Tough Alpha

Chapter 2

I woke up to the sunlight beaking in through my curtains. I slowly sat up trying to take in my surroundings. I looked at the clock that read 9:08. The book I started to read last night was laying lazily next to me. Still being delirious and not knowing what to do, I  decided to hop out of bed and head downstairs for some breakfast.

    Once I reached downstairs Alice, the cook, offered to cook something for me. Kindly declining, I went to the cabnet and got my favorite kind of cereal; cocoa krispies. After adding some milk I went to the kitchen bar and plopped down. Mike eventually strolled in just as I finished my cereal. 

"Hey kiddo," he said groggily, due to just waking up. 

     "Morning, Mike," I said as I got up to put my cereal in the sink  getting ready to wash it.

         "How many times do I have to tell you that the maids will deal with that?" Mike asked, looking at me with one eyebrow raised. I chuckled slightly, ignoring his comment and begining to wash it anway.

"Just a heads up, sometime this weekend we're going to be having some guests over for dinner," I looked up from washing my spoon to see him avoiding my curious eyes. 

     "And who might these guests be?" I questioned, drying my spoon and bowl to put them away. 

        He was still avoiding looking at me. "You see, Clair, there are some things that you have yet to know about your family. You'll find out very soon." 

Huh? What was that supposed to mean? What didn't I know about my family? It was a random thing for Mike to say.

     "What do you mean? Do I have, like, a long lost sibling or something?" He chuckled slightly, finally meeting my eyes.

"No, Clair. Good guess though. It's no big deal. Don't stress about it, okay?"

Assuming it was no big deal, I nodded and headed up stairs to take a shower.

     Considering it was a cloudy, ugly day, I decided to go for a pair of chucks, jeans, and a t-shirt that I found in the back of my closet. I walked over to my vanity and put on some perfume and combed the knots out of my damp hair. My iPod dock was sitting on my vanity, so I decided to turn my music on shuffle and listen to the sweet, relaxing song coming from the speakers. 

        I still didn't understand what Mike was talking about earlier. I mean normally the only people allowed inside the house are the people who work for Mike. I don't think there was ever a time when we had guests over after my parents died.

        Mike was a lot stricter than my mom and dad. I was told that it was because Mike didn't want to lose me since I was all he had left of my dad. It was something I grew up getting used to, I guess. When my parents passed away and Mike moved in, I hated him. I didn't like his rules and I didn't appericate him pulling me out of school. But gradually as I grew up, I learned that he was probably just doing it for his own sake of keeping me safe. In a way, I understood. He didn't want to disappoint my parents.

    Today I just planned on going out to the barn and brushing my horse. He was my mom's horse that my dad bought for her before they died. I felt the need to go see him whenever I was missing them. There was something about being in that barn. I felt closer to them there and I didn't feel so alone. It was in a way comforting.

    I was pretty much alone all of the time. I only hung out with Brady when he came to visit, which was once in a blue moon. My life was the same thing every day. Nothing new ever happened, and I never had anything to look forward to. 

     It sucks.

     I guess just like how I grew up realizing Mike had his reasons for being protective of me, I also learned that this is how my life is. There isn't much I could do about it. In a way it didn't bother me. I was perfectly fine with my life due to the fact that I don't essentially remember anything different. Sure, my parents were more laid back than Mike, but I grew up with his rules, not theirs. 

    Realizing my chucks would get dirty, I took them off and slipped on my riding boots. I turned off my music and headed for the door. Once I stepped outside, I walked down the pathway leading to the barn on the side of my house. I could see my horse, Alaska, prancing around in the gate. Once he noticed me, he hussled over just as I past the gate. I stop to pet him, admiring his beauty. He was a pure snow white color with blue eyes. I believe my mom once told me that that's why she named him Alaska. It fit him quite well. 

    Walking inside the barn, I got the things I'd need to brush him with. I also got a tool to clean out his hoofs. As I walked out of the barn, I heard him neighing. He absolutely loved getting brushed. It made me happy to see him happy. 

        I started running the horse comb through his mane. I didn't want to saddle him up today, so I just decided to give him some attention. Stroking his back with my brush, I heard him make a noise in content.

    After I was done with tending to Alaska, I went inside to get something to eat. The house was quiet besides the vacuum running downstairs. I had no idea where Mike was, so I just went straight to my room after having a quick snack.