The Alpha and The Fool novel Chapter 2

I curled my fingers into fists and uncurled them, only to repeat the process as Sade, the Beta’s mate, tried to decide what I should wear for the evening’s little meet and greet. We were now in Blue Crescent territory and tonight would start the week long meeting where all the alpha’s of the country discussed policies, issues, and other politics. Under other circumstances, I’d be excited to be here, but Father made it clear, I wasn’t allowed in the actual meetings, only the social events.

Jon was right, as hard as I tried, Father wouldn’t budge. I was to come and be his bait for his replacement. It was now up to my friend to work his magic and find me some idiot willing to be my fake mate. I really hoped he found the guy quickly, I wasn’t sure how long I could play along. I already wanted to hit something.

“How about this?” Sade said, holding up a navy blue dress with white collar and cuffs.

“No,” I ground out. “It looks like something you’d put on a doll.”

She pursed her lips with her hands on her hips. “You’ve said that to everything I’ve shown you so far.”

“And it’s been all true.”

Sade sighed, rolling her eyes and put the dress back in the closet. “I get you don’t like this, Nic, but your father’s orders are clear - you -”

“Need to look like you which never is going to happen,” I said. She had thick brown hair that fell around her like a waterfall, bright blue eyes, dainty frame but plenty of curves, Sade was the essence of what it was to be a woman. I was average height, broad shoulders, and muscles that took out any softness I might ever have.

“It could if you tried,” she said, turning her back to me and looked through the closet of clothes she’d brought for me. “What about this?” She held up a black dress. I wrinkled my nose. “You know what, you’re wearing it. No arguments.” Sade threw the dress at me. “Go, get dressed.” I started to argue, but she narrowed her eyes at me.

Okay, so I wasn’t the only one at my limit. “Fine,” I spat and pulled on the dress. It was a little tight, and the knee length skirt would be hard to walk in, but at least I didn’t look like a doll. She handed me a pair of strappy heels, giving me the same narrow-eyed glare which told me these were it, end of story. I rolled my eyes and put them on, wondering how women walked in these things. Yet, at the same time, they looked kind of lethal. Nice.

I smirked, standing, trying to get a sense of balance. “There, done.”

“Actually,” Sade said, waving a make-up brush at me.

“Seriously?”

“Yep,” she said, returning my smirk.

A half hour later, we left my room and met my father and Wesley in the hall. The beta rubbed his chin, obviously trying not to laugh as Father looked me over with a narrowed glare. “Well, it’ll do I suppose. The hair is a problem, but there’s nothing to do about it now.”

I curled and uncurled my fists, doing my best to keep my temper in check. “I think,” Sade said, smiling and giving my arm a squeeze. “It makes Nic unique and exotic. She’ll be something they don’t see every day, and I believe that will work in your favor, Alpha.”

Dad stared at me a little longer before nodding. “Fine, let’s go.”

We came to a large room filled with people, and I followed him, trying my best to play the part. I noticed Jon was there as well. He gave me a thumbs up with a nod of approval, though he was also trying not to laugh. I narrowed my eyes at him and discreetly flipped him off before giving whoever Father was talking to a tight-lipped smile when I heard my name mentioned. I nodded mutely which seemed to be the adequate response.

I scanned the room and saw the auburn-haired woman I’d met briefly when we arrived, walking over to me. “Hey,” she said with a wave.

“Hey.” I lifted my chin in greeting as I strived to come up with a name. I remembered it started with a B - Brandy? No that wasn’t right.

“You settled in alright?” she asked.

Again I gave her a tight-lipped smile. It wasn’t something stupid like Bambi. “Yes, your alpha has been very generous letting us stay here.”

“Well, you can’t exactly invite someone to your house then expect them to get a hotel, right?” she said with a laugh.

“True,” I said, my smile easing into a more authentic one.

“So would you like a tour or I could introduce you to some people?”

“Oh, thank you but you-” I started, but my father give me a little push.

“She would love that, Future Luna of Blue Crescent pack,” he said.

The woman stiffened and gave him a wooden smile. “Great.” She turned to me. “So, follow me.” She waded through the crowd, and once she was halfway across the room, I heard her mumble. “The next person to call me future Luna I swear I’m going to scream at them. God, it’s so much easier to just say, Brook.”

Brook. Of course, that’s what it was. “What’s wrong with it. It’s who you are?”

She flushed as she turned to me. “Yeah, well, it makes me feel depersonalized. It’s like that’s all I am to anyone. It’s either that or the future alpha’s mate,” she ranted then sighed, running a hand through her hair. “Five years and I’m still trying to get used to werewolf craziness, sorry.”