Hybrid Warrior Luna

The Clearing

This man was instantly at her side, "Touch me and lose a paw. We have business to attend to." Alina stepped around him and addressed Ryan as he chuckled, "Anything new between when you arrived and now?"

"No ma'am. We were just getting acquainted when we were made aware of your arrival. I met several of their warriors though, and Bryson is coordinating our teams. He arrived about 5 minutes before you."

"Perfect, thank you," she looked around the room and nodded to the pack members as they stared. "Lovely to meet you all I'm sure. Hopefully, next time will be under better circumstances."

"Are you seriously going to ignore-"

"Do you really think your *urges* are the most important topic at the moment?"

"My *urges*?! Did you really just boil down us being-"

"Alpha, I do not even know you. And you certainly don't know me if you think I'm going to compromise this plan to explore some connection with a stranger!"

The room was silent as everyone watched. Drayden was visibly p*ssed as he stared at Alina, Ryan was silently shaking with laughter, and Alina looked annoyed by the mere existence of this Alpha.

"Shall we get back on topic then?" Alina asked as she walked up the stairs to Drayden's office, following his scent to the room.

"You ignore me, and you take over my home?!" Drayden raised his voice as he rushed toward her, getting in front of her as she approached the office door.

"Well, Alpha, I supposed I could plan this meeting from the home of another of the invited groups, but you seemed to want to be involved. Either way, you will not raise your voice at your Queen," the last words vibrated with her authority. Drayden's head lowered, and he snarled so low only the two of them could hear it. The others had frozen on the steps, waiting to see how it played out.

"After you," Drayden opened the door to let her in, head still bowed. "Give us a minute."

Alina walked into the office and opened her mouth to protest as he closed the office door and locked it. In a flash, he was in front of her, backing her to the wall, his eyes boring into hers. Alina felt her heart speed up, her cheeks flush, as he stood so close, but not touching her.

"Can I help you? We have-" Alina began, the words coming out quieter than she intended.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, we have business I know, but we have hours."

"I am your-"

"Yes, but you are also my mate."

"Ugh," she rolled her eyes, moving to the right and annoyingly being followed. "As if some magical connection with terrible timing changes the current circumstances? I do not have time for this right now."

"Oi, you're allowed to have happiness during the hard sh*t, and everyone needs support."

"I have support."

"Oh yes, I'm sure they're great, but they aren't your mate."

"And you're soooo special? No one could possibly be as supportive as you, right?"

"Do you ever stop arguing?" He stepped closer, his right hand on her hip, making her breath catch as she looked up at him. Drayden leaned in closer, slowly, tauntingly. Without meaning to, Alina leaned in, and Drayden pulled back, chuckling. "See! You do feel it," and in one quick motion, he pressed against her, kissing her deeply as her body was pushed into the wall. Alina raised her hand to slap him, but he grabbed her arms and pushed them back against the wall, making her moan into the kiss as he chuckled.

Both out of breath, they pulled apart a few minutes later, Drayden resting his forehead on hers, "We should let them in," Alina whispered.

----

The plans were simple, and any disagreement easily worked out, and Alina was grateful for that as being near Drayden was distracting and she didn't have time for that. Alina began masking her scent after the planning was done, and teams of wolves were sent to ensure they couldn't smell any trace of her. Hope needed to believe she still had the upper hand.

As 9 pm approached, Alina got more and more restless. She couldn't go to the meeting if the plan was going to work, and she hated it. Though she knew it was the best option. They needed to find out her plan, not just catch her. Right now, they had no way of knowing how many people she was working with, or who they were.

Drayden went to the meeting, so she at least didn't have to deal with him right now. Ryan, Bryson, and some of the other warriors were near the meeting, but far enough away that Hope should just assume they were from nearby packs. Alina was cloaking Ryan's scent in case Hope recognized it, using a scent from one of the wolves near her in the house.

Alina paced back and forth listening in, Ryan narrating his view and scents for her. She felt them freeze. Felt the witches' magic buzz as they went on alert. There was a high cackle that floated on the wind, as two large wolves approached Drayden and the others in the clearing.

"This was cute. Did you think I wouldn't be watching? Ryan, you still haven't grown into that big head I see," they looked around, but there was no sign of Hope as her voice boomed through the clearing. "Aliiinnnaaaa," she said in a sing-song voice, "Come out, come out, wherever you are!"

"Why would she be here? We came to hear your information! Show yourself!" Drayden growled at the disembodied voice.

Hope cackled, "That's precious! Such a protector! I was suspicious when all three groups said yes. I'm glad I was right. Good luck at that meeting!" The wolves that appeared with her voice howled and ran off, Hope's final laugh fading in the wind.

"Everybody back here, now! Stay together and alert!" Alina ordered through mindlink, knowing the wolves would inform the witches.