~Alyce/Faelyn~

I was livid when Tristan shared the information with me. How dare he. That entitled, conceited, self-centered, prick. How dare he think he can control my life like that. To use me as a bargaining chip. I took a moment to calm myself and plaster on a blank face and get my emotions under control. I know Tristan can pick up on things through the bond. Not as well as he would be able to, and vice-a-versa, once our mating was complete, but still. I didn’t want to worry him.

I reloaded my tray and put a fake smile on my face before heading out to serve the crowd again. Mat gave me a look of concern as I came back out and I sent him a brief mind-link letting him know what was going on and that we would talk later. I was ok for now.

Tristan came through once more, sending me an image of the man Andrew had been talking to about trading me. I glanced over the crowd and spotted him, making sure I knew where he was at all times and trying to avoid him as best I could.

I was wandering from one side of the crowd to the other and back again when I felt hands at my waist. I spun, shifting away from the person that was manhandling me. My eyes shifted to the culprit, surprised to see it was the Cold Moon Alpha, his aura gave him away, “Pardon me Alpha, but keep your hands to yourself.”

“That’s no way to speak to an Alpha. I outrank you Alyce and you will show me respect.”

If only he knew, “And grabbing someone is no way to introduce yourself. Is there something I can help you with? If not, I have a job to do and need to get back to it.”

“Hmph, I can see what Andrew was talking about. You are feisty. Andrew has given me permission to pull you away from work so we can get to know one another.” He grabbed my wrist, pulling me towards a secluded table in the corner.

“No thank you, I’m not interested in getting to know you.” I yanked my wrist from his

grip.

“It’s not a suggestion. Now come sit with me.” He growled at me, grabbing my wrist and pulling me into his chest and wrapping an arm around my waist to keep me there.

“I said no.” I hissed at him, trying not to draw extra attention to us. I once again yanked my wrist from his hold and put my hands on his chest, shoving him backwards. I used enough strength to shock him, catching him off guard enough that I could step out of his grasp, “You need to learn some manners Shane.”

“That’s Alpha to you.” He hissed once he had recovered, moving towards me and causing me to back towards a wall. The tables in the room made escaping tough, “Like Andrew, I will not tolerate your disrespect either.”

Mat was making his way through the crowd, trying to get to me. I shook my head at him a little, *Get Tristan.* He nodded in understanding and darted off. I opened the link to Tristan in a one way fashion so he could hear what was going on, but couldn’t send anything to me and give away that I was linking to him.

Alpha Shane growled at me and grabbed me again, shoving me into the wall that he had backed me towards. I didn’t resist, which made the impact a bit softer and gave no notion of my actual strength other than the little I had shown him to escape his grip. My feet were dangling and he was gripping me by the shoulders tightly, holding me so I was eye level with him, “Who do you think you are? To deny an Alpha?”

“Someone not interested in title, rank or power?” I smirked at him, his grip tightening. I knew I would have bruises later.

“You need to learn your place, little girl. You will do as I say. You will be leaving here with me in a couple days and if you think Andrew is bad. I’m worse.” He hissed in my ear.

“Oh, I do think you have been misinformed. I am legally an adult and I am no one’s property. I would rather be a rogue than leave with some self-entitled prick of an Alpha.”

Alpha Shane released my left shoulder as he drew his right hand back, letting his open palm strike my cheek with a resounding smack. My head jolted with the impact, but it was nothing compared to others I had received. It would leave an imprint, but not likely a bruise. He couldn’t make too much of a scene in public. I heard a deafening growl. It was Tristan, I would recognize his growl anywhere at this point, “You will regret that.” I whispered with a grin.

“LET GO OF MY MATE!” Tristan roared as he stalked towards us. Well that was one way to make an entrance. Totally worth the bruises I would be sporting.

Alpha Shane looked at Tristan and then back at me and let go of me with no concern to the fact that he was holding me a foot and a half off the floor. He took a few steps back, “My apologies Alpha. I was told she had no mate.” Even he wouldn’t break the rules concerning mates. No one in their right mind would.

I had dropped down the wall, landing on my feet in a crouch. Thank Goddess for training. I stood and walked over to Tristan who pulled me to him, tucking me into his side as he growled at Alpha Shane, “Even if she didn’t, that would not give you the right to man handle her in such a fashion.”

About this point Andrew had made it over to the crowd that had gathered to watch the scene, “What is going on over here?”

Then he saw me, “Why aren’t I surprised to find you causing trouble. What did you do now you useless mutt?”

I watched as the whole scene finally registered in his brain and he realized I was tucked into a visiting Alpha’s side. Tristan growled at him too, “You dare insult my mate, call her a mutt? I found this Alpha manhandling her, she did nothing, do not blame her for someone else’s actions.”

“Alpha Tristan, she is just an omega orphan, not fit to be the mate of someone such as yourself. No one would blame you if you were to decide to reject her.”

“I have no intention of throwing away a gift from our Moon Goddess, I will not be rejecting her, and you will not be trading her to Alpha Shane like a piece of property.”

Alpha Shane looked at Andrew, “I thought you said she had no mate. I will not mess with another Alpha’s mate.”

Andrew glared at me, his face reddening in anger. My mate, being an Alpha, tied his hands and ruined his plans. I was completely ok with that. I looked at him and grinned.

“Shall I tell all your secrets now?” I whispered to him.

His face paled as he realized I was living proof of the things he had done. Things that were illegal by werewolf law. Mainly the use of wolfsbane as punishment on your own pack members. On enemies, rogues, trespassers it was fair game, but your own pack members, not so much.

There was a lot of murmuring amongst the crowd. I had not intended for this to play out this way, but I also wasn’t about to let his secrets lie. If I did, someone else would become the next victim.