Alphas prefer fiesty Lunas

A dangerous Alpha

*Freya*

Many hours later, I sit at my dressing table, wincing while Meg, my maid, fusses with my hair. Angel sits beside me, undergoing similar torture.

“I don’t think you’re telling me everything,” Angel admonishes.

“I told you,” I sigh. “I fell down after I knocked the little boy out of the path of the hack. Then I hit my head.”

She glance at me, “What about those earrings?”

“The boy’s mother gave them to me. She thought I was a maid. I’m planning to call on her tomorrow to give them back. How many times do you need to hear this?” I sigh.

“I don’t know.” Angel narrows her eyes suspiciously. “I still think you’re leaving something out.”

“I saved the boy. I got the earrings. Period.” I give Angel a sharp nod for emphasis.

Her expression tells me she doesn’t trust me, “Freya, you were gone for an hour! Something must have happened between the boy and the earrings!”

“I was unconscious, that’s what happened! What do you think, I was ravished by some mysterious man?” I groan inwardly as I realize how close to the truth that speculation actually is. I feel a little guilty for not telling Angel about my strange experience with the Alpha. We usually tell each other everything. But I feel strangely possessive of my time with the Alpha, and I don’t feel like sharing my memory with anyone, not even Angel.

“Well, I think it’s absolutely famous that it was the Luna of Wilding who gave you those earrings.” Angel chuckles, amusement dancing in her bright blue eyes. “I know Summer fairly well. She isn’t very much older than we are. Mama and her mother are good friends. They will all just scream with laughter when they hear what happened. Although perhaps we shouldn’t say anything. I don’t think Mama would look favorably upon your going out alone dressed as a maid. Still, the situation is most amusing. I can’t believe Summer gave you jewels to secure your future. Why, with your fortune, you could buy and sell us all.”

“Hardly,” I say dryly, pointedly glancing at the string of pearls draped around Angel’s throat. “Besides, she did think I was a maid.”

She giggles, “I know, I know. Still, it’s just too funny. I do wish Summer were coming tonight. I would love to see her face when she walked into the ballroom and saw the ‘scullery maid’ decked out in all her finery.”

“Really, Angel, that’s positively cruel of you. The Luna was very distraught this afternoon. She nearly lost her son.” I scold.

“You’re calling me cruel? You, the queen of all practical jokesters? The same girl who sent poor River a fake love note from Miss Clarissa?”

I try to suppress a mischievous grin. “Really, it needn’t have been such a big fuss.”

“You’re absolutely correct,” Angel states with noticeable sarcasm. “And it wouldn’t have been, not if River hadn’t been hopelessly infatuated with the chit.”

I look away innocently. “Well, how was I to know that? I haven’t made my debut yet, you know. I’m not privy to the latest gossip.”

“He only mentioned her name a hundred times a day.” She laughs.

I humph and give her a supercilious look. “Really, it all worked out for the best. Now we all know what a conniving little you-know-what Clarissa is. When it comes right down to it, I saved your brother from a terrible fate.”

“I suppose,” Angel concedes. “But poor River was so heartbroken when he professed his love for her, and she flatly stated she was holding out for a lycan Prince with lots of money.”

“I think he was more upset that she wasn’t the paragon he had imagined her to be than he was because she didn’t return his feelings. But enough of that. I have learned my lesson... no more interference in River’s romantic life. Even if I am doing the right thing. So tell me, why isn’t Summer coming tonight?” I ask.

"I'm not sure, probably because her mate is away on business in the West Indies for a few months. I think she misses him. It was a love match, true mates, you know," Angel sighs romantically.

I nod, "It's probably for the best...even if you do have to miss seeing her shocked face. She would get the surprise of her life if she saw me tonight. I'm sure it will be easier for everyone if I simply call on her tomorrow morning."

"You're probably right. Do say I can go with you, though. I so want to be there when she sees you." She begs.

"Fine, fine, of course you can...Ouch!" I holler as Meg tugs on my hair a little too vigorously.

"Quit your complaining, Miss Freya," Meg scolds. "It takes hard work and a little bit of pain to be beautiful."

I huff, "Goodness! If it's going to require that much pain, I really don't need to be beautiful. Just leave my hair down. It's much more comfortable that way."

Meg looks agonized. "I couldn't do that. It's not at all fashionable."

"Oh, all right, do whatever you like with it, Meg. Just try to keep the discomfort at a minimum." I sigh.

Angel laughs. "Oh, Freya, I don't know how you're going to make it through an entire mating season."

"I don't know, either. I can never seem to remember how to be correct." I mumble.

"Stop shaking your head!" Meg yells. "Else we will be here all night, and you will miss the ball."

"With the way my head hurts, that wouldn't be such a bad thing," I mutter.

"Did you say something?" Angel asks absently.

"It was nothing." I don't want Angel to know how large the lump on my head really is. Angel will surely tell her mother, and I know that my aunt would be worried sick. The evening will be ruined unless I ignore the pain and smile my way through the party. "Why don't you tell me more about Summer?" I say, just to make conversation.

She smiles, "Summer? She's a lovely person. Talks a lot, though."

I giggle. "I noticed."

"She and her mate are terribly devoted to one another. I know she just misses him dreadfully." She explains.

"Does she have any family?" I ask.

Angel arches her brows at my interest.

"I just want to know how many people are going to know about my little escapade," I say hastily.

"One mother. One brother." She says.

"Really?" I try to sound casual, but my voice comes out breathy and excited.

She nods, "Yes, I think he must be about twentynine now. He is an Alpha and absolutely beautiful, with thick dark hair and the most stunning hazel eyes you will ever see."

I feel a stupid pang of jealousy but quickly suppress it. The man is an arrogant, overbearing boor, and I am sure I am not interested in him in the least. It doesn't matter if his kiss is the most exciting thing that has happened since I arrived in London. "You sound quite interested in him, Angel," I say cautiously.

"The Alpha of Avalon? You must be joking. Heis a handsome rascal, but he is positively dangerous. He never consorts with Luna material, if you know what I mean. Actually, I barely know him at all, but..." Angel leans forward conspiratorially, "...I have heard that he has left broken hearts all over England. And the Continent."

"He sounds quite interesting." I mumble.

She shakes her head, "Interesting, yes. Suitable, not at all. Mama and Papa would have a fit if I set my cap after him. He's a confirmed bachelor. He won't marry for years. I would bet my pearls on it. And when he does, it will be to some stupid little chit who can be easily managed and then ignored once she produces an heir."

"Oh." I wonder why I suddenly feel so depressed.

"He won't even come tonight. I'm sure of it. He is invited, of course. He gets invited to everything, but he never attends unless his family absolutely forces him to. He probably has scores of fancy mistresses tucked away all over London. Besides, I'm sure you won't want to meet him. He wears a perpetual frown on his face and would probably bite your head off if you said two words to him."

I make a face, "Goodness, he's beginning to sound most unpleasant."

"Oh, I wouldn't call him exactly 'unpleasant'. River has only praise for him. They belong to the same club, you know. He says that all of his friends look up to him. More likely they want to be him." Angel shrugs. "He is sinfully rich, you know, and even more sinfully handsome. I think it's just that he so hates the social whirl... hasn't got the patience to pretend otherwise, so he just scowls at anyone who doesn't interest him. Most of my friends are terrified of him... when they are not plotting out how to get him to choose them as his Luna."

"He must be quite remarkable to wield such power," I comment.

Angel nods, "Oh, yes, it's really quite disgusting how he always gets his way. It seems that everyone panders to him."

"Why?" I ask.

"Well, there's his title for one thing; he is an Alpha, you know. And as I mentioned, he is exceedingly wealthy. But if you saw him for yourself, you would know what I meant. He positively exudes power. He's quite a specimen." She sighs.

"Angel!" I laugh. "Your mama would swoon if she heard you talk this way."

She scoffs, "Mama swoons about as often as you do."

"Then she is due for a good fainting spell any minute now," I joke. But inside, I breathe a sigh of relief at Angel's assurance that Zac won't attend my ball. My head still aches, and I feel utterly exhausted. There is no way that I can pander to the arrogant Alpha, but with my injury, I just am not up for another round with him.