The Alpha's Bride

Today's incident told Damon that he needs to win Talia's heart and her trust because just saying that they are mates won't be enough.

Without feeling the bond, Talia could run away from Damon when she feels threatened, and he will need to assure Talia that he will be there for her no matter what.

How will he accomplish that? Damon had no idea. He decided to ask Caden and Maya for advice tomorrow, but for tonight, this was good progress and the night was still not over.

For Talia, sitting on Damon's lap with his arms around her, came with a sense of safety and belonging, and he managed to make her nervous at the same time. His hold was comforting and warm, yet her insides shivered. It was unbelievable and contradictory.

When Damon asked her earlier that day what she wants as a reward for being the MVP of the tournament, Talia was thinking about a date with him, and this… isn't this kind of a date?

Talia didn't know if this means anything to Damon, but she was confident that she will remember this evening forever.

Damon cradled Talia in his arms, and she leaned on him completely as they enjoyed the fireworks and each other's company in silence.

…

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"Should we go to the festival?", Damon asked Talia once the fireworks ended.

Talia looked at Damon questionably, and he clarified. "I told you that I want to see the festival with you in the evening, and it's evening, so… Unless you are tired or not in the mood, we can go."

Talia blinked while processing his words. It seems that this date wasn't over yet, but there was a problem… "What about your shirt?" It was ruined with her snot and definitely not wearable. It was some silky material and Talia was not sure if it can be washed at all.

"Is there something wrong with me going like this?", Damon asked innocently.

"Well… no… but…", Talia stumbled over her words. She knew that werewolves don't shy from nudity and that going topless for a guy is not a big deal even if he is human, but this is a family-oriented festival and in a such social setting, he should cover up.

Besides, Damon is attracting attention as-is. If he goes into the town topless, Talia wondered if he will cause a riot.

Everyone would be staring at Damon (and at her if she is close to him). How can they enjoy the festival then?

Seeing that Talia couldn't find the right words to express her thoughts that were completely exposed by her expression, Damon chuckled. "Don't worry, kitten. Of course, I will get something to wear as long as you are willing to go with me." He paused to observe her face. "Are you willing to come with me?"

Talia stared into his eyes that smiled at her and she said, "OK", without realizing it.

Damon tilted his head and Talia understood that she should get up first.

Talia scooted out of his lap before standing up and Damon hissed.

"What's wrong?", Talia asked with urgency when she saw him frowning.

"My legs are numb."

"Oh…", a sound escaped Talia's lips. Well, she was sitting on his lap for a while. No wonder his legs are numb. "I'm sorry."

Seeing Talia's concern, Damon got an idea.

"If you are sorry, help me."

Talia extended her hand toward him, and Damon stared at it like it's a foreign object.

"What's that for?", he asked.

"Uhm… I want to help you get up. Take my hand."

Damon cocked an eyebrow. "I can't feel my legs. Unless you can carry me, there is no point in me getting up."

Talia had to agree with that logic. "So, how can I help?"

"You can massage my legs to improve blood flow.", Damon said matter-of-factly. Seeing that Talia didn't react, he added, "You don't have to. In a few minutes, I will be fine. Waiting a little bit is not a big price to pay in exchange for using me as a cushion all this time."

Talia was not sure if he was joking, but she was aware that she used the big scary Alpha as a cushion to sit on and he comforted her while she ruined his shirt, so it would be normal to help, but… "I don't know how. I never massaged anyone."

Damon couldn't believe that it worked. "Come here." He beckoned her to come down.

"It's mostly my thighs…", he started explaining as Talia got on her knees next to him. "Put your hands on them and apply pressure while making small movements to stimulate blood flow… you can press harder, this feels more like a tickle… yeah… that's good…"

Talia was squeezing his thighs and she had no idea if she was doing it right, but he said that it was good, so she continued.

Talia's hands moved timidly at first, and then with less reservation. She was pressing and kneading, and the delicious sparks of the bond prickled Damon's nerve endings through the fabric of his pants.

Damon wished that she moves her hands just a bit higher because it felt really good.

He was never so turned on. What would happen if she holds onto his shaft? Just the thought of that made him groan.

Talia paused her movements. "Let me know if I'm hurting you."

Damon cleared his throat and gestured to Talia to continue. "I will."

He looked at Talia's earnest expression and exhaled helplessly. They have a long way ahead of them.

Damon wanted to plop backward on the grass and enjoy the experience of Talia's hands on him, but he feared that if he lays back, Talia will see the bulge which will reveal his arousal. That would freak her out. Definitely.

On the bright side, while Damon was in a seated position, Talia's face was close to his and he could observe the smallest movements of her facial muscles. Gorgeous. He could look at her all day and not get bored of it.

Talia noticed that Damon was observing her intently and she felt heat creep up her neck. Ah, she was getting flustered again!

It was just the two of them, on the soft grass, in the darkness, with tall rocks on one side and a lake on another, and the expansive forest encircled everything. Distant sounds from the festival would drift their way with the breeze, and Talia realized that the atmosphere was very intimate.

Talia could literally feel the heat radiating from Damon's body, and she didn't dare look at him, but she knew that his intense gaze was fixed on her.

Talia couldn't believe that with Damon she could lower her guard completely and feel safe, and then there was this tangible anxiousness as she anticipated his next move.

"Is this enough?", Talia asked after some time.

"It will do, for now. Thank you.", he said in a husky voice.

"Don't mention it." Really, don't mention it.

Damon stood up and Talia picked up Cinna (aka the plush toy puppy) and the insulated lunch bag.

She was looking at the beer cans that were left behind her and Keith, but her hands were full.

"Should we pick up the cans so that we don't leave trash?"

Damon frowned at this question. He didn't want to touch anything that was related to Keith.

"I will send someone to clean this up.", Damon said stiffly and then he offered his left hand to Talia. "Let me hold something for you."

Talia gave him the lunch bag and he quickly kept it in his right hand, before extending his left one toward Talia again.

Damon smiled when Talia put her hand in his without a word and their fingers intertwined naturally.

Little by little, she was getting used to him. Holding hands. Hugs. Sleeping together. And soon, there will be more. Much more. He couldn't wait!

They walked for less than a minute when Damon stopped.

"Just a moment", he said and let go of her hand.

Talia watched him go behind a tree and a second later he returned while pulling a dark gray t-shirt over his head.

"Where did that come from?", Talia asked.

"We have stashes of clothes in the territory of the Dark Howlers pack. Anyone who ended up shifting without backup clothes can help himself. If humans see naked people emerging from the forest, they might start a nudist colony here and we don't want that."

Darkbourne is a town of werewolves, and a few humans who live here are mated to werewolves, hence aware of their existence. Having something that will attract a large number of humans into the area is not advisable because the existence of the werewolves is a secret that's keeping them safe, and all werewolves abide by this rule.

Talia looked at him with a small frown. "If you had clothes handy, why were you topless there?" She gestured toward the direction from where they came.

Damon smirked. "How else would you get used to touching me?"

"I didn't get used to touching you.", Talia was quick to respond.

"Of course, only one session won't be enough.", Damon said matter-of-factly. "We will need to practice more."

Talia was speechless. She really didn't know what to say, so she kept quiet.

They resumed walking while holding hands and Damon saw Talia holding the plush puppy with great care. He had to ask, "From where did that toy come from?"

"Keith won it for me at the fair.", Talia responded without thinking.

Damon felt the fire of fury brewing in the depths of his belly. "Did he now?"

Talia didn't notice the change in Damon's mood.

"Yes. At the ring toss. Isn't she cute?" Talia smiled at the toy and rubbed the puppy's head on her cheek. "I didn't have toys growing up. I love how soft she is. Her name is Cinna. That's short for Cinnamon."

Damon's heart cracked when he heard that Talia didn't have toys as a child. He was determined to win for her a bunch of toys at the festival and then he will buy her more.

He loved to see Talia happy, but he couldn't approve an item that came from another man.

Damon glared at the plush puppy while thinking what kind of an accident Cinna will encounter soon.

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