Chapter 39: Part 39

/Allies POV/

Growing up in a wealthy Alpha family with every whim and desire catered to—a silver spoon in my mouth had perhaps spoiled me. It made a lot of omegas in my pack jealous but having everything I could ever want ready at the tips of my fingers meant that simple things could not bring me any joy or satisfaction.

That is until I met Emma.

She's just a pup in pigtails with her mother while I was with a nanny. It was a chance meeting since my dear father rarely allowed me to step out of the mansion like a packhouse. He built every single thing I could possibly need inside.

Still, I insisted on going out when I scraped my knee when Emma's mother dressed the wound. She's a kind woman, always had a smile on her smile and made mean french toast with a smiley. Unlike others who wanted to get close to me for the sake of my father's connection or status, her family did not care about either of those things. They were a content, happy family, which I envied at times.

My mother spent all her time attending galas and partying or arranging them. She barely had time to sit down and was okay with me.

Emma and her family were my second family. I spent most of the day playing with her, eating lunch together and sometimes even slept in Emma's tiny room.

It wasn't until her mother got sick and passed away that things took a turn for the worst. My parents insisted on me staying at my aunt's place for a while at the same time. Emma was all alone; Edward turned cold.

When I came back, I learned that Edward was going away for his military training. That's when I realised my true feelings for him. At first, I thought it was a silly crush that would go away.

He's all broad shoulders and sharply angled features, with the most alluring set of eyes. The Alpha had wavy hair, a soft brown chocolate colour.

Time flew by, but my eyes could not stop searching for him, seeking his approval for every little thing. He did not come home, which made these feelings deepen. I feared that when he turned twenty, he would find a mate, but fortunately, the Alpha did not find anyone.

Hope blossomed inside my chest that I still had a chance. Something always held me back, a doubt that he may reject me and things could get awkward between us. The last thing I wanted was to jeopardise my friendship with Emma. I was all she had, after all, aside from her brother and drunkard father.

Shoving those thoughts aside for the moment, I pulled open the glass door, the scent of freshly brewed coffee immediately rushing to greet me. I sucked a sharp, watching an omega nudge my shoulder. Leena. She worked in the reception and had an annoying habit of chewing gum loudly.

“Come on!”

I hummed, making a beeline for the queue for the coffee. We were asked to book a table for the staff lunch. That’s the only reason she tagged along with me.

“What do you think I should get? A latte? No, I don’t want to drink milk before our big lunch today….”

While we waited in line, I scrolled through the socials, brows together in mild annoyance at her voice echoing in my ears. My action came to a screeching halt, eyes doing a double-take when I saw Edward.

Edward had a hot coffee in his hand, and he seemed attentively focused on whatever papers he was looking over. The intent look on his face, eyes squinting accusingly at the file, made me shift to my feet. All those years have been good to him.

The first time I saw him, my tongue felt heavy in my mouth. Never in my life did I fumble or make a fool of myself. He was the first and only one to bring out in me.

Edward was dressed in a casual black hoodie and joggers. I watched as he exhaled harshly through his nose, eyes pinching shut tightly and brows furrowing. His long, lean fingers came to muss through the wavy locks before his hands fell onto the table. My breathing paced in my throat, my imagination going wild. I could not help but imagine how it would feel to have those long fingers gripping my hips and pinning me against the wall while he pressed hotly over my body.

I swallowed noisily, the grip on the strap of my bag tightening. The Alpha started to move away from his table, empty cup. I held my attention as he stopped by the silver dustbin, tossing the cup into it carefully and dusting off his hands on the joggers.

“Allie!” A shriek in my ears made me jump, almost wobbling, before I turned to glare at Leena. What was her problem?

“What?” I huffed.

“Look at that Alpha hottie in the corner. He is wearing a black hoodie….”

Oh no. I clenched my eyes shut, standing before her to block the view. A nervous laughter slipped past me.

“We should hurry up and get out of here, Leena.”

“What’s the rush? We already booked the table!”

“The coffee…”

“He’s walking towards us!” She gasped, slapping at my side while I stilled, head bent down.

Leena had a bit of a reputation. She could snag any Alpha she wanted despite her annoying habit. That’s why most of the women in our office did not like her. I held my breath and counted the seconds in my head, hands balling into fists.

“Allie?”

“Edward.” I slowly turned around, exhaling the breath I had held all this time. “Hey…”

“You two know each other?!” Leena interrupted, taking a step forward, her fake lashes batting in his direction. “Hi! I am Leena.”

“Nice to meet you, Leena.” He said with a charming smile on his face.

I cleared my throat. “Edward, what are you doing here? I thought you would be meeting your friend today.”

“He had some urgent work….”

“So…” Leena said with a glint in her eyes. “Allie, how do you know him?”

“We are friends….”

“She’s my sister's friend….”

We said simultaneously, my cheeks flushing bright red as he quickly dismissed the previous statement. Is that all he considered me? His sister's friend? Something akin to disappointment curled in my belly, which I tried to ignore.

“Interesting…”

They both stared at each other.

I licked my lips, staring at him expectantly. “If you are not meeting up with your friend, then join us for lunch, Edward.”

“Oh no, I don’t want to intrude.”

Leena hummed. “You are too clever, Alpha Edward. It’s going to be a boring staff lunch anyway.”

He laughed. A full-blown chuckle with dimples digging into his cheek, flicking his gaze down. “Wow! I am glad to have made a choice then. Have fun at the lunch, ladies….”

Before he could take a step back, Leena was quick to stop him and ask for his number. Not only that, but the omega also dared to invite him for dinner. He agreed.

***

At the incessant knocks on the door, I lifted my head off the pillow, vision blurry. It was not my proud moment, storming in the room and blaring Lana songs. Out of my character, too, but I needed to calm the storm of emotions inside.

“Em, you have the key! Use it!”

“It’s Edward.” The voice came from the other side, making me freeze. “Allie, please open the door….”

I threw the sheets off, hurriedly rushing to the mirror and patting my flushed cheeks. Smacking my lips together, I ran to the front door, pulling it open.

“What? Are you here to ask what Leena likes?”

He winced. “I can’t believe you are upset about a simple dinner.”

I tried to close the door on his face when he stepped a foot in between, an arm reaching out to hold the door, “I am talking here.”

“And I am not interested.”

“Ouch.”

“Edward, I am not in a mood to joke, so please leave….”

“I know you are mad….”

“Do you?”

He hummed. “Yes, but I don’t get why? She’s your colleague. I did not want to make things awkward.”

I rolled my eyes, still pushing at the door, “You going out with her would make things awkward.”

“How?”

“W-Well, you may not call the next day, and then she will come to complain….”

“I am going to call.”

I halted, the grip on the door loosening while I stared into his eyes. A lump formed in my throat, “What?”

“I mean, she’s gorgeous, and seemed alright to talk besides I have yet to find a mate, so this may work out….”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

Jealousy bubbled in my stomach, imagining them together, acting as mates, followed by anger. I slammed the door on his face before collapsing against it.

***

Instead of doing a separate story, I will be adding the parts of Allie and Edward in between. Tell me what you think of their story.