The Alpha's Bride

"Well, isn't that a visual treat for us single ladies?", Dawn asked with a sigh while she squinted toward the booth that was hidden in the darkness. "Axel is such an eye candy. I wish I could go there and introduce myself." She eyed Maya not-so-discreetly and Dawn frowned when she saw that Maya ignored her.

Maya got the message, loud and clear. Dawn hoped to get access to that booth, but Maya knew that Axel is one of the rare Alphas-to-be who is not living a licentious lifestyle, and she didn't want to offend him.

The rumor is that members of the Midnight Guardians pack are all waiting for their mates and won't fool around, which is extremely uncommon for werewolves who have high libidos and are exposed to nudity from young age.

Unfortunately for Axel, that same rumor is making him more appealing because many women (and some men) have set as their goal in life to take Axel's first time. Due to that, when in public, Axel has a perpetuate frown that should repel weak-willed hopefuls.

Maya looked at Talia who was drinking her second beer a bit too fast.

.

"Maybe you should slow down.", Maya advised Talia. Drinking and partying is one thing, but Talia was already swaying on that barstool and if Talia passes out, the makeover and coming here will be for naught.

Talia didn't want to slow down. The ache in her chest was getting unbearable and she welcomed the numbing sensation that alcohol provided. At this point, Talia wanted Maya to leave so that she can drown her sorrows and forget about fantasies that will never come true.

"Why don't you join Caden?", Talia asked Maya while gesturing in the direction of the VVIP booth.

"I came here with you.", Maya said. "It wouldn't be fair to leave you on your own. Of course, if you want to join me there, that's a different thing."

Talia refused. There was no way that she will subject herself to watching Alpha Damon with the woman who will warm his bed tonight, and maybe in the future as well.

Talia was drunk but firm on having fun tonight, and tomorrow she will work on leaving the packhouse… or maybe she will work on that after the festival is over, and Maya and Stephanie have time to talk about Talia's next sleeping arrangements.

"I am not on my own.", Talia responded with the best smile she could muster and gestured toward Dawn, Zina, Liam, and Pierce. "Go and be with your mate. I don't want Caden to hate me later."

Maya glanced at Dawn and Zina. "I will count on you to watch over Talia."

Dawn and Zina nodded earnestly and burst into giggles because they were tipsy. The mood was good. They stiffened when they heard Maya talking to them through the mind-link, 'If anything seems off, mind-link me directly. Don't let anyone bully Talia.'

The energy in the club was positive, but this was a bunch of werewolves with explosive tempers. There were visitors from other packs, and they were drinking. A fight could erupt at the slightest provocation, and it could get nasty at any moment.

Maya leaned closer to Talia, "If you need me, you know where to find me. I won't leave the club without you."

Talia was grateful for this reassurance that reminded her how Maya is a good person.

…

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Maya made her way through the crowd and climbed the stairs to the elevated booth, finding Caden there who welcomed her with a big smile on his face and arms open wide. Maya returned his smile and sank into his embrace. She relished his scent and soothing touch; it's something that only a mate can provide.

Maya glanced at Damon who was fiddling with his phone, and she wondered if he will notice that Maya is with them and not with Talia. She decided to give him a few minutes, and if he is still passive, she will give him a hint or two.

Axel's gaze was trained on the crowd, and he looked like he was contemplating something seriously, so others didn't want to disturb him.

Alpha Maddox was watching Mindy who downed her drink in one go before standing up abruptly.

"Who wants to dance?", Mindy asked enthusiastically only to face her brother's frown, and Axel and Damon didn't look willing to party either.

Seeing that Axel is grumpy, Mindy moved to stand in front of Damon. "As a host, shouldn't you entertain me?"

Damon lifted his gaze from the phone in his hand and cocked an eyebrow at Mindy. "What do you want?"

"To dance."

"As a host, I came to the club with you, and I'm allowing you to use my booth. If you want to dance…", Damon gestured toward the crowd, telling her silently that he was not interested.

That whole evening, Damon was not feeling well, and occasionally his chest ached like something was really wrong. He tried talking to his wolf, but he got only silence in response which made Damon more irritable. He was NOT in the mood to entertain anyone.

At Damon's rejection to join her on the dancefloor, Mindy rolled her eyes dramatically and went down on her own. Those Alphas were stiff and boring, and she wanted to party.

Mindy's schedule is usually packed with activities related to the Blue River pack and this was one of the rare occasions where she was free to indulge in whatever she wanted. Sitting in a dark booth with her brother and two grouchy guys was not her idea of having fun. Maya and Caden didn't count because they were making out.

"I'm sorry about Mindy being a pain in the ass.", Alpha Maddox said to Damon to what the latter responded with a stiff nod.

He didn't want to talk (or think) about Mindy. She was Alpha Maddox's sister, and that was it.

Damon checked the time and wondered if it was too early to bolt out of the nightclub. Was Talia done with her girly activities? He really wanted to cuddle and to feel the delightful sparks while the sweet citrusy scent of freesia lulls him to sleep.

It took Damon a minute to process that Maya was there. What about Talia? Did they finish their girl time and Maya came to the club? If that's the case, he can go back home right away.

Damon didn't care about interrupting the lovebirds. He did that many times before.

"Are you done with your girl time thing?", Damon asked Maya and when he saw the sparkle in her eyes, unease swelled in his chest.

He knew that look. Maya was up to something. Something he probably won't like.

Other than Stephanie, Maya was also suggesting that Talia leaves the packhouse; actually, Maya said that she will handle Talia's move to a different location.

Damon told himself that Maya wouldn't stage a move for Talia in the middle of the night, but his intuition was telling him to be alert.

"We are not done. It's still ongoing. I came to check on my mate.", Maya responded with a smile while tightening her hold on Caden.

Damon's face darkened when he understood that Talia is nearby, in the club probably. Without Maya. With whom is Talia? On her own or with someone? He was not sure which one of those two was worse.

"Where is she?" Damon didn't say Talia's name because Maya obviously knew who the target of Damon's interest was.

Maya stood up and walked to the metallic rail with Damon one step behind her.

Damon followed Maya's sight and he spotted Talia at the bar.

It was far away, but with his werewolf enhanced sight, Damon could clearly see Talia chatting and laughing and she was beautiful. The clothes fit her well, showcasing her flawless skin just enough to tease without exposing too much, and he wanted to see more. Much more.

Talia's hair was straight, and Damon could feel its silkiness between his fingers because he caressed Talia's hair many times before (mostly while she was sleeping).

After a moment of daze, Damon paid attention to Talia's surroundings and his mind exploded.

Who the hell were those two guys!?

Why were they so close to Talia?

And what was Talia wearing? Why was she so exposed for everyone to see?

Damon noticed that Talia was staring at Liam's arm that was covered in tattoos. He wondered, is Talia into tattoos? Maybe he should get a few.

No, wait! What was he thinking? That's not important now! Who cares about tattoos when Talia stood up from the barstool and she was chummy with two guys that are NOT Damon?

If he had any supernatural abilities, Damon would teleport right there, in front of Talia, and make both Pierce and Liam taste his fists.

Where was Talia going?

Why did she hook her arm with that dark-haired nobody (aka Pierce)?

Damon's frown deepened and he didn't blink as Talia walked with Dawn, Zina, Pierce, and Liam into the dancing crowd. Of course, his mind filtered out Dawn and Zina, showing him only Talia with Pierce and Liam.

Did that scrawny tattooed guy (aka Liam) put his arm around Talia's waist?

WHAT THE FUCK!?

Maya flinched when she heard the sound of metal creaking and she stepped away from Damon when she realized that the source of that sound was Damon gripping the rail.

She swallowed a mouthful of air. Maybe making Damon jealous was not such a good idea.

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