Craving My Best Friend's Alpha Daddy

Chapter 13: Alpha's Touch

THEA

"Come on, Thea!" Liana’s voice cut through my thoughts. She was already stuffing her training gear into her duffel bag, her movements sharp and energetic.

I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at my reflection.

I was dressed for the training session, but my body felt like lead. Every muscle ached with the anticipation of failure.

I didn’t want to go. I didn’t want to be pushed, and I didn’t want to be reminded of my place.

Maybe it was just because I was an omega, born to be fragile, or maybe it was just an excuse to stay hidden.

Liana must have seen the hesitation written all over my face. She stopped packing, walked over, and leaned down until we were eye-to-eye.

She had that playful, mocking smirk that always made my heart jump. "You’re going whether you like it or not," she said, her voice dropping into a challenge. "You can train your wolf to be strong even if you’re an omega. Stop being a lazy ass."

She reached out and gave my backside a firm, stinging spank.

I froze, my breath hitching in my throat. I stared at her, stunned. "Liana!" I half-screamed, my face flushing hot.

"What?" She just shrugged, completely unfazed, already turning back to her bag. "You’d better hurry up. If Dad gets down here and catches you lagging, he won’t be as gentle as I am." She didn't wait for a response, just walked out of the room, leaving me alone with the sudden spike of adrenaline in my veins.

At the mere thought of her father, my throat went dry.

To her, she thought she could use him to scare me even when he wasn't around.

But to me, hell... She didn't know what she was doing to me.

I swallowed hard, trying to push the image of him out of my head.

It was dangerous to think about him... about how much I craved his attention even when it seemed difficult with people around us, how I wanted him to look at me the way Liana looked at me, with that same casual, demanding touch.

I wasn't supposed to feel this way, not for him, but the secret pull was always there, tugging at my ribs.

I couldn't afford to be caught daydreaming about him now.

I grabbed my bag, shaking off the stray thoughts, and hurried out the door to catch up with Liana.

The training session was technically meant for the Alphas and Betas... the strong, the pack warriors.

Omegas were usually delegated to the kitchen or the laundry, expected to play the part of the background maid.

But I was here, breathing the same air as the elite, mostly because Liana insisted on me being her shadow, her best friend. I was an exception to the rules, a quiet privilege I both hated and clung to.

We climbed into the car. The driver pulled away, maneuvering through the city streets.

I caught myself looking out the window, half-hoping to see Rowan, Liana’s father. He wasn’t able to join us earlier because he was busy with pack business, but the empty space next to Liana in the car felt heavy. I missed him, even though I shouldn't.

When we reached the training field, the air was already thick with the scent of pine and sweat.

The instructor, a hulking Beta with a voice like gravel was already barking orders. We scrambled to find our places in the dirt.

I felt self-conscious in my training gear. The clothes were tight, made for mobility, and they seemed to cling to every curve of my body, leaving nothing to the imagination. I felt exposed, especially with so many Alpha men around, but I kept my chin down and stayed close to Liana.

"Now, you all stretch out," the Beta commanded.

We fell into position. I reached down, trying to touch my toes, but my balance was off.

I glanced over at Liana. She was perfectly limber, stretching with an effortless grace that made my chest tighten.

She caught my gaze and smiled, a bright, challenging thing. She gestured for me to push further, to stretch harder.

I looked at my hands, feeling the fabric pull, worried it might rip if I moved any further. I shook my head, deciding then and there to stop looking at her. I didn’t want to be the punchline of her joke today.

Minutes dragged on.

I expected the Beta to call for a change in drills, but he stayed silent. We remained in the deep stretch, muscles trembling, sweat beginning to bead on our foreheads.

Five more minutes passed.

My hands were shaking so hard I could barely support my own weight. My knees buckled, and I started to tilt, ready to hit the dirt.

Before I could fall, a pair of strong, calloused hands slid around my waist. The touch was firm, authoritative, and impossibly warm. His scent... woodsmoke and something deeply, unmistakably masculine wrapped around me like a blanket.

My breath stalled.

"Have you forgotten that you got an omega in your ranks?" His voice was low, gravelly, and hummed right against the shell of my ear. "What do you think you’re doing, pushing them this long?"

The field went dead silent. The other wolves relaxed instantly, sensing his authority.

"Alpha," a chorus of voices muttered in greeting.

"Dad! You made it," Liana cheered, her voice bright and unbothered as she jogged over to us.

Rowan didn't pull away immediately. His hands lingered on my waist, his fingers digging into my skin.

I could feel the heat radiating from him, steady and grounded, and then the realization hit me, sending a jolt of pure electricity through my spine.

He was standing close, too close, and as he leaned in to address the instructor, I could feel the hard, unmistakable press of him against my back.

I couldn't breathe.

My heart hammered against my ribs, loud enough that I was sure he could hear it.

He held me there, steadying me, his touch lingering long enough to be deliberate, long enough to tell me he knew exactly what he was doing to me.

He didn't move away, the Alpha of the pack, holding me as if I were the only thing keeping him upright.