"My alpha, where are we going?" Iris asked, making sure to look properly submissive. It had taken her weeks to perfect that image, slowly and painstakingly manipulating the previous alpha into going to Wind's Grove while thinking it his idea. Now, she braced herself, ready to go through the whole ordeal again.
The new alpha looked at her. "To Wind's Grove."
Or maybe not. Iris blinked for a second before lowering her head. "That sounds excellent, my alpha." Inside, her heart thrilled! What unbelievable luck!
"You sound different," the new alpha said.
Iris looked up at him. "My alpha?"
"At first, I assumed you only had high intelligence for a horse and had lived among humans for a long time. Now, I am sure it is more than that."
Iris stared. Up until now, this was the longest speech she had heard from this mystery stallion who had shown up out of nowhere. His grammar was too sophisticated for an animal. There was no way he was a normal Witch's Pony. "You are a human!"
"As are you, it seems."
"So who are you? And why do you wish to go to Wind's Grove?" The mare demanded, dropping her submissive façade.
"Call me Leks. And I have important business in Wind's Grove. Now, tell me who you are and why you want to go to Wind's Grove. And before you ask how I know about that, the previous alpha mentioned it."
Iris noticed that Leks had avoided giving any clear answers to her questions. Well, two could play that game. Besides, it would be unwise to reveal too much until she knew whether he was trustworthy. "Call me Iris, and like you, I have important business there."
Leks glared. "Your name cannot be Iris. That was just what you were named at..." He stopped himself, realizing what he had been about to say.
It was too late, though. Iris had caught his slip. "So, you were at the breeding farm. Now, I must ask again. Who are you, Leks?"
Leks paused, his mind racing. Really, Iris had good reason to be suspicious of him. However, she was no less suspicious. She had been brought to his farm with nobody knowing her true nature. After escaping, she had tried to go straight to Wind's Grove. Did she have connections to the Copperstones? Was she a spy?
Then again, if she was a spy, she was the unluckiest spy he had ever seen. She had been turned into a horse, impregnated, nearly used as a broodmare, captured by a wild herd right after her escape, and claimed by two different stallions over the course of three weeks. Really, it was hard to see her as a threat. Nevertheless, it would probably not be wise to tell her he was the owner of the breeding farm.
So, with that in mind, he decided on a reply to her question.