Page 24 of The Alpha and His Song: Volume One

I heard beeping and arguing as I forced my eyes open. My jaw dropped when I saw my mom yelling at a man she would normally be seducing. The guy was strikingly handsome. I asked, “What happened?” Mom hissed, “I had to cut my trip short, and deal with these people. All because you couldn’t do what I asked you to do.”

I frowned asking, “What did you ask me to do?” My mother grabbed me by the hair, but my hand gripped her arm by reflex. I didn’t cry out, but she did as I squeezed her hand. Mom let go as if I’d burned her. Mom’s eyes narrowed in anger as she hissed at me.

I glared at her, semi-growling as I said, “People really need to stop hissing at me. It’s annoying.” Mom announced, “We are leaving.” I sighed, “I'm pretty sure this is a hospital. Which means a doctor has to agree to me leaving.”

Mom sneered, “I signed the AMA forms.” The man beside her said, “Unfortunately, that’s true. Somehow this woman is your guardian and since you’re a minor we can’t stop her.” A stronger sense of safety than Rex had exuded seemed to flow out from this man. What was that?

I smiled at him explaining, “She’s my mom. You must be Roxie’s dad. Thank you. Since I’m guessing you found me.” The man answered, “I was in the group that did, yes. Call me Beck.” Mom snarked, “She’ll do no such thing. Get dressed, Tess. You’ve embarrassed me enough as it is. We are leaving.”

I asked, “How did I embarrassed you? I was attacked, and I hung on long enough that some….” I trailed off because I’d almost said wolves saved me. I amended, “that Roxie and her family found me. Aren’t you proud of me? I fought off a group of men long enough that I was found.”

Melanie would be proud of me, and honestly that meant more than my mom being proud. I just wanted everyone here to know how low my mom was. Why? I don’t know considering they’d probably guessed based on her general demeanor.

Beck smiled at me saying, “I am proud of you. It was impressive. Ten on one is hardly fair odds, but you did quite well.” Was it ten? I thought it was eight. Were there more lurking?! Jeez. Beck’s pride felt like a balm to my soul. What the hell? I didn’t even know him. Why did it make me so happy that Roxie’s dad was proud of me?

Mom said, “Luke told me how you started a fight.” My jaw dropped as I explained, “That’s not true at all. They were the ones who followed me! I didn’t even know Luke was here. AGAIN! He’s a stalker. We need to report him, and I need a restraining order. Clearly.”

Mom yelled, “You will do no such thing!” I gasped, “You can’t be serious. Luke is stalking me and trying to beat me up with his friends! He could’ve killed me!” Mom sighed, “You’re so dramatic. Luke wouldn’t kill you.”

Beck said, “As I told you already, you’re wrong. Your daughter has been unconscious for a week. Tess had a serious concussion and cracked ribs. That blow to the head could’ve killed her.” Mom waved him off, “Luke told me they were trying to help her. They were simply trying to get her out of the area and the silly girl caused the fall.”

I asked, “Are you seriously blaming me right now?! Luke and his cronies attacked me! Have you ever heard of a trauma response?! I HAVE ONE! I will not be kidnapped again! I will fight with every breath in my body because GOD knows you won’t come save me.”

“You’ve already told me the only person I can count on in life is myself. So, believe me I already know that I have to fight for myself because no one else will. You took everyone away from me that cared, and now it’s just me. It’s ALWAYS just me since we left my first home.” Since Lux’s dad got custody.

Beck asked, “You’ve been kidnapped?!” Mom tried to charm him with a smile “I already told you she’s dramatic.” I shrieked, “YOU DID NOT JUST SAY DRAMATIC! Woman, you’ve not seen anything dramatic. I’m about to perform a whole Broadway musical for you.”

I pointed my finger at her, “It’s not dramatic to be terrified when men in masks show up, break into your apartment, and hit you. They threw me in the back of a van! My friend saved my life! She didn’t even know me at the time, and she came for me. Those guys were mentally disturbed talking about how they were Demons and…”

Mom yelled, “ENOUGH! Get out of this bed and get dressed. You’ve laid around long enough.” I retorted, “I was UNCONSCIOUS!” Mom sneered, “We are leaving. I met someone new, and we are going to…” She glanced at Beck then said, “None of their business. The point is that we are leaving.”

Beck said, “Let’s step into the hall and discuss this like adults.” I scoffed, “Best of luck, she’s no adult.” Mom rolled her eyes but Beck winked at me, and that safety feeling he exuded got stronger. I got out of bed and found some clothes. Someone must have gone to my place for them.

I went into the bathroom to change. I searched through my hairline for the cut I must have had from the rock, but I couldn’t find anything. I found my pills. I heard someone whisper, “No, don’t.” I smiled even though the voice in my head shouldn’t be comforting.

I whispered, “I’m sorry. I can’t go back to that place. I miss you though, Tatum. Maybe when I’m eighteen and mom doesn’t control me, we can try this thing called life together.” Tatum tried to talk fast, “I’m not just a voice in your head. I understand your worries, but I’m your wo….” She faded as I swallowed my pill.

Tears filled my eyes because I missed her already. Which was just ridiculous. I was losing my mind. I should’ve let Tatum finish what she was going to say though. Poor Tatum. I forced myself to walk back into the hospital room I’d been in.

Roxie jumped down from the window. I commented, “Wow. You’re graceful, like a cat.” Her eyes flashed and she growled before she laughed. Roxie disagreed, “Uhh nope, I’m definitely not like a cat.” I said, “Ok. Thanks for everything. By that I mean I heard you before I passed out, I guess.”

Roxie studied me, “Do you remember the wolves?” I nodded, “Yes. I probably would probably be scared that a pack of wolves were around, but I wasn’t. It was like when I heard them, I knew I was safe. I actually was relieved. That’s crazy right?” Roxie jolted as if I shocked her.

I continued, “Crazier is the, I guess I’ll go with aura, your brother and dad exude. It makes me feel so safe. Which is weird. I thought your brother had a safe feeling type aura, but your dad’s is on another level.” Roxie gasped, “No way. Listen Tess…”

Mom stormed back into the room and her eyes narrowed on Roxie. Mom grabbed my arm announcing, “We are leaving this place and these people.” I told her, “You need to thank them because they saved me, yet you’ve been nothing but rude. They took care of me, brought me to a hospital where I received care.”

“All while you couldn’t be bothered to care about me, my abusive ex, his stalkerish tendencies, and now he’s attempted to MURDER ME! You’ve been rude to Beck and now Roxie. Roxie is the one who found me, mom.”

Mom eyes narrowed muttered, “Yes, Roxie and I have met already.” I asked Roxie, “So, did my mom say thank you?” The odds were slim to none. Roxie snorted, “No, she yelled at me.” I gasped, “MOM! What on EARTH is wrong with you?!”

My mom actually had the audacity to reply, “I’m the parent here.” Roxie muttered, “Could’ve fooled me.” I snorted, “You have no idea. Parents, by definition, parent. You’ve never done so a day in my life, mom.” Roxie said to my mom, “She needs to know.”

Mom warned, “You shut your wretched mouth. You have no idea what you are talking about.” I gasped then my mom dragged me down the hall. Everyone there was growling. Roxie and her friends were strange, but they’d helped me.

Honestly, I liked them. Hell, maybe everyone was strange including me. I had a voice in my head that I missed, and I’d only talked to her twice. Maybe living a solitary life was bad for my mental health. That had to be the clear takeaway.

Roxie growled, “Dad.” My mom threatened them, “If you say another word, I’ll have you arrested for kidnapping.” I snorted, “That wouldn’t work considering I was attacked and they saved me.” Mom smirked, “Yes, but they don’t need the attention.”