Chapter 0337

An eager smile bursts onto my lips as I finally realize the truth of it, because I'm suddenly so happy for Daphne. Didn't she say that she had a celebrity crush on Rafe, that she had for awhile?

Good for her! Daphne! Lonely Academy seamstress, crushing on the Crown Prince from afar, and now here she is! Living the dream!

Daphne glances over at me and does a double take when she sees my expression. And then she laughs, and blushes a little, realizing what I've figured out. Rafe follows the direction of her gaze and frowns at me a little, not getting it.

"You guys need drinks!?" I say eagerly, looking between them and stepping away. "I'll get you drinks! I'll go away - and get drinks - and leave you here - alone." I turn quickly, heading for the bar.

"Ariel!" Rafe calls after me, confused. "We...don't need drinks! We have drinks!"

"Rafe," Daphen says, laughing a little, "she knows we have drinks."

I scurry away regardless, happy for my friend, happy for my brother - who could do far worse than Daphne - towards where Jesse and Ben are standing at the bar, both of them looking moody.

"What?" I ask, my face falling a little as I look between them. "What's wrong? What's bad?"

"Nothing's bad, Ariel," Jesse says, tucking his mood away and turning to the bartender to order me another white wine. I look down at my empty hands, wondering where the last one went - I don't remember putting it down - but then I shrug and just accept the new one. "We're just "

Jesse doesn't finish his words, though, because suddenly the stadium falls silent. The three of us turn, looking for the cause, but we can't see it. Suddenly the sound of steady, marching footsteps fills the whole arena. My face screws up in confusion because... what the hell could that be?

"Come on," Jesse murmurs, striding now for the edge of the Box, where Rafe and Daphne still stand. Ben and I glance at each other, but then eagerly follow.

When we get to the edge, my eyes go wide when I see the cause of both the silence and the strange marching noise.

A group of people begin to fill the empty set of stands in front of them, those set aside for the visiting delegation. They walk in military precision down the steps towards the seats, filling them one-by-one in orderly lines without hesitation. As they do, I realize that they must have planned this - planned every inch of it. Discovered how many seats were in the stadium, decided who would sit where, then given specific orders about how to enter the stadium so as to have this very precise effect.

And I have to admit, their efforts pay off. While the citizens of Moon Valley entered the stadium in a cheerful mess, everyone taking their seats haphazardly with an excited buzz going around, the Atalaxian delegation here has clearly shown that they are... much more orderly, precise, and serious than we are.

I gulp a little, watching them, talking in their dark uniforms, their slick-backed hair. And as I do, I realize that every single person in that delegation is a man, is an Alpha, and is incredibly dangerous.noveldrama

But while this display is clearly meant to intimidate, I find that it...kindles something in me. I raise my chin as I step forward to stand with my brother, lifting a hand to rest lightly on the low wall of our box. Because while these men might have a great deal of power and control, I'm aware that it was bought at the expense of the women in their world, and the poor, and the disenfranchised. Each of which these Alphas bend to their own will, reaping the benefits alongside the control.

Everything they stand for goes against everything I hold to be true, and real, and important in this world. Our nation is fighting for the right of everyone to pursue their happiness, however they define that. These people? They believe that the rights and happiness of many can and should be sacrificed to benefit the men of the ruling class.