The Merciless Alpha(erotica)

“No. You are my fiance,’ and that isn’t up for discussion. It’s better to let her know you are moving on in your life, with or without her. Don’t take that ring off for her.”

“You’re right,” I said. “I’m not going to apologize for anything other than sleeping with John without protection. Everything I did after that, I’m proud of.”

“Damn right.” We parked nearby, and he held my hand as we took the elevator up to Jimmy’s. The hotel bar was old-fashioned, hearkening back to the days of speakeasies. Leather furniture, dark oak woodwork, and a wide selection of spirits and food awaited us per the website. I’d never been there.

I spotted Mom moments after walking in. She had taken one of the small tables near the window, the low leather chairs around it. She looked surprised that I didn’t show up with Vicki. “Mom, this is my fiance’, Brent Lawrence. Brent, my mother, Kathryn Andersen.”

Brent held out his hand to her; she paused for a moment, looking at my ring, then shook it briefly. “It’s nice to meet you,” he said. “We missed you at the funeral.”

“Thank you for coming,” she said. The waitress went off to get us diet cokes, plus another cocktail for Mom. I didn’t know if we’d be staying long enough to eat yet. “This is hard,” she said. “I’ve been told all my life that I needed to follow the lead of my husband, but I just can’t do it anymore. He was wrong to disown you, Olivia. I’m so sorry.”

“Sorry? About what? About pushing me away in my time of need? About valuing your reputation in the community above your own daughter? About pretending your granddaughter doesn’t exist?” Mom was crying now. It hit me. “Dad doesn’t know you’re talking to me, does he.”

She managed to shake her head, no. “He thinks I’m visiting my sister in Duluth.”

Wonderful. “Why are you here? You’ve never defied Father in anything.”

“And what did that gain me? My MOM died, and I didn’t talk to her for the last five years of her life because she took you in after we disowned you. Sitting in that church, I realized I would NEVER get that time back with her, or with you, or with Vicki. I have a granddaughter who is almost five, and she hates me.”

“Vicki doesn’t hate you any more than I do, Mom. She doesn’t understand.” I’d never talked badly about my parents in front of her, for just this reason.

“After Nick left for home, I called my pastor. I’d never told anyone the full story; for an hour, I poured out everything to him, ending with what Vicki asked me at the funeral. When I was done, I asked him what I should do.”

“What did he say,” Brent asked.

“He asked how it was working for me so far,” Mom said. “I broke down crying. I told him my family was torn apart and I couldn’t bear to continue this way. He then told me what an IDIOT I was to do this to you. He reminded me that true love required forgiveness, and I had shown none. You made a mistake, but you moved forward and raised a wonderful little girl without us. If you can find it in your heart to forgive me, I’d like to have you in my life again.”

Wow. “What is Dad going to say about this?”

“He and I will be having a long talk when I get home. I can’t go on like this, Olivia. I love you, and I miss you.”

Was it enough? Would my father change his mind? None of these questions mattered as I moved into my mother’s arms for the first time in almost six years. We let the pain and heartbreak of all those years out, in public, as the bar patrons tried to ignore us. Finally, I said those three words I never expected to say to her. “I forgive you.”

Alpha Leo Volkov’s POV

The house cleared out as the new Pack members returned home, and Liv and Brent went off to meet Liv’s mother. I called ahead to The Smokin’ Oak and reserved a large table, to the shock of the hostess. I’d been going there on Sundays for years, always alone, always at the same table.

Anita drove my truck, and I was stuck in the back with Vicki. My scooter was driven up into the bed using ramps, then strapped in place. Adrienne rode shotgun, as I pointed out some of the local sights as we drove east towards Red Wing. Mike drove the second car with Larry and Donna, and Brian Knight drove a third with his mate Carla. Susan was up in Minneapolis, getting close enough to Todd to link to him about the agreement we’d made.

Anita parked in a handicapped entrance, using the temporary tag my doctor had given me. The smell hit us before the truck doors even opened. The smell of open fire and meat was thick. My wolf and I loved the scent of the place.

It took a few minutes to get my scooter down and join the rest inside, where they waited by the hostess table. “I think I might like this place,” Adrienne said as she stood behind me.

“I want RIBS,” a fascinated Vicki said as she watched the meat moving around. Mike had picked her up so she could see over the screen that kept children from burning themselves.

The owners knew how to get people in; the oak fire and rotisseries were right by the entrance. Motorized racks carried slabs of pork ribs, whole chickens, pork shoulders and beef around, letting them taste the flames and then move away to slowly cook and rotate. We were brought to our table, and I had Adrienne on my right and Vicki on my left as we sat down. The waitress passed out menus and took our drink orders. “It all sounds so good,” Adrienne said.

“May I suggest something,” I asked and she quickly agreed. “The Rotisserie Sampler Platter to share. We get ribs, chicken, pulled pork, brisket and beef tips plus the sides.”

“I want RIBS,” Sharkbait said, “And I don’t want to share!”

We gave our orders, then the waitress asked Vicki if she wanted chicken strips or macaroni and cheese from the kid’s menu. “Full rack of ribs, please,” she said. Our waitress looked at me and I nodded, so she wrote it down and moved on.

An hour later, she put the last of thirteen rib bones down onto her plate.

“Where does she put it,” Adrienne said as she looked over at her. We’d finished ten minutes earlier, and I think she expected to eat some of her ribs, too.

Vicki went to point at her tummy, but her hand was caught by Anita and the wet wipe she had in her hand. Vicki’s hands and face were cleaned of the sauce, which took several wipes, then she took her to the Ladies Room to wash up. Mike followed, standing guard outside the door without being told.

“She’s quite the girl,” Adrienne said. “I can see why you claimed her.”

“She saved me as much as I saved her,” I said. I told my mate the story about my friendship with Liv, and my decision to give her Catherine’s car.

“Did you have a romantic interest in her?”

“No, and even if I had, she wouldn’t have gone along with it. At the time, I had nothing. I decided to go through Catherine’s things, finally, and I knew she could use reliable transportation. I didn’t need the money as much as I needed to feel I had done something worthwhile. I knew she had a daughter, but I didn’t know she was a werewolf until I was invited to her place for Christmas. Vicki hadn’t shifted and was completely unprotected; my wolf claimed her as his own that day.”

“I can’t believe there was a preschool werewolf child out there with no one around to help her,” Adrienne said with a shiver. “If she had her first shift among humans, it would have been a disaster. You did the right thing; even the Council would have struggled with helping her since she had no ties to any Pack.”

“They are more than just my Pack members. I see Liv as the daughter I should have had, and Vicki as my heir. I love them both, and I hope you’ll grow to love them as I have.”

“That girl could melt the hardest heart,” she said. “Mike said she spent twenty seconds with Liv’s Mom. I bet they find a way to reconcile, just to spend time with her grandchild.”

“They were foolish, and it cost them years of memories,” I said. “I was foolish, and it almost cost me you.”

“You recovered a lot faster,” she said as she squeezed my hand under the table. “As long as we are still breathing, there’s still a chance.”NôvelDrama.Org content rights.

Sharkbait came running back to the table, giving both of us a quick hug before we sat down. “What was that for?”

“Dessert, Unky Leo?”

I reached across with my right hand and tapped her distended stomach. “I don’t think there is room in there for anything, Sharkbait. Even Great Whites stop eating when their stomach is full.”

“But… they have CHOCOLATE CAKE here. With ICE CREAM.”

I looked over at Adrienne, who was trying not to laugh. “Would you like dessert, love?”

“I couldn’t eat a whole piece,” she said. “Maybe we get one slice with three forks?”

“Yaaay,” Vicki said. A few others decided to share desserts, and we somehow managed to put the thick slice away. I put a stack of cash down to cover the bill and a generous tip, then used the restroom before we left. Once again, I was frustrated by the injuries. I couldn’t wait until I could get my arm out of the sling and get a walking boot.

As I waited in the back seat for the scooter to be tied down, I checked in with Brent. I was pleased that there was reconciliation occurring with Liv’s mother; I didn’t want her to be without family at her wedding. “We are eating dinner here, then Liv is going to go up to her room for a while. I think I’ll try their fine whiskey collection while I’m waiting.”

“Take as much time as you need. Sharkbait can barely stay awake, so we’ll get her home and to bed. Tell Liv that she ate a full rack of ribs by herself.”

“Wow. That’s impressive.”