The last week leading up to the banquet was beyond busy. Mat kept me company as I prepped and cooked, even getting some of the other Omega’s to help us with storing the food and rotating dishes through the ovens. I still did every last bit of the cooking and most of the prep work, but it was nice to have some extra hands for the little stuff.
The banquet was tomorrow night and some of the guest packs had started to arrive this afternoon. I avoided the guests as much as possible, glad that I wasn’t having to hide bruises while they were here.
I also avoided Theo as much as possible. I would catch him looking at me from across the room on the rare occasion that our paths had to cross. The only upside to that was the fact that Jewel seemed to notice his attention towards me, no matter how brief, and the anger it instilled in her was oddly satisfying to me.
~Tristan~ The meeting with Alpha Andrew had been uncomfortable at best. We all know the rumors that surround this pack, even as secluded as our pack is, we still keep up with the outside world. We even have internet and cell phone service. Granted we had to pay to put in the lines and towers ourselves, but we have it. We live more simply than most packs, but we still run business and various trades to fund our pack. I listened absent mindedly as Victor and Titus spoke briefly before Victor wandered off to go find his room. I was a little envious of him right this moment. The girls in this pack had already been making eyes at me once they found out I was the Alpha’s son. Our pack members were mingling with theirs at the pack house, probably in the hopes of finding their mate, or in many cases just having some fun, but I wasn’t like that. I had watched too many of my friends sleep a
~Alyce/Faelyn~ *Beep.* *Beep.* *Beep.* The obnoxious echo of my alarm clock started invading the first peaceful sleep I’d had in a long time. Probably because it was such a short sleep. I reached over, smashing the buttons of the alarm clock, silencing it.My feet hitting the cold cement floor as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes got me moving. I didn’t waste any time as I slipped into a pair of leggings and an oversized t-shirt that came to my knees. I looked like hell, but it was by design. I wanted something easy to slip on after I shifted back. Slipping on a pair of black flats I ran my fingers through my hair and then piled it into a messy bun on the top of my head. Aramyth was prancing around in my head, *I can’t wait, Little One, as anxious as I am to run, I’m more anxious for you to realize just how special you are.*
Mat was laughing at me, “Just picture yourself in your human form, how you look, what it feels like and will your human form to return.” I nodded at him, and closed my eyes, picturing my human self. I felt my bones starting to snap and reform as my body went from Aramyth’s giant wolf to my tiny human self, *How do you even fit? You’re ginormous compared to me!* I teased her. *I’ll admit it’s a tight fit, bit uncomfortable.* she teased back. I rolled my eyes at her and looked at Mat, “Give me your shirt Mattie.” He didn’t hesitate, pulling his shirt off and handing it to me. I slipped it on and smiled at them all, “We should head back before anyone realizes we’re missing. Is everything set for tomorrow?”
~Alyce/Faelyn~ I looked over my shoulder at Victor and shook my head, “No thank you Delta, I’m quite adept at this. Been doing it half my life.” “Seems like a young age to start kitchen work. You can’t be more than what? 19, maybe 20?” “Maybe, but when you’re taken in as an orphan you do what you’re told, when you’re told and are thankful to not be a rogue. I’m 18 as of yesterday.” I knew I was probably giving him more information than I should, but for some reason I found him easy to talk to, like an Uncle I never had. Plus I would be gone soon and it wouldn’t matter. “Well happy birthday, albeit a bit belated. This pack doesn’t do birthday celebrations?” “Thank you, and no, not for Omegas. Sometimes the Omega’s families will hold a small on
~Alyce/Faelyn~ I stepped up beside Mat, greeting them all and apologizing for my reaction. I was still processing it all, but I could, at the very least, be polite. They were guests and had done nothing wrong. I looked up at them all, “Breakfast is getting cold, you all should eat, and Miss Kami has been waiting far too long for some coffee.” I looked at Mat, “You should stay for breakfast too. Thank you for coming when I called.” I murmured and leaned up to kiss his cheek, which elicited a growl from Tristan. I spun on my heel and narrowed my eyes at him, moving from Mat to thrust my finger up into Tristan’s chest, “Listen here, you will not growl at him. If you hope to have any chance of me even considering this mate bond you will behave!” I could feel my alpha aura starting to leak out and quickly reigned it in. That was odd, I’d never had a hard time keeping my aura under wrap
~Alyce/Faelyn~ I hadn’t put up a fight when Mat pushed me to Tristan, too in shock that Andrew would threaten Mat like that. It wasn’t until I felt the tingles running through my arm when he grabbed me and pulled me behind him that I came back to my senses. I heard Theo’s swallowed growl and gave him a funny look, he gave me an apologetic look in return. He must still be feeling the bond even if faintly. I suspect the only reason I wasn’t is because Tristan had found me. I was still trying to wrap my brain around that. Second chance mates were rare and it was unheard of for the person who initiated the rejection to have one. I shouldn’t have one, I rejected Theo. Was it because the Moon Goddess understood that I couldn't love someone who had let my abuse go on, even if he didn’t have a hand in it. I watched as Victor stepped up
~Kami~ I followed Titus as he led me away from the group. I knew that Tristan had asked him to do so, and he had done so for a reason. I knew my brother well enough to know that he wouldn’t send me away unless it was important. My family didn’t shelter me just because I was a girl and I appreciated that. *Alyce’s wolf, Aramyth, suggests someone named Vincent as a, and I quote ‘good target’. I’m not sure why, but I suspect she has a good reason.* I heard Tristan over our mind-link. *Interesting.* I responded, *I will find him.* I grinned and looked at Titus, “Let’s go get us a target.” He chuckled at me and we headed for the training area where many of the Red Moon pack members were training, as were a few of ours. I wasn’t the only one who di
~Alyce/Faelyn~ We trudged along the deserted trail in the forest for a good thirty minutes before coming upon what Mat and I had dubbed ‘The Fort’ when we found it all those years. We had spent an entire summer fixing the structural issues and have discretely maintained it over the years. I’m not sure anyone even knew it still existed aside from us. The Fort was a simple building that was maybe 20ft long by 30ft wide and 8ft tall. It was likely a storage building at some point in its life, but by the time Mat and I found it, it had been a fort for kids that were probably adults at the time and it had been long forgotten. We had reinforced the walls and put in a new ceiling with a staircase leading to the roof. There was a secret room in the corner, hidden behind a false wall. It was our escape from kids to teens, and even now we find ourselves here on occasion.