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However, seeing that Damon was unusually non-intimidating and he was not even trying to train Talia, Keith found a bit of courage in the back of his heart as his competitive spirit urged him to speak up.

Keith showed Talia an effective kick and she practiced, while Damon only held her from behind. The victor was obvious. Right? RIGHT!?

Wouldn't it be glorious to have a victory against an Alpha as a badge of honor? And Damon has a fierce reputation as an Alpha who never lost a fight.

"I thought that the competition was about teaching Talia a defensive move.", Keith reminded everyone in his business tone.

Without letting go of Talia, Damon directed his gaze at Keith.

On the inside, Damon was irked that Keith interrupted his Talia-time. He was hugging Talia and inhaling her scent while enjoying the sparks of the bond, and they were having a moment, damn it!

"Yes, we were to teach Talia to defend herself. You went with a kick, and I went with a punch in the throat.", Damon said with a straight face.

Alpha Maddox and Axel were nodding at Damon's words, and Keith had to agree that what Damon said was right. But something was fishy.

"So, how do we know who won?", Keith asked.

"The criteria was that the winner is the one whose teaching is more effective. Talia will decide.", Damon said and glanced at the clock that was hanging on the wall. "There is no need to decide yet. You practiced with Talia for ten minutes, and I still have five more minutes to go."

With that, Damon lowered his head and rested his chin on Talia's shoulder.

Keith's mouth hung open. Did Damon say that he will just stand there and hug Talia for another five minutes?

Alpha Maddox and Axel were also staring at Damon in disbelief and Talia would probably laugh at Damon's shameless behavior if she was not in the middle of it with the audience watching.

This was the playful Damon she would always welcome. This Damon made her happy, but she was painfully aware of all the people staring their way; there were many eyes directed at them, and not just from the three guys who were in the vicinity.

Seeing that Damon had no intention of letting her go and that he didn't care about people who were staring at them, Talia gave up. "OK. I admit. Your teaching is better."

"Hm? You need to be more specific.", Damon said with a smile as he could smell the victory. It smelled citrusy sweet, like freesia.

Talia wiggled a bit and Damon released her from his hold.

Talia turned to face Damon. "I want to learn to fight, and I believe you know best what I'm lacking."

Damon grinned victoriously and before he could respond, Talia spoke to Keith, "Alpha Damon will teach me how to fight, but I also need to build my strength and stamina without straining my body, and for that, I will rely on your assistance, coach Keith."

Damon frowned at this. How come Keith was still in the picture? But he didn't want to fuss about it. He got Keith out of the training where he would have physical contact with Talia, and Damon was pleased with this small victory. For now.

"I want to have access to your schedule of training with Talia.", Damon said to Keith.

There was no way Damon will allow Keith to have alone time with Talia. Damon will come up with an excuse to be at the training center when Talia is with Keith, but he couldn't reveal his petty reason, so he came up with something else, "I need to know about her physical condition so that I don't overdo as I teach her how to fight."

"Yes, Alpha.", Keith responded respectfully.

Damon moved closer to Talia, and he put his hand on her back, pushing her to move toward the dressing rooms. He really wanted her to cover up.

Damon already decided to use one of the rooms in the packhouse for training, so that others can't see Talia like this… exposed. Omegas can clean up the room, add a mat or two, a mirror on the wall, and a few machines. That can be done by tomorrow.

Ah, it will be just the two of them, and he can tackle her on the mat and kiss her until their lips go numb! Damon was excited.

Talia was confused. Why is Damon making her go into the dressing room?

When Talia looked at Damon questionably, he explained, "Your lesson for today is over. As your newly appointed trainer, I want us to have a good chat so that I can understand your needs and expectations. Let's talk this afternoon…"

Axel observed all this in silence while Maddox's interest in Talia increased.

Seeing how Damon was acting around Talia, and knowing that Damon has a short fuse, Maddox was confident that there will be a scuffle, or at least that the poor coach will suffer a miserable defeat.

Unexpectedly, Talia managed to solve the situation without any blood getting spilled. To make it even more unbelievable, no egos were hurt and both Keith and Damon seem to be content with this outcome.

What kind of magical power she has? Maddox was not sure but Talia being able to achieve this feat was absolutely fantastic.

…

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...

Shortly before lunch, in the packhouse…

Alpha Maddox went to check on Mindy, and he found her packing. They were planning to leave the Dark Howlers pack in the afternoon.

Knowing that Mindy spent some time with Talia, Maddox asked what she thinks about Talia.

To Maddox's disappointment, Mindy didn't know anything noteworthy, but when she told him that Talia is helping in the kitchen, Maddox perked up.

He knew that Axel was with Damon in Damon's study, so this was a great opportunity for him to talk to Talia without Damon hovering.

Just as Mindy said, Maddox found Talia in the kitchen.

"Talia…", Maddox called. "Can we have a word?"

Talia glanced at Stephanie only to see the latter nodding for her to go.

Talia wiped the seasoned breadcrumbs from her hands and removed the apron before heading for the door.

She didn't dare to look at Zina and Dawn. Talia knew that those two were close to bursting with questions since breakfast, and the only reason why they didn't jump on Talia so far was thanks to Stephanie's presence.

But now Alpha Maddox came looking for Talia and she was confident that Zina and Dawn just added another bunch of inquiries related to Talia's situation.

Talia followed Maddox into the garden while wondering what he wants.

"I spoke with your Alpha about you coming to the Blue River pack.", Maddox said.

Talia's eyes widened as her stomach tied into painful knots. Is Damon sending her away? "What did he say?"

Maddox smirked in amusement. Talia's anxiousness was easy to read.

Maddox had several theories about Damon's behavior related to Talia, but now he confirmed that whatever is going on, it's mutual.

He didn't want to tease her. "Damon refused my offer."

Talia relaxed visibly at Maddox's words. It was his offer, which means that Damon didn't want to send her away. Actually, he refused. Talia liked that. But why would Alpha Maddox want for her to come to his pack?

Her brows furrowed in confusion when Maddox gave her a business card.

"This is my personal number. Call me if you need help."

Feeling that it's rude to refuse an Alpha, Talia took the card, but she had to say, "I am aware that you and Alpha Damon have a close relationship. If I am doing well here, I won't need help from you, and if I plan to escape, you will be the second last person I would call, with the last one being Alpha Damon."

Maddox was surprised by this answer. But then he put that in the context of Talia being abused before coming to the Dark Howlers pack, and he understood her reasoning.

"You can call me if Damon needs help."

"You think that he will need help and not contact you?"

Maddox hummed in confirmation. "Damon is a prideful person."

Talia flipped the card a few times before asking, "Why don't you give this to Betas? Why me?"

"Betas will obey his command. You are different." Maddox looked at Talia thoughtfully before adding, "Damon is different when he is with you."

Talia had so many questions, but before she could ask any, Damon's angry voice reached them, "Do I need to install some tracker on you? Didn't I tell you to stay away from Talia?"

Maddox winked at Talia when he saw her putting his card in her back pocket, and he raised his hands defensively toward Damon.

"We were only talking. Chill. It's not like I was about to steal the girl."

Damon snorted irritably and stood in front of Talia to visually examine her.

"Did he do anything to make you uncomfortable?"

"No. We were just talking.", Talia responded to Damon before turning to Maddox. "If that's all, I will return to the kitchen…"

Without waiting for a response, Talia scurried back into the packhouse.

She really wanted to know what Maddox meant when he said that Damon is different when he is with her, but she had a feeling that another chance for a private chat with Alpha Maddox won't come easily. Even if she finds herself alone with him, how is she supposed to just bring up that topic?

Thinking about the card that Alpha Maddox gave her, Talia smiled a little. Adding to Axel's and Mindy's numbers, this was her third phone number, and she didn't have a phone yet! And the awesome thing was that all three numbers she had belonged to impressive characters.

Talia decided to talk to Stephanie when she gets a chance and to figure out how she can get a phone. Maybe she can ask for a salary because she is helping in the kitchen... at this thought, Talia felt like crying. She didn't really help much because someone would often call her to step out, or she would make a mess. Ah, it seemed hopeless.

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