With open eyes

The man

Lola tore her arm over Alpha Joseph’s, desk pulling down most of its content to the floor. She let out a roar as she grabbed her hair by the scalp.

Joseph leaned forward and placed his hands on his desk, “the deal was never about your mother’s surgery, it was a cash transaction only!” Joseph gritted through his teeth.

“How can you be so cold alpha?” Lolas's voice dripped with acid as she addressed the alpha.

Alpha Joseph scoffed, “you try to run a pack and meet all their needs while accommodating every snowflake's wish!”

Lola pursed her lips and took a step back before she answered slowly and menacing, “I have! I ran my pack alongside my alpha for years. That’s why I agreed to this deal, to feed OUR STARVING PUPS!” She roared at him at the end.

The door opened and James quickly stormed in. He slammed the door shut and took a hard gaze at the two in front of him, “what the f*ck guys! The whole packhouse can hear you! You can’t make this quieter? You’re an alpha and a beta for goddess' sake! F*cking pull yourself together and hash it out like adults!”

Lola was steaming at this, “f*ck you, James! This is a private matter!”

“Oh h*ll it’s not, the whole house is in on the argument!” James quipped back.

Lola clenched her teeth at that and shot daggers at James.

Alpha Joseph squared his shoulders and addressed James, “at this point, I would love your input. How do I get through to Lola that her deal was to stay here after the money was exchanged?”

James rubbed his forehead and exhaled a deep breath, “Lola, I... hmmm... We are very sympathetic to your loss, but the truth is that we are still in need of your services.”

Lola sputtered at that, “are you guys that incapable of getting females to f*ck you guys that you need to buy them? I won’t f*ck any of you! Ever!” She turned to Joseph and looked him dead in the eyes “And the last one I’ll ever f*ck be you! So if that is your goal then you can think again!”

Joseph straightened up some more, rolling his shoulders slightly. His eyes flickered with pure black, he walked slowly around the desk and stood in front of Lola. He looked down to meet her eyes and gritted slowly through his teeth, “don’t worry Lola, I was not acquiring you for your nightly endeavors. And I wouldn’t dream of dipping my d*ck into such a salty c*nt! I only wanted you for your beta qualities. So buck up lady! You’re staying and you are giving me my money’s worth!” Joseph straightens his jacket and walked out of the office, as he left he slammed the door shut.

Lola was seething where she stood, “if I was a man I would get a slap on my shoulder and best wishes as I was sent off to my old pack. But I’m ‘just a woman.”

James walked slowly over to face Lola, “I honestly think my brother wanted you for what you can bring as a beta, you are just what this pack needs. Have patience with us, Lola! This will be a good home for you.” James gave a short and unsure smile at Lola.

She raised her gaze to meet his “BROTHER? HE’S YOUR BROTHER??” Lola was sputtering as she yelled at James.

He sighed at that and gently shook his head, “Lola, I think it’s time I take you to the spot!”

Lola raised a brow “the spot?”

“Yes, it’s a place only a few get the privilege to visit, the place will explain a lot. It’s a heavy burden to hold, but if anyone can carry it, it would be you.” James sighed.

Lola gave a quizzical look before she raised one hand to gesture for them to leave. They both walked out of the office and out of the packhouse. Lola followed James through different paths, some were through open fields, others through dense forests. The walk took almost an hour and it was made without a word being shared, as they approached a hill Lola understood they were near. She finally addressed James in a friendly defeat, she knew that she had yelled at a person who would be a great ally. It was apparent to her early on that James would be a rock, a beaming light in the night for her to hold on to and survive the rough waters of her new life.

“James, I know that soon you will tell me a story that few are privileged to. And I am truly honored to be one that you share it with. I do hope though, that after you will endure my questions. There are many I want to ask, and they are all about you.” Lola looked at James as he turned to face her.

His gaze was puzzled, “for someone you had no interest in befriending, what on earth could intrigue you about me?”

“First off James, I’ve been adapting to a new pack and the passing of my mother. My mind has been consumed with my pack's pups as they have been starving. As I have walked this path with you I had time to sort my thoughts, and if anything is certain right now, it’s that I deeply want to be your friend.”

James smiled brightly at that. “And there is much to ask about you. As I am as cliche as it gets, you are contradicting and just straight-up mysterious.” James grinned, even more, he took Lola’s hand in his and guided her to the top of the hill. Looking down at the valley she could see a few mature leafy trees spread across, and a few new and small trees were budding up in between. In a cluster in the middle were ruins of buildings. Some were old brick buildings, but most had a foundation of concrete and a body of wood. Most of the houses were gone as they were crumpled and fallen. This was a sight of a small town completely wiped to its bones, it could have been fifty years, hundred years, or even as short as five years since it was abandoned. It was hard to tell what tore this town down, but whatever it was it was disastrous.