Home-Wrecking Alpha

Brooke

“Alright, we’re definitely lost.”

The trees we were passing now looked just like the ones we’d passed an hour ago. Everything was the same, with no sign of anything different up ahead. Occasionally, we’d spot large animals moving just beyond the tree line, reminding us that we were deep in the heart of nature and sending a shiver down my spine. It was all around us, almost suffocating us with its beauty.

“Nah, we can’t be lost. We’ve got GPS!”

He shot me a cheeky grin before turning his attention back to the road. I turned in my seat as much as my seatbelt would allow and tapped a finger on the car’s digital screen.

“Yeah, about that. What does it mean when the map is just green?”

His chuckle filled the car. It was so good to hear him laugh.

“Probably means we should’ve updated your GPS before this trip.”

We both laughed as I nudged him slightly.

“Maybe we should’ve taken a hint when the pavement turned to dust?”

“You think?” I smirked.

The only sounds in the car were our voices and the occasional soft snores from the back seat. Our boys were sleeping peacefully, their heads propped on each other’s, a tangle of blonde and brown hair spilling over their angelic faces. They needed haircuts, but that wasn’t a priority on this road trip. One day, when we were home again, I’d make the appointments. But for now, I just wanted to enjoy being here with them.

They were my world, and I didn’t want to think about what would happen when my husband could no longer fight his illness.

“It’s beautiful here.”

His smile was plastered on, but there was something he was hiding beneath it.

“Mark, are you okay?”

How had I missed the signs? His face looked pinched and tired, paler than usual. When he flinched at my question, it was as good as a verbal confirmation.

“Yeah,” he replied, flicking his eyes over to me. When he saw my expression, he grimaced.

I crossed my arms over my chest, my frown deepening. It was a look he knew well, one that said I wasn’t buying what he was selling.

He was always trying to protect me. His mission in life seemed to be to make me and the children happy, even if it meant going without himself. That was my husband, the man I’d devoted the last ten years of my life to.

Trying to change the subject, he asked, “Think those guys can give us directions?”

Mark had already started to slow the car down, and I turned to look. People? Out here? In the middle of nowhere?

Men in dark blue uniforms were standing on the road ahead. Each was armed, adding to their intimidating presence. My husband was taller than me, but these men were taller than him. And they were in better shape than either of us, their lean, muscular bodies a necessity for their lifestyle. That thought set off an alarm in my head that I tried to ignore.

We rolled down the window and stopped in front of a large wooden building that seemed to serve as a shelter for the guards. A man with blonde hair and hazel eyes nodded at us as he approached the car. “Good evening.”

Two other guards stood a few feet back, scanning the horizon as if expecting something to appear.

“Hi, I think we’re a bit lost.”

My husband grinned and shrugged, wincing slightly. He pulled out his license and registration, maybe thinking these people were some kind of law enforcement, or maybe just trying to show we weren’t a threat.

The man frowned at Mark after looking over the documents, lingering on one of them longer than seemed necessary.

“Usually the only people who end up here mean to be here.” He gave Mark a strange look, then turned it on me.

Mark shook his head, then gave me a quick smile.

“Being adventurous isn’t really my thing. Not sure why I chose today to do so.”

One of the other men leaned forward, scanning the car and its passengers. When he straightened, he returned his gaze to the horizon and took a deep breath of the warm evening air.

Turning back to the man at our window, I asked, “How far off track are we?”

Mark’s smile was sheepish, but his face was even paler than before.

The three men smiled broadly at each other, as if sharing a secret, before the man answered.

“That would depend on where you were heading.”

“Uh, well, we were just touring, you know. Being adventurous,” Mark reminded the man. He tried to chuckle, but it sounded more like a choke. “Not really headed anywhere specific, just out to sightsee.” He squeezed my hand gently.

The man at the window held Mark’s gaze, a frown deepening on his face. My husband was struggling, and my concern for him was growing. The signs of his need for rest were all too clear: the gaunt look in his face, the pale color of his skin, the pinched mouth and eyes, and his ragged breathing.

From here, I could see a large building just beyond the tree line, a few miles away at most. Hopefully, they’d let us through so we could rest for a bit before sending us on our way again.

Mark needed a break. A place to eat, to take his dreaded medication. Somewhere less intimidating than this roadside building.

I leaned forward, pasting a smile on my face. “I’m sorry to be a bother, but I really need to use the restroom.”

I shifted in my seat, pressing my thighs together for emphasis. “Could I possibly take care of that before we head back? I haven’t seen anything resembling civilization for hours until now.”

They chuckled at that. “That’s about right. You’re about eight hours from any town that could put you up for the night.”

I grimaced. “Oh, I see.”

My mind was already racing, trying to find another solution. The sun was sinking towards the horizon, only a couple of hours of daylight left. Mark needed a break, and I needed to figure out how to give him that.

Part of me wanted to grumble at him for insisting we go this way. If only we’d known. But right now, my main concern was keeping his symptoms from getting worse.

There was a long pause before the man spoke again. “You’ve been granted clearance.”

I found that amusing. Granted clearance? They didn’t have any radios. And who had granted us clearance?

“Just follow the road to the house you can see from here. There’ll be people there who can help you.”

That was a house?

The man gave Mark another frown. “Looks like you could use a break.”

It was as if he knew Mark wasn’t well.

I put my hand on Mark’s shoulder, smiling at the men. “Thank you so much. We really appreciate this.”

Mark grimaced as I spoke, but tried to turn it into a smile.

The men waved us through, and as promised, others in the same uniform guided us to the massive building ahead.

It was a beautiful log cabin, big enough to be a mansion if a log cabin could be called that. Some windows emitted a soft, golden glow as dusk fell.

I turned to look at the kids in the back seat. Their young eyes were still sleepy as they looked around curiously. They needed a break as much as we did.

What worried me more was the curiosity in my youngest’s eyes. It never led to anything good, though his heart was always in the right place.

We pulled up to the spot the men indicated, and we all started unbuckling our seatbelts. I flung my door open before the car was even in park, eager to stretch my legs and find the items Mark needed.

The boys were right behind me, darting out and chasing each other around the car. I tossed a warning over my shoulder as I dug through the trunk. “Watch where you’re going!”

When they nearly ran into one of the guards, they stopped short. The man frowned at them, and my oldest grabbed my youngest’s hand. “Oh. Excuse us, sir.”

The man ruffled his hair and grinned. “Good manners, son.”

Aaron beamed up at the man. He loved praise.

Wish I could say the same about Hayden.

I rummaged through the trunk, looking for Mark’s emergency bag. It had snacks for him to eat before taking his medication. The dosage was strong, and he needed food to protect his stomach lining.

I found the bag, grabbed it, and slammed the trunk shut.

Mark was already out of the car and refused to lean on me when I went to stand next to him. He took the bag from me and gave me a gentle push. “Go on ahead. I’ll catch up.”

He smiled briefly before heading towards a small bench overlooking a beautiful garden filled with colorful blossoms. The air was heavy with their sweet scent.

It would do him good to relax and enjoy the view before taking his medication. The pills made him groggy and gave him stomach cramps. He claimed they left him barely functional.

He knew what he had to do. My worry was whether he’d do it without me hovering over him. But he’d been managing his own medication and doses better these past few months.

All I knew for sure was that the pills were disappearing. That had to mean something.

Quality of life versus quantity. It was the same old argument. Loved ones wanted as much time as possible, but individuals wanted to make the most of the time they had.

Who could blame me for wanting my husband by my side as long as possible, watching our children grow up?

Realizing my restroom excuse was becoming a reality, I headed towards the building after making sure Mark was comfortable.

The glass doors revealed several people milling about inside. A house, according to the guard.

People stood in small groups, chatting as if they were waiting for something. A few descended a staircase.

The number of people gave me pause. Maybe there was another facility that wouldn’t be so busy.

There were several other buildings nearby, forming a small city in the middle of nowhere. Shops, stores, and other buildings surrounded this one, but it seemed like this little city shut down early in the evening. Just my luck!

Beyond the businesses, small neighborhoods sprawled up the hillside.

As I neared the peak of one of the hills, where the views were bound to be breathtaking, I could see grand houses that screamed of wealth and status.

If you squinted, you could spot a colossal building at the mountain’s summit that I thought could give this one a run for its money.

I tried to recall the quaint town we’d left behind that morning, picturing how it might look from this vantage point.

Taking a deep breath, I put an end to my dawdling and pushed the heavy wooden door open.

The chatter that filled the room died down as the door swung open.

Men and women alike turned to look at me, their eyes on the newcomer who’d dared to interrupt their gathering.

A prickling sensation ran down the back of my neck, and my instincts were screaming at me to run.

But I squared my shoulders, pulling a face that said—I really, really hate to do this, but...

And I truly didn’t.

I knew I wouldn’t get far without using the restroom. It’s like that idea that if you think about something hard enough, it’ll happen.

“I hate to interrupt, but the guys outside mentioned there’s a restroom here I could use?”

My eyes scanned the room, each person lost in their own world.

I searched for a friendly face, someone I could hold eye contact with to emphasize the urgency of my request.

The women seemed to be assessing me, each trying to figure out what kind of threat I posed.

Considering their graceful figures and stunning features, I figured they’d quickly dismiss the idea that I could be any sort of threat.

But their expressions remained unchanged.

The men, on the other hand, were a different story.

Each one wore a different expression: some cautious, some approving, and one that nearly took my breath away.

From the moment I met Mark, no other man had ever left me breathless…until now.