Escaping Rogue

thirteen

Christian lied. There were more than forty alphas sitting at the long mahogany table, some accompanied by a mate or by a beta, or by both. I sat in between Chris and Mario, close to the middle of the table. Alpha Hanson sat at the head, with his mate at the other end.

I leaned over to Christian, looking behind him as I rested my chin on his shoulder. "Please tell me this will go quickly."

He only chuckled and grabbed my hand under the table.

All conversation stopped as Alpha Hanson stood. Each of the alphas stood alongside him. I was just about ready to stand up when I noticed all of the lunas remained seated. I looked up to Christian, and to Mario. Both were watching the alpha at the head table.

I looked down, glancing from alpha to alpha. Each kept their gaze locked on the alpha, their luna staring up at their mate. I felt suddenly uneducated about this pack, and the rituals and dining techniques and what not.

"I would like to take a moment to thank all of you for coming," Alpha Hanson started. The room was silent as we all watched him. "The Alpha's Ball has been a tradition among our packs for centuries, and it is an honor to hold this ball with you and your mates." I glanced at Chris, who snuck a small wink down at me. "So to all of you," Hanson raised a glass. The rest of his company followed suit, and I only reached for the champagne when I noticed the other women had. "And especially to our lunas, because without them, the moon goddess knows we'd be at each other's throats."

A few chuckles escaped from the men around me, and they all raised their glasses. I raised mine to Mario, then to Chris, with both raising theirs to me. Slowly, I took a sip of the bubbly drink, glancing over my cup.

There was a man smiling at me, raising his glass in what seemed to be my direction. He had no woman beside him, meaning he was unmated. He too, took a sip, keeping eye contact with me the entire time.

I swear he looked familiar. Maybe he was an alpha that I had already met before, that I hadn't seen in a long time and therefore could not recognize him. Maybe he was just raising his glass to me in a random effort to praise one of the lunas in this room.

I looked back at Chris, who had sat back down and grabbed my knee. His voice boomed inside of my head, and I could feel the jealousy in his tone.

The man. Who is he?

I shrugged ever so slightly, setting my glass down on the table. Whoever this man was, I certainly didn't know him.

I thought you would know. I definitely don't.

Chris squeezed my knee, and I saw him slightly shake his head.

All of a sudden there were plates being lowered above our heads, on them a bowl of soup or something of the likes. It was a dark green and had flecks of an even darker green and orange floating inside. I looked over to Christian, who had already started eating, along with the rest of the table. Silently, I picked up the spoon and gently scooped some into my mouth.

Needless to say, I miss the sandwiches Nancy used to make for me.

Soon enough, the soup was taken away and replaced with a fancy looking type of meat. At least it looked a little more edible. Later on, most people had moved around, standing and having conversations with one another. We still remained seated at our spot.

"So, Alpha Bade," someone started. I looked across the table, seeing the man who had toasted me now sitting across from us. I raised an eyebrow.

Christian looked up at the man, quiet. "How are you handling those rogues? I hear they're becoming stronger and stronger."

The man had a smug type of look on his face, like he already knew the answer. Whoever this man thinks he is, he is dead wrong if he thinks he can talk to us that way.

I sat forward, leaning onto the table. "Forgive me, Alpha...?"

The man looked to me. "Ben Turner."

I nodded. I really don't care who he is. "We have the threat under our control. The only one becoming stronger is us, and soon enough we'll get rid of the the threat completely. Now if you'll excuse me," I stood up. Mario and Christian stood beside me. "I think I'm full."

I tugged both men away, looping my hands through either's arm.

"Who is that?" I asked, lurking over to one of the giant windows. My arms fell to my sides and I turned to face them. "Because if he thinks he can't just taunt us like that and get away with it, he's wrong." I looked back, seeing the man now talking with another set of people.

"I've never heard of a Ben Turner in my life." Mario muttered, crossing his arms.

"So he's an insignificant mutt." Christian hissed. "First he toasts you, and now he insults me and my abilities." There was rage in his eyes. "I'm going to murder this idiot."

"The last thing we need is for you to murder him." I muttered, slipping my hand through his. He needs to calm down; he can't be like this in public.

"I'm going to go find out who this man is." Mario said, taking a glass of champagne off of a waiters tray and starting forward into the crowd of people.

I took two and handed one to Chris. "His scent is familiar." I whispered, so quietly I could barely hear it. Christian glanced at me, and then to the alpha. "I don't know why or how, because I've never met him in my life, but I know it."

"Whoever he is, he needs to stay the hell away from you, and from the rogue threat. It's none of his business what goes on in my pack." Christian took a sip of the champagne. "If he tries to say even one more word to any of us, I'll rip him to pieces."

His words dripped in venom, and anyone who didn't take his threat seriously would be branded a fool. Chris was serious, and I knew it, as much as it scared me.

I noticed more people staring at us, and during his moment of anger, had completely forgotten that they could likely hear every word he hissed. Trying to brush off the incident in the eyes of eavesdroppers, I faked the best smile I could and grabbed his arm, looking back out to the crowded dining room.

With prying alphas, this trip would definitely be a long one.