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Chapter 845: Ashton's birthday party (1)

The event hall of the Spring Leaf pack was a one-story building that resembled a hangar from the outside.         

To accommodate larger gatherings, the event hall had massive doors that would open to a well-maintained lawn where tables and chairs were set up, but this area was mostly empty with only a few people there who stepped out for a smoke.     

The forest around the event hall was filled with warriors who were organized in formations to wait for rogues while hoping that rogues won't come. Many of the guests came with their kids, and those were high-ranking members of their packs and prominent figures in society. A slip-up in security would be devastating.     

When Damon told Cristian about a potential rogues' attack, Cristian considered canceling the event, but Damon convinced him otherwise with an argument that Tony and Maddox will send reinforcements, and this was the perfect opportunity to figure out what was going on with the rogues.     

Someone was behind rogues, organizing them; someone powerful enough to make them obey, or maybe with pockets so deep that rogues would follow them willingly. In any case, it was a dangerous opponent, and staying passive while hoping for the best was not a good strategy.     

Only a handful of people knew about Cassie's warning. Others believed that these were extra security measures after what happened in the Blue River pack. If the news leaked that Cristian had information about the upcoming attack and still proceeded with this party, people who were kept in the dark would be angry.     

In the event hall, more than a hundred people were present, but due to the sheer size of the event hall, it looked under-utilized.     

After an elaborate dinner, people were mingling, and kids were running around and doing kids' stuff. Normally, parents would remind their kids to be restrained, but this was a birthday for a six year-old, so children's energy was welcomed. It was lively.     

Kids had their own area set up with a big bouncy house and games, and their laughter and cheers were overpowering music.      

Damon was standing at the bar and sipping juice angrily while his eyes didn't leave Ashton and Talia who were on the dancefloor.     

Ashton and Talia were holding hands and moving left-right, so it was not a big deal, but Ashton's grin rubbed Damon the wrong way. He really wanted to go there and slap some sense into the kid. Why couldn't he accept that Talia was taken? Ashton should go and play with other midgets or chase girls his size, and leave Talia alone!     

Keith was among the guests, keeping an eye on Talia, but Ashton didn't count as a threat to Talia's safety so Damon couldn't count on Keith to take out that kid that was like a thorn in Damon's side.     

"I hope you can overlook Arya's indiscretion," Cristian said to Damon.     

Damon peeled his eyes away from Talia to look at Cristian who joined him at the bar without Damon noticing.     

"Do you ask for forgiveness for all your generals or is this one special?"     

Cristian didn't miss Damon's mocking tone and he wondered who else thought that Arya had special privileges.     

"Arya joined this pack fifteen years ago as an orphan and I feel responsible for her shortcomings. But she is a good kid."     

Damon snorted. "I'm sure you will say that your son is a good one also, yet look at him trying to take my mate away."     

"He is just a child."     

"Is that your answer to everything? Children should be forgiven no matter how big a mess they make? Last time I checked, ignorance and lack of experience didn't count as valid excuses for mistakes," Damon said stiffly. Cristian was about to say something else, but Damon raised his hand. "Your son is over the line, but I'm not a child-beater. However, don't blame me if Talia doesn't respond to his invitations going forward. And don't worry about your general. As long as she doesn't cause more trouble, I won't pursue this matter. Talia is an Alpha and she can take care of herself, but to me, Talia is my mate, my Luna, my family, and I will do anything to ensure she is happy. No one can act freely and disrespect her."     

Cristian nodded in understanding.     

"What's with the stiff atmosphere?"     

Damon and Cristian turned toward the voice to see Tony approaching them.     

"Am I interrupting something?" Tony asked.         

"No," Damon responded. "We were just done." Damon glanced behind Tony to see that Kalina and Michelle were chatting, and Damon wished that Talia stops dancing with that shrimp and sit with the ladies.     

With Tony joining, the atmosphere between Damon and Cristian was less tense, but neither of the three was able to relax completely as they were getting updates through their pack links from warriors that were spread through the area.     

Maddox didn't join, because Tanya was pregnant and he didn't want to risk her safety, but his Beta Oliver was in attendance. Oliver was also mentally communicating with warriors from the Blue River pack.     

"Do you mind if I join?" Alpha Adam of the Silverfur asked as he approached Cristian, Damon, and Tony.     

Cristian gestured to Alpha Adam to go ahead. "Are you enjoying the party?"     

"Yes, yes. It's been a while since I attended an event without a business agenda."     

Damon didn't approve of Alpha Adam's presence, but this was not his party, so he didn't voice his complaints.     

The Silverfur pack was usually staying neutral, acting only if their interests were in jeopardy and trying not to stir waves. That put them in a position of not having enemies, but not having any loyal allies either. Everything was a business transaction, which meant that Alpha Adam will side with whoever gives him more benefits, and Damon hated such people. Especially since Alpha Adam sent his Beta's daughter, Jade, to stir trouble for him and Talia.      

Alpha Adam was in his early forties. Age-wise, he didn't belong to this younger group of Alphas, but he didn't quite get along with the older generation either because they thought of him as young and less experienced. He was caught in an awkward gap between two groups, and he was doing the best he could to provide for his pack.      

"I was wondering…" Alpha Adam started while his eyes darted from Damon to Cristian, "How are things going since you opened your borders to merge territories?"     

"We didn't merge our territories," Damon said stiffly. "We came to an agreement that we won't be hostile toward each other, and due to that, we relaxed security on the borders we are sharing."     

"You can call it that way, if you want," Alpha Adam said. "Do you see benefits of doing that? Any faults with it?"     

"I'm sure you are aware of the benefits and dangers, Alpha Adam," Cristian said. "We are all friends here, so how about you get to the point?"     

Alpha Adam scratched the back of his head. "Well… I was wondering if you will consider letting my pack in on that."     

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Author's note: You can see pics of the Pascal family in the comments