Unknowing Alpha
D. L. Biranen
Copyright 2017 by D. L. Biranen
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Book Jacket Description
Chapter 1: It’s Mystery
Chapter 2: It’s Mine
Chapter 3: You Assume Too Much
Chapter 4: Don’t Touch Me
Chapter 5: We’re Together
Chapter 6: Don’t Shit With Me
Chapter 7: The Feeling’s Mutual
Chapter 8: Died In A Fire
Chapter 9: I Love You
About The Author
Other Books By The Author
Contact The Author
BOOK JACKET DESCRIPTION
When Alpha shows up at Bethany’s house in a car only a millionaire can afford, she realizes he is anything but the middleclass boy she thought him to be, and is concerned about what other secrets he holds.
Series of frontal attacks inform her of an unknown enemy. To make things even worse, Alpha who should be by her side deserts her and returns to being his old self, the lone Alpha. Bethany finds herself unknowing the Alpha she has tried so hard to know.
Will she accept the end of their relationship, or will she struggle to unmask the secrets behind his distance?
CHAPTER ONE
It’s Mystery
It all feels like Déjà vu. Alpha sits alone at his table, reading one of his many books. And I, I’m on my side of the cafeteria, with Liam and Paisley beside me, chattering about a gist I don’t care to catch. Sat in front of me is my barely touched pizza.
“It’s a new month, Beth,” Paisley says. “I can’t believe you’re still drooling over some guy who doesn’t even know you exist.”
I smirk. If only she knew. “It’s Beta,” I say, loving the sound of my new nickname. Soon, news of the newly birthed Alpha and Beta love story will be the hottest news. How cliché.
“Beta?” Liam asks. “Beta as in Beta wolf? The hell did that come from?”
“You’ll see,” I say. I rise to my feet and stroll towards Alpha. I can hear my friends call my name, trying to revive me from what seems to be the death of me.
Memories of my first encounter with Alpha flicker in my head, and from the way everyone stares at me, I can tell the ‘coke' drama is still fresh in their memories. They’re probably expecting him to give me the cold shoulder once again. Well, watch this, suckers.
Alpha looks up at me as I halt at his table. His eyes glitter in a way they never have. For a few moments, I lose myself in his mesmeric brown eyes, paying no mind to the nosy pupils gawking at me.
“Take a picture?” Alpha suggests with a sly smile that turns my legs into a messy puddle.
Still staring, I slide onto the seat opposite him. What words can I use to describe how supernaturally beautiful he looks this morning? There’s a smile on his face that’s never been there before. I can only hope I’m the reason behind his smile.
His eyes return to the book he’s been reading, making me snap back into reality. Envy takes the best of me, turning me red-hot. I should be the object of his undivided attention, not some stupid book.
“I read these books too,” I say, hoping to regain his attention. “Suspense and action. They’re great.”
Alpha looks away from his book. I should be proud of myself for achieving this in a split second, but I can’t get past the unimpressed look on his face.
“It’s mystery,” he says.
Mystery. I give myself a mental kick for letting it slip my mind. “Yeah, what I mean is, it’s a really fast paced mystery novel. That’s why I said action.”
He stares at me with that look in his eyes that makes me feel like I drank a cup of stupid before heading to his table.
“So, mystery is your thing?” he asks.
Not even close. I have better things to do than tangle my brain in the name of solving some pointless mystery. But what’s the harm in making him believe we have something in common?
“Yes,” I say. “Totally. It’s one of the many things we have in common.”
Punctuating my sentence with a sheepish smile, I look away and curl my fingers in my hair.
He stares at me for a second too long. I hold my breath and pray he doesn’t see through my lie. Smirking, he closes his book and trains his eyes on me.
My eyes twinkle with an excitement I don’t attempt to conceal. In barely even one minute, I succeeded in capturing his attention. This doesn’t come as a surprise, though. I know just how hot I am. And Alpha Jordan is not immune to hotness.
My smug smile melts away as Alpha hands me his book. “Here, I’m sure the mystery girl you are is dying to consume it.”
My face pales. I’m sure there’s a misunderstanding somewhere, because the only thing I’m dying to do is watch a raging fire consume it. There is no way in hell I’m reading it.
“No way,” I say.
“No?”
Hiding my disgust behind a simper, I push the book toward him. “It’s not that I don’t want to read it, but…”
He raises a brow, making unsaid words die on my lips. I lean back in my seat and draw in a deep breath. Wide eyed and unblinking, I stare at the priceless work of art before me. Holy cursed goodness, why does he have to be so hopelessly cute?
He says a word or two, but I’m hopelessly gawking at his pink lips, and the words don’t make it to my ears.
“What?” I ask.
Hitting me with a killer smile, he points at me and touches his lips. I blink. Once. Twice. Everything is still in place, so I know I’m not dreaming.
Holy fudgemonkey cow! Alpha Jordan has just asked me to kiss him. And in public. I sweep my eyes around the room. Everyone is staring. They are just as surprised as I am.
I look back at Alpha. We’ve shared a kiss already, but I could never have guessed he was one for public displays of affection. It’s not that I’m complaining or anything, but…
“You might want to close your mouth,” he says. “People are starting to stare.”
“What?” I ask. A sudden whoosh of self consciousness steals me over as I realize my mouth is agape.
A familiar, blood boiling laughter dances to my hearing. Liam. I glare at him. He claps his right palm over his mouth to suppress his laughter, but fails at it. The other witnesses of my shame are in what seems to be a laughing competition. My cheeks turn a demeaning shade of tomato. I hope they all die laughing.
Alpha chuckles. “That look on your face when you thought I asked you to kiss me.”
“I didn’t…” I seek to hide my perverted mind behind an excuse, but words fail me.
“Yes you did,” he says. “That explains why you were gawking at me like an…” Trailing off, he shakes his head.
“Go on,” I say.
“Never mind.”
I’m no fool. I know he meant to say I was gawking at him like an idiot. Okay, it’s of
ficial. I’m a love struck moron. That explains why I’m such a hopeless puddle around him.
“Back to why I can’t take the book,” I say, in a bid to restore my dignity. “Since you’re already reading it, it wouldn’t be fair to just interrupt the flow, you know.”
“I don’t mind,” he says. “It’s my forth time.”
“Are you kidding?” I ask. He’s read this book four solid times and it still looks like an unsold book in a book store? How on earth did he achieve this?
I pick up the book to have a closer look. My mistake.
“It’s yours for a week,” Alpha says. “I need you to leave an honest review on the author’s webpage once you’re done. It would mean a lot to him.”
Unable to conceal my disgust, I roll my eyes. “Do I have to do this?”
“Aren’t you the one trying hard to impress me? Well, here’s your chance, and not your spoilt rich girl act.”
Winking at me, he vacates his seat and swaggers out of the canteen. I stare at the book before me. I should go dig myself a grave, because I will definitely die of boredom before I even make it past the first chapter.
I make a mental note to never approach him when he’s with a boring mystery novel. This is going to be the most boring week of the century.
CHAPTER TWO
It’s Mine
Grunting my frustration, I roll over in bed and reach for my ringing phone. My groggy eyes find an unknown number on the screen.
I answer the call. “Hey?”
Silence greets me from the other end.
“Brad?” I ask. Getting no answer, I try again, “Henry? Uhm…Justin?”
“Sleep well?” the caller asks.
Oh my gosh! Alpha! With a hopeless grin, I bolt upright in bed and clear my throat to scratch out the remnant of my grogginess.
“Hi,” I say. “I mean, how did you get my number?” Once the question slips out of my mouth, I realize there is no greater fool than Bethany Howell.
Not every girl wakes up to a call from Alpha Jordan. Hell, he doesn’t even have their numbers. But here I am, giving him the impression that he’s bothering me. We’re supposed to be an item, so technically we should be done playing hard to get. How frustrating can I get?
“Am I interrupting something?” he asks.
Although I should still be in bed, I’d be plain stupid to tell him he interrupted my sleep. What would he think of me if he knew I stayed asleep till 10am? I don’t want to find out.
“No,” I say. “Good morning, Alpha.” I double check my voice, making sure it hovers between normal and sugar coated. I don’t want to scare him off with an overly artificial voice.
His next words cut through my thoughts. “Do you have any plans for today?”
My mouth goes dry as I grope for an answer. I bite my lower lip to interrupt a blossoming grin. Is this him yearning to spend a day with me?
My relationship with Alpha is too good to be true. When reality is too good to be true, it only means things are about to get bad. I’ve seen this in tons of movies.
“I’m free,” I say, although Brad and I already made plans to go out today. But that was B.A.E – Before Alpha Era.
“Why do I have a feeling you have a date with Brad or some other guy?” he asks, but doesn’t wait for me to answer. “Scratch that.”
“Is this a date?” I ask.
“What does it matter?” he asks. “We are going out. Why be so interested about adding a tag to it just yet?”
Alpha’s words translate as: Yes, this is definitely a date. But I want us to take this slow.
A grin spreads across my face. “Uhm…I’ll go get ready.”
“Okay.” He hangs up.
I punch the air and squeal like the love struck teenager that I am. Alpha and I are going on a date. Here comes the best day of the rest of my life.
***
Finding the right outfit eats up my time like a virus eating up memory space. If only I had a clue where we’re going, I’d be able to choose the perfect outfit.
Leaving a pile of clothes on my bed, I settle for a denim jacket, a white camisole, and skinny blue jeans. I stare at my under-dressed self in the mirror. My eyes droop, baring my displeasure.
Light makeup has never been my thing, but Alpha loves to have an undisturbed view of an underdressed girl’s freckles. And since I’m out to impress him, oh well.
I move to open my windows just in time to see a car steering toward our house. My heart does a flip turn, but a second look at the beast of a car steals the jitters from my stomach.
How is it possible he drives a car that’s a million times the price of mine? He obviously rented it, which is what worries me. Where did he get the money to rent it? Not even if he saves for a millennium can be afford a car like this. So how is it possible he’s in this car?
Placing my questions on hold, I exit the house and step in toward the car to have a closer look. Alpha is really in a Porsche Cayenne Turbo S.
The driver’s door gives way, letting him climb out of the SUV. He looks hotter than he’s ever been, if that’s any possible, considering that he’s always drop dead gorgeous. The glittering black car behind him gives him a billionaire look I can’t get past.
My gaze stays fixated on the car. “Is this real?”
“Real as your crush on me,” he says, smiling.
Cheeks burning, I say, “Alpha, I don’t understand. Where did you get the money to rent this? We should have just used mine.”
“It’s mine.”
A giggle escapes me. Since when did dogs have wings? My bank account would groan if I bought a car like this. And Alpha? With his social class, I doubt he can even afford the rear view mirror.
“Alpha, I know you’re trying so hard to impress me,” I say, touching his arm. “But you really didn’t have to go this far. I still don’t understand how you’re able to rent this. Did you rob a bank? Did you…”
“It’s mine."
CHAPTER THREE
You Assume Too Much
Two minutes of enjoying a ride in Alpha’s SUV, and no words have made it past my lips. Alpha’s words keep resounding in my head. ‘It’s mine.’
“What do you mean it’s yours?” I finally ask. Watching him command the steering wheel with a composure that none other than a car owner can possess, I am even more terrified.
When he doesn’t answer, I ask a more disturbing question. “Who are you?”
“Now this is laughable,” he says, although I find no amusement in his voice. “You don’t know a thing about me and yet you’re so bent on being my girlfriend. Who does that?”
“I know the basic things about you,” I say. “That’s something.”
“Indeed,” he says, a hint of mockery in his voice. “I doubt you know past my name.”
This is the most life-draining conversation I’ve ever had. I can already feel my blood boiling. “I know past your name, okay?”
“Prove it.”
“You are Alpha Jordan!”
“Middle name?”
“Are you kidding? How should I know your middle name? You don’t even know mine, so don’t even go there.”
“Marie,” he blurts out. My blood runs cold at the sound of the name. “Bethany Marie Howell.”
“How do you know?”
“Unlike you, I do my research before embarking on any project.”
Why does Alpha always find a way to make me feel worthless? I blink to expel the beat up look in my eyes.
“So, what’s your middle name?” I ask.
He grins at me, and although I’m offended by his last words, I can’t ignore the flutter of butterflies in my stomach. He returns his attention to the road, and for the next few moments, he drives in quietude.
“None,” he says. He gives me a moment to realize that he’d just humiliated me over nothing. “So, what else do you know about me?”
To be honest, the only thing I know other than his name is that he’s drop dead gorgeous, he’
s my classmate, and he’s middleclass. But how can I reconcile his middleclass status to the fact that he’s driving one of the most expensive SUVS, and that he bought me the expensive piece of jewelry hanging down my neck?
“You should just admit you don’t know past my name,” he says.
“You don’t know past my name either,” I shoot back.
“Bethany Marie Howell,” he says. “Only child of Katherine and Chester Howell. Your father owns a three star hotel he inherited from his…”
“Five star hotel,” I say.
He turns to look at me. “I wouldn’t call that a five star hotel.”
“Chester’s Castle is a five star hotel.”
“I have a thousand and one reasons why it doesn’t qualify as a five star hotel,” he says. “Should I start?”
I make no attempt to answer.
“I always hear that empty shells make the loudest noise,” he says. “Being with you just proves this to me a thousand times in a split second.”
I scoff. “If this was coming from someone like Miller Jordan’s son, it wouldn’t be completely meaningless. But coming from a middle class like you…”
“Would it kill you to think before you spoke?”
I think for a moment. “No. Why?”
“Because, trust me, not everyone wants to hear your assumptions.”
“Well at least they’re not complaining.”
“You assume too much.”
“And most of the time I’m correct,” I say. “Wait, why are we having this conversation? You should be explaining how you got this car.”
“You’re probably assuming I stole it,” he says.
I don’t attempt to deny. I can’t stop thinking he stole this car, and the last thing I want is getting my name associated with a stolen property.
He goes on, “And like I already told you, it’s mine.”
“How?”
“Miller Jordan is my father,” he says.
The news hits me like a hammer blow. Miller Jordan is one of the well known billionaire in town. He owns a football club and a couple other businesses, which includes a motor shop recently called AJ motors. It performs a number of services ranging from car repairs, rentals and sale.
It was rumored that he handed over his motor shop to his son on his 17th birthday. Now that I think of it, I find myself believing Alpha. If Alpha is Miller’s son, then AJ in the company name stands for Alpha Jordan.
I blurt out the next words that pop into my head. “You walk to school.”