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~Lexia

"You look great," Adrian murmurs, fixing the collar to my dark outfit. My jaw clenches, as his fingers fiddle with the thick fabric. A massive crowd of people stand on the opposite side of the thin curtain, and the sound of them mulling around is making me nervous.

Adrian pauses, as he notices my gaze wander.

"Be careful out there," he tells me, stepping back. I frown, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Why?"

It's just another speech I'm doing to the portion of the Pack I lead. Mainly about Alphas, and how I plan to take them down. Sure, I agree with my own words, but I'm watched carefully by Kaden at all times.

"People are starting to get suspicious. They are wondering why whatever you say, Kaden manages to answer with some sort of cunning plan," Adrian said.

I close my eyes. It has never been my intention to play them. Nothing more appeals to me than dragging an Alpha down, but what I can't tell these people, is that any wrong move on my part, I'll be killed by Kaden...

"Whether it's raid on major public building, or a protest outside his estate. You say, he answers," Adrian said sternly, but his words didn't effect me. I know this. He's right in every way, but there is nothing I can do to stop it.

"I know, I know," I say, holding my hands up. I turn around, facing the curtain that leads onto the stage. Of course I know. It haunts me every night.

Without another word, I push through the black cloth, revealing myself to the thick crowd of bustling people. Instantly heads turn, talking ceases and a sort of submissiveness settles over them. This must be what it feels like to be an Alpha.

My strides are confident, as I find the centre of the stage. This is what I enjoy. Not the attention, but more like the order and sense that finds these criminals the moment I meet their presence.

"Thank you for coming out," I say, my voice carrying itself over the shadowed faces melting into the crowd. I try not to make eye contact with anyone specifically, but instead try to address them with one sweeping gaze of the courtyard.

It's not like they have anything better to do though, than come to hear me talk. This has become a sort of tradition, my speeches. Many have told me themselves that I bring a familiarity to the bleakness. This place is like a prison, with walls tall and consuming. But I don't mind it.

Call me institutionalised, but I've begun to rely on these walls.

"Protests are going well. I believe we are making progress," I tell them. I don't need a microphone; my words radiate off the silence like a speaker.

Someone coughs, but I ignore them. "In no time, we will be leading this Pack collectively!"

This time, people cheer. That's what they want to hear...They want to rule, and they will. What Kaden doesn't know, is there is more of this rebellion going on behind the scenes. Some of it, even I don't have a handle on it...

And my idea. My idea to find my mate and take over his Pack has to work. People shouldn't be born into power! No matter what Pack it is...And anyway, if it doesn't go to plan, there are people that will mount my head to the wall if I don't obey them.

"We will not stand for oppression!"

People surge forward, weaving around each other through the jungle of limbs, trying to get closer to me on the stage. I don't take a step back; I won't be afraid of my own people.

"We will not be shut down by these self entitled men that call themselves Alphas!" I yell.

Passion surges in my veins. It expresses itself in my voice, my movement and my entire being. It's so powerful, it's entrapped everyone else around me.

And then I lower my gaze, and meet his.

My heart stops, my breath catches in my throat, and I become paralysed from the head down.

Eyes, the most unique colour I've ever seen stare straight at me. But they don't just look, they encompass my entire being, and for a moment, it flickered through my mind that he could control me if he wanted to.

But there was something else there. They way he gazed at me with a direct look of anger in his eyes. Or maybe frustration?

When I draw my eyes from his, I glide my gaze over him. From the silkiest head of obsidian black hair, to the strong jawline. But I don't dare allow myself to even glance at his body. Instead, I look up, trying to regain my composure.

But I can't. Because there's an Alpha here.

"I-I...I." My words stumble over each other, my equilibrium still a little off. Everyone stares at me expectantly, including him.

"Well..." Why can't I find my words? Everything ounce of the speech I had prepared earlier has vanished into the thin air.

Flustered, I stumble back a little, finding myself go red. I've never been so embarrassed in my life...

"She's a fake!" Someone yells from the crowd. What?

I suddenly see a single man pushing his way through the crowd. He even shoulders past the Alpha, causing a look of confusion to cast across his handsome face. But all I can do is concentrate on this stranger as he approaches the stage at a quick rate.

"We know who you are working with Kaden," the man spat, climbing over the edge of the stage. No one has ever bothered assigning guards at any of the speeches I do. We never really saw the point since I thought everyone was on my side.

I guess not.

"I'm not," I choke, but I'm not sure it's loud enough for him or anyone else to even hear.

He's on stage, staring at me with hands clenched at his sides, breathing heavy. His isn't just mad, he's livid, and I truly don't want to be here to see the other end of his emotion.

"Hey buddy," someone says from behind the man, pulling him backward a little by his shoulder so I can see who this savour is. "I don't think you should get any closer to this lady here."

The strange Alpha I've never seen before stands upon the stage, staring directly at me, despite his words directed at the stranger. But instantly his attention is back on the man, as he stumbles back away from him.

"Don't you see what she's doing? She's lying to us!" The stranger yells, probably wishing he was taller since his height hardly compared the Alpha. Or maybe not, because he doesn't seem to realise he's talking to a Powerful being such as this Alpha.

I only managed to see the Alpha grab him by the collar of his shirt before someone grabbed my arm and began dragging me back ward.

"We need to get you out of here," I hear Adrian say in my ear. His hand on my arm pulls me past the curtain, sheltering me from the chants in that strangers favour outside.

Once I'm fully concealed, Adrian lets me go.

"Why the hell is there an Alpha out there?" I question viciously, running my hands through my hair. I'm beyond stressed right now. I just completely embarrassed myself by my mistake out there. How could I do that? I have never been so flustered...

But the moment I looked at that Alpha...I couldn't move. I became an incoherent mess, and I hate myself for it.

"An Alpha?"

Clearly Adrian didn't see him. "There's an Alpha out there. He heard everything."

He must be thinking I'm such a freak. Talking about taking someone such as him down; he's probably laughing.

But he stood up for me...He climbed on stage and potentially saved my ass. Sure, I can look after myself, but I don't want my slowly thinning amount of followers to get any less, by watching me fight against a protestor. It will diminish any respect that I've gained from them.

"Which Alpha?" Adrian questioned, eyes wide with shock, as he can't possibly believe what I am saying. Closing my eyes, I remember exactly how he looked, as if the image of him has been imprinted in my mind.

"I don't know," I mutter honestly. "He had silver eyes, like I've never seen before."

Adrian paused. His expression suggests I just told him the most shocking news he's struggling to grasp.

"That's Grayson, Lexia," Adrian insists, making my heart sink in my chest.

"Grayson, as in the Alpha of Freedom?" I question. That man is the last possibly Alpha I want to have here right now. I would have preferred Noah, Alpha of Harmony to be at this meeting, despite the way it went.

"Alpha of Freedom indeed," a soft, silky voice stated from directly behind me. I spin around, desperate to see who that beautiful voice belongs to, because it's definitely not Adrian.

And as I turn, glancing over my shoulder, my eyes meet those silver ones again.