Ch. 551..560

Chapter 551 Missing his mark

Talia and Meg went on the side to discuss the situation related to the upcoming Council of the Alphas, leaving Cornelia and James to sit on the sofa.

James couldn't get out of his head what he overheard. "Cora, is it true that one day here is like a month in the Midnight Guardians pack?"

Cornelia confirmed. "It's the same in my realm."

James' eyes lit up. "How about we go there? My father expects me to return in a few days, but we could stay there a few months!"

Cornelia's mood dropped. After one week or one month, James was planning to return home, wherever that was, and… was he planning to leave her behind? "Let's talk about it later. For now, we need to return to the Dark Howlers pack."

"Don't you want to stay for the Alpha ceremony?", James asked Cornelia.

Cornelia was not in the mood for ceremonies.

Cornelia started the day with an intention to visit the human city, but because of James, they ended up stuck in a packhouse, and then they went to a training center that was full of sweaty people smacking each other, and now they were here. No matter how Cornelia looked at this, she spent the whole day stuck indoors without seeing what this realm had to offer. If this is what a life with James will be, maybe she should go exploring the world on her own and leave him behind.

Cornelia was back to considering her original plan of returning to the witches' realm after the pack run in the Dark Howlers pack. As soon as Talia completes the ritual that will dispel the unwanted magic from Damon, Cornelia can leave.

To add to her irritation, Cornelia had a hunch that James didn't want people to know he was there. Was he really hiding from his father? If that was true, James' father was controlling and potentially dangerous.

"Why do you care about the ceremony? Can you attend it?", Cornelia asked dryly.

James didn't understand why Cornelia sounded upset. "I can stay in the back."

"What if someone recognizes you?"

"This is not about me.", James said. "It's not every day that a pack gets a new Alpha. It's quite eventful. The shaman will perform a ritual and…"

"I've seen plenty of rituals.", Cornelia cut him off.

James exhaled helplessly. "I take this as, you don't want to stay at the Lightclaw pack more than necessary."

"Correct." Actually, she didn't want to stay in this realm more than necessary, but she didn't want to talk about it. Not now.

James was holding Cornelia's hand and playing with her fingers, causing her irritation to flare and Cornelia decided to go to the restroom in an attempt to calm down.

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With nothing else to do, James moved closer to Talia and Meg.

"I am impressed, Alpha Talia.", James said. "Converting my father's supporter into yours was a brilliant move. Tony and Kalina will owe you a lifetime of gratitude, and the whole Lightclaw pack is about to wake up to a brighter future with new leadership, assuming they don't sink the ship."

"Nothing will sink.", Talia said confidently. "With Damon, Axel, and Maddox supporting Tony, no one will dare to touch them."

James chuckled. "You speak of those three, but you forgot the most powerful one."

Talia didn't comment. She knew that James was talking about her.

"You are a force to be reckoned with, Alpha Talia. I pity the guy who will dare to oppose you."

Meg stifled a laugh. "You should pity your father then."

James nodded in agreement. "And not just him. With enough ambition, Alpha Talia can unite all werewolf packs into one."

"I have no intention of uniting anyone.", Talia was quick to say. "I did this only because Alpha Magnus was threatening Damon."

"Of course, you did. I look forward to your visit to the Red Moon pack when you deal with another Alpha who is threatening you.", James said with a smile that faded when his gaze moved to the bathroom door where Cornelia was. Why was she taking so long? "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure.", Talia and Meg responded in unison.

"Do you know why Cornelia is acting weird?" Was it that time of the month? But he didn't smell any blood.

Talia was surprised by this. How the heck was she supposed to answer this? She was clueless about relationships, so she turned to Meg and gestured to her to take over.

"Did something happen?", Meg asked.

James shrugged. "We were talking about the ceremony, and then she said how she was not interested in watching it."

"There must be something else.", Meg said.

What else? "I suggested that we go to the Midnight Guardians pack because then I don't need to return so soon. I wanted to spend more time with her. Was that wrong?"

"And after that?"

James didn't get it. "Nothing. She said that she is not interested in the ceremony."

"No, no. I meant, you will go to the Midnight Guardians pack, and what will happen after that? One way or another, you will need to return to the Red Moon pack, right?"

James nodded and Talia's expression lit up when she understood where Meg was going with this.

"How does Cornelia fit into that picture?", Talia asked and she made a face when James didn't respond after a second. "Are you serious about Cornelia?"

"Of course!", James responded without missing a beat.

"Then, you should tell her. When I met Damon, my wolf was weak, and I couldn't feel the bond. Damon and I had a lot of misunderstandings because he was sending me signals I either misread or missed completely. Cornelia can feel the bond, but you can't. Tell her what it means to you, what she means to you, and what you plan to do about it."

James gaped at Talia like she was saying something outrageous. And it was outrageous because it was so simple, yet he missed it completely.

James was always confident in his observation skills and ability to deduct information, yet now when it counted, he failed miserably. Did the mate bond turn him stupid? Since they arrived at the Lightclaw pack, James was just sitting by Cornelia's side and holding her hand, and… he didn't even notice what was going on around him, or what was going on with the woman whose hand he was holding. He missed his mark completely, all of them.

Oh, God! His intelligence deteriorated! By how much? Was it critical?

The bathroom door opened, and James was quick to move there and grab Cornelia's hand.

"Let's go back.", he said.

"You are eager to return? What happened with watching the ceremony?"

"I want us to go to a place where we can have privacy to talk, Cora. I need to tell you things so you understand who I am and what I can offer." Which was not much because when he removes the identity of the future Alpha of the Red Moon pack, it was just him, a sixteen years-old boy with a lot in his head and a small savings account, and… that was it. But he didn't want to keep secrets from Cornelia. If they were really mates, she will accept him, and they will figure out things. Somehow.

Chapter 552 Talia's pep talk

Tony was in the back of a modified van with his newly-appointed Beta Nate, Talia, and Meg.

The ceremony of appointing the new Alpha and Luna of the Lightclaw pack was finalized, and they didn't have much time to celebrate before they left to attend the Council of Alphas.

Talia asked Tony for a ride, and Tony offered them to all go in one of the vehicles that belong to the Alpha.

Alpha Magnus enjoyed the latest luxuries that money can buy, saying how his image reflects the image of the Lightclaw pack. Now that Alpha Magnus is retired, all those fancy toys belonged to Tony and Kalina.

Tony and Nate were facing Talia and Meg, each sitting in a comfortable leather seat reclines fully and it offers accessories that could be nicely tucked in when not in use.

Tony looked at Talia with awe.

For years, Tony was using Damon as a role model of a capable Alpha who could overcome any obstacle.

During their visit to the Dark Howlers pack, Tony was focused on his training and trying to impress Damon, like a fangirl who got a chance to spend time with her celebrity crush.

Tony never paid much attention to Talia, thinking of her as Kalina's friend, but in the last few hours, Tony realized that he made a mistake. Talia was a powerhouse. How come he didn't see it?

Even if he didn't have a sense for such things, and even if he considered Damon's care for Talia as something that mates do, Tony definitely saw that Axel and Maddox were paying close attention to Talia and everyone was gathering around her. At that time, Tony suspected that people were kind to Talia because she was Damon's mate, the future Luna of the Dark Howlers pack.

Tony cursed himself. He was wrong. He was so wrong.

Talia was right in front of him, yet he didn't see it.

What else did he miss?

This same evening, Tony listened to Talia defending him in front of his father and talking back to Alpha Magnus. That was something Tony was never able to do. Even as his parents were leaving for vacation, Tony was full of bitterness but the only thing he could do was wish them a safe trip. They will be gone by the time he leaves, and then he and Kalina will have free hands to do whatever they want, as Alpha and Luna of the Lightclaw pack. It was surreal. And it was all thanks to Talia.

But Talia did so much more than just talking. She solved his problems and she seemed so capable, and what was he? He could disregard his Alpha bloodline, but can he disregard the fact that he is a man?

Talia saved his whole pack and put them on another trajectory, one Tony feared he will ruin, but Talia assured him that he will have the necessary support to be successful.

Tony saw himself as a failure. The biggest one there is.

How was he capable of leading a pack?

"Are you worried about the upcoming meeting?", Talia asked Tony who snapped to look at her.

He was worried about much more than just a meeting, but he didn't want to admit to it. "Aren't you?"

"What's the worst that can happen?", Talia asked with a smile.

"I don't know.", Tony said with a shrug. "How about a war and our society falling apart?"

"That will happen if we don't do something about it.", Talia said. "If you didn't notice, the greedy people in power are getting more powerful, absorbing the ones that don't resist and taking forcibly the rest while regular people suffer."

"So, we fight?", Tony asked without an ounce of determination. "We are about to face hostile Alphas who have power, real power. What are our odds of winning?"

Talia didn't like Tony's deflated attitude. He didn't sound or look like an Alpha. If he was this timid, how will others follow him? Even Nate's head was lowered, and Talia was not sure if it was in fear or shame, or maybe something else.

However, Talia understood that Tony suffered from a lack of confidence. She was there, in that dark place where she felt unworthy, and Damon was the one who encouraged her to try and give her all. Maybe this was her opportunity to give a pep talk to Tony and his Beta.

"You don't need to fight if you are fine with people like Alpha Magnus and Alpha Edward telling you what to do. You have an Alpha bloodline and as long as you are obedient, your life won't be so bad. But, can you really live like that if people around you are suffering? You saw how things are in the Dark Howlers pack, and the fact that so many people are coming in daily, seeking refuge, should tell you what they want. A normal person is not interested in a fancy lifestyle and lazing around. They crave a safe environment, a roof over their heads, and a meal on the table, and they are willing to work for it. As an Alpha, you need to provide them with such conditions. So yes, when someone wants to take basic freedoms from our people, we fight."

Tony looked at Talia seriously. She spoke with conviction. Will he ever be able to match that?

"You are an Alpha now.", Talia said. "Don't you feel the connection with your pack?"

Tony placed a hand over his chest and nodded.

"Those are their feelings, their faith in you and Lina. Use it to boost your courage when you think that you reached your limits because if you give up, there will be no one else to fight for your people."

"How do you know so much?", Tony asked.

Talia smiled. "Damon showed me what it means to be an Alpha. I always thought that Alphas are about parties, bossing around, and fights. I could imagine him in a bloody fight to get his way. But after I arrived at the Dark Howlers pack, I realized that Damon is the one who wakes up at dawn and heads to his office, and then goes to the training grounds. That's the Damon outsiders don't know about because they only see him when he is out to have fun. Damon is not the smartest, the fastest, or the strongest, but he works hard, always with his people and for his people."

Talia stared into the darkness through the window and her brows came together, as she continued, "Even now, he went to that meeting, knowing that many Alphas will try to take what's his, yet he will face them and do his best. I guess that's what being an Alpha is, doing your best. I want to do what's best for my people, and for my mate. I know that I am not strong enough, and I'm definitely not smart enough, but I am not alone." She turned to look at Tony. "And neither are you. Use the will of your people to boost your determination and use your friends and allies to find the best solution and it will be alright."

"I wish I recorded this!", Meg's excited voice came from the side and after a second of silence, the whole van burst into laughter, defusing the heavy atmosphere and replacing it with a light one.

Tony and Nate looked at each other and exchanged nods while silently agreeing with Talia. They were not alone, and it will be alright.

---

 

Chapter 553 The Council of Alphas (1)

The Council of the Alphas could be summoned in any of several locations that were hosting inconspicuous buildings which could be easily missed if one didn't know where to look. The amenities included rooms where Alphas could gather in a formal and informal setting, and also rooms where Alphas could rest.

Every location was staffed with a number of werewolves who didn't belong to any specific pack, and people addressed them as Guardians. Their tasks were to maintain the buildings and to serve Alphas during meetings, and other than that, the Guardians were neutral, and everyone treated them like national treasures that can't be touched.

Normally, these places would be used in a time of crisis, or a war where opposing sides would meet to negotiate. The Guardians ensured that matters here were settled peacefully, and some rumors spoke that they were immune to Alpha aura and they possess unbeatable fighting skills, so even Alphas looked at them with respect.

The building where the Council of Alphas assembled this time had a lounge that was decorated in dark red walls and bulky purple furniture that sat on the stone floor. One long dark-brown block of polished wood served as a bar and there were several sitting areas defined by sofas and chairs arranged in circles. That was where Alphas and their Betas gathered while waiting for the meeting to start.

Alpha Cristian and his Beta Imre arrived to see Damon, Caden, Maddox, and Maddox's Beta Oliver sitting at the bar. He didn't care about other people.

"I'm glad to see we are not late.", Alpha Cristian said while exchanging greetings with four people, and then he took a seat on Maddox's right. The assembly was summoned for dawn which should be soon, but there was no exact hour mentioned.

"Do you know who else is missing?", Alpha Cristian asked.

"We heard that twelve packs confirmed attendance, but we don't know who they are.", Beta Oliver responded.

"With you, we have nine Alphas.", Maddox grumbled.

"I see. Three more to go.", Alpha Cristian said and waved at the bartender to give him a drink.

Damon was sipping his amber-colored drink while looking at the people present through the mirror behind the bar. He knew they were watching him, waiting for him to lose composure, to give them a reason to oust him, but he had so much on his mind, that this curveball from Alpha Edward was not much.

Yes, Damon's stomach churned at the possibility of a war, because that meant casualties that could be avoided if those greedy bastards would stick to their territories, but Damon was mostly concerned about the fact that black runes were there, just under his skin, waiting to strike when he least expected, and make him forget the most important person in his life. The period where he couldn't remember Talia was like a living nightmare for Damon. He was confused and disoriented, and he didn't forget only about his mate, but he forgot about himself. He didn't want to go back there, and the fact that Talia was not by his side and he couldn't reach her via their mind-link or feel her emotions was unsettling.

Damon downed his drink and gestured to the bartender to give him another.

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The nine Alphas were separated into three distinct groups.

Damon was with his confirmed allies, Maddox and Cristian at the bar. The three of them cooperated many times before, and their core values align enough that they trust each other not to go back on their word no matter what the other party offers them.

Two Alphas were sitting on one sofa in the corner, Alpha Robert and Alpha Patrick. Their two packs were the smallest ones among the packs who were members of the Council of Alphas. Damon guessed they were neutral and will side with the majority.

In the middle of the lounge, on the largest sofa, were Alpha Edward, Alpha Richard (aka Cassie's father), Alpha Peter, and Alpha William. The four of them talked in a light atmosphere, occasionally throwing glances toward Damon, and Damon pretended not to notice them. He knew very well that those four were power-hungry and eager to see him fall, but what he didn't know was what kind of agreement those four reached nor what their strategy will be so that they could be so easygoing.

Every Alpha was flanked by his Beta who observed, measured, and reported to his Alpha every detail.

The door opened with an announcement, "Alpha Adam Hessen and Beta Milo from the Silverfur pack!"

Alpha Adam was a man in his mid-fifties with a sturdy build and straight posture, but what gave away his position of power was his unwavering gaze that moved over everyone present.

After a few seconds, Alpha Adam decided to move toward the bar with his eyes locked on Damon.

Damon was surprised by this interesting development. The Silverfur pack was eighth in size, and they wouldn't take sides in any conflict, so Damon assumed that Alpha Adam will either join two neutral Alphas on the sofa or pick a separate seating for himself and his Beta.

'Jade is Beta Milo's daughter', Caden's voice sounded in Damon's head and Damon groaned in irritation when he connected the dots.

Jade, of course! How could he forget the she-wolf model who suggested that they pretend to date so that her father allows her to pursue her career?

Just like everyone else, Alpha Adam wanted to make a firm alliance with Damon, but he had two sons, and since Damon was not gay, they agreed to push Jade onto his lap because she was still Beta's daughter.

Jade was easy on the eyes, so Damon went on a date with her. They shared a meal and bed and then parted ways until Jade called him with a proposition to pretend to date, and for a brief moment, Damon considered it. That was before he met Talia, and Caden quickly burst that fake-dating bubble. Caden reminded Damon that once a female is in, it's a headache to shake her off. Every she-wolf is attracted to power and riches, and Jade won't be any different once she experiences the perks of people who think of her as the future Luna of the Dark Howlers pack.

After Damon remembered those details, he understood why Alpha Adam was approaching him openly. Alpha Edward probably reached to them in an attempt to buy Alpha Adam's vote, and that revealed that Damon was in trouble, and the old bastard was hoping to use this situation as leverage for Jade to put her leg through the door of being his Luna.

Alpha Adam greeted everyone with a big smile on his face before turning to Damon. "Alpha Damon, we meet again."

Damon turned to face the man before returning the greeting dryly.

"It seems we will be in a position to collaborate again.", Alpha Adam said.

Damon was not in the mood for bullshit. "I don't remember us collaborating previously."

 

Chapter 554 The Council of Alphas (2)

Alpha Adam frowned. He was confident that Damon would get the hints by now. Or did Damon want Alpha Adam to be more obvious?

"The word is that you met some kind of trouble, and we can help."

The way Alpha Adam looked smugly at his Beta, made Damon's insides churn.

'Don't blame them.', Caden said. 'It's a smart move to ask for favors now when you are in a pinch. We don't know who are the other two Alphas coming, but if Alpha Adam sides with us, we will even the numbers with Alpha Edward among the current crowd.'

'They want me to make Jade my Luna.', Damon reminded Caden. 'That's his bargaining chip and he hopes I'm desperate enough to take the deal.'

'You don't need to accept.', Caden said cautiously. 'As long as you are ambiguous now…'

Damon didn't hear the rest. Just the thought of Jade flaunting her status as Damon's anything made Damon's temper flare to the point of wanting to punch someone. How can Jade compare to Talia? No one compares to Talia. NO ONE!

Damon's insides churned as he wondered, would he accept the deal if he didn't remember Talia? How would he scrape that dirt? Even if Talia forgave him, he would never forgive himself. The idea of him causing Talia pain again, and making her act like his assistant or anything other than his equal was making him feel like his heart was being torn out of his chest.

'CRACK!'

The glass in Damon's hand burst, making a mess of amber liquid and glass shards on the counter of the bar. There was some blood also as a piece of glass was stuck in his palm.

Damon pulled the glass out and waved at the bartender to clean the mess and give him another drink.

"It seems my state of mind is not the best to discuss collaborations, Alpha Adam."

Alpha Adam's smile froze. Was Damon rejecting him?

Alpha Cristian turned to ask everyone present, "When are we going to start?"

"Two more Alphas are on their way. They will be here within minutes.", one of the Guardians that was standing at the door responded.

Alpha Edward was eager for those two to remaining Alphas come. He was confident that one of the two was Alpha Magnus from the Lightclaw pack because they spoke the previous evening.

As for the last Alpha coming, Alpha Edward didn't know who it will be because responses were kept by the Guardians, but he didn't care who it was because he was confident that he will have the necessary majority to move on with his agenda.

Alpha Edward knew about Alpha Adam's plan that involved Jade, and after seeing Alpha Adam's sour expression that matched his Beta's, Alpha Edward was confident that Jade will fail in becoming Damon's Luna. After all, Damon rejected so many better candidates, and Jade was not known for the virtues required for a Luna. Why would Damon want to give status to a female who was set on traveling and exposing her body on a catwalk and in magazines? On top of that, Jade had numerous confirmed previous relationships, so there was that.

The door opened again with an announcement, "Alpha Anthony Ambert and Beta Nathan from the Lightclaw pack."

Everyone gaped at two young men who entered, unsure if they heard this right.

Alpha Edward's mind was spinning and he was not aware that he was walking toward Tony and Nate.

"Since when are you the Alpha?", Alpha Edward asked sternly, like he was addressing two mischievous boys.

Tony patted the token that was attached to the breast pocket of his jacket. "My father retired and I'm the Alpha now." Tony was surprised that his voice was steady. He actually sounded confident! Talia told him to look at everyone like they are trash that can't touch him, and the strategy worked!

"Impossible! How could this happen!", Alpha Edward exclaimed.

Tony looked at the man for a moment before asking, "What makes it impossible for an Alpha to give the position to his son? I am of age and I have my fated mate. Didn't you attend the event last month where we celebrated Kalina as my future Luna? Are you so old that you forgot?"

Maddox snickered at Tony's snarky remark and everyone wondered if Alpha Edward will explode.

But how can Alpha Edward cause trouble? If it goes beyond bickering and provocations, the Guardians will make their move and they might expel him from the meeting, and that would ruin everything.

Seeing that Alpha Edward was not responding, Tony lifted his chin smugly. "As for how I became the Alpha of my pack, relevant people know about it because they attended my Alpha ceremony."

"Do you mind?", Nate's voice sounded from behind Tony. "You are blocking the way."

Alpha Edward took a step back reluctantly, and Tony and Nate passed as they walked toward the bar.

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Tony shook hands with Maddox, Damon, Cristian, and Adam, and Maddox asked, "Seriously. When did that happen?" He pointed at the token that was hanging on Tony's breast pocket.

Tony leaned closer to Maddox and spoke in a low voice, "I could tell you, but then I will need to kill you."

Before Maddox could say more, Tony raised his hand, indicating to Maddox to wait. "This is not the place to discuss such things." He had no intention of telling anyone what transpired in his father's study.

Damon was also curious. What trick did Tony pull for the old man to give him the spot? Damon knew very well that Alpha Magnus had no desire to retire, yet here was Tony, with his hair slicked back and a sharp suit and a token representing his pack. Did Alpha Magnus lose his mind? Damon knew that Tony didn't have the power nor mental fortitude to lead a pack.

Seeing that everyone was looking at him with a bunch of unspoken questions, Tony smiled smugly. Talia told Tony that he was the only Alpha in attendance who knew about her identity as the Alpha of the Midnight Guardians pack, and that made him feel important. He decided to give a small teaser in the form of, "I can tell you that me coming here as an Alpha is not the biggest surprise for today."

Maddox's mouth formed an "O" shape as his eyes sparkled with curiosity.

"Alpha Damon", Alpha Adam called grimly. "Only one more Alpha needs to come before we start the meeting. I think you know what kind of a deal I want."

Damon was exasperated. Why was this guy set on spoiling Damon's already bad mood? "And what kind of a deal is that?"

"It's about Jade.", Beta Milo said. "She is interested in you and the two of you have a history…"

"Hissss…", Tony's exaggerated sound interrupted whatever Beta Milo was about to say next. "I will assume you didn't hear that Alpha Damon already has an awesome woman by his side. If you know what's good for you, you will stop pimping your daughter."

Everyone gaped at Tony. Since when was he that brave?

 

Chapter 555 The Council of Alphas (3)

"What did you say?", Beta Milo asked Tony grimly.

Tony's composure cracked for a second, but then he responded, "I only spoke the truth. We are all Alphas here, was any of us pressured to take a random female for his Luna? If you think your daughter is worthy of being the chosen mate to Alpha Damon, she should earn that position on her own. What you are doing is… not right."

Maddox put his hand on Tony's shoulder and gave him a squeeze of support before adding, "Actually, considering Damon's current situation, I would more call it a blackmail."

"I agree.", Cristian chimed in. "If you are here trying to get Jade to be an Omega who will clean the kitchen, no one would say a word. However, you want to attach her to Damon, as his Luna. That holds a lot of weight. Did any of us get our current position because we made a deal? We all earned it. Luna is the one who proved herself as worthy by being better than the others, or because the Moon Goddess said so. If Damon accepts an undeserving female to accompany him, it will ruin his pack. Is that what you are trying to do here? To ruin the Dark Howlers pack?"

Alpha Adam and his Beta were both furious. They were surrounded by youngsters who were looking down on them!

Damon was pleased that his friends spoke up and shut down those two pesky people. There was nothing left to say.

Damon got his next glass filled with amber liquid when the door opened with an announcement, "Alpha Talia Moonrider and Beta Meghan from the Midnight Guardians pack!"

'CRASH!'

This time, the glass from Damon's hand fell on the stone floor and broke into a million pieces.

Damon wondered if his ears malfunctioned but then he saw a familiar figure in a dark gray knee-length pencil skirt and a matching blouse, and her hair lifted into a neat bun, and… that was his kitten! She wore high heels and light makeup that added a few years to her appearance, and she had a shiny token hanging on the left side of her blouse, but that was definitely her! Talia.

'Surprise!', Talia's voice sounded in Damon's head, and he could hear that she was smiling even though her expression was serious as she made her way to sit on an empty sofa with Meg one step behind her.

Damon was pulled out of his shock when Maddox smacked his shoulder with much more force than necessary.

"Is that…?"

"KHM! KHM!"

Caden's exaggerated cough cut off Maddox's question which was definitely related to Talia.

Maddox looked at Caden and it took him a moment to realize his almost-mistake. Talia didn't approach them because she wanted to conceal her identity!

"Another one, Alpha Damon?", the bartender asked sourly. Damon was more spilling than drinking, and he already broke two glasses for no apparent reason!

Damon gestured that he wanted another one. With Talia showing up in this den of wolves, he definitely needed a drink.

'Why are you here?', Damon asked Talia while peeling his eyes from her with difficulty. He didn't want to stare at her, fearing that his expression will blow her cover. But the fact that he looked away made him the odd one because all other eyes were on Talia.

He used the mirror behind the bar to look at her. She was beautiful.

'I heard that Alphas are gathering, so I thought of joining. Did you miss me?'

Damon caught her gaze in the mirror and he couldn't believe this. Was she flirting with him? In this situation? Did she know how dangerous this was?

'You should leave. Now.', Damon said ominously.

'Not without you.', Talia responded. 'I know that you want me to stay home and be safe while waiting for you, but I can't be safe knowing that you are facing the storm. Didn't you say that we are equals?'

'This is not about being equals, kitten', Damon said, his voice much softer than before. 'This is about all these people ripping you into pieces if they find out that something is wrong.'

'What could go wrong?', Talia asked.

Damon groaned as a million bad outcomes flashed in his mind. 'I knew that Keith will be useless as your guard. You probably winked at him, he fainted, and all others wished you a safe journey. Or are they outside waiting for you with banners of support while you risk your life here? And how did you reach here without a plane? And…'

'Damon!', Talia interrupted him. 'This is not about Keith and others being useless, but about me being capable. Cornelia used her magic to transport me here, but before that, I made a quick stop to the Lightclaw pack.'

Damon immediately understood one thing. 'You did something for Tony to become an Alpha.' This was worse than he thought!

Damon reached for the glass that the bartender gave him. He really needed that drink.

Talia didn't deny it. 'I wanted to talk to Alpha Magnus, to make him see the reason, but he was stubborn and one thing led to another. Don't worry, nothing happened.'

"PFFFT!", Damon sprayed a mouthful of whiskey all over the bar. Everyone at the bar looked at him questionably, the bartender included, but Damon was busy arguing with Talia through the mind-link.

'Nothing happened? You toppled the leadership of another pack. That's war!'

'There will be no war. I was careful. Axel was with me.'

'Axel…', Damon grumbled. 'So, he could come with you, and I was left in the dark?'

'If I told you, would you let me?', Talia asked.

Damon jabbed his hand into his hair. He knew she was right. He wouldn't let her, but there was a reason for it.

'It was safer for you to stay home. This is only for Alphas, and you can't expect that people will allow you to stick around.'

'What can they do? I have the token that proves I'm the Alpha.'

'This is more than just a token, kitten. There is a device to check if you are real Alpha.', Damon said dejectedly. He assumed that she was here because Axel gave her his token, and Damon was ready to punish Axel severely for enabling Talia to join this shitshow. 'We need to find a way to get you out of here. I will create a diversion and you…'

'Damon, do you trust me?', Talia interrupted him.

'With my life.', he responded without missing a beat. But he was not sure if he trusted her with HER life.

'I can feel that you are worried for me, for us, for our pack, but you are not alone. Let me do how much I can.', Talia pleaded, and she let him feel through their mate bond all the love and admiration she had for him. 'I have a lot of things to tell you, Damon. Let's talk when this is over, and until then, trust me.'

Damon released a frustrated breath. He wanted to argue and talk some sense into her, but how can he say no to his kitten?

 

Chapter 556 The Council of Alphas (4)

Caden saw that Damon's expression was changing and it dawned on him... 'You can communicate with Talia?', Caden asked through their pack mind-link.

Damon smiled a little. 'Since marking.' The second marking, but Damon didn't want to go into details.

Caden never heard of such a thing, but he never saw werewolves glowing either. With Talia, anything was possible. She was just one surprise after another. 'What does Talia say? Why is she here? Is she really the Alpha of the Midnight Guardians pack?'

'I don't know, Caden. She asked me to trust her.'

'And you don't?'

Damon was aware that Talia could probably suppress them all with her aura. However, Damon knew that Talia was a gentle soul, and he knew how vicious some Alphas can be. Other than a few people who were sitting there with him, everyone was waiting for Talia to trip and fall on her face. Alpha Richard was the one who hired mercenaries to snoop about Talia's identity, and he hated her for the embarrassment he endured at the Lightclaw pack. And there was Alpha Edward, one of the reasons why she spent most of her life hiding in the attic! Every fiber of Damon's being screamed to go there, wrap Talia in his embrace, and protect her from everything.

'I think that she is way over her head.', Damon said to Caden.

'I disagree.', Caden responded. 'I think that Talia is smarter and stronger than you give her credit.'

'Do you think I'm underestimating her?'

'No. But I think that you are overestimating yourself.', Caden said. 'This is not a fight you can win by yourself. Talia knows that and she wouldn't be here without a plan. Yesterday you announced to our warriors that she should be treated as an Alpha, your equal. Did you change your mind already? She surprised us many times so far, and I have a feeling that she will perform another miracle.'

Caden regretted that Maya was not here to see whatever Talia was about to pull out of her sleeve. Will it include more glowing? Maybe he should record it so Maya can see it later.

Damon looked at Caden thoughtfully. 'You are right. Talia visited the Lightclaw pack before coming here.'

Caden's eyes widened. 'Tony mentioned that him coming here as an Alpha was not the biggest surprise. He knew that Talia was coming. Was she behind Alpha Magnus' sudden retirement?'

When Damon confirmed, Caden really regretted that Maya was not present. She would enjoy this so much!

Damon used the mirror behind the bar to see that everyone was stealing glances at Talia and Meg, and Alpha Edward was staring at them openly.

Alpha Edward was in shock to find out that Alpha Magnus was replaced, but now another new face showed up. Talia's last name matched with the Alpha family from the Midnight Guardians pack, but he never heard Alpha Isaac or Alpha Sophia mentioning a daughter. Or was she Axel's mate who took his last name? That was a possibility, but then Axel should attend this meeting and not his mate.

Alpha Edward wanted to rip off that scarf that was around Talia's neck. He was unable to check if she was marked with that fabric covering her up!

"Since everyone is here", a Guardian spoke from the door. "The meeting will start in ten minutes."

Alpha Edward gave a meaningful look to Alpha Richard and then tilted his head toward Talia, silently giving an order for Alpha Richard to investigate the situation there.

Alpha Richard knew very well what Alpha Edward wanted, and with a stiff smile, he walked toward Talia.

"Alpha Talia, right?", Alpha Richard called, and Talia looked up at the man, wondering if he will recognize her as the woman who embarrassed him and his daughter (aka Cassie) at the Luna announcement ceremony at the Lightclaw pack. Based on the polite tone Alpha Richard used, Talia guessed that he had no idea who she was. Perfect.

"Yes?", Talia responded questionably.

Alpha Richard cleared his throat awkwardly because Talia was still sitting on that sofa, and he was standing. "I am Alpha Richard from the Steelbite pack."

Talia nodded in acknowledgment of his words but didn't say anything else.

Alpha Richard felt like slapping her. He is her senior, why was that skinny girl not showing him respect? "I was wondering if you know what this gathering is about."

Talia tilted her head. "I responded to a summon because I guessed it's important. Did I miss something?"

"We are here to discuss the unruly behavior of some Alphas and to sanction them appropriately.", Alpha Richard said cryptically.

Talia's eyes widened. "Did someone complain about my pack?" She turned to Meg. "How come I didn't hear about it?"

"No, no!", Alpha Richard was quick to say. "It's about someone else."

"I see.", Talia said. "I look forward to seeing the evidence."

"Evidence?", Alpha Richard asked and looked at Alpha Edward who didn't move from his spot, but he was obviously listening in.

"Yes, evidence.", Talia confirmed. "If the Council of Alphas was summoned to discuss someone's actions, with no evidence, it's just slander. We are all busy people with no time for dealing with gossip. My time away from the matters I should attend to costs money and potentially puts my pack in danger. If you are wasting my time, I expect to be compensated."

Alpha Richard stared at Talia unsure if he understood her right. "What?"

Talia exhaled irritably and glanced at Meg.

Meg took that as a cue to speak.

"Why do you look confused? My Alpha said that this should be important, and it better be supported by evidence, otherwise we are all wasting our time here and someone should pay for it."

At the bar, Maddox chuckled and elbowed Tony with, "Aren't you bummed that she is not your Beta?"

Yes! Tony wanted Meg to be his Beta! But Nate was right there, so he couldn't say that.

"Every person has his strengths.", Tony responded politically.

Alpha Cristian leaned closer to Damon so they are not overheard. Alpha Adam and his Beta were gone, but with everyone having werewolf hearing, he still lowered his voice to say, "I think I know why you kept your mate a secret so far. She is worth stealing."

Damon narrowed his eyes at Alpha Cristian, but he didn't respond. His kitten was awesome.

Alpha Richard didn't understand what Talia was trying to say. Was she a righteous person who expected evidence, or was just compensation enough to win her vote? But he couldn't clarify that in front of everyone.

Alpha Richard was aware of their audience as everyone was eavesdropping. He leaned closer to Talia and asked in a low voice, "Do you mind if we step outside and talk in private?"

Talia cocked an eyebrow. "I apologize Alpha Richard, but you are not my type."

'PFFFT!' Damon sprayed a mouthful of whiskey on the bar, and the bartender's frown told him that he won't be getting any more drinks. He was just wasting it!

Alpha Richard was flabbergasted. Why did Talia make it sound like he was making a move on her?

 

Chapter 557 The Council of Alphas (5) [Bonus chapter]

Author's note:

Thank you, Peaches1, for the Magic Castle gifted on April 29, 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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Everyone was now openly looking at Alpha Richard and Talia, and they clearly heard Damon spitting out his drink which was followed by snickering from Maddox, Tony, and other people who were there.

Alpha Richard glanced toward the bar angrily before looking at Talia. "That's not what I meant."

Talia looked at the man innocently. "Did I misunderstand? I thought you wanted me somewhere private."

"To talk.", Alpha Richard said irritably.

"Riiiiight.", Talia drawled sarcastically. "Still, I will decline. We are not familiar with each other."

"You are misunderstanding something. I only want to talk."

"If it's just talking, why can't it be done here?", Talia responded with a question. "The fact that you want privacy is telling me you are up to no good. I heard about your reputation, Alpha Richard, and I was warned not to be alone with you in places that provide privacy."

Alpha Richard was furious. Talia's words made him sound like a lecherous man who would go after girls who barely came of age. He liked his women more mature, alright!? And it's not like he would just go at it without restraints. Actually, among the Alphas, his reputation in womanizing was low.

And then it hit him: she was doing this on purpose! And the fact that she was still sitting was rubbing him the wrong way.

"You will regret this.", he squeezed through his teeth.

"Are you threatening me?", Talia asked Alpha Richard, and then she turned to Meg. "It seems that our relationship with the Steelbite pack is worse than we thought." Talia craned her neck to see the two Guardians that were at the door. "How far can he go? If he decides to attack me, am I allowed to defend myself?" When Talia and Meg arrived, they were welcomed by two guys who told them a few points about the Council and how violence won't be tolerated.

Alpha Richard swiftly lifted his hands, palms toward Talia, and took a step back. "Let's stop this here before things escalate."

Talia frowned a little. "You approached me, you started it, it's only fair that you finish. But can you just walk away as if nothing happened?"

"What do you expect me to do?", he asked with urgency.

"You should at least apologize.", Meg said from the side.

Alpha Richard nearly choked on his saliva. "I should, what?"

"Apologize.", Tony said while approaching them, and Nate was one step behind him. "You came here and threatened Alpha Talia when she refused to leave the lounge with you. We all heard you. The least you can do is apologize. But just words aren't enough. I think that an annual tribute would be in order, for the next ten years. It's a good way to show sincerity and a reminder for you so it doesn't happen again."

Alpha Richard couldn't believe this. A tribute? He was already having a headache because of the tribute to the Dark Howlers pack that came with an excessive amount of embarrassment, and now Tony was talking nonsense about how there should be another one?

"What's in it for you?", Alpha Richard snapped at Tony.

Tony was high on adrenaline. Showing up here among Alphas with no one daring to scold him, got into his head.

Talia told Tony that she will stay away from Damon, Maddox, and Cristian, so that people don't guess her identity, but Tony was a free agent. Talia made him an Alpha and what kind of a person would he be if he just stayed and watched as his father's so-called allies mistreated her?

Talia told Tony that this meeting was about vultures going at Damon and they will be extra-careful not to provoke others so that Damon doesn't get more allies. She also told him to keep his head high because people won't see him as a person, they will see him as an Alpha of a pack, and no one will dare go too far out of fear of starting a war. As for Tony, he was eager to test the limits and find out how far was that 'too far' Talia spoke about.

Tony stood in front of Alpha Richard now, and somehow, Tony appeared to be taller than before.

"Alpha Talia and my Luna are close friends, and in extension, I consider Alpha Talia my friend as well. How can my people respect me as their Alpha if my friend gets bullied in front of me and I don't interfere?"

Alpha Richard glanced around to see if anyone else will interfere, but everyone just stood and watched which made him feel awkward. He cursed internally when he realized that people were waiting for one of the parties involved to make a mistake and with Tony coming to backup Talia, Alpha Richard was at disadvantage. But he was not a greenhorn who didn't know how to twist the situation.

"Does Alpha Talia need you to speak for her?", Alpha Richard asked.

"Of course, not. But I am a gentleman. I can't stand on the side and watch as a pretty lady gets harassed.", Tony said like it's a totally normal thing.

'CRACK!'

Crips sound of glass breaking was heard as Damon crushed the glass he was holding onto.

'Calm down, love.', Talia's voice sounded in Damon's head.

His fury fizzled away when he realized that she called him love, but… 'How can I calm down when another man is your shield and he called you a pretty lady?'

'Are you bothered that Tony called me pretty or that he came to my aid so that Alpha Richard and his cronies don't make the connection between the two of us?'

Damon cursed under his breath. When she put it that way, he ended up being the unreasonable one, but Damon wanted to be the one giving Talia compliments and protecting her!

'You are not alone.', Talia continued. 'WE are not alone. I am glad that Tony stepped out because if all of our friends do the same, it will be difficult for Alpha Edward to point fingers at any of us.'

Alpha Richard mumbled an apology to Talia with, "I suggest that we all take a step back and think about what's at stake here. If necessary, we can talk about this further, after our meeting."

Talia nodded in agreement and Alpha Richard was not happy about this outcome where he needed to retreat first. He consoled himself with the thought of how Talia will soon see who the power players are, and she will be the one apologizing.

Alpha Edward was watching this scene and he didn't like this, not even a little bit.

Tony was obviously on good terms with Damon, and with Tony stepping up to defend Talia, there were high chances that the Midnight Guardians pack will side with Damon, and that meant Alpha Edward's majority became shaky.

"It is time!", a Guardian from the door announced. "Please move to the conference room so that the meeting can start."

"Before we head out, I want to ensure that everyone here is an Alpha!", Alpha Edward exclaimed, making everyone turn to look at him.

 

Chapter 558 The Council of Alphas (7)

Damon felt pride swelling in his chest at the way how Talia commanded this group of Alphas.

She looked at them without shrinking and he really wanted to build the shiniest pedestal in the world and put her on it so that everyone can see how amazing she is.

Talia felt Damon's support washing over her and it reinforced her resolve not to crack.

She lifted her chin proudly and said, "I'm not the one to bully people with excessive demands, but considering the amount of trouble I would get if I fail the test, I agree with my Beta. A kneeling apology will suffice."

Seeing that Alpha Edward hesitated, Talia decided to push his buttons. "Why are you not agreeing? A minute ago, you were confident that I'm an impostor who doesn't belong here. If you are right, there won't be a need for apologies or…"

"I agree.", Alpha Edward interrupted Talia's chatter.

"Good!", Talia exclaimed. "Now I want to see who else wants me to take this test."

"Wait a minute!", Damon said from the side, making everyone look at him.

"Why are you meddling?", Alpha Edward hissed.

Damon approached the group that was now forming a circle around Talia and Meg.

"I see that you and Alpha Talia are negotiating.", Damon said without removing his gaze from Alpha Edward. "If she passes the test, she gets an apology from Alphas who doubt her, and if she fails, you get to kick her out, but I have a feeling that it should be more than just words."

Alpha Edward frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Damon stuffed his hands into his pants pockets and looked at Alpha Edward smugly. "The two of you are wasting our time. It's been hours since I left my pack to come here and I still have no idea why. And now you are arranging this play that I need to watch without any benefits. Why would I care if you and a few more get on your knees?"

Alpha Edward's face darkened. "You want benefits? Isn't it in everyone's interest to confirm that…"

'PAK!'

Talia clapped her hands loudly.

"Alpha Damon is right!", she exclaimed. "I apologize for not realizing that Alphas won't be happy with just watching without participating."

Alpha Edward looked at her like she lost her mind. "You want people to participate? Didn't we agree that not everyone needs to do the test in order to save time?"

"You already wasted so much time that a few more minutes won't make a difference.", Alpha Cristian chimed in. "Let Alpha Talia speak. I am curious about her idea especially if it will bring me benefits."

Talia gave him a grateful nod before saying, "I don't want everyone to take a test, but, how about a bet?"

"A bet?", Alpha Edward asked in confusion.

Talia raised her index finger. "One million dollars each. Every Alpha in this room gets to pick if he believes I'm the real deal or an impostor. The winning group gets their money back and splits the rest. The losers will get no money and need to kneel and apologize."

"WHAT! Are you out of your mind?", Alpha Edward shouted, but before anyone could agree with him, Maddox was already by Damon's side.

"I will play that game!", Maddox announced.

"Me too!", Alpha Cristian was quick to add.

'I sure hope you know what you are doing.', Damon's voice sounded in Talia's head. "Count me in."

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Talia looked around to see other Alphas gathered in groups to discuss the pros and cons of putting their money for Alpha Edward or for Talia.

Other than Tony, none of them knew for sure if Talia was the real deal, and even Tony knew only because Axel confirmed it. But these Alphas were aware that if they put their vote on the wrong side, it will be much more than just a million dollars on the line. Most of them were contacted by Alpha Edward in advance, and since he was the one challenging Talia, their vote will confirm their loyalty.

With nothing better to do, Talia was observing the spherical device that was placed on a small pedestal, resembling a crystal ball made out of copper or some other rust-like material. It had carvings of wolves and a moon etched into it. It was beautiful.

"Alpha Talia", one Guardian said from the side. He was the one who brought the gadget. "This device measures the bond between you and your pack. We call it the Sphere of Power. For a person not belonging to a pack, it won't show any reaction." He put his hand on the item and nothing happened. "Since you are an Alpha, the amount of light will reflect how much your people believe in you."

Talia placed her hand over her chest, remembering Axel's words how she can feel the hopes and support of their pack members. Axel also said that those will amplify her strength and abilities. Was this device measuring that?

"So, only Alphas of packs can make it work?"

The Guardian shook his head. "Only leaders can make it work. You don't need to be an official Alpha of a pack. As long as people follow you, the device will react to your touch."

Talia became restless after hearing these words. Sure, she was an Alpha of the Midnight Guardians pack, but were people actually willing to follow her?

'This is brilliant!', Meg praised Talia through the mind link.

'You think so?', Talia was not sure how this will end.

'Of course!', Meg was confident. 'Once the results are out, the misogynistic bastard from the Red Moon pack will suffer a loss, and that will shake the confidence of his cronies. Why would they side with a guy who lost before the meeting even started?'

'But they will test if I'm the real Alpha.'

Meg frowned. 'Are you worried about that?'

'What if the bond between me and the pack members is not strong enough?'

Meg shook her head in disapproval. 'Don't be silly. The whole pack worships you. They all felt your power during the Alpha ceremony, and Axel is reminding them how he found his mate thanks to you, and how you will do the same for everyone else.'

Talia was not convinced. 'Even after all this time?' Sure, it was only two-three days for her, but for the Midnight Guardians pack, that was more than two months!

'Especially after all this time.', Meg said with confidence. 'Axel explained to everyone that the two of you are working on ensuring the safety of our pack members. Do you know that since you became the Alpha not a single person tried to leave without permission? And now that Axel and Yasmin returned with the baby-news, I'm sure that the crowd is going wild.'

Talia closed her eyes and felt the emotions of the Midnight Guardians pack members. They were happy and excited hopeful and… 'Thank you, Meg, for reminding me what's important.'

Meg looked at Talia smugly. 'That's what a Beta should do for her Alpha. It doesn't matter what these old farts are scheming. Just like what you told Tony, remember that you are not alone. Believe in yourself, in your allies, and in your pack. If any of them dares to give you shit and crosses the line, I will blow them away and blame it on PMS.'

Talia stifled a laugh. She was really grateful that Meg was by her side.

 

Chapter 559 The Council of Alphas (8)

Talia looked at Damon who was talking with Maddox, Tony, and Cristian in low voices, with their four Betas standing at a respectable distance.

Damon wanted to stay by Talia's side, but Talia told him how that was not a good idea and that he should be with his buddies until Alpha Edward shows his cards.

Talia feared that if they were too close, she might reach to hold Damon's hand or lean on him and that would be a big revelation they were not ready to make yet. She wanted Alpha Edward to believe that she was on her own, isolated, and vulnerable because if he realized that she has the backing, he might retreat for now and hit them later when they are not expecting.

Talia believed that they were at an advantage because their enemies didn't know she was Talia, the mysterious girl from the Summer Solstice festival, the one who went as Damon's date to Kalina's Luna announcement ceremony, Damon's assistant… Damon's mate.

'You believe in me, right?', Talia's voice sounded in Damon's head.

'Kitten, even if you say that the rain is dry, I would support you.'

Talia's lips lifted into a smile. This was not about if she was right or not, but about Damon supporting her unconditionally. Wasn't he the sweetest? And she loved their private mind-link that was like a super-cheat. Talia noticed that when they were using it, Damon's eyes didn't lose focus like when he was mind-linking the pack members, so no one knew they were communicating secretly.

'You are the best mate one could have.'

Damon perked up. 'I am. You better reward me for this.'

'I will. I will do anything.', Talia said and then added in a lower voice. 'And I mean… anything.'

'Damn, kitten! How am I supposed to focus with a raging hard-on?'

"PFT!", Talia burst into giggles, and Meg looked at Talia with concern, wondering if all this pressure was too much for her Alpha.

…

"Isn't there some time limit?", Talia asked the Guardian who was standing next to the Sphere of Power.

"None that we will enforce.", he responded. "We are here to serve Alphas who are members of the Council and to ensure that all activities here pass in peace."

Talia noticed that he said how they were serving, yet everyone was treating them with respect. That definitely meant something, but she felt that it was not her place to ask about it.

Talia shifted on her feet and looked at the group of people where Alpha Edward was. They were chatting and laughing like they had the whole day available for idling.

"Are you in a hurry, Alpha Talia?", the Guardian asked, noticing her impatience.

Yes! There was the pack run, the full moon, the ritual to dispel the black magic that was plaguing Damon, and it was all scheduled for that evening. The windows showed that outside dawn was replaced by the sunrise, and even though there was a time difference of two hours between this location and the Dark Howlers pack, Talia was worried because they didn't even start yet! But she couldn't say any of that.

"I don't think there is a point in dragging this.", Talia said. "They have no evidence either way, so what's happening are mind games and deals under the table."

The Guardian was unable to hide his surprise.

"Do you think I'm wrong?", she asked.

"No. But I think you are bold to call it out openly." He chuckled. "Alphas are proud, and they prefer when people think of them as the ones in charge. When you say that they are being swayed by someone else it makes them appear…", he paused while picking the right word. "Weak. They will retaliate only because of this insult, to prove you wrong."

It's not that Talia didn't understand but, "If they are against me just because I said the truth, it will prove they are weak. As Alphas, they should know that power is not measured only by one's aura or how strong the punch is. And if they measure their worth by who accumulated more, that makes them open to manipulation which is a weakness by itself."

"Your wisdom is beyond your age Alpha Talia. I hope that years in power won't corrupt you."

Talia was not sure how to respond to this, so she smiled awkwardly.

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Eventually, Alphas gathered around Talia.

"How are we going to do this?", Maddox asked. "I assume that most of us don't have so much cash lying around."

The Guardian spoke, "If you allow me to suggest a solution. You can use your tokens to indicate your vote. If you lose, you will be required to pay the winners as soon as you get home, no later than one week from now."

After some murmurs, everyone agreed.

Damon put his token first on the table, on Talia's right. "I believe that Alpha Talia is the real Alpha of the Midnight Guardians pack."

Alpha Edward put his token on Talia's left. "I'm not so sure about it."

One by one, tokens were placed.

Alphas Maddox, Tony, and Cristian put their tokens next to Damon's, and on the other side were tokens from Alphas Edward, Richard, Peter, and William.

Alpha Adam was looking at Damon like he was hoping for a sign that he will acknowledge Jade as his Luna, but when Damon ignored him, Alpha Adam put his token next to Alpha Edward's.

Alpha Robert was quick to follow and put his token on the bigger pile, which made Alpha Edward smirk victoriously. He definitely had a majority.

His smile fell when he saw that Alpha Patrick put his token on the other pile, surprising Damon and everyone else present because Alpha Patrick and Alpha Robert were usually sticking together. Alpha Edward wanted to ask Alpha Patrick if he was out of his mind to side with those reckless youngsters, but he gave up on that. It was six vs five, and Alpha Edward was looking forward to the results of the testing.

"This is it.", Alpha Edward said while rubbing his hands and then he waved at Talia to get going with the test.

"What's the rush?", Talia asked while removing her token.

Alpha Edward frowned when Talia put her token on her right, and with that, each side held six tokens. Somehow, it reminded him that if Talia passes this, it will create equilibrium. But he didn't think she can pass. Even if she was the real Alpha, she was young, without any accomplishments. It takes time and effort for people to support her, and she was definitely a greenhorn in this Alpha business so assuming that the sphere will react, Alpha Edward will challenge her on how it was not enough. He didn't care if he was right. As long as he creates disruption, there would be doubts he could use to his advantage.

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Chapter 560 The Council of Alphas (9)

Talia glanced at Alpha Edward who stared at her token with a frown, and she asked the Guardian who somehow ended up being the judge there. "If my challenger can participate, so can I. Right?"

The Guardian nodded in agreement. "It makes sense."

Talia looked at the Sphere of Power apprehensively. "So, how does this work? Do I just put my hands there, or…?", her voice trailed, waiting for further instructions.

"Put your hand on the sphere while thinking about the bond with the people who follow you."

Talia would appreciate more details, but the guy didn't say anything else, so she knew that this was as good as it gets.

Talia extended her hand gingerly and focused on the sensation in her chest that was brewing there since she became the Alpha of the Midnight Guardians pack.

The cold metal made Talia jolt and she stared at the sphere that didn't react.

'Liseli? Help!', Talia panicked after two seconds. Alpha Edward was already snickering victoriously.

'This is all on you, kid.', Liseli responded.

'It's not working!'

'Because you are not a leader.'

Talia couldn't believe this. 'What!?'

'Right now, you are a scared girl who is hoping for a miracle. There are no miracles, Talia. Trust yourself and trust your abilities. Do you think that Selena would make me your wolf if she didn't believe you can handle me?'

'That's a nice speech, but how do I trust myself?'

'It was never about you because you don't think you are worthy.', Liseli responded. 'Every time you did something amazing, it was for someone else. Do this for the Midnight Guardians pack. Do this for the Dark Howlers pack. Do this for your mate. Do this for my mate. Do this for your friends. Do this for your guards who are probably panicking because they figured out that you are missing…'

Talia closed her eyes and imagined the scene of her standing on the terrace with Axel by her side. They were facing hundreds of members of the Midnight Guardians pack who were chanting, "Long live Alpha Talia!"

A buzzing sound got Talia's attention and she opened her eyes to see that the sphere was glowing in a blindingly silvery light.

Liseli sent another mental image to Talia. This one was with Damon by her side, and warriors of the Dark Howlers pack were all bowed toward the couple with their fists over their hearts.

Talia's eyes widened when she saw a thick stream of gray snaking around the blindingly white sphere.

Another image popped into Talia's mind. This one was a breakfast in the garden. Damon was feeding Talia, and at the same table were Maya, Caden, Kalina, Tony, Maddox, and Tatiana, and then she saw the dinner table that included James, Cornelia, Dawn, George, Mindy, and Gideon. Zina's and Stephanie's images came next.

With every next person, another colorful string appeared, or existing ones became thicker. Blue, red, purple, yellow… and they were all rotating to create a fantastic display of colors that was shining because the silvery light acted as an amplifier, like when the sun hits the mosaic glass.

'Is this supposed to happen?', Talia asked Liseli. She had no idea about the Sphere of Power, but the way everyone gapped at the glowing ball was making her unsettled.

'I'm not sure. I can tell you that each of your powerful friends will use their influence to assist you unconditionally, so people like Tatiana and Kalina are counting for at least a dozen people each.'

"What does this mean?", Alpha Edward asked under his breath.

The Guardian snapped out of his daze. He was staring at the sphere whose brightness was still increasing and then he looked at Talia like she was growing a second head. It took him a long moment to grab Talia's wrist and pull her hand away from the sphere that dimmed the moment Talia lost contact with the object.

"I believe this confirms that Alpha Talia has the loyalty of her pack.", the Guardian said.

"How is that possible?", Alpha Edward asked angrily. He had never seen the sphere working before, but his father told him that the red color represents the Red Moon pack, and there was at least one red string in there. Did that mean that someone from his pack was more loyal to Talia than to him, the Alpha? "Your sphere is broken! How can she have loyalty from other packs?"

The Guardian frowned at Alpha Edward. "What makes you think she has the loyalty of other packs?"

"The colors!", Alpha Edward said while pointing at the sphere frantically. "Why were there different colors?"

The Guardian paused for a moment before responding, "Different colors represent the type of loyalty. The most prominent color was the silver light with white streaks, and that means her pack members follow her willingly to the point of worship."

Alpha Edward gaped at the Guardian, wondering if he could call out his statement as malarkey. His plan was to accuse Talia of cheating or not being good enough, but how can he do that when everyone saw the way the sphere lit up and the guy said that her pack members worship her!?

"You can collect your tokens.", the Guardian said. "The ones who lost have one week to pay their debt. If not, the Guardians will intervene." He turned to Talia. "Alpha Talia, I hope you can stay after the meeting is over. We would like to discuss a few things with a promising Alpha like yourself…"

Alpha Edward paled. He just lost one million dollars and a lot of face.

Maddox was rubbing his palms happily. "Thank you, Alpha Talia. This was the easiest million I ever earned. What do you want as a thank you present?"

Talia shook her head. "No need. But if you can invest a portion of that money into a shelter for abused and abandoned, that would be wonderful."

At the mention of a shelter, Maddox's mood dropped when he remembered how just before he left for this wretched meeting, he got a call from Mindy who told him that Marcy was on her way to their shelter. Marcy! What the hell!? Maddox wanted to punch Damon for dragging him into that mess but now was not the time.

Tony thanked Talia with, "My reign as the Alpha of the Lightclaw pack is starting with a million dollars, thanks to you. If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask."

Talia collected her token while listening to Alpha Cristian's words of praise, and she met Damon's shocked gaze.

'Damon?', Talia called. 'Are you alright?'

'You really are the Alpha of the Midnight Guardians pack.', Damon said after some time. 'And a very good one.'

Talia bit her lower lip. Why did she feel guilty about it? 'I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you but there were so many things…'

'This was unexpected. I know you said to trust you, and I waited to see how far you will go, ready to cause a scene and carry you out of here into safety. I would never allow Alpha Edward or any other bastard to touch you.'

'Thank you, Damon.' She really meant it, surprised that Damon took this calmly. 'You can be angry at me when this is over, OK?'

Damon shook his head. 'I can't be angry at you even if I try. You are too sexy for that.'

Talia bit the inside of her cheek harshly to prevent herself from laughing.