A weekend with the alpha

Chapter 1

“It’s a very important day for your sister. The least you can do is to be happy for her. Put up a fake smile if you must. But please, dear, let go of that frown on your face.”

Blood coursed through my veins as I heard the annoying voice of Betty Adams say from right beside me as we entered the chapel. You would think a mother should have her daughter’s back more than anything, but I guess when you’re her least favourite child, that’s bound to happen. That is why today, being the twenty-first day of March, I am walking my younger sister down the aisle to meet her future husband, whom I thought was the love of my life four weeks ago.

My story is short. I met Owens Pierce in my first year at the University studying medicine and thought we had something magical. Turned out there was nothing magical about us and he only used me to get closer to my little sister. I was the fool in my short story and four weeks ago, when they finally came out and told me the truth, I felt weak and unable to do anything. To make matters worse, they announced their engagement a week later, hinting at their eagerness to get married.

Owens and I dated for three years and not once in those three years did he speak about getting married, but I guess when you meet ‘the right one,’ you know. I was the wrong one all along.

Tatiana, my twenty-year-old sister, with whom I have since developed an estranged relationship since I found out about her affairs with Owens, made me her maid of honour and the chief coordinator for her grand wedding.

The last thing I wanted was to be anywhere near both of them. I needed a lot of distance to get over the heartbreak and the betrayal from both my ex-boyfriend and my sister. I chose to be the mature one, and I wished them well, but I wanted to do it from miles away.

They placed the burden of the maid of honour on my shoulder, despite my best attempt to decline. In Tatiana’s words, doing this would be my way of proving I was really over it. I had to agree to be her maid of honour after my mother stepped in and the wedding preparation started three weeks ago.

My mother saw nothing wrong with the whole situation. She had video-called to give me the news of Tatiana’s new ‘boyfriend’, even though she knew he was my boyfriend for three years and she had seen pictures of us together. The response I got from her when she saw my puffy eyes after the breakup couldn’t surprise me. In her words, at least one of us got to be happy.

No, the Adams did not adopt me, and neither was Betty my evil stepmother. I was her daughter, and I became her least favourite amongst the other two after my father died. My parents had us three, Lionel, being the oldest, Tatiana, being the youngest, and then there was me. Lionel would have been our mother’s favourite if he wasn’t a drug-addicted junkie. So mother shifted her love to her youngest child, Tatiana, skipping her second.

Meeting Owens three years ago was a breath of fresh air. He was nice and good-looking with his red-brown hair and sky-blue eyes that made me smile every time he stared at me. He treated me much better than everyone in my family, except Lionel. It was easy to fall in love with him when he always said the things I wanted to hear and did the things that made me feel seen and wanted. He was from a very rich and respected family in our town and girls wanted to be with him and boys wanted to be like him. Little did I know he was grooming himself for my sister.

As the famous saying goes, ‘the Adams cannot lose both ways’ and in my case, they didn’t. I lost, but Tatiana got him and today she will become his wife.

I cried the first week of the break-up. I have since found comfort by reminding myself how this was better than marrying someone whose show of love was a charade all along.

Diya, my best friend, had told me to give my family the middle finger for pushing for me to be the maid of honour for my sister at her wedding. To an extent, I wanted to do that, rebel and make sure their day was as disastrous as it should be, but I wasn’t a vengeful person. I had never known myself to be and didn’t want to become that because of them.

Lionel was the only one on my side, but since they did not regard his opinion in the family, there was nothing he could do.

In times like these, I wished my father was still here with us. He would have had my back, but sadly, he died seven years ago in a car crash while on the way to my secondary school swimming competition.

The sounding of the melodious trumpets signalling the bride’s presence went off, and all those gathered at the chapel rose to their feet.

With a beaming smile on her face, Tatiana made her way towards the altar where Owens Pierce stood in a black tuxedo waiting for her with a charming smile on his face. I looked away from the altar and as my eyes drifted; they met with Lionel, who stood with mixed emotion on his round tan face. His eyes met mine and broke with pity and that made me madder and my grimace grew.

My knuckles turned white with the lack of blood flow because of how tightly I had clenched my fist. We finally made it to the altar after what seemed to be forever, and the congregation gathered and took their seats.

“We gather here to witness the joining of these two wonderful people in holy matrimony and also to join the Watson and the Adams,” the priest began.

A scoff left my mouth at his words and Tatiana glared at me, but her glare could not compare to the one mother cast my way from the left side of the chapel where she sat. I ignored them, and the priest continued like no one had interrupted. He read the bible passage and then read out the vows.

Grinning like an idiot, Owen said I do, and Tatiana did the same with a gleeful face.

“Is there anyone that has a reason these two shouldn’t be joined in holy matrimony?”

The chapel grew as silent as the grave for a few seconds and I thought back to what Diya had suggested, flashing my mom, sister and Owens the middle finger. It would make this perfect wedding a disaster. It would also make me the villain, the hater of good things and the worse member of the Adams family. At the same time, this would make me so happy and I’ll have Lionel to have my back.

But I couldn’t do that. I wasn’t a horrible person.

No one said a thing, and the union was sealed.

The couple then moved to the reception venue, the Beverly Hall, one of the biggest event halls in the town where dancing and singing and food were.

I kept a reasonable distance, watching the new couple laugh and smile lovingly at each other. It made my stomach turn in disgust and I turned my eyes away.

“Do not be a hater of good things,” Betty said her famous line, coming to stand beside me with a glass of red wine in her hand. “Your sister is happy. That’s what’s important.”

Luckily enough, Tatiana’s happiness was Betty’s happiness as well. And today she was dressed to kill in her peach sequence gown and made up to look like the mother of the day.

I didn’t even look at her. At this point, I wasn’t ready to deal with her and I couldn’t stand to look at her.

“What about my happiness?” I said through gritted teeth.

She scoffed, “Do not be ridiculous.” She took a sip of the wine in her hand and took her leave.

I reached for the glass of wine on the tray of the waitress passing by and emptied it into my mouth. I placed the glass back, picked another and walked toward the sound engineers, who positioned themselves on the left side of the hall where everyone could see.

I’ll show Betty what ridiculous looks like.

I got over to the sound corner and requested a mic and though the DJ gave me a weird look; I didn’t give him any other option but to do what I said. He turned down the music playing, and I began to speak.

“Hello everyone, it’s so nice to see all these beautiful faces.” The eyes of everyone turned to me and though I felt nervous, I continued. “When the priest asked who had a reason, the new couple shouldn’t be joined at the Chapel, I realised I didn’t have a reason, so I kept silent then. I, however, have a few things to say and it has to be heard.”

“Zera!” Tatiana called out, her tone warning me not to do what I had in mind, but last I checked, I was the older one amongst us.

I boldly ignored her and turned to the guest staring at me. I saw Betty’s cheeks burning red with rage and I couldn’t have loved it more. “Today my sister became the wife of this guy whom one month ago was in my bed telling me how much he loved me. Turned out, he didn’t love me as I thought in the past three years. He was just waiting for my sister to become legal.” A gasp went through the crowd and I mentally patted myself on the back.

I will burn this f*****g ship to the ground.

“A month ago they came out to me about their relationship and three weeks ago they announced their wedding. I would have said too soon, but they’ve known each other for the past three years and that’s long enough. I am not mad at them. How can I be? They are in love. At least, that’s what they told me. My mother gave them her blessing and demanded I be Tatiana’s maid of honour today, despite knowing I dated Owen for the last three years. She asked me to be happy for my sister. I am happy for her, but I thought family was supposed to have your back, not kick you in the teeth while you’re down.”

Betty tried to surge towards me, but Lionel held her back.

“Before you wonder if I was adopted, I am not. Seven years ago, I lost my father and my mother had placed the blame on me ever since then.” My vision blurred up as I spoke and my voice choked up a little. “I wished my father was here too because if he was, he would never do this to me.” The tears ran down my face and I quickly wiped it off and blinked the rest back in. I had to finish what I started.

“In the last three weeks, I have wondered what I even saw in Owen. He had the most annoying voice I ever heard, and he snored too loud for my liking. He also chewed with his mouth open and had the most annoying morning breath. All this I overlooked because I believed he was worth it, but now I realise I was so desperate to be seen that I accepted what came my way as the best even though it wasn’t.”

“It was never real,” I turned to Tatiana, who now had a face almost as red as Betty’s, and I couldn’t tell if it was from anger or embarrassment. “You can have him, sis. I didn’t lose anything and I am happy for you.” I handed the mic back to the DJ and took my leave from the now quiet hall. I did not look back until I was out of the event hall.

I dragged a deep breath and my eyes fluttered, feeling alive for the first time in the last seven years.

“What the hell did you think you did in there?!” Betty yelled at me, her eyes blazing and shooting daggers at me.

I turned to face her, having no remorse or apology in my eyes, “What I should have done a long time ago. Enjoy the rest of your life with the only daughter you now have,” I said and walked away from her with my head held high.

Chapter 2

I sat across the bar, taking my second glass of martini. This used to be my least favourite drink while I dated Owens, but today it seemed to be just what I needed. I haven’t gone home since I left the event hall hours ago. My phone had been blowing up for hours and I finally put it on do not disturb.

It was almost eleven p.m, and I was at the Paradise Club. I wasn’t interested in joining the dance floor, so I sat at the bar drinking. I was never a good dancer; it would not start today. I was still in my maid of honour’s dress, makeup and heels. The dress was once a long silk gown which flowed to the ground, and that was how it was when I left Tatiana’s wedding reception. However, I tore the dress hours ago so that now it stopped on my knees. I let my dirty blonde hair, which was in a neat bun, loosen so it fell over my shoulders.

This was me getting out of my comfort zone. If Diya could see me now; she would flip and then cheer me on. I was the cautious one amongst the two of us, but for today, I would throw caution to the wind and live like no one is watching.

“Is this seat taken?” I heard a deep voice ask. My head whipped around to find an average-height man with golden-blonde hair, looking to be in his mid-twenties in a blue, round-necked polo. He had the looks and body build of someone on the university football team and from the look of it; he knew it too and took it as an advantage.

I shook my head, “No, it’s not.” I answered, and he sat on the stool next to me that very second.

I returned my focus to the glass in my hand and emptied the second round into my mouth and waved at the bartender, whom I was yet to get his name, to bring me another round. He smiled and returned to fill up my glass and I flashed him a grin, mumbling a ‘thank you’ loud enough for him to hear.

The one seated next to me cleared his throat, and I inwardly groaned, knowing what was coming next.

“So, are you here with someone?”

I wanted to say no. That was the truth. I came here alone, but I have had a few encounters before and they had never ended well. Most times, the males end up assuming that you’re single and hence shouldn’t say no to them. I didn’t want to go down that road today and so I nodded.

“Yes, I am,” I replied, and sipped my glass of martini. I had hoped to end the question at just that, but who was I kidding? I knew a simple ‘yes’ wouldn’t chase a man away. It never had. Most men would want to know more, see if the competition was one they can take on, all the while ignoring your need to be left alone.

“Where is he? Cause it’s a shame that a pretty young thing like you is drinking all alone without him. By the way, I’m Kevin.” He tried to sound tougher than he was, and it irked my skin.

I turned around, wanting to find a man at the lounge across from me that would look intimidating enough to send Mr Tough Guy here running.

My eyes scanned over the men seated at the lounge on my left side and all the men seemed occupied with a woman or two. There was no way he would believe I was with them. Just when I was about to open my mouth and tell Kevin my man must have stepped out and have him call me a liar, I spotted a man standing in a white long-sleeved shirt and blue trousers at the corner of the lounge. He had his back turned to me so I couldn’t make out his face and he seemed to be on a call, but he was the only one without a woman attached to his hips and I just found myself, my man.

“There!” I pointed to the man who had his free hand stuffed into his pocket and stood proud and intimidating enough, “the one in white long sleeve across the lounge. He’s been busy on the phone since we came and so I’ve kept myself occupied here.” I finished and turned to see the look of insecurity in his eyes, just like I wanted.

I returned my focus to the vodka before me. I was on my third shot now, and I aim to stop at my sixth.

“You sure about that? Because he just stepped out without even glancing this way.” Came the voice of Kevin, whom I thought had taken his leave after seeing who ‘my man’ was and realising he was no match for him.

I choked on the martini in my mouth as his words dawned on me. My head whipped to the corner of the lounge and the man was no longer there.

Oh well, here we go. My brain was already too slow with the events of the day and the martini I was taking to think about what excuse I could give now.

When nothing came up after a few seconds of waiting, I spoke, “I didn’t say we were on the best of terms. That’s why he’s over there and I’m over here.” and the lies continue.

“How about he doesn’t even know you and you’ve been lying ever since just to make yourself feel good?”

‘No, I was just trying to get rid of you and nothing has worked yet.’ I thought to myself.

Since my lies couldn’t get rid of him, perhaps the truth would.

“Maybe you’re right, maybe I lied and I don’t know him, but guess what?” I hiccup, paused, and continued. “I didn’t ask you to talk to me, so I’d advise you to stop now.”

He scoffed, “Yes, sure, I’d stop. I don’t want to be anywhere near a loser like you, anyway.”

I wanted to grab the bottle of vodka the bartender had left on the other side of the counter and smash it against the head of the annoying a*****e called Kevin, but I couldn’t. Drunk or not, I wasn’t a violent person, but he deserved to feel pain for calling me a loser.

I was still lost deep in thought when I heard, “Excuse me, hun, is this guy bothering you?” a deep, hoarse English-accented voice asked from behind. My head whipped around so fast that I feared it would fall off.

My eyes met the deep-set eyes of the man on the white long sleeve and blue trousers which I had spotted at the corner of the lounge and referred to as my man earlier.

He now stood before me, looking dreamy, with his black hair that had a few strands over his face, piercing eyes whose color flickered with each change in the room’s lighting. His lips were full and his short trimmed beards covered his chiselled jaw. I could be wrong, but he looked to be around six foot three inches tall and his body, although hidden in the long sleeve and trousers, screamed perfection at me.

After a while of me staring at him and not saying anything, he smiled and his deep dimple appeared, causing weakening shivers to run through me. My legs clamped together, shocked at the effect this man had on me. It was surreal, yet it was.

This gorgeous man was here, talking to me, asking if I was being bothered and I had to answer.

Stop acting like an idiot.

I nodded, pouting, and I saw the annoying Kevin who had bothered me for the last ten minutes tremble with fear from the corner of my eyes. “He is! He wouldn’t leave me alone and he called me a loser.”

The man’s adorable eyes flickered, and a furious storm brewed over them in the next second. His eyes darted to the now trembling Kevin beside me. “You called her a loser?” he demanded, towering over the man like a hulk.

“It w-was a… a mis-mistake.” he stuttered.

I tried to hold in my laughter and I was certain he would end up peeing his pants if care wasn’t taken. As much as I wanted him to pay for calling me a loser, that was the last thing I wanted.

The man in the long sleeve looked to be ready to inflict pain from what I saw, and I didn’t want that.

I stumbled off my seat and moved towards the hot man, who still had his intimidating gaze on the shivering Kevin. I placed my hand on his chest and felt the muscles underneath and it sent chills through me. For a moment, I was lost for the words to say and I couldn’t take my hand away from his chest either.

He glanced down at me and the fury in his eyes reduced, and as if reading my thought, he turned to the shivering Kevin and spoke, “Apologise!” his terrifying voice commanded.

Kevin bowed his head a little, “I’m sorry, miss.” he quickly said, so much respect in his voice.

“Now leave!” he thundered.

In the same second, the shivering Kevin scrambled away, not daring to look back at us.

Chapter 3

I found enough strength, withdrew my hand from his chest, wrapped my other cold hand around it and smiled awkwardly at him.“Thank you, f-for stepp…ing in and spe-speaking up for me. I k…k…know you didn’t… have to.” I spoke, the hiccups coming in and ruining the flow of my appreciation.

Damn it.

He smiled, not fazed by the mess of an appreciation I was giving.

“You’re welcome. May I sit?” he raised a brow.

He didn’t have to ask. The answer is an automatic yes. Having him stand so close made me feel giddy, and I knew that would also happen when he sat as well.

I bit my lips and nodded. “Sure, you can.”

He settled on the chair before me, and the smell of him engulfed my mind. It made me think of sinful things, like having his hands on parts of my body that shouldn’t be touched by just anyone.

I needed something strong to take away the nasty thoughts clouding my head. The martini was nice, but not for moments like these. I waved at the bartender and ordered a shot of pure whiskey.

I wasn’t a heavy drinker, but I wanted to get wasted and then call Diya, who was on speed dial, to come and take me home after. From here to the university campus was thirty minutes. Not that long.

“So, you live around here?” the voice of the gorgeous man in the long sleeve asked after a long while of silence went by.

“Not really. I stay at the university campus. It’s thirty minutes away.” I answered, taking my second shot of whiskey. I could feel the alcohol kicking in my system, and I knew a few more shots and I’d be where I wanted to be.

I felt his brow rise. Then, he asked, “How will you get home, then?”

“My best friend. I’ll call her to come and pick me up when I’m done,” I replied, surprising myself with how well I spoke such a long sentence.

“Okay, that’s better. What’s your name, if you don’t mind me asking?”

Ah, finally he asked.

“My name is Zera Adams,” I answered, keeping my eyes fixed on the glass in my hands because I knew if I as much as stared at him, I would feel tempted to give him a blow job here and now, or have him f**k my brains out. It would be a story to tell Diya. I bet she would high-five me. “What’s your name?”

“Aaron Hart,” he answered.

A hot name for a hot man.

Moaning out his name while he rides me would be so hot.

Zera!

Well, this whiskey isn’t helping me numb my wild thoughts.

I ordered the third shot. The bartender served it, and while I drank, I noticed Aaron didn’t. Instead, he watched me.

That felt odd.

Okay, stay with me. I wasn’t the ugliest girl I know, but I wasn’t the prettiest either. He, however, was the most gorgeous guy I had ever met, and I knew he could have any girl he wanted. I also knew he had met hotter, prettier, and much more graceful girls. Girls who didn’t hiccup their way through words and knew how to comport themselves in every situation. Yet, here he was, staring at me like he had never seen someone better before.

“Can I ask a question?” he asked after my fourth shot, and I was already losing my sense of reasoning. Drink this last shot and call it a night.

“Sure.” I giggled, and he continued.

“Why did you come here alone?”

“Because I had no one to take me,” my reply came faster than it would under normal circumstances.

“No boyfriend waiting for you at home?” his voice was laced with disbelief as he spoke.

I bit my lips and shook my head. “The boyfriend I used to have married my sister this morning.”

I felt more light-hearted speaking about it than I thought I would be. Perhaps this is the whiskey doing its work in my system.

“His loss.”

Well, it could be your gain, but there’s a voice yelling at me in my head to tread carefully. I was also no longer seeing as brightly as I was thirty minutes ago. It was time to hit the road and call Diya to the rescue.

I kept my purse on the bar counter and pulled out my phone to dial Godiya’s number, but it slipped out of my grasp and fell to the floor. I hissed under my breath and dropped from my stool, only to hear a loud bang.

My eyes opened, and I was in a large, cream-colored room with white curtains at the doors and windows.

I quickly sat up, only to have my head bang hard against something. I pressed my hand against my temple and my eyes fluttered in pain, a long hiss rolling out of my mouth.

Where am I? How did I end up here? Who brought me? These questions plagued my mind, but I couldn’t find answers to them.

When my eyes opened again, I noticed I was still in the peach maid of honor gown I had on yesterday, and that consoled me, knowing that nothing had happened. Yet, the question remained.

How did I end up here?

The last thing I remembered was sitting at the bar counter drinking my martini, but the bang in my head told me I might have had something much stronger than a martini before leaving the club last night.

I tried to retrace my steps mentally, even though it was harder done than said.

I thought of the bartender; I thought of those dancing, but I remember not having the interest in joining. I remembered staying at the counter with my martini, only to be interrupted by someone. A guy, an annoying guy named Kevin, and I remember feeling very uncomfortable in his presence.

Did he bring me home?

My skin crawled at the thought, but I shrugged it off. He couldn’t have brought me home. I don’t mean to judge, but he didn’t look like one who could afford something this magnificent. Someone else then? But who?

My thoughts were interrupted as the door to the room opened, and in walked a tall, gorgeous man with black hair and hazel eyes. At the sight of him, the memories of last night rushed back into my head, and I remembered everything.

He was the gorgeous man I called ‘my man’ just to get the annoying Kevin off me at the club. I remember him coming to my defense and intimidating douchebag Kevin out of his pants. I remember having a brief talk with him after he sent the other guy away. Now, I remember switching my drink from martini to whiskey in the hope of getting the nasty thought about riding him out of my head. He also told me his name, and I did likewise. I remembered reaching my limit and wanting to call Diya to come and take me home. That was the last thing I remembered.

He had changed from the white long sleeve and black trousers he had on last night and now wore a grey sweater and joggers, hiding his toned body.

I wondered what could have happened that led me to this point and in this room. Sure, my clothes were still on, but a lot could still have happened. He could have worn them back after he was done taking what he wanted. Goosebumps scattered over my skin, and I felt negative chills on the inside. He didn’t seem like that type of man, but no man has ‘rapist’ written on his forehead.

I could be jumping to a conclusion, and that won’t be fair, especially if he helped from the goodness of his heart.

I snapped out of my thought when I heard him clear his throat, and I saw him standing before me with his left hand holding a small white mug stretched out.

My eyes narrowed with confusion, having the ‘I do not know what you’re doing’ look written all over them, “Uh?” I blurted out like an idiot.

“Drink, for the headache!” he spoke, and just like when we were at the bar, his deep, hoarse voice sent shivers down my spine. He brought me something for the headache, but how did he know I was having massive pain in my head?

‘He watched you drink yourself away at the bar. A hangover is an aftermath of drinking too much. Anyone with a cell in their brain knows that.’ Trust the voice in my head to make me feel dumber than I already am.

This man couldn’t have raped me last night. He’s too caring.

I bit my lips and collected the cup to stare at it. It looked like green tea, except it had leaves I didn’t recognize.

“It’s herbal tea for hangovers. It has been passed down through my family for generations,” he explained, seeing the suspicious way I eyed the cup in my hand. “It lessens the headache after a few minutes of intake.”

I smiled nervously. “And I’m supposed to trust that you didn’t put any intoxicating substance in it, right?”

“Why? You’re already intoxicated by the sight of me, from the look of it,” he replied casually, but with much confidence.

Wow, Mr. Hart, I didn’t think you were as naughty as you were hot.

My cheeks warmed up. “That’s because you’re hot.”

“So are you, but who’s keeping score?” he winked at me.

Okay, do you care to turn on the AC now? Because this is getting hotter with every second.

Stop it, Zera, you still don’t know if he had his way with you last night.

I took the tea to my mouth and took a few sips before lowering the cup.

I saw his beautiful, intent eyes, and they didn’t look impressed. “Drink it all for a faster effect.” He instructed, coming off more commanding than I expected.

Oof, what’s next, daddy? Feed me till I’m full and then f**k me till I can’t walk?

Zera!

Sorry, no more, no more.

I drank the tea so that the only thing left in the small mug was the green leaves.

“Good girl,” he cooed, and I felt giddy on the inside as if being called a good girl was such an accomplishment.

What’s happening to me?

He turned to leave the room, and I spoke, wanting to clarify the events of last night. As much as I was attracted to him and wanted to do nasty things to him in my head, I still had to know what happened.

“Can I ask a question?”

He paused and turned to me before nodding his head. “Sure, ask.”

“What happened last night? The last thing I remember was trying to call my best friend, and the next thing I’m here in this bed with no memory of how I got here.”