Chapter 34: The Dark Howlers Pack

~ The Dark Howlers Pack ~

The sun was rising from the East when our group of four reached their destination, and Caden announced, "Home sweet home. Welcome to the Dark Howlers pack, Talia!".

Talia observed the dense forest through which the road snaked, and Caden slowed down the car as they passed through a town.

"This is Darkbourne.", Maya said. "Every person living and working in this town belongs to the Dark Howlers pack."

Talia nodded in understanding while observing the residential buildings with nice backyards that gradually turned into densely packed two-story-high buildings.

"We are getting closer to the center of the town.", Maya continued her tour.

The two-story-high buildings had various shops on the ground level. Talia spotted a bakery, a coffee shop, a clothing boutique, a shoe store, a restaurant, a butcher's shop, a tattoo parlor, a bookstore. There was something for everyone and quite a number of pedestrians filled the sidewalks.

On the left, the road opened into a wide street and Talia spotted a cobblestone town square with a clocktower in the middle. There were trees and several benches, and other than a coffee shop with outdoor seating, Talia also saw two street vendors. One selling popcorn, and the other one ice cream. Based on the number of people there, it was obvious that the town square is a popular hangout spot.

"We will have a fair in ten days.", Maya explained when she saw Talia's eyes lingering toward the town square that was now out of sight. "There will be music, performances, sweet treats, and everyone will come. You will love it."

Talia smiled a little. She never attended a fair and she couldn't imagine how it will look like, but it sounded fun, and based on Maya's words, it appeared that Talia can go as well.

She never attended events at the Red Moon pack, no matter how lively it was downstairs, and this almost sounded like an invitation.

After leaving the town, they drove for another few minutes before stopping in front of a large three-stories-high building that was surrounded by forest.

"This is the pack hospital.", Maya said. "When you are done with the checkup, you will join us at the packhouse. I will ask Stephanie to prepare something tasty for everyone."

Talia didn't know who Stephanie was, but she understood that this was her cue to leave the car.

Talia was surprised that Alpha Damon alighted the car as well.

'Make sure her room is ready.', Damon told Maya through the mind link.

'Where will she stay?'

'In my old room on the third floor.', Damon responded.

Maya didn't think much about it. 'OK.'

Maya turned to Caden, and asked, "Which one is Alpha's old room?"

They have a mind-link, but Maya prefers using her mouth to speak when no one can overhear them because there are always chances that someone might eavesdrop on the mind-link (like Alpha). 

It's not that Damon wants to eavesdrop, but as the Alpha of the Dark Howlers pack, the strength of his link with the pack members is extraordinary, and unless they take extra steps to block him, he can hear them. 

"It's across the hall from his current room. Why?", Caden responded.

When Damon became the Alpha, he moved into the master bedroom that his parents occupied previously.

"He just told me to make sure THAT room is ready for Talia."

Caden smirked. "So, he will put her in a room that is right across the hallway from him."

Maya shook her head. "What is he thinking? If he wants to hide that she is his mate, he shouldn't keep her on the floor that is reserved for the Alpha. No outsiders ever stayed there before."

Caden chuckled. "He probably knows that he should get Talia to stay like any other single Omega, or at least on the first floor with Stephanie. However, the bond is messing with his mind, and he is not thinking because the only thing on his mind is that he wants to be close to her. I can bet that in a week from now, they will share a room. His room."

"No way.", Maya was confident. "Damon is clueless about romancing a woman, and that girl is petrified. The only way to win her over is to move slowly. If he goes his usual Damon on her, she will run away."

"Do you think he will let her leave?"

Maya didn't have an answer to this question. But Damon wouldn't keep a girl against her will. Right?

In the pack hospital…

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"Talia, this is Dr. Travis Arzt…", Damon introduced the doctor who was expecting them. "He is the best doctor around."

Talia watched the tall blonde man whose friendly smile reminded her of Olivia, and she wondered if all medical people have that comforting expression that makes one believe everything will be alright.

Dr. Arzt bowed his head submissively. "You flatter me, Alpha." He turned to Talia. "And you are…?"

"Talia, Dr. Arzt."

"Please, call me Travis. Dr. Arzt is my father and when someone calls me like that, it makes me feel old."

"OK. Travis.", Talia agreed and Damon was irked that she agreed so easily. He remembered how much she hesitated to address him as just Damon.

"If I understood correctly, we are to give you a full checkup. Please step inside and Jill and Cathy will help you change into a hospital gown. I will join you when you are ready." He gestured toward the door on the side that was open, and Talia saw two women waving at her.

Talia glanced at Damon who gave her an encouraging nod. He liked that she silently asked his permission. It made him feel important.

"This will take at least one hour, Alpha", Travis said to Damon. "Who should I notify when we are done?"

Damon frowned. He was not happy that the doctor was sending him away.

Is Talia going to undress and Travis will get to watch and… touch? Damon didn't like it. Not even a little bit.

There should be a woman doctor. Or even better, Damon should be the doctor.

But he knew that there is no woman doctor in their pack, and Travis is the best they have while he (Damon) can't even bandage a wrist properly. But can he really leave?

"I will attend the exam."

Travis was visibly confused. "Is there a reason for it?"

Damon scrambled how to answer this and not to say something like, 'I want to make sure you keep your hands to yourself!' But how can he explain his need to stick to Talia without revealing that she is his mate?

"Talia was treated poorly, and you are a stranger. I want to make sure she is comfortable."

Travis nodded knowingly. "I understand your concern, Alpha, but she seemed fine so far. Jill and Cathy know what they are doing and having more guys present when she needs to undress will…"

"WHAT!?", Damon roared, and Travis shrunk, unsure why Damon flipped from polite to raging within a split second. What's with that murderous glare? The Alpha's pressure was suffocating.

Damon grit his teeth. "She will not undress. Is that understood?"

"How am I going to examine her?"

"Do what you can without Talia undressing.", Damon said sternly. The idea of Travis ogling at Talia was NOT acceptable!

Travis was flabbergasted. "With all due respect, Alpha... I am the doctor, and she needs an exam. I will appreciate it if you step outside and let me do my work. I will keep your words on my mind and minimize her exposure. Is that fine?"

Damon nodded stiffly.

"Is there anything else?", Travis asked, seeing that Damon was not leaving.

"I think that she doesn't have her wolf."

Travis thought how that makes sense. "That would explain the bruises. Don't worry, Alpha. This is not my first time examining a person without a wolf. I did my residenship in a human hospital."

Eventually, Damon left Travis's office with, "I will wait in the hallway."

Travis gave Damon a strange look. Shouldn't Alpha be busy? Damon has a reputation as a workaholic, yet now he will dawdle in the hallway for (at least) one hour.

Travis guessed that Talia is someone important. Maybe she is a spy or a relative. There was no other explanation why Alpha would bring her here (and wait for her) personally.

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