Desired By My Alpha Stepfather

A toast

Nina

Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around my waist, halting my thudding heart in a jarring instant. Air whooshed past my ears as I dangled. I felt weightless in his arms for a heartbeat.

Then, I was pulled against a solid chest, the scent of musky cologne and something faintly citrusy assaulting my senses.

My mind felt frozen and numb.

Suddenly, the words that had been bubbling just beneath the surface of my mind since he'd caught me, started to appear. But they wouldn't come out. How could I confess something so outlandish, so utterly unbelievable?

Then, the voice in my head, the one that had whispered "Mate" with such certainty moments ago, spoke again. This time, it wasn't a single word, it was a series moving images.

The wedding chatter dissolved around us. The people, everything – it all vanished.

He wasn't a stranger anymore. He wasn't just Alpha Vince anymore. The suit, the tie – they were gone, replaced by someone more familiar. Someone more like him. His eyes caught my gaze, and his lips warmed my ears with his words.

"I've searched for you for lifetimes," his voice filled my head. It wasn't the same voice that spoke to me moments ago, but somehow, I knew it was him.

"I've looked everywhere for you. You are my mate, the missing piece of my soul."

He searched for lifetimes? Had I been searching too?

The ache in my chest grew stronger. Was this really him? Alpha Vince? My intrusive thought got the best of me, and I asked, "Who are you?" I whispered.

A ghost of a smile touched his lips. "I am the one who has always been waiting for you," he said.

"I am Vince, your Alpha, your mate."

My breath hitched. Vince? The name was imprinted in my mind, no longer the name of a stranger. It felt… familiar. I felt a feeling of belonging I couldn't explain. "But... how?" I stammered.

He took a step closer, his hand reaching out, and for a moment, I thought he would touch my face. But he stopped just short, his fingers hovering mere inches from my cheek. It felt…so real.

"There is no time to explain everything now," he said, "We have to leave. Just me and you. That's right. Fate. It has called me to you, and it will call you to me. Or maybe, it already has.”

The image of him, at that moment, burned into my mind. And then, he was gone.

My eyes flew open, expecting to meet the concerned gaze of a stranger, maybe even a scolding one. But instead, I was greeted by a wall of broad muscle, clad in a sleek suit. A low, surprised grunt escaped my rescuer as he steadied me on my feet.

I could finally take him in. All of him. I had had a few glimpses at him across the distance, but not this close, and most certainly not this way.

Tall, with dark hair that tumbled down past his collar, and piercing blue eyes that ceased my thoughts.

He was handsome in the traditional sense. The few too many sharp angles on his face couldn't even dispute the fact that his face was alluring to my gaze.

He had this ruggedness that spoke of fights and battles. But there was something about him. It was a feeling that made me acutely aware of the way his hand still lingered at my waist.

“You look like you've seen a ghost." He said, a chuckle escaping his lips.

My face burned. Had I been muttering to myself? The vivid scene I'd conjured, the confession – it all felt so real, yet utterly absurd. Shame ate at me.

"I... I just," I stammered, the words catching in my throat. "Thank you for catching me."

He grinned, a flash of white teeth that lit up his face. "No problem, Nina. Glad I could help."

Nina. The simple repetition of my name shattered the remnants of my fantasy. He wasn't confessing his undying love across lifetimes. He simply knew my name, or maybe he'd overheard it from someone passing by.

The disappointment was heavy in my chest.

Wait a minute, it was all real, wasn't it? But the rest... the sweeping declarations – that was all me, my runaway imagination.

"Are you alright, Nina?" His voice cut through the jumbled mess in my head.

"Yes," I managed, forcing a smile. "Just a little shaken. Thank you again."

He nodded, his gaze lingering on me for a while longer.

I tried to steady my feet, and then again, I nearly stumbled.

"Whoa there," he said, his voice a deep rumble. "Careful, someone could get hurt that way."

A blush flooded my cheeks. Here I was stumbling on the walkway like a clumsy child. I mumbled a thank you.

He grinned, a flash of white teeth in his tanned face. "No problem. Though maybe watch your step next time, city slicker."

City slicker? The term felt strangely endearing coming from him. I straightened, brushing myself off, suddenly hyper aware of the way my sundress clung to my damp skin. "I... I tripped," I offered lamely, surprised by the stammer in my voice.

He chuckled. "Happens to the best of us."

I stole a glance at his profile, mesmerized by the way the light played on the strong lines of his jaw.

Our moment was shattered by a loud hooting sound coming from nearby A group of elderly men, faces creased with laughter, were gesturing wildly at us. My cheeks burned even brighter.

He finally released me, his hand brushing against mine, sending fleeting tingles through my arm. "Well," he said, his voice warm, "seems like I've caused quite a spectacle. I should probably head out."

Disappointment stabbed at me. It was brutal, sharp and painful. I didn't want him to leave.

"Wait," I blurted out before I could stop myself.

He raised an eyebrow, a question lurking in his blue eyes. "Yes?"

Suddenly, my voice failed me. What could I possibly say? Thank you again? Thankfully, before I could further embarrass myself, another round of noise cut through the air, growing louder by the second. He glanced towards the source of the noise with a frown.

"Looks like trouble," he muttered. "I better see what's going on."

I watched as he disappeared into the crowd, my heart still pounding in my chest.

My head spun.

"Nina? Nina, are you alright?"

Mom's voice pulled me back to reality. I turned to find her perfectly coiffed, perfectly poised, approaching me with a worried look on her face. It was one I hadn't seen since… since… forever.

"Oh, honey, you look like you've seen a ghost," she exclaimed her palms cupping my cheek, but the worried look in her eyes was shadowed by something else – annoyance?

"Mom," I finally managed.

Mom sighed dramatically. "There you go again, daydreaming. Honestly, Nina, you need to pay attention. Tonight is important."

She grabbed my arm, her manicured grip surprisingly strong, and tugged me away from the guests. We weeded through the throng of elegantly dressed guests, their clinking glasses and polite murmurs creating a muffled sound in my head.

Mom didn't stop until we reached a secluded corner

The moment we were out of earshot of the other guests, Mom's eyes darkened. Her grip on my arm tightened, her voice dropping to a low hiss.

"What was that all about, Nina? Practically throwing yourself at that… that… man! My husband!”

I blinked, confusion deepening. Throwing myself? It had been a simple trip, a stumble, and a helpful hand reaching out. "Mom, what are you talking about? I just tripped, and he caught me."

"Caught you, indeed!" Mom scoffed. "The way you were looking at him, clinging to him… anyone could tell you were practically fawning over him."

Her accusation felt like a physical blow. Frowning, my lips trembled. "Mom, that's ridiculous! I don't even know him."

"Don't play innocent with me, Nina," Mom retorted

"You've always been like that, haven't you? Always trying to steal the spotlight, even from your own mother."

Her words stabbed my in the heart. Yes, I yearned to be seen. But tonight? This man – it wasn't about stealing the spotlight.

I opened my mouth to defend myself, but the words wouldn't come. Everything that had just happened left me bewildered and speechless.

I guess mom read that I wasn't going to defend myself anymore, as a look close to pity crossed her eyes. She heaved a sigh.

“Just… behave yourself, Nina," she said, her voice softer now. "Tonight's not about you."

I simply nodded.

Together, we walked back out to the main hall. I was circled by the music and chatter once more. As we rejoined the throng, I stole a glance around, but there was no sign of him.

Then, there was Kai. Seeing him across the room was like a punch to the gut. My so-called boyfriend, the one I confided in about everything (well, almost everything), stood oozing out smugness. He was draped over Sue, his hand resting possessively on her lower back.

Sue was all giggly with curls and fluttering eyelashes. She practically hung off him. They were a caricature of a happy couple – fake laughter, overly sweet whispers, and kisses that lasted far too long.

It was a performance clearly aimed at me, a stupid attempt to stoke a fire that wasn't even there.

Okay, fine, maybe it was there, but it was almost dead anyway.

"There you are, Nina!"

He sauntered over, Sue plastered to his side like a particularly clingy starfish.

"Lost in thought again? Maybe you should pay attention to the real party."

I forced a smile, the effort burning in my cheeks. "Just admiring the… festivities," I replied, my voice strained.

"Right," Kai snorted, his gaze flickering to my empty side. "Still moping about that nobody to hold onto?"

My cheeks flushed. "I wasn't moping," I mumbled, refusing to acknowledge the barb.

Sue giggled, a high-pitched sound that grated on my nerves. "Don't worry, Nina," she cooed, batting her eyelashes at me. "There are plenty of other fish in the sea."

"Thanks, Sue," I muttered. Their transparent attempt to make me jealous was as pathetic as it was predictable.

"Speaking of fish," Kai said, leaning closer to Sue and nuzzling her ear. "How about we get out of here? This place is getting a little… stale."

Sue giggled again, a breathless sound that sent shivers down my spine. "Oh, Kai," she breathed, her voice diced with fake breathlessness. "You're so bad!"

They locked lips in a slow, exaggerated kiss, tongues wrestling in a way that made me want to look away. The whole display felt like a poorly rehearsed school play, the audience consisting solely of myself.

"Ugh," I muttered under my breath, rolling my eyes. Their desperate need for an audience was starting to be comical.

"See you later, Nina," Kai said finally, pulling away from Sue with a smirk. "Don't wait up for me."

He winked at me. The wink felt more like a threat than anything else, and then they disappeared.

If they wanted to put on a show, by all means, let them have their audience. Tonight, they were the only ones who seemed to find their performance entertaining.

****

The after party continued to crawl. I was getting less interested by the minute.

"And now, a toast to the ever-supportive Mrs. Miller! Let's hear it for the backbone of our family!" The emcee's voice echoed.

Mom's lips was curved into a smile. She nudged me forward. I hesitated, unsure if what to do, or say. But then I realized that it was a silent instruction that needed no words. I had to go up the stage. I had to speak. I had to speak good about my mom, in front of all those people.

With a deep breath, I found myself walking towards the stage, feeling as exposed as a lone tree.

The spotlight shined on me in an wide glare as I gripped the microphone, its cool metal feeling like ice against my clammy palms.

"Hi everyone," I started, my voice trembling slightly. "For those of you who don't know me, I'm Nina, Mr. and Mrs. Miller's daughter." A smattering of applause filled the room.

My gaze drifted towards Mom standing proudly amidst the crowd.

I wasn't sure what to say, because obviously, we hadn't always seen eye-to-eye. But through it all, she was my mother, and there had to be some good that she had done for me that I could share with the crowd.

Taking another deep breath, I continued, "Mom, you've always been...well, Mom. The one who remembers all my birthdays, cheers me on at every school play (even the disastrous one where I tripped and face-planted in front of the entire audience)," a chuckle rippled through the crowd, Mom's face turning a light shade of pink.

"You're the one who packs the best lunches, even though you complain about having to make them every morning," a memory flashed through my mind. It was an image of a younger me, happily munching on a sandwich filled with my favorite childhood treat.

My voice cracked slightly as I continued, "You always know how to make me feel better, even on my worst days.” I was loosing the pitch of my voice. I wasn't sure why.

Oh, maybe because I was giving her way much credit than she truly deserved.

I sniffed.

“Thank you for everything, Mom. I love you."

Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring the faces staring back at me. It wasn't a perfectly polished speech, but it was well… the best I could do. It was the best one that I could give that hid the messy, beautiful truth of our mother-daughter bond.

Applause assaulted my ears.

Stepping back from the microphone, a feeling of dizziness hit me. The stage lights seemed to go blurry, and my gaze seemed to lose focus. Before I could regain my balance, the ground rushed up to meet me.

I staggered, a scream tearing up from my throat, cut short by a gasp as a strong pair of arms caught me, preventing a full-blown faceplant.

My eyes slowly eased open, my heart pounding in my chest.

I… I… didn't fall.

My nostrils recognized the scent. Above me, a pair of piercing blue eyes stared down at me, and I found myself cradled next to the same hard chest.

It was him. The very Alpha Venice, the one who had caught me earlier that night.

"Easy there," he said, his voice sending a cold chill through me. "Looks like you tripped again."

I could only stare at him, speechless, as the emcee's voice cut through the awkward silence.

"Well, folks, that was almost another heartwarming moment there! Let's raise our glasses to the ever-supportive Mrs. Miller!"