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.

are you taking a day?” Susan pointed her nose down at this

as always,” Lita shrugged, knowing it was closer to five or six

sleep? Have

about four or five hours of sleep, but after the gym yesterday, I

best part is it’ll do wonders for your complexion and hair, which have

Lita would happily sit there every day until school started if it meant she could have some freedom. After that, she’d only have to go weekly to maintain her freedom as long as her grades stayed up. And

you haven’t been eating again…” Susan made a clicking sound with her tongue and Lita cringed. It was

with avocado last night after the gym,” Lita assured, knowing full well she had only picked at it for an hour and then drank a bottle of Gatorade. But it was better if Susan didn’t know that

dinner together. When she sat down to take the first bite, her appetite died,

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

a break until May. We live in the same building. That’s all. It

need a little push here and there. And with

I enjoy our

A week later

collapsed under a swell of air. Or rather, the lack of air. Her lungs didn’t seem capable of pulling in enough oxygen to sustain her. She was so out of shape, it was sad. The two minutes she’d spent running a slow cool down felt like ages and Gymhead, Alex, was no help in that department, smiling like an infuriating idiot as she suffocated from the inside. She pushed harder against her exhaustion, nearly ready

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 them. She stumbled again, this time out of fear instead of exhaustion,

the machine. After a twenty-minute cardio warm-up, a forty-five minute weightlifting regimen in which he claimed you don’t stop, you switch muscle groups, a fifteen-minute water

up. Gymhead,” Lita managed between

gulped, spilling most of it down onto her oversized hoodie. With how much sweat had already soaked in, she could hardly tell the difference. It was as if her entire body were devoid of all its water at the end of every training session. She couldn’t even be bothered to care if she smelled. Had Alex warned her about wearing layers? Yes. But he

happened yet. Instead, Alex spent the last week punishing her body. He probably remembered it differently, but the way her muscles tightened and ached, punishment was the only comparison. Underneath all the pain, though, Lita felt so relieved she could

enough relief that she pretended not to see Alex and the others 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

a day. I have to lead a real workout now,”

separated 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

off of him with gentle arms. He waited until she seemed 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