Alpha’s Virgin Stripper

Jojo:

I would have fallen asleep on my mother's thighs if it had not been for a nurse's interruption. It was time for mama to take her evening drugs, it was also time for me to rush home since I knew it was only a matter of time until Valerie returned home. I had to make dinner before Mel and Valerie returned and I prayed to the goddess to help me because I was in no mood for preparing meals for people to eat.

I stood up from the chair I sat in and turned my back to take my leave. I was halfway across the room, my eyes fixed on the door when my mother called out to me.

"Miss!"

I turned swiftly. My response was always almost automatic. My whole body responded to her voice, even though the names she addressed me with caused my heart to bleed. She smiled as our gazes locked.

"If you ever see Jojo, do tell her I need to see her. It's been so long and I..." Her cheerful smile dissolved into a sad one.

"... I miss her. I miss them all, but her the most. She was my best friend, please let her know I'm home."

I did not want to, but I forced myself to look away from her. My gaze landed on the nurse who stood by her side and I could see the grave pity etched in her gaze.

I could only nod slowly, while I sniffed back my tears.

"Sure thing, ma'am. I'll let her know." With that, I turned my back to her and walked out of the room. At that moment, I would not have stopped, even if she asked me to.

Once I left the hospital premises, I boarded a taxi back to the flat Mel and I shared. I inserted my keys into the keyhole and pushed the door open. To say that I was exhausted would be a grave understatement. Today could easily pass as the third worst day of my life. I forced myself to stroll into the kitchen, just to see what I could fix for them.

After combing the entire mini fridge, I settled on pasta and cheese. After all, Valerie needed all the cheese she could get to grow healthy and thick, unlike her sister, me.

I was halfway done with the meal when Valerie stormed into the house. She hugged my body tightly and did not care that her face could get stained by the gravy on my black apron. I lowered my lips to her forehead and placed a soft kiss on it before I made her go in and change her uniform.

Before I served dinner, Mel had returned from work. I continued to keep myself busy with the small blueberry pie in the oven, while Mel and Valerie discussed and listened to the radio in our small living room. I took my eyes off the stove to stare at them occasionally. They were both happy, so happy. It hurt that my bad news would have to ruin Mel's night.

We sat together in a small circle on the ground. The meal of macaroni and cheese, with blueberry pie for dessert, was in our middle. We dug into the food immediately and did not stop until we were done. Valerie thanked me and retired to her room, saying she had homework to do early, while Mel and I headed to the kitchen to clear the dishes up.

Once I dropped the plates in the sink, I could feel Mel's eyes boring holes into the skin of my back.

"What happened, Jo?" She finally asked. I found myself heaving a relieved sigh. Now that the question was out of her mouth, the air felt less tense.

I turned to her slowly, ever ready to narrate the events of one of the most unfortunate days of my life.

"I went over to his place, the alpha, to tell him about the baby, but I couldn't..."

Mel's eyes widened at me.

"You what?"

"He rejected me before I even got a chance, which is funny because I did not even know we were mates, but it still hurts so fucking much and I just want to slip to the ground and cry my eyes out." With every sentence I made, my eyes grew teary. Mel walked over to me and pulled me into an embrace. I could not bring myself to lock my arms around her, but I rested my head on her shoulder.

"He said he did not want me showing my face at the casino again, or anywhere near him. I have to get rid of the baby, Mel. There's nothing for it here. I have no job, nothing, the father doesn't want to see me. We should get rid of it. But... we don't even have the money to, and I..."

She tapped my back gently.

"Shush babe. Don't overstress yourself. We will figure something out, we always do."

I wanted to bask in the confidence of her tone, I wanted to assure myself that everything would be alright, but I knew I would only be lying to myself.

Suddenly, I felt my phone vibrate in my back pocket. I slipped my hand into my trouser and pulled them out. When I looked at my screen, it was an alert, from Rush Empire.

Forty thousand dollars.

I felt as though a huge burden had been lifted from my shoulders immediately. I sniffed back my tears as I held the message up to Mel's eyes, for her to see.

"That's something." She said out loud.

"It's a goodbye gift." I bit back. I did not know why, but it hurt me that he cut me off from the job so easily, and I never got the chance to say goodbye.

"But it would take us somewhere. We could leave this city, and start a life elsewhere. You would never have to bother about seeing or running into the alpha again." She spoke with a determination and sparkle in her eyes. But, I knew it would not be that easy, it could not be.

I heaved a heavy sigh and leaned against the kitchen sink.

"We can't do that, Mel. I'll have to work, change Valerie's school. My mother needs to remain in the hospital since she began her treatment. I really cannot just... up and leave."

She bit her lower lip gently before she placed her both hands on my shoulders. I looked up at her and she flashed me a knowing and reassuring smile.

"We would fix everything. You know that, right?"

I forced myself to connect with her coincidence. I forced a smile and nodded.

"Right."

Alpha Cole stared out of his window, while Neil watched the man from the rearview mirror. He had just returned from his trip to Naples and had insisted on seeing Doris Wyatt before he went home.

Neil cleared his throat several times, and alpha Cole knew what it meant. The man had something to say, but needed permission to speak, without asking for permission.

Cole looked at him and arched a left brow.

"If you have something to say, you might as well just say it." Alpha Cole instructed and Neil's lips formed into a thin smile.

"It is nothing serious, sir. It is just that the alpha fired the stripper girl from the casino earlier today." Neil spoke up. Alpha Cole smiled to himself.

"You mean the red-haired one he was frolicking with?"

"Yes sir."

Alpha Cole threw his head back in a soft laugh.

"That's my son, I knew I did not raise an ingrate. He knows who is useless and who isn't. He knows just when to drop useless low lives for all they are worth."