Althena

6. Alpha

A few days later, the day starts out like any other. I get back to the apartment about 1:30. I start to read and someone knocks on the door.

"Hi uncle. What's wrong?"

He's red and pointing. "Where did you get that money?" I have about $20 sitting on the floor by my bed.

"I have a job at a coffee shop down the road. These are my tips. What's wrong?"

"YOU LIAR." He grabs my arms hard and shoves me into the counter. I swear I hear my rib crack.

"STOP. I'M NOT LYING."

He pulls me off the ground by my arms. "WHERE DID YOU GET IT?"

"I TOLD YOU."

He shoves me down again and storms out. I make sure the door is locked. Then I sit there and cry. That hurt. Did he think I took money from them? I lay in bed and try to relax. My side and arms hurt bad. I hold still and try to relax until it's time to go to work. I would call off but I have no phone. I put a sweater over my t-shirt. It's hard. I can barely lift my arms or move them. I wiggle in though. Then go to work. I tell myself I'll be fine. It's only coffee.

Conner gives me a double take. "What happened?"

"I tripped. I'm ok. Do you have anything for pain?"

"You look like you need a doctor."

"I'll be fine."

He gives me some pills and I keep up as best as I can.

Then some boys come in laughing.

"What's funny?" Conner watches them.

"Moonlit got hit hard. Score worth millions."

"Who did it?"

"Some new pack. Needed money for starting. Demontail pack or something dumb was the name."

"How did they do it?"

"Got hired into the security company they use. Genius really."

Then Alpha Amos comes in. He's red and pissed off. I could feel is aura down the block. The 2 boys that were laughing, leave. Conner backs up. I've never seen Alpha Amos here. I wonder if he thinks it was me too.

"Good afternoon, sir. Can I get you something?"

"Take off the sweater."

I shake my head.

"Don't make me command it."

A tear falls out of my eye. "I can't get it off."

"Try. I will cut it off if I have to."

I start sobbing.

Connor puts his phone down. "Ellen is on her way. What's going on?" Then he tries to rub my back. He touches my side that hurts and I nearly fall.

"Stop." Amos comes behind the counter and 2 of them get the sweater off. My arms are covered in bruises.

Then Conner pulls the side of my t-shirt up. His aura booms hard.

Even Amos steps back. Then he shakes his head. "Do not do that with her in this state. You can hurt her more. And get a rescue squad here."

"You're an alpha. Congratulations." Conner rubs his face. "I'm really ok. I'll be fine. I tripped."

He shakes his head and gets back on the phone.

Amos crosses his arms. "Why are you defending him?"

"She's afraid she'll lose her place."

"What?" Amos stares at him.

"Give me your keys. I'll show him later."

I drop. I don't know what it was, but blackness takes my vision and I feel one of them catch me.

The hospital keeps me drugged. I think I sleep and eat for 2 days. Then they send me home. Conner drives me. I'm not sure why they called him. But they did. I fall asleep in the car before we even get to my place.

I lay around and do nothing for another day. Then I'm starving. I put my dirty clothes in a bag and go to my uncle's house. They're not there. I'm happy about that. I do the normal routine.

It's another few days before I return to work. The new guy is there.

"Hi, I'm Althena. I work here."

"They said something happened. I covered a couple of your shifts. Are you alright? And I'm Chris."

"I'm fine. But I may be a little slow today. It's nice to meet you, Chris. What pack are you from?"

"I'm from Full Moon Pack. It's in the harbor district."

"Isn't that far?"

"Not really. It's on the other side of the Market District. About a 20 minute drive. The harbor district is huge though. It covers the entire eastern coast. My pack is right inside the limit for the harbor district. Right beside Market. It's not far. And you're all the way on my side of the market district."

I laugh. "Someone is going to have to show me a map one of these days."

"You'll get it. It just takes a while. What's the other scent on you?"

"Woodland."

"That's far. That man is checking you out."

I flip around and there is a man staring at me. He's got dark hair and eyes. He is sexy.

"WELCOME BACK." Ellen floods in the room. "How are you?" She hugs me lightly.

"Much better. Thank you. I'm ready to get back to work."

Conner comes in behind her with a huge black eye.

"What happened?"

"Spy mission." He winks at me. "How are you feeling?"

I get him some ice. His face is swollen. "Better than you."

Chris sneaks beside me. "I think he's waiting on everyone to leave before he tries to talk to you. I refilled his coffee again."

"Who?" Conner is glaring at him.

"I can't point him out."

I shake my head. "Don't look."

Conner plops down and grabs my wrist. He puts my hand with the ice pack in it, on his eye. Then he crosses his arms.

He's making me stand here and hold this thing.

Chris cracks up laughing. "I get it now."

Ellen shakes her head. "She can't hold your ice pack for you all night, Conner."

Conner lays his head back. "This is fine."

"Damn alpha's." Ellen goes over and checks the drive thru.

Then another alpha comes in. He walks up to the table and stares at Conner. "Why?"

Conner doesn't move.

The alpha sits down. "So, who are you? I see you have a moonlit mark."

"I'm Althena. My aunt and uncle are in moonlit."

The door opens again and all I feel is an aura. Everyone looks at the door. Then Mike walks in.

I jump up and down then I run to him.

Chris cracks up laughing. "Hold your own damn ice."

I hug Mike. "You... Why?"

He hugs me and chuckles. His aura goes away. "I wanted to check on you. I brought you something." He hands me a box. Then he twirls my hair. "You have grown so much."

"So have you. I haven't seen you in a year and a half, you know?"

"It has been a long time. I should have checked on you sooner."

I finally get the box open. "YOU GOT ME A PHONE?" I jump up and down some more. "THANK YOU."

"You're welcome." He kisses my head. "Who is Conner?"

I point at the table with Conner, Chris, and the alpha I don't know. Then I stumble to an empty table and get the phone out. It's charged and everything. The only contact in it is Mike. But it's a phone. I have a phone. I check the buttons then text him. I just say thank you.

He says. "Woman, come over here."

I can't stop smiling. I show Conner and Chris. "He got me a phone. I have a phone."

"Nice."

"Let me see it. I'll put my number in it." Chris takes it.

Ellen yells from the drive thru. "PUT MY NUMBER IN TOO. SHE DOESN'T HAVE IT."

Mike smiles. "Do you want to stay here or come back to woodland?"

"Stay. I'm doing good."

Conner snorts.

Mike nods. "This is different from how you grew up. But things have to change."

"No."

"I have a meeting with the moonlit Alpha in a couple hours. I'm told you never went back to school, only go there to shower and eat, and you actually live on your own?"

"It's fine."

"How long have you lived on your own?"

"Since I turned 15. He said I was old enough."

"And I'm told you just got out of the hospital?"

"It was a few days ago. I broke a rib."

"How?" I shake my head. "Say it."

"He thought it was me who took his money. I swear I didn't. I've never stolen anything."

"I want to see where you live."

I jump up and down. "MIKE. STOP."

"After the meeting, I'll stop. Then we can do something."

"Ok. I live down the road." I take off. "I'LL SHOW YOU." I run all the way home.

Conner, Chris, Mike, and the random alpha show up after a couple of minutes.

"This is my place."

Chris smiles. "Nice. We'll have to get you a tv."

"I like to read. I have some books."

They walk through. There's really not much to see. But I'm happy here. I don't need much. And I pick up every day. My clothes are folded in the dresser. My bed is made. My books are stacked up in the corner. Some soap sits on the bathroom sink with a towel on the rack. That's everything.

Mike opens the top drawer of my dresser. I must turn red. He smirks and shuts it. That's where I keep my underwear and bras though. He opens another drawer. "You have some new clothes."

"I spend my money on clothes, so I can fit in better. People make fun of my old clothes."

"I'm sorry they do that." He leans on the dresser. "Your old clothes are fine."

I shrug my shoulders. "I'm saving for tennis shoes now. Everyone wears them." I point at Chris's feet. I know there's nothing wrong with my shoes. They're just brown and boring.

He nods. "I need to go to this meeting. Then I'll be back."

"I'm coming with you." Conner goes for the door.

"Like hell you are." The alpha chases him out.

Chris smiles at me. "We're supposed to be at work anyway. I'm bringing you a couch though. It's a nice place. The location is perfect."

"I know. I can walk to work and my uncles."

Mike makes sure the door is locked and we part ways.