The Alpha's Bride

Chapter 489 Brawl in Gideon's garden

~ The Dark Howlers pack ~

Talia looked around while trying to figure out where Cornelia teleported them. She got her phone and after powering it on, Talia's face lit up when she saw the signal.

"Alright!", Talia exclaimed excitedly. "We are in the human realm."

"Did you think we will end up somewhere else?", Cornelia asked dryly.

Talia smiled awkwardly and opened the app for maps. "The Shaman's place is just a bit further this way."

Talia hoped that Gideon and Mindy were home and that they were not rolling in the sheets. Interrupting them can't be good.

She remembered that Axel told her how the energy buzz from the Midnight Guardians pack will diminish when she crosses the portal, and she paid attention to that energy that bubbled somewhere in the depth of her chest. It was a bit fainter, and while in the realm of witches, Talia assumed it was just her anxiousness acting out, but now that she knew what to look for, she could definitely feel it… the Midnight Guardians were with her. Somehow, it made her feel less alone.

'Let me know when you want to open the mind-link.', Liseli spoke in Talia's head.

'Will it work through the portal?', Talia asked.

'Probably not. But you will sense when someone from the pack is nearby.'

Talia thought how that's a double-edged sword. 'Won't they be able to sense me in return?'

'Pack members don't hide from each other. And don't forget that you are the Alpha. With a little practice, you can conceal your presence while sensing others.'

Talia liked this, but… 'Let's leave that practice for later. I have too much on my hands now.'

Axel told Talia that as the time passes and she gets in tune with the connection to their pack, she will be able to identify each member and their emotional state. She found that intriguing because Damon never mentioned anything like it. Talia knew that Damon was attached to the pack, but she thought how that connection was sentimental or maybe it was a sense of duty, and nothing else.

Talia felt like the members of the Midnight Guardians pack were her family, and she had the urge to protect them and make them happy, and now she understood that Damon feels the same about the Dark Howlers pack.

'While on the topic of sensing...', Liseli spoke in a teasing tone. 'Instead of using GPS and maps on your phone, you could have just sensed your surroundings how Axel taught you.'

Talia realized that Liseli was right, but she was too embarrassed to admit it. 'Maybe next time.'

"It's very fragrant.", Cornelia commented while taking deep breaths.

"Yes. Shaman has a garden.", Talia said. "His house is this way."

Seeing that Talia was moving away from the source of the scent, Cornelia asked, "Do you mind if I check the garden first?"

Talia wanted to say that they should stick together, but then she remembered that Gideon's garden is completely open, and just in case those two were rolling in the sheets, Talia could discretely inform them that they have guests.

Besides, Cornelia was a grown witch. If anyone causes her trouble, she can turn him into a toad or something like that.

"Feel free to.", Talia said. "I will check if they are at home."

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Talia knocked on the half-open door. "Anybody home?"

"Yes, yes!", Mindy called from the kitchen and turned to see who was standing at the door.

"Lia! What brings you here?"

Mindy wore a loose shirt with half of the buttons undone. It was obviously Gideon's shirt and Mindy didn't bother with buttoning it up.

"It's a long story. Where is Gideon? I need your help."

Mindy was now in front of Talia, and she gave her a hug before starting a rain of questions.

"Why are you so serious? Where is Damon? Did something happen?"

"Gideon, Mindy.", Talia reminded her friend.

"He is outside…"

…

Gideon was squatting and tending to his garden, busy with preventing mint bush from invading thyme.

He loves mint and uses it in many concoctions he makes, but it spreads at an alarming rate. At least once a week Gideon would go and remove branches that went down to take roots and expand.

Gideon heard soft steps only when they were close, and he didn't bother to see who it was.

"Did you come to check on me, princess? Or is the lunch done?"

Mindy said that it was her turn to cook and that she will call him when it was ready, so he used this breather to tend to the garden.

After two seconds of silence, Gideon realized that something was off, and he turned to see who was behind him.

A chocolate-colored beauty stood there and observed him with curiosity, but he had difficulty maintaining eye contact because she was nearly naked.

He cursed under his breath. With his head stuck in the mint bush, he didn't pick up her scent, and he didn't hear her until she was too close. What if she was hostile?

He calmed down a bit when he didn't sense a wolf in her, and he concluded that she was human. Obviously unarmed, and that made her harmless.

Cornelia glanced around. "This is a nice garden. Camassia could use more water, and you should consider replanting Bleeding Heart, so it gets partial shade. She doesn't like full sun."

Gideon realized that the woman was knowledgeable about plants. He was considering replanting the Bleeding Heart, but he had a feeling that she was not here to discuss gardening.

Gideon cleared his throat and stood up to stand in slow motion. "Can I help you?"

"Are you Gideon, the Shaman?", she asked.

"Yes. And you are?"

"Cornelia, the Priestess."

Gideon's eyes darted over her almost-naked form. He never heard of priestesses going around exposed like that. "What religion, if I may ask?"

Cornelia stifled a laugh, making her two peaks jiggle in a way that can't be ignored. "Religion?" She was about to say her next word, but a ferocious growl came from the side.

"No! Mindy!"

Talia's shout was too late because Mindy already tackled Cornelia and the two tumbled until they stopped in a patch of poppies with Mindy on top of Cornelia.

"Stay away from my mate!", Mindy growled and raised her hand to claw at Cornelia, but her movement was blocked when Gideon grabbed her wrist.

"Why are you defending this vixen?", Mindy struggled against Gideon's hold who was now pulling her away from Cornelia. "Is she your lover?"

"She is human and seems lost.", Gideon said in a low voice, hoping that Cornelia won't hear him.

"Who cares!?", Mindy was livid. "If you see a half-naked guy approaching me like that, would you be fine with it just because he is human!?"

Gideon looked at Mindy helplessly. She had a point, but it's not like he was about to do anything to Cornelia. He was also caught by surprise, alright? And the fact that Mindy was still struggling to fight Cornelia turned him on. His pumpkin-infused princess was fierce!

Talia went to Cornelia. "I'm sorry for this. If I knew…"

"It's OK.", Cornelia said while pushing herself into a seated position. "She just caught me by surprise. That's all. You warned me that people might act strangely when they see me, but I never assumed they will attack me outright. You should have told me that your females are savage."

"Who is savage!? You bitch!"

Cornelia shot a glare at Mindy who was heaving from anger and ready to throw her next insult.

With a wave of Cornelia's finger, silvery light shot into Mindy's mouth.

Mindy panicked. Her mouth was opening and closing, but no sounds were heard.

Gideon cupped Mindy's cheeks and forced her to look at him. "Calm down. Tell me what's going on."

"She can't.", Cornelia spat. She stood up and looked at Mindy smugly. "I am a witch, not a bitch."

Talia pinched the roof of her nose. This didn't start well.

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