Controlled 2: Loving An Alpha Male

by S. K. Lessly

  “Why?”

  “Because… Because…” Nyla tried to search her garbled brain to come up with a reason to stall. She wanted nothing more than to remain where she was, in his arms forever, except she couldn’t do that. She had to make him work for this. She refused to let him off the hook, regardless of the resolve she was beginning to feel.

  She stared at him incredulously. “Because I can’t. For one, this is too much, you're too much and for two, I have plans that I’m not breaking just because you decided to come here unannounced. I’m going out with the girls. And—”

  “Going out?!”

  “Yes. My friends and I are going out.”

  “Dressed like that?” Andrew asked skeptically. However, the look that appeared on Nyla’s beautiful face had him wishing he could take the words back.

  “Yes, dressed like this. Do you have a problem?” Nyla placed her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes expectantly.

  Hell fucking yes! He had a big problem with it. He wanted to tell her that her so-called dress was entirely too short and too fucking tight. He wanted to forbid her from going, telling her that no way in hell was she going anywhere dressed like that. He felt his temper rising deep within him, the beast awaking and getting ready for a fight that he knew was coming. The thought of someone touching her was making him crazy.

  But he took a deep breath and kept his mouth shut; mainly due to the voice of his brother in his head literally.

  “Bro, don’t do it. Do not say any of that shit if you expect to get laid in the next century,” Brody had warned him. “Take another deep breath and tell her that you don’t have a problem with what she’s wearing.”

  Andrew growled deeply, but he didn’t say a word. His eyes grew darker, but he kept a tight line on his face.

  “Is there something you want to say?” Nyla baited.

  Andrew growled again and was two seconds away from saying fuck getting laid.

  “If you want to go celibate, then go ahead and tell her that her dress is too fucking short. Go ahead. Demand that she go right upstairs and change or she’s not going anywhere. I guarantee you this will be the last you see of your woman. You two will argue and your brooding and controlling ways will place a permanent wedge between you two. You’re going to be a miserable son of a bitch for the rest of your entire existence.”

  “I don’t care!” Andrew barked, forgetting himself. His brother had a point; it was just that Andrew couldn’t see past his rage.

  “Let me tell you something,” he began, looking her up and down before resting his hard eyes on hers. “There is no way I’m letting you go anywhere dressed like this. Your dress is too short and too gotdamn tight.”

  Nyla frowned and folded her arms protectively around her. “My dress is not too tight or too short.”

  Andrew scoffed and reached for Nyla’s side, trying to grip the dress. “Please! This dress fits you like second skin.” Nyla smacked Andrew’s hand away and backed up slightly from him. Andrew wasn’t fazed at all. He continued, “If you so much as bend over, your tits are going to tumble out of that thing.” To help his next point, he reached for the hem of her dress, but Nyla was ready this time. She moved out of his reach. “With each step that you take, that damn thing rides up your thighs, and I swear any second your ass is going to be out for all to see. Fuck if that shit is going to happen. You need to change.”

  “Oh, I need to change? Is that right?” Nyla replied, bitterness in her voice.

  Andrew, oblivious to the powder keg that was about to go off, walked closer to her. “You’re damn right. There’s no fucking way I’m going to allow my woman to go anywhere dressed like this. I forbid you to go.”

  “Wow! You forbid me? Well, shit, let me run upstairs right now and change since you forbid me.” Nyla rolled her eyes, turned, and walked away from her building and Andrew. She heard Andrew cuss under his breath before she felt his touch on her wrist. Electricity shot through her body from his touch, which pissed her off even more. How could she be this pissed at him and still react to him? What was wrong with her?

  “Nyla, wait a minute,” Andrew urged softly. The moment she spun around and he saw the hurt in her eyes; he knew just how bad he had messed up.

  He swore under his breath as Nyla lit into him, snatching her wrist from his grasp.

  “No, you wait. You don’t get to touch me. I can’t believe you. You came over here, pounding your chest like you’re running shit. Trying to tell me what I can or cannot do…” Nyla trailed off and shook her head. The fury that was running through her veins had her thoughts going everywhere. Not to mention the alcohol that she had consumed. That combination added fuel to her anger. Yet she concentrated on Andrew’s now bright blue eyes and told him everything she wanted and needed to say.

  “You are so full of shit. How dare you come here telling me what I need to do in that controlling tone of yours? You are a complete jerk. I haven’t seen you in weeks. We’ve barely talked. For some reason, you can’t seem to take two seconds out of your high siditty life to send me a text or return my call? And you have the audacity to dictate to me what I can or cannot wear?” She had heard Andrew call her name softly, but she ignored him. She stepped back further from him and pointed in his face. She was feeling completely out of control.

  “You are completely delusional, Andrew. I am not your woman. And even if I was, guaranteed with that speech and the fact you left me to the wolves today, hell will freeze over before I even think of being with you. Your words mean nothing. You are all talk and no show. We’re done.” She started to say something else and then decided not to. Her head was starting to pound like crazy and she just didn’t have the energy anymore. She turned to walk away and felt Andrew chasing after her.

  “Oh, we are far from being done,” Andrew told her, more in the form of a promise than a threat. It was her turn to hear what he had to say and he wouldn’t be denied. Andrew reached out to her, touching her wrist with his fingertips. Out of the blue, someone pulled Nyla further away from him. Andrew frowned and found a large black man scowling in his face.

  “You got a problem, baby girl?” said the man, keeping his eyes on Andrew the whole time. “Why don’t you go to the truck, I got this white boy.” The man then moved a little closer to Andrew. “Why don’t you go back to where you came from before you get hurt?”

  “Leonard, that’s not necessary. I’ve got this,” Nyla said, her voice rising in pitch. She grabbed Leonard’s arm and tried to stop him from walking up to Andrew but to no avail. He just walked out of her grip and continued toward to the white stranger that had invaded his territory.

  Leonard was six feet, with dark skin and deep-set brown eyes. He was bulky in his chest and arms, but had a beer belly instead of a six-pack. Leonard had always been nice to Nyla. She figured he had a thing for her, yet he never approached her that way. She assumed it had to do with Darrius. Everyone in her neighborhood thought that she and Darrius were a thing and she never corrected them unless they asked. It was better for her that way. But, Leonard never asked.

  Andrew ignored the man in front of him and stepped to his left. Leonard moved to his right, matching Andrew’s steps. He stepped a little closer to Andrew and squared his shoulders. “Step off, white boy. She already told you no.”

  Andrew never took his eyes off of Nyla, but he did say, “Why don’t you mind your fucking business.”

  Leonard wrapped his arm around Nyla’s shoulders and pulled her to him. That made Andrew look away from Nyla and into Leonard’s cold eyes. “This woman is my business. And you don’t belong here. You best step the fuck off before you get hurt.”

  Andrew took in a long breath and tried to remain calm. Someone was touching what was his and he didn’t play that shit at all. But he couldn’t go off on a… Without warning, things suddenly changed when a breath of wind passed between them and Andrew caught the scent of prey. Andrew’s eyes rose in acknowledgment, and the predator within him stirred as he looked into the dark
eyes of Leonard.

  Well, well, well, he said to himself. Things just got interesting.

  Andrew’s hands flexed at his sides as he realized who was standing before him: a leader of one of many rival packs in this area. The moment he identified Leonard and the pack he belonged to, everything around him became obsolete. It was just him and his foe. That was until he sensed movement from the shadows that surrounded them. Andrew merely smiled as five guys emerged from the darkness. He knew who they were and why they were there.

  Oblivious to what was happening; Nyla moved from Leonard’s grasp and took position between the two men. She was about to speak when the five guys who’d just emerged from the darkness surrounded Andrew in a human circle.

  She looked up at Andrew, trying to think of how to get him out of here when she witnessed a malicious smile slowly span across his features. A cold sensation spread throughout her body as she felt the fury rise in Andrew. However, his face never changed. His body tensed sure, but his face was as relaxed and tranquil as if he were lying on a beach somewhere basking in the sun.

  Andrew looked at each of the men’s faces before he settled back on Leonard. “Are you sure this is what you want to do?”

  Leonard didn’t reply, but he didn’t have to. Andrew sensed the hostility that emanated from this man and his crew. They weren’t backing down in the least. Andrew’s smile widened with anticipation; the thirst for violence starting to fill his body.

  “Suit yourself.”

  Nyla noticed the tension and even felt the heat coming from both men, hell from all of the men around her. She needed to defuse the situation before it got completely out of hand. She looked up at Leonard and gave him the warmest smile, trying not to show just how freaked out she was.

  “This isn’t necessary, Leonard. It’s cool,” she said, her voice a little shaky. She finally understood what was happening and quickly went to work. Or maybe she just thought it was all about her protection, a simple territorial dispute. Oh, she wasn’t far off.

  “Andrew is cool,” Nyla added. “Let me just talk to him for a bit. I know I can settle this myself.”

  “Nah, lil ma,” Leonard replied. He continued to stare Andrew down. “You don’t have to deal with him.” Leonard jutted his chin toward Andrew. “Why don’t you get the fuck out of my neighborhood before you have to be carried out?”

  Andrew, to Nyla and Leonard’s surprise, started laughing.

  “Really,” Andrew said smiling, his eyes void of any humor. “Is that so?”

  Leonard, his brows deepening into his forehead, nodded his head once. “Yeah, that’s so.” He puffed out his chest, appearing unaffected by Andrew’s demeanor. But deep down, Andrew could sense the slight fear in the man. It was the moment when Leonard realized exactly who was standing in front of him. Andrew had to give the man credit, though. He didn’t back down or outwardly show any fear once he understood the shit he was in. Oh, but Andrew could smell it and he wasn’t the only one.

  Andrew relaxed his stance a bit and continued smiling. “You know what? I think I’m going to stick around a bit. Why don’t you and your little crew run along, so I can talk to my woman in peace?”

  Again, Nyla tried to get them to calm down and act their ages. “This is ridiculous.” Nyla fixed her eyes on Leonard. “Leonard, thank you for your help, but I have it from here.” She then turned to Andrew and placed her hands on his bare chest. She ignored the instant heat that consumed her body from touching him and looked into his eyes. “Why don’t we go somewhere and talk.”

  “Uh-huh, we will, baby,” Andrew replied, meeting her gaze. “Just as soon as I’m done here.

  “No, Andrew. Let’s go right now please.”

  “Yeah, Andrew,” Leonard mocked and grinned. “Why don’t you save yourself while you have the chance?”

  “And…” Andrew pushed Nyla behind him as he spoke. At least if something jumped off, he would be able to keep her safe. Andrew smirked and then tilted his head to acknowledge the men around him. “What exactly am I saving myself from? You six? Please. None of you weak-ass little shits can handle me. Together or by yourself. You might want to call for more help if you want a piece of me.” Andrew then folded his arms in front of him. “I’ll wait, but it won’t be for long. I haven’t beaten the shit out of anyone in the last couple of days and I’m getting a bit antsy.”

  “Okay, seriously, that’s enough you two,” Nyla said panicked, but she quickly realized that neither man was paying her any attention. Shit…

  Leonard studied Andrew and then laughed. He even regarded his boys and pointed his thumb at Andrew. “This white boy must be crazy.” He then looked at Andrew up and down; his mouth twisted in a sneer, then closed the gap between them. “All this shit he’s talking and he’s here all by himself.”

  “Who says he’s by himself?” called out a voice that seemed to boom with surround sound.

  Everyone but Andrew did a 360-degree turn, unsure of where the voice or voices were coming from. Finally, out from the parking lot surrounding Nyla’s building came four men in total. Andrew grabbed Nyla’s hand just as his brothers, Deacon, Brody, Winston, and Edgar appeared.

  9

  “You getting into some shit without us, bro?” asked Winston as the four men walked between Leonard and his crew, never removing their eyes off the men.

  “Nope,” Andrew replied, his eyes remaining on Leonard. “I was waiting for you.”

  Andrew gave Leonard one last look before he turned to Nyla. He looked her over; taking in her distress before shifting his eyes to one of his brothers. “Deacon, take Nyla and her friends where they want to go. There’s no reason why all of you need to stay. I’ll meet up with you in a bit.”

  Deacon, who had tanned skin, black hair and stood about 6’3”, 250 pounds solid, nodded and brought his green eyes to Nyla.

  “What?!” Nyla blurted her eyes wide. She turned to face Andrew. “What are you going to do that I can’t stay and watch, Andrew? Listen, a minute ago you wanted to get out of here and talk.” Nyla moved closer to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her fingers slid into his hair. “Well, here’s your chance, big boy,” she offered. “We either talk now or not at all.”

  Andrew studied her for a moment and saw the truth in her eyes. She’d meant every word she had said, which didn’t give him much of a choice.

  We’ve got an audience, Brody spoke to Andrew in his mind, breaking into his thoughts. Andrew looked around and saw they indeed had a crowd forming. If he stayed, no doubt things would get extremely messy. The way he had been feeling, all of the built-up aggression flowing through his veins, was proof that bodies would definitely drop in this parking lot. That couldn’t happen, especially not with a crowd of human onlookers. Andrew sighed resolvedly and deeply and nodded reluctantly.

  “Fine, you win. Now, go put on something more comfortable and we’ll go for a ride.”

  Nyla frowned and stepped back. “Not gonna happen, Pierce. Now, are we going or what?”

  Relenting, Andrew nodded his head. Nyla sighed audibly, relief flooding her body. She nodded once and told him, “Okay, let me go and tell my friends that I’ll see them later then we can go.”

  As soon as Nyla was out of earshot, Andrew turned his focus on Leonard and his crew. “Don’t think I’ll forget what happened here. The only reason why I’m not ripping your throat out is because of that woman.” The space between Andrew and Leonard disappeared quickly. Predator and prey were less than a foot apart from each other. Andrew’s eyes bored into Leonard. “Oh, but I will see you again,” he promised through gritted teeth. “And when I do, you better have your reinforcement with you.”

  Leonard parted his lips to reply but stopped when he saw the eyes of this alpha turn to their natural color. He had only been warned about this alpha’s existence. He had never encountered the Westside Shadows wolf pack before. He had thought he held his own against their leader. But it was wishful thinking. He knew deep down that if they had been alone, t
hings would have turned out a whole lot different. So, Leonard held his tongue. He cautioned his crew to do the same. This son of a bitch will get his in due time. Just be patient.

  Andrew took the man’s silence as submission but smiled at his thoughts. “Yeah, be patient, motherfucker,” Andrew warned. “You’ll definitely see me real soon.”

  Andrew wasn’t slow. He knew Leonard wasn’t about to let this go nor would he forget. He also didn’t want this to come back on Nyla. So, he stepped back and said to Deacon, “You know, Deac, I think my life’s been threatened by these six thugs.”

  Deacon looked at Andrew and smiled. He looked at Leonard and his crew. “Yeah? Do you want to press charges, sir?”

  Confused, Leonard frowned. “What the fuck are you talking about?” He looked around at his friends and then at Deacon.

  “Yup, I think that’s a good idea. You know, since I fear for my life and all,” Andrew answered.

  Leonard laughed cautiously. “Yeah, you funny. You act like there’s cops around here to…”

  Before Leonard finished his sentence, Deacon, along with Brody and Winston, pulled out badges that hung from metal chains around their necks. Winston then pulled out a walkie-talkie from his back pocket and turned it on. He pushed the side of the device and began speaking into it. “Dispatch, this is Detective Hill badge number 6-8-7-9-4. I’m over at the West Commons apartment complex on Cedar.”

  “Go on, Detective. What do you have?”

  “We have a disorderly conduct and harassment issue between one Caucasian male and six African American males. One of the males has a weapon. I have the scene under control. But can you send a few black and whites to this location to pick up the perps?”

  Leonard’s eyes grew the size of saucers as he realized what was happening. “Oh, fuck that.” He looked at Winston then Andrew. “This is bullshit, man. You can’t…” he began but Andrew didn’t let him finish.

  Andrew moved with lightning speed and gripped Leonard tight by his throat; the man’s Adam's apple a hard lump along his tight grip. He moved within inches of his nose and gave Leonard a look that could stop death. Leonard, fighting to get just a smidgen of air into his lungs, desperately clawed at Andrew’s fingers. There was no use because Andrew didn’t let up. In fact, he clamped his fingers around his neck tighter, sufficiently cutting off blood flow through his carotid artery. Wheezing and gurgling sounds came from the big man, and Andrew knew he couldn’t keep this hold up without killing Leonard. Besides, he didn’t want to kill him…at least not yet.