THE ALPHA'S TEACHER

IF WEREWOLVES WERE REAL!

MIA'S POV

I tossed uncomfortably on my bed, but the pounding in my head refused to let me rest. A deep groan escaped my lips as I buried my face into the pillow, willing the headache to go away.

"Too much to drink last night," I muttered, squeezing my eyes shut.

The air in my tiny bedroom was thick with the scent of stale alcohol and regret. My mouth was dry, and my limbs felt like they were weighed down by cement. God, I needed water. And coffee. And maybe a new life.

Forcing myself to sit up, I winced as a sharp pain shot through my skull. The sudden movement made my stomach churn, and I had to take a few deep breaths to keep last night’s drinks from making an unwanted reappearance.

Just as I held my head in my hands, my phone blared to life. The shrill ringing only worsened my headache, but I grabbed the device from my nightstand and answered without checking the caller ID.

"Mia," a voice I knew all too well said, and instantly, the remnants of my hangover evaporated.

I shot up straight. My heart pounded. "Father," I replied, my voice cracking.

"News has reached us that you were fired yesterday, and your rent is still unpaid," my father stated, his tone void of emotion.

I stiffened. My fingers curled around the sheets. How did they always seem to know everything about me?

"Well, if you have nothing going for you over there, I suggest you return home and help your mother. She needs an extra set of hands at the bakery," he added, as if my life were a mere inconvenience to be managed.

My grip on the phone tightened. My father’s voice had always held the same quality—distant, indifferent. He spoke to me as if I were some obligation, not his daughter.

"Are you listening to me?" he pressed.

"Uh... I—I’m actually looking for a job," I stammered, struggling to keep my voice steady. "I’ve sent my CV to different places, and I’m expecting a positive response soon." I lied.

"You have one week, Mia. If you don’t find work by then, you will return home and do as you're told."

And just like that, he hung up.

I remained frozen, and my phone still clutched in my trembling hands. A bitter lump formed in my throat. Why is everyone like this? Why does everyone take advantage of me?

I can’t go back home.

The door creaked open.

"Finally, the queen of drunkards is awake," Veronica announced as she strolled into the room, arms crossed, a smirk playing on her lips.

I forced a small smile, masking the heavy weight in my chest. "Hey," I said, narrowing my eyes at her as she plopped down on the edge of my bed.

"Just how much did you drink last night? You look like absolute crap." She studied me like I was some pathetic creature.

I sighed, rubbing my temple. "Veronica... I broke up with Martins."

Her eyes widened for a fraction of a second before she scoffed. "Well, it's about damn time. At least now you've realized what I saw in him from the start—nothing."

I let out a bitter chuckle. "He’s been cheating on me all this time."

"Of course, he has. That talentless, ambitionless wannabe rapper was never good enough for you."

Her words should have stung, but instead, I felt... relief.

Oddly enough, I didn’t feel the crushing sadness I expected. Instead, a strange sense of freedom washed over me.

I don’t need him. I don’t need anyone to define my happiness.

Still, a small part of me longed for someone who truly cared. Wouldn’t life be easier if someone took care of me for once?

Sighing, I pushed off the bed, stretched my sore muscles, and padded toward the bathroom.

"I wish werewolves actually existed," Veronica mused, flopping onto her back with a dreamy sigh.

I paused mid-step, turning to give her a look. "What?"

"Think about it." She propped herself up on her elbows. "We could just go to a pack, and the Alpha would take responsibility for us. No job-hunting, no stress—just a few minor tasks, and we’d be set for life."

I burst into laughter. "Oh, please. That’s just fantasy, V. Werewolves aren’t real."

She looked at me blankly. "You sure about that?"

"Of course. Please don’t tell me you’re one of those people who thinks werewolves are real. They’re just a fantasy."

"Maybe I do."

Shaking my head, I stepped into the bathroom and peeled off my clothes, hoping a cold shower would rid me of the last traces of my headache.

But before I could turn on the water, my gaze caught my reflection in the mirror.

For the first time in a long time, I truly looked at myself.

The memories of that night—the way he touched me - how his lips worshipped every inch of my skin—came flooding back.

My stomach twisted.

He was gone.

Just like that, the sharp reality hit me like a volcano erupting in my chest. He had left the next morning, leaving nothing but a note.

I pressed my fingers to my lips. Even now, I could still feel his warmth, the way he had held me like I meant something. Like I wasn’t just another person passing through his life.

But last night, in my drunken haze... I could’ve sworn I felt him close.

I closed my eyes, gripping the edges of the sink. Was I imagining things? Or was there a moment—just a flicker—where I had felt his presence again?

No. It was just the alcohol messing with me.

I turned on the tap and splashed cold water onto my face, inhaling sharply as the chill shocked my skin.

"Get it together, Mia," I whispered to myself.

After a few minutes, I wrapped a towel around myself and stepped back out, hesitant.

"V... last night at the bar... did you happen to see—" I stopped myself.

It didn’t matter.

He wasn’t coming back for me.

Veronica arched an eyebrow. "See who?"

I shook my head. "Nothing. It’s nothing."

She rolled her eyes. "Right. Well, if you ever want to actually talk, you know, like normal friends do, I’m here."

I forced a small smile. "Thanks, V."

But even as I said it, I knew she couldn’t help with this.

Some things just weren’t meant to be spoken aloud.

Turning back toward the bathroom, I let out a slow breath.

I had to let this go. I had to stop holding onto something that was never mine to begin with.

But deep down, I knew it wouldn’t be that easy.