Filed To Story: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Talia didn’t want to think about werewolves going at it in random spots through the forest, but the rest didn’t sound intimidating. “Why do you sound like it’s a problem?”
“Because…” Dayson let out a long breath. “The part with running and hunting is done in wolf form.”
Talia’s mouth fell slack open when she realized where the problem was. In wolf form? She never shifted, and her wolf only made a few nasty remarks at Dayson before going back to wherever she came from.
“Do you think that Elders Samson and Charlie suggested the pack run because they knew about Talia’s condition?”, Jaeden asked.
Maya frowned. “You think they set us up?”
Jaeden shrugged, indicating that he was not sure. “Would you be surprised?”
Maya thought for a moment before sharing her thoughts. “If they heard the rumors how Talia doesn’t have a wolf, this was an interesting scheme. In the eyes of other Elders, they were magnanimous in giving you a chance to revive an old tradition and to strengthen the pack by having a Luna of your choice, but in reality, they set you up for failure in front of the whole pack.”
Talia wanted to ask how they would know that she doesn’t have a wolf, but then she remembered Lisa. Among other things, Lisa called Talia in her face a wolf-less she-wolf, and Talia couldn’t imagine what nasty things Lisa said when Talia was not around.
Jaeden puffed his cheeks. “There is a good chance that they considered the bad relationship between Alpha and Shaman. With this, Dayson would need to lower himself and ask Shaman to perform the ceremony as a favor, otherwise, the pack run would start on a bad note.”
Maya smiled smugly. “If that’s what they were going for, the nasty duo miscalculated. They obviously don’t know that Shaman found his mate. We just need to tell Mindy to ask Gideon about the ceremony, and he will do it gladly only to please her.”
“Well, at least we have that going for us.”, Talia said dejectedly. “Maybe his ceremony is so awesome that no one notices I didn’t turn into a wolf.”
Dayson rubbed Talia’s back gently and he thought about leaving all this crap behind. They could buy a small house in the middle of nowhere and live a comfortable life without anyone bothering them. Talia said that she loves the forest, and he could get them a home with access to a lake… somewhere high in the mountains where humans don’t come often. He would hunt for them and it will be perfect.
“You know…”, Jaeden started and hesitated.
“Go on.”, Dayson urged him. “We have so many bad things piled up, one more won’t matter.”
“This one week delay could be them buying time to contact Alpha Edward and come up with a plan to attack us.”
Dayson knew that Jaeden’s theory might be true. After all, Elder Samson and Elder Charlie were confirmed with connections in the Red Moon pack, and they also knew that Talia was his mate. How far ahead were they planning?
Dayson frowned. Did he fall into their trap?
‘Will it make any difference?’, Dayson’s wolf sounded in his head. ‘Trap or not, we are in an unfavorable situation, and you need to find the best way to get back on top. You did well by giving our mate identity in front of everyone. Treat this as your first challenge together and keep an eye on Elders. With what they did tonight, you have the right to monitor them. If they do anything suspicious, it will give you a reason to lock them up. And leave those silly thoughts about a solitary life as a last resort.’
‘Thanks.’ Dayson was glad that his wolf chimed in and pointed out what matters. Dayson was too overwhelmed with everything that happened, and his brain stopped working.
Normally, Dayson’s wolf would listen and the two of them would discuss things when others were not around. It was a habit they established to minimize the possibility of anyone finding out that Dayson’s wolf was special.
But with Dayson’s wolf having access to Dayson’s thoughts and emotions, the old creature was able to speak up at the critical moment and keep Dayson on the right path. Like now.
“It doesn’t matter why Samson and Charlie did this.”, Dayson said. “Alpha Edward would find out how his plan to make Marcy my Luna fell apart. It was a matter of days. Actually, we were lucky to get this extension thanks to James’ collaboration, but we knew that it wouldn’t last forever. I estimate that Alpha Edward already knows what happened tonight.”
Talia stiffened at Dayson’s words, and he tightened his hold on her while continuing, “I am done hiding Talia. She is my mate and I want the whole world to know it. I realized that postponing the inevitable only brought us more problems. If I told everyone who Talia is on the day she arrived here, things would be unpleasant, but they wouldn’t escalate to this point. The bottom line is that Marcy will not be my Luna, and neither will any other woman because I have my mate, and if anyone thinks otherwise, I am ready to accept his challenge.”
Talia looked at Maya, Jaeden, and Dayson. Three of them were worried and she really felt that it was her fault. If she was not from the Red Moon pack, if she had a wolf, if she had a background, if she was strong enough… none of this would happen.
The three of them were the first people who treated her nicely. They gave her home, food, and treated her as their equal. How can she allow them to suffer because of her?
Talia felt the urgency to do something. Anything.
“Let’s think about this one at a time.”, Talia said.
Dayson, Maya, and Jaeden turned to look at Talia, all three wondering what she was up to.
“We are open to ideas.”, Maya said.
“The pack run is a week from now. A lot of things can happen until then. I never shifted into my wolf form and I have no idea how that’s done, but…” Talia glanced at Dayson and smiled a little. “I am confident that if anyone can teach me to shift, that will be you.”
Dayson was amazed by her optimism, and he knew that it was fueled by her faith in him.
Dayson’s smile fell when Talia added, “And I will ask Shaman Gideon for help.”
Talia remembered that Shaman was not very friendly when she visited that afternoon, but now he was mated to Mindy, and Talia thought that she can leverage that. Surely, after a night of sex, he should be in a better mood.
Dayson was not happy that Talia would ask someone for help also. He wanted her to rely on him, but he knew that this was an emergency and he didn’t want to sound childish.
“We have a week to figure it out and to come up with backup plans, so that shouldn’t be the most pressing matter.”, Talia said before switching the topic. “We can’t allow Marcy to stay in this state. I don’t know if I can help her, but I want to try.”
“What do you think will happen if she wakes up?”, Dayson asked dryly. It was not good that Marcy was comatose, but in the case she woke up, Dayson could imagine Marcy throwing a fit. Dayson had a mate, and he made it public. Marcy won’t be happy. He really didn’t want another problem now.
“If she doesn’t wake up, people will blame us. Let’s not give Alpha Edward another reason to attack us.”
Dayson pinched the roof of his nose. He knew that Talia was right, but he didn’t like the idea of her exposing her abilities.
“And third…”
Dayson lifted his head to look at Talia because she had more things on her mind.
She looked at him with all determination she could muster before announcing, “I want you to mark me.”
Dayson felt butterflies going crazy in his stomach, and he forgot about all his worries while his eyes eagerly inspected Talia’s face. Did he hear her right? Did Talia say that she wants him to mark her?
Dayson was suppressing his urge to mark her for such a long time, that he was used to living with the knot in his chest, and now he can finally do what his instincts told him from the beginning… claim his mate.
Dayson didn’t realize that he was smiling foolishly. He didn’t look like a scary Alpha who was facing dangers from outside and inside his pack; he resembled a love-stricken teenager who couldn’t stop grinning while looking at his crush who was blushing because she could feel his erection poking her bottom.
“We have a plan.”, Maya said. “I will go with you in the morning to talk to Shaman.”
Dayson dispersed his lustful thoughts. Carnal pleasures will need to wait a bit because they were still talking.
“I will go with Talia.”, Dayson said.
Maya didn’t agree. “Your presence will make it worse.”
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.