The Alpha's Abused Mate

Argument

"I'm telling you, Christina, that so far everything has been perfect," Serena said to her friend excitedly on the telephone. "He's been the perfect gentleman and the s*x" she, blushed. " Well, that's been amazing."

Christina could hear just how happy her friend was by the sound of her voice, and the way she spoke about her new husband. But she still had her misgivings about Johnathon. She wasn't sure what it was about him that she instantly disliked, but she knew there was just something off about him. He was way too perfect in his behavior and in his grooming. Not to mention, she could tell that the feeling was mutual and that Johnathon didn't like her either, which was fine with Christina. All she cared about was Serena.

"What about your work? Are you going to go back to the diner?" asked Christina tentatively, holding the phone in her hand, while also cruising the internet at the same time.

This time when Serena spoke, she was hesitant, not sure how much she should divulge to her friend. In the end, she chose to speak the truth. "I'm not sure, Johnathon and I haven't fully discussed it yet", she admitted, "and his opinion matters as well."

Christina wryly shook her head, glad Serena couldn't see the expression on her face. Her friend had become so timid, not wanting to displease her husband in any way, shape or form. It was disgusting.

"I thought you liked working in the diner" she said instead, "you said that it was always good to be able to earn your own money."

"I do like working in the diner" Serena weakly protested, "but Johnathon says that I shouldn't need to work, not when I'm married to him. He's worried I'll embarrass him" she added sadly.

Christina snorted. "You shouldn't care so much about what he thinks. If working makes you happy, then you should go back to work. There is nothing embarrassing about it. It's all in his head" she said firmly.

Serena sighed. Christina just didn't understand how difficult it was to please Johnathon. Looks were important to him and how his wife was perceived. If she did go back to work, she knew that she would have to argue with him about it. Was it really worth causing trouble? She didn't know anymore.

"Maybe you're right" Serena said thickly, "but I can't go against my husband Christina. Not this early in the marriage. I'm hoping he'll see reason when my holiday is up, but until then, I'll keep quiet on the matter. "

Christina scowled. She wished Serena would speak up for herself a bit more, instead of always worrying about Johnathon and what he might think. That was no way to have a relationship, as far as she was concerned.

"Well, when are you coming to see me" teased Christina. "I'm only a pack away, you know. I would love to see you before you get so wrapped up in Johnathon that you forget all about me" she added darkly.

Serena laughed. "I'm not going to forget about you. I'll ask Johnathon about coming up for a visit when we have some spare time. How do you feel about that?"

"I'll be ecstatic when you make it up here to my little pack" Christina said drily.

"How's work?"

"Same old boring routine" Christina said with a shrug, forgetting Serena couldn't see it. "You know I'm jealous of you. You've found love already and I'm becoming an old spinster lady" she exclaimed.

This time Serena threw back her head and laughed, tears coming to her eyes. She couldn't help it. The image of Christina as an old maid in her mind was just too funny.

"You're anything but an old maid" she assured her friend, "and some guy is going to be lucky to find you. You just have to be patient."

"I am patient" Christina countered back, "and whoever this guy is, he had better hurry up. I have not had s*x in months and my p***y is getting cobwebs down there."

Serena snorted. Unlike herself, Christina was most definitely not a virgin and wasn't saving herself for marriage. She claimed life was too short and that she enjoyed s*x too much. Having now experienced s*x herself, Serena really didn't blame her.

"Prince Charming will come" Serena told her, laughing. " Just have faith."

"Screw Prince Charming", Christina said giggling, "I want a bad boy to have some fun with. Someone who makes my heart race and my palms get sweaty. Now that's a hunk" she finished.

"Christina" scolded Serena, "surely you want more than a bad boy."

"I'm telling you Serena, the best s*x is always with the bad boy."

Serena sighed. There was no persuading her friend to find a guy like Johnathon. She found him to be too boring and tedious and liked excitement too much to ever consider dating someone like him. Serena wished she could find someone. She deserved to find love just as much as Serena had. Especially considering the two of them had been inseparable since they were sixteen. She leaned back on the sofa and crossed her ankles, feeling relaxed for the moment, eyeing the clock and wondering what time Johnathon might come back today. Because he ran his own company, Johnathon kept irregular hours, meaning Serena never knew when to expect him. He could be back late in the morning, late evening or even late at night, depending on how heavy his workload was.

"You know, I wish you were here, Christina, sometimes I feel so lonely" Serena confessed in a whisper, "he's only been back for a few days, but I find the time goes so slowly without him."

"Another reason to go back to work" said Christina with determination, "it will keep you busy and give you something to do. Something to pass the time with and will ensure you're not always reliant on Johnathon for money."

That was true, perhaps she should go back to work, thought Serena slowly.

She was so intent on speaking to Christina that she failed to hear the sound of Johnathon unlocking the front door or stepping inside the house.

"I think you might be right. I'll talk to him about it" she said excitedly. "Thanks Christina."

She jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up into Johnathon's dark piercing eyes with a gulp. He looked absolutely furious and she wondered if perhaps, he had had a bad day at work or something. She clutched the cellphone with sudden trembling fingers.

"Is something wrong" Serena asked him as Christina waited on the other end, wondering why she couldn't hear Serena clearly anymore.

"Get off the phone" he hissed, his eyes flashing black. Serena decided wisely, that now was not the time to protest and quickly put the phone back to her ear.

"Christina, I have to go. I'll talk to you again soon, okay" she said hastily, before rapidly hanging up.

Christina stared at her cellphone in disbelief. Serena had just hung up on her! She seethed and put the phone down, stomping off to do some housework.

"I don't understand Johnathon, what's wrong?" asked Serena, hopping off the couch and standing up. "Was it bad at work today?"

He looked at her, gritting his teeth. His gaze went around the house, where there were some empty dishes lying on the sink and on the coffee table. Had she done any work at all while he had slaved away at work?

"Look at this mess" he hissed instead, gesturing with his hands.

Serena blinked, surprised. She had spent the day cleaning and while there were some dishes that still needed doing, the place was relatively tidy and clean. Surely he wasn't this upset about a few measly dishes on the sink and on the coffee table? She had been planning on doing them but then Christina had called and she had gotten distracted.

"I'm sorry" she stammered. "I'll do the dishes right away."

"Don't bother" ranted Johnathon, thoroughly fed up and taking it out on his new wife. " Here I've been slaving away at work and you're sitting on your lazy ass doing nothing, except chatting to that b***h of a friend of yours, Christina."

Serena felt like the wind was knocked out of her. This was not like Johnathon at all, she thought, a bit dazed. This man standing in front of her was more like a complete stranger. She bit her lip. "I was just having small talk with Christina, that's all. She's not a b***h Johnathon" she said indignantly. "I can't believe you called her that."

He folded his arms and stared down at her, moving closer so that she felt like she needed to back away, her back hitting the wall with a small thump. "I don't like it" he said simply as she stared in stupefaction.

He didn't like what? She wondered to herself.

"You don't like it" she repeated stupidly.

"I don't like you talking to Christina. She's a bad influence on you. I know she doesn't like me, Serena. She's made that abundantly clear on many occasions. She's trying to persuade you to leave me, I just know it."

He was delusional, thought Serena, opening her mouth to correct him. "That's not true. She called me to catch up, that's all."

"Really, then what is it that you wanted to talk to me about? I heard you say it as I came into the house. So what is it" he demanded with a low growl that had her heart racing and her palms beginning to sweat with perspiration.

She wiped her hands on her dress and tried to force a smile on her face. "We were talking about me maybe going back to work, you know, so that I have something to do" she said softly.

He sneered at her. "You have plenty to do with your time" he said heatedly, "the house needs cleaning and you will need to attend business dinners with me. I can't have my wife working, the business partners will make fun of me if they find out. Besides," he snarled, "what exactly do you need money for anyway? I provide you with everything you need."

He did, acknowledged Serena. He was generous with his money, telling her to buy everything that she needed, but it would still be nice to have some financial freedom.

"You do provide me with everything, but it would be nice to earn my own money" Serena said quietly. "I feel guilty spending yours."

Johnathon gave a large huff. "I expect you to spend it. You need to look the part of a wealthy wife. I can't have you running around in rags for heaven's sake. As for working, I thought we agreed that you wouldn't?"

Not really, thought Serena miserably. He had demanded it and she had procrastinated. Now it was biting her in the ass. "Johnathon, I don't really want to keep arguing", she began.

"Then don't," he snapped, "you started this argument, you and that bloody Christina. You need to choose better friends, Serena. Ones that are in the same circle as you."

"I'm not going to abandon my friend" Serena told him with a raised eyebrow, folding her own arms over him "she's been my friend since we were teenagers, Johnathon, you know that."

"You know what" Johnathon said bluntly with a curl of his lips "I'm really not in the mood to keep speaking to you right now. I think I'm going to go back to the office", he snapped as she stiffened.

He was running away from the fight, thought Serena, annoyed. But it was his next words that stopped her completely in her tracks and caused her to stare at him with bewilderment and hurt.

"We're sleeping in separate rooms tonight. I'm too angry to want to look at your face when I come back, so I'll sleep in the spare room" he spat out at her.

Serena couldn't believe her ears. "Johnathon" she pleaded, "please wait. Let's talk this out" she encouraged.

He shook his head. "No, you need to start listening to me instead of your friend Serena. I'm going back to work, I've had enough of your company for now" he said lowly.

She watched him open the door and disappear without a second glance. She was completely shaken. This was their first real argument since the wedding and now she felt guilty. Had she been the one to instigate it? She didn't know anymore, but she felt like it was her fault. She slowly began to do the dishes with tears in her eyes. She would clean the house and then go to bed. Her appetite was gone now and she knew, instinctively, that he would not come back until late at night, when she was most likely sleeping. It was a gut feeling she had. She would have to talk to him again tomorrow, thought Serena sadly. Until then she would have to deal with the fact he was sleeping in a separate room from her. But it still hurt none the less.