2

~Lexia

I've never been so terrified in my life. Not only was it the fact that an Alpha stood inches away from me, but that he stared directly at me as if unaffected by the words I just uttered out there on stage. So impassive, is his expression.

"What are you doing here?" I question, surprised that words could even come out of my mouth around him without them stumbling over themselves.

His sensuous mouth curves up into a slight smile. Why am I looking at him like this?

"I wanted to talk to you," he says smoothly, tilting his head ever so slightly.

Adrian suddenly steps forward, grabbing my arm gently in his hand. He is the complete opposite of me in this situation; calm, professional. My bet is that I am probably still bright red. I mean, I can't even get my hands to stop quivering by my side.

"She has a private office," Adrian tells him, stepping up to his role of assistant at the one time I don't appreciate. All I want to do is tell Alpha Grayson to leave, so I don't have to face this current embarrassment.

For a moment, I want to question the way Grayson stares pointedly at Adrian's hand on my arm, but I brush it away. Grayson nods, accepting the idea of meeting in my office. Internally, I curse Adrian's entire existence.

Leading the way, I guide Grayson to my office, with Adrian in tow. The upgraded warehouse I call home, and work seems to be very interesting to the Alpha, as we walk. His eyes catch on everything we pass by, and I hope for a moment he doesn't notice the fingers crossed at my side. I am secretly hoping I don't further make a fool of myself.

"I'm fine, thank you," Grayson says, turning down Adrian's offer for water. He sits on the other side of the desk to me, staring at me so blatantly I can't keep eye contact without squirming. It is something about the silver of his eyes that unnerves me.

I watch Adrian leave the room, leaving Grayson and I alone.

Suddenly, Grayson sits forward abruptly. "Is he your mate?"

"What?" I stutter, his words taking me by surprise.

"Or your boyfriend? Or your partner?" he demands, his gaze relentless. His eyebrow is raised, as he stares expectantly at me for an answer. I attempt to gather my bearings.

"He is just my assistant."

He pauses, narrowing his eyes. Slowly, he leans back again, but he doesn't dare take his gaze off me.

"Assistant in what? Sexual favo-"

I cough, cutting him off. Why is he talking about this? Is my love life really that interesting to an Alpha who probably gets all woman in the world...?

"Let's not talk about this," I suggest, shuffling papers around on my desk to busy my hands. I feel a sheen of sweat begin to gather on my forehead with the way Grayson stares at me. Especially with the proximity of this room, and the fact that it is just us in the here.

"You should have saved yourself for your mate," Grayson exclaimed, making my eyes widen in surprise.

We stare into each others eyes.

"You're very intrusive aren't you," I mutter, lowering my gaze.

"I don't think your mate would be very happy about the way that man looks at you..."

I snap my head up, furiously glaring at him. "It's just casual sex. Nothing more, nothing less."

This shuts him up. His mouth sets in a firm line, and he leans forward slowly. It's true. What Adrian and I have isn't love, it's sex, and that is all I want. No complications, and no worry about mates.

"You're too beautiful to be having mindless sex with a man like him," Grayson muses. I hate how serious he sounds. It makes me think for a second that he means it.

"Look, I am not about to take advice from an Alpha," I growl, my hands gathering into fists on my desk. He smiles gently, but a slight haze of bitterness still shrouds his gaze.

I watch him sigh. "He would would worship you, in and out of bed. Your mate would."

"What would you know?" I mutter sourly.

He pauses.

"Because I would."

Closing my eyes, I draw in a shaky breath, and imagine the red line crossed through his name. He is not my mate. Opposites in every way possible...But would the Moon Goddess be that stupid?

"Can we talk about why you're really here, please?"

Grayson hesitates for a long moment, before finally looking as if he has given up on our conversation, or at least getting me to see it in his point of view.

"I have a proposal to make. Don't turn it down straight away," Grayson says. I narrow my eyes expectantly. After what Grayson and I have talked about so far, we don't tend to have the same opinions about things.

"Okay..."

"I want you to come work with me," he says suddenly, his voice anxious. I blanch, his words so surprising I almost topple back on my chair. Work with him?

Wait. With him.

"With you? As in, a partner?" I rephrase, trying to make sense of the entire situation. How could he be saying these things, after seeing me completely degrade the existence of Alpha's on that stage?

"Yes, Lexia. I need a partner to control an army of mine. I saw your leadership skills, and I think you're fully capable of leading my people."

The words he is telling me have completely wiped away any sense of control I was able to salvage over the past ten minutes. I can hardly breathe even, as he stares at me with a soothing look in his eyes I'm definitely not used to.

"You're kidding?" I sputter. He has to be.

"No. Kaden recommended me to you himself. He tells me you're incredibly capable of leading an entire army yourself. I hope you will consider my proposal with an open mind," Grayson says.

The way he announces this is so casual, he sounds as if he's reciting a mantra he's used to every day. Maybe it's because he's from the Freedom Pack, and he doesn't have to worry about anything.

"That son of a bitch," I growl, standing up from my seat. "He just wants to get rid of me!"

Grayson frowns. "Do you not think you are capable?"

"It's not that...I can't do this, I'm sorry," I tell him. I'm not sure why I am apologising to him, considering I've never wanted to aid an Alpha in any time of my life.

But I have to admit...Partnering with an Alpha would give me significant gain in my plans. And inside access to his Pack would mean I wouldn't have to bother finding my mate...

"You don't have to give me an answer now. But please Lexia, I need you," he pauses. "To help me."

He stands cautiously, either waiting for me yell at him to leave, or gracelessly accept his offer. The latter is not one I'm ready to agree to just yet. I can't abandon the people I'm leading right now, without serious consideration.

"I will," I promise, finally sounding more normal to him than I ever have before.

He smiles, standing there briefly. We gaze at each other for a few dazzled moments, before he turns and walks from the room.

❤️••❤️

"You'd be an idiot not to do it," Adrian says.

We sit in my bedroom, a couple hours after Grayson had left. He had come in like a storm, and left this odd calm behind that has left me time to think about his offer. As tempting as it sounds, I'm still not sure I should even be considering it right now.

"But what about all these people? I'll be leaving them behind," I tell him. He shakes his head, pacing the room a little bit.

"Think of it like this. It won't be forever, and I'll baby sit them while you're gone," he exclaims, with a humorous smile. I roll my eyes.

Like he'd be capable to looking after this community of criminals.

"Look, we need to concentrate on what's happening in the next three days," Adrian says, clapping his hands together. I jump. Three days? I hardly know what I'm having for dinner, let alone what is happening in three days.

He seems to notice my expression. "I've gotten you tickets to a special function Saturday night."

"Function?" I question suspiciously, a little apprehensive about what he means.

"The Alphas hold this soirée every year, and I managed to get you a ticket. We have job to do, and it's going to happen..."

Job? My head spins. Alpha Grayson shows up here in the middle of one of my speeches, and announces something life changing, and now this?

"Explain?"

"Alpha Noah is the Alpha of Harmony. He knows every Packs weakness, and I need you to find out the Vengeance Packs one, by..."

He breaks off, and instantly I know what he is insinuating. He wants me to seduce him. It's not the first time I've done this as a type of mission, but never with an Alpha. I sigh deeply.

"And will Grayson be there?" I ask lightly. His nod makes me cringe.

"Every Alpha will be there. Let's hope you're good at avoiding ones of the Freedom Pack."