The Alpha's Accidental Obsession

The day everything broke

When I first saw Clarisse on our doorstep that morning, all painted smiles, I knew she'd come to ruin something.

Tristan's face had gone pale. His lips pressed together the way they always did when he was trying not to tell. He hadn't expected her return. None of us had. Their breakup had shattered him. I knew. I'd seen him piece himself together, one shattered part at a time.

And yet, there she was.

He sent her away without a second thought, anger rising like a tide he barely kept in check. But Clarisse... She was relentless.

She started showing up every other day, finding the most inane reasons to knock on our door. Forgotten things, imaginary apologies, meaningless conversations. And every time she showed up, her eyes would flick to me with that cruel amusement, like I was a fly in the room she meant to swat.

The insults came next. Subtle at first.

“Oh, still here, Anna? Thought you'd be gone by now.”

Then bolder.

“You really think that you're going to trap Tristan? Sweetheart, he's just being polite. Once he's bored, he'll come running back to me.”

I tried to ignore her. I tried but one afternoon, she cornered me in the hallway. Locked the door behind her.

“You're nothing but a charity case,” she spat, arms crossed. “A pathetic, little leech. You think sleeping with Tristan will keep him from me? Get real.”

I didn't speak. I couldn't. My throat closed up, and all I could do was blink back tears and will myself not to break in front of her.

When she finally left, the silence she left behind was somehow louder than her voice. I sat on the floor for an hour, crying quietly. My arms wrapped around my belly, not because it was big enough to cradle, but because I needed to believe this tiny inside me still mattered to someone. Even if that someone was only me.

Kara saw me later and smirked. “Crying again? Might want to toughen up before the baby gets here.”

I froze. How'd she know I was pregnant? Tristan didn't even know. Nor did Clarisse.

How on earth did she find out?

I didn't reply. I just turned away.

That night, Tristan came home. His steps were heavy and almost tired but the moment he saw my red eyes and trembling lips, everything else melted away. He rushed to me, kneeling, cupping my face.

“Anna... what happened?”

I didn't know what to tell him. I didn't want to be the girl who constantly needed defending. But the words tumbled out anyway between hiccups, sobs, and trembling breaths.

He listened to every word I told him and then, he kissed me.

He held me that night, tighter than ever, whispering into my hair. “You don't need to be strong all the time, Anna. You're not alone. I love you, okay? No matter what she says.”

I fell asleep in his arms, the ache in my chest dulling just enough to let me rest.

When I woke up, sunlight poured into the room through the blinds. The space next to me was empty but still warm. On the nightstand sat a small plate of strawberries, my favourite, and a note, written in his messy scrawl :

“Good morning, Anna. I didn't want to wake you. I'll be home early. I love you always — Tristan."

I touched the note to my lips and smiled.

That afternoon, Clarisse came to the house again. I was already bracing for her insults.

She walked in like she owned the place, tossing her hair dramatically. “So, still pretending you're the lady of the house?”

I set down the glass I was drying and turned to her, voice steady. “You can't keep coming here.”

Her eyes sparkled with mockery. “Oh? And who's going to stop me? You?”

“Yes,” I said simply. “I'm fine letting you talk me down to me, Clarisee. Whatever you had with Tristan is over. He chose to move on. You don't get to make me miserable just because you can't stand that.”

She laughed. “Sweetheart, I made Tristan. You think a sweet puppy like you can keep him?”

My hands trembled, but I held her gaze. “He doesn't need someone who made him. He needs someone who loves him. And you? You're not welcome here anymore.”

The silence that followed was heavy. For the first time, Clarisse didn't have a comeback. She just glared at me, lips curled in disgust.

“Fine,” she hissed. “Enjoy it while it lasts but this isn't over.”

She left in a huff, slamming the door behind her. For once, I'd stood up for myself. For the baby. For what little peace we'd carved out. And I was happy.

Feeling triumphant, I decided to visit the market. I wanted to tell Tristan what happened and surprise him with his favourite dinner — creamy pesto pasta, grilled chicken, and garlic bread. Something that reminded him of home. Of us.

The market buzzed with life and I felt lighter with every step. I imagined his smile when he saw the meal. I imagined us eating together, laughing. I even imagined telling him about the baby and the list of baby names I'd been thinking about.

But when I came home, the air felt... wrong.

I opened the door and froze.

It was the smell. That sharp tang of tangerines and citrus. Clarisse's perfume.

My throat tightened. What was she doing here?

I shot it off, walked into the kitchen, and started unpacking the groceries. But then I heard it — A moan coming from our bedroom.

My fingers went cold and my heart squeezed in panic.

“No…” I whispered.

I walked towards our bedroom till I stopped at the door. It was slightly ajar.

When I pushed it open, the tomatoes dropped from my hands and rolled across the floor.

There, tangled in our sheets, my sheets, were Tristan and Clarisse.

His arms were around her and her lipstick smeared around his neck.

I blinked, thinking this must be my imagination but the image was clear as glass.

A horrid gasp escaped me and I took a step back.

Tristan stopped, then he turned. His eyes widened in horror. "

“Ann —”

I didn't wait to hear what he wanted to say. I turned on my heels and I ran.

I ran until the city swallowed me whole. I ran until my legs gave out. I ran until I was sobbing, sobbing, shaking and cradling my stomach.

How could Tristan do this to us after everything? After the night he held me and told me he didn't want to ever let me go. After he promised to love me and only me. All that time, he'd been lying to me.

My heart ached as I admitted it. Clarisse had been right all along. Tristan still belonged to her. He chose her.

The image of Tristan tangled in Clarisse's arms burned behind my eyes.

A sharp pain in my stomach made me choke on my breath and my knees weakened.

“No... my baby,” I pressed my hand to my belly, fighting for air.

I slowed to a stop as the pain kept getting worse. Panic rose in my throat and with trembling hands, I pulled out my purse from my dress pocket and dialed my doctor.

“Jeanine, something's wrong,” I said when the dial tone clicked.

“How do you feel?” she spoke calmly.

“I'm in pain. So much pain. I have to come in. Are you —”

“Yes, I'm still at the hospital. Hurry.” She said,

“Okay.” I ended the call and dragged my tired body to my feet.

Each step was horror but I kept on going.

I got to the sidewalk when my vision blurred.

No, not now.

I pinched my arm to keep myself awake. I couldn't afford to faint.

I didn't hear the sound of a coming vehicle and there was none on the street so I figured it'd be safe to cross.

I took one step forward and another. But I never made it to the third.

The sound of screeching tires cut through the air and when I turned to my right, I screamed.

One second I was on the cold ground and the next, I was lying on a moving stretcher, with a masked nurse, telling me not to panic.

I reached for the oxygen mask to say something but I didn't get the chance to. Everything went dark.

After what felt like hours, I finally awoke.

It didn't take a doctor to tell me I was in a hospital. The sound of the heart rate monitor and scent of antiseptic were a giveaway.

I blinked twice, trying to adjust my vision to the light. When I did, I exhaled softly.

What was I doing here? How did I get here?

Without warning, the memory of last night slammed into me. I choked on air as I remembered everything — Tristan and Clarrise. The pain in my stomach. The car.

Oh no.

I trailed my trembling hands to my belly, praying to God that my bay would still be alive.

The door clicked open and a lady in blue scrubs entered.

My fingers froze midway. “Doctor, please… is my baby…”

Her lips curled into a small smile and she exhaled softly. “No.

I froze, replaying the single word in my head. No? No, as in, my baby's okay?

I reached for my belly and felt a tiny kick. Tears silently streamed down my cheeks as I gave my belly a stroke. My baby lives.

The doctor reached for me. “Both of you are fine, Miss. In fact the babay is in perfect condition. You, on the other hand, suffered a few bruises but with enough rest and proper care, you'll be in perfect health.”

I nodded, wrapping my arms around myself.

I might've lost everything else but I hadn't lost my child. And that was all that mattered.

“Everything will be fine.” The doctor assured me.

But she was wrong. Nothing was fine.

The first few days in the hospital were fine. The nurses were kind to me and even some of the patients. But as the days passed, they kept asking about my husband.

“Where is your husband, Anna?”

“Surely, he knows you just had an accident.”

“Why isn't he here?”

I didn't have a response to their questions and casually deviated from the conversation.

I did that for a few more days and it was getting tiring.

No one was coming for me. Not even Tristan.

I'd dialed his number to see if he's alive and well but the number didn't exist anymore. The realization that he had truly chosen Clarisse hurt more than the car that hit me.

He'd left me bleeding inside and didn't even look back.

One week later, I got discharged.

The nurses asked if I had anywhere to go and I told them I did. The truth was : I didn't have a place to stay but if I needed to move on, I had to get closure with Tristan so if he wouldn't come to me, I'd go to him. Before I left his life for good, he needed to know that I was carrying his child.

When I arrived, the security guards told me how much they'd missed my presence around the house and welcomed me warmly. When I asked where Tristan was, they told me he was inside the house.

I got into the house, ignoring the thick smell of Clarisse's perfume and marched to our bedroom. No, his bedroom.

I was about to open the door when I heard his voice. I peeked through the keyhole and noticed he was alone.

I turned my back to the door. I'd wait till he ends the call before I tell him what I came here for.

I was about to leave when I heard him yell in an angry voice.

“She cannot be pregnant with my baby!” He said in a loud voice. “It was just a one-night stand. An accident. It didn't mean anything.”

My brows furrowed. What?

“That baby isn't mine! Even if it were, I won't accept it! She is nothing to me!” He snapped.

My knees wobbled and tears filled my eyes.

Tristan knows I'm pregnant and he… he thinks the baby isn't his?

He went on. “Take it from me, grandma. She won't step foot into this house ever again. If I catch her here, I'd do the worst.”

My heart leapt to my throat. He doesn't even want me here.

I backed away from the door, trying to breathe, trying not to scream. I didn't want to hear more.

I dialed Noona. I was happy to have her on speeddial because my hands were shaking terribly.

When the dial tone clicked, her wanted voice filled my ears. “Anna?”

I sniffled.

“What's wrong? Are you okay?” She asked worriedly.

“Can I stay with you?” I whispered, my voice barely holding together. “I don't know where else to go. Please, help me.”

She didn't ask questions. "I'm at home. Get here as soon as possible.”

I hung up and walked away from the house I once called home.