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.

Susan pointed her nose down at this one, trying

knowing it was closer to five or

sleep? Have

getting about four or five hours of

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

and prejudice. But in the end, 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 if all of it meant she’d be able to go to a school on the other side of the country from her parents, she was willing to do anything. Joining the gym and the possibility of getting

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

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

have dinner together. When she sat down to take the first bite, her appetite died, like it always did after he reminded

a handsome young man, and at a prime age for marriage, too.” Was she referring to Lita’s

on a break until May. We live in the same building.

good things take time to blossom, Miss Dillard, sometimes we all need a little push here and there. And

much as I enjoy

A week later

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

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 them. She stumbled again, this time out of fear instead of exhaustion, grabbing the stabilizing bars for

a forty-five 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

Gymhead,” Lita managed between

still couldn’t understand what kind of personal training this was. Was he spending the last week trying to train her or kill her? She hobbled over to the water fountain and gulped, spilling most of it down onto her oversized hoodie. With how much sweat had already soaked in, she could

with 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 differently, but the way her muscles tightened and ached, punishment was the only comparison. Underneath all the pain,

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,

Let’s call it a day. I have to lead a real workout now,” Alex grumbled as he walked away. “Fifteen-minute, full

stay and watch.” Her foot slipped as she tried to get his attention and she tumbled into him. Thankfully, he opened his arms to help brace her, but she found her face against his chest, only 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 have that same fire in his eyes that Brian often

Alex snapped, pushing her 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