The Alpha’s stripper mate

A sensitive Alpha

Four days later

*Natalie*

I sit alone in the back room with little else to do. Having finished my stage show, I can't help but linger, holding out hope for Levi's return, though he has yet to show.

I have begun to wonder if he will ever come back. Did I scare him away? I have to admit to myself that I miss him. Night after night, my eyes scan the crowd for dark floppy curls, hoping to see his face, but to no avail.

I recognize that the fault is mine. I lashed out at him undeservedly. The thought of never seeing him again weighs heavily in my heart. But why do I long to see him?

Surely, this could never become anything more than what it is. He is an Alpha, I am a mere human, and a stripper at that. In what realm could that ever work?

Suddenly, Jasper bursts through the door, a bright smile plastered on his face. "Quit your moping, darling. Your man is waiting for you in room 3."

"Levi? He's back?" I gasp, breathless. Jasper nods in confirmation, urging me to spring to my feet and nearly sprint towards the room, completely disregarding my scant attire… a robe with nothing underneath.

Upon reaching the room, I fling open the door to find him standing in the center, clad in jeans and a blue T-shirt. He looks undeniably handsome, albeit weary. "Levi, you came back," I whisper.

*Levi*

Secluded in the small room, an attempt to maintain distance lingers in my mind, but the irresistible pull towards her becomes too much. Could I be falling for her? All I know is that I yearn to see her.

"Levi, you came back." Her voice breaks through my thoughts. I pivot just in time to catch her in my arms as she launches herself at me.

A smile etches onto my face, her warm welcome surpassing my expectations. "Of course, I came back, Lilly. I couldn't bear to stay away."

"Why do you call me Lilly? Everyone else calls me Nat," she questions, curiosity flickering in her eyes.

A sense of relief washes over me as she doesn't object to my nickname for her. "Because to me, you are not the darkness of the night, but a beautiful flower."

Her head tilts slightly to the side, a playful smile gracing her lips. "Someone certainly knows his way with words. That was beautiful, but what does it have to do with my name?"

Suppressing a grin, I meet her gaze. "Nat means 'night' in the Scandinavian languages, and it doesn't suit you. You are far too radiant for such a meaning."

"Oh, so now you speak Scandinavian or? But it was a very sweet thing to say." She says, arching one eyebrow at me.

I chuckle softly, acknowledging that while I may not be foolish, Scandinavian languages aren't among my linguistic abilities. "I must admit, I don't speak any Scandinavian languages. However, there happens to be a Swedish Alpha at the summit who occasionally uses Swedish words. I suppose I managed to remember a few."

A gentle smile appears on her face as she leans in, placing her hand on my chest, guiding me to sit back in the chair while she straddles my lap. "I really like being called Lilly. It's something no one has ever called me before," she whispers softly.

Uncertain about how to proceed, my hands hesitate in the air. Unsure if it's appropriate to touch her, I decide to seek clarification. "Is it alright if I hold you?"

Her response comes with a sweet smile, reassuring me. "More than okay." I wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her closer. She rests her head on my shoulder, and in that moment, it feels like time could stand still.

We sit there, embracing each other, as I listen to the rhythm of her calm, steady breaths. It dawns on me that our unexpected encounter may have altered something between us. After a while, I break the silence. "So, what would you like to do? Chess or Uno?"

She chuckles lightly, her voice filled with genuine interest. "I'd choose Uno any day, but I'd also love to learn more about you, if you are willing to share."

Realizing that sharing more about myself might help her feel at ease, building trust between us, I decide to open up. "What would you like to know, darling?"

She looks at me curiously, admitting her lack of knowledge about my life. "I'm sorry, I don't know much about you. Do you have any siblings? Are you married or I guess it would be mated, for someone like you?"

A warm smile graces my lips, appreciating the fact that she doesn't assume she knows everything about me. "I have two sisters, one younger and one older. As for being married or having a mate, I am neither. Although, about a year ago, I believed I had found my mate, a chosen mate, but I still had high hopes. Unfortunately, it didn't work out as I had hoped."

“Will you tell me more?” Curled up against me, she gazes up with a mix of curiosity and compassion. It feels safe to share my story with her, this is something only a few knows.

Taking a deep breath, I respond to her. "We initially began dating in secret, I did not want the pack to know before I was sure. By the time we made it public, we had already been together for 4 months. However, our relationship only lasted for 3 months after that."

"I am so sorry, Levi. It sounds like it was an incredibly difficult time for you. If you don't mind me asking, what exactly happened?" Her gentle hands softly stroke my neck.

After a brief pause, I contemplate that this is something known only to my immediate family and a few close friends. "Well… she became pregnant. It happened almost immediately, and it was an accident. I wanted to do the right thing and create a family before the baby arrived. Unfortunately, we lost her at 22 weeks when her heart inexplicably stopped beating. Our relationship wasn't strong enough to withstand such a tragedy."

To be honest the pregnancy was a big part of me deciding on her as my chosen mate, which is probably why the loss split us up.

"Oh," she responds, her eyes filled with sadness as her fingers graze my cheek. "Darling, I'm so sorry to hear that. It must have been devastating. I can't even begin to imagine how you must have felt."

"It was incredibly difficult. She had to go through the painful process of giving birth, and when I held our baby girl in my arms, she looked perfect… just very, very small, as if she were peacefully sleeping. I kept hoping that she would cry out." Tears stream down my face as I share something I rarely speak about due to the immense pain it brings.

She embraces me tightly, my head nestled against her neck, and I can't hold back my sorrow any longer. I sob inconsolably, my heart shattered. Discovering the pregnancy had brought me immense joy, even though it happened quickly and our relationship was somewhat unstable. I had envisioned becoming a father.

Holding my little girl, knowing I would never have the chance to know her, watch her grow, and see her thrive, was undeniably the most devastating experience of my life.

*Natalie*

I hold him tightly as he cries. I hadn't expected something like this, but I am honored that he shared his feelings with me. I feel deep sorrow for his loss, especially since I have a child myself. It really strikes a chord in my heart.

In this moment, I have to admit something. He is not just a customer to me. I still don't know exactly what he means to me, but he is much more than a man seeking physical intimacy. He is also nothing like I believed Alphas to be.

After a while, he takes a deep breath and looks up at me. "Sorry about that. I don't talk about it often, and it became a bit overwhelming."

"No need to apologize," I tell him softly. "I'm touched that you shared this with me. It's a significant thing to open up about."

He gazes into my eyes, and it feels as though he is peering into my soul. "I somehow feel like I can trust you completely."

"Thank you," I reply, allowing my lips to graze over his.

I hear him let out a slight moan as his arms tighten around me, causing my robe to slip open, revealing my naked body and eliciting a gasp from him.