Becoming Alpha’s Personal Caretaker
Chapter 155

Victor's POV

RICHARD following behind me, I went inside the barbeque restaurant owned by a great friend. We were immediately ushered by one of the uniformed staff to the VIP room.

The restaurant was new in town but the number of people I saw when I entered the place showed that the business is thriving. The smell that surrounded the place was mouth-watering that anyone would immediately feel hungry upon entrance. It has also a rustic vibe that felt homey. Its name also indicates that the owner has a great sense of humor. I can attest to it since we grew up together.

The place was a good place to go on a Friday night with friends to chill and have a drink or two to talk about the weather and simple matters. It seemed that the diners were having a good time judging from the laughter I heard when I passed by to get to the VIP room reserved for us. "Welcome to Smokin' Hot, my dear Victor!"

That's what greeted me when the door to the VIP room opened. David's grinning face was contagious.

The man hugged me and we clapped each other's back. He has always been affectionate and jolly eversince. He and Richard shook hands.

"How are you, beta? Is your boss as grumpy as before?"

"That's an inborn talent, Sir."

David snickered at Richards response.

"Come on, guys. Have a seat, please."

Smokin' Hot is owned and managed by David. He established the business in the territory a couple of months ago. The man loves to cook and his specialty was anything that can be cooked through fire. Quite literally.

The man has a love affair with burnt wood. He loved cooking and burning things using the charcoal.

He and I knew each other since they were in middle school. At first, no one would believe that we will become good friends. Back then, I was a big and robust teen while David was tall and lanky. He was being picked on while no one wanted to be on my bad side. An appetizer was served on their table together with iced cold beer.

It appeared to be a jalapeno wrapped in bacon strips.

"Dig in, my friend. You will have your favorite sea food later." David said before he clinked his beer in my bottle. "Don't be shy, Richard."

"Thank you, sir."

"I feel like a teacher whenever you say that, beta."

"You are a professor, sir."

"That's true." The owner of the restaurant admitted before he chuckled.

Indeed, David is also a part-time teacher in the community college. That was after his sudden vehicular accident a year ago.

He used to work overseas as an engineer in an oil company. He was home for a vacation when his car was, unfortunately, hit by a truck driven by a drunk driver. David thought it was his end but he woke up with his lower body paralyzed due to the dislocation in his spinal disk.

Come to think of it, David and I had almost the same fate. We both miraculously lucky to heal from lower body paralysis. However, mine was because of the Enchantress while his was a human error. "Yow, alpha."

My musing was interrupted when I heard David calling out for me. I frowned when I spotted the grin on his lips.

"Yeah?" I asked before sipping from the bottle of the cold beers.

The frosty drink was a good remedy for the humid afternoon. Although, the night was already approaching but the humidity of the season gets to me.

"A little birdy told me that you found your mate."

"Is that a question?"

"Of course not, my friend. I want juicy details."

I rolled my eyes at his antics.

I grabbed one of the wrapped jalapenos and bit on it. I nodded in approval when the juicy and cheesy tastes of the inside collided in my mouth. The spicy tang of the jalapeno added flavor, too. "That's what I am talking about. Is it to your liking, alpha? Your beta is already in his third. I don't need to ask him if he likes it."

I turned to Richard who was seated beside me. He sent me a thumbs up before grabbing the last one on the plate.

I finished the jalapeno in two more bites and swallowed it with the last of his beer.

"Good food, David. Thank you."

More foods were serves on their table. It was an assortment of pork and the seafoods. Beers followed, too.

"So, tell me of your mate, my friend."

I cleared my throat before I opened my mouth again.

"She's beautiful. Perfect."

"Wow! Coming from you, that's loud." David turned to my beta. "Is this true, Richard?"

"Yes, sir."

"You have an A plus on your next exam."

Richard laughed beside me and gave David a toast.

"Congratulations, man. I mean it. I never thought that you will find your mate in this lifetime. I thought you are going to spend your miserable life with that woman."

"I got lucky, I guess."

"You are a lucky man. Imagine, you are a grumpy person and you got a mate. If I am not your friend, I would be afraid of you. Even your ex-fiancée feared you, Victor." David is smiling when he said that. "That Serena girl was after your reputation as a powerful alpha. It was the reason why she accepted the engagement."

"And she threw it away when he learned that my injury has the possibility of being permanent." There was no bitterness when I said that. "But it was a blessing in disguise. I met my true mate and we are together now." "Right. Cheers to that!'

They clinked each other's beer bottle before taking a sip.

I was about to say something when we overheard a commotion outside the VIP room where we are staying. When it continued, David excuse himself.

Richard and I nursed on the bottle of beer while waiting for my friend to come back. When he was not back in five minutes, I decided to stand up and look for him.

Although I can no longer hear the commotion outside due to the collective conversation of each table in main area.

"I will have your paycheck sent to you in the morning. Leave my property."

That's what I heard when I opened the door to the VIP room.

David is speaking to a man who has his arms on his back by the security personnel. The other security officer is holding a woman by the arm.

The couple seemed to be resisting. Yet, they were pulled away eventually despite the protest.

However, my attention focused on the familiar woman standing behind David.

It's my beautiful mate, Lauren!

My wonderful caretaker is standing with her good friend. Mila seemed to have noticed us already because she has a wide grin on her face. And Richard went rigid beside me. These two seemed to have something going on. I will ask him about it in another day.

A scowl appeared on my face when David approached the two women. He seemed to know Lauren and I did not like it that my mate appeared to know him, too!

My frown deepened when David drew near. He came together with Mila and Lauren.

"Victor, look who I found?" David said cheerfully.

My eyes followed where his palm landed. In Lauren's shoulder.

I wanted to raise my fist and throw a punch on my childhood friend's grinning face. I also wanted to make sure that the punch would leave a mark on his cheek that he would not able to exercise his capability to smile for at least a couple of days.

"This is Dr. Lauren Blanco. This is the woman that saved me from me. Without her, I might be dwelling in my misery until now because I am unable to use my legs." The cheerfulness in my friend's tone was pretty clear.

I looked at Lauren who was also staring at me.

"Ain't she pretty? May I remind you, Victor, that you have a mate." David joking mustered. "By the way, Dr. Blanco, can I invite you and your gorgeous friend to join us?"

"Oh, sure. I'm Mila."

"Hello, dear. It's David."

They shook hands and I almost feel the brewing tension coming from my beta at the sight.

We went back inside. Chairs were pulled for the women.

To my delight, Lauren was seated in front of me. Mila was beside her.

"Victor, did you know that Dr. Blanco was my attending physician? She was the angel that restored me back to my old self."

Lauren sent me a glance.

"I'm just doing my job." She countered.

"Still, thank you."

"You're welcome, then."

"Come to think of it." David ceased the wine bottle on the table. "I brew this myself and I brought this here because I am meeting my good friend, Alpha Victor of Midnight Claws Tribe. There is no more special than being with you here, Dr. Blanco. After all, I owe you my second life."

I glared at my friend. I am starting to hate every word that exited his mate. Despite the accuracy in them, I still hate it. The words were full of dedication and they were direction to my woman!

I watched David affectionately glanced at Lauren who seemed a little uncomfortable of the attention.

"Have a taste, Dr. Blanco. I would appreciate your assessment of the wine. Mind you, it was not in the market yet."

The flute was given to her who reluctantly accepted the drink. Lauren gave me a quick look before lifting it towards her rosy lips.

Unable to stop myself, I took the wine gla*s and drank the rest of the wine.

It was bubbly and sweet. Well-blended and concocted. Great for special occasions and definitely keep the drinkers sobber. "Victor!"

I stared into the eyes of the person I grew up with. The person who has been with me in my teenage years.

David was taken aback by the anger in my own eyes.

"The wine was not overly sweet. Just right. Congratulations!" I announced. "By the way, I want you to meet my mate."

I took hold of Lauren's hand and intertwined our fingers.

"This is my mate, Dr. Lauren Blanco."