Chapter Fourteen

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Word Count: 1597

~Brielle

I was asked to stand in while the Alpha's ate dinner.

It wasn't Ren who asked, instead being a girl who caught a sickness and needed me to be there to tend to the Alpha's. The moment I stepped in I felt as though I was breaking many rules, however, no one questioned me. Ren wasn't there when I entered, so I cast my gaze to the floor and hoped nobody would notice.

At first, it was only four Alpha's sitting in. Malik, who had come across Ren and I early leans casually back in his seat. His eyes are on me, but I keep my gaze pinned to the floor, mortified.

He didn't tell anyone, did he? I have to admit, Ren has been giving me a strange amount of attention recently.

But no, I'm not special.

Alpha Landon is also in the room, on the other side of the table to Malik. The two of them are both young, and from what I've observed over the past two days, they don't get on very well. Alpha Faye sits between them, being her beautiful and regal self as she chats animatedly to Alden.

"My research recently has come so far we would be pleased to supply you and your Pack with better health care," Alden offers, to which Faye's face screws up immediately in response.

"In all due respect, Alden, I appreciate your offer but my people are rather traditional. They wouldn't take well to new medicines. Maybe with time, but not right now," she explains kindly.

I would love to be Faye.

She's so kind and gracious and beautiful. I'm awed being in any Alpha's presence, but there is something special about her. How all these male Alpha's aren't swooning over her is beyond me. Either way, all I can do is stand here and hope I don't get on the bad side of any of them. The amount of power coming into this room is insane.

A few more Alpha's enter the room with time, paying me no attention. Good. I hope I blend right into the wall, here only to do a job when I need to. I also hope that with them not noticing me, I'll find something interesting out that I'm not supposed to.

"How is she?" Alpha Jasper asks to Alpha Grayson as they walk into the room. "I haven't visited in awhile, nor have a heard from you both."

"She is well. Busy with Pack work. She takes it very seriously," Grayson replies.

I assume they are talking about Grayson's mate, Lexia.

Soon after, Ren finally glides in, busy looking at papers he shuffles within his hand. My entire body tenses at the sight of him, but he walks right past without noticing, leaving behind nothing but the soft scent of him. Everyone else wanders in after him, settling into their seats to ready for dinner.

"Thank you all for coming again," Ren murmurs, still busy sifting through his papers. "I thought we could discuss something other than my issues. Maybe there is something anyone else wants to bring up while we are here."

My face remains straight, no matter how disappointed I am that I won't be finding out anymore about Ren's secret. Obviously they are done speaking about it.

It's none of my business.

"Well I have something to propose," I hear Grayson, Alpha of the Freedom Pack announce. I refuse to look at any of them. I refuse to give them any indication that I am paying attention to anything else but their needs. If any of them ask for water, I'll be the first to get them.

Everyone murmurs for him to continue, so he does. "I think we should finish the monthly Alpha meetings."

There's a stretch of silence that consumes the room. I'm not quite sure what this Alpha meeting they speak of entails, however, it seems rather self explanatory. It's fascinating what they do behind closed doors, that none of us hear about.

          

"What would make you think that's a good idea?" Malik asks, seeming almost offended by this proposal.

"We waste the little time we have on trivial conversation," Grayson replies, his tone seeming flat and somewhat bored. How can a conversation with Alpha's be trivial? Naturally, I just keep my opinions to myself, my lips sealed tight shut. Things are different to what I believe.

Someone scoffs, and I believe it is Isaiah. "That's foolish thinking and you know it. We need it for balance."

I can't help it. I look up.

Everyone is staring at Grayson as if he's insane. Ren, however, doesn't seem to be paying them any mind. I can't help but focus my attention on him completely. He's so fascinating, and with the secret I know he is hiding, I want to know even more about him. What is he doing there? He's not even concentrating on the meeting...

"Balance? I doubt arguing and being distracted the entire time is balance," Grayson says sternly, as if to reprimand everyone around the table, eyes as silver as pure mercury glinting under the lights. "We should abolish it now."

"It's been around for centuries," Faye's cool voice cuts in. "We need it. Otherwise we never see each other, and we can never safely deal with Pack issues in person."

Grayson doesn't seem convinced, relaxing back into his seat, speaking dismissively. "I disagree."

"You never were the smart one," Malik mutters under his breath.

My mouth nearly fell open at the blue eyed Alpha's dig at Grayson, however, nothing seems to come of it. In fact, a few laugh and a few scowl, but no violence ensues. I was always told Alpha's were explosive in temper, but a joke, in no matter what context doesn't seem to start anything.

Grayson does seem rather irked, though. "I can promise, if I'm not intelligent, you don't have much up there either. I'm sure Alden can be the judge of that."

All attention, even mine, swings to the Alpha of Wisdom. He was distracting himself by spinning the liquid in his glass around. When everyone called for his attention, he blinked a few times, deciding what to say.

"I don't have an opinion," he replies.

Malik raises an eyebrow tauntingly at Grayson. "Call me immature, but that's enough evidence for me that he's not here to hurt your feelings. Isn't that right Alden? You are quite the smart man.

Grayson looks at him flatly. "You're immature."

The conversation seems to continue like this, nothing really worth listening to being said. It just consists of Faye trying to defuse the two Alpha's, other watching and enjoying, and the two making jabs at each other. It only calms down when dinner is brought in on steaming plates.

I was called to help serve, which was a relief to get off the wall. I quickly regretted it when I started to lean over Grayson's table, and he reached out and grabbed my arm.

"When people like this can listen to private conversations, I don't feel comfortable," Grayson says slowly, his grip on my wrist so tight I want to wince. "I'm not speaking about my Pack business with them around."

Someone save me.

Ren's attention is finally caught. He lifts his gaze up, those multi coloured eyes suddenly so sinister, it hurts to look at, but not as much as this Alpha's grip on my arm, merciless. Here to make a point.

"Let her go Grayson," he says slowly, leaving no room to dispute him. Everyone in the room goes quiet, too smart to interrupt.

"Why do you have these people around?" Grayson questions, his grip seeming to tighten with everyone word. I make sure not to retaliate and pull away, knowing better. I'll get out if I'm patient. "What are they, your slaves?"

Ren breathes in deeply. "I trust them. Now let her go. She did nothing to you."

Grayson turns his head, looking at me. For a moment I'm trapped in his gaze, unsure of what to do. I don't quiver, I don't cower in fear. I match him, hoping for mercy against a powerful Alpha. Finally, though, he lets me go, and I can finally breathe in again without fear.

He still concentrates his attention on me, even when I stumble back a few steps. "Does Ren control you? Or are you here because you want in his bed? I'm sorry, but as pretty as you are, Ren has no interest in anyone but himself."

My jaw clenches, but I don't reply. He wants me to speak. To catch me.

"Perhaps we have opposing ideologies, Grayson. But that doesn't mean you need to take out your frustrations on one of my staff," Ren says smoothly, calm and untouched by Grayson.

Rubbing my wrists, I quickly step back into my initial position, not wanting to be involved any further. It will be the second night...

However, Ren has other ideas.

He beckons me over. "Come on Brielle, why don't you sit here and help me prove to the rest of these Alpha's that you don't need to have power to be intelligent."

My feet don't move for a moment, causing
Ren's gaze to only intensify.

"Come here," he breathes. "I want you by my side."

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Want more of Ren!? On the site Radish, Ren is considerably ahead, so go check it out (:

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I've also just posted the second novel in the Immortal series (in no way in correlation to book one which is Fate

It's Time!

It's Time!

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