The Alphas Fated Mate

He's an Unexpected Sunshine

In Aria's mind, a name suddenly pops up, like a message from somewhere far away. When she gazes at the dog before her, the name feels just right. So, she gives it a try, "Liam! Are you a Liam, buddy?" The dog's ears perk up, and in that moment, she swears he nods his head in agreement (though it's late, and she might be imagining things). "Alright, Liam it is," she mumbles with a yawn, and then adds, "Well, Liam, I should fix you a comfy spot so we can both get some rest." Getting up to head to the bedroom, Liam follows her. Aria pulls out a couple of old blankets from her closet and creates a cozy space for him in the kitchen, along with a bowl of water. Liam sniffs the blankets and gives her a look. Yawning, she says, "Sorry, buddy, it's the best I can do. I'm off to bed now. You should get some sleep too."

She watches as Liam curls up in the blankets, then goes to the bathroom to brush her teeth. Looking at herself in the mirror, she notices that the dark circles under her eyes, which had been there all day, are gone. "Hmm! Must be that nap I took in the bath earlier," she thinks.

Settling under her cozy covers, ready to sleep, she feels a little movement on her bed. Liam, her dog, hops in and gets comfy beside her. He rests his head on the pillow next to hers, and his blue eyes meet her gaze. Aria doesn't have the energy to shoo him away, or at least that's what she thinks. Instead, she wraps her arm around him, running her fingers through his soft fur. He playfully licks her nose, causing her to giggle. "It's been a while since I laughed like that." She moves her hand to rub his snout, saying, "Thanks, buddy, I really needed that. You can stay with me tonight, but tomorrow it's back to the kitchen. I don't want my bed smelling like a dog." Not that he smells like a regular dog; he actually has a fresh forest scent after a rainstorm.

For the first time in what felt like a thousand lifetimes, she surrendered to the night, slipping into a peaceful slumber without the tormenting whirlwind of Dad's memory crashing through her mind. It was a respite, a brief hiatus from the relentless storm that had haunted her for a year.

As the golden fingers of the morning sun gingerly crept through the gap in her curtains, she awoke. Liam lay sprawled out beside her, his head nestled on the soft pillow, her arm wrapped protectively around him. The world around them had not budged an inch. Stretching her arms above her head, she surveyed the clock. "9 a.m. Perfect. I'll be ready before Brian arrives."

Tenderly, she ran her fingers through Liam's fur, whispering to him, "Rise and shine, boy. It's time to greet the day. How about whipping up some breakfast for us?"

The mere mention of food jolted Liam awake, his eager eyes fixing on her. With a lighthearted chuckle, she gently pushed him back down, playfully wiping her cheek where his slobbery affection had landed. "I'm not sure I'll ever get used to these doggy kisses. You could use a mint, Liam."

His head droops, and she can tell he's upset. She feels a pang of guilt, unsure if he comprehends her words. Nevertheless, she reaches out, holding his snout, gently turning his face towards hers. Their noses touch.

"I was just teasing, Liam. You can give me those furry kisses anytime you want. But if you're sticking around, we might need to get you a doggie toothbrush," she chuckles.

Releasing his face, she jumps out of bed, glancing back at him. "Now, let's find something to eat. I'm famished." He eagerly follows her, leaping off the bed and trailing behind her into the kitchen.

This is her first time owning a dog, and her cupboards are devoid of dog food. Uncertain of what's safe for dogs, she opens the fridge and dials her friend Bon, whose dad is a veterinarian and who has a dog of her own.

Aria hears Bon's voice on the line, filled with cheer, "Hey there, Beautiful! It's been a while."

Bon always warms Aria's heart and makes her smile. They've been best friends since third grade, when Bon skipped over and asked Aria to play with My Little Ponies. Since then, it's always been Bon and Aria together. Aria often says that Bon brings sunshine on cloudy days, but she's been avoiding her lately. She's not ready for that sunshine.

"Hey, Bon!"

"Hey, I missed you, girl," Bon responds, sounding relieved to hear from Aria.

"I've missed you too, Bon. I called because I've got a question for ya."

"Hit me with it."

Aria asks, "What do dogs eat other than dog food?"

"Do you have a dog?" Bon asks.

Aria explains, "Not really. He got caught in one of Dad's old coon traps last night, and I brought him in to clean his wounds. I thought I'd bring him into your Dad's office today so he can check out his paw."

"That was sweet of you. I'm sure Dad will be glad to check him over. So, are you keeping him? It might be good for you to have a pet with you out there to keep you company."

"I'm not sure. He probably has a family looking for him. So what can I feed Liam?"

"Liam? Did you name him, or did he have a dog tag?"

"No tags. I just didn't want to call him dog or boy, and Liam seems to fit. He responds to it, so he must like the name. So what kind of food is okay?" Aria asks again, as Bon's thoughts tend to wander.

"If you have some leftover chicken, he'll probably eat that. They also like apples and peanut butter. But if you're coming to Dad's office, you should pick up a bag of dog food. You don't want him getting used to table scraps."

Aria grabs a bowl of leftover chicken from the fridge and thanks Bon, "I'll do that. Thanks, Bon."

"Anytime, Blu. Do you want to meet up at Dad's and have lunch while he's checking out your dog?" Bon asks, nervously hoping Aria won't turn her down. Lately, Aria has been avoiding everyone, but today feels like the perfect day to see her best friend.

"That sounds great. What time do you want to meet?"

"How does noon sound? I'll stop and pick up a couple of burgers," Bon suggests with joy, now that Aria has agreed to see her. Aria can imagine Bon's excitement, with a huge smile on her face and maybe even a little victory dance.