The Alphas Heir

At The Bar Getting Tipsy

I’m late. I’m rushing. I’m brushing my teeth and hair at the same time. My shift started thirty minutes ago, and I really needed that nap. Carl’s Bar doubled its monthly intake in the first three months I was there—can you guess why? Before me, there was no real appeal. Now, it’s a sports bar, a place where people can come for a good drink and, apparently, the sport of antagonizing me. Throwing verbal stones. Being real shitheads. For sport. While I serve them.

Yes, I know it’s belittling, but what baffles me is that they tip more just for the opportunity to bully me. And money is money. I don’t care who you are. Of course, you can imagine that Asena thought about things very differently. She believed that I should always demand respect, I wish I could be more like her.

It’s a week before the full moon, so I knew the crowd would be rowdy. What I didn’t expect was the Goddess still having fun with me. As the usual group of patrons walked in, there was a new guy with them. He was smiling, laughing. He looked around, like he was searching for something, maybe even surprised by what he found. His eyes met mine, and I froze.

One side of his lip lifted into a smug smile. I quickly looked away, wiping down the already clean bar. I could feel the giddy sensation of Asenas' anticipation to interact with him.

The patrons lined up for drinks, made their jokes, and walked away. Most of them had already had their fun when the new guy sauntered over.

“Hey,” he said casually, leaning into the bar. “Figured I’d stop by and say hi. You look like you could use a break.”

I kept my head down, avoiding his gaze. “If you want a drink, order. Otherwise, keep moving.”

“Come on, don’t be like that,” he said, his voice smooth. “I’m just trying to be friendly.”

Friendly. There was that word again. I couldn’t help myself. I looked up, locking eyes with him.

“Friendly? You’ve got a whole group of friends over there laughing every time they see me. You expect me to believe you’re just being nice?”

He glanced over his shoulder at the group he came in with. “They’re idiots. I’m not like them.”

I scoffed. “Right. People like you don’t hang out with people like me unless they want something. So what is it? You need a favor? Or is this another setup to make me look stupid?”

His smile faded, replaced by a look I hadn’t expected—genuine confusion. “Wow, that’s what you think? That I’m using you somehow?”

“I’ve been through this too many times to fall for it again,” I said, feeling my frustration building. “You walk in here with your charming smile, and then what? I get the joke tomorrow when they’re all whispering behind my back?”

His voice lowered, his mood shifting. “That’s not what this is. I’m not them, Grey. I’m just trying to get to know you. Actually know you. But you won’t even give me a chance.”

His words hit something inside me that made me angrier. “I’ve given people like you plenty of chances, and every single time, it ends the same way—me looking like an i***t while they laugh. You don’t get it. You’re not from here. People like you. I’m the target.”

He leaned closer, his eyes narrowing slightly. “I’m not them. I’m not here to hurt you. I just want to figure you out. I think we could be friends if you’d let me.”

Did he just wink at me? It was already taking everything I could muster to ignore Asena and her berating me for not being nicer. I really think at this point she has become desperate. But to wink at me? She became still.

I threw the towel on the bar, my frustration boiling over. “Friends? That’s a joke. I don’t have friends. All I get is burned, over and over again.”

He sighed, his patience visibly thinning. “I don’t care what they say! I care about what you have to say.”

My stomach twisted. I didn’t know why, but I actually wanted to believe him. Something about his demeanor had changed, and despite my anger, I couldn’t ignore how attractive he was. The realization only made me more irritated, But thankfully my wolf had gone quiet; the wink caught her by surprise, too

“Well, here’s what I’m saying: Stop trying. It’s not going to happen.” I spun around, rushed to the back, pushing through the door and into the alley, my anger spilling over.

I leaned against the cold brick wall, taking deep breaths. I didn’t want to care, didn’t want to be affected, but I was. The door swung open, and I heard him step out. My stomach dropped again. I rolled my eyes, but I was already mentally exhausted from the exchange and tangling with Asena over it.

“You can’t keep running away every time someone tries to get close to you,” he said, his voice calm but insistent.

“I’m not running,” I muttered, crossing my arms tightly. “I’m avoiding a disaster.”

“It’s not a disaster, it’s a conversation,” he said, stepping closer. “Why are you always so ready to assume the worst?”

I felt a wave of heat rise in my chest. His voice was gentle, but it felt like he was seeing me as weak. I pushed myself off the wall and stepped toward him, my voice sharpening. “Because the worst always happens. Why don’t you get it? You walk into a room, and everyone lights up. People like you. Me? I’m the joke. I’m the one they laugh at, and they don’t even care if I notice.”

“I notice you,” he said softly. “I see more than you think. And I don’t care what they think about you.”

I didn’t know what to say. This guy, whoever he was, wasn’t backing down. No one ever tried this hard with me. A breeze passed between us, carrying his scent. It was woodsy, earthy, like pine and fresh air. Calming.

“It’s not that simple,” I said, trying to soften. “You think you can just show up, flash that smile, and everything will be fine? You can’t fix years of this with a couple of nice words.”

He was quiet for a moment, then stepped closer, his body inches from mine, pinning me gently against the brick. His voice was low, intense. “I’m not trying to fix you. I’m just trying to be here. You won’t let me in. You won’t even try.”

Our heart pounded. His closeness, the heat from his body, his eyes locked on mine. I could feel the tension between us, the pull. But my walls were still up, even with my wolf clawing at them.

“Maybe that’s because every time someone tries, they have a knife behind their back,” I whispered, my voice shaking slightly.

His hands braced the wall on either side of me, trapping me between his body and the cold rock. He was so close, too close. My heart beat hard in my chest, but it wasn’t just from fear or frustration—it was something else. Something I didn’t want to acknowledge, but couldn’t stop.

I hated how my body betrayed me. Every inch of him, the warmth of his skin, the woodsy scent that clung to him, invaded my senses. I could feel the heat radiating off him, his breath ghosting over my neck and face, sending shivers down my spine. My skin tingled where his arm brushed mine, and my pulse quickened in a way that had nothing to do with the argument we were having.

I didn’t want to feel this way. Not about him. Not about anyone. But no matter how much I tried to deny it, my body didn’t listen. My legs felt weak, my stomach twisting in that infuriating way it did when I was nervous but… excited? I didn’t want to be excited. I didn’t want him to get to me like this.

But there it was, undeniable and maddening. My chest rose and fell too quickly, my breath shallow, matching the rhythm of his. And worse than that, the way his gaze flickered to my lips—God, I could feel the heat pooling low in my stomach. My eyes darted to his mouth despite myself. His lips were slightly parted, that infuriating little smirk pulling at the corner of them. I hated that it made me wonder what they would feel like, taste like.

I wanted to scream at myself, to push him away and run, but my body stayed rooted to the spot, helpless against the magnetic pull he seemed to have over me. My mind was fighting, clawing to regain control, but my body—my traitorous body—leaned toward him, as if betraying every ounce of willpower I had left.

My skin burned where his breath touched it, and the space between us felt heavy, thick with something unspoken. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him, no matter how much I wanted to. My mind screamed at me to move, to escape this, but my body... it wanted more. I hated it. I hated how much I wanted him right now, even though I knew it was dangerous. Even though I knew better.

I swallowed hard, my throat tight with both anger and something that felt alarmingly like desire. This wasn’t me. This wasn’t who I was. But damn it, he was pulling Asena out of me and I was nearly helpless to stop it. I hated him for it. I hated how much I was drawn to him, how he made me feel, how every instinct I had screamed for me to push him away, but my body refused to listen.

“You say that now, but sooner or later, you’ll get tired of trying,” I managed to whisper, my voice barely steady.

His response came low, a whisper that sent shivers straight through me, making my legs feel weak again. “Not me.”

I clenched my fists, trying to regain control, trying to fight off the heat that was spreading through me. But it was no use. The closeness of his body, the intensity in his eyes—it was overwhelming, and I was starting to crave it.

I could feel Asena, the possibilities hanging in the balance. The door behind him swung open, the sound of laughter spilling out before it closed again.

“You should go,” I muttered. “Go back inside. Be with them.”

He didn’t move. “Not until you believe me. I’m not giving up on you, no matter how hard you try to make me.”

I sighed, the tension in my chest loosening slightly. “I... I can try.”

His hands dropped from the wall, and he stepped back, giving me space. His expression softened, and for the first time, I didn’t flinch when he reached up, gently brushing his thumb against my cheek, his fingers lightly grazing my chin as he pulled away.

“I’ll take it, I’m Izzy by the way.” he said, his voice soft. Then, with a small smile, he turned and walked back inside, leaving me to catch my breath.