ONE NIGHT WITH MY EX'S FATHER

IN LOVE WITH THE 'WRONG' WOMAN

ALARIC'S POV

I never imagined I would fall in love with a woman again, let alone a woman who I was ready to fight the world for.

But here she was sprawled on the floor at the mercy of people who misunderstood her and in that moment I knew I would do anything to help her heal from her trauma.

I pulled her up from the floor of the store and led her out to where my car was parked.

“Why did you do that?” She questioned, cleaning the dust off her dress.

“Do what? Help you out of that ugly situation?”.

“Yes…”.

“Because I love you?”.

“It was risky and everyone was recording and it's just bad for your…wait, what?” Malia stopped, trying to recall what I'd said at the same time as her.

I stepped in to close the gap between us.

“I did it because I love you, Malia. I can't watch you go through all that just because the fool that owns the store can't do business properly without involving nasty rumors and emotions” I explained.

Malia paused to take a breath.

She looked away from me for more than a second, and even with how messy she looked, she was still the most breathtaking woman in the world to me.

Then she turned to face me again, and I was about to learn how stubborn she really was.

“You asked her to close up her store, isn't that too much?” She probed.

I sighed.

“What do you not understand about all of this? I was protecting you from her! If I'd left her, she would still feel the need to insult you some other time!” I told her.

“Well she'd still make my life hell either way! She'd probably go to my uncle and tell the entire neighborhood that you stood up for me and chased her out of business! How do you think that makes me look?!” She retorted.

“Do you want her and everyone else to keep treating you like the ground they walk on?!” I snapped.

“I never minded it before, I don't mind it now! I just don't need the extra attention for heaven's sake!” She snapped back.

“Well crucify me for trying to help!”.

“I don't need your f*****g help! You got me in bed with you, you won already. Please just leave me alone now to pick up the broken pieces of my miserable life!” She cried.

My heart skipped a bit.

This was how I expected things to unfold after I had just saved the woman I loved from a bully.

I turned the other way and faced the car in a bid to relax the tension that was building up inside me.

When I turned to face her again, she was on her knees.

“Please…take me home. I need to eat” she whispered.

I swung into action and carried her into the car.

When I was sure she was comfortable, I asked my driver to drive to the nearest fast food place.

“Drive faster, Alan!” I urged him.

The car came to a stop after a few minutes and I asked one of my men in the front passenger seat to grab a piece of everything on the menu for Malia to eat.

Damian got to work immediately, returning to the car in half the time I'd expected him to return.

“My friend works there” he explained, as if he could read my thoughts.

I handed one of the bags to Malia who dug in immediately, devouring the food like she had not eaten in days.

I watched her closely, waiting for her to look up from the food.

After devouring a full meal, Malia finally made eye contact with me.

“You shouldn't have” she said more out of embarrassment and guilt, than actual courtesy.

“Don't start” I stopped her.

She didn't say anything further until I asked Alan to start the car again.

“Thank you, Alpha” she murmured after a short while.

I heaved a sigh of relief, for a reason I couldn't even comprehend.

“You can stop here, Alan. I'll walk from here, my place is just down the road” Malia said.

Alan stopped the car.

“Excuse Malia and I for a few minutes” I said.

Alan and Damian stepped out of the car and shut the doors behind them.

“Look, I don't want to fight you, Lia. I'm not your enemy. I have no intentions to go against your wishes unless it's to protect you, I promise” I started, pausing to let her speak.

She said nothing and I continued.

“I know about your little arrangement with my son, Kurt” I paused again, this time to let her take it all in.

Her mouth nearly fell open, and I knew she was trying to hide her shock.

“Don't be surprised, I have eyes everywhere. I'm the Alpha after all” I reminded her.

She appeared more composed afterwards.

“He hurt you and made you look like a fool when you were finally close to achieving a better life for yourself. I understand”.

Malia had a straight face, she was trying hard not to let my words get to her.

I pulled out a small notepad and tore out a page from it.

Then I scribbled my number on it and handed it to her.

“Call me if you ever need someone to talk to. I know I've made it abundantly clear that I would defend you to the ends of the earth, but I want your permission to do that. Yes, I'm twice your age, I'm the Alpha and you see yourself as nothing. I don't want us to fight over this. I don't see you as just any woman, otherwise I wouldn't bother to have anything to do with you after the other night” I told her.

“Thank you again for the food” She simply said, stepping out of the car with the note in her purse.

Alan and Damian came back in and I heaved a sigh.

The price I had to pay for falling in love with the most unwanted and stigmatized woman in town.

“Start the car, Alan”.