I showered and changed, slipping on a pair of panties and a sports bra followed by my best pair of black leggings, a black pleated skirt that came to the bottom of my thighs and a white button up shirt. I brushed my hair out with my fingers and braided it, but didn’t wrap it today. I let it hang down my back for the event. Finally I slipped on a pair of black ballet flats and darted up the stairs and out the back door. I jogged to the pack house and slipped through the kitchen door. Mat was already there waiting for me and I smiled.

“Ovens are preheating and I’ve pulled out several pre-made dishes. What can I do to help other than that?”

“We need to get out the veggies we sliced and diced yesterday, we’ll start putting together the salad bar. I need to get ice down to keep the serving bins cold and I need to warm the hot bar buffet as well.”

“I’ll ice the bar, you warm the buffet, cause I have no idea how to work that thing, and then we can start putting out salad bar items together?”

“Sounds like a plan. We can start putting dishes into the ovens to warm as well. Most of them will only take 30 minutes to an hour to warm and then we can move them to the hot bar.”

We set about our assigned tasks, getting the bars prepped and putting lettuce and various veggies into individual containers. We rotated hot dishes through the ovens, getting them out to the hot bar as they came out of the ovens.

Near the start of the banquet I turned two of the four ovens in the pack house kitchen to the warming setting and used them as holding ovens so I could easily and quickly replace items on the hot bar as needed.

I didn’t worry about the salad bar too much, most wolves preferred meat and potatoes type dishes to salad. The hot bar had pasta, potatoes, gravy, burgers, various breads, and some various hot veggies as well. The head pack house chef was going to man the indoor grill, which would be steak, chicken and a few types of fish.

I left instructions with the rest of the Omegas that were going to be in charge of rotating and refilling dishes. Then I grabbed a serving tray and loaded it with glasses of champagne, wine, and beer. Hard liquor would be served at the bar. I took a deep breath and left the kitchen, weaving my way through the crowd to serve drinks and attempt to keep a low profile. Mat stuck near me, serving hor’s derves to the crowd as well.

~Tristan~

Most of our pack members as well as the other visiting pack’s members were already at the pack house. It was just us ranked members that were starting to wander in, all a little late. It was kind of a tradition. The ranked members coming a little later gave the regular members some time to interact and be themselves without their leaders looking over their shoulders.

I picked Kami up in the hall on our way, she was beautiful in her full length sky blue gown, it had a slit up one side and was sleeveless with a high collar. I appreciated the modesty of it. It would mean chasing off less men, hopefully.

Our father met us at the bottom of the stairs, Titus and Victor were with him. Father was in a pair of black slacks and a dark blue button down shirt. Titus and Victor were dressed much the same, but their shirts were red and gray respectively. I had donned a pair of black slacks and a royal purple button down shirt. None of us were looking to impress as we were either mated, too young, or not interested.

*Let’s get this over with. I would ask that we all keep our eyes and ears open. Nothing about Red Moon screams trustworthy, or even moral. Dark Forest we know and trust. Cold Moon has a tough reputation, but other than that, we know little about them. They tend to keep to themselves. Titus, Victor, I would like one of you near Kami at all times. No need to smother her, just keep her safe.* I spoke through the mind-link to the group, not wanting to risk anyone over hearing my comments about the packs. Kami scoffed at me a bit but didn’t argue.

With a nod from all of them we headed out of the pack manor and to the pack house. We met up with Dark Forest’s ranked members along the way, greeting our allies politely as we headed into the pack house.

~Andrew~

I was mingling with the crowd, making small talk with the ranking members of the visiting packs. Always on the lookout for someone that may be willing to take Alyce off my hands and be able to keep her in line.

Currently I was conversing with Alpha Shane from Cold Moon, “I’m glad you were able to make it with no issues. I hope you’re hungry. I’ve had our best cook preparing everything from scratch the last couple weeks.”

“I’m sure his food will be grand.”

“Her, one of our Omegas actually. She’s a troubled girl, but she really is amazing in the kitchen. I had to put her in the Pack Manor because our Pack House Chef couldn’t handle her. It’s been a curse and a blessing.”

“Strict rules and hard discipline will whip any wolf into shape.”

“I’ve tried, but thus far I haven’t been able to break her. She’s very stubborn. I’ve thought about maybe sending her off to one of the workhouses, but I’m not sure they could handle her either. I’m worried I may have to banish her from the pack if she keeps acting up, she’s awfully young to be branded a rogue though. She has no family. We took her in as an orphan when she was just 8.”

“Which wolf is she?”

I looked around the crowd a bit and spotted Alyce working her way around some of the Dark Forest pack with drinks. I pointed her out, “That’s her, the short one with red hair. She’s hard to miss, her features are quite unique.”

Shane followed where I was pointing and I could see the sudden look of interest enter his eyes. Bingo. I knew he had employed some of the same tactics I had in the past. I suspected he was even worse, but had no solid proof of it. I’d been to his pack two or three times on business and saw enough to have my suspicions though.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

“Hmmmm, unmated?”

“She just turned 18 last week, and I have not heard anyone claim her, and she is still unmarked, so I would think so.”

“I could use a fresh face around my pack manor. I might be willing to take her back with me to Cold Moon.”

“I might be willing to let you, perhaps in exchange for an alliance?”

“I think that could be arranged. She won’t be missed around here?”

“Like I said, no friends, no family. Just a bad attitude and a mouth she doesn’t know how to shut.”

“Oh, I could find ways to shut it for her, I assure you.”

I chuckled, “I believe you.”

“You wouldn’t mind if I distracted her from her work a bit would you? I’d like a closer look, if you will.”

“Not at all, inspect away.”

“Thank you.”

“I think this arrangement will work well for the both of us. We will talk later, for now I must visit the rest of my guests.”

“Of course.”

I headed into the crowd, making rounds and polite conversations with the others as I mingled.

~Tristan~

I had been passing Andrew and who I assumed to be one of the Cold Pack leaders, as I knew he wasn’t part of Dark Forest, when I heard him speaking of Alyce. The conversation made my blood run cold. He was essentially using her as a bartering chip, like she wasn’t a person, but a piece of property.

It would be a cold day in hell before my mate went anywhere other than home with me. Ryder was growling in my head, begging to be let to the surface, “Calm down Ryder, causing a scene will not help her right now. We will claim her before the night's end, but we will wait for the right moment.”

* We’d better, or I will do it for you.*

* Remember, we are following her wishes, she wanted to be claimed with a bang, so to speak. We’ll make a grand entrance.*

This seemed to settle him down for now. I let the others know what I had heard and warned them about what would be coming tonight. Then I opened my mind-link to Alyce, *Hello love. I’m sorry to bother you while you’re working, and while we’re in public trying to keep a low profile, but I have news to share and we may have to do a little improv later.*

I saw her excuse herself from the crowd to refill her tray and step into the kitchen. A moment later she came across our link, *What’s going on Tristan?*

*I heard Andrew talking with someone, one of the Cold Moon pack, likely the Alpha, if I had to make an educated guess. He’s making plans to trade you off to Cold Moon in exchange for an alliance. I will be claiming you officially as my mate tonight, I’m not sure when, but I will be watching for an opportunity that will make an impact.*

I could feel her irritation through the bond, *Thank you for letting me know. I will try to act surprised. I’m much better at resting blank face than faked surprise, but I’ll do my best. I have to get back on the floor.*

*Ok, be careful.*

*You too.*