The City's Alpha

1. Watchful Eyes

*BEEP* BEEP* BEEP*

"Noooo!" I gasped, shaking off the weight of my deep sleep. 

*BEEP* BEEP *BEEP*

I reached over to my phone on the nightstand and used the touch screen to shut off the annoying flurry of beeps. My eyes focused on the dark room. Boxes and furniture littered the bedroom. I hadn't felt the motivation to unpack yet.

Hell, I hadn't felt motivation to do much of anything since Jackson left. Almost 9, no, 10 mo-... Oh god it was almost a year ago he left. A heavy feeling started to sink into my stomach. 

Oh my god, have I really wasted another year on this guy? 

We had been in a relationship for five years and it was blatantly obvious to everyone but me that I was way more invested in the relationship than Jackson would ever be. I thought I found my mate while he was just waiting for a "better model," as he so carelessly let slip after a night of too many beers. When the said "better model" came along, Jackson claimed the girl was his mate. You know, his forever partner. The one that you are fated to be with. This random girl definitely wasn't Jackson's mate. 

After I found out Jackson was cheating on me, I  was willing to make it work. Pathetic, I know.  But he dumped me anyway and left an empty shell of a pessimistic piece of s**t who now believes this whole idea of mates is just made up. 

The thing is I didn't lose just Jackson, I lost everyone. My friends stopped returning my texts and started avoiding me when they ran into each other in our home town. I had lost my pack and who I thought was my mate. It was lonely and embarrassing.

But that is exactly why my belongings were in boxes. I had taken a new job as a receptionist at a medical spa in the city which was two hours away from my hometown. 

To be honest, it was the first thing I had been excited about for a while. My new coworkers didn't have any idea of how pathetic I was. They didn't know how I was obsessively in love with a guy that treated me like a piece of disposable cutlery. This was my chance to get away from those memories and the people that occupied them. I tried romanticizing the idea of being the lone wolf.

I sighed, sat up, and flipped on the lamp. I slowly got out of the bed and grabbed the folded black scrubs out of the box closest to the closet door.  

After showering, shaving, and performing my morning skincare routine, I dressed in my scrubs and brushed my long, wavy red hair. I put on tinted moisturizer and concealer, stamped on  small winged eyeliner and mascara, then took a little extra time on my brows, and finished up with a nude lip and a spritz of perfume. Taking a step back, I looked at the finished look in the mirror. I looked professional and put-together. 

I have porcelain skin, full lips that are stuck in a perpetual pout , large round green eyes that make me look innocent, cheek bones that could cut glass, and full, long red hair that gave me a sultry look when styled properly. I was often told that I am stunning, and there was a time when I wholeheartedly believed that,  but lately I haven't been feeling it.

And that's on your self worth being dependent on a fuckboy. I sneered at myself in the mirror.

 Instead of further tearing myself apart I decided to start my day.

I made sure to hear the click of the lock before sauntering off down the street. The sidewalks were crowded due to the time of day.

 A feeling of uneasiness started to creep over me as I continued my walk to the subway station. I felt like I was being watched. I looked up and noticed many passerbys looking at me. When I made eye contact they would look away quickly. 

My heart started beating faster. Did they know? Did they know I was just a big loser trying to escape my own stupid life decisions? Or did I have something on my face? Probably the latter.

When the continuous prying eyes got to be too much, I decided walk into trendy looking coffee shop called Deja Brew.

The smell of delicious coffee hit me right in the face and enveloped me. My stomach started gurgling, making me realize I left my house without eating any breakfast. So I stepped into line behind an aesthetically compatible couple. The dark haired woman in front of me glanced back over her shoulder and whispered into lover's ear. He didn't make any attempt at being subtle as he turned around and did a double take, his grown out, curly blond hair impeding his view.

I felt tears form behind my eyes as my face flushed red. What the f**k is going on? 

I pushed back my tears and rolled my shoulders. I must be overreacting or imagining all of these stares. 

When it was my turn to order, the barista greeted me with a big, generic "customer-service" smile, until his eyes seemed to focus on me. 

"Well hello." He said, looking me up and down."What can I get for you? And trust me, nothing is off limits." He stated the last part with a flirtatious smile.

Ignoring his advances, I replied "I'll take a medium iced Americano and that'll be all."

"What's the name for the order? And are you sure there isn't ANYTHING else I can get you?" He lowered his voice "I mean the things I could do to you. Mmmmm. The things I could make your whole body feel. Baby, you'd be begging for more."

For a second I was tempted to challenge him and tell him to meet me in the bathroom, but for some reason I feel like he'd follow through.

 Instead I just said "it's Mia. And as tempting as that offer is... Cody," I said squinting to read his name tag "I'm going to have to pass on that delightful offer because I can already make my own body feel things no man ever could. You on the other hand, look like you couldn't get the job done if you had a step by step instruction manual."

My coffee is definitely going to get spit in.

I expected a poor reaction, but instead he laughed. "That was a good one. I can't even be mad at that. Drink is on me today, Babe. Reach out if you wanna have a good time. Maybe you could teach me your ways." He pulled out a sharpie, scribbled his number down on a napkin, and handed it to me. 

I smiled and dropped the napkin in my purse. "Thanks for the drink." 

Walking over to the hand off plane, I checked my phone. It was 7:40 and I didn't have to be at work until 9. I definitely wasn't going to sit around the coffee shop to give Cody anymore chances to practice his flirting. 

The front door to the shop opened with a WHOOSH and that's when I felt it. 

My whole body was on fire with waves of giddy and desire. My head snapped up to see a large figure coming toward me. I felt a firm grip on both of my arms, tingles erupted through my body.  Suddenly, I was in the hallway next to the bathroom, pressed firmly against the wall.