Teach Me How to Please, Alpha

(8) ARE YOU MUTE?

Isla

“Thank you,” I whispered, feeling guilty for cursing him just moments earlier when he’d made me carry the bag, considering everything inside it was for me.

“Never knew that you had it in you, Ryder. All you needed to act like a decent human being was a sibling. Who would have thought?” Hector teased.

Luka laughed and Ryder rolled his eyes.

I relaxed, laughing too.

But just as I feared, soon more and more groups joined us. Ryder had that ability. Even dressed in a black t-shirt and black jeans, a basic outfit by all means, his pull was magnetic. An Alpha.

He made it hard to forget.

Within minutes he was occupied in conversation, I moved for one person to fit in their chair, then another and another. Someone passes marshmallows, they reminisce about an incident that I hadn’t witness, talked about how red the principal had been when Luka yet another infamous cheat had been caught with his daughter.

Someone was playing a guitar. Laughter. Conversations were easy, the heckling followed. Beers were passed from a cooler, a boy shoved Hector from his seat, they wrestled a bit in the sand. More laughter.

It was easy. They fit in. Belonged.

I got up and when I caught myself thinking of informing Ryder, I frowned. He might be bigger than me and I might be a pushover, but I was not evolving into being codependent.

The temperature was dropping and although it was not completely chilled, I tucked my hands in Ryder’s hoodie barely stopping myself from sniffing it while I ignored the curious and lingering glances from a few groups I walked past. They must smell him on me.

I climbed the boardwalk access ramp and stopped at the crest of the dune with a sigh.

Although I couldn’t call this a perfect evening, watching the endless ocean stretch out before me and hearing the rhythmic crash of the waves was far better than my plan to cry myself to sleep again.

I’d barely finished the thought when I heard footsteps. One of them was laughing as they walked. The thud of their footsteps came from directly below my feet. Then they stopped, somewhere under the boardwalk close enough that I could tell they were right beneath where I stood, probably near the pilings.

I turned to leave.

“… Jason my mate?” A snicker. “I never said he was my mate.”

Although the name stopped me in my tracks, I could have continued my descent since it was a common enough name. But I knew that voice. In fact, I doubt I could ever forget it.

Her friend huffed in disbelief.

“I’m serious,” Jasmine stated. “I never tried to convince him we were mates, but I did go into heat. Just one week on top of him and he was promising to make me his wife.”

My breath was beating so hard, I feared that it might jump out and land on the wooden slat. If not for the sound of the waves, I’d have feared that they might hear it.

“And he has yet to figure out that you lied?” Her friend’s voice is laced in disbelief.

“He can’t tell the difference between being horny and what a mate bond feels like,” her voice was wicked. “And who could blame the boy? I saw his girlfriend, she was never competition.”

“That is mean,” her friend cackled. “But what do you expect? She goes to a private boarding school and is going to be the stepdaughter of the alpha, a spoilt good girl like that? She’s chow to you.”

The wood creaked, I heard the sound of another footstep joining me. I already knew who it was, even as he stood so close to me, I could feel his heat.

I didn’t dare look back. I couldn’t. My cheeks were damp and I didn’t even realize until that moment I was crying.

“But aren’t you scared? She is going to be the alpha’s step daughter after all. Jason assures you that she wouldn’t do anything to hurt you but you can never be too sure. Betting that she loves him too much to hurt you is a little presumptuous.”

“I met her. Jason was right, she’s the perfect doormat.” Jasmine’s voice was quiet now. “She begged me you know and she was so pitiable, I considered it for a moment…”

A pause then they both roared in laughter. I closed my eyes.

“I’m serious, Jem. I can be kind too. But I need Jason, he’s my cash cow, while she wants him.” I could hear the envy and hatred in her voice when she added, “I bet she never had to worry about where her next meal was coming from. Only girls like that have the luxury to fall in love. A stupid rich girl.”

I took a step backwards. I couldn’t keep listening to them, I could barely breathe. But Ryder’s body remained unmoving behind me.

“Is she the one that made you cry?” This time his voice was chilling against my ear. It lacked the musical cadence it had held mere hours ago, when he had me pinned against the counter. “I could make her life in this pack hell. Destroy her.” He threatened. “Your little boyfriend might need a month to recover. If you want something a bit more permanent I own some silver daggers, I could make quick work of his legs or even better, draw it out. You can watch, I know you like to watch.”

I shivered. His words are cruel yet he had said it like it was nothing. He hadn’t even paused. He had promised me such violence like it was as easy as shifting, as breathing, instinctive…

“Are you mute?”

I turned on my heels and ran. Heavy footballs followed.

I barely left the ramp before he was in front of me like something unleashed. “That’s it? You run and cry yourself to bed tonight again…”

“I don’t cry…”

“I hear every sound you make in your room.” He growled. “It’d be stupid to lie.”

‘Then buy ear plugs and ignore me. I wear them too because of your fuckfests!” I screamed back.

What was even a fuckfest? Stunned, I took a step backward, I didn’t say words like that neither do I scream. I hated this person. This girl that felt a lot of anger and frustration.

I turned to leave then paused, and looked over my shoulders “And stay away from Jason and the girl,” I whispered, hating myself.

She was right, I was a stupid rich girl. But I couldn’t stand the thought of Jason hating me or worse him being in pain because of me.

“You truly are hopeless,” he spat out. “Even now, you’re protecting him?”

“I thought that shouldn’t be news to you. Weren’t you curious about where I was yesterday. I was begging the woman my boyfriend was cheating on me with to let him go. Hope you’re satisfied?”

“No.” He said. “But you can run now, coward.”

I chuckled bitterly. “You think a brave person would let you order her around the way you have been doing for the past few days. In fact, let you live in my house? Who the f**k do you think you are to be in my business? Trying to take revenge for me?” I glared at him. “You think we are friends?” I asked. “No. You’re a big bully. The only difference between you and Jason is that why he f***s with me emotionally, you do the same physically. So shut the f**k up and mind your damn business, big brother.” I was breathing hard now and full out sobbing. Ryder was quiet.

And then like a coward, I ran.