Chapter 20: Shopping with the Alpha

Words : 1026 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

Chapter 20: Shopping with the AlphaEvaline: I watched as he pulled out his phone, all the while he maneuvered the car through the quiet streets of the town. His fingers swiftly tapped and then he was dialing a number. It barely took a ring before the other person picked up the call. "Be ready in five," he said curtly before hanging up without waiting for a response. I glanced at him with curiosity stirring in my chest. "Who was that?" I asked hesitantly, not sure if I would get an answer. "The boutique owner," he replied, keeping his eyes on the road. "She’ll open the store for us." I blinked in surprise. "You are waking someone up in the middle of the night... just for shopping?" He shot me a brief look, as if debating whether to answer or not, before finally speaking. "Lakeshire is one of the towns most frequently visited by the students of Silver Moon Academy. Because of that, most of the town is made up of stores, cafes, restaurants, and a few hotels. The shop owners are used to unusual customer timings, especially during exam seasons." I nodded slowly, taking in the empty streets lined with cozy-looking buildings. The town had a charm to it - clean cobbled roads, street lamps casting a warm glow, and shop windows showcasing a variety of goods. Even though it was dead silent now, I could imagine how lively it must be during the day. Alpha Kieran pointed out a few places as we passed. "That’s one of the most popular cafes," he said, nodding toward a quaint two-story building with large glass windows. "Students gather there after classes or before exams to study. The Academy library is great, but sometimes people just need a different atmosphere." My gaze lingered on the cafe, appreciating how beautifully its exterior was decorated with vines and fairy lights. It looked welcoming, a place filled with warmth and comfort. "There’s the bookstore," the Alpha continued, nodding toward another building with a wooden sign that read Everleaf Books. "They sell both Academy textbooks and personal reading material. If you need anything for your studies, you’ll find it there." The idea of being able to buy books, or having the time to read again, made something warm stir inside me. "And over there," he said as we passed another shop, "is one of the best bakeries in town. Their chocolate croissants sell out before noon every day." My stomach growled at the mention of food, but I pretended not to hear it. Five minutes passed in what felt like seconds, and before I knew it, we were pulling up in front of a boutique. The store was still dark, but standing outside were two women. One seemed to be in her late thirties, and the other younger probably in her early twenties. Alpha Kieran parked the car and stepped out without hesitation. And I hurried to follow, shivering slightly as the cool night air wrapped around me. The women immediately greeted him, bowing their heads slightly in respect. "Alpha Kieran," the older woman said. He gave a curt nod. "I need to buy her some clothes." Both women turned their attention to me as if only just realizing I was there. Their eyes flicked over my disheveled appearance, lingering on my cloak and bare feet. I could see the questions in their eyes. Who was I? Why was I with Kieran? But they knew better than to ask. The older woman, whom I assumed was the boutique owner, quickly regained her composure and smiled politely. "Of course, please come inside." But just as we were about to step in, I grabbed his arm and stopped him at the entrance. "You don’t have to do this," I blurted out. Embarrassment was taking over me. I knew I talked too much by blabbering out my lack of clothes. "I-" I swallowed. "I don’t want to owe you more than I already do." He studied me for a long moment before speaking. "You’ll need clothes for the upcoming week of examinations. Do you plan on staying in just one pair of clothes for the entire week?" I bit my lip because I already knew the answer. As much as I hated to admit it, he was right. As if sensing my hesitation, he continued, "Consider this my investment in our deal. You can pay me back by passing the entrance exams and doing what I brought you here to do." His words made it clear, I didn’t really have a choice. With a small nod, I finally relented. Inside, the boutique was warm and well-lit, filled with rows of neatly displayed clothing. The owner, whom Alpha Kieran called Melinda, first showed me dresses, but I quickly shook my head. Dresses weren’t practical for me. Instead, I went ahead with trousers. I wasn’t a fan of skinny jeans, so I chose five pairs of trousers - two black, a dark blue, a beige, and a white. Initially, I only wanted two, but Alpha Kieran insisted on more, so I settled on five. For tops, I picked a mix of shirts, crop tops, and woolen sweaters. Again, I tried to keep it minimal, but Alpha Kieran selected several more, finalizing about ten in total despite my denials. Once that was done, he turned to Melinda and said, "Shoes." That’s how I ended up with two pairs of sturdy, high-quality shoes and even a pair of slippers. Just when I thought we were finished, Melinda led me to another section of the store, this time to choose undergarments. Heat rushed to my face, but I knew I couldn’t avoid it. I quickly grabbed a few essentials, trying to finish as fast as possible. It was at this moment when my eyes landed on a small section near the counter that had face masks. An idea suddenly formed in my head. I wasn’t sure how much of it was going to work, or if its even going to work, but it still gave me hope. Without hesitation, I grabbed two black masks and a cap, completing my shopping.

Chapter 20: Shopping with the Alpha

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