The Alpha's Bride

Chapter 893: Visiting the market

Zina was pacified by Dawn's answer. "I hope George finishes his work quickly, so you don't need to suffer long. I know you won't move in back with me, but we could still work in the packhouse together and hang out while George is busy with warriors…"         

Dawn felt guilty for not telling Dawn the truth. But this was for the best. Zina didn't know that George was an Alpha, or that he wanted to kill Alpha Edward, or that Dawn had a complete Alpha aura that could rival Alpha Edward's.     

Dawn was dreading the day when those would come to light, and she hoped that Zina wouldn't be too angry because Dawn was keeping all those secrets from her.     

…     

Zina observed the change in Dawn's demeanor from the moment they left the villa, and Zina didn't like it. Her cheery friend became quiet, and Dawn lowered her gaze even before they met anyone.     

Zina and Dawn were accompanied by Estelle and Adele, older female Omegas who were quiet anyway, so Zina wouldn't notice if they quieted down, but with Dawn it was obvious. Dawn acted like she had done something wrong and was waiting for her punishment.      

The narrow path meandered through the forest, and they crossed several intersections before they reached a paved road where people walked, and some rode bicycles. Everyone looked busy.     

The buildings had an industrial feel. They were made of stone, wood, and metal, with minimalistic windows and doors, without curves or details that would make them pretty.     

Zina thought how this was different than Darkbourne, which had stores and buildings no different than any average town in North America. People in Darkbourne were more relaxed; they would make eye contact and stop to chat, and some would linger on benches or outside seating in front of shops to indulge in a beverage or a sweet treat.     

Compared to that, the atmosphere in the Red Moon pack was stifling, and Zina didn't like it.     

The most repressive was that Dawn was quiet, just like Estelle and Adele. When Zina asked something, they would respond with only a few words, and that dampened Zina's mood as well, and she eventually stopped asking questions.     

They reached a big building that looked like a hangar. Double doors were wide open, and people were coming in and going out non-stop. It was the busiest building Zina had spotted so far.     

"This is the market," Dawn explained to Zina. "It's indoors, so it's working regardless of the weather. Estelle will buy some things for the villa. Let me know if you want to get something."     

Zina cocked an eyebrow at Dawn. "I have money." She didn't need Dawn to pay for her expenses.     

"We don't work with money here."     

Zina was confused. "How do you pay for things?"     

Dawn reached into her purse and pulled several coupon-looking things. "We exchange goods and cover the difference with these. These are like money in the Red Moon pack."     

Zina took one coupon and felt that it was made of rough paper that had writing "worth 10 units" and there was a stamp of a red moon.     

"How do you pay for things outside Red Moon pack?" Zina asked.     

Dawn shrugged. "This is the economy we have here. Money from outside is valuable only for people who go out."     

Zina was about to ask more, but she heard Dawn's voice in her head, 'Can you keep other questions for later? We can also talk through the mind link.'     

Zina saw Dawn giving eye signals toward Estelle and Adele, and she understood that her questions made the other two Omegas uncomfortable.     

They were in the Red Moon pack for a long time, some were born here, and they didn't know how the world outside of the Red Moon pack functioned.     

'Alright,' Zina said to Dawn through the mind link. 'You know that this is how Alpha Edward is preventing his pack from integrating with the rest of society. Right?'     

'I do. But these people don't have a choice. Just saying openly how it's wrong won't solve anything. If we tell them how good life is outside the Red Moon pack, they will not believe us.'     

'Or they will believe us and will retaliate against this system.'         

Dawn shook her head. 'They are Omegas, not revolutionaries. Most are happy to have a roof over their heads and food on the table. They grew up here, and this is their normal. Even if they knew that life in another pack was better, they wouldn't have the courage or skills to fight for it. Those few who show potential are either silenced, or they get promotions and a good lifestyle that makes them not care about Omegas.'     

Zina hated that Dawn was right. Little people won't fight, and anyone with potential was dealt with before he became a threat. It was not fair, but it worked in favor of the minority at the top of the hierarchy.      

Inside, the hangar-like market was livelier than it hinted from the outside. Numerous stalls were lined up in rows with merchandise that consisted of clothing, shoes, hand-crafted accessories and jewelry, and food items. Some people stood behind their stalls, and people moved to see what they were offering. The noise of haggling for a better price made Zina squint, and the scents that filled the air were overwhelming.     

Zina decided to follow after Dawn and observe. She didn't need anything but was curious about how things worked in the Red Moon pack.     

Estelle and Adele carried baskets with pastries which they exchanged for eggs and cheese.     

Zina spotted freshly caught rabbits, and she said to Dawn through their mind link, 'We can make those for dinner.'     

'Let's not waste money on something my George can catch for free.'     

Zina rolled her eyes at Dawn's words. 'Do you need to boast how awesome your mate is?'     

Dawn stifled a giggle. Her George is awesome.     

Dawn's smile froze when she felt hostility from her left. Since George marked her, Dawn's senses were sharper.     

"Let's go this way," Dawn said while grabbing Zina's elbow.     

"Look who showed up here," A singing voice reached them, and Dawn cursed under her breath.     

'Don't talk, Zi,' Dawn told Zina before turning toward her left.     

Estelle and Adele stood in front of Dawn and Zina. "Miss Ana, we are here to get the ingredients for dinner that Commander George requested."     

Ana made a face at Estelle. Commander George's name guaranteed they won't be bullied, so Ana didn't dare to give her a hard time, but Ana had a different target.     

"I was not talking to you," Ana said to Estelle while extending her hand and nudging the latter to move to the side. Ana wanted an unobstructed view of Dawn and Zina.     

Ana tried mind linking Dawn several times, but she was unsuccessful. It was visible that Dawn was marked, and even though Ana couldn't confirm who Dawn's mate was, she was fairly confident that the male was from the Red Moon pack. Ana didn't have the ability to verify if Dawn joined the Red Moon pack, so she assumed that Dawn was shutting her out on purpose, which only enraged Ana further.