In the Alpha’s Arms

Therapy

“Miss Dillard, punctual as always, please have a seat,” Susan motioned. She’d been Lita’s therapist for the last month, exactly one day after Lita moved into her apartment. But ever since the first visit, she always insisted that Lita call her Susan, to show that her office was a friendly space. But it wasn’t and Lita knew that, simply from the fact that Susan never called her Lita. It was always Miss Dillard.

“So, what’s new on my mother’s agenda?” Lita asked, dismissing any pleasantries at the door. She slumped onto the overpriced leather couch with a scowl.

“Your mother says hello, as always, and once again, I’m here to remind you she only wants what’s best for you. We’re here today to discuss the gym again. It’s important for you to take better care of yourself. Have you found a suitable location? I have a few suggestions that your mother has approved, if you’d like.”

“No thanks, Susan. I found one yesterday. Here’s the receipt,” Lita snipped, practically tossing the half-crumpled piece of paper into Susan’s hands. The woman cleared her throat and cleaned her glasses slowly before taking up the piece of receipt paper in her hands.

“Mmm, there’s no name here. It just says Athletic club on the line item. What’s it called? Where is it?”

“It’s pretty far, but I like the drive,” Lita smiled with an attitude, “Gives me lots of time to think. And I prefer to keep the name to myself. I was told I could select my gym, and I did. It shouldn’t matter where it is. Anyway, I figured the cost would satisfy mother, ensuring I’ve chosen a location suitable for a family of our caliber.” Lita hated to speak that way. It was elitist and implied others were lesser because they were not wealthy. But it was the language both Susan and Lita’s mother loved to hear. It validated that Lita was absorbing their training.

Susan nodded thoughtfully, “Yes, I suppose exclusive gyms don’t need to advertise on their receipts. The word of mouth is sufficient. Yes, I think she’ll be pleased with this.”

Susan tucked the paper into a file folder and grabbed her notepad, “Shall we get started?”

Lita nodded.

“How is your aggression today, on a scale of 1-10?”

Eleven, Lita thought. “Two,” Lita answered aloud.

“And your anger?”

Twelve, Lita growled in her own head. “One,” she sighed, tired of answering the same litany of questions every day.

pointed her nose down at this

was closer

Have

five hours of sleep, but after the

the best part is it’ll do wonders for your complexion

day until school started if it meant she could have some freedom. After that,

Susan made a clicking sound with her

knowing full well she had only picked at it

had been famished until Brian showed up, demanding they have dinner together. When she sat down to take

with such a handsome young man, and at a prime age for marriage, too.” Was she referring to Lita’s 18 years or Brian’s 23? Neither seemed prime

not live together. We are on a break until May. We live in the

take time to blossom, Miss Dillard, sometimes we all need a little push here and

clock, “As much as I enjoy our chats, looks

A week later

of pulling in enough oxygen to sustain her. She was so out of shape, it was sad. The two minutes she’d spent running

Her legs felt like jelly, ready to slip off her body at any moment. She was stumbling with each step. In another moment or two, she would probably hit the moving band of the treadmill and embarrass herself completely. Maybe she’d be lucky enough to knock herself out so she wouldn’t have to hear Alex’s barking laugh again. Then she considered the marks that falling might leave behind and how Brian might react to

minute weightlifting regimen in which he claimed you don’t stop, you switch muscle groups, a fifteen-minute water break that ended with the protein bar Alex tossed her, and a back breaking series of exercises designed to teach her body control, Lita was well past the breaking point. She’d stopped feeling her legs thirty minutes ago. It was a miracle the cool down hadn’t killed her. Still, that fire in her chest burned with

up. Gymhead,” Lita managed between strangled breaths, “But.

had already soaked in, she could hardly tell the difference. It was as if her entire body were devoid

other women, the so-called ring bunnies, but it hadn’t happened yet. Instead, Alex spent the last week punishing her body. He probably remembered it

snickering about her during the break. Plus, Lita had improved like crazy, mostly because whenever she was about to pass out, Alex stuffed a protein bar in her face. She always left exhausted, which helped her sleep and over the last week, it even helped her gain a small appetite as long as she could avoid Brian when dinner time came. Something about exercising was working to pull her out of her own head, she just wasn’t sure if it was the training or the fact that during training, she wasn’t thinking about all

lead a real workout now,” Alex grumbled as he walked away. “Fifteen-minute, full

from his skin by a thin tank. His muscles were warm and as she pushed away to right herself, she missed it. Why did she miss something so simple as a hug? Even as messy and uncomfortable as that one had been. She didn’t really miss the hug. She missed James. And feeling safe. No part of her was afraid of Alex. He was an asshole, sure, but he didn’t have that same fire in his eyes that Brian often had.

steady before he let go. “You got two left feet or what? And why do you want to watch other people work out?” His eyes flicked to her wrists for a moment, but they were covered. It was as if he was