The Alpha's Bride

In the VIP area…

The unease in Damon's chest was increasing by the minute and the only thing that prevented him from flipping the table with all the drinks and snacks was that he was surrounded by Alphas and other high-ranking individuals from neighboring packs, and if he makes a spectacle, they will definitely have many questions Damon was not willing to answer.

'What's the status with Talia?', Damon asked Maya through the mind-link when he couldn't take it anymore.

'What about her?', Maya asked nonchalantly.

Damon's hands balled into fists. 'You should find her and make sure she is fine.'

'Why are you so concerned about her?', Maya asked. 'Talia is a big girl. I'm sure she is fine.'

Damon couldn't believe this.. 'Are you disobeying me?'

Maya felt Damon releasing his aura and she realized that she was close to crossing the line.

Maya is a brave and stubborn woman, but she wouldn't dare disobey Damon, mostly because that would draw a wedge between Damon and Caden. Maya was confident that if she defied Damon, it would mean she can't be Beta anymore and that would impact Caden as well. She didn't want to make Caden choose between his duty (and best friend), and her (aka his mate). It wouldn't be fair because Maya knew that they are all important to Caden.

But Maya didn't want to tell Damon Talia's whereabouts. Why would she make it easy for him?

If Damon is a man he thinks he is, he would go and take care of his mate, and not leave her alone while concealing the fact that they are mates.

Maya didn't get it. Are all men so dense? How does Damon think this will end up? Sure, he believes that he is protecting Talia, but the truth is that he is alienating the poor girl.

Mates are about security and unconditional acceptance, and Damon was not doing any of that. Actually, by concealing her importance, he was sending a message that Talia was not good enough and even though Talia didn't understand it, she could feel it. It was obvious that Talia was avoiding him because his behavior was confusing at best, and he was probably scaring her as well.

At this rate, they will crash and burn, and it will be Damon's doing and that's why Maya didn't care about Damon, but she was determined to help Talia see that there is a world outside Damon's presence and Maya hoped that will help Talia stand on her own two feet.

Maya was aware that Caden shared her opinion on how Damon should disclose Talia is his mate, but Maya also knew that Caden is taking Damon's side in this whole thing. After all, the two of them are buddies for a long time and Caden always had Damon's back.

'Calm down, Alpha, you don't want your guests to suspect something is wrong.', Maya said in an official tone. 'Talia is safe. I'm keeping an eye on her.'

…

Eleven players from two teams that are playing in the first match stood in the middle of the field and listened to the referee who was telling them the rules.

When that was over, they all turned to look at the VIP lounge where Damon stood up and spoke into a microphone, "I want to thank everyone for coming here to celebrate Summer Solstice with us…"

Talia was standing next to the bench with other substitute players, Travis, and Keith. They all stood up when Damon started talking, as a sign of respect.

Talia couldn't focus on what Damon was saying because the sound of his voice coming from the speaker was distorted into an indistinct buzzing under the influence of Talia's rampant thoughts which clashed with her emotions.

Damon was there with Maya, Caden, Alpha Maddox, Mindy, Axel, and other guests and Talia couldn't believe that was the same man who was holding her in his embrace less than an hour ago.

That was not Damon she knew.

That was Alpha Damon, the scary Alpha, a stranger. He was standing above all, serious and overbearing. With just one glance it was obvious that he was reigning over everyone.

Talia lowered her head because she didn't want to look at him anymore.

She didn't want to be reminded how she doesn't belong there. Not now. Not ever.

Did she want to be part of such a circle?

The mental image of Damon's face when she was accused of stealing food was suffocating. He just stood there and watched it happen. Talia will never forget that. And she will never forget that after she lowered her guard, she saw him getting cozy with Cassie… and how could she forget the first time she saw him, with princess Marcy between his legs? Of course, she didn't belong there.

That was not how she wanted to live her life.

For Talia, it was crystal clear that Damon and his party are like creatures from a different dimension, and the only thing she didn't understand was why he would occasionally show her a side of him that made her like him.

Talia shook her head. She was such a fool to allow herself to have these feelings that came without any warning, and now they turned bitter, and she was tired of suffering because of something that lived only in her mind.

She was like a child who had an invisible friend no one else can see.

In her mind, Talia created a version of Damon who was clingy and gentle and sometimes funny, a Damon who made her feel safe and needed, a Damon who was cheeky and couldn't wait to hold her hand, a Damon who saw her as more than a temporary entertainment, more than a pet, more than a charity project, and he called her Mrs. Blake.

It was hard to let go of that Damon, but Talia knew it had to be done because he was not real.

Talia felt a hand gently squeezing her shoulder.

"Are you OK?", Keith asked in a low voice. "If this team spirit is not your cup of tea, you don't need to do it."

Talia was glad that he is not a mind-reader.

She blinked her tears away and looked at Keith. "The game is about to start. Where are you going to find another cute girl to cheer for you?"

Keith paused for a moment and then chuckled when he realized that she repeated his words. "You will do just fine, Talia."

…

The game started and the audience became lively, shouting cheers and curses when the ball would switch from one team to another, and the volume increased as the ball approached either of the soccer goals.

Talia observed the action on the field with her eyes open wide and her heart thundered in her chest from excitement.

Liam was the fastest player in the Dark Howlers team and Talia thought how the tattoo of the cheetah on his arm suits him.

Talia stood on her feet when Liam got the ball and he rushed toward the opponent's goal.

The whole audience erupted in screams when two players in blue jerseys closed in on Liam and a moment later, Liam tumbled while clutching his leg.

The referee pulled a yellow ticket as a warning to players in blue jerseys and waved at medics to bring in the stretchers for Liam who was not moving.

It all happened quickly.

Talia pressed her hand against her mouth, and she didn't blink as they brought Liam toward their bench with Travis meeting them halfway and running with them out of the field line while asking Liam questions to assess his condition.

Keith was quick to send the substitute player in, and Travis was checking on Liam's leg as soon as medics kept the stretcher on the ground.

"How is he?", Keith asked with concern obvious in his voice.

"I don't think it's broken, but a nasty bruise is forming… Damn it! It's swelling already!" Travis looked up at Keith. "I want to send him for an x-ray…"

Keith cursed under his breath. The game just started, and he lost his fastest runner. But no matter how fast Liam was, those two were waiting to intercept him. It was obvious that the other team was aware of Liam's importance as the fastest player, and they were aiming to take him out of the game as soon as possible.

"No.", Liam objected. "I want to play. Put some ice on it and give me painkillers. My wolf will heal it in no time. I've had worse."

Keith and Travis exchanged glances, but Liam was determined to go back into the game.

"If in ten minutes there is no improvement, you are going to the hospital.", Travis said and waved at Talia. "Come and help to hold the ice…"

Talia was happy that she can be useful.

Travis sprayed an anesthetic on Liam's bruised leg and explained, "This will numb you up, and ice will prevent the swelling… take these also…" He gave two capsules to Liam. "Stay still and I will check on you in ten minutes."

"Flip the ice on every minute or so…", Travis instructed Talia and then he went to scribble something in his notepad.

Lulu and a few substitute players who were standing around Liam to hear about his condition also turned to watch the game.

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