Alexis was cocooned in a whirl of cinnamon and spice, the fragrance enveloped her senses, wiping away any other sensations that she might have been experiencing at that moment. There was just that one dire need to tangle herself up in the exotic aroma, breath in deep the richness, and never release said breath, least it was to slip away. Her inner wolf purred in satisfaction, rubbing along Alexis sensitive skin, heightening her emotions. She was drifting along the river of oblivion, her present troubles seemed so distant here, in her semiconscious universe. Sliding her hands down, her palms scooped up a crisp freshness, bringing it to her nose she inhaled deeply. A content sigh escaped from between her full lips, this fantasy could last forever, she would gladly station herself amongst the silky spice of her whimsy.
"As comfortable as you look in my bed, I think it is time you wake up little wolf." A husky familiar voice brought Alexis from the brink of her dreams, into the hell that was her reality. Jerking awake with a quick force; Alex felt her forehead crack and a blinding hot pain lashed its way through her. "For fucks sake." Came an oath as Ace rubbed his chin. Alex jumped up, scrambling to make sense of where she was, sheets coiled around her legs and she found herself landing with a thud on the hard wood of the floor.
"What the hell are you doing?" she asked, violently untangling the mess she had created.
"Apparently getting assaulted." He mused regarding her fallen form sprawled across the floor. Alex was about to tell him to fuck off but when she looked up at him, he was on his side, one hand propped under his cheek and lounging against the mattress. No mask covered his face now and to her sick fascination a scar marred his features. It went from the side of his right eyebrow down to the top of his high cheek bone; it was dark and gnarly against his tan skin. Even scarred it did nothing but add an extra layer of ruggedness to his already handsome face, the deep violet of his eyes framed by thick dark lashes. "Stunned to silence by my good looks, aye?"
The spell was broke, her eyes narrowed, and she freed herself from sheets, standing up she threw them at his face. Ace caught them midair and gave her a look that taunted her to try again. "Actually, I was just thrown off by how repulsive you look without a mask to hide behind." She crossed her arms over her chest, tilting her chin slightly. Alex had been so consumed in bewilderment at waking up to the sight of him, that she had completely forgot just who this man was, "My Lord." She added after a moment for good measure. This man laying before her was the great Alpha Lord of Tartarean? It was almost laughable, had she not heard the way Seymour had addressed him and the way the people had acted around him, then she would have thought it a sick joke.
"Just Ace will do." He responded in a bored voice, running his hands over the silken sheets she had thrown his way, "You've seemed to have left your scent on my new sheets." He stated as he brought them up to his nose, watching her with keen eyes as he made a show of sniffing them.
A blush crept into Alex's cheeks at the suggestive mannerism, "Well you should not have brought me to your room, a couch would have sufficed, what will people think?"
"That I own you." Was his immediate response, "I did, if memory serves right, just purchase you for the season."
The blood rushed to Alex's head, "I am not a possession to be bought."
"Aren't you?" he questioned, tracing a pattern into the sheet, "I warned you of the repercussions of your request. You gave me your word, that you would do anything, so here we are."
Biting her bottom lip, Alex recalled their conversation outside on the balcony, that had been when she assumed him to be nothing other than an Alpha though, not THE Alpha. The whole night she had spent searching for the Alpha Lord, just to have him under her nose the entire time, he had deliberately led her to imprison herself. Keeping the information that he was the one person she seeked, he played with her, all the while probably having a good laugh. The realization that she had been taken for a fool burned hot in her mind, "Does that mean that you will help my village?" she asked through gritted teeth.
"I haven't made up my mind yet." He drawled slowly. "I suppose my next actions will reflect on how well you perform at the Shifting."
The Shifting, the next phase of the Mating Festival, he wanted her to shift for him. Shifting in front of someone not from your pack was a big deal, normally only couples about to mate completed such a brazen act, it was incredibly personal. Seeing as this was indeed a mating festival, she had suspected that the shifting would conclude but she had never imagined herself part of it. In her head she had believed that she would have been long gone, before all of that took place. Alex was not prepared at all for this, she could not fathom shifting in front of a man, especially one that she did not love. A weird shyness washed over her, and she in turn fidgeted with the side of her borrowed dress. "Is there no other way?" she whispered.
"You are poor, undernourished, and wearing someone else's handy downs. Did you think that no one would notice how that dress hangs off you in areas that should mold to your body? You have nothing of value to offer me."
"So, the cost is my body for the season?" she asked affronted.
Ace stood from the bed, sliding his hands into their familiar space of his pockets, shrugging. "The cost is your body, for as long as I want it."
A small gasp echoed from her lips, Alex stood there simmering in rage, not only for the season but until he got tired of her. "If I agree to your terms will you help my village?"
"From where I stand, you do not really have a choice but to agree." But he nodded, "If you agree to my terms, I will help your family."
Alex contemplated his response, thought about what he was demanding of her, she had said that she would do anything for her family. Whoring herself out was a small price to pay, if it meant that her village would be safe, and her family taken care of. "Alright Alpha Lord, I agree to your terms."
"Well than, I will see you out in the courtyard for the Shifting Ceremony, it takes place when the moon is in the center of the sky." He stated and left her standing in his room.
Alex was shaken, she had just agreed to be the Alpha Lords mistress, for as long as he deemed fit. That was assuming the Shifting Ceremony went well, there was still a small chance that they could be completely incompatible, but then what would she have to offer him in exchange for his help? Like he had so rudely pointed out, she had nothing of value, so this thing had to work. Taking a deep breath Alex prepared herself for battle, she would do whatever she had to, this was bigger than just her.