First Steps in Public
twenty-seven
*ROSEA*
The place is already buzzing when we arrive.
It’s a small event, and more for the newer alphas and those who will take over soon, so Jordan will be nowhere to be found.
He never is at such events – probably feels too important to mingle with the smaller, more unimportant crowd.
I do spot some of his friends, though, some younger alphas he deems worthy to be in his vicinity.
However, Jordan himself will be there at the gala in two weeks. It gives me some time to prepare mentally for it, because I am sure that shit will go down, in one way or another.
There is no way in hell that Jordan won’t try to stir up trouble the moment he sees me.
My real identity will be revealed then. It’s already a miracle Forest’s parents didn’t look more into my past. I assume it’s only because they were so busy with the changes happening and too preoccupied with themselves, but the truth will inevitably be revealed soon.
Now is not the time to worry, though. We have an event to rock.
It’s a dinner party with a buffet and no seating arrangements, so every attendee can move around and network as they want. When Forest and I step inside, it takes a while for anyone to notice us. But then, some start glancing at us, frowning and staring.
I can’t blame them.
From what I know, it’s the first time Forest has come as himself, dressed the way he wants and with newfound confidence. Usually, he would be here with Lissa, and I am sure she would dump him in a corner and just do her thing.
“Is that you, Alpha Forest?” one of the alphas says.
“Of course it’s him,” a young man I recognize as Alpha Tristan says.
“Yes,” Forest grins. “I thought I’d toss the annoying suits aside and be more myself.” He takes my hand into his and smiles. “Meet my luna, Tristan,” he adds, loud enough for everyone to hear.
“So, it is true?” Tristan exclaims. “I have heard some rumors.” He approaches us immediately, reaching out his hand towards me. “I am so happy to meet you.” A pause. “What was your name again?”
Forest laughs. “Dude, let me introduce her first. Her name is Rose, and she is fabulous.”
I shake Tristan’s hand, smiling at him while doing so. “Forest told me so much about you,” I say. “I am also happy to finally meet you.”
“I hope he only mentioned good things.”
“He did.”
Tristan turns away for a moment, waving at a young woman who walks towards us quickly. He wraps her in his arms. “Meet Violet. She is my mate and luna.”
We go through another round of polite greetings and introductions. It’s not uncomfortable or awkward, though. Tristan looks like he is a good man, and his mate is really sweet. From my research these last few days, I also know what type of pack he leads. Small, but surprisingly fierce.
Forest and Tristan go to fetch something from the buffet for us, while Violet and I sit down. From the corner of my eye, I can see Martin standing with some fellow betas, chatting with them. He looks lively and fully engaged, proof of how seriously he takes his new task.
“I am so happy Forest met his mate,” Violet exclaims. “I was worried he’d end with Lissa.” She claps her hands over her mouth. “Not that he ever did anything, you know, nothing!”
“Don’t worry,” I chuckle. “I have met Lissa plenty of times by now, and I totally get why you would have been worried. Forest has been nothing but loyal to me ever since he met me, and Lissa,” I smirk, “is not a problem anymore.”
“Good!” Violet furrows her brows. “She hit on Tristan once, right in front of me. I know she told some other lunas that I am just some boring, little wallflower.”
No way! I shake my head. I still wonder what her endgame was, or if she ever had any.
I can only guess, but I assume the attention Forest’s parents paid to her went to her head.
That and her growing standing in the pack, with everyone seeing her as a woman who could be a leader.
It fed into her psychopathic nature and most likely made her more reckless.
It was a game for her. She played with those around her like they were pieces on a chessboard, but she wasn’t particularly good at it.
Now, if she used her hatred to take out Jordan and any of his useless friends, it would be completely different.
Frankly, that would have been pretty awesome.
But she just hurt those weaker than her, those of lesser rank or those she deemed unworthy, like Violet, who I know is from a very small pack far into the countryside.
Fact is that with Lissa out of the way now, we only took a small fish out.
I sigh inwardly. “I want to say how unbelievable I think her actions are. But, after all I’ve heard, it’s not that unbelievable, sadly.”
“She badmouthed me whenever she could,” Violet explains. “She did the same with Tristan, yet tried to hit on him.”
“It’s a game to her,” I explain. “She might look down on him, but she still wants to have him, to prove to you that you will lose against her.”
Violet nods. “Can you imagine she even badmouthed Forest?” She shakes her head. “I’ve heard how she talked to Alpha Jordan and some others about him. It was horrible.”
Yeah, I can see why Jordan humored her. I am pretty sure Jordan had zero interest in her; she is not his type, but she was a good tool for him.
“You said she is not a problem anymore?” Violet asks. “Are you sure?”
“One hundred percent certain,” I say. “She is literally imprisoned.”
“No way!” Violet blurts out, then she laughs. “I can’t believe it!” She takes my hand, squeezing it. “I love you already, Rose!”
I grin. “There was no way I’d let her harass Forest and the other pack members,” I say. “But in the end, she really dug her own grave.”
“I am really glad Forest has you at his side now,” she says. “Someone who stands with him.”
“We watch out for each other,” I say. “He is such a great person and alpha.”
“Right? That’s what Tristan and I keep saying. I am so relieved to see that he got out of the deathly grip of his parents.”
The way she shows her genuine happiness for Forest makes my chest warm. He really is much more respected than he thinks he is. I believe he kept looking for approval from the wrong people. The right ones always appreciated him.
“What are you two gossiping about?” Tristan asks when he and Forest return.
“I have news,” Violet grins, turning towards me. “Can I?”
“Of course, it’s pretty much public news by now,” I laugh.
“Lissa landed her ass in prison,” Violet says.
Tristan almost drops his fork at that. “No way,” he exclaims. “That’s fantastic!”
“It was quite the showdown,” Forest grins, taking my hand into his and squeezing it. “To imagine she was the mate my parents would have chosen for me is mind-boggling.”
“How was their reaction when you appeared with Rose?” Tristan asks.
Forest and I exchange a look, then laugh. “Should have seen their faces,” Forest grins.
“They were shocked,” I add.
“So, what’s your strategy going to be?” Violet asks. “Are you going to kill them with kindness?”
Forest and I exchange another glance. “No way,” I say.
Tristan looks content at my words. “It’s so good to see you put them in their place, Forest. Does that mean you are ready to discuss potential alliances?”
“Absolutely,” Forest says. “And just so we are clear, my potential alliances don’t include Jordan or any of his crazy goons.”
“Good,” Tristan grins. A group of alphas is standing close to us, and Tristan waves at them. “Come and join us. I know you are curious as fuck.”
“And bring your lunas,” Violet says. “Rose and I want to have some fun, too.”
Soon, our table is crowded with a bunch of alphas and their lunas.
I am not sure if all of them were in any way respectful of Forest before, or if they looked down on him, but it doesn’t matter.
All that matters is that he is the center of attention, right now, and that they see he is so much more than they thought he was.
And he is seriously delivering. He is charming and laidback, and kind like he always is. It might not win everyone over, but that doesn’t matter. It will make him genuine allies.
“You did a tremendous job,” I say when Forest and I walk hand in hand to our car.
“It honestly…” he pauses. “It felt good. Is that weird if I say it? It sounds like I am patting myself on my back.”
“It’s fine to be proud of yourself,” I say. “You did amazing, and you should be proud.”
“Alpha,” Martin comes running towards us. “Sorry, I am late.”
“We only just left,” Forest tells him.
Martin smiles. “I wasn’t able to pay a lot of attention to both of you, but I noticed you were the talk of the evening, and they were all really taken by you!”
“In a positive sense, I hope?”
“Absolutely. I heard some of Alpha Tristan’s friends talk, and they are really intrigued now. Plus, you both looked so confident.”
“They are seeing a whole new side to you,” I agree. “And they love it.”
Forest smiles. “What do you think about Tristan?”
“He seems to be a decent man,” I say. “Really genuine. I think he knows who to surround himself with.”
“He is,” Forest says. “I like him a lot.”
“Why not strike a deal with him?”
He tilts his head. “That’s what I thought. My father always said that his pack is too small and unimportant, but the fact is, he is loyal and a genuinely good person. He has never mocked or belittled me for being awkward. At the end of the day, I want loyal allies.”
“He also has a top-notch security and intelligence system,” I say. When both Martin and Forest look at me in surprise, I chuckle. “I did my homework too. They are a small pack, but very strong, lethal almost. We will benefit from an alliance.”
Martin unlocks the car for us so that we can all get inside. “What about you?” Forest asks him when we take off. “Any news?”
“Actually, yes,” Martin says. “I kept networking like crazy. I did some serious ass-kissing.”
I laugh at his words. “And?”
“So, two of the alphas who attended today are friends of Jordan. You probably know that already?”
I nod, well aware of whom he is talking about.
“I made sure to interact with their betas and their friends. And listen to this… they mentioned a casino.”
Forest and I look at each other, surprised. “A specific casino in town?”
“No, a casino Jordan apparently owns.”
I furrow my brows. Jordan does not own a casino, at least not officially. “Wait a moment, are you talking about an illegal casino?”
“Yes.”
“Now that’s an awesome revelation,” Forest exclaims. “What are they doing there?”
“I am not sure yet,” Martin says. “From what I heard, the usual gambling. But one of the guys mentioned a fight cage. Other than that, they were very cautious with sharing any information. If they hadn’t drunk that much, I doubt they would have revealed anything at all.”
“Good job,” I say. “What you found out is plenty, already. Do you think you can get an invite?”
“Definitely. I helped one of Jordan’s friends once,” he says.
“Helped?” I ask, staring at him. A grin spreads across my lips. “You mean to say, you have intel on said friend?”
“Let’s just say I might or might not have seen him steal from his alpha. Since his alpha is one of the douche canoes around Jordan, I didn’t want to bust him… or rather, I had a feeling my knowledge would prove beneficial one day. He owes me.”
“It’s always the still waters,” Forest chuckles. “You need to get in, Martin, but be careful once you do.”
“I will be. I do wonder if the connection to you will hurt me, though,” Martin says. “No offense, Alpha, but you know Jordan…”
“Yeah, he will definitely have an eye on you,” I say.
“But I don’t think you being Forest’s beta will hurt you.
After today, he will know that Forest has a luna, and that something’s changed.
” He will also soon know that I am his luna.
“Jordan is a control freak. He will want you close to be able to extract information from you.”
Martin looks surprised. “You know a lot about him, Luna.”
“It’s a longer story,” I tell him. “Be very careful, Martin. He might want something from you at the time, but everyone is disposable to him.”
“Got it,” Martin says. “I will watch out.”
I lean back in my seat while Forest and Martin discuss some details, and I wonder what Jordan is up to.
What’s he doing with a casino? How does that in any way benefit him?
I guess he might be in it for the money, as I have no doubt he is scamming the people there, but he already has plenty of money.
He must be doing something else on top of that.