Alpha Zach

"Francesca, she got all emotional. She informed me she was being mocked by her classmates about having no mum and being a daddy's little girl. She broke down, and told me I wasn't her mom when I reassured her I'd attend the mothers meeting at her school. She-"

"Oh man, I think you need to get married as soon as possible."

This statement got me pissed.

"What?" I growled.

He cleared his throat before he spoke up. "Francesca needs a mom. What the hell were you thinking when you told her you'd attend the mother's meeting. Jesus H. Christ. You're not a woman." He gave me the stare, that read 'You're more stupider than I thought'.

"And who are you to tell me that?" I asked in annoyance, shooting him a glare.

He shrugged then said, with his hands raising up in defense. "Your friend, and I'm just making a suggestion."

"Damn you and your bloody suggestion. Francesca doesn't need a mom. She recovered when I stayed with her this afternoon. She's happy again." I argued. Then swallowed hard, meeting his stupid gaze.

"She'll never recover." Lucas pointed out.

"Don't say that. Dammit! She's my daughter, I understand her more than you do." I grind my teeth together to keep myself from squeezing his neck. He was getting irritational.

He snickered and motioned with his hands for me to calm down.

"I've got a wife and two kids. My kids loves my wife more than me, their dad. All children loves their mothers more than their fathers. Francesca might look happy when you're with her, but do you know what's going on her mind when she sees other kids with their mothers?"

"Shit!" I mumbled to myself. He had damn a point there.

"You need a woman in your life, man. Francesca needs a mother."

I threw him one of my infamous death glares, and he scoffed in return.

"Shut up, you're starting to sound like my mum." I said frustrated. He was right. I didn't know what Francesca had in mind. She was probably longing for a mother. Dammit!

"I don't know what's working you man. You're good-looking, you've got the body women would die for. You walk around, having no care in the world, and fail to notice women ogling at you. And getting their panties wet at the sight of you." He paused talking, took a sip from his beer. Holding his chin, he stared thoughtfully into the air. "I wonder what's hindering you from getting married. Or do you want to remain a bachelor till you go wrinkle? When was the last time you even had sex?"

Knowing that statement required no response, I drank my beer.

Lucas watched me for a while, drew his head backwards, then burst into a harsh bark of laughter.

"What is it?" I asked curious. My eyes darting between his.

"Oh no. You're gay." Lucas said, choking on laughter.

"I'm not." I retorted.

"You are." He huffed.

"Shush it Lucas. Or I'll have to wring your neck." I warned, drilling holes into his chubby face with my death glare.

"Oops, my bad." He feigned apologising, guffawing in laughter like a donkey.

Suddenly, a lady made her way towards the bartender's tabletops and sat on the seat on the empty seat next to me. My attention focused on her. She was so beautiful, brown skin color, and a banging body. The way Lucas would admit.

She had gorgeous deep brown eyes, a very tiny nose. And OK-lips.

She was beyond beautiful, if there was another word for beautiful, that's what I would call her.

I gazed at her, wondering the kind of drink she would order. If she would order for a alcoholic beverage or not. She stole a quick glance at my direction, then returned her eyes to the bartender and ordered for 'Strawberry Limeade'

She balanced her slightly heavy weight properly on the chair, facing the bar. Then sipped on her drink. And nodded to the music, blasting from the speakers, in the air.

I looked away from her to Lucas. I was not supposed to stare at lady like that. But she was so beautiful and innocent.

That was the way Alicia was, and I discovered on the later, that she was a monster.

All women were the same.

But why did my hear leap, and my breath seized when I first saw her?

I turned around, to stare at her again.But she was gone..

I was disappointed, I couldn't understand why. Who is she?

"Let's get out of here, man. It's getting late. Don't want to head to work late. There are still some paper works awaiting for you. And I don't want Mr Geoffrey yelling the roof off." Lucas tapped my arm while saying this. Completely shoving me away of my thoughts, from the beautiful mysterious woman.

I nodded, then stood on my full height. I was about paying the bills when Lucas told me not to worry, that he had taken care of the bills.

I blinked "when?"

"When you were occupied ogling at the lady who was sitted next to you." He said with laughter in his eyes.

"Hm." I was tongue-tied when I heard that..He'd caught me staring intensively at her.

Lucas sent me an understanding look, then he smiled before changing subject.

"Glad you are not a gay, man. Let's go." Being the cow that he was, he flashed me a naughty grin.

* * *

I arrived at my mom's house twenty minutes later, to pick Francesca. But I noticed the doors and windows were locked. Which signified that no one was present.

Assuming they'd gone out for a stroll, I fished out my phone from my pant's pocket and attempted to call my mom when her call came in.

"Hello, mom? Where are you guys?" I asked after I had taken the call.

"Za-za-Alpha Zach." Mom's voice trembled, and I could hear her sniffing on the background. Her voice indicated that something was off.

"What is it mom?" I asked worried that something had gone wrong. "Tell me where you are, mom. I'll come and get you and Francesca."

"Francesca is missing." She informed, her voice was hoarse. So I didn't hear her clearly. I could bearly hear the rummaging in the background.

"What did you say?" I questioned, assuring myself she was talking about something else. That I was just overthinking.

She cleared her throat, then said in a clear distinct voice this time."Francesca has gone missing."

And then, it dawn to me that my daughter was missing.

"Jesus H. Christ!" I yelped in shock. Instantly my phone slipped off my hand and shattered into pieces when it hitted the ground.

Chapter five

Alpha Zach

"Now that she's recuperating, she needs proper care and attention. You need to be there always. If she's left alone, I'm afraid this will happen again. So, young man, her life is partially in your hands." Dr Gibson, our family doctor informed me. He has been our family doctor for as long as I can remember.

"Alright, I've heard you doctor. I'll stick to your advice." I said shaking hands with him, with that, I strolled out of his office and headed straight to her ward. But I refused to go in and let my presence be know because of guilt.

Flash back

"How could you have been so careless?" I bellowed with fury, glaring so hard at her.

"I'm so sorry, Alpha Zach. I truly am. I was gone for a few minutes to talk to an old friend. Francesca was so engrossed in playing games with other kids, so I left her. I was barely a yard away from her. When I returned,I saw the other kids who were playing the same games with her, and was informed she left the playing ground the moment I did." Mom informed me, with her arms wrapped around her chest, and her face was puffy from crying.

Crying was not good for her condition, but I was so pissed at her. I didn't care about her damn condition that moment, all I cared about was my missing daughter. Knowing Francesca as one who wouldn't dismiss the playing ground without being accompanied by me or my mom, I had a feeling she was kidnapped. I gritted my teeth in frustration. Mom was so careless, she shouldn't have left Francesca alone because of mere gossip. I ticked my jaw and my balled my fingers into a tight hard fist. I hit the wall hard till my knuckles started bleeding.

"Stop it Alpha Zach, you're hurting yourself." Mom cried, gripping on my arm.

"I don't care, leave me alone." I spat wiggling myself free from her grip.

"Alpha Zach, please. We'll find-"

"Stop talking!" I roared, clenching my fists again. And she flinched at that. "My daughter is missing because you went gossiping with some woman. I would never forgive you if I don't find her." With that, I turned away from her and started advancing towards my car, ignoring her as she called out for me. I was going to search for Francesca this night, I wouldn't sleep when my daughter is missing.

My God, where is Francesca? I was losing my breath from not seeing the sight of her.

My thoughts were interrupted with the sound of a loud wheeze. I returned my eyes to my mom, who was now gasping for breath. She was kneeling on the dirt and hand her hands propped around her neck.

Instantly, I was overwhelmed with fear. Mom was having another heart attack. I had been so stupid, shouting and yelling at her when I was aware about her condition.

I hurriedly hopped out of my car and ran towards her.

"Mom!" I called, tapping her gently on the cheek as I gathered her in my hands. Her eyes were now creasing right into their sockets, with her body shuddering unendingly. And her tongue which was out of her mouth, had turned pale blue.

"Mom!"

"Ch-ha-rles." her voice out came through a lous wheeze and she passed out in my arms, right at that moment.

I hurriedly carried her into my car and drove to the hospital in a panick state.

She stayed and on coma for two days. According to Dr Gibson, it was the worst heart attack she had ever had. And if I hadn't rushed her to the hospital right at that time, she would have gave up the ghost.

Present

I shoved those ugly thoughts aside, then called out in guilt.

"Mom?"

Instantly, her head tilted up from the bible she was reading, to me.

"Alpha Zach?" She made to leave the bed, but I motioned for her not to.

I advanced towards her then sat on her bed.

She stared at me with guilt and sadness in her eyes.

"Have you found her?" She questioned with hope in her eyes.

"No mom. I haven't, it's been two weeks."

"Oh my God" Mom sobbed when I broke the news to her. "I'm so sorry, Alpha Zach." Her eyes were filling up with tears.

I clasped her hands in mine, then said.

"I'm the one who should be apologising, I shouldn't have put the blame on you. These passed weeks that I've been alone, I learny that it's not your fault. You left her with a couple of kids, hoping she would still be there. At the play ground when you return."

Mom nodded with teary eyes, I pulled her into a hug.

"We've been looking for Francesca this few weeks, I and my colleagues. But there has been news or any sign of her. I'm afraid mom,I have a feeling she isn't alive." I said, struggling to keep the tremble out of my voice, after the mother and son moment.

"Don't you say that. My grand child is still alive. The God that I serve will protect her and bring her back safely to us." She assured me, with closed eyes. Fighting back tears I assumed.

I nodded. A miracle was what was needed. We had her pictures everywhere, on newspapers, on the headlines. It was even printed on flyers and shared among peoole. But no one seem to have seen her.I was a mess, beer became my buddy at home. I would go on drinking till I fell asleep. I would always leave for the office with a headache every morning. It was good though. Getting drunk to stupor, made me forget my daughter was missing a tad.

My Francesca.

She wasn't here.

She was gone.

She was missing.

I missed her childish laughter.

The grin she would flash me, were her two incisors were missing.

The sound of her light footsteps.

Her voice.

Her soft breath fanning into my neck, when I carried her when she would drift to sleep, in her crib.

I missed her tickling me.

I missed her biting her off my fingernails with her teeth.

Where was she at the moment?

Had she eaten?

I was scared if she was okay.

She was small, so small that one could mistake her for a four year old.

Francesca was epileptic and I was afraid she would have no one around, to tend to her when she was having another seizure. Something which frequently occurred.

I heaved deeply, then rubbed my face with both palms.

"You need to rest son. There is lack of sleep in your eyes which makes it all obvious, that you rarely do sleep. Go home and have some rest."

Mom's voice interrupted me from my unhappy thoughts.

She was right, I rarely slept. Whenever I did, it was under the influence of alcohol.

I nodded, then pecked her on her forehead.

"I'll be back tomorrow." I promised her.

She gave me a firm nod, I made my way out of her ward.

I was descending the stairs when my phone beeped, I slipped it out of my pocket. It was a text message from Lucas, asking me to return to the office since lunch break was over half an hour ago. While reading the context of the text message, I missed a step and my chest collide with the face of a lady who was ascending the stairs. She slipped, raising both hands in the air

which sent her bag flying, and she almost falling off the stairs. But I was fast in grabbing hold of her.

When I steadied her on the steps, she didn't rain insults on me just like most ladies would've done, since I was the one at fault. Instead she squarted and started picking up her stuffs on the stairs. There was a make up kit, pack of gum and chocolate, perfumes, a note pad. I hurriedly picked up her iPhone and Apple iPad. The phone and the ipad were secured with screen guards, so I was lucky no damage was done.

"I'm sorry, it's my fault." I apologized, handing over her the phone and the iPad.

"It's okay." She took the items from me then her eyes flicked up to mine.

Realization stung me deep, jerking my senses from where they were held captive, when I saw that it was the beautiful lady at the bar few weeks ago. She was absolutely more adorable in daylight. Clad in a cream chiffon blouse which was tucked in a black pencil skirt, that hugged all her womanly curves wickedly. And black stiletto. Her sweet feminine floral perfume filled my nostrils.

"I know you." She uttered protractedly. Her eyes not leaving mine for a second.

"You do?"

"Yeah, the guy at the bar who kept stealing glances at me."

Despite the situation I was in. I managed to smirk. "I was definitely not stealing glances at you. I was overtly just staring at you. A young lady, at the bar, in the night. It was somewhat stranged noticing you were all alone. So, you sort of captured my attention." I said, I could feel the side of my lips curving into a smile this time. And she gave me a sweet smile.

"Well, I just wanted to get myself a couple of drinks on my own."

"And then you settled at taking just a glass."

We stood up facing each other when we were done putting all her stuffs into her bag. I gulped, because my mind was unconsciously moving my body towards her.

"What are you doing here?" She queried, as she made way for people to side step her.

"My mom's a patient here."

"Oh."

"What about you?"

"I'm a doctor."

I nodded as I shoved my hands in my pockets.

"So, you're a cop?" She allowed her eyes to roam over me, then returned them back to mine, with a perfectly shaved brow uplifted.

"Yes." I replied, I was clad on my uniform. A white shirt which I tucked in my uniform trousers. Black boots and a cap. I had left the office during lunch break to check on my mom.

"Anyway, my name is Gwen." She said, extending her hand to me for a handshake.

"Alpha Zach." I replied taking her hand into mine. It was so soft and smooth.

Darn! What the hell is wrong with me?

She nodded, and I let go of her hand.

"It was nice bumping into you, and I apologise again."

"It's alright." She said, giving me an angelic half smile. With that, she stepped ahead of me, leaving the scent of her feminine perfume.

I couldn't quit smiling, hoping I get to see her here again. She was not only a beauty, but was also nice.