An Alpha's Inheritance

Sugar with a Side of Coffee

Soon, Taylor and I sat down in the cafe and started talking over our sugary iced lattes. I was relieved when she ordered something even more sugary than me. Her eyes lit up as she took a sip. Then, if anything, she started talking faster.

“Okay, so you just got here today, right?”

I nod, my mouth full of coffee.

“It sucks you weren’t here earlier today. Alex just got back from vacation and we had our big reunion party today.” She pauses to take another sip of coffee. “Well, when I say party, I mean like, we just messed around by the fountain and the boys got up to their usual hijinks then left me to go do top secret boys club things.” She rolls her eyes here. “At least I know Sammy will come get me when they’re done!”

“Is Sammy your boyfriend?” I ask, remembering the boy I saw kiss her cheek by the fountain earlier.

Her face turns briefly bright red, before she gushes, “He’s just so perfect! Gosh, I love it when I get to introduce him to new people, and I get to brag about him before you even meet. I’ll introduce you soon, I promise.”

I laugh. 

Taylor starts to tell me about classes for next semester when she’s suddenly swept into a hug from behind. “You’re here!” she squeals, turning to throw her arms around him. As she leans in to kiss him, I recognize the boy I saw with her earlier at the fountain. I avert my eyes, embarrassed, choosing instead to bore holes in the wood of the table. I uncomfortably doodle with my fingers in the sweat from our drinks, but Taylor quickly remembers I’m there.

“Wait, Sammy, you need to meet Layla!”

I look up when I hear my name. “Hi, you must be Sammy!”

“It’s Sam.” He shoots Taylor a dark look that quickly dissolves into a warm smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Layla.”

Taylor punches his arm playfully. “Sammy, be nice!”

“It’s nice to meet you too, Sam.” I say pointedly, sharing a smile with him.

He settles into the chair beside Taylor, easily throwing an arm around her shoulders. She leans into him grinning. “So, Sammy, what do you think?” Taylor says, staring up at him. “Can she come tomorrow? Can we finally have another girl in our group?”

Sam turns to me, pretending to size me up. “I don’t know about all that. I think I expected her to be bigger.” My confusion must have shown on my face. He quickly smiled and clarified, “You clearly didn’t get your height genetics from Alfred’s side of the family.”

We all laugh at this.

“Ugh!” I whine. “Does everyone know me from my grandfather!?”

“Small town hazardsss” Taylor says, in a sing song voice. “You have to meet Alex.” She turns to Sam. “What do you think, Sammy, should we introduce her to Alex?”

Sam looks back and forth between us before saying, “Taylor, I think you need to leave it alone.”

Taylor playfully pouts at him.

“What do you mean?” I finally ask. “Who’s Alex?”

“Only the coolest--” Taylor bursts out before Sam cuts her off.

“Alex is our al-uh a friend of mine.” Sam says.

I tilt my head, questioningly. “Oh? That doesn’t seem like that big a deal.”

“And,” Sam continues. “Taylor thinks the only way to keep a girl in the group is for them to date Alex.”

My eyebrows shoot up, and I can feel myself start to blush. I don’t even know this guy. “Oh, uh, I um. I just moved here and, I just...who the hell is Alex anyways?” I try to laugh, but it comes out as an uncomfortable chuckle.

Sam leans in and fake whispers, “Don’t worry. Taylor is alone in this conspiracy.” He leans over and kisses her forehead. “See I keep reminding her what happened with Alisha, and she just keeps pushing."

I prickle at this mention of Alisha and quickly chastise myself. Who even is Alex? I don't have a claim to him. Alisha probably does though.

"Ohh!" I laugh. "I love getting all the hot goss before I even meet everyone."

Taylor takes a deep breath and starts to launch into a story, but Sam puts his hand on hers. "That's not your story to tell, darling.” He says, stopping her. She pouts, flirtily at him. “And even if it was, it’s time for me to get you home.” he says, glancing at his phone.

Taylor stands up immediately. “Oh no oh no oh no,” she starts picking up her bag. “What time is it? Do we have enough time to get home? I can’t be late again, mom will kill me.” She starts pestering Sam to get up.

Sam stands up calmly. “Tay, we have plenty of time, calm down.” He turns to me. “Can we give you a ride?”

“Thanks, but I need to go to the store first.” I’m surprised to find I’ve completely forgotten the pizza I set out to get. “My mom will be pissed if I come home without food. Thanks though!”

We walk out of the coffee shop together. The summer heat outside hits me like a wall. I say goodbye to Taylor and Sam and see them walk towards his car, arm in arm.

I turn away in the opposite direction and walk the rest of the way to the town’s only grocery store.  I feel so relieved to have met an extravert so fast, but now that I’m alone, I’m completely exhausted. The store is just like I remember it. I don’t think it’s been renovated or redecorated in my lifetime. Where the coffee shop wears its vintage as charm, the grocery store has more murder vibes at this hour.

There’s no music here, so the only sound is the droning buzz of the incandescent bulbs overhead. I shudder a bit, as the sound feels like it’s burrowing into my skull. I just want to get the pizza and get out as fast as I can. There’s a bored looking teenager on his phone at the cash register, who barely looks up to wave as I pass him.

I hurry to the freezer section in the back. I’m disappointed to see we don’t have quite the selection we did back in New York. There, I could run completely anonymous under the radar, and the food selection was to die for! I guess it’s time to get used to generic no name brand foods again. Which is fine. I’d rather stay near grandpa than go move again. I audibly groan at the prospect of moving again. I wonder how long it’ll take mom to get restless and pack us up again this time.

I reach out to open the freezer door when a movement in the reflection of the glass catches my attention. I’d thought I was alone with the store clerk and my angst, so when I see the flash, I freeze. There’s a man behind me, but in the blurry freezer logged reflection, he …. He doesn’t look human. His face is covered in dark hair, almost fur, and his nose seems to protrude from his face. I’m frozen in terror. I glance to the side out of the corner of my eye, but there’s nowhere to hide. I lock eyes with the man. My heart is racing. His teeth almost grow as he stares back at me, jabbing out of his jaw into a fierce snarl.

I let out a whimper, and his eyes start to glow red. I force myself to turn around, slamming my back against the freezer door.

There’s just a boy standing there, picking up some breakfast sausages.

My breath is shallow and panicked. I turn back to look at the reflection in the freezer door, but now all I see is the same boy. My ears start ringing. I try to take a deep breath. Maybe I’m still just nervous from seeing those wolves in the woods. I glance back at the boy, trying to reassure myself, and sure enough, he’s just a regular old human. I think I might even recognize him from the group hanging out by the fountain with Taylor earlier.

He must notice me staring because he looks up and says “Hey, new girl.”

When he looks at me, I notice he has really warm blue eyes. Though his words are disconcerting, the smirk on his face is playful and reassuring. “Hey.” I say, trying to calm my panicked heartbeat. “How did you know I’m new? Wait, never mind. No one else is ever new.”

“Exactly right! Well, I’ll see you around.” He turns to continue down the aisle.

I take a few deep breaths, grateful for the cold of the freezer against my back. When my heart rate has slowed, I force myself to look at the boy as he walks away. He looks normal. Totally normal. Just a normal human boy.

Then a fuzzy pointed ear pops up from his hair.

I grip the door handle and shake my head. When I look back he’s just a human again.

I need to get out of here.

I yank open the door to the freezer and a blast of cold air hits me, grounding me. I just want to be at home. Wherever that is. I grab the first pizza I see and slam the door shut behind me. I refuse to look back again. I rush to the front of the store and use the self-checkout. I don’t want the cashier to notice how rattled I am. I’m sure it shows on my face.

I shove the pizza and my receipt in my bag and race towards the door. The night air is thick and muggy, and it’s a huge relief to feel it. The buzz of the grocery store electrics fade behind me as I walk towards the new rental. It’s replaced by crickets chirping and the sound of running water from the river. I take a few deep breaths without slowing down. I’m almost back now, and my adrenaline is waning.

I’m probably just tired. I’m tired and paranoid and I spent all day in the passenger seat of mom’s car and now I’m making up nonsense.

Then I hear a howl in the distance. It’s a raw animal sound that makes my blood run cold. I panic and sprint the rest of the way home.