Alpha

Chapter 8

When I entered the manager's office, I knew that this was going to get out of hand.

Konrad was on one side of the room with two men standing behind his seat. One was his goon that always followed him around, and the other, I assumed was his Beta. Everything seemed calm on his side of the room.

It was vastly different from the other side where the guy that had supposedly spiked the drink was sitting. I could describe him as in a simmering anger kind of mood. Behind him, two men were leaning on the wall, looking unimpressed.

In addition to that were two burly guards standing between them.

"Please note that this is being recorded."

"Of course."

That was standard when things like this happened.

"Please state your name with lineage, clan, and title for the record."

"Megan Nolan, daughter of Briar and Anders Nolan. I am from the West River pack. My title is Alpha."

I looked at the vile little thing that tried to spike my drink. His eyes widened when he heard that I was an Alpha, or maybe it was because he'd heard my father's name and assumed that I was just as bad as he was. One of the men behind him sighed heavily and shook his head. Clearly, that was his Alpha.

"I understand that you don't have your Beta here, but I only require your statement of the events. Are you willing to proceed without your Beta?"

"My Betas did not attend the weekend."

"Would you like to call someone else to give counsel in their stead?"

"Am I in trouble?"

"No. I only require a statement from you."

"Then I do not require anyone to be called."

He offered me a seat and then sat down, pulling his notepad and pen closer.

"I understand that earlier this evening, you were given a drink in the Tango Bar. Is that correct?"

"Yes, one of the barmen said it was a gift from another patron."

"Is that patron in the room?"

"He is."

"Please point him out to me."

I gestured to the man sitting at the far end of the room.

"Let the record show that Megan Nolan pointed to Colin Dawson of the Blood Moon pack. Miss Nolan, please tell me what happened after you were given the drink."

"He knocked it from my hands," I said, pointing to Konrad. "He apologized and offered to pay for a new drink. I refused and left to clean my dress in the bathroom."

"Let the record show that Megan Nolan pointed to Konrad Marlowe, Alpha of the Black Ridge pack."

The computer next to the manager beeped. He turned and opened the email that had been sent.

I was grateful that he'd been distracted. It occurred to me that Konrad following me into the bathroom would have been recorded, and it might not look good for him and, perhaps, me.

I watched as the video began. It was the security footage at the bar. With a heavy sigh, Randall closed the video and brought up the email again.

"It appears that your statement regarding the drink is true, Mister Marlowe. We have video evidence that it was spiked. Unfortunately, the video does not offer anything regarding the actual request."

"I told you that he's trying to get me kicked out of the event." Colin snapped, standing from his seat.

"If you would let me finish, Mister Dawson."

With a huff, he sat back down.

"The barman in question has been interviewed and has stated that he was paid to provide a Dizzy Panty Dropper, which is also known as a spiked Panty Dropper drink. He identified the person who requested the drink as Colin Dawson."

"This is a setup. I'm being framed." Colin shouted.

"We have visual confirmation of the drink being paid for, the staff member making and delivering the spiked drink. His rostered shift had him working the bar until midnight tonight, which means it is impossible for me to consider that he'd spike the drink for his own gain. We have a witness that has stated that he heard you request the drink. Based on the evidence, it leaves me with no other choice. Colin Dawson, you are to leave the premises immediately. You will not be permitted to return ever again. Your banishment from Midland Peak and the events held here will be permanent. Your Alpha may see to the collection and return of your possessions. Please remove him from the room."

The guards helped the angry man leave, followed by an unimpressed Alpha. He said nothing, but I could tell that he was not a happy wolf. This would leave a permanent stain on their record.

The door was closed, and Randall turned to me.

"On behalf of Midland Peak, I apologize to you, Miss Nolan. We do not condone any form of drug use, but most of all, the abhorrent act of spiking. The staff member involved has been fired. As a gesture of goodwill, I'd like to offer a full refund on your pack's stay this weekend."

"Thank you, I appreciate that. Perhaps you should offer it to Mister Marlowe's clan as well. After all, they went out on a limb to ensure it was stopped."

"Agreed."

When Randall was done offering his gratitude to Konrad, I walked out of the office and into the main lobby. I wish that I hadn't. The Alpha of the Blood Moon pact was standing in the middle of the lobby, looking frustrated as he listened to the whining man next to him.

Colin's eyes turned to me and then to Konrad. Fear filled me because anything could happen. Just because clan fights were banned here, doesn't mean that fighting couldn't occur between individuals.

Colin stalked towards us, stopping only when his Alpha put a hand on his shoulder. He turned his head with a scowl and then looked back at us.

"You think we don't know about the territory war between Black Ridge and West River?" Colin hissed. "We are not fools and know that you two know each other. Given how the two of you interact, I can assume that it's more than just business. We have witnesses too."

I looked to the side and saw a group of women who were watching us. It was guaranteed that they'd either been in the bathroom when Konrad and I entered or were waiting in line.

"And with that in mind, I, Colin Dawson of the Blood Moon pack, challenge Konrad Marlowe of the Black Ridge pack for the mating rights to Megan Nolan of the West River pack."

There were a few gasps, and that group of women giggled. I looked at the Blood Moon Alpha, who said and did nothing. He just stared at me.

This was the worst thing that could have happened, andsomething deep inside of me said that it would get a lot worse.