Forsaken But Fated: Alpha's Second Chance

SELENA'S POV I was wakened by the ear-piercing shriek of my alarm. It kept blaring like a persistent insect. I slapped at the nightstand with my hand still folded under the blankets. The stubborn thing didn't turn off and I kept at it until it was silenced. Then I just lay there, in relief staring up at the ceiling. My room was dim as the curtains were only slightly open. It was my twenty second birthday and still I had not yet to have an experience of that biting adrenaline. I was yet to feel an uncanny trembling of expectancy inside of me. My life was too boring and I needed something to extraordinary and thrilling to happen, something that would send my desserted life out to the closet. I growled and got out of bed. I was greeted by the smell of strong blwck coffee and the remnant of last evening lavender candle the moment I walked into the living room. I could listen through the paper thin walls to the couple's next door. They were arguing about money once more in their apartment. Their voices rose and dropped in between the argues with the same toxic cadence. It was just like the same dull morning in my dull apartment complex every other day of my life. This stupid flat where absolutely nothing ever, ever changed. I went into the kitchen where I saw Iris who was already up. Iris wasn't really my mom. She was my godmother. But she had been the only parent figure to me. At least from when the other two hadn't. That was because my parents had passed away in a fatal car accident when I was just eight years old. She was fine to me. But there was just kinda this tough exterior to her that never really faded away. It was like she was just waiting for all of this to all go horribly wrong. And I was stuck with her and her paranoid—story of my life. "Good morning," I said as I sat across from her on the small round table. She was holding a cup of what smelt pleasantly of chamomile tea. And she was looking at me as if she had been waiting the entire morning for this exact time. "You are late," she stated, but with that same familiar accusatory tone. "It's my birthday," I groused. She stared at me "I think I should be allowed to sleep in, at least today," I grumbled. I did this while jamming a slice of bread a little more forcefully than I needed to into the toaster. "Stop sneaking alarm clocks into my room again Iris," I cautioned her. Her lips thinned back. "I should have free will. I am not a child anymore,' I complained. And soon there was a tiny hint of a smile playing in her them. But it still didn't reach her eyes. "You are twenty two today and still a kid in my book." Her voice was stern. "Don't even," I grouched before sprawling into the chair next to her. The wood creaked loudly in protest at my bulk. "I'm a grownup now." She scrunched up her nose in slight disgust if my words. "That's gotta count for something," I continued as I ignored her expression. She regarded me for what felt like forever with sharp black eyes. There wete scanning my features for confirmation of something that I couldn't even put into words. And then she quietly moved forward and placed something small on the table between us. It was a bracelet. The metal bracelet was silver with little attached star and moon symbols. Each of the symbols hung loose on it while glinting differently. "What is that?" I asked. I scrunched up my nose as I stared down at the bracelet. She said nothing as she reached for my arm and put the on for me. I nearly gagged, tearing it off. Metal had always been disgusting on any part of my skin. I hated it. She glared at me. "Put it on, it is for your protection," she instructed in a softer voice. Her stark dark eyes held onto mine with an intensity which caused me to shift uncomfortably in my seat. "Wear it tonight. That is all I am asking from you, Selena." I cringed softly before wrapping the stupid bracelet around my wrist. It was fine, nice-quality though. Still I hated it. "Protection from what? Drunk men at the club and crappy pickup lines?" I took a bite of my toast. She winced, the smile disappearing from her face like it never happened. "Selena. I want you to just go home tonight after work, okay?" I restrained he bracelet at mid-wrist. "Why not?" My brows quirked. "It is not safe. You have not an iota if what exactly is out there." "Then tell me?" I demanded. She sighed. "Just go home. Please." I glared at her with my anger rising before rushing through me. "Iris, I am not a captive anymore. I am twenty-two and not twelve." She inhaled sharply. "I want to go out, have fun and make a gazillion of friends," I began. "Selen—" "I don't want to end up like you, old and all alone with nothing." Her eyes widened. The tension in the air instantly thickened but I did not stop talking. "I will not allow you to scare me anymore with your talks of bad omens and ominous darkness." She stared at me in disbelief. "When is that ever going to stop?" Her mouth was shut tight. I thought for a second that she was going to say something for real. I thought that she would try to make me understand why she was always scared for me. But she didn't. She just glared at me and shook her head from side to side. Then she stood up. She shoved the chair all the way back across the floor with quiet anger. "Do your worst," she snarled at me. Her eyes glazed with fury. "But don't say I didn't warn you." She turned her back on me. The sound of her heavy boots clattering over the creaking boards filled the air as she stormed away. I stood there, shocked at her outburst until I heard the door of her bedroom close loudly behind her. I took a breath. I instantly peeled the damn bracelet from around my wrist. Then, I pushed it further away on the table. It was beautiful, yes. But it did feel strange though to be wearing it when I hated it. I didn't trust Iris. She could have done something to that bracelet to keep me in check. There was no need for it. I crammed the rest of my toast into my mouth. I drank her left over but warm chamomile tea on the table. Then, I headed for work. At work, the workers sang happy birthday songs for me. This was unlike the treatment I had received at him from my only family. And it hurt me. Did she even care? But I was happy by nightfall when Dani had dragged me into her car. She drove at ninety miles an hour to the point of our escapade. Dani was a raucous blonde. She was totally sure that the only thing life really did have to offer was sexy hot men on dance floors. So she was always in clubs and on several all night adventures. "You are going to need this," she said while taking me on a tour of the town. She drove with one arm while motioning around the the other. I found it cool. "You have worked too hard to let yourself get too deep in that apartment," she continued. I nodded in agreement. Though, my heart was pounding. "We go out and get wild until there is no more hermit existence." I laughed. But my stomach fluttered the way butterfly wings do in a jar. I was hella nervous. "That's good," I begsn. She looked at me. "But don't make me do tequila shots. Do you remember the last one?" "No guarantees," she smiled. I let out a mock groan.