Intrigue

Intrigue
Lilieth
We're meant to have an 'outdoor lunch', much to my dismay. 
I thought I'd be able to get away but Cadence is practically forcing me to remain outside, surrounded by all these people who make me angry and uncomfortable. Only a few of the spectators were actually related to the contestants—Petra's father was present, and so was Rivonia's mother. 
Everyone else? They're strangers, and I have no idea what they're doing here, but it seems important. 
Cadence seems to know everyone pretty well, though, because she's talking to everyone. The more I watch her, the harder I wonder how my mother met such a woman. 
I can't wait to uncover the mystery behind their friendship. 
I'm having a drink of water and leaning against one of the trees in the courtyard all by myself when the man from the crowd who'd been staring at me approaches. He's fairly young—around twenty-eight, maybe a little older—and I stop what I'm doing to get a good look at him. 
What does he want from me?
"I watched you perform. You were good," he mentions while his bright blue eyes rake over me once. "Really good."
"Thank you," I reply tersely. I go back to sipping my water but it's almost impossible for me to ignore his presence. Something about him demands my attention. 
That makes me uneasy, and I don't like it. 
"Forgive me," he suddenly says, placing his hand over his chest. "I never introduced myself. My name is Draven Cathlios."
The name sounds familiar to me but for some reason, I can't put a finger on it. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"I didn't know if I was going to come today," he admits.  "I have so many duties back home. But I'm glad I did—at least it wasn't a complete waste of time. That's all thanks to you."
I should thank him but I'm too busy wondering where I heard his name. Then, it hits me from out of nowhere and I blurt out, "You're the only single Alpha, right?"
I blush when it occurs to me what I asked. Even the man appears uncomfortable, but he laughs to lighten the mood. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."
"Yes, I am," he says, answering my question. "You have nothing to apologize for. Frankly, I'm surprised you know who I am."
Deo's the one who told me about him. We'd been talking about single alphas and how this competition was important, and she mentioned that this man, Draven, was single, too. 
He's not looking for his Luna yet. 
  "I could've found a better way to say that. I remember that you were brought up when a friend of mine was talking about Alphas who hadn't found their Lunas yet."
"Yes, it's perfectly fine. It's the truth, after all."
Humor is lighting up his eyes, and I must admit that he's pretty handsome. His dark hair is a sharp contrast to his pale skin, and his eyes stand out, bluer even than the sky. His lips are on the thin side, but rosy nonetheless, and his cheekbones are high. His jaw squared. 
"I'm intrigued, Miss Grimwylde."
I'm extremely shocked by the fact that he knows my name. 
"You're an Omega, I'm told?"
"Yes."
He tilts his head like he's trying to get a better look at me. "How did you learn all these skills so quickly, then? You didn't have any knowledge of hunting prior to your enrollment here, correct?"
I nod. "Yes. I guess I just learned. I don't really have a method or anything."
"I'm amazed," he claims. "You performed well in the first two tests. Better than the others."
I'm flattered, but I'm also worried about his intentions. Why is he saying these things to me? Why would an Alpha strike up a conversation with an Omega-born? What's he even doing here, so far away from his pack?
"The reason why I'm asking," he begins, and it's like he can hear my thoughts, "is that in my pack, I do things a little differently. I'm not sure if you've heard?"
"I haven't."
"We don't use titles, not officially," he claims before sliding his hands into his pockets. "People in the pack are ranked according to their accomplishments. My council is comprised of different wolves, even Omega-borns."
I'm sure my eyes are as wide as saucers. I never thought such a thing could be possible. "Really?"
Alpha Draven nods. "Yes. I believe it's the system that works best for us. After all, potential can be found anywhere. You're a perfect example of that. We have warrior Omegas, and some of them protect the pack, the way Gammas would. I'd love to have more people like you there."
"I...frankly, I don't know what to say."
He nods, a sympathetic look entering his eyes. "I suppose things haven't been all that easy for you. I've heard of the mistreatment of Omegas in other packs. Especially in this area. I find it distasteful and disgusting, to say the least."
"Do the other Alphas know you don't share their opinions on Omega-borns?"
Alpha Draven smiles and steps a little closer to me. He's so close that I can smell his cologne. "Are you good at keeping secrets, Miss Grimwylde?"
I stare into his eyes, wondering where the hell this is going. "Yes."
"I don't really care what the other Alphas think," he reveals, his eyes searching mine. For a moment, the air around us thickens and I find it harder to breathe. It's not that I'm intimidated or even attracted to this man—it's something else. I'm intrigued. 
I've never met anyone like him before, and I never thought I would. 
"Perhaps we'll see more of each other," he states before backing away from me. He then inclines his head. "Have a good day, Miss Grimwylde. It was lovely meeting you."
He walks away and I watch him curiously. That was...different. I didn't think that things could get to this point. I'm...what can I say?
I could tell he was being honest. In any case, why would he lie to me?
I raise my hand to take another sip of water and make the mistake of letting my eyes wander even though I made a mental note not to. 
I make eye contact with Cadeon, who's standing several feet away, close to Petra, who's clinging to his arm, and her father. Though everyone in the group seems to be looking at him, he's not paying attention to any of them. 
Because his eyes are directly on me. 
And his expression seems to be carved from stone.