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.

I

Mrs.Henry sighs heavily.

are very lucky

her grin gives her

here,” she says, wiggling her eyebrows at

lady company.” Dakota smiles proudly at me as

much, Mrs.Henry, for

she smiles back as I

Talia?” She calls

turn towards

“Yes?”

“Don’t forget that.”

biggest fear to fail Kota.He deserved the world and I sometimes

you,” I whisper, pushing the door open with my

back my

need to see

is aunty Gwen?” Kota asks as I set him down on the

trip,”

just you and me

me a cheeky

nuggets for dinner?” I smile at him as I pull out my phone and

“Maybe,” I grin.

voice comes

to

you think you could watch Kota tonight? Sarah

baby!” Dakota huffs in his

little man sitter,”

think you could love

the bike, Kota stretching out his arms to feel the wind rushing past

a quick pedal to the outskirts of Poulsbo, I finally make it

backpack and change out of my scrubs and into

was riding my bike around in

into the living, his helmet

it all by myself,”

laugh as I unbuckle his helmet and put it on the right

helping him back

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

a quick nod and I hand him an

town center where

are two coworkers

a waitress like me and Micah a bartender.I pull up to their apartment and

the door while I tie up the bike.How’s my cute little

cheeks with kisses.She waves me inside and

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

woman notices me admiring her beauty, blushing furiously and waving

rude, I wave back

Niki and Micah’s friend.” The woman smiles and nods

my bad, babe,”

Agnes. She’s deaf and mute

dead?!” Kota asks curiously, looking back

like a

I can’t help but burst out laughing at

means she can’t hear you or speak,”

the woman

fingers to sign my name.I

finish

how to sign? Since when? What did you

am Talia.Nice

I shrug.

deaf patients and learned some basic signs to

teach me,” Niki

place and they are both mute.We’ve just

son?” I ask, looking around

missed him,” Niki

Talia, you should see him with Agnes.It’s the most adorable thing ever.He’s so

giggles like a

dibs! I mean it, Tal.Don’t be

eyes and

dream of it, ” I sigh, grabbing my keys and

for watching Kota for me.You’re a

out after me

the middle of town, storing the bike in the racks

some of the town’s more prominent members liked to

Why? Simple

The Dress Code.

to wear a mask to hide

flamboyant your local Halloween

No mask, no entrance.

The purpose was simple.

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

was a win-win for everyone and

to guess who was who under all the

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

going straight to the changing room

fetish, ranging from full body leather

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

look and

these that I really

myself to fight off drunkards all night, I walk