I can’t say I missed the crowded space full of other alphas, but I don’t mind people smiling at my mates anymore.
“Zack,” White Mine says, pressing my arm until I face him. “Today’s a big day for acting. Red and others will ride horses in a race, and lots of people have come to act as a crowd.” He moves forward, gently towing me with him to point out the tall steps covered in seats. Way more than five people gather there, voices bubbling in the air like soap froth. Sounds like fight day in the arena.
I scan the crowd, filtering the mess of scents. Some come from staff who help Red. Others are foreign. I frown as another familiar odor reaches me, belonging to the woman who made Ri-ckon cry at the courthouse. Instinct compels me to wrap my arm around my pack mate, but as I scan the people, I can’t find the source of the scent.
“You need to stay by my side, even if you see something you don’t like,” Rickon warns.
I smile down at him and close my hands around his where he holds my leash. His entire hand disappears under my fingers. “I’ll follow the rules, Ri-ckon. I’ll be good.”
He chuckles and reaches up to cup my jaw. “You’re always good. I just wanted to warn you it’s going to get very loud and busy.”
I nod. This time I understand more about acting; the camera angles, the pretend lines that Red listens to through her headphones, and how the result shows up on a TV. At first, I couldn’t figure out why the acting goes on the TV, but then I recalled how I get so interested watching the morning shows about words and numbers. Of course people want to watch my beautiful ohm-ee-ga in the same way.
“Is Red good at acting?” I ask. Ri-ckon knows everything, so he’ll be able to tell me.
“Oh yes, she’s very good. Watch how all her small actions are different to Red at home. She’s playing at being a totally different person. Her character’s name is Ashana, and she rides horses for a job.”
Job. I turn the word around in my mind. “Red job to act?”
“Yes. She’s called an actress.”
I hum and nod. “What Ri-ckon job?”
“My job is to help Red so she can act. I teach her the things to say and make sure she gets to work on time, and I help spreadthe news that she’s an excellent actress and answer questions about her.”
“Big job,” I mutter. Seems to require not just a lot of words to explain but also keeps him on his various-sized screens a lot.
Ri-ckon laughs. “Yeah, it is.”
“And Cal-ee job to put people in prison who break law?”
“Not just to put them in prison but to get them out. His job is called a lawyer.”
Makes sense, since he got me out of prison.
“And, in case you wanted to know, Calli’s very good at his job too.” White Mine folds his arms across his chest and sighs. “You know how you won your challenges against other alphas in the fight rings?”
I nod, puffing my chest out.
“Well, Callisto has a win-streak going on right now. He has one more court case before he’s won more cases in a row than anyone else in the country.”
“That good?”
“Yes. His workplace will give him a promotion . . . um, a better job with more importance.”
A surprised noise slips through my throat. “One more? We go watch?” Surely that’s important, since we watch Red work.
Rickon shakes his head. “I wish, but that’s happening tomorrow, and this is a two-day filming at least.”
“Ah. Cal-ee be sad.”
“True. Should we do something special for dinner?”
“Eggs and toast!” I declare, and he laughs.
“That’s your favorite, huh?”
“And popping juice.”
