Alpha's Choice

Star gazing is great, and maybe even more, but, for couples who are so in love, which could explain the kissing sounds and irritating giggles coming from less than five meters from Ari's chosen spot. She had endured it for the last three minutes and would have none of it as she came out intentionally, to a boring spot where she could have a private and quiet moment away from the car horns, music blaring from cars with their windows down or, even her neighbors who are constantly bickering for one thing or the other and not tonight, because she is not in the mood or, she'd have gone back to the noise, pick one random dude and f**k him till she forgot everything for a minute. But not tonight. Tonight, Ari wants to be alone and she demands it of all creatures. Not even the crickets are allowed to spoil her evening, so why take it from two idiots who apparently are homeless or, they would have found a better place between their two homes to make all that noise not out here pretending to identify stars they do not know while looking at each others faces and hands on their different bodies obviously not pointing to any of the stars incorrectly named. Respect for the sparkling stars and just irritation at being disturbed made her ask them away. They hesitated for a minute, for at least the giggles stopped. Glad to finally be alone when she heard the ruffling of clothes and the next moment the sound of feet walking on the grass but towards her and not away, that she looked up from her sitting position with her head bowed since they had arrived, to look at a scowling face and an angry voice that would intimidate any normal person but she wasn't, right? Well, he (the unfortunately not scary dude) confronts Ari for demanding they leave a property that isn't private and rudely, as a matter of fact. To his astonishment, he received for a response a sickly laughter that could mean a lot of things and being a coward, but trying to look brave because the new girl he came to the place with was unfamiliar with his true nature, he scampered from Ari though and claiming to avoid the bitchy lady who seemed to have escaped an asylum, he made a quick escape instead. Thinking to himself when he was finally in the safety of his car with the doors locked and driving away, he admitted that he was glad to be away from her (Ari) because he knew that kind of laughter very well. Anyways, it gave him an excuse to take the new girl with him to his house and hopefully get more than light touches. Ari was rather disappointed, though she knew he was a coward, she had expected him to put on a little act so she could maybe have an interesting evening as the day had been so boring and uneventful. It was like nobody wanted to breathe as much while she was close. Of course, she can't engage customers as this job is her last resort and she has to feed, pay rent, among other things. Taking a puff of the cigarette she had left burning forgotten while the idiots had been there, she remembered, with physical pain in her chest, the customer whom she would have loved to give a showdown for spilling on the ground like a kid, intentionally just, to make her clean after him as a form of revenge for the last time when he had grabbed her bum. But before she could react, the manager, who had been watching her like a hawk, quickly stepped in telling her to take a break. Outside, seething about the missed opportunity to give the fool his well-deserved tongue lashing, Ari realized that she saw him drive into the lot and from the back, she went over to the front, crouching so no one saw her, she identified his car and using the small knife she always carried with her to scare those boys in her shabby street who try from time to time to bring their ugly faces to her sight, she slashed all four of his tires. Satisfied, she went in smiling and continued working. No one had an idea of what she had done, though they all knew that she must have a plan of revenge until the dude came back into the café with a red face and raging mad that it was clear to all who had done it. So, it wasn't much of a surprise when he walked in today asking her to serve him and her boss's warning still ringing in her ear as the last, she mustered a stiff smile and took all his s**t. Well, it's not over because she'll have the last laugh. Six hours later, when Ari was sure the neighbors were overtaken by fatigue, she returned home and, without undressing, plopped down on her bed to get an hour of rest as she had to be at the café in two hours since it was her turn to clean up and she was too pissed to do that the previous evening. *** Meanwhile, another person with quite the opposite character and life, you may say, was drawn to sit at the exact spot vacated by Ari ten minutes prior but facing the opposite direction. Whereas one had watched the sunset, another watched the sunrise. The grass still felt warm and somehow she felt comforted by that warmth. She had been restless all night and decided to sneak out for a ride before returning to start up on her duties for the day. Gordon, she thinks, might be spying on her because she had merely put the key in the ignition when he opened the passenger door and took a seat like they planned anything. Without speaking, she drove to the cleared out spot just outside of town and he is right now, sitting by her side and yet no words have been exchanged. Each with their own thoughts. Gordon is having a problem in his relationship because his partner thinks he spends too much time with the Alpha. Not that she is jealous because, as his mate, she knows he feels no bond with anyone except her, but, sometimes, like now, she really wants him close, but he again chooses the Alpha. Who can blame him though? He'd been friends with the Alpha since they were babies. His mum still remains her mum's best friend and they were born a few hours apart (quite unplanned) and they shared a crib. Because one time, they were both crying and the pack's Luna had brought Grey to show him while he was also bawling in his crib and once their eyes had met, they both grew quiet and it was like they were speaking through their eyes. Luna thought it a good idea to leave her in the crib while both mothers get some deserved rest. It turned out to be all the kids wanted because you couldn't keep them apart and they remained so till today. He could feel her distress and lately she'd been feeling so distressed. It wasn't even so bad as when Grey wondered if her people would want her as the Alpha, seeing as she is the only child of her parents and obviously not male. Gordon, of course, knew they would want no one else but Grey and he never failed in telling her just that. And just like he promised, after Grey's father's death, everyone, including her mum, turned to her for directions. Its been two years of Grey's Alpha position and everybody thrived while under her care. Her father was loved, but it seemed like she somehow made them feel like she could draw out more love from them. Because, she managed to keep her people in one piece despite living apart, since they made it a part of them to live amongst humans, mixing and working with them with only a few humans knowing of their existence (they couldn't possibly hide it because some had human mates). Lately, though, they could feel her distress as well and could not understand why it had to be. It's true that she hadn't found her mate but they knew that she was a special one and could not be ignored by the Moon Goddess for so long. Nobody could ask what the problem was, not even her mum. Since becoming Alpha, Grey has thought it her duty to take care of everyone and, doesn't believe that sometimes it's also good to let go and allow someone else to take care of her. Naturally, as the Beta, Gordon should take care of things when Grey is unavailable or needs a break and, not that she doesn't trust him to do a good job, she just doesn't let go. Alpha Grey, beautiful, gentle, soft spoken yet not a weakling, can't help feeling lonely. Lately, the feeling has become intense despite being surrounded constantly by her family, as she likes to see them and even her human friends, the feeling doesn't go away. She does not want a mate as it will distract her from her duties, but also, she does not want her people to know that she does not feel anything special for the other gender. Not that they are biased. As she sat watching the sunrise she wondered what it would be like if perhaps she had someone by her side. No, not Gordon but one she could fall in love with and they'll share their life together. Or what if she got a lover to share her bed with. Nah, she's too passionate just to have a partner to romp under the sheets with. She wants someone to share in her pains, joy, strength and weaknesses. What is she even thinking? One moment she doesn't want a mate, the next, she wants one. Ugh, maybe all she needs is a break. A vacation, a trip, maybe to another pack territory. Let Gordon take care of things in her absence. No, wait, he needs to spend more time with his mate and there's no better time or place to tell him that, as it's been on her mind lately since she noticed his mate's unhappiness whenever she saw May. "Hey." "Hey you!" He replied. "You know I love you, right?" "Are you about to let me off my duties as your Beta?" They both laughed at that before getting serious again. "How is May?" With a sigh, he replied. "Its obvious! Well, I really try to give her my best, but I don't know how." "You do. Focus on May and leave me be. I'll be fine and you know it too." "I know. Why don't you take a vacation and that way I'll definitely know you are doing something about how you feel." "Okay. When I see positive changes between you two." "Deal." They both sat in silence for a few minutes more before returning to the pack house to start the day. *** Putting the café in order has definitely woken Ari up. The cup of stale coffee wasn't enough. (Coffee she made the previous day before leaving for work. All she did was reheat and drink it.) Now two hours later, she is ready for the day when Juan walks in through the back and says hello while putting his apron on to start the day. If it was any other colleague, conversation would be easy, but with Ari you just talk when its necessary or when she feels like engaging you in conversation. Otherwise, you mind your work and keep mute. Soon everyone had resumed and the first customers walked in, made an order of five sets of six cups of coffee and, while waiting, something was pulling at Grey's senses but she could not be sure what it was. Gordon watched as she struggled to know what it was and mind linked Grey asking if there was a problem or if they should leave the café, but she gave him a smile and replied 'no' through the link. Only after they'd left did Ari come into the front to begin serving customers for the day.