The dances continued, and Alex was exhausted. Apparently, no one knew where their Lord was or was not willing to tell her. The night was shaping up to be an utter mess. How was she supposed to find him if no one was willing to give her any information? Alex had no idea what the man looked like; the only thing people kept hinting at was that he was very mysterious and appeared only when he wanted to. Letting out a breath of irritation, she edged around the room, slinking out onto the balcony for some fresh air. The room had grown entirely too hot and stifling. The balcony led out to a large stone patio, incased in wrought large iron poles, a wide marble surface lining the top all the way around. A bitter, winter-white moon hung in the sky; the haunting glow from its sad face casts down into the steady flow of the river. The water beats at the bank gently and resides carefully to avoid over soaking it. The air is fresh and overwhelming, with cool gushes of wind blowing past, provoking the trees to curtsey. The grass, normally soft and green, once reserved for those who wanted to lie down or sit, was now brown from the harshness of the season. What would it be like to wake up every morning and step outside to see this scenery, to have this amazing view right in your very own backyard?
"Stalking me now?"
Alex whirled around, her hand pressing against her throat. From the shadows emerged none other than Ace the Prick, like always hands in his pockets. This man was something else, his casual, who gives a fuck attitude was almost infectious. "Conceited much?" she asked with a roll of her eyes, turning to gaze into the sky again, dismissing him.
There was a gentle shuffle as he seated himself beside where she stood, sitting nonchalantly on the smooth marble surface, "Did you find the Lord of the manor yet?"
"No," she let out a sigh, "The people here are rather secretive of his whereabouts."
There was a silence that settled around them. Alex took comfort in it, loving the feel of the crisp air caressing her overheated skin. "The Lord does like his privacy; maybe after the bidding, I can introduce you to him."
Cocking her head to the side, Alex observed Ace skeptically, "Why?" she asked, suddenly wanting to tear the blasted mask off his face so that she could read him better.
"Don't get me wrong; I have my own agenda."
"Of course, you do." She retorted, chewing on the inside of her cheek familiarly.
Ace regarded her for a moment before hopping down from the ledge. He returned his hands to his pockets. "I will introduce you to him if you tell me what it is that you are so hell-bent on speaking with him about."
Time slowed down; Alex thought about it seriously. What would this man want with that sort of information, Could there be any harm in telling him? If the Lord agreed, then he would find out anyway. If he did not, then it really did not matter who knew. Maybe if she told Ace of her plight, he could even help persuade the Alpha Lord to help, she was running out of options, and this seemed like the last resort. "Alright, guess I have no choice."
"Not really." He stated, his tone bored.
Gritting her teeth, she let out a low breath, "I live in the Beta village on the outskirts of the Alpha forest."
"Obviously."
"Shut up, and let me finish if you want to know my reason for being here." She held up a hand when he fell silent. She continued, "There has been a halt on tradable goods. The traveling merchants that usually wander through the village have not been coming in. People have taken to hunting, which has led to our forests becoming bare. My family is starving, and I fear we will not last another month with the way things are proceeding. The cost of living has gone up; shops are selling their products for triple what they are worth because they know that we have no choice but to shop there now. Jobs are in short supply, and resources are dwindling."
Ace looked at her intensely, "What do you propose the Lord do about it?"
Crossing her arms over her chest, Alex raised her chin a notch, "I want him to take care of his people. The village falls under the Northern region, and it is his duty to see to it that its people are taken care of. It has been too long since the Beta's have had any help, leading to the ruin of everyone. Look at everything here- "she gestured to the mansion, "You people have everything and want for nothing. The Alpha's have become selfish over the years and have forgotten what it means to be a pack. Once upon a time, we all worked in unity and strived together. Why can it not be like that once again?"
A light entered Ace's eyes, making Alex catch her breath. He looked dangerous; the stillness in which he regarded her made her want to fidget. "There is a price that comes with such a demand." He finally started, his voice was devoid of emotion, "Are you willing to bear the consequences of such a high request?"
Alex did not skip a beat, "For my family, I would do anything."
Ace seemed to ponder her words for a moment and then gave a slight nod, "I will see what I can do." He stated. A large hand emerged from its resting place and took Alex's hand. Alex watched wordlessly, and he flipped it over, studying the ridges of her palms, "Calluses do not belong on such delicate hands." He muttered, leaning down. Alex was shocked when his lips grazed the inside of her wrist, sending goosebumps up her arms. Her wolf gave an answering purr making her even warmer than she had been inside the ballroom. Without another word he took his leave from her and Alex did not release the breath she had been holding till his body was out of eye sight.