The Forgotten Alphas

Chapter 3

** Callum’s POV**

“What the hell was your problem today man?” Brady asked as he sat down beside me.

I looked at him then down at the beer in my hand before taking another drink. “If I knew I wouldn’t have dropped every ball.” I played like s**t today. Actually it’s been like this for a few months now, but today was exceptionally bad. I’m lucky we’re in the off season or my ass would be on the bench if not cut. Brady and a few other of my teammates that lived in town suggested coming out to our usual club tonight and after today there was no way I was going to say no.

We sat at our usual table on the second floor balcony overlooking the dance floor. It was always kept open for us. I finished the beer in my hand and reached for another; the waiter already knew to keep them coming. I needed to drown out my self pity with something, if not someone.

I kept my eyes on the dance floor below, looking for someone to help me work out my stress when something caught my attention. Was that honeysuckle? I glanced back to the table to see what kind of mixed drink someone ordered that smelled that strong but the only thing there was my cluster of empty beer bottles. Damn, I drank a lot. The smell wasn’t going away. I had to figure out where it was coming from.

“Do you smell that?” I asked Brady.

He looked at me with his brow raised. “Smell what?”

I must have been losing it. I looked back down over the balcony, still trying to find the source of the smell. A flash of red from over towards the entrance caught my attention. It was someone's hair; a woman's hair. I stood up, leaning over the railing a little to try to get a better view of her in the crowd.

“What exactly are you doing?” I barely heard Brady’s words. I was too focused

I pointed to the woman as she weaved her way through the crowd towards a table. “Have you seen her before?”

“Man, I have no idea who you’re pointing at.”

“She’s at the table over there on the edge of the dance floor.”

“The silver dress? That’s Jules, you know her. She comes here all the time. Her friend is that tiny brunette that wants to get with you.”

I tore my eyes away from the woman for a moment to see who else was at the table with her. s**t Brady was right, that’s Shannon. “No I meant the red head that’s with them.”

“No, I wouldn’t forget her. Damn she’s fine.”

I sent Brady a side-eyed glare.

“Chill dude.” He said in response. “Why are you so worked up?”

I had no idea why I was so worked up. I only knew that I didn’t like what he said.

“Let’s go talk to them.”

I stood up and started to walk towards the stairs when Brady stopped me. “Did you forget what happened the last time you were around that short chick? She’s crazy, man.”

Brady wasn’t wrong, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me from meeting the red head. I can deal with Shannon.

When we got close to her table I noticed she was no longer there. Damn it, I should have stayed up on the balcony to watch where she went. Brady started talking to Jules, but I had no interest in waiting around. I took off towards the dance floor, scanning the room trying to find her when I caught a glimpse of a green dress. I pushed my way through a few groups trying to get a better look, the honeysuckle smell growing even stronger the closer I got. Was it coming from her?

I found her. The word mine floated through my head as if I was no longer in control of my thoughts. She was even more beautiful than I had originally thought. Her smile alone was mesmerizing. I couldn’t take my eyes off her as she moved her hips to the beat, each sway causing a growing desire within me. My mind filled with images of me dancing with her, grasping her waist and pulling her tight up against me.

I was forced out of my fantasy when I realized another man's hands were on her. Without thinking I took a few steps towards her, my fists tightening at my side, until I saw her remove them from her body.

What was I thinking? I don’t even know this woman and I was about to lay out the prick she’s dancing with. Caught up in my thoughts, I almost didn’t notice that she had stopped dancing. Something was wrong. I watched as she looked around the room, brow furrowed. I wanted to go to her, to see what was wrong and to help her, but before I could she took off towards the back of the club.

I followed her to the restrooms and stopped outside the door. My body was begging me to open the door and make sure she was ok while my brain was still trying to figure out what the hell I was doing.

A voice beside me brought me out of my internal debate. “Excuse me, can I go in there?”

“It’s occupied!” I yelled a little louder than I had intended, causing the girl to jump back and then run off.

Seriously, what am I doing? I’ve never even met this girl and I’m stalking her. That’s not creepy at all. I was thankful now that I didn’t follow her into the bathroom. I would have terrified her.

The door started to open and without hesitation I sprinted down the hallway and around a corner. I did not want to meet her this way. I was going to be normal and approach her on the dance floor or something. Her honeysuckle scent hit me hard as soon as she stepped out of the restroom. I could tell she was moving away when the scent grew fainter. After taking a few deep breaths I made my way back down the hallway watching as she took a seat at the bar and ordered a drink. Perfect. This was my chance.

I walked up behind her at the bar. Her scent was so intoxicating that I almost forgot where I was. The bartender brought her drink and before she could say anything I interjected, “Put it on my tab, Jay.”

I held my breath as I saw the woman’s shoulder straighten. It felt like forever before she turned around. When she finally did I was met with the most intense grey eyes I had ever seen.