The Alpha's Bride

Chapter 917: Preparations for James' birthday party (6) [Bonus chapter]

Dawn was worried about this situation, and she asked Talia through the pack link, 'What will we do now? What if Ana tells Alpha Edward about your previous identity? The rumor is that he is shagging her.'         

'Let her talk,' Talia responded. 'People will call her crazy.'     

'Are you sure?'     

'Will you believe that Alpha Natalia is an Omega from the Red Moon pack?' Talia asked. 'Or will they believe I magically appeared and left this place without anyone noticing?'     

Dawn thought how that made sense. Before Dawn could ask her next question, Talia spoke again.     

'I still didn't decide if I will let her leave this place alive.'     

Dawn swallowed hard. This was not the kind Talia Dawn knew, but Dawn was aware that there was a lot of history between Talia and Ana. No matter what happened, Dawn had no intention of speaking for Ana.     

Dawn remembered one thing. 'Can you make sure there is no blood? The carpet is new.'     

'I will do my best,' Talia responded.     

Talia didn't think that Ana could cause much damage. Ana will probably run to Alpha Edward and say how Talia used to be an Omega in his pack, but there would be no proof since Talia was never an official member, and there were no records of her existence. Chances of Alpha Edward believing Ana would be slim, but even if it happened, what would he do with that information? Force her to come back? Would he dare to approach Alpha Natalia and ask her if she was one of his Omegas? If he did that, it would give Talia an excuse to squish him for the insult.     

'Are you planning of letting her go?' Liseli grumbled in Talia's mind.     

'I don't know,' Talia responded honestly. Talia didn't want to bully Ana. That would make her fall on Ana's level.     

'After all the nasty things Ana did to you…'     

Talia released a low growl that covered whatever Liseli said next.     

There was no need for Liseli to remind Talia about history related to Ana. Liseli was barely aware of what was going on, but Talia clearly remembered every time Ana came to the attic to assault her verbally and physically. At first, Talia didn't understand why Ana was angry, and later, it didn't matter. Ana was abusive, and Talia focused on curling up to minimize her injuries while hoping that Ana would stop and leave. It became a sick routine that made Talia's stomach churn with anger.     

'I don't know if I will let her live, but I assure you that her life will be hell,' Talia said.     

Zina was eyeing the dresses, and she clicked her tongue. "I am glad I got my clothes. These would make me look like a middle-aged woman… assuming they can accommodate my assets without bursting." Zina gestured toward her ample chest area.     

"Do you need to point out that you have a big rack?" Dawn asked irritably.     

"You would do the same if you had some," Zina said teasingly, and Dawn's eyes flashed in outrage.     

"There is such a thing as too much," Dawn squeezed through her teeth.     

"Right, right. Says every flat-chested girl. The next thing you will tell me is that the beauty is on the inside, like every ugly girl."     

"Did you call me ugly?"     

Zina raised her hands defensively. "Did I mention your name? It's not my fault if you found yourself in there..."     

Nora stood on the side, wondering if she could stealthily leave this villa and pretend she was never here. Dawn and Zina were bickering, Talia was totally focused on Ana, so… maybe?     

Nora was tied by a blood oath, so she couldn't betray Talia and Damon. There was also a clause about George, Dawn, James, Cornelia, and anything she witnessed while in the Dark Howlers pack.     

Nora could reveal that Zina was in George's villa, but that didn't sound very important. If she gave that bit, her father would press her for more, and she couldn't say more, so it was safest not to say anything.         

Nora made a small step backward, and another, and another… and she was almost at the door when…     

"Ugh…" Nora suppressed her cry of surprise when she bumped into something solid.     

Her head whipped back to see Damon standing there.     

"Where are you going?" Damon asked while glaring at Nora, who quickly took three steps away from him, careful to move to the right so she didn't get too close to Talia.     

"Why are you here?" Talia asked Damon.     

Dawn and Zina stopped talking like someone flipped the off switch. They wondered how much Damon heard. Did they embarrass themselves in front of their Alpha? Probably.     

Damon's face was arranged into a frown as he walked toward Talia like no one else was in the room.     

Damon could feel Talia's emotions, and he knew she was not happy. She promised only to threaten Nora a bit. Now that he got to see the situation, Damon realized that Talia didn't pay attention to Nora at all. Instead, Talia was focused on a no-name Omega who was bent awkwardly, obviously under the pressure of Talia's aura.     

The mood in the room changed with Damon's appearance. Damon looked angry, but Talia knew he was worried.     

"Didn't we agree you would stay out of sight and let me handle this?" Talia asked.     

"Didn't we agree you won't exert yourself?" Damon responded with a question, and the way he embraced her gently didn't match his stern expression. "You broke the agreement first, kitten."     

Talia wanted to protest, but Damon was right. She was upset, and he was more protective as her pregnancy progressed. Talia retracted her aura and leaned on Damon.     

"I'm sorry, Damon."     

"It's OK," he murmured into her hair. As long as she was OK, it was OK, but he wished that Talia would stop taking risks.     

Talia relaxed against him, and Damon could feel that her emotions were still unstable. He turned toward the Omega in question (aka Ana).     

"Who is this?" Damon asked.     

Ana's mouth ran dry. She didn't recognize Talia because the latter was well dressed, her hair was neatly combed, and her skin was clean, but Ana definitely recognized Damon, the most powerful Alpha in their generation.     

Ana was confused. Why was Alpha Damon so gentle toward Talia? There was a rumor that Alpha Damon found his Luna, and… Ana swayed as the whole room spun when she realized that the female she tortured for years was Damon's mate.     

"I… I'm sorry," Ana stuttered. "If I knew, I wouldn't…" She couldn't make herself speak further.     

"You wouldn't what?" Damon asked while narrowing his eyes at Ana.     

Talia released a long breath. "Do you remember the story of how some Omegas bullied me in the Red Moon pack?"     

Damon nodded stiffly.     

How could Damon forget? Talia didn't tell him much, but what she shared was more than enough. Doctor Travis said that some of Talia's injuries were old, and Talia explained that Marcy was there only for a few days, and before that, it was a group of Omegas who would come to nitpick and beat Talia for the smallest reasons and sometimes they didn't bother with reasons at all.     

Talia tilted her head toward Ana, and she said to Damon, "Meet Ana."     

"Ahh!" Ana shrieked as she fell to the floor.