Without explaining the unexpected change in his mood, Axel reached into his backpack and pulled out a t-shirt.
"What…?", Yasmin squeaked in confusion when soft cotton fabric went over her head.
"No one gets to see you like that.", Axel said with all the seriousness in the world. "You are mine."
Yasmin gaped at Axel, wondering if an evil spirit possessed him. Why did he suddenly turn hostile?
Talia was happy to see that Axel was so possessive. It meant that he truly cared about Yasmin.
Unfortunately for Axel, Yasmin's confused expression was a giveaway that the poor girl didn't see Axel's behavior as care. Talia understood Yasmin completely because before she knew that Damon was her mate, she thought of him as overbearing, unreasonable, and mentally unstable.
Talia touched Yasmin's shoulder to get her attention. "Axel is protective of you. On the other side of the portal we dress differently, and we cover certain parts of our body." Talia gestured to her t-shirt and jeans.
"Axel, you mean well, but keep in mind that Yasmin doesn't know what's on the other side of the portal. Let me talk to her, woman-to-woman."
Axel grunted in response, and he approved when Talia got light blue shorts from her backpack.
Talia handed the shorts to Yasmin. "Put these on." When Yasmin didn't move, Talia explained, "You mated with Axel so you should know that some parts of your body are more sensitive than the others."
Yasmin's cheeks turned pink, and she nodded at Talia's words.
"These…", Talia gestured to her chest and her crotch area. "Are only for your mate to see and touch. Think of this as Axel protecting you."
Yasmin didn't get it. "Protecting me?"
Talia thought about how to explain this.
"How would you feel if", Talia pointed at one random witch from the group that followed them there, "she sticks close to Axel, wants to touch him, and…" Talia stopped talking when Yasmin frowned. "I see you got the idea. Axel is an Alpha, and his instincts are to protect you from any man touching you or looking at you in the wrong way. Please, wear this, or any man stealing glances at your body will feel Axel's wrath."
With this, Yasmin accepted the shorts and shimmied into them.
After struggling with the buttons, Yasmin observed her outfit. Axel's t-shirt was oversized for her, and it hung on her like a loose mini dress that covered Talia's shorts completely. She had no idea what to think of this getup.
Yasmin glanced at Axel. "Is this fine?"
Axel's lips lifted into a half-smile. "Perfect. Just like you." Actually, he would give her longer pants to cover those gorgeous legs, but he knew that even this was too much for her, so he let it slide.
Yasmin looked at Axel dreamily. "Would you punish any man who looks at me in the wrong way?"
"Yes.", Axel said without missing a beat. "You are mine." His arm snaked around her waist, and he pulled her to stick to him completely.
Talia turned to look at Cornelia who was also covered only with two skimpy fabrics below her waist level. "Let me get you something to wear."
Cornelia cocked an eyebrow. "Why? I don't have a mate. Or will me going like this offend someone?"
Talia blinked. "No. No one will be offended." Actually, people will be glad to see such a fantastic body on display. Talia knew that witches are something like nudists, not seeing any need to cover up, but the outside was different. On the other hand, werewolves are used to nudity, and they will teleport to the Dark Howlers pack, so humans won't see her… "You can go like that if you want."
"As long as no one is offended, I will go like this." Cornelia didn't want to cover up if not necessary.
Elanor gave Yasmin a hug and a last piece of advice, "Make sure to stay close to Axel. Don't get separated in the portal."
"Why?", Talia asked and then her eyes widened when she thought of something scary, "Does the portal have different exit points?"
"No.", Elanor responded. "The portal will take you to the same place, but the difference might be in when."
Talia was not sure if she heard this right. "Can you explain that?"
"The portal connects two places while twisting the time it takes to cross that distance. The entry and exit points are fixed, but the time fluctuates. You step into the portal two seconds apart and could come out of it two hours apart."
Talia gaped at Evanora and then turned to Axel robotically.
"Is this true?", she asked.
Axel's brows came together while thinking about his previous experiences. He either didn't pay attention, or was very close to his companions, but this last time they passed to come here... "Cassandra went first, and I carried you through the portal less than a minute later. Cassandra was already standing there", he gestured toward the area where U-shaped rock formation opens toward the meadow. "She looked impatient, but it didn't cross my mind that maybe she was there for a long time."
"Just go closely together and it will be fine.", Evanora said. "To make sure you don't get separated more than necessary, you can hold hands."
Talia's stomach dropped. This was not about them separating, but it was about the duration of the travel. How come she didn't think about it?
Axel told her that journey through the portal is just a few seconds long, but what if it's hours, or days, or… A sense of urgency gripped Talia's heart. She thought that for Damon only two-three hours passed since he went through the portal, but what if it was more?
She was grateful that Cornelia was tagging along because the teleportation magic will definitely come in handy.
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The moment all four of them exited the portal, Axel gave coordinates to Yasmin and Cornelia who started working on a teleportation spell that will take them straight into the main house of the Midnight Guardians pack.
Axel turned to look at Talia who stood dazed on the spot.
"Are you alright?", Axel asked.
Talia put her hand over her chest. "Do you feel that?" Her whole body was buzzing with energy like someone charged her up.
Axel smiled proudly. "What you feel are hopes and support of our pack members. You are an Alpha with a pack now, and your pack will amplify your strength and abilities. The effect is the most potent when we are in our territory. It's addictive. That is why most Alphas stay within the boundaries of their territory while craving to expand it."
"Is that why Damon is the strongest Alpha?"
"There is genetics and training, but yes, his pack members believe in him and follow him willingly and that adds to his strength."
Talia remembered how at the Alpha ceremony, a connection opened between her and the Midnight Guardians pack members, but she didn't feel the energies like now.
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