The Alpha and His Vet

f o u r

An exhausting day of classes has passed and I already felt like I was drowning in school work. It’s just the first day but my professors are acting as though it’s days away from exams. Assignments, projects and a lot of reading material are given and to be submitted before the week ends. 

I loved it despite feeling overwhelmed. It’s what I’ve always wanted since the very beginning and I’m happy to do the work if it means I’ll be closer to it. 

As I walk to the main square, I notice Kat not being there yet and so I sit down on the stone bench. I lean back and close my eyes for a few minutes. The sun has already set and it’s become a lot colder. I take a couple of deep breaths visualizing my goal as a Veterinarian and feel myself smile. 

One day.

One day I’ll help save more animals... give more chances to those that don’t have it.

Just a little longer-

“Hi, Lavender.” I opened my eyes to find Ronan hovering over me, grinning in place. “Are you dreaming about me?”

“Not in the slightest.” I remarked, straightening in my seat. “How was your first day, new boy?” 

He blanked for a second before replying. “It was good. Learned a lot.” 

I quirked an eyebrow. “I guess that’s good?”

“Very good.” Ronan agreed. “How’s your hand?” 

I lifted it up to show him my newly bandaged palm. “Better.” 

He peered down at it. “It’s healing really slowly.”

Confused, I stare up at him to see genuine concern. “I mean? I think it’s healing at the right pace? I put ointments and everything.” 

Ronan shrugged his shoulders. “If you say so. Do you want to have dinner?”

I hesitated. “I’m actually meeting someone for dinner tonight.”

“Can I come with you?” He asked, taking a seat beside me on the bench. “Sorry. I’m new to the place and have no one to eat with.” 

My eyes stare into his blue ones. There was something about his eyes that drew me in. I couldn’t explain it. I was drawn to him despite only meeting him a few hours ago. “Alright. I suppose Kat wouldn’t mind if you tag along.” 

Ronan drew back a little. For some reason, I detected a little hostility in his tone. “Cat? Meow?” 

I laugh at the extra cat sounds. “No. Kat Alistair. My best friend.” 

“Oh. Not a cat then.” He relaxes. “Your last name is Macoy, right?”

“How did you know that?” I ask, startled.

He shrugged carelessly. “People. They talk about you a lot.”

“And what do they say?” I already know what they say. 

Ronan stretches his arms wide as if giving out a discovery. “It ranges from dreadfully beautiful to brilliant beyond compare.”

I roll my eyes, looking towards the entrance of the main building and waiting for Kat to come out any minute. “Don’t lie. I know they all just say I’m coy.”

Ronan chortles confirming my suspicion. “Well that too. Don’t act coy, Macoy.” 

“Lacey?” 

Ronan and I break eye contact to find Kat standing with Zack and Kyle. 

I stand up, books and bag in my arms. “Oh, hey. Hi.” 

“Who’s this?” Zack and Kat asked at the same time. 

Kat with that overly interested expression, fluttered her eyelashes. “I’m Kat.”

Ronan forced a smile after initially stepping back. “You look like a cat.” 

There was an awkward silence before I coughed, breaking it. “This is Ronan. He’s new.”

Zack and Kyle didn’t greet him as enthusiastically as Kat did. They merely stared at Ronan with distrust... or Zack did. Kyle mostly looked pained to see him. 

I forced myself to cough a second time. The atmosphere between all of us was colder than the evening breeze. “Shall we go for dinner? I heard it’s pasta night.” 

“I like pasta.” Ronan offered, not leaving my left side despite Zack who had made my right side his own. 

“I like it too.” Zack interjected, taking my hand and pulling me towards the cafeteria. 

Kyle hung back with Ronan whispering low but not low enough that I couldn’t hear. “What are you doing here?” 

“What’s it to you, dog?” A snarl uncharacteristically came out of Ronan but I forced myself to look ahead. Zack and Kat didn’t seem to notice the interaction happening behind them as they pointed at several different options for dinner.

Kyle continued to lower his voice. “Aren’t you supposed to watch over the pack while the King is away?”

My mind boggled. Did they know each other? What were they talking about? Pack? King? What? Was this some kind of popular video game that I didn’t know about?

“I’m not too far away.” Ronan says back to Kyle. I could feel his gaze on the back of my head.

“It doesn’t answer what you’re doing here.” Kyle pushed. “I’m in charge of overseeing the University.”

There was a shift in the air as Ronan answered. “Her.” 

Goosebumps pimpled my arms. 

I hear Kyle let out a strangled breath. “Lacey?”

“Yes.” Ronan replied without missing a heartbeat. 

There was a long silence. For a moment, I thought the conversation was done as Zack and I pointed our final decision for dinner when Kyle spoke once more. “She won’t replace your mate, Ronan.” 

I frowned, not following their conversation. Mate? Replace? Surely this really is about a game. 

“She smells like her.” Ronan continued just as quietly. I could still feel his eyes following my very move. 

I heard Kyle move but wasn’t brave enough to look back at them. “She’s not her.” 

Ronan let out a defeated sign. “I can’t... I can’t. I need to be close.” 

“The King won’t like this.” Kyle whispered sounding nervously.

Ronan dismissed him. “This is about me. My big brother will understand.” 

We pay and in my angle, I get to see Kyle who shudders and quietly says, “I’m not sure about this.” 

Ronan doesn’t care for his words and points to Zack, who insists on getting more frozen yogurt for me. “Who is that?”

Kyle is quick to reply. “Zack. He’s human. An innocent. He doesn’t know any better.”

Human? Aren’t we all human? What... what is this game they’re talking about? I’m so confused and lost yet so intrigued. 

“Are they... together?” Ronan asked, looking between Zack and I. 

I blinked several times having seen what I think were sharp teeth poking out of Ronan’s lips. It’s official. My assignments have made me crazy. I was starting to see and hear animalistic features on my companions. I rubbed at my eyes until they water and when I looked back, Ronan looked as handsome as he did when I first met him. 

No sharp teeth. 

“Lacey? Do you want to?” Zack asked, eyes hopeful and almost puppy like. 

I’ve completely missed out on an entire conversation with him. To salvage what I think is a question about frozen yogurt, I blindly and stupidly answer. “Yes?” 

He beamed, placing a hand on my back. Again, I think I started to hallucinate as I hear a growl coming from somewhere. I’ve been watching too many animal documentaries. That’s got to be it. “Great! I’ll meet you tomorrow morning for our hike.”

“H-Hike?” I thought he was asking about a second serving of frozen yogurt not a hike around the woods. I resist the urge to groan and force a smile instead. “Really great. I’ll see you tomorrow.”