The Alpha's Choice

Chapter Two

I see the picture the morning after.

I was supposed to be getting ready for the event, even if it was truly the last thing I wanted to do. The only comfort I had was the fact that I’d forced Ashley to attend the event with me. So, if all else were to fail, at least I’d have company.

Ashley told me not to pack much, since the event didn’t take place very far from our territory. This was a relief, as it didn’t feel much like a commitment if I didn’t have to travel too far. If I was being completely honest with myself, I didn’t think I was going to try this ‘knowing other people thing’ at all.

Claire wasn’t just my first love. She was someone I had looked for in every room. Someone I missed deeply even when my soul was no longer bound to hers. Someone whose face haunted me in every waking moment. She was the warmth and the light. For a great majority of my life, she’d been everything.

To replace that felt impossible.

Zack encouraged this idea because he didn’t want me to be lonely. But I don’t think he understood the fact that I had a suspicion I’d always feel that way. Even if I were to find someone new, I feared the hole Claire left in me would be too big to fill. Ashley seemed to understand that, though. That brought me some sort of comfort.

I was just leaving my room when I heard someone run through the hallways. A moment later I realized it was Eliza. Zack was running a few steps behind her.

“I can’t believe this!” She exclaimed, cackling as she ran. She was holding a phone in her extended arms. “She didn’t even tell me!”

“Eliza come on!” Zack yelled. “She was probably going to tell you later today.”

“Later today?!” Eliza screeched. “This is the sort of information I should be told first. I am going to need so many details. I’ll call her right now actually.”

“Eliza I don’t think right now is the time to-“

Zack stopped, finally noticing me standing outside my room. His eyes widened. “Hey, Jake. I thought you had already left.”

I gestured towards my backpack. “Just about to.” I glanced at Eliza, who had also stopped in her tracks to look at me. “What’s all this fuss about?”

“Nothing!” She said, hiding her phone behind her back. “I was just telling Zack he should take me out on a date. We haven’t managed to make it to one in ages.”

Zack made an offended noise. “And whose fault is that?”

“Yours, obviously,” she told him, straight-faced. “I am a proper lady, mind you. You are the wild beast who frequently offends my chastity.”

“What chastity?” He asked. “May I remind you that you were the one who unzipped my pants-“

“Guys,” I interrupted. “I don’t need to know what kind of things you are into.”

Eliza bowed her head real low. “My apologies, Alpha. I had no idea you were such a prude.”

I snorted. “I am sorry if it comes as a shock to you.”

“A prude? This guy?” Zack let out a laugh. “I still remember our sophomore year when he-“

Eliza ran to cover his mouth. “Please babe. You shouldn’t go around spreading a person’s s*x life. Be a little more decent.”

Zack raised a brow. Just as they are about to go on another ramble, I take Eliza’s phone from her hand. Both notice my actions immediately, but not fast enough for them to stop me from seeing the picture Eliza had been looking at.

It’s a picture of Claire taken at a restaurant selfie mode. The camera is angled in a way that I can see everyone there with her. Allison is sitting at the other side of the table with a burger on her mouth. Landon is sitting next to Claire, eyes set on her with a smile. There are two older people next to Allison I don’t recognize. Likely the twin’s parents.

At first glance, I don’t see anything unusual about the picture. Seeing Landon and Claire together is still gutting for me, but I can handle it better nowadays. I like to think I am accepting it. I began to think that Eliza and Zack were overreacting up until the point that my gaze circles back to Claire, as it inevitably does most of the time.

She is smiling. She is always smiling nowadays. I don’t talk to her anymore, not after the trip, but every time I catch a glimpse of her on Eliza’s or Zack’s phone, she looks happy. More than she ever was here.

I took in her face greedily. Her hair was up on a bun, with two strands framing her face. She was wearing makeup, I noted, which wasn’t very common for her. The blue in her eyes really stood out. I could have stared at them for a while if it hadn’t been for something I caught in the corner of my eye.

It’s in her neck, but the angle makes it hard to see. Did Claire ever have a mole there? I zoomed in to try and make it out, a frown on my face. It’s not a mole, I thought. It looks more like a…

My stomach dropped.

Eliza snatched the phone from my hands. “That’s enough trolling from you. Haha.”

“Hey man,” Zack called out, worry sipping into his tone. “You good?”

“There is really nothing to see, right?” Eliza asked, obviously nervous. “Just a silly picture. You know Claire. Always taking pictures nowadays.”

I felt vomit crawling up my throat. Even standing there in front of them felt like agony. I’d been a fool to think I was getting closer to accepting it. How much time had passed? How far away from me had she gone? Was I really the only one standing still at the spot she left me in?

I needed to get out of here.

I forced a confused smile onto my face and laughed. “Was that what you guys were trying to hide? It’s just a picture of them. I’ve seen plenty already. You two are so dramatic.”

I noticed relief flash across Zack’s face. He lets out a nervous laugh in response. “Yeah, sorry man. We tend to coddle you a bit. Forget you aren’t so sensitive. My bad.”

“It’s alright,” I said. “Thank you for taking care of me.”

“I got you.”

I nodded. “I know you do. Listen, I need to get going.” I held on to the strap of my backpack like a lifeline. “Ashley is waiting for me already. You know she didn’t want to go with me in the first place.”

“Yeah, for sure.” Zack moved closer to Eliza. “Good luck man.”

I waved at them and headed out. The walk felt longer than it had a few hours ago. I even straightened my back all the way to the car, just in case they were still looking.

When I finally reached the car, I opened the door in a hurry and threw my backpack in the back. Ashley was already sitting in the passenger seat, looking through her phone. She lifted her gaze at my arrival. “What took you so-“

She stopped talking. Her brows furrowed in concern just as I dumped myself into the driver’s seat and shut the door behind me. “Jake, is something wrong?”

“Ashley,” I said, just as I gripped the steering wheel with both hands, “can you be quiet for a minute?”

“I just,” I muttered, pressing my forehead against the top of the wheel. “I just need a minute.”