you there. If you tell me what you saw on that clearing, I will believe you."

"Should I include the detail of you jumping into the waterfall?"

Damon cocked an eyebrow at her. "Include that you jumped after me, and what we did after that in the grass."

Talia pursed her lips, knowing that he was set on teasing her, but she couldn't relax. She was unsettled at the possibility that Damon might forget about her without any warning. It was like they had an expiration date and things could crumble at any moment.

Seeing that Talia's mood was worsening, Damon touched her chin to make her look up to him.

"Trust in yourself, kitten. Trust in us. You have no idea how many times you pulled me from the darkness and showed me the way. I want us to announce you as my mate first thing in the morning. Like that, even if I forget things again, at least our people will know who you are."

Talia disagreed. What was the point of others knowing if Damon would reject her?

"James' plan makes sense, let's not ruin it and risk war. This is the last step, and in the morning we will talk to Marcy. Besides, it won't make any difference if others know that I'm your mate. The only thing I care about is that you know."

"But…"

"No buts.", Talia interrupted him. "I learned that we shouldn't dwell on the past, we can't change it. We shouldn't count that things will get better in the future because we don't know what's coming. The only thing we have is now, and I want to spend my now with you, Damon."

 

Chapter 504 Connected in body, soul, and mind (1)

Damon looked at the little woman in his arms and smiled sadly while suppressing the pinch in the back of his throat. He won't cry, not now when she was looking at him.

Damon was happy Talia was by his side, but the guilt was eating him alive.

During their time apart, Damon felt the emptiness as his instincts screamed that something was wrong, yet he couldn't figure out what it was. He thought he was losing his mind, and somehow, he was confident it was her fault; why else would she confine him in that cave? He was such an idiot.

It was just over a day for him, and so much longer for her. Damon couldn't imagine how Talia felt after he pushed her away and left without acknowledging her for who she was. His mate, his other half, someone to whom he belonged, yet he acted with hostility.

If Talia left him like that, he would… he was not sure what he would do. But here was Talia holding him and trying to conceal any negativity so that he feels better. When did the tables turn, and she started shielding him? And it's not just from enemies, but from his own stupidity as well.

Talia could feel Damon's emotions and she knew that he was blaming himself, even though most of it was her fault.

"I am blaming myself, and you think you were lacking.", Talia said. "We won't get anywhere if we continue like this."

Damon was aware that her words made sense. How was it possible that even with all this mess she kept her cool and knew what to do without crumbling? Damon looked into her eyes attentively. "You are stronger."

Talia was not sure if he said that because of her words, or maybe he sensed that she is the Alpha of a pack now, or maybe… "Of course, I am. You marked me."

He looked at her neck. "Did I?"

Talia's lips lifted into a smile. "And I marked you as well. You are mine and I am yours and we don't need visible marks to prove it. Liseli told me that our souls are entangled, and our bond goes deeper than the skin, just like our marks."

Damon liked the part about their bond being deep, but… "I was still hoping to see a mark." He would look at it every day to confirm that this wonderful woman was his mate, and he would make her wear low-collared garments so that everyone else can see it also.

Talia pressed her palm against his chest. "Do you feel this? Do you feel the connection between us, Damon?"

He put his hand to cover hers. "I do." It went beyond the mate bond, and that was the problem. Every cell in his body was telling him that being with Talia was right, yet he still chose to leave. If he could go back in time, to that cave, he would give himself a good beating.

"This connection is a confirmation that we are meant to be together, Damon. No matter what happens, and no matter how far apart we are, we will find our way back to each other.", Talia said. Seeing that Damon's expression was not good, she thought of reminding him, "Do you remember the amusement park, when I walked away, and you found me with three guys who were bothering me?"

Damon's brows came together while wondering where she was going with that, and he gave her a small nod.

"And do you remember when I fell asleep in the forest, and you found me even though it was the middle of the night?"

Damon nodded again.

"And at the Summer Solstice festival…"

"In front of the clocktower." Damon finished her thought.

Talia smiled. "Yes. And next to the lake when I was drinking beer with Keith. You could feel the bond, and I couldn't. But I was glad that you came for me because no matter the circumstances, with you by my side, I was happy. You found me so many times, and this was my turn to find you."

Somehow, this made him feel a bit better. "Thank you for finding me, kitten."

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Talia looked at Damon and she really wanted to kiss him, but they needed to address a few more things.

"Sapa is still sealed. On the night of the full moon, I will need you to go to a designated spot so I can perform a ritual that the witches taught me.", Talia said. "Once the spot is prepared, the ritual shouldn't take more than a few minutes, so we can do it during the pack run without people noticing. We might need a small diversion..."

Damon's ears perked up when he realized how that was the reason why the old creature was not responding.

"Will the ritual help?", he asked.

"It should. The witches analyzed the spell Cassandra used on you. It seems that she combined a few, so the effect of the counter-spell is uncertain, but the two black runes that affected you sealed your heart and your spiritual strength. The potion weakened one of them."

Talia stopped talking when she felt that his anger was rising.

"That Oracle, Alpha Isaac, and Alpha Sophia will pay for this.", Damon squeezed through his teeth.

"Damon?", Talia called. "I need you to focus. We have two days until the pack run and a lot to do. Axel has the Midnight Guardians pack under control, so let's not worry about them for now. We should deal with Alpha Edward and dispel the dark magic. I want Marcy off her delusional throne. Until the spell is broken completely, I need you to pay attention to your condition, so it doesn't deteriorate. You are not alone in this as I can feel the bond, and I will sense if it's closing up again. We will get Sapa back. If the spell in two days doesn't work, we will go back to the realm of witches and try something else. After your condition is stable, we can look at other matters."

Damon's jaw tightened. He knew that she was right, but he felt wronged. Those wretched Alphas wanted to cripple him, and that hurt Talia and endangered his whole pack. How can he live with those grievances? Damon had an urge to punish the culprits as soon as possible, and breaking some bones would definitely calm some of his anger.

Damon's eyebrows shot up when he felt soft lips covering his and igniting a flurry of electric sparks all over his body. It was much stronger than ever before, and he realized that he didn't get a chance to analyze their bond since their marking.

"I missed you, Damon…", Talia said, and then she kissed him again. "Please, until morning, let us be just the two of us."

Damon's insides shook when Talia's longing swelled within him. She really missed him, and she needed more than hugs.

Chapter 505 Connected in body, soul, and mind (2)

Damon's hand disappeared into Talia's hair and his fingers grazed her scalp as he grabbed a fistful of her copper-colored locks, and he held her head in place when he deepened the kiss, kissing her like he was starving for her.

Talia whimpered under Damon's invasion that filled her system with his flavors and her hands swiftly disappeared under his t-shirt, eager to feel the landscape of his back and to pull him closer, much closer than they were at that moment.

Talia's touch seeped under his skin, relaxing the tension that was etched deep into his bones, and he held onto her tightly, like she was his lifeline because she was.

Slowly, very slowly, they undressed each other, their kisses unbreakable, and by the time the last garments touched the floor, they were both breathing heavily.

His tongue glided at the base of her neck, where his invisible mark was, and a shaky breath escaped her lips.

"Do it again…", she asked, and he obeyed.

Talia gripped Damon's shoulders tightly as her whole body shook in the rhythm of his tongue on her neck, igniting the arousal that muddled her mind. Talia thought that she might have an orgasm just by him licking and kissing her there, and she wondered if his neck will be so sensitive as well.

"Ahh…", it was his turn to exhale audibly when Talia kissed the spot where she marked him and she smiled against his skin, happy that she could affect him in such a way. But even more touching was that this strong Alpha was baring his neck for her, exposing his weak spot in a show of trust.

Talia licked the base of Damon's neck, where her invisible mark was on him, and she enjoyed the way his body shook as he gripped the bedsheet under her.

"Kitten… kitten…", his hot breath caressed her ear as he was grinding at the cradle of her thighs, spreading her juices over his hot and hard shaft, and she knew very well how turned on he was because his arousal amplified hers.

"Don't hold back, Damon…", she said breathily, and then her lips latched to suck on his neck.

Talia's head fell backward into the pillows when he entered her in one powerful jab that made both of them see stars.

She could feel his palm sliding over hers until they aligned, and then their fingers interlaced.

"Hold onto me, kitten. Don't let go."

Talia found his eyes full of emotions staring at her and she knew that he was talking about much more than just holding his hand.

"I will never let go.", Talia said, and her fingers tightened around his.

Talia's lips parted in a silent gasp when his hips moved, the friction creating sparks that reminded them of their bond and that they belong to each other.

"Damon… Damon…", Talia chanted with his every thrust as he kissed her jaw and neck, with a lot of tongue and just a bit of teeth, and she tilted her head to give him better access to the spot where he marked her so that he can kiss and lick her more because that spot right there made her body come alive.

His aura enveloped her completely like a cocoon of safety where she could be herself to laugh, cry, and anything in-between without any judgment, and Talia allowed herself to be lost in passion for the man who made her experience the most intense highs in her life.

Talia could feel the way Damon worshiped her and marveled the sensation of them merging into one, the emotions so strong that it made her want to cry. Knowing that this exquisite specimen loved her so much acted like the most potent aphrodisiac ever, and it allowed her to release all her inhibitions, confident that he won't judge her.

The intensity of sparks caught Damon by surprise. Intimacy with Talia was always the best he ever experienced, but this was on a totally different level. It was like their bodies and their souls were merging into one in an intimate act that went beyond the pleasures of the flesh. There was a sense of familiarity and belonging, like coming home after a long and arduous journey. Talia was his home.

Damon found himself lapping at her neck, and his fangs were out on their own. It didn't make sense, since he marked Talia already, but his mind was clouded with lust and the addictive sparks, and he didn't want to think about anything other than the feeling of Talia's hot pussy wrapping his cock tightly, always in a perfect grip that made him crave for more.

Talia's sultry sounds told him she was close, and he was close as well.

He gripped her waist and changed his angle slightly before picking up the pace, ready to push her over the edge and follow right after, when piercing pain invaded his neck.

What the hell!? Did she bite him?

But this was not just any bite. It was bone-deep, and he could feel the heat spreading from there through his body.

Damn! She marked him again!

Just as he finished this thought, the pressure in his groin area increased as Talia's insides tightened around his shaft, and his head dipped to sink his fangs into her flesh while he shot his hot seed deep inside her.

Damon groaned as his body and mind were enveloped in pure ecstasy, and he struggled to rock into Talia a few more times in order to prolog their euphoria.

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Damon twitched as Talia's tongue moved over the skin of his neck.

"Mmm…", Talia hummed. 'I love you, Damon. You are mine.'

Damon chuckled, enjoying the possessive tone she used. And he was elated that he didn't pass out this time even though the new energy still simmered inside him, making him stronger in ways he was yet to discover.

Damon licked the spot where he bit her to help her heal, and it took him a few moments to realize that he heard Talia's words while her lips were busy tending to his neck. She didn't talk, yet he heard her, and the sensation was familiar because he experienced it many times before.

He lifted his head to look into her adorably flushed face and unfocused eyes, just in time to see her tongue darting to moisten her lips.

Damon smiled and spoke straight into her mind, 'I love you more, kitten.'

Talia's eyes widened. 'How is this possible?'

Damon's smile widened. 'I think we have our private mind-link, kitten. It's the mate bond.'

She stared at him stupidly. 'Can you hear all my thoughts?'

No. Her expression was changing, and he knew she was thinking about stuff, but he could hear only thoughts directed at him. However, the mischievous part of him didn't want to reveal this limitation.

'Would that be a problem?', Damon asked.

 

Chapter 506 Connected in body, soul, and mind (3) [Bonus chapter]

Author's note:

Thank you, SilaMelei, for the Magic Castle gifted on April 12, 2022!

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Note: comments that matter, gifts, and votes are available only on the NovelFire platform (w e b n o v e l . c o m), 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... :)

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"Teach me to block stuff.", Talia demanded and when he cocked an eyebrow at her, Talia quickly explained, "I have the mind-link with the Midnight Guardians pack, and Liseli is helping me keep it closed. I would like to use it, but I don't want to share thoughts that are not for sharing, so I need you to teach me."

"Midnight Guardians…", Damon grumbled. "Forget about them. Once we do the ceremony of you becoming Luna of our pack, your bond with that wretched pack will be broken, and you will get the mind-link with the members of the Dark Howlers pack."

Talia wanted to say it was not that simple. As much as she was not interested in leading a pack, the Midnight Guardians pack members were like her children now and she felt responsible for them. But on the other side, there was Damon. Will she need to choose?

Talia heard stories about how pack members can pledge loyalty to only one Alpha or Alpha-Luna pair, but in the case of a pair, the hierarchy of Alpha being at the top was firm.

Can one Alpha have mind-links with more than one pack?

But this was not the time for discussing mind-links and packs. They were naked, his cock was inside her, and he could hear her thoughts! Or could he? The fact that Damon didn't react when Talia thought of herself as the Alpha of the Midnight Guardians pack, told her that Damon can't hear everything that was on her mind, and she realized that the Devil was teasing her again! She decided to feign ignorance, in order to determine the truth.

"That's not the point.", Talia said. "Even within our pack, I need to learn how to keep some things private. Or do you want everyone to know my dirty thoughts? And what if I expose something that's top-secret?"

Damon had to agree with this one. It would be inconvenient. He wanted to keep this for later, but her discomfort was tangible, so he explained, "The most important is the intent to communicate. For Alphas, we receive thoughts from the ones who submit to us, so you will need to learn to block the noise. However, your thoughts won't go to the ones who are weaker than you are, unless you want it to happen. The weaker ones can learn to shield their minds, but that has limited usability as nothing can prevent a more powerful pack member to hear their thoughts. We don't do it normally because it's an invasion of privacy, but more than once I ended up overhearing other people's mind-link conversations accidentally. It happens."

Talia wanted to make sure, "So, others can't hear my thoughts unless I want it to happen."

"Correct."

Talia thought how that was handy. Why didn't Axel tell her this simple lesson? But then… maybe this was valid for Damon because Damon was much stronger than Axel.

Talia smiled at Damon foolishly. Her mate is the strongest Alpha! Talia wondered how she stacks against Damon.

"What about us?"

'Can you hear this?', Damon's voice sounded in her mind, and Talia nodded.

A second later, he asked with a normal voice, "How about that?"

Talia shook her head. "There was nothing."

Damon smirked in satisfaction. "You can hear my thoughts only if I want to share." A moment later, he admitted the second part, "And it's the same for me from you."

Pride swelled within Talia. "Doesn't that mean we are equals?"

Damon hummed in confirmation. "Equals." He liked that.

Damon's eyes widened in shock when graphic images of Damon pounding himself inside Talia from behind flashed in his mind. What was that?

Talia smiled and Damon heard her smug voice in his head, 'It seems I can share more than just voice. Images work as well.' Talia remembered how Liseli shared information previously and thought of giving it a try.

Damon gaped at her. 'Was that you?' Was she telling him how she wants him to take her? Damn! That was hot! This mind connection will definitely come in handy!

Talia's arms snaked around his neck, and she pulled herself higher to speak against his lips, "Make love to me, Damon. We have until morning…"

Damon closed the fraction between them and kissed her fervently, eager to fulfill her every need and want, especially if it involved more sex.

- - -

While Talia and Damon were indulging in carnal pleasures…

James, Petra, Erik, and Zack returned after their night out in Darkbourne. They didn't go inside the packhouse but made a circle around it and went to the garden.

James was having the time of his life.

After a day full of fun and games, they had dinner in a restaurant. James could order whatever he wanted, it was noisy, he drank beer while getting the sauce from roasted ribs everywhere, and there was no one to tell him that the future Alpha should mind his image.

Whenever he attended events with Alpha Edward, James needed to follow his father obediently and use his stoic expression to project an image of a firm and dependable Alpha. Alcohol was prohibited for James, but everyone he knew drank as werewolves don't care about the legal age for drinking that applies to humans.

Well, his father was not present to control him now, and James knew that it was a matter of days before he needed to return to his exhausting routine, so he wanted to make the most of the time he had left here. He thought of this as his early birthday present.

After getting their fill of delicious food, James, Petra, Erik, and Zack headed toward the lake where on the clearing was a bonfire and a lot of teens gathered. Someone brought a guitar and there was music and dancing and James joined them for skinny dipping in the lake. There was plenty of beer to complete the experience of an evening to remember, and even though James was not much of a dancer, he didn't refuse when some girls invited him to join.

Zack told James how that was normal for an evening during summer, but James never experienced anything like that.

For James, this whole visit to the Dark Howlers pack was like a vacation, the best one ever, and that was why he didn't object when they went around the packhouse, thinking that his friends have another pleasant surprise for him. Why else would they go to the darkest part of the garden?

Well, James was surprised, or more like shocked when Petra pushed him behind her, and Zack and Erik stood on Petra's left and right.

"Come out. No need to sneak around.", Zack said sternly into the darkness.

James' eyes widened when the bush moved a bit and a dark figure showed herself.

"I am not sneaking.", a female voice responded.

Petra snorted. "Yeah, right. Why are you following us?"

A set of pearly white teeth was revealed when the female smiled and then she stepped closer, and they could all see a slender woman with chocolate-colored skin wearing a dark-gray t-shirt and shorts. Cornelia.

Chapter 507 Mates? (1)

James was embarrassed at the fact that Petra, Zack, and Erik noticed they were being followed, yet he didn't. No matter how buzzed he was from beer, and how much fun he had, as the future Alpha of the Red Moon pack, he should catch onto these things before others.

James cursed internally. Things like these will make him look incompetent. If his father gets a wind of this, James will get punished and probably his training regime will increase.

The situation became worse when James realized that the woman didn't have a wolf, which meant that his three friends were protecting him from a human. This was definitely a new low from him.

He should be the one standing in front of whatever was coming and confidently telling the intruder to scram or face the consequences, but when his eyes met Cornelia's, James found himself dumbstruck. He never saw a woman more beautiful in his life, and the way his wolf stirred told James that they agreed on this point.

Was she here for him? It seemed like it. Why else would she crane her neck to look at him through the visual obstruction that Petra, Zack, and Erik provided?

Cornelia went to explore the town. Considering her experience with Mindy tackling her, Cornelia decided to stick to the shadows and observe people and surroundings.

The group of four teens got Cornelia's attention as she felt a silent pull she couldn't recognize, so she followed them for most of the evening while trying to figure out what it was.

It's not that no one noticed Cornelia, there were patrols mixed in with regular folks, but without her wolf, they assumed Cornelia is human, hence harmless. Warriors guarding the packhouse knew she was staying there as Gideon's cousin, so no one blocked her way.

"Answer me! Why are you following us!?", Petra demanded, and her shoulders tightened as she lowered her body and her arms spread, ready to attack at any moment.

Cornelia glanced at three teens who were on high alert, and she didn't want to waste words on them. With a wave of her finger, a streak of silvery light appeared out of thin air and split into three, shooting at Petra, Zack, and Erik who were too surprised to react to this development. They never saw anything like it, and by the time they recovered, neither of them could move a muscle.

'What the hell?', Zack cursed into the mind-link for Petra and Erik to hear.

'I can't move!', Petra exclaimed in panic. 'Should we alert the guards?'

'Wait.', Erik said. 'She doesn't appear hostile.'

'You call this NOT hostile?', Petra hissed.

'We are not harmed. Only incapacitated.', Erik said flatly.

'What will we do if James is harmed?', Petra asked. 'It's our mission to protect him!'

By this time, Zack calmed down enough to analyze the situation. 'If she wanted to harm us, we would be gone before we knew what hit us. I don't like this, but let's think about the consequences. Our only option is to call guards, which would count as a mission failed. Stay alert. Don't rush into things. If she did this on the driveway to the packhouse, we would be gone without knowing what hit us.'

Petra and Erik agreed with this.

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"Can I talk to you?", Cornelia asked James.

"Me?", he asked with surprise evident in his voice. Why would this mysterious beauty want to talk to him?

"Will you hide behind your girlfriend?"

James cleared his throat. "Petra is not my girlfriend. We are just friends."

"Just friends.", Cornelia repeated. "Good."

James firmed his resolve and walked between Petra and Erik to stand in front of them, wondering why neither of them moved. Petra's back was blocking his view and he didn't see the silvery light display.

"What is your name?", Cornelia asked.

"James. Why are you looking for me?"

James dismissed the idea of Cornelia being hostile due to the fact that they were in the middle of the Dark Howlers pack. Who would dare to attack him openly? His next guess was that she was interested in him because of his identity. It wouldn't be the first time for a girl (or a woman) to come onto him. After all, he is the future Alpha of the Red Moon pack.

But she asked for his name, and James wondered if she really didn't know who he was or maybe she was just a good actress, good enough to trick the observation skills that he polished to the extreme.

Cornelia looked at James and her smile faded. "Can't you feel it?"

"Feel what?"

"Aren't you a werewolf?", she asked her next question.

"Yes. So?"

Her eyes moved over his face as if searching for something, and then she released a breath of disappointment.

"Nothing.", Cornelia said and lifted her hand, her index finger rotated in the air, and Petra, Erik, and Zack were able to move now. "I apologize for disturbing you. It seems I made a mistake."

The sadness in her voice cut James' heart in half and when she turned to leave, he was quick to grab her wrist.

"Wait!", James exclaimed. "What should I feel?"

Cornelia stared at the point where he was holding her, his hand warm and firm, big enough to circle her wrist completely.

She twisted her hand, to get out of James' grasp. "Nothing. It's not important."

"But it is!" He knew it was. James moved to stand in front of Cornelia and block her way. "Tell me."

Cornelia thought that there was no harm in asking, "Doesn't your kind feel when you meet your soulmate?"

James' eyes widened. "Mate? Yes, we can feel it." He swallowed hard when he realized an impossible possibility. "Are you saying you are my mate?"

Cornelia shook her head. "Obviously not. Otherwise, you would feel the pull, and there would be no need to ask."

Cornelia was confused. She felt something and while following them, she identified that it was not Petra, nor Zack, not Erik, which left James. And now that he stood in front of her, the energy was clearly there, but maybe it was something else.

She thought that maybe all those clothes were interfering with her senses, so she swiftly removed her t-shirt.

James' eyes widened in shock. No bra!

He couldn't believe that just this sight made his pants tighten in the groin area! Sure, he was a healthy (almost) sixteen years-old boy, but he saw plenty of flesh in his life and this shouldn't affect him so much. However, her breasts were round with perky peaks, and he balled his hands into fists to prevent himself from groping her. When did he turn into a lecher?

James stared at Cornelia's perfectly round breasts for a second longer than appropriate before he was able to force his gaze to meet Cornelia's.

"What about now?", she asked.

"It doesn't work that way.", James squeaked and cursed internally at his voice that betrayed how aroused he was.

 

Chapter 508 Mates? (2)

James cleared his throat before saying, "I can't feel my mate because… I am not of age yet."

Cornelia looked at James from top to bottom. What did he mean by, not of age yet? "You seem fully grown."

James puffed his chest proudly. Yes, he was tall and muscular for his age, but he still had years to grow and there was also the point… "We can feel it after our eighteenth birthday. Well, some can feel it earlier, but not two years earlier. I am just sixteen years old." He wished that he was older so that he can confirm if the beauty in front of him was his mate. Then he would whisk her away and have sex with her, forever.

"Oh…", a sound of understanding escaped Cornelia's lips. "Well, then… James. I guess I will see you in two years."

James' jaw fell open slack as he stared blankly at Cornelia's retreating back, and it was a beautiful back, just like the rest of her.

James nearly fell when Petra nudged him.

"Are you nuts? If she is your mate, you can't let her go.", Petra hissed.

"But, I don't feel it.", James said.

"Really? Are you saving yourself for your mate?", Erik asked, and James pressed his lips into a line.

It was too late for James to save himself because he already experienced sex with more than one woman. But if he says that, his friends will probably see it as bragging, and not think how sick was for women to throw themselves at a thirteen years-old boy only because his father was an Alpha. Most of the females were in their late teens, but some were much older, and then there were a few girls his age. At first, it was just kissing and fondling, but in time things progressed and who would say no to a free meal?

Eventually, James realized that those women didn't care about him at all, and some of them were coming onto him only because their family pressured them, and James got disgusted by the whole thing. He didn't want to become like his father, a lecherous man who disrespected his chosen mate by sleeping around, so James decided to focus on training and studying, and concealing the fact that he didn't have an Alpha aura.

"Aren't you attracted to her?" It was Petra who asked, making James think about the beauty with chocolate-colored skin and those breasts that would perfectly fill his palms.

James blushed a little. Was he that transparent?

"It seems she thinks you are mates.", Erik said. "Will you be OK if she ends up with another man?"

James' jaw tightened. What other man!? His insides jolted when he realized that he was possessive. This never happened before. "It doesn't make sense. She is not one of us. How can a human recognize a mate?"

"First, she is hot. Second, she was into you. And third, she is not human.", Zack said. "Didn't you see that we didn't move? It was her doing. With a wave of a finger, like magic."

"Is she a fairy?", James asked.

"Whatever she is, it's not human.", Erik responded while scratching the back of his neck. "To be honest, I would give my left testicle for such a beauty to throw herself at me."

Petra made a face at Erik. "Gross." And then she turned to James. "I am watching you for the last few days, so I have an impression that you are not easy to sway. We went skinny dipping tonight and you didn't even blink at any of the girls that were trying to seduce you, yet this one fully clothed made you flustered. And when she removed her top you gaped like you never saw a woman in your life."

James touched his nose. "She is beautiful, but…"

Petra rolled her eyes. "But, what? You are attracted to her, and it's obvious that it's mutual. Go after her. What's the worst that can happen? Just don't be hasty in marking her. Or are you thinking that you are too young? Recent studies show that humans in Iceland and Germany have sex for the first time at fifteen years old, and you are older than that. And not human."

James frowned. Why did Petra know information related to the sexual habits of people from Iceland and Germany? But Petra was right. As much as James saw attractive females, none of them made his heart race or his wolf stir like the dark-skinned beauty that just left.

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Cornelia held her shoes in one hand and her t-shirt in another, and she stood in the grass in front of the packhouse while looking up at the starry sky.

This was her first evening in the human realm, and she wasted it on chasing ghosts. But it was not a complete waste. She saw people walking on the streets and eating in restaurants, and then she saw them dancing in front of the bonfire and going swimming after discarding their clothes.

Now that she was on her own, Cornelia realized that her heart was heavy because she really missed her sisters at home. Maybe she should go back and forget about this exploring the other realms nonsense.

Cornelia saw Yasmin with Axel happy and full of smiles, and she wanted that connection. She jumped on a chance of going with Talia and maybe finding her soulmate, but now she wondered if she was hasty.

She recalled what she did since coming to the human realm. Cornelia met an interesting man tending to plants, but then she got tackled by a jealous she-wolf (aka Mindy), and since then she was mostly stuck in a room. She thought that going out in the evening to explore will help her embrace this new realm, but at the end of the day, she didn't belong here, and she was lonely.

Cornelia decided to talk to Talia in the morning and see if she can return to the Midnight Guardians pack. With Yasmin there, she might feel better, and if that doesn't work, Cornelia will just go home. There were plenty of other witches eager to explore what was on the other side of the portal.

Cornelia felt a prickling sensation on her bare back, like someone was touching her there, along her spine, and she whipped her head to see a person walking toward her. James.

"Did you forget something?", she asked before he could get too close.

She was not in the mood for a chit-chat.

The desire to get closer to him was there again, and this time she didn't want it. She wanted to go home.

James cleared his throat and thought how this conversation would be easier if she put that t-shirt back on instead of holding it in her hand, but at the same time, he didn't want her to cover up.

Of course, Cornelia noticed that his eyes gravitated toward her breasts. She had no problems staying like that, but his behavior irked her.

She folded her arms under her breasts, giving them a push up. "Hey! My eyes are up here."

 

Chapter 509 Mates? (3)

James felt like an idiot. Did he stare at her breasts and got caught? Since when was he not able to control such a simple thing like where he was looking? It seemed that his years of watching his actions went down the drain in front of Cornelia, and the fact that his wolf was restless was not helping.

"Did I offend you? I apologize.", James said.

Cornelia approved of his docile behavior. "I am not offended. Why are you here?" She thought that their interaction ended in the garden.

"You didn't tell me your name."

"Cornelia."

"Cornelia.", James repeated. "Can I call you Cora?"

Cornelia blinked. No one ever gave her a nickname. Others used her full name, or 'sister' or 'priestess'. "Is my name so bad that you want to shorten it?"

"I like Cornelia, but I think that nickname makes it more intimate. People who are close get to use nicknames."

"And you think we are close?"

"Two minutes ago, you said we are mates. It doesn't get closer than that."

Cornelia thought how that made sense, but… "There is no point in clinging to what I said if you don't feel it."

"But you can feel it, right? Can you tell me about it? How can you feel it when you don't have a wolf?" He was genuinely curious.

To Cornelia, it was obvious that James was interested in her, but that was not what she wanted. Cornelia lived for centuries with her sisters from the Coven, and she was not looking for a casual companion. She was hoping for a soulmate, someone who will worship her, and she will do the same in return, someone who will look at her how Axel looked at Yasmin, and if this boy couldn't feel the bond, he could find other women or abandon her completely, and that would break her heart. How Cornelia saw this, it was better not to start anything.

Cornelia grew up with teachings that a soulmate was not about sex and having babies, but it was about acceptance, care, protection, and making each other happy. Over the years, Cornelia imagined her soulmate as tall, short, slim, chubby, male, female, and on a few occasions, she even imagined a plant. But she never thought it would be someone too young to identify their bond. Sure, if James was human he wouldn't feel the bond anyway, but he was a werewolf, and as such he should know better than a witch when his other half was in front of him.

With all that in mind, Cornelia decided not to answer his questions.

"What's the point? No matter what I say, there is no way to prove it. Or will you believe a stranger who approached you with a story that you might be soulmates?"

James agreed with this. If he neglected the attraction, there was definitely no reason to believe her, and he shouldn't throw caution out the window just because she was gorgeous. Dozens of females told him stories about how they were destined to be together, with promises that it will benefit them both if he picked them as his chosen mate, all in the hopes of being the next Luna of the Red Moon pack.

What if Cornelia was just a woman who was after power and status? He shouldn't ignore that possibility.

"So, now what?", James asked.

"Now, nothing. You go your way, and I will go mine."

Cornelia gave him a sad smile and moved around him to go to the packhouse. She didn't want to go back to the room that felt cramped no matter how big it was, but she didn't want to stay outside with James either. The pull was definitely there, but he couldn't feel it, and it gave her a feeling of rejection that was cracking her heart.

James couldn't believe this. "Wait! You are leaving?"

Cornelia stopped in her tracks and turned to face him. "Don't tell me you expected me to stay? If I understood you correctly, you won't know for at least two years if the person in front of you is your mate or not. If we are mates, and it's destined, we will meet again."

Maybe this encounter was nature's way of telling Cornelia that she was not ready for a soulmate, or maybe that she won't ever find that ideal she was hoping for. After all, if James was her soulmate, she should accept him even if he was too young to feel the bond, but Cornelia was not willing to put herself out there if the other party won't do the same in return. Somehow, it didn't seem right.

And just like that, Cornelia turned and left James behind to stand there and gape in disbelief.

- - -

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"James!"

A call from a female got his attention and James' insides tightened when he realized it was his sister. Why was Marcy here? Shouldn't she be confined in another house? What the hell happened while he was out? It was all fine during breakfast!

Marcy walked toward James. "I saw you from the window." She gestured to the window on the second floor of the packhouse. "I thought you came here to train, not to chase women."

James stuffed his hands into his pant pockets. He was surprised by Marcy's unexpected appearance, but he had no intention of showing it.

"And I thought you came here to become Luna, and not to spy on me."

Marcy blinked. "I was not spying. I couldn't sleep and I saw you accidentally." Marcy's lips lifted into a smile. "Who is she? Someone important? As the future Luna of the Dark Howlers pack, I can set you up." Marcy ended with a wink.

"I don't need your help with women."

"Did I see it wrongly, or did she leave you behind?", Marcy asked teasingly. "One would assume that your identity as the future Alpha would be enough to have women dying to get their hands on you, yet this one left. Topless, but she still left. Or was she not to your taste?"

James fought against the rage that swelled inside him. Why was Marcy talking about Cornelia when she had no idea what actually happened?

"Why are you here, Marcy?", James asked stiffly. "Shouldn't you be hiding in the other house?" He really wanted to know the answer to this question.

"Alpha Damon said that the danger is over so there is no need for me to lay low."

"He is back?"

"Yes. And the first thing he did was to move me here, and then we had dinner and walk in the garden." Marcy didn't want to talk about how that walk ended. It was not important, but she had another question, "Did you know that Commander George found his mate?"

"Yes. Dawn. What about it?"

"Nothing.", Marcy said quickly.

She hoped that the stiff answer from James meant he didn't know what happened between her and George. Considering how close James and George were, if James didn't know, no one else knew either. It will be George's word against Marcy's. The only thing George had on Marcy was that he took her v-card, but Marcy was confident that after she sleeps with Damon and cuts herself so that some blood ends on the bedsheets, the point of who took her virginity won't be important and she will be free from George blackmailing her.

With that, Marcy decided to change the topic. "I'm excited about tomorrow."

"What's tomorrow?"

Marcy smiled widely. "Alpha Damon will announce to the world that I will be his Luna."

James knew that was the plan. Tomorrow, they will drop the final bomb on Marcy where she will realize that she was manipulated and used as a decoy, but the fact that Marcy was in the packhouse rubbed James the wrong way. That was not part of his plan, and if this was different, who knows what else changed? There were too many variables, and he needed more information, but Marcy's head was in the clouds, and she obviously didn't know what really happened.

"Since the big announcement will happen tomorrow, I suggest you get good rest. The news about the Dark Howlers pack getting their Luna will go viral. People will want to know more about you. The WW Magazine will definitely request an interview and a lot of photos. You shouldn't allow people to see you with dark circles under your eyes."

Marcy lifted her hands to touch her cheeks like she was checking if she had something there. "You are right. I will go and get some beauty sleep. See you at breakfast!", Marcy ended in a singing voice and skipped into the packhouse.

Chapter 510 Together as one (1)

The first sunrays of the day peeked over the mountains in the distance, creating a beautiful scenery outside, but Damon's full focus was on the little woman who was sleeping in his arms.

Talia didn't want to sleep, but after their third lovemaking session, her eyes closed, and she succumbed to the exhaustion that accumulated over the last few days, with her arms wrapped around his body tightly.

Damon was tired as hell, but he feared that if he falls asleep, the dark magic might stir when he was unaware, and he will forget about Talia again. He didn't want that to happen. Forgetting Talia was forgetting who he was, and before yesterday, Damon didn't understand how much she changed him.

From the moment he identified Talia as his mate, Damon's world flipped upside down, and he didn't want to go back to that empty existence that he tried to fill with training, work, and random women, only to be empty again at the start of the next day. The only way for him to feel at peace was with Talia by his side, and he didn't want to lose this.

'Damon?', Caden's voice sounded in his head.

'Yes?'

'Sorry if I woke you up…'

'I'm awake.', Damon interrupted Caden. 'Tel me.'

'Are you yourself?'

Damon made a face. He didn't like that Caden was questioning him, but then… he had a reason to do so. 'Yes. I know who I am and who Talia is, but I might forget about you if you don't get to the point of why you are disturbing me this early.'

'It's Marcy. What should we do with her?'

Damon didn't want to deal with Marcy, and he hoped that this was the last day of Marcy in their lives. 'Nothing changes. We will proceed per James' plan. Ask Marcy to contact her father before breakfast with the latest updates from her side. If she asks what's the rush, tell her that we have a lot of things planned for today. Talk to her with respect, like she might be your Luna; that will get her excited. When she joins us for breakfast, we will tell her the truth.'

'Alright.', Caden responded with relief obvious in his voice. 'Anything else?'

'No. Don't bother me until breakfast.', Damon grumbled and closed off the mind-link.

With that, Damon's attention was back to Talia.

She was so fragile, yet so strong, beautiful in every way possible.

Damon's neck was stinging because his feisty kitten marked him again! He never heard about mates marking each other more than once, but then… he never heard about mates who have ancient spirits for their wolves that were separated by the Moon Goddess herself.

Everything about Talia was out of the ordinary, and Damon enjoyed every minute of it. As long as she was by his side, Damon's world was a happy place.

Damon smiled dreamily at the memory of him marking Talia for the second time in the throes of passion. He didn't think of doing it, but something inside him stirred and urged him to do it again, and he did.

Damon tilted his head in an attempt to see Talia's sleepy expression and his eyes lit up at the sight of redness on Talia's neck. It was not big, and it was barely visible, but he hoped it will not heal and stay there forever because that right there was where he marked her last night!

"Mmm…", Talia mumbled unintelligibly and tightened her arms around Damon.

Damon was quick to press his lips to the top of Talia's head. "Shh… sleep, kitten. It's still early. I'm here, watching over you."

Talia smiled before her eyes opened to meet Damon's icy-blue orbs that were full of emotions and definitely not icy.

"Good morning, my love.", Talia said dreamily.

Damon stared at her, unaware that he was holding his breath. Talia rarely called him anything other than his name, and this time she called him her love, and he wanted to remember this moment.

Talia put her hand on his cheek. His emotions told her he was fine, and that their bond was stronger than ever, but his frozen expression didn't seem right and considering that on the previous day he didn't know who she was, she was worried. "Are you OK?"

Damon smiled at her foolishly. "Never better."

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Damon's arms tightened around Talia, and he curled to envelop her body with his while burying his face in the crook of her neck. "I want us to stay like this forever.", he mumbled.

Talia giggled with relief when she confirmed his clinginess as a sign that her Damon was right there, holding her against him like he will never let go.

"Just like this?", Talia asked and shifted a bit so that their bodies fit better against each other.

"Mhm…", Damon hummed in approval.

"Oh, I thought you would prefer something like this…", Talia said playfully and then graphic images of her and Damon flashed in his mind.

Damon chuckled lowly. "That will work as well, Mrs. Blake."

Talia lifted her head to look at him. "You know, when you called me Mrs. Blake the first time, I didn't get it. And then I thought you were teasing me."

"And now?"

"Now even if you don't mean it, I have no intention of letting you go. You are mine."

Her possessiveness turned him on. Did she know how sexy she was when her eyes flashed with determination? And she was determined to keep him for herself. That was the most potent aphrodisiac ever!

"I am yours. I always was.", Damon said with all the seriousness in the world while pushing a lock of hair behind her ear. "Even when I was not aware of your existence, I was searching for you…", Damon's voice trailed when he realized that Talia was glowing.

And it was not only Talia, he was glowing as well.

Damon lifted his hand to observe as it was enveloped in silvery light.

"What is this?", he asked breathily.

Talia slid her hand into Damon's, and the glow started pulsating in the rhythm of their matching heartbeats.

"This is what happens when we are together as one.", Talia said. "It's a manifestation of our strength and powers. I assume you still need to figure out what powers you got after I marked you, and there is a chance it won't happen until we dispel the dark magic, and you get Sapa back. However, I can tell you that since our marking, my strength and speed increased. I might be able to take you on."

Damon smiled mischievously. "We should spar so you can prove it."

Talia's cheeks heated. She knew very well that their sparring sessions had a tendency of turning hot and steamy. She was nearly out of exercising clothes because Damon would rip them into shreds and the fact that he was projecting into her mind images of Talia on all four on top of the exercising mat with Damon behind her was making her heart race. Damn! That was hot!