Taming His Alpha Female

a tumble

*Miranda’s POV*

“Where is that gorgeous man you left with?” Lillian asked as she turned to look at me over the back of our leather couch.

“I don’t know? Home perhaps?” I told her as I placed my keys on the counter.

“Spill,” she prodded, a mischievous smile playing on her lips as she rounded the couch and joined me in the kitchen.

“well...” I started, leaning against the counter, blushing.

“Oh my gosh,” she said, her eyes widened in shock, “are you?”

“Am I what?” I asked, trying to hide a smile.

“Are you falling for him?”

The buzzing of my phone saved me from answering her question. Was I falling for him? I have never been in love. How would I know? I looked down at the screen and my energy drained from my body in an instant as soon as I recognized the number. It was my darling mother. I looked at Lil for support. She only shrugged her shoulders. I was on my own in dealing with her.

“Mother?” I answered flatly.

“Miranda, where are you?!” she exclaimed into the receiver. It forced me to hold the phone away from my ear out of fear that she may damage my hearing. She’s damaged enough of me already. “We are having a pack supper, in honour of your cousin. Are you so heartless to refuse your support?”

“I forgot, sorry!” I said clipped, my lips pulling into a tight line as agitation boiled up in me. “It’s just a dinner.”

“Honestly, Miranda, I am disappointed in you. If this is how you plan to lead the pack, I doubt you are fit for the position at all.” She sighed audibly, and I resisted the urge to hang up on her call. “What could be more important than family? s*x is overrated and being a w***e hurts not only your reputation but your family’s as well.”

“Yes mother,” I said, my chest flooding with the weight of the pain she caused me. One’s mother should be your guardian, your safe place... mine was my worst critic.

“I expect to see you here for breakfast, and I expect you to apologize to Mari.”

“Yes, mother,” I said, my words barely audible as I sank into the barstool at the counter. I could stand my ground against tough and mean ass werewolves who were much bigger than me, but my mother intimidated me on a level that had me fumbling at my words and drained the energy right out of my soul. Would I ever be good enough for her? The irony is that they weighed her against my aunt, Mari’s mother, and her parents always favoured my aunt above her. Now I suffered the same fate, and it ate me alive.

“What was that?” Lil asked as I set down the phone. My heart felt as dark and cold as the black marble counter top under my elbows. She knew the affect my parents had on me, and even though she couldn’t relate, she witnessed the affect.

“Same story, different day,” I sighed, flattening my cheek against the icy surface. Drained. Twice in one day had they ripped the mat right out from under me, and I hated them for it. The thing I hated most was that despite their actions, I still craved their approval. I could almost see the eight-year-old version of myself standing alone in the driveway, tears rolling down my cheeks after the gift they gave me, a small pink truck filled with sweets, taken away and given to Mari... all because she was careless with hers and broke it. She’s young, they said, you should understand. Well... I didn’t understand, and I still don’t. Maybe that’s why I didn’t want to accept George as my mate, out of the fear that he, too, would be reclaimed like that pink truck.

“They don’t deserve you, chick,” she said, wrapping her arm around my shoulders. “They are terrible people for treating you the way they do.”

“I still hurt though,” I told her as I felt my nose tingle and my vision blur as tears set in.

“Come, let’s go out tonight,” she said, pulling at me. I wasn’t eager to join her. I didn’t think I could muster the energy needed to stand up from where I’d sat. “Come on!”

“I can’t, lady, not tonight. Honestly, I think I’m just going to take a shower and go to bed.

*George’s POV*

I took a sip from the cold tumbler in my hand, watching the amber liquid swirl along with half melted cubes of ice. The sound of laughter from the crowd behind me as I sat at the bar across the road from her apartment only made me feel even more lonely than what I had before coming here. I knew I was supposed to meet AJ and Gigi at the motel, but I just couldn’t bear leaving her just yet. Even though she wasn’t within my reach, I could see her window from where I sat at the long copper plated bar.

“Can I get you anything else?” the bartender asked. I looked down at my now empty glass and could find only one answer: her. She was all I wanted, and all that was on my mind. If he could get me her, I would be forever in his debt. Something told me that I could only capture the woman of my dreams when she allowed herself to be, and she didn’t even want me inside her livingroom, not to mention her heart.

“Another,” I said, lifting my glass and handing it to him. He only nodded, understanding the unspoken need I carried with me. My phone started buzzing in my pocket and I wondered if I should even answer. I was expecting to see Gigi’s name on the caller ID, and I didn’t want her to hear my voice right now. I was terrible at hiding my feelings, and she was terrible at letting it go. I didn’t want to say goodbye on a note like that. After two more rings, I braced myself and pulled my black smartphone from my pocket, seeing an unknown number on the screen.

“George hello?” I greeted the person on the other side with hesitation in my voice. The only person who I had handed my number to recently was Miranda, when I slipped it into her jacket’s pocket before leaving the elevator. I didn’t expect her to use it. She didn’t strike me as the type who would give in so easily, especially not this fast.

“Hi, George, this is Lillian... Miranda’s best friend. We met briefly at the apartment.” My heart started racing, and I felt my skin grow cold. Why was she calling? Had something happened to my mate? I felt my wolf pacing about anxiously. The bartender placed another filled glass in front of me. I only tipped my chin in thanks as I listened to Lillian.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?” I couldn’t stand small talk when I felt something was wrong.

“Um... Yes and no.” She answered. Vague much. My wolf snapped in frustration.

“Yes or no, Lil?” I said in one steady breath. I was trying to be good, be calm.

“Physically, she’s fine. Emotionally... she’s not in a good place. After seeing her face after spending time with you, I figured you were the right person to call for backup.”

“I will be right there,” I told her, grabbing my glass and pouring its contents down my throat in one quick gulp. “And Lil... Thank you.”

She hung up the phone shortly after I thanked her. Setting down a bundle of notes on the bar, I hurried across the road. I probably overpaid the bartender by a long shot, but I didn’t care. He could keep it. I didn’t want to waste time counting down money and calculating what I owed. If my mate needed me, I was going to be sure to be there for her.

I reached her door in record time. I wanted to knock, but found the door swing open before I could. The blonde I saw earlier, Lillian, stood before me, wearing a grin that practically spread from ear to ear.