Alpha Loren

The next morning, the sky was thick with cloud and the air dank and clingy. Through an open window, the humid smell of the rainforest drifted in and settled in the bedroom.

Andrea was gone.

I didn't know where and frankly, I didn't care. It gave me the opportunity to get up and rid myself of him in a cold shower. I sat on the floor underneath the shower faucet and let the water fall onto my head and drip down my back. As I pulled my knees into my chest, I watched it disappeared in a neat stream down the drain in the corner of the shower.

I stayed there until the coldness of the water chilled me to the bone at which point I turned off the water leaving me in the silence of the bathroom.

A few more minutes later, I brought myself to stand up and wrap a towel around my self. After wiping the steam from the mirror, I caught sight of my reflection. My hair was in a wet tangled mess, my eyes dark from hardly sleeping for the last few days and my face and arms covered in various bruises.

I sighed and looked away, unable to bear looking at myself in such a state.

It was two days before Andrea returned. I'd spent most my time sitting in the garden, under the same large tree staring out into the jungle or plucking the grass with my fingers. Chico always lurked around me but never said a single word. Occasionally, he'd thrust some food in my direction that I'd refuse to eat but most of the time we just coexisted together, both awaiting Andrea's return.

He arrived at just before midday whilst I was still lying silently in the bed, unable to bring myself to move. After speaking in Spanish to Chico for a while, he came straight upstairs.

The bedroom door opened and I rolled over to face away from him. I didn't want to see his face, not even for a second.

"I hear you haven't eaten," he said.

I didn't reply.

"Ella," he replied deeply. "Don't ignore me."

"I'm not hungry," I said eventually.

"Whatever," he grumbled before I heard his footsteps near me. "But this is for you."

I looked up to what he was handing me. It was a small box, the writing was in Spanish but inside were packets of pills.

For the first time in two days, I looked up into his eyes and raised an eyebrow, "Why are you giving me this?"

"Because I don't want no kid. Take one every morning and every night. Do not forget. Understand?" he replied.

I looked back down to the box. It was birth control. He was giving me birth control.

"You can't force me to take birth control," I spat.

"Oh yeah?" he replied. "But I don't need to, Blanca. Do you want to get pregnant with my kid? What would your Alpha think about that? Huh?"

"Fuck you," I said, throwing the box on the floor. I then got up and attempted to storm out of the room.

But he caught my arm and pulled me back towards him.

"You are going to take those pills and you aren't going to question it," he growled.

I stared him in the eye before he finally let go and walked towards the bathroom.

"And go downstairs and eat something. You're getting skinny," he called.

The night he got so drunk he passed out I shouldn't have listened to Chico. I should have killed him when I had the chance.

Wanting to be as far away from him as possible, I headed downstairs and towards the garden. But as I passed through the kitchen, the most amazing smell filled my nostrils.

Chico was stood behind the stove stirring something on the hob.

"The boss wants tacos," he said to me. "I made enough for you."

"I'm not-"

"Just come here," he replied after looking at the doorway, presumably to check Andrea hadn't appeared.

I sighed and joined him by the stove, "There is little you can do about your situation," he began picking up a taco shell, "But you still need to take care of yourself."

He then filled it with whatever was in the pan and handed it to me.

I looked down at the steaming beef inside and the soft floury shell and smelt the spices and flavour in the air before I gave in and took a big bite.

"Good?" he asked.

I nodded closing my eyes and enjoying the tase, "So good."

He smiled, possibly for the first time ever, and handed me a plate with three more.

"Enjoy," he said before Andrea appeared in the kitchen, still wet from his shower and only wearing a pair of sweatpants and his face hardened again.

Andrea sat opposite me eating his tacos. He kept looking up but didn't speak until he was finished.

"We're going to Colombia this evening," he said eventually. "Just you and I."

"Why?" I asked.

"I gotta another job I want you to help me with," he replied.

"I don't want to be involved in any more murder," I said. "Please-"

"Relax," he said with a laugh. "No one's gonna die if all goes to plan. So pack a bag. We're going for three days."

The only clothes I had were the ones I arrived in, a few t-shirts Andrea had leant me and underwear from the weird draw of ladies lingeries that Andrea had for some reason. So I packed what I could and I soon found myself back in the SUV, this time with Andrea driving.

"We aren't following signs in the direction of Colombia," I said once we got into Caracas.

"That's because we're making a stop first," he replied.

"Where?" I asked.

snapped. "You'll find out when we

with the terrible state of the road and limbs of jungle sticking

last, he pulled up on the side of the road and I thanked

before opening the door and taking his gun off the

sure where here was but I got out the car and followed him through the dense jungle. After a few metres, I could just about

jolly looking man said after the door

exporter. It's good to see

me and he

see you have a gringa with you?" he responded also

Andrea said putting a firm hand on my shoulder. "Was once Alpha

How'd

long and unpleasant story," Andrea replied. "But I have some more important things

Javier said. "Please

which point, Andrea withdrew his gun and without hesitation shot him in the back of the head. He fell forward onto his knees and

I brought a

did you do that?" I asked. "I

him and prodding his body

with a shrug.

the wall, closing my eyes and blocking the site of

asked looking back to Andrea who was still staring down at the body,

in

it was piled high to the roof with packets of what looked like cocaine, weed

export trucks kept getting hijacked even though we take unexpected routes at unexpected times that no one could guess without inside information. But when I realised his trucks were never touched, it became clear who that mole was," Andrea explained crouching down to Javier's

from him and it was mildly reassuring but then he shrugged and simply stood up.

this is where you come in. If you're driving, the border control will let a cute little blonde girl through easy and the drugs will get into Colombia without having to kill any state soldiers, which the government usually gets a bit pissed off at me for doing which leads to a whole host of complications. We're

want me to help you smuggle drugs

the whole patrol guarding the

option," I

said with a sarcastic smile. "Now, I will deal with the body. You go around the back and start unloading the boxes

glad to get away from the dead body and hurried around

a truck but what Andrea didn't warn me of was the two teenagers, 16

"Gringa?" one asked.

I nodded.

other said. "What

here with Andrea."

Martinez? The

I nodded.

looks and froze. Guilt and fear were all over their faces. It was clear they had a reason to be concerned about Andrea's presence but despite being involved in drugs, they

get out of here. I'll try and hold him back," I said without

began to move fast towards the jungle. Just then

shouted.

and seconds later,

boys until the gun ran out of bullets. After putting the gun back in his belt,

better stay right here,"

to prise his fingers off my throat to free my airway. He then dropped me onto the floor and sprinted into

as rolling him onto his back. I gasped at the site of his pale grey skin and wide open eyes before taking a deep breath and shakily looking in his pocket for a phone.

but all I could think about

his mobile, the screen was cracked, presumably from his fall and it only had one bar of service but I could

I said as soon as someone

smooth voice

I said quickly. "He's Andrea's rival and you might be able to get more information from

you have anything else?"

come out the jungle. I quickly hung up, shoved the phone back in Javier's

to Javier. His white shirt was saturated in red along with his hands and there were even splatters on his face. "I thought I told you not to move?" he questioned

hands and lifted it

fuck have you done?" he asked seizing my

"I..I-" I stuttered.

me guess, you used Javier's phone to call your precious mate?" he said turning to Javier

and turned to me. It had Javier's blood on it from my hands and

I nodded meekly.

hand around my neck once again and slamming me into the wall. With the other hand, he withdrew his

I stayed quiet.

him?!" he repeated smashing my head against

all," I lied in between

It's reloaded and ready to go," he demanded, pressing the gun harder against my skull. "Why I shouldn't just cut the bother? I'm Andrea Martinez, I don't tolerate shit like

"You could do it without me but

before letting go of me and allowing

"I will kill you after."

Better I suppose.

through without question. Change your clothes, wash your hands and

nodded and looked down at my clothes that had gone red from where Andrea's shirt had pressed against

did as he said and found a bathroom with running water to clean myself with. I watched as watery blood washed down the sink and thought about who it belonged to. Those boys were so young and although I didn't know it for sure, Andrea had almost

was a lilac tiny car. Andrea was stood next to it

babe? My abs?" he asked.

actually," I replied looking at the sickly shade of purple coloured thing. "Not the sort of thing

throwing me a set of keys. "You are. And

of glad that I was going to have to sit in the passenger seat enduring his reckless driving anymore.

dressed again and I was trying to work out how

said in a bored tone from the passenger seat. "Now the accelerator. It's just a normal

said and slowly rolled the car

he