Alpha’s Virgin Stripper

JOJO:

I was not kidding when I said I would give them the time of their lives, and I made sure they knew it. Once we left the hospital gate – after Mel was declared the potato basket for finishing ten seconds later than Valerie – we boarded a taxi. I was lucky the valet Alpha Lake instructed to drop me at the hospital, had already left. I would have not known what to say to either Valerie or Mel, and the latter would have never allowed my ears to hear the end of it. Which would be sad, seeing as there was nothing to tell.

What would I say? That the alpha of our pack had been unusually nice, protecting me, standing up for me, beating people up for me, even getting me a car ride just for protection? And for what? Even I had not still managed to understand his hidden agenda. It was safer for me to assume he had one. I knew men more than I wanted to, they never did anything for free.

“55th avenue please,” I spoke to the cab driver. Both Mel and Ley turned their heads to me.

“Where are we going?”

“That’s not the way home.” Mel followed.

I gave them both my most dashing smile and winked.

“Oh, you’ll see.”

I knew where I wanted to take them to. It was somewhere I always wished we could all go together. Valerie and Mel continued to probe me, even going as far as poking my skin, throughout our journey. Still, I refused to tell any of them. It was a surprise I didn’t want to ruin.

The driver took a turn at 55th Avenue and the large building of “Mirror of Fame” stared back at us. Both Mel and Ley turned to me again, but this time, with eyes widened.

“No way!” Mel screamed.

“Yes way!” Valerie replied, throwing her hands into the air.

The mirror of Fame was more or less like a building filled with mirrors. You could play tunnel and maze games, hide and seek, and whatever other things were available. We called it the mirror amusement pack.

Valerie and Mel enjoyed every moment of it. We took so many pictures together that I stopped counting at a point. After that, we ordered food, and I’m talking real quality steak from a restaurant nearby. We were all tired by the time evening came.

With stomachs full and bags filled with everything Valerie and Mel shopped for, we entered the house by dark.

Valerie stopped by the door and turned to me, while I tried to help Mel shut the door. The hinges were faulty. I made a mental note to leave money for fixing it before I go to work.

“You didn’t have to do all this Jo. You know we would love you regardless.” Her tiny voice struck a chord in my chest. I lowered myself and placed a kiss on her forehead. Before I could speak, Mel managed to bolt the door.

“Ley darling, do speak for yourself next time okay? I…” She raised the bag to both our faces, with a wide smile on hers.

“Need everything in here.”

A light chuckle escaped my lips. Of course, she did.

With that, she walked away from my sister and me, heading to our sleeping room. Valerie shook her head and looked back at me.

“I mean it, Jo.”

I knew she did. But, she deserved the good things in life. She had a contented heart, but I wanted more than this for her.

I cupped both her cheeks with my palms and pressed her lips out, she laughed.

“I know you do. But, this is just the beginning, I would do many more things for you.”

“And you? What would you do for yourself?” She asked me, her eyes staring deep into mine, as though she was searching for the answer to her question in them.

I dropped my hands from her face.

“I would make sure you’re happy, that’s what gives me joy. But, Ley…” I started. I had to tell her she might have to hold on with school for a little longer.

“Yes?”

“Remember when I said I would take care of your tuition when I got back?”

Shit! There was no easy way to drop the missile on her. For a moment, there was a sad look in her eyes, but it was gone before I could act on it.

“The doctors took it, didn’t they?”

My heart swelled with relief. A sister who could read my mind! How much more could the goddess bless me with?

I nodded my head, slowly. A sad smile broke out on her cheeks.

“It’s okay. I’m just glad you and mama and aunt Mel are okay, and here with me. That’s more than enough for me Jo, it’ll always be.”

It was how many mature words rolled out of the tongue of someone her height, her size, and her age that amazed me. Life had taken a toll on her, on both of us.

I watched her scurry away, into the room. When I stepped into the kitchen, Mel had a cup of steaming hot coffee in her hands, I knew from the smell. I dropped our bag of groceries on our small counter and turned to her.

“Need help with that?” She asked, watching me unpack the items. I shook my head as a sign of no.

She saw it as a sign to continue speaking.

“I was going to tell you, something weird happened while you were away, at the restaurant.”

I dropped the eggplant in my hands on the table and looked up at her.

“Yeah?”

Her eyes shimmered with excitement as she dropped her cup of coffee on the table, right next to the eggplant.

“You know the alpha, right?”

I fought hard to stop my cheeks from heating up and turning red, but all my efforts proved futile. Of course, I knew the alpha, much more than anyone else knew I did.

I simply nodded, and she continued.

“Well, he was at the restaurant…”

“He was at the what?” I barked out involuntarily. What could he have been doing there?

“Yeah, he was. With this super-hot new guy! I mean, the alpha is hot on a regular, but this new man was walking fire! The way he sat, spoke, twirled his fork around his pasta, chewer on that shit, I wanted to be that shit! Like I…”

I had to stop her, and fast.

“What happened to the alpha?” I cut in, trailing off her sentence. She paused as if regaining consciousness before she continued.

“So, you know that our boss, Mrs. Smith, is always really quiet and seldom says a word, right?”

I nodded, she was correct.

“But! You needed to see her when the alpha came. She was everywhere! Serving tables, smiling at customers. She even pleaded to sit with him!”

Okay, that was the shocker. I blinked twice at Mel’s last statement. She had my full and rapt attention after that.

“She what?”

“Exactly what I said. I mean, I know that he is the alpha, but I never pegged Mrs. Smith as a woman to lick the shoes of the alpha. Especially as she’s what? Twice his age and old enough to be his mother? Trust me, it was all shades of weird for me to watch. Had to tear my eyes off at some point.”

None of it was making any sense. Mrs. Smith, who barely ever said a word to anybody offered to sit at the alpha’s table. Smiled at him? Greeted him? She left her corner, the one we called “the tortoise shell” and stepped into the big bright world. Wow. Alpha Lake sure was loved by both young and old alike.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

I buried my eyes into the grocery bag, continuing to unpack it. For some reason, I felt something sting my chest, like jealousy.

“Perhaps, she’s into younger men?” I spoke. Mel kissed her teeth, shaking her head in disagreement. She leaned into the table and picked up her cup of coffee. She took one sip before she continued.

“I don’t think so.”

My gaze flickered up at her.

“Why?”

She heaved a sigh and dropped the cup once more.

“I mean, after the alpha left, I had gone to use the restroom. There…”

My ears were itching from all the suspense.

“There she was, in tears. She was crying, I could hear her wailing from the door. I turned and left, but I had a feeling something wasn’t right.”

I could understand her, because I had that feeling too.

“Well…” I spoke up.

“I’m sure she’ll be fine.”

Mel looked over me before she nodded.

“I hope so too.”