The Alpha Female

Episode 8: The Last Night Out

Victoria

I had arrived in Florida the day before yesterday. I had checked into my room, tossed my bag onto the chair, and took a nap. My dreams took me to a place where I went into a full-blown anxiety attack, panic, and adrenaline rush. My eyes snapped open and I was sweating and panting. I couldn’t remember my dream, but I knew it had significance to it. I rolled out of bed and made my way to the curtains and balcony. I opened it up to get some muggy air, but it was an instant relief to the unknown feeling in my gut that lingered from my unknown dream. I called up room service for some coffee and a late breakfast. Before I knew it there was a knock at the door and I was doing my happy dance. The waiter chuckled, but hey, food makes me happy and coffee keeps the world safe. I passed the guy who brought my food a twenty-dollar bill and started getting my coffee ready. I sat down to listen to the outside noise and ocean. I meditated on the events that had passed and allowed the memories of the conference to slowly slip their way back into my train of thoughts as I sipped on my coffee. I carefully went over every detail and then as if on cue my mind went to the scent of my mate. I smiled. I shook my head and chuckled at the thought of it. After all that had to happen in that one weekend was a game-changer for the rest of my life. I wasn’t scared of my mate, but I was scared and bothered by the type of mate he might be. He was gorgeous to be sure and then something clicked in my head and memories….he snapped a picture of me! In the elevator! DAMMIT! My thoughts started racing at that point because my mate knew exactly who I was and probably had everything he needed to know about me. s**t! I had no idea who this guy was. I had to force myself to calm down because I didn’t really know IF he was an Alpha. That was only an assumption. He knew about me and I am only assuming the guy that stood outside of the elevator that took a picture of me was none other than my mate. It had to be. I spent the day in and ignored my duties. It wasn’t like me, but I could feel something was lining up and I just couldn’t put my finger on it.

The day turned into evening. I decided to take a walk on the beach and feel the sand beneath my toes. My mind kept drifting back to the epiphany from earlier today. I needed to refocus. I needed to get my head straight. If that guy was my mate and I’m sure he was then he’s probably tracking me down. It’s not like I’m dodging him on purpose…..or am I? It was still warm outside even though it was nighttime. I was watching the nightlife come alive. I was supposed to be seeing and dealing with the recent acquisitions, but I found myself distracted and failing at this. It was just turning into a mini-vacation after leaving Mexico. I walked back up from the beach, grabbed some food to go, and headed back to my room. As I entered the hotel I could pick up the faint scent again. I could feel my pupils dilate, my skin got clammy and my pulse picked up speed. What the hell is wrong with me?! My wolf started to stir and wake. Our mate is here. We have to find him. Mate. I started panicking once my wolf started trying to push her way to control. Usually, she just kicks back and lets me handle everything. We had taken a run in Mexico and I assured her we would do the same here in Florida, but I wasn’t sure now. I forced myself back to my room. My wolf growled at me, but I needed to keep myself grounded for at least a little while longer.

The next day I just stayed inside and ordered in. I worked on my laptop and tried to play catch up with everything. It was the second day here and I couldn’t not work. Yea I know it’s a double negative. Sue me. Workaholics unite! Not working was starting to drive me a little crazy, so going through emails and addressing any important matters made my nerves and wolf calm down. I kept myself busy and buried in work so that way I wouldn’t have to think about my mate possibly being in the same hotel as me. That would also distract my wolf from wanting to take the reins. I found an email that came in from Jason and clicked on it. It read:

Tori,

I got here to Florida and everything is going smooth. The real estate is prime and we scored by buying this area. I’m sending the details to our attorneys and when you get here then I will take you around. We also need to talk. Steve wants this to be a video conference. It’s really important. Talk to you soon and tell the parents I say hi.

-Jason

I sat back after reading this. I looked outside and realized it was night again. I looked at the clock and it was already 8 o’clock. I sent a text out to both Jason and Steve in our group text.

Hi guys! I’m good. Just getting some work in. Will be in soon. Got your emails and we’ll talk later. Love you guys and be safe. (SENT)

Steve responded first. Hey. The pack here is pretty cool. Got to clean up a bunch of nonsense. Already had to knock some heads to establish dominance here, but nothing major. Glad to hear you're good Alpha. Where are you?

Jason chimed in next. Hi. Florida is nice. ;) Sorry you can’t be here to see the eye candy Steve, but you will. Vick, where are you? We need to video conference you asap.

I’m around guys. I’ll touch base with you tomorrow. (SENT)

Both of them sent texts in and I couldn’t help but laugh. “We hate when you do this!”

I closed my text app, stood up, and did some much-needed stretching. I decided that I needed to go out dancing. I know Steve wasn’t with me to be my bodyguard, but Jason wasn’t far if I needed him. I know he’d be pissed to learn I was here for the last couple of days, but I shrugged my shoulders and went into the bathroom to get freshened up. I got dressed to go out in my dress casual attire meaning the jeans and a satin black shirt with my fluffy socks and boots. I was still teeter-tottering about calling Jason and letting him know I was here, but I remembered my mate being here too and for whatever stupid reason I could muster up I decided against it. I don’t know why. It was dumb because I was a target from recent events. I shouldn’t be alone. I shouldn’t be second-guessing myself either, but the whole mate thing had my mind acting like wet ‘Pop Rocks’. I needed to dance. I started to hear the nightlife of Florida come to life and made my way out.

I am not a stupid woman. I am not a stupid Alpha, but right now I just couldn’t shake the anxiety from my dream the other night. There I was again second-guessing myself. I just felt exposed. So before I went out to dance I headed out to the magic district to get a 'No-Scent' spray. It’s not often I get to see my friend Maria who’s a witch, bruja, culandera, whatever you want to call her, but I needed to and I needed her help without being discovered. I needed to let loose before my life took a drastic change forever. Mexico with the parents was the boost I needed to recollect myself. Now I just needed to let my hair down.

I walked in and the bells to her shop rang out. Her shop smelled of lilac in the Spring. “Well, well, well…..tsk tsk tsk. To what do I owe the pleasure?” said Maria as she slithered around the counter to give me a hug. We gave each other a warm embrace. I don’t have siblings even though I call Jason and Steve my brothers, but I wanted them so in my mind I adopted them to be so and the same was with Maria. She was human, but she was magical, fun, and sometimes downright naughty. She let me go with a mischievous smile across her face. Her eyes were still waiting for my answer.

I couldn’t help but laugh and smile back. “I’ve missed you, AND I have some chisme to tell you.”

“You’re here by yourself. Word is you’ve bought territory here. Your guys aren’t with you so it must be goooood.” She waggled her eyebrows at me, winked, and took my hand to follow her. “I know you’re here for something too. How can I help you my sister from another mister? Speaking of…how are your parents?”

“Yea….I uh…..In a way, I have found my mate and he has found me. We crossed mutual grounds back at the conference on my way out. I don’t know exactly WHO it is, but I’m sure he knows who I am and a lot about me. He’s here. In Florida and possibly staying in the same hotel as me. I don’t know if it’s by coincidence…”

Maria put up her hand to interrupt me. “Your Goddess doesn’t do things by ‘coincidence’ amor. She and the Fates make it so. Why are you dodging him seeing as I don’t see you being marked and I’m sure he thinks you are playing cat and mouse? He’s probably …. Oh! He’s hunting you.”

“W-Wh-What?!” I couldn’t help but stutter the words. I stopped myself and my foolishness. I looked at her with narrowed eyes, “Well, then I’m extremely glad I stopped by. I need ‘No-scent’ spray. I want to go out to the clubs tonight before I have to meet up with Jason, but if my mate happens to be in the same proximity as him I don’t want to be hassled and swept away just yet. I want my last night of freedom.”

“You could just reject him if you don’t think it’s suitable for you.” Maria shrugged and walked to her potion amour.

“I don’t want to reject him, Maria. I just want to go out without being noticed like always. I want to let loose and not be worried about being swooped up by some ‘Rando’ male wolf and then my life changes. I’m always in control and before it gets complicated I just want my last night of fun to myself. PLEASE MARIA! PRETTY PLEASE! I don’t beg, but I’m BEGGING!”

An hour later….

I entered the nightclub and everything in there was just what I needed. The music, atmosphere, and drinks were just what I needed. I needed to feel free. I knew it was reckless but the need to dance and just not be confined to the responsibilities of the Alpha for a couple of hours was the self-nurturing I had to have. I was dancing the night away. I had a few guys try to approach me, but I shrugged them off and continued on my own dancing rhythm. Then I got off of the dance floor to get some water from the bar and looked towards a rowdy group of guys. I didn’t realize all of the Alphas in the room, not to mention my Beta a.k.a my brother. Who was that with him? Anxiety hit me like a sucker punch to my gut and I had to leave! I went from carefree to claustrophobic in all of ten seconds! Full-on panic! I had to regain composure! Dammit! My night wasn’t supposed to be like this! My wolf started stirring. I restrained her with all of my will I could muster and went into full flight mode! The gorgeous guy from the conference was laughing and chumming it up with Jason. I saw him walk off to the bathrooms and then I blinked and they were back at the bar. The gorgeous guy was looking through the crowd and I knew he was looking for me. I could smell his scent as it slowly slid over my body. For the first time in I don’t know when my body started reacting. I was automatically making my way to the exit. FAST! Not realizing it I had bumped into him. Sparks ignited! Son of a! MOVE VICTORIA! I told myself. Then I don’t know what compelled me to do so I glanced back and our eyes locked. I whipped around and I was moving faster than I had in a really, really long time.

The only conclusion I could come up with is that the sweat from dancing was wearing off the ‘No Scent’ spray. Common sense right? Goddess how could I be so stupid! I moved quickly making my way through the crowd of people. I was now being chased and I knew this wolf could smell it. Victory was about to be his if he caught me, not that it would necessarily be a bad thing….maybe, but NO! Not right now! I realized being small was my only advantage to this clusterfuck I just put myself in. I was ducking and dodging, but I knew it would only be a matter of moments before that extremely gorgeous Alpha caught up to me. Yes, he was an Alpha. I knew it once I walked past him. My anxiety was at an all-time high and my heart was practically pounding out of my chest! Thank the Goddess I wore my boots! I figured I gained a few minutes just to catch my breath. I leaned against the wall of another nightclub. I was about to continue on when I felt him slide his hand onto my waist and growl in my ear. My wolf immediately shot up in defense. The sound of his voice when he caught up only created an instant reaction. I felt calm and ready to fight and so did my wolf. The next thing was him folding over and me sprinting as quickly as possible. f**k! I can’t believe I could be so careless! I dropped my damn phone confirming where I was and couldn’t say otherwise.

I made my way to the front desk, left a message for my Beta, went up to my room, gathered my ‘Go bag' and I checked out. I knew that Jason was going to kick my ass for this and Steve was probably breaking furniture right about now. My mate was now with my Beta, but I needed to make my way to Illinois before going back to my pack. I had to get these loose ends tied up before my mate which was another Alpha came to claim me. Once we became one then my time would be taken up and I knew things would be in disarray. I didn’t even know if my mate and I would even get along or if we would clash from power struggles between the both of us. I sighed and hailed a cab. Believe it or not, a cab was harder to track than an Uber. I needed to lay low on my way to Illinois as much as possible but get there quickly. I called the pilot to the jet and we were back in the air and on the way.