The Alpha's Valentine Kiss

Chapter 1: The Proposal I sit at my desk, fingers hovering over the keyboard, but I can’t focus. My mind is on the plans I’ve made for tonight. It’s Valentine’s Day, and I’ve finally decided to take a leap of faith. After two years with Freddie, I’m ready to propose. He’s the one. Or, at least, I thought he was. The office around me hums with the usual bustle of work, but everything feels distant. My colleagues are busy wrapping up last-minute projects, and I can hear their excited chatter about their Valentine’s Day plans. Some are heading out for dinner dates, while others talk about grand gestures, flowers, and chocolates. It makes me feel oddly out of place. For most people, this day is about love, but for me, it’s always felt like a reminder of what I don’t have—until now. I glance at the time. It’s nearly five. I’ve spent the day at my desk, finalizing the details for our Maldives getaway. Freddie and I have talked about this trip for months—sunny beaches, starry nights, and, of course, the big question. I’ve already bought the ring. A simple, elegant band. I’ve thought about it so many times that it almost feels like a sure thing. He’ll say yes, I’m sure of it. But then, my phone buzzes. I glance down to see a message from Freddie: "Can’t wait to see you tonight, beautiful. I’ll pick you up at 7." My heart skips a beat. I can’t help but smile. He always knows how to make me feel special, even on a day as cliché as this. I quickly reply: "I can’t wait either. I’ve got a surprise for you." Feeling a little giddy, I return to the task at hand. The only thing left to do is to gather my things, finish up some last-minute work, and head home. The proposal will wait until we’re on the beach under the stars. I want it to be perfect. But as I’m about to leave, I hear voices. Quiet at first, but then the door to Freddie’s office creaks open. His voice floats toward me, but it’s not alone. I recognize the soft giggle of his assistant, Emily. It’s strange, but I can’t help myself—I move closer, curiosity creeping up my spine. “What’s going on?” I whisper to myself, but before I can pull away, the sound of lips meeting lips freezes me in my tracks. I don’t know how long I stand there, but everything around me goes still. My breath catches in my throat as I peer around the corner and see it: Freddie kissing Emily. His hands tangled in her hair. The kiss is slow and intimate, a kiss that I’ve never shared with him. My stomach drops, and my heart shatters. The man I’ve spent years with, the man I was about to propose to, is kissing his assistant—right here, in the office, in plain sight. I quickly step back, trying to breathe, trying to understand what I’ve just seen. My chest feels tight, my throat burning with the need to scream, but I can’t make a sound. I stumble back to my desk, gathering my things in a daze. My hand shakes as I grab my purse, and my mind races. What do I do? What do I say? I’m angry. Hurt. Disillusioned. This isn’t the man I thought I knew. The sound of footsteps makes me freeze. It’s Freddie, walking toward me. His face lights up when he sees me, but the moment he opens his mouth, I can barely stand to look at him. “Hey, babe,” he says, his voice casual, as if nothing’s wrong. “Ready to head out?” I can feel the tears burning behind my eyes, but I hold them back. “What’s going on, Freddie?” I manage to choke out. “What was that? In your office?” His smile falters, and for a split second, I see a flicker of guilt in his eyes. But it disappears quickly, replaced by a look of confusion. “What are you talking about? I was just talking to Emily about work.” “About work?” I repeat, my voice rising, the anger bubbling up. “Really? Because it didn’t look like work.” “I—I don’t know what you’re talking about.” His voice is defensive, but I can see the hesitation in his eyes. He knows he’s caught. “Lydia, calm down.” But I can’t. I can’t calm down when everything I thought I knew is crumbling around me. “Calm down?” I laugh bitterly, the pain and frustration spilling out. “You’re kissing your assistant, and you want me to calm down?” His face flushes with embarrassment, but he takes a step toward me, reaching out as if to comfort me. “Lydia, please, it’s not what you think. She’s just—” “Just what?” I cut him off, my voice shaking with emotion. “Just another woman you can’t keep your hands off? How long has this been going on, Freddie?” “I swear, nothing is going on. It was just—” He stops himself, clearly trying to think of a good excuse, but nothing comes. The tears are impossible to hold back now. I grab my bag and turn to leave. “I don’t want to hear it,” I whisper, my voice barely audible. “I can’t believe this.” “Lydia, please,” he says, his voice desperate. “We can talk about this.” But I’m already out the door, the world outside blurry through my tears. My heart aches, and I can barely breathe, the pain too overwhelming. I don’t know where I’m going, but I end up in a small café a few blocks away from the office. The city is bustling with the energy of the holiday, but it feels like a lifetime away from the wreckage of my heart. I sit down at a corner table, still shaking, trying to make sense of everything. My phone buzzes again, but I can’t bring myself to look at it. I’m done. The bell above the café door rings, and I glance up. My breath catches in my throat as a tall man walks in. He’s striking, with dark, mysterious eyes that seem to pierce right through me. There’s something commanding about him, something that makes me want to look away, but I can’t. He notices me, and for a moment, our gazes lock. There’s an unspoken understanding between us, like he knows exactly what I’m feeling. He walks toward me, his presence somehow both comforting and intimidating at the same time. “Is this seat taken?” he asks, his voice low, smooth like velvet. I shake my head, unable to speak. I don’t know why, but I find myself motioning for him to sit. He does, sliding into the chair across from me without a word. He studies me for a moment, his gaze intense. “You look like you’re carrying the weight of the world.” I laugh, a bitter sound that escapes my lips before I can stop it. “You could say that.” He doesn’t ask what’s wrong. He doesn’t need to. His eyes are full of quiet understanding, as if he’s seen pain like mine before. “Freddie,” I say, my voice thick with emotion. “I was about to propose to him today. But he... He betrayed me.” The man’s eyes narrow slightly, and for a moment, I wonder if he’s going to say something. But he doesn’t. Instead, he simply nods. “I see.” I stare at him, trying to make sense of this strange, magnetic connection between us. “Who are you?” I ask. He smirks slightly. “A man who knows better than to stay out of a woman’s way when she’s in pain.” I look down at my ring, the one I had bought for Freddie, and my chest tightens. Without thinking, I take it out of my pocket and slip it onto his finger. “Will you marry me?” I blurt out, my words slipping out before I can stop them. The man doesn’t hesitate. He looks at me with those piercing eyes and smiles, a slow, knowing grin. “I do.” My heart skips a beat, and for a split second, I wonder if I’ve lost my mind. But before I can process what’s happening, I hear a voice from behind me. “Lydia, wait.” I freeze, my blood turning cold. It’s Freddie. He’s followed me here. But the man across from me stands up, his presence suddenly more imposing. “No, she doesn’t have to wait.” He turns toward Freddie, his voice colder now, as if it holds a power I can’t quite understand. “She’s made her choice.” Freddie’s eyes widen as he looks between us. “What is this? Who are you?” The stranger smiles again, this time with a hint of something dangerous. “I’m her future. And you’re nothing but a shadow of it.” Freddie glares at him, but the tension between the three of us is palpable. The man steps forward, his eyes not leaving Freddie’s. Then he says something that makes my blood run cold: “I’m the Alpha. And I’m not letting her go.”