Dron’s nerves were frayed.

He’d spent most of his life trying to stay out of the public eye. Did his best to hide in the shadows, and here he was, strutting out like a prized steed with a beautiful woman.

This predicament would be something he would think would only be part of a good dream. It was turning out to be a horrible nightmare.

"Should we talk to some people?" Tempest questioned as they started to make their way down the path.

"No one is going to want to talk to me. In case you haven’t realized, I’m cursed." Dron grumbled.

"You’re with me now. Maybe your situation has changed." Tempest shrugged and looked around with a smile on her face.

Dron didn’t know what she could possibly be happy about. Perhaps she was taking joy in the fact that this was so difficult for him. It wouldn’t be the first time those around would have gotten a kick out of Dron making a fool out of himself.

"If you say so." Dron pulled his shoulders back and let Tempest lead him in the direction of several other omegas. The group of women were talking among themselves, but they all grew quiet as Dron and Tempest came closer to them.

"Hello, can you understand me?" Tempest questioned, looking between the women standing in front of them.

"Yes, there was a townwide communication that warned us that you would be speaking what is called earthling?"

"Earthling?" Tempest laughed. "It’s actually called English, but I guess ’Earthling’ will do."

The one omega that had spoken before shrugged her shoulders once. "How are you finding your time here in our lands?"

"It is quite beautiful. Nearly overwhelming. Lucky I have such a great guide and husband to help me navigate it all." Tempest turned to smile at Dron.

He was at a loss. He didn’t know how to respond.

"Truly? You want us to believe that this beast—" One of the other women started to talk, but it seemed like she was cut off. It took Dron a moment to realize it was one of the other women who jabbed her with her elbow to get her to quiet down.

Dron knew that everyone at the festival was more than willing to insult him to his face, but no one wanted to insult the foreign woman.

"I’m not sure what beast you are referring to, but I stand by my statement. Dron is a superb husband. I couldn’t have chosen better." Tempest reached over and pulled Dron closer to her.

The women in front of them all stared with wide eyes.

They couldn’t believe what they were seeing. Dron didn’t want to admit it, but it made him feel good that they were all so confused.

"It’s not customary for an alpha to be present while the mates speak. Or did your wonderful husband not explain that to you?" The omega Tempest spoke to orignally commented snidely.

"I was only making sure that she would be at ease and able to communicate. I shall leave you to your business." Dron answered immediately. He wasn’t looking forward to leaving Tempest on her own, but he knew that it would be frowned on if he lingered around.

Tempest looked up at him. Dron could see she was unsure. He had to put her at ease. It was time to put his plan in motion. He raised his hand and gently swiped his fingers over her cheekbone. She shivered and smiled up at him. "I won’t go far, I’ll be right by your side if you need me."

Tempest nodded and went back to speaking with the women.

Dron on the other hand, turned on his heels and decided to walk around the festival.

There were plenty of people that Dron knew in attendance. Zyman, one of the men from his military company, was there. Dron considered Zyman one of the kids. He was a good soldier, strong, but he wasn’t very mature and would often run off into situations that led to the rest of the company having to save him. So far no real damage was done, but Dron was sure that one day soon the young man would get himself into trouble that no one would be able to get him out of.

Standing next to Zyman were a few other military men, none of whom even bothered to acknowledge Dron’s presence. They looked right through him as if he weren’t there. Zyman was the only one to catch Dron’s gaze. He stared at Dron as if what he was seeing was beyond the pale.

Dron knew better than to go over there. He knew when he wasn’t wanted. Dron turned and focused on one of the pop-up markets that was now in the overly decorated square. Just hours ago this was a place of business. When he left Maznik, everything was as it normally was. Dron had forgotten all about the festival until Tempest brought it to his attention.

He’d have to talk to Mexyn about what she talked to Tempest about, especially if it encouraged the woman to want to continue to go out. Soon enough, Tempest would figure out that the public wasn’t as welcoming as she wanted them to be.

Dron kept his hands behind his back, just to make sure that he didn’t touch anything inadvertently. He knew from experience that anything he touched was deemed tainted, and it would cause the shopkeepers to destroy the merchandise if he chose not to purchase it.

It was as if he were walking through the square with a constant audience right behind him. No one said anything to him, but Dron could hear the whispers. The insults and verbal jabs struck against the mental wall Dron learned to erect around himself when he was in public.

He continued to walk along the shops, some old and others new, some of them just in the square for the festival. Dron dragged in a deep breath as he turned away from an older beta woman who decided to throw a half-eaten gootek fruit at Dron’s feet as she hissed at him.

Something sparkled brightly, catching his eye.

Dron did his best to ignore the people around him and walked closer to the stand.

"Get away from here, tainted one." The shopkeeper barked at Dron all the while trying to keep his face devoid of any emotion.

"I have currency. Are you doing so well tonight that you won’t sell me something."

There were plenty of people mingling, but it seemed as if most weren’t paying much attention to this particular shop. Dron didn’t know if that was because he was there or if there was something wrong with the wares.

The shopkeep huffed out an impatient breath before looking around just to make sure no one was paying attention to what was going on.

"Don’t touch. You will tell me what you are interested in and I’ll show it to you."

Dron shrugged his shoulders to signify that he would allow this. He had to grind his teeth together to keep from speaking out against the man. No one else was treated in this manner. No one else was treated as poorly. Especially not another alpha.

Dron almost wished he could see this shopkeep treat another esteemed Alpha the way he was being treated just then. Dron was nearly certain that within moments’ time that shop would be decimated and the offended alpha wouldn’t even be reprimanded.

It was hard for Dron to remember his place at events like this. It was one of the main reasons he never bothered to go to them. That and the fact that he’d never been chosen to be a husband before. This festival was to celebrate the newlywed couples. It was strange for Dron to find himself as part of that group.

"I’d like to see that one." Dron indicated with his chin the simple necklace. The chain itself wasn’t the best material; in fact, it looked as if someone hastily linked it together. It was the gem on the chain that caught Dron’s eye. It was a clear brown color. A stone Dron hadn’t seen before.

Either it was extremely rare or it was absolute garbage.

"Where did you get this from?" Dron questioned as the shopkeep hastily twirled the piece in his hand.

"What does it matter? Are you going to purchase it or not? Make haste. You’re scaring off my customers." The shopkeep growled at Dron.

Dron jerked his eyes up to the man, and a deep grumble rumbled through his chest. There was but so much Dron could take; as an alpha, his instincts just would not allow it.

"Watch yourself." Dron warned, and the merchant cowered back.

"Please...don’t hurt me. I don’t want any trouble." The man was getting belligerent, and Dron knew from experience that at any moment he would start shouting and drawing a crowd.

"Nor I. Fine, I’ll buy the piece." Dron quickly lifted his wrist and waited for the man to tell him how many credits he would need to transfer.

"Two thousand credits."

"Two thousand?" Dron asked, baffled. At most he thought it would cost a few hundred, and that was only because of the rarity of the gem.

"Can you not afford it?"

Slowly, Dron looked around to see that the audience he tried so hard to forget about was indeed watching the interaction between him and the shopkeeper. If he didn’t purchase the item now, they’d all assume he was destitute, another piece of proof that he was cursed.

Dron didn’t want to leave any room for any rumors. Especially since it wasn’t just him he had to worry about the rumors affecting. If they thought Dron was poor, they would assume that Tempest was compliant and would accept less than the best. Her next suitor, if she chose to have one, wouldn’t be of good quality.

"That’s fine." Dron calmed himself and quickly transferred over the credits. The merchant bagged the item and all but threw it in Dron’s direction before he shooed Dron away. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

At once, Dron’s instincts surged in his body.

Someone was getting too close.

It wasn’t a beta either. It was another alpha. Dron’s body recognized the threat, and he whirled on the intruder before he could stop himself.

His body was tense, ready to fight.

"Is that all it takes to win over her affections? I have to say I thought it would be much harder to get a rare beauty like Tempest."

Dron snapped his jaw closed, fighting to keep the aggressive growl he knew was building in his gut from seeping from his lips.

Dron stood to his full height, looking over the alpha standing in front of him.

Jewels dripped from every available space of the man’s top coat.

This alpha was used to having all eyes on him; in fact, he lived for it.

Rynax was used to being the main event, and now he had Dron there to play the opposing role.