6

¬Avia 

I barely have a chance to grab my morning coffee before Isaiah approaches me. 

"Kenna, good morning," he says, smiling tightly at me. He can be so effortlessly polite, conditioned his whole life to assume the role of someone whose best asset is to hide their true intentions. "I wanted to introduce you to some people."

I’m already aware of exactly who I’m expected to convene with, but I appear none-the-wiser anyway. "Who?"

He nods for me to follow him. "These are to be your friends while you are here. They have very influential families that if you're seen with, will boost your reputation."

"Wonderful,” I reply, hoping my tone isn’t overly excited. 

In reality, I’m dreading this. Having to have a conversation with a group of girls who I doubt I have anything in common with sounds like my personal nightmare, but regardless, I’m going to use this opportunity to get as much out of them as possible. 

Wordlessly, I follow Isaiah out of the estate through one of the back exits. A large formal lawn stretches out, a white gazebo sitting to our right, surrounded by a group of tall trees. In the gazebo, I can see three figures sitting around a small table, speaking between themselves. My stomach churns, and for once, the anger I feel to all these people is lost, replaced instead by nerves. 

Isaiah looks down at me, brow raised. He seems reluctant to take me out there, almost like he feels guilty for subjecting me to their presence. He has Alpha duties calling him away from the estate today, or I believe that’s the case from what I overheard yesterday from his conversation with Zire. His jacket is a dark, rich crimson colour, the undershirt black. Whatever duty he is attending to, it’s definitely formal. 

We walk across the formal lawn toward the gazebo, not exchanging any words between us. The girls all turn their heads upon our approach, blatantly observing us, going completely silent. I try not to lower my gaze in submission, keeping it raised on each girl in turn as Isaiah and I walk up the few steps into the gazebo. 

The girls are all effortlessly beautiful, dripping with wealth in so many different ways. I see it in their clothes, their jewellery and even in the air about them. 

"Girls, this is Kenna, who I told you all about,” Isaiah introduces smoothly, motioning to me. 

The girl sitting closest to me stands in one sweeping motion, her chair pushed back. "I'm Cherry, this is Savea and Mari."

The girl standing, Cherry, smiles at me widely, honey-coloured eyes warm and welcoming. She reaches forward, the hands covered in white lace gloves, grabbing my own to lead me to sit down beside her at the table. Morning tea is set up in front of me, small pastries on prettily painted plates are laid out in the sun, looking delightfully inviting. 

I look at each girl in turn, trying to keep the smile on my face. "Lovely to meet you all."

"You must hate it here, it's so hot for someone who is from the Love Pack,” Savea exclaims, fanning herself with a jade green fan, long dark hair billowing behind her. 

I try not to laugh, knowing I haven’t been in the Love Pack since I was very young, and now thrive in the warm Passion Pack weather. Cherry leans over, minding her flowy white sleeves over her plate of food, grabbing the teapot to pour me a cup of bronze tinted tea. When I look back up, Isaiah is walking back to the estate my heart sinking at the sight. 

"I don't mind it so much,” I shrug. 

"So you're here to make the Alpha look good?" Cherry asks, handing me my tea. It smells sickly sweet, but I take a sip anyway, trying not to look out of place amongst these girls. She has a knowing look in her eyes as she sweeps her light blonde hair back over her shoulder, propping her chin on her hand to look at me. 

"Yes,” I muse. Savea has a regal look about her, one that has likely come from extensive travel and a family that has put her through the best possible schooling. Her eyes are a deep, pretty green, only a few shades lighter than Isaiah’s. 

"Are you getting paid?" the other girl, Mari asks. 

Her gaze is the most intense, her deep brown eyes looking over me with no shame to be seen. She is beautiful though, bronze hair twirled up into a braided updo, showing off her slender face and cheekbones that appear to be carved out of pure granite. 

"No...I mean, I get to stay with him for free,” I say hurriedly. Their whole lives are based upon transactions; the higher the better. How much money I have might actually mean something to them, and whether I fit in here amongst them may depend on that. I have to gain their trust, because they will know more about Isaiah then he may be willing to share with me. 

"You must be getting something,” Cherry says, sounding genuinely confused. 

"Leave her alone Cherry, clearly she doesn't want to indulge us in her agreement with the Alpha," Savea exclaims, looking over at me. I shift uncomfortably under her stare, practically feeling her stripping me down, examining every exposed inch of me. "Are you sleeping with him?"

I don’t flinch. "I arrived only a week ago."

"He works quick, I hear,” Mari notes, taking a bite out of her cupcake. Has he slept with these girls? They are looking at me like I’m about to tell them something so compelling it will make their week, so I’m going to assume they haven’t, but maybe want to. 

Her words do make me think, though. If there is this rumour that he works quickly with other women, it’s a surprise to me. He hasn’t shown me all that much interest other than the odd lingering glance and somewhat suggestive remark. Maybe that will change though. If this rumour is true, then it is a benefit to me. I have to remind myself sometimes of why I am here, what my mission is to do. 

"No," I say, to her original question. "But it doesn't mean it can't happen."

"I wouldn't tie yourself to him that much, if I were you," Savea mumbles, adjusting her dark dress, the top of it huggin her neck. "Your father wouldn't approve."

"I don't care what my father wants. If I want to have sex with him, I will,” I reply confidently. Maybe if I can get it back to Isaiah what I want through these women, then I can lower his guard...Or maybe I’m going to ruin all my chances, and this mission will be over because of my words. 

Cherry nudges me, biting her strawberry tart. "I like you so much already."

"You're clearly made for this,” Mari adds, her smile somewhat sinister. It reminds me of the conversation I had with Zire and Isaiah, about how I need to be cold-hearted to do this job. Have these girls been told the same thing by their families? Or do already have that ingrained within them? 

I lean forward, the cloying scent of the roses in a crystal vase at the centre of the table making my head spin for a moment. "Tell me everything you know about the Alpha, I want to know what I'm in for."

"He's quiet, never really giving us much attention when our families have events," Cherry admits, looking between Savea and Mari. These girls clearly rely on each other in this wild, unpredictable world. "Everyone despises him so much, yet he never has much to say to us at all. When he decided to start taking people from their homes to have them working mandatory jobs at those factories, we didn't hear from him in days."

My heart plummets in my chest. That was only enacted eight months ago, and was a real turning point for the rebellion. It changed everything from merely planning, to full blown movements within the community that we have had to keep up with. Malin and I would be working there if it weren’t for the fact that our names are wiped from every record now, so we technically don’t exist. 

"At least it didn't affect us,” I mutter with a shrug, although I want to slap myself just for saying it. 

"I hate it, and I hate him for it," Savea sighs, extending her slender hand in front of her, admiring her neatly manicured nails. His green gaze raises to mine, pinning me in my chair. "But if you don't like that, you'll despise his family."

I already know that. "Why?"

"They are just evil. They never treat us like equals," Cherry exclaims, shivering despite the warm air that bathes this shaded gazebo. "That whole family is poison."

"Who cares? I know what I'm getting out of this,” I assert, refusing to let them see that I’m frightened, that soon enough I may have to meet his family, and even though I’m Kenna from the Love Pack, daughter of a Noble, I will still not be good enough to be in their son's presence. Isaiah probably already thinks that...I mean, Zire definitely does. 

"Go for it, Kenna," Mari purrs, twirling her golden bracelet around her wrist. "I don't know a single person to grace his bed, so I'll celebrate if you can achieve it."

I grab my tea cup, grinning despite everything in my body wanting the opposite. "Here's to trying.”