Damon’s POV:
I watched calmly as Sherry walked ahead slowly. I could tell by her facial expression that she really liked the place when we reached it.
“So, what do you think of this place?” I asked simply.
“It’s magical,” she responded, then turned and faced me.
“Why did you keep this place a secret for so long?” she asked.
I moved closer and linked my right hand with hers.
“A lot of things have happened since we met, but believe me when I say that I was going to show it to you sooner or later,” I answered.
She chuckled softly, then moved her free arm around my shoulder.
“Does anyone visit this little place?” she asked seriously.
“Only couples do, but whenever I’m here or I want to take a bath, I inform everyone through the mind-link,” I answered.
“Then how about we take off our clothes and have a nice bath?” she asked.
I smirked, then leaned in and brushed the tip of my nose against hers.
“I love that idea,” I answered softly.
I was about to kiss her lips when I froze.
“Alpha, you have a call,” Alec reported through our mind-link.
“I’m busy,” I responded.
“It’s that warlock, what was his name, Lee? He said he is on his way to our pack,” he reported as I pulled away my hand and took a step back.
“How the hell does he have the pack’s landline number?” I asked seriously.
“I don’t know, Alpha, but what should I tell him?” he asked.
“Tell him to meet me in town. Pick a good cafe where we can meet and give him directions because I don’t want him back at my pack,” I ordered.
“Right away, Alpha,” he answered.
“And one more thing, bring my car close to the pack’s border. I’ll go and meet him now,” I said.
“Alright,” he answered, then disconnected the mind-link.
“Damon, what is it?” she asked in concern.
“Lee wants to meet with me at a cafe. It seems we won’t get to have that magical bath after all,” I answered.
“Is there a problem? Did his plan fail or did they not find the family crest?” she asked with a concerned expression on her face.
“I don’t know, to be honest. That’s why I’m going to meet him. But if he does want my help, I will lend it to him because he has done so much for you,” I answered, then took a step closer and moved my hand to her cheek.
“If it’s a simple matter, I will be back in an hour. But if it’s something very important or dangerous, then I will be back by tomorrow,” I whispered, then dropped my hand, which she quickly grabbed.
“I am worried,” she said in a low tone.
“I’ll be fine, so don’t worry,” I answered.
“Alpha, I’m here,” Alec said through the mind-link.
“Give me a few minutes. I’ll be there,” I answered and then pulled away my hand and turned.
“Go back home and wait for me. I will call Alec from time to time to update him on what’s going on that side,” I said, then walked ahead.
I didn’t want to look at her because I would feel sad and decide to stay or allow Lee to come back to my pack.
“Alec, escort Sherry back to the pack house. She’s at the hot spring,” I ordered when the car came into view.
He stepped out of the car and walked towards me.
“Why aren’t I coming with you?” he asked when he stood in front of me, forcing me to halt my movements.
“Because I need someone I trust to look after my pack. If things don’t go well on that side, I want you to look after my mate too. We both know that the warlock can’t come all the way here just to say thank you, so there are only two reasons that make sense. One, he wants my help with something. Two, he wants my assistance with something,” I answered.
“You know those last two sentences are the same, right?” he asked as I chuckled and walked past him.
“Take care of everything until I return,” I said loudly, ignoring his question, then opened the car door and got into the driver’s seat.
“I have sent you the directions of the cafe on your cell phone. You have it with you, right?” he asked loudly.
“Of course, I rarely leave it behind,” I answered seriously, then started the car and drove away.
The warlock was friends with Ian and a fairy. I’m sure there were more capable people who could help him in his circle. So why was he bothering me like this?
It was really annoying.
After two hours of driving, I was in town and at the cafe Alec had given directions to. I got out of the car and wasted no time in walking in.
Lee sat at the far end corner, drinking a cup of coffee. I walked to where he was and sat down opposite him.
“You are a little late, Alpha Damon,” he said calmly, then took a sip from his cup.
“What do you want?” I asked directly because I didn’t want to waste unnecessary time.
“I got back my family crest a few days ago, but it seemed too easy. That’s why I want to know if the one who stole it is planning to ambush my family or do something dangerous to my parents,” he answered.
“Do you know that you are asking the wrong person?” I asked.
“Oh no, I believe I’m asking the right one, or at least the person who can contact a powerful seer. Help me with this, and I promise you that I’ll be indebted to you. In the future, if you ever want something from me, I won’t hesitate to give or lend a hand if it’s in my power,” he answered.
“What if I never need your help?” I asked as he laughed softly.
“Everyone does Alpha. If it’s not you, then who knows? Maybe it will be your children,” he answered.
He really knew how to convince someone to give in, and his words weren’t all rubbish.
I pulled out my cell phone from my pocket and called the seer.
“Alpha,” she answered as a form of greeting.
“You know what I want to find out,” I said, then put the phone on loudspeaker.
“The person who took the family crest is the warlock’s cousin. It’s not that he wants to overpower the family or want its power. No, he is in huge debt because of the addictive substance he takes. The only way to repay the debt was for him to sell the family crest since he knows how much it’s worth,” she answered, then continued.
“The warlock wants to know why it was easy. Because the auction place was loosely guarded, the woman he went with was stronger than those guarding the entrance. As for the crest, it was hidden with magic, but because the warlock is powerful and the fairy that was assisting him was too, it became easy. Will his cousin return for it? No. Right now, he is on the run because those debt collectors are after his very life,” she said, then gasped when we heard the sound of a crying baby in the background.
“I have to look after my baby, Alpha, so please excuse me,” she said, then disconnected the call.
I looked at Lee, who had a smile across his face.
“Is that all?” I asked as he nodded and took another sip from his cup.
“If you don’t mind me asking this, how did you get a seer on your side? Because those are rarely born,” he asked.
“That’s a story to tell when we one day come across each other,” I answered, then stood up and grabbed my cell phone, putting it in my pocket.
He stood up too and extended his hand to me.
“I’ll forever be indebted to you,” he said as I shook his hand, then walked out of the cafe without a word.
I knew how rare a seer was, but I guess I was lucky because she was related to Maggie, and Maggie served me without question.
I looked at the sky and noticed that the sun was setting.
“This is going to be an annoying drive,” I whispered to myself, then went to the car and got in.