Chapter 6 Everyone calls him Alpha

RILEY

“Wait!”

Sophia jumped to her feet and rushed toward the door, blocking our path.

Her hazel eyes flashed with anger as she glared at me before turning to Killian.

“You can’t be serious, Killian,” she protested. “She’s clearly lying to you! You can’t just take her word for it.”

“This has nothing to do with you, Sophia,” Killian said coldly. “Get out of my way.”

But she didn’t back down.

“I’m only looking out for you! You can’t just leave with some random woman you barely know. How do you know if she’s telling the truth? Maybe she’s just trying to use you for money.”

“I’m not!” I argued. “I told you, I’m here for my son and my son only. Whatever you’re trying to imply, I’m not.”

Sophia snorted and rolled her eyes. “Right. Likely story. But all of you are the same –”

“Enough,” Killian said coolly. “Move out of the way, Sophia. I don’t have time for this.”

“Please,” she pleaded. “You’re making a mistake.”

“Are you going to challenge my authority?”

His tone was different now, deeper, almost like a low rumble in his chest.

It was enough to make me pause, as well as Sophia.

Her went pale. Her lower lip trembled, as if she were about to cry. The air suddenly felt thin, and I caught myself holding my breath.

“Don’t make me repeat myself,” he warned. “Move.”

Sophia wavered, and just as she was about to say something, a voice suddenly came from the table.

“I’m sure that’s not what she meant, Alpha.”

I turned and watched as an elderly man slowly rose from his seat. He leaned heavily against a cane, and as he made his way over to us, it became obvious that his right leg had been amputated.

Still, his movements weren’t nearly as stiff as they could have been, and he managed to reach us soon enough.

Unlike everyone else in this room, the elderly man didn’t seem intimidated or afraid of Killian. His posture was calm and relaxed, and his voice was pleasant and even.

“Then what did she mean?” Killian asked, his gaze steely. “Enlighten me.”

The elderly man offered me a polite smile, his gray eyes crinkling at the corners.

“I think we’re all just need to be… cautious about the situation. Which should be understandable, right, Miss Clarkson?”

I watched him carefully.

He continued, “now, I mean this question with no offense or disrespect, dear, but are you certain that the child is Killian’s? Flings can be… a difficult subject in instances like this one.”

The elderly man was polite enough, but I wasn’t naive enough to miss the sharpness of his question.

I couldn’t tell if he genuinely meant no offence or was simply trying to embarrass me.

“I wasn’t with any other men at that time, if that’s what you’re asking,” I said bluntly.

There was a brief pause, and then the elderly man nodded meaningfully.

“I believe you, miss. But… sometimes the memory can be a tricky thing. What I meant is, do you have any proof with you? Any documentation?”

I pursed my lips.

Documentation?

How was I supposed to offer any plausible documentation?

I could show him a picture of Dominic, though, but would it be enough? If he was determined to undermine me, I supposed he would simply find another excuse to question it.

When I didn’t answer, he cleared his throat and turned to Killian.

“Sophia was only thinking about what’s best for the –” he started to say, and then he considered his words. “Company. And maybe she’s right. Let’s not be hasty. Perhaps Miss Clarkson could leave an address for us.”

Before I could argue, Killian spoke up.

“Bram,” He said deeply. “I know what I’m doing.”

The older man studied him for a moment before smiling again and bowing his head slightly.

“Of course, Alpha,” he replied respectfully, shooting a gaze at Sophia and standing aside.

Sophia’s shoulders fell. She dipped her head before stepping away from the doors.

“I-I’m sorry, Alpha,” she apologized meekly.

Killian didn’t acknowledge her. He turned to one of the other men at the table. “Get the car ready for us. We’ll be leaving shortly.”

***

The car ride to the hospital was tense and quiet.

Sophia had wanted to join us, but Killian vetoed it. I couldn’t tell what they were to one another, but they were close; that much was obvious. And she clearly felt hostile toward me.

Instead, Killian brought along Dale and a stern-faced man named Jason.

With Jason in the driver’s seat and Dale in the passenger seat, Killian and I found ourselves sitting together in the back.

The car was sleek and expensive, the kind that instantly made me feel out of place. I wasn’t exactly in rags, but my light blue sweater wasn’t anything special, and my nice jeans were secondhand.

This was the kind of car that only the wealthiest people owned.

Did that make Killian one of them?

The truth was, I didn’t know anything about him.

Our passionate night had been fleeting, and I hadn’t been able to find any trace of him on social media. All I knew was that he clearly ran or worked for The Bryce Corporation, and that all these strange people called him Alpha.

“What’s his name?” Killian spoke up after a while, his voice low.

Startled by the sudden question, I met his eyes with confusion. Then I blinked, realizing what he meant.

“Dominic,” I answered. “Dominic Clarkson.”

He nodded thoughtfully before turning his gaze back toward the window without another word.

Sitting this close to him, I could smell the soft scent of something pleasant and herbal, like spearmint or eucalyptus. Whether it was cologne, lotion, or his shampoo, it smelled almost calming.

“Dominic,” Dale repeated from the front seat. “That’s a good name. Did you choose it or…”

He gave me a wicked smile through the rearview mirror. “Maybe your boyfriend did? Husband, maybe? Surely you have one of those, don’t you? Unless it’s a family name?”

My cheeks flushed in embarrassment. “N-no. No, I don’t.”

The truth was, I hadn’t been with anyone since Killian. I hadn’t even flirted with another man. Between working multiple jobs and raising Domi, I didn’t have time for a fling. Besides… I’d learned my lesson the first time.

No more one-night stands with beautiful strangers.

“Seriously?” Dale exclaimed dramatically. “But you’re gorgeous-”

“Knock it off, Dale,” Killian cut him off sternly. “Leave her alone.”

A mischievous smile tugged at the other man’s lips, and he settled back into his seat. “Yes, Alpha.”

My eyes narrowed as I glanced between them, trying to make sense of this strange dynamic.

I appreciated Killian’s intervention, but I didn’t understand why everyone seemed so nervous around him.

Was it just because he was their boss?

Or was it something more?

Part of me wanted to ask why they all called Killian by such a weird nickname, almost as if it were a title. Was it some sort of inside joke? Something in their office space I wasn’t privy to?

But before I could open my mouth, we arrived at the hospital.