The Silent Alpha (Natalia)

Chapter 8: First Sight

***Natalia***

Fk! F**k!

“KE V scream internally as I clock out and race out of the clinic.I’m going to be late!”

“Talia, wait!” Travis calls out as I rush past him in the parking lot.

Travis is a tall man with rippling muscles trying to break through his scrubs, with tan skin and the sexiest tattoos on his arms and chest.

He is the cute radiology tech every girl was pinning over.

But like every sexy man, he’s trouble; a known playboy who had all the girls in the clinic wrapped around his finger and for good reason too.

The man knew how to bend you over a desk and make you his slut.

“Sorry, Travis, but I’m late for picking up Dakota!” I call out breathlessly as I scramble to the bike racks.

“Doesn’t Sarah usually pick him up?” he chuckles as he trots over and watches me put on my helmet.

“Yes, but she’s out of town visiting family for a few days which means I have to pick him up,” I smile impatiently, unlocking the bike.

She was actually on business with some werewolves but I was not about to tell Travis that was running from her ex, a dragon King hellbent on dragging her back to his kingdom.

Being on the run, she and I both changed our names.

She was Sarah Davis while I was Talia Ramos.

“Well how about I give you a ride to the daycare center,” he says, giving me his mischievous grin.

“And then maybe we can talk about you going to dinner with me tomorrow night? Say 7 o’clock?”

I have to physically restrain myself from reaching over and smacking him over the head with my bike lock.

Travis and I had fooled around a few times before but I had always made it clear that this was just a business transaction.

No feelings, just a good f**k.That was the deal.

“Travis,” I sigh, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath.

“We have a good thing.Don’t ruin it, please.I’m not looking for anything else,” I shrug unapologetically.

“I’m not interested ina relationship.”

“Oh come on Talia,” he smirks.

“You know I’m crazy about you…Look I know I have a reputation but I’m not lying.You’re amazing …different from every other girl in this God forsaken town I frown at him.Does he take me for an i***t? He is literally a walking red flag! “

“Travis, stop it.I’m not interested.”

“I could take care of you and Dakota,”

He murmurs, his finger grazing my arms and I shiver in annoyance.

“If you let me.Don’t you want Dakota to have a dad?” anyone to take care of me.

Dakota and I were just fine on our own.

Kota didn’t need a father.He had me…

“I’m sorry, Travis but I really have to go,” I shrug, pushing past him and climbing on the bike.

“will you at least think about it?” He shouts as I pedal away and I fail to respond.

Oh Talia….

I mutter to myself.

What the f**k did you get yourself into? I push aside my thoughts about Travis and try to figure out what to do with Dakota while I’m working my shift at The Masque.

The only other people I know are Micah and Niki…

.Does Niki work tonight? f**k i can’t remember.

I arrive at the daycare center, the parking lot completely empty by now.

I curse Mrs.Freedman, my last patient, for talking her head off during her visit, and hurry into the building.

Through the large glass window, I peer into the classroom and see my little boy hard at work on a coloring book, his little red backpack already on his shoulders.

My heart skips a beat as I watch him color, his eyes furrowed in concentration and his little brown curls hanging low over his forehead.

Sensing my stare, Kota looks up at me and smiles with excitement, closing his book and jumping out of his seat.

I rush into the classroom and get down on my knees, spreading my arms out wide to receive him.

He collides right into me, nearly “Mommy, what are you doing here?”He giggles excitedly.

“Where’s aunty Gwen?”

I push back his curls from his face and stare into his beautiful big eyes.

They were unlike the eyes of any other, one eye being a gorgeous shade of cerulean and the other being the envy of chocolate with swirls of brown and amber.

Heterchromia wasn’t all that common and my Kota’s eyes were the talk of the town when he was first born.He was the little blue and brown eyed boy everyone loved.

I hear footsteps behind me and smile apologetically at the frowning teacher.

whom I

Mrs.Henry sighs heavily.

very lucky

her grin gives

says, wiggling her eyebrows at

to have around and knows how to keep a lady company.” Dakota smiles proudly at me as I

much, Mrs.Henry, for looking

back as I turn towards the

Talia?” She

turn towards her

“Yes?”

“Don’t forget that.”

eyes to keep my tears in.It was my biggest fear to fail Kota.He deserved the world and I sometimes felt

pushing the

carry Dakota down to the bike racks, forcing back my tears and putting on a smile for my

didn’t need to

Kota asks as I

on a trip,” I reply, strapping on

it’s just you and

gives me a

at him as I pull out my phone and dial

“Maybe,” I grin.

voice comes

it’s Talia,” I sigh, praying to

Sarah is out of

not a baby!” Dakota huffs in

little man

could love that

hop on the bike, Kota stretching out his arms to feel the

of Poulsbo, I finally

in his backpack and change out of my scrubs and into an

no way in hell I was riding my

comes rushing into the living, his helmet

look! I did it all by

I unbuckle his helmet and put

chirp, helping him back

going to Niki and Micah’s tonight, okay? So I need you to behave.Can you

gives me a quick nod and I hand

pedal down to the town

coworkers from

a waitress like me and Micah a bartender.I pull

the door while I

as she showers his chubby cheeks with kisses.She waves me inside and closes the door

house and I look over into the small kitchen to see a tiny woman hard at work over the stove.She is no more than 5 feet tall, with long

beauty, blushing furiously and waving politely at

being rude, I wave

Micah’s friend.” The woman smiles and

bad, babe,”

our friend Agnes.

Kota asks curiously, looking

doesn’t look like a ghost

can’t help but burst out laughing at his

mute.It means she can’t hear you or speak,” I explain

walk over to the woman

I hook my two thumbs together and pull them apart, using my fingers to sign my name.I slide my palms across each other, then bring my two pointer fingers together and finally point at

up as I finish and I hear Niki cry out

know how to sign? Since

am Talia.Nice to meet

I shrug.

a couple deaf patients and learned some

to teach me,” Niki

her son are staying with us until they can get their own place and they are both mute.We’ve just

ask, looking around for another

just missed him,”

HOT! LIKE HOT, HOT! Oh Talia, you should see him with Agnes.It’s the most adorable thing ever.He’s so sweet

giggles like a

it, Tal.Don’t be using your

and shake my head at

” I sigh, grabbing my

you for watching Kota for

calls out after me as

the club in the middle of town, storing the bike in the racks

of the town’s more prominent members liked to

Why? Simple

The Dress Code.

the building had to wear a mask to hide their identity.It could be any

flamboyant your local Halloween

No mask, no entrance.

The purpose was simple.

they pleased without fear of being judged by the public and the staff, specifically the dancers, could work without being labeled as

win-win for everyone and it worked

who was who under all

and drinks that were ordered, I knew some of the city council members were regulars and I could only assume police officers, doctors, teachers, and

entering the building, I put on a plain black masquerade mask and grab my uniform, going straight to the changing room and exchanging my black top and

every week for practically every fetish, ranging from full body leather suits to

of a black bralette, a lacy black and white choker, a piece of black fabric I barely considered a skirt, and a small white

stockings, and heels completed the look and I touch up my

these that

and mentally preparing myself to fight off drunkards all night, I walk out to the club hall, the music nearly blowing out my ear