~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."
~Lexia"You look beautiful, by the way," Adrian murmurs, helping me out of the car.Ignoring him, I smooth out my dress, gazing around at the beautiful view. This party is being hosted by Isaiah, the Alpha of Passion, in his Pack. Despite his Pack not being in the best condition, he still holds the most lavish parties every year."You don't mind, do you?" I ask anxiously, still looking at Isaiah's estate. People were mulling around, finding their way in at their own pace. Guards stood post in nearly every shadow I glanced out, watching us with careful eyes."Mind what?""What I have to do tonight?" I say, folding my arms across my chest.Looking around, I take in what a shame it is that Alpha Isaiah's Pack went rogue a few year
~Lexia"Listen, you shouldn't be here," Grayson insisted, glancing around as if someone might see him talking to a negligible such as me. I roll my eyes, brushing past him, only to be followed closely. He grabs my arm, forcing me to give him my full attention. "You could at least tell me why you're here."I narrow my eyes at him. What business is it of his what I do? Sure, it's obvious I am not wanted here, where Alpha's mingle with other high bloods, or richer families. That is my backstory; the daughter of a rich businessman who lives in the hills of the Discipline Pack. That way, no one would question my eye colour iconic to my original Pack.But my back story doesn't work with Grayson. He knows who I am, and what hatred I have toward Alpha's. He knows I am a risk, so any excuse I can conjure up is sure to be useless."Why I am here, is none of your business," I snap, narrowing my eyes on the hand still firmly clutching my arm. His gloves are similar to what other men here wear. I
~LexiaNo. It's not possible. Jasper stares at me, waiting for some sort of reaction, but I keep my expression impassive. Because it can't be true. He has to be lying to me. Because mind readers don't exist..."We do exist, quite frankly," Jasper murmurs casually, raising a darkened eyebrow at me. I flinch. "Listen, I have many powers, and the reason why is something I can't discuss with you right now. Which is why-""You're a Phantom Wolf?" I blurt out. Instantly Jasper's face darkens. I don't know why I mentioned it, but it seemed to be the only possible way to get a reaction out of him. And my reasoning behind it, wasn't just the mind reading business. "I said, we can't talk about it here," Jasper repeats, his jaw clenched. So I was right? And no matter how hard my conscious, realistic thoughts tried to tell me that they don't exist, something in the back of my mind hinted the opposite. Like I was supposed to feel that way..."I know it's hard to believe, but trust me, you ne
~LexiaThe first breath of consciousness I had was beyond comfortable. So comfortable, in fact, that at first I believed I was floating on a cloud of softness that I never want to escape from. Instead, I'm lying on a bed that's damn well close enough to it, with sheets wrapped around me so soft and silken, they might as well have been tendrils of the sweetest dreams. I don't remember my bed being this nice...I sit up abruptly, but a pain stabs the upper right half of my brain, forcing me back to the pillow. I'm hung over. But I don't remember drinking last night? Actually, now that I think about, I don't remember anything from last night. Or maybe I do. Violet eyes. Silver eyes. Green eyes? What the hell did I manage to get myself into?Groaning, I force my wary lids open, glad the curtains around me are drawn. It's light enough outside for me to see the room I'm occupying. Nope, I've never seen it in my life. Lifting the sheets, I glance under. I'm not naked...Just mildly strippe
~Lexia"We could go out now, if you would like, to see the Pack," Grayson offers, after I had accepted the plate of bacon again, and finished it. He took the empty plate from me, and slid it into the sink. I glanced outside, shaking my head. "I don't think I could handle the heat."It's true. One step outside, and I'm positive I might faint. It's not because I can't usually handle the heat, but I'm still coming down from the effects of the drug Jasper gave me. Thank the Moon Goddess I didn't stay around to find or what he wanted. "What about this evening?" I ask. Instantly, it's as if I've pushed a button labeled don't touch. He stiffens, his gaze growing cold and rigid. "I don't think that's going to work," he says softly. The way he speaks the words, it's as if he's in pain, like he's fighting off an inner demon. "Maybe tomorrow, I'll be over this drug, and we can go," I say nervously, hoping I was pushing to far. I had accepted his offer as a way to continue my mission to take
~Lexia The moment I stepped outside, I was hit in the face with heat. I know I told Grayson I couldn't go out, but this meant answers from Jasper. I'm going to have to deal with it. Aimlessly, I wander around the side of the main building. If I wasn't concentrating on not fainting from the harsh sun beating down on me, I might have been admiring all of the native tree life around me I've never seen before. I think I circled the house four times before giving up. Jasper isn't here. He said outside, and I'm here, yet he isn't. Annoyed, I rest my back against the side of the building, ignoring the fact that the humidity probably has my hair looking like those native bushes. Suddenly, a rustle in those exact bushes catches my attention. Everywhere you look, there's trees, with Grayson's backyard basically being a forest. Clearly it was too much trouble to remove at least some of the trees, so my assumption is they must be protected. Either that, or people are too scared of what lives
~LexiaMy closed fist hovers tantalisingly close to the wooden door. If I had any confidence in what i am about to do right now, I would be knocking. But I don't, because I have never had to face something so terrifying in my life. Every ounce of my body tells me not to do it. Not to knock. But I do. "Come in," I hear him murmur. Heart in my throat, I turn the knob and wander in. Grayson sits behind his desk, pen between his fingers at he writes on a piece of paper. He looks up when I close the door behind me, the most prominent specks of silver glinting in his eyes as he caught my gaze.His office is impressive. More impressive than mine back at home. Is it even my home anymore?"I know," I say, although my voice comes out breathless and hoarse. Grayson's eyebrows furrow together in confusion, not knowing what I am talking about. I force my eyes to the ground."Sorry?""What...What we are," I tell him, trying to force my voice into sounding somewhat controlled, but instead it shak
~LexiaI lay back on the exquisitely comfortably bed that I have recently claimed as my own, staring at the ceiling. Becoming accustomed to the fact that this Pack requires many to not wear clothes to escape the relentless heat is hard, but I am seriously considering joining.Luckily for me, I notice, as I stare out the open window, that the sun is on a straight course to set behind the horizon. I was almost dozing off, when a strange skittering sound had my eyes shooting open. Looking at the floor, I notice the tiniest pebble laying there, its origin unknown. Frowning in confusion, I crawl off the edge of the bed, picking up the strange rock. Am I imagining things, or is Jasper playing with my mind again?Suddenly, another rock appears, but this time I catch it fly through the window straight toward me. I yelp as it hits me square in the jaw.Furious, I stride to the window, ducking my head out. A whole floor down, on solid ground, Grayson stands, a decent sized rock in his hand. Be