BRIELLE'S STOLEN FAMILIAR

CHAPTER 2 - COMPROMISE - BRIELLE'S POV

''Zeke'' I said in my best flirtatious tone, as I leaned over his blacksmith's table where he was working on a clock.

I'd met Zeke a few years ago, and we'd bonded immediately. The King had stolen his Familiar too. The King liked to collect the rare ones. And Zeke's was rare.

Altogether, the King had stolen 5 Familiars now. My Lena, a Nine-tail fox, Omaya, a Phoenix, that he'd stolen from his own daughter Freya, the twin of the future King, that he now had trapped in some castle in another town, Boltar, a White Lycan, Suri, a Banshi, and Radlely, Zeke's Wisp.

Though Zeke's severing wasn't a traumatic as mine, his own father had tied him down to stop him from fighting and potentially being killed.

''What?'' He raised his eyebrows at me, and paused and glared at me with his annoyed cheeky smile.

''You look very handsome today''

''What?'' He repeated, this time with a slight blush on his cheeks.

''So suspicious'' I said, as I placed my elbows on the table and rested my chin in my hands as I looked at him ''It's a red-headed thing, you are all distrustful''

''I'm working, Bree'' He sat back and folded his arms over his muscular chest ''So speak, or I'll call Drake to kick you out''

Drake was Zeke's boss. A grumpy old man with a dog Familiar Daar, who preferred to spend his days sleeping unless there was food involved. Drake didn't like me hanging around, claiming I distracted my friend.

''Okay, okay, let's not choose violence'' I sat back, and pulled out a sword wrapped in a brown cloth ''I found this during my morning training session and''

Zeke exhaled dramatically ''Damn it, Bree'' He said in frustration, and I knew a lecture was coming ''How many times do I have to tell you to give up on this stupid revenge bullsh*t. You will not win the tournament. You won't even qualify. You don't have a Familiar, you won't get through the first round''

''Yes. I will'' I said firmly and stubbornly ''Now. This sword. I think it's a Fae sword''

''Fae?'' He said with interest.

The Fae always made the best weapons. He took the dirty sword with the glee of a small child getting cake, and started examining it.

''Oh wow. It is'' He practically jumped in his seat ''See these markings? This is the clan it comes from''

''Can you clean it up for me?''

''You want to keep it?''

''Of course'' I said, wasn't that obvious? ''The Fae have a rule that if you find one of their weapons or win it in battle, you can keep it. Well. I found it, so it's mine now''

''No. I meant, you want to keep it? Because it's pretty banged up''

''Hence my visit'' I said slowly, were all men so stupid? ''I want you to fix it for me''

''I have no idea how Fae forge their weapons, they don't share their secrets'' He pointed out, and I felt defeated ''I could cut it down into a dagger, I guess''

''Really?'' I smiled, perking up again ''Thank you''

''Wow. I said I could, not that I would''

I glared and crossed my arms ''What do you want?''

He smiled at me ''I need a date''

I glared at him. He's been begging me to come with him to the yearly festival, but I hated being around that many people, and kept turning him down.

''No''

''Well, then I guess you need another blacksmith willing to work for free''

The nerve of this man.

''I can pay''

''Yeah, with what?'' He asked and pushed the sword back towards me.

''I can clean the shop'' I suggested as I looked around at the extremely filthy shop.

''Nope'' He smiled ''It's a blacksmiths shop, it'll be dirty again in an hour'' He then gave a content sigh and leaned back comfortably ''Plus. Drakes not going to let you have free access to the shop. It's a real pity too, this is a gorgeous sword. It will make one beautiful dagger''

I glared at him again ''Okay fine'' I gave in ''You have a deal''

''You have to dress like a girl'' He added quickly.

I looked down at my ratty brown pants with some holes and patches, and my loose white shirt under my black jacket.

''Fine'' I said through gritted teeth ''I will wear a dress. Now, will you make my dagger?''

''Sure'' He smiled easily ''I'll have it ready by Saturday and you can have it after we get back from the festival, and not before''

''Right, thanks'' I rushed around to him, kissed his cheek and headed for the door ''Later, loser''

''Later, loner'' He shot back.

I was smiling as I snuck through the shop, sneaking past Drake who was talking to a man, whose Lycan Familiar came over as I made it to the back door and started sniffing me.

''Shoo'' I tried to push him away, but he started to bark.

Damn it!

I quickly shot out of the door, leaving the barking Lycan in the dust, and ran through the crowd.

''WATCH IT GIRL!'' An angry man shouted, as he jumped out of my path.

''SORRY'' I shouted back, but kept running.

I continued back to the woods and spent the rest of the day fishing. If I was being forced to wear a dress, then I'd have to actually buy one, so I was planning on selling the fish in the evening market, and I got lucky. I got 6 fish, but chose to keep one for myself, leaving it in my home, before heading back into town to sell.

After I'd set up a nice little spot in the market, I sat around waiting to sell fish, which was going well, and I think I had enough for a decent dress, but when I had one final fish left, that annoying Lycan from Drakes shop, showed up and started pouncing around me.

''You again!'' I complained, and tried to scare him off ''Shoo, go away!''

He gave an annoying bark and snagged up the last fish and started run, but I quickly grabbed him by the scruff of the neck, and he whined sadly. I was really shocked that he wasn't attacking me. I could tell by his size that he was a Beta, and they could be just as aggressive as Alpha's, and yet, this one wasn't doing anything to me.

''HEY!'' I heard a man's angry voice, and then there was a large strong hand wrapping around my wrist ''PUT MY FAMILIAR DOWN!''

Before I could get out of his grip, there was a loud roar, and the man was ripped off me, and a large man was holding him off the ground by the throat.

''TOUCH HER AGAIN AND I WILL HAVE YOUR FANGS!'' The man screamed into the Beta face, before tossing him onto the ground and pushing the hood of his cloak back ''Are you alright Brielle?'' He asked, as he gently took my hand to check, but it was my hand with the large scar around my wrist, and I quickly pulled away, and looked up into the man eyes.

''Zayden?'' I asked in shock. I hadn't seen him in years, and it was so strange that he had been on my mind this morning and now here he was.

''Hello Brielle'' He smiled, and I felt a strang pull towards him ''I forgot how beautiful you were''

''Yeah right'' I rolled my eyes ''Is he your Beta?'' I asked as the man cowered on the ground.

''For now'' Zayden growled at him ''Milo, get up and apologize to Brielle, right now''

''She grabbed Helix''

''Your little monster stole from me'' I pointed out, and Helix laid down at my feet and whined ''Shoo. What is it with this thing? I'm not your mother. Get off'' I gently tried to push him away, and Milo growled.

''NOW MILO. APOLOGIZE!'' Zayden shouted, and Milo jumped a little, before standing up.

''I'm sorry I grabbed you'' He said stiffly, as he tried to scoop up his Familiar, but Helix growled at him and hid behind me.

''What the hell?'' Milo frowned ''I've never seen him so protective of anyone except my mate or our Luna. He''

Milo paused and looked at Zayden with a strange expression, but Zayden turned and grabbed Milos arm, and they fell silent for a second. Packs could communicate through a telepathic link, and I was a little annoyed that I couldn't hear what they were saying, even more so, when Milo's eyes widened, and he looked me up and down again.

''Is someone going to pay me for that fish or not?'' I asked as Helix jumped up on me, and started whining ''No, get off, I'm not picking you up''

''I'll pay'' Milo said quickly and pulled out a satchel ''I really am sorry I grabbed you. Are you hurt?''

I frowned in surprise, he actually sounded sincere now ''I'm fine, just pay up''

''I don't remember you being so money hungry'' Zayden said, as his Beta dropped a few bronze coins into my out stretched palm.

''I'm not'' I shrugged and tucked the money into my pocket ''But I need to buy a dress for the festival''

''A dress?'' Zayden smiled as he looked me up and down, clearly judging my clothing choices.

''Yes, jerk. A dress. I am a female, we do wear dresses occasionally''

''I'm sure they do'' He smiled as Helix attempted to pounce up into my arms.

''Would get this thing off me''

''Do you have Lycan ancestors?'' Zayden asked as Milo finally got hold of his Familiar.

I frowned at his question, and my heart ached a little ''Yes, my father was an Alpha''

''What was his name?''

''What's it to you?'' I snapped and squatted down to gather up my belongings.

''I'm just curious'' He responded.

''Doltan Feras, of Crescent moon'' I answered, and tied off the napsack I'd made from the blanket I'd laid my fish on, and stood up, as I flung it over my shoulder ''Good to see you again''

''Wait'' He reached out and grabbed me, and for the first time in my life, I didn't feel repulsed by someone's touch ''You should be 23 this year, right?''

''So?'' I responded and pulled out of his grip.

''I don't understand this'' He pouted and looked at Milo.

''Understand what?'' I asked.

''Do you want to come to dinner?'' He asked, ignoring my question ''My shout''

''No, that's okay'' I shook my head.

''You fed me once, I'd like to return the favor''

''You did return the favor with food and money''

''Come on, who turns down free food?'' He asked ''The Tavern we're staying at, has roast pork cooking''

''Roast pork?'' I asked, with my mouth instantly drooling.

''Are you coming?'' He asked and took a step.

I hesitated, but when my stomach growled, I just gave in. I could eat my fish tomorrow''

''Lead the way''