THE ALPHA'S TEACHER

ENDINGS AND BEGINNINGS!

MIA’S POV

I walked into the shopping mall, dressed in my uniform and carrying my side bag, heading for the timebook. But when I reached the usual spot, it wasn’t there.

“Hmmm,” I muttered, shrugging it off as I moved on to my station, where I needed to start counting the items we were taking over from the night shift crew.

“Mia!” I heard a familiar voice call, and I turned around with a smile.

“Hey, Veronica!” I said, walking up to my best friend, my favourite person in the world. I had something exciting to tell her, and I couldn’t wait to spill the news.

“I have to tell you something! I did the most unspeakable thing yesterday—you wouldn't believe it!” I said with a grin, practically bouncing with excitement. But as I looked at her face, I noticed something was off.

Instead of matching my enthusiasm, Veronica's expression was solemn, her eyes downcast.

“There’s a mandatory meeting at the manager’s office. We all have to be there,” she said, her voice carrying an undertone of worry.

Her words threw me off, and I couldn’t help but feel a sudden knot in my stomach. The energy between us shifted. She wasn’t excited at all. “Wait… did something happen? Are they docking our salaries again?” I asked, guessing that must be the reason for an urgent meeting.

“I wish it were that simple,” Veronica muttered, her steps quickening as she headed toward the office. I followed closely behind, my excitement about sharing the news quickly slipping away as a sense of unease crept over me.

Her tone only added to the tension, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was seriously wrong.

When we arrived at the manager’s office, I noticed the room was packed with employees already waiting. I quietly slipped in, finding a spot near the door, trying not to draw attention.

Mr. Clifford, seated behind his desk, looked up at the crowd with a stern expression. “So, as I was saying,” he began, his voice unusually serious.

I adjusted my glasses, trying to catch every word, but the air felt thick with anticipation.

“We all know the mall hasn’t been doing well. In fact, we’ve been struggling to make ends meet, trying to find enough funds to pay everyone… but it’s no longer sustainable. So…” He paused, and I felt my heart begin to race.

I could handle a pay cut, I thought, but the way Mr. Clifford was talking, which made me feel like the worst was yet to come. The room had gone deathly quiet, with only a few whispers from the others.

Veronica glanced at me, her face as pale as I felt. She knew what was coming, and it wasn’t good.

“Please, let me finish,” Mr. Clifford continued, holding up a hand to silence the room.

“We’ve sold the mall. The new owners are converting it into a microfinance bank, and unfortunately, I know most of you aren’t suited for that kind of work.” His words hung in the air, heavy and final.

I felt the ground beneath my shift. A microfinance bank? That was a blow I didn’t see coming.

My mind immediately went to Mr. Wilson, the landlord. How would I pay my rent?

Veronica’s voice broke through my thoughts. “What about our one month’s salary?” she demanded, her voice shaking with frustration.

“Don’t worry, it will be transferred to you by the end of the day,” Mr. Clifford said, though his assurances didn’t seem to offer much comfort.

I felt my mind start to race, thoughts spiralling out of control. If I didn’t find another job soon, I would have no choice but to go back to my family home. And that was something I couldn’t even consider. The thought of becoming a prisoner in my own house again, stuck in the same old routine, terrified me. I refused to go back to that life.

“Mia?” Veronica’s voice pulled me back to reality. Her hand touched mine gently.

“Let’s get out of here,” she said, guiding me out of the office and into the hallway.

As we walked, I exhaled, trying to push away the weight of the news. “This is bad, V,” I said, my voice strained.

“Like it wasn’t bad enough already with them slashing our paychecks,” Veronica muttered, a bitter edge in her voice.

I nodded in agreement. “Exactly.”

“We’ll figure something out, but the whole thing is so annoying. First, it was the reduction in our salary and now this,” Veronica said, trying to sound reassuring but failing at the same time.

“But I'm certain we will find a job," she concluded

I wished I could share her optimism, but all I could think about was the looming uncertainty. “I hope so,” I said softly.

Despite everything, my thoughts kept drifting back to the stranger I had helped yesterday. I had promised him I’d take him to the hospital, and even though I had no job now, I wasn’t going to break that promise.

The thought of what had happened between us the day before wouldn’t leave my mind. He was so gentle with me, so attentive. For the first time in a long time, someone had made me feel truly special. He made me feel like I was the only girl in the world.

“Mia, you’re blushing,” Veronica said, her voice teasing. “You just lost your job, and you’re over here smiling like you’ve just won the lottery. What’s going on with you?”

I immediately flushed, feeling a little embarrassed. “It’s nothing,” I said quickly, my heart racing. “I’ve just got to go. I have something to take care of. Trust me, I will give you the whole gist later.” I said as I ran off.

AIDEN’S POV

"Where have you been, Aiden? Your father—the Emeritus—has been worried sick."

Keiran’s voice cut through the silence of my chamber. I ignored him, my focus still on the mirror as I pulled my shirt over my shoulders. The wound from earlier—the one that had torn through my side—was completely healed. No scar, no soreness. It was as though the attack had never happened.

Keiran, of course, wasn’t about to let me ignore him.

"You can’t keep doing this," he pressed, crossing his arms as he leaned against the wall. "Vanishing without a word, then coming back like nothing happened. The pack is starting to notice you spend most of your time at the club outside the pack."

I buttoned my shirt, still not looking at him. "I don’t recall needing permission to leave."

"You don’t," he admitted, "But you do need to tell someone. You’re the Alpha, Aiden. Disappearing without a trace makes me and the beta look incompetent. You didn’t leave a scent trail."

I sighed, slipping on my wristwatch. "I went out. I was attacked. I handled it."

Keiran’s gaze never left me. "That’s it? That’s all you’re going to say?"

I met his gaze in the mirror. "That’s all you need to know."

He exhaled sharply, clearly frustrated. "Aiden, come on. Who was it? A rogue? Another pack? If someone’s bold enough to attack you, we need to respond—"

"I said, I handled it," I repeated, turning to face him. "Let it go. I’ll deal with my father."

Keiran looked like he wanted to argue but simply shook his head. "Fine. But the Emeritus won’t let you brush it off either."

I smirked. "Then it’s a good thing I’m not afraid of him."

His expression remained unchanged. "You should be."

I left the room before he could start again, making my way down the dimly lit corridor toward my father’s chambers. The sound of my boots echoed on the stone floors, and my thoughts turned to the conversation ahead.

Keiran trailed behind, still grumbling. "You know, just once, it’d be nice if you made my job easier—" he said dramatically, like he was my sole protector, but today, I wasn’t in the mood for a long conversation.

"Keiran," I warned.

He threw his hands up in mock surrender. "Fine. I’m done. But when the Emeritus demands answers, don’t say I didn’t warn you."

The guards at my father’s door stepped aside, pushing it open.

"Yes, sir," I muttered, then shut the door in Keiran's face.

Inside, the room was silent. Still.

But I didn’t have to search for him. I already knew where he’d be.

Out on the balcony. Watching.

Even though the weight of leadership no longer rested on his shoulders, my father had never truly stopped being Alpha.

And now, I had to face him again!