Billionaire Quadruplet Alphas

Sunday 20th September, 2020 (Continued)

Harper’s POVContent from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

My eyes snapped open. I had fallen asleep practising the guitar on my bed in my private suite. In just a few hours I needed to be fully ready to rock n’ roll. I would be playing at the fundraiser talent show with my band Pariah and then I would play my solo song for Star.

I sighed. I had so many conflicting feelings about Star. She was literally the girl of my dreams though I wasn’t sexually attracted to her. I found her beautiful but I found myself wanting to ensure that she remained innocent, untouched. I was kind of glad she turned down my kissing practice offer.

The day I met Star, I had not intended to audition for Toby’s play but I had tagged along with some of the other drama club wolves to watch the audition. Then, I spotted her, sitting between Toby and another girl. My jaw dropped. It was her! The girl from my dreams. I had dreamt about her countless times. She would always be the same age as me in every dream. I felt as though we had grown up together in my dream world. I couldn’t believe I’d met my “dream girl.” I had known then and there that I needed to audition and get that part to get close to her. Thank goodness I knew how to turn on the charm. My answers undoubtedly impressed her because she picked me. Toby and the other girl were there on the panel but I just knew it was her. She had to have made the final decision.

When I found out about the fact that there was no play and I’d just be hanging out with Star, I was thrilled. I played it cool though. Asking for more money was a nice touch. It made me seem reluctant. Eagerness was usually a turn-off in a situation like this. I would seem like a weirdo doing this without reservations so I had to pretend I had some. I had said I was worried about the Quads trying to fight me. I truly didn’t give a f**k though. Yeah, there were four of them and one of me but I had…special abilities…let’s call them that.

My cellphone vibrated. It was near my pillow. Toby again?

“Hey Man!” I said calmly. I yawned. “What’s up?” I asked.

I knew what was up. He kept harassing me about the weekly salary we had agreed upon ever since I had decided I didn’t want it. I had lied and said my parents had cut me off. I needed some dumb excuse. After Toby wire transferred the first payment, I just sent it back. He had called right away to make sure I hadn’t left Star hanging. I had reassured him that that was not the case. I just didn’t want the money. I never did.

I made him swear he wouldn’t tell Star I was doing this for free though. That could potentially creep Star out. I managed to fend off Toby by saying I would take cash when he got back to the Academy because I didn’t want my parents nothing the deposits. That lie would work for now. I didn’t want Toby becoming suspicious of me and alerting Star.

Star. She was a mystery to me. Why did I feel so at ease with her? Why did I feel so…complete when I was with her? She was practically still a stranger to me. Why did I feel so drawn to her? In my dreams of us, we loved each other but it was never romantic. We were playmates as children then best friends as teenagers in my dreams.

I was restless this morning. I usually wasn’t nervous about performing but I felt jittery now. I called my Dad. We were pretty close. I had been meaning to ask him a few things, man to man.

“Son! What’s up? Everything ok?” He asked, the concern evident in his voice.

“Yeah,” I said slowly. ‘“Dad…can a she-wolf be my…soulmate without being my fated mate?”

Dad was silent for a moment. “Why do you ask? You think you’ve found your mate?”

“No, she’s definitely not my mate but I feel a deep connection with her all the same. I feel this weird urge to protect her, to be around her. My wolf really likes her. He might…he might love her but he’s not in love with her …” I trailed off, not sure if I was making any sense.

“What’s her name?” Asked Dad, his tone cautious.

“Star, well it’s Hannah technically but…”

I heard a sharp intake of breath on the other line followed by a heavy sigh.

“Dad?” I asked.

“We need to talk, son. Face to face as soon as you’re able to come see your Mom and me!” Specified Dad.

“Ok, yeah,” I answered.

“When will you come?” Asked Dad.

“I’ll try to come after the talent show tonight!” I said.

“Ok, great!” Said my father, though he didn’t sound as though this was great. He seemed anxious.

“You ok, Dad?” I asked.

“Me…oh…yes…I’m…wonderful!” Said Dad, sounding completely unconvincing.

“Ok…how’s Mom?” I asked.

“Great! You’ll see her tonight too,” Dad said.

“Dad, can’t you just tell me what you want to tell me now?” I asked, feeling a bit anxious.

“No, no, it’s nothing to worry about…it’s just better said in person. You know, um parental advice!” He said. He was lying. I always knew when someone was lying. Just like I had known that the reason Star hired me was a lot more than just making her mates, the Quads, jealous. I enjoyed making those assholes squirm though, especially Jonah. He was the eldest Quad, meaning he had been an a*****e the longest.

“Can I talk to him?” Said a feminine voice. It was Mom.

“Hey, Honey!” She said.

“Hey, Mom!” I said brightly.

“I miss you!” She cooed.

I chuckled. “I miss you too!” I’d never admit this to the bandmates or Star or anyone for that matter but I was kind of a Momma’s boy. When I wasn’t at the Academy or playing shows, Mom and I hung out together a lot. I considered her my best friend outside of the band.

“Honey, make sure that you…are um, taking your time with this new friendship with Hannah, ok!” She said.

“I am, yeah, of course,” I said.

“I overheard you and your father talking…about how special she is to you…it’s easy to confuse one feeling for the next when you’re young especially when you don’t have all the puzzle pieces. You’re a teenager and you’re still figuring things out! There’s no need to-,” she began lecturing me.

“Mom, it’s ok,” I said, cutting her off. I knew what she was worried about. “Hannah and I aren’t hooking up.”

I heard her breathe a sigh of relief. With any other girl, I’d be in a rush to get them all hot and bothered but it just wasn’t like that with Hannah. The thought of her being with the Quads disgusted me though. It wasn’t really jealousy…it was more complicated than that. I didn’t want anyone touching her like that including me. It was weird. I’d never quite felt so fiercely protective of a girl before not even ex-girlfriends.

“Mom, Dad, I’m gonna go ok! See you tonight!” I said.

“Love you Harper!” Cooed Mom.

“Love you, Mom,” I said.

I had told Star I’d meet her at the theatre but I was going to go get her and walk her over there. I wanted her backstage with me anyway where she wouldn’t have to mope over seeing that devil’s spawn with her mates. While I was getting ready, I heard a voice calling me.

Harper! Harper.

Huh.

It sounded familiar. I turned the shower off. I stepped out. It sounded like a guy’s voice.

Harper! You there?! It’s Jonah!

Jonah? I rolled my eyes. What the hell did he want?

Yes? I asked curtly.

Noah visited Star after hours last night, said Jonah.

I already knew that but why was he telling me this?

And Zaya and Eli went to visit her this morning. We’re supposed to be um giving Star her space right now so I was a bit angry with them not with Star though. When I went over there I ripped the door off its hinges so watch out for that. I’m having it fixed though, don’t worry!

What the f**k?!

So I was wondering if you could do me a small favour. It’s something that would benefit Star also! He added quickly trying to sweeten the pot.

What is it? I asked.

Escort Star to the theatre please! Meet her at her room. I don’t want her being alone at all right now, said Jonah.

I had been about to do that anyway but I wasn’t going to tell him that.

I’ll have to hurry up and finish getting ready but fine, I said in an exasperated tone.

Thanks Harper! Said Jonah, sounding genuine.

You owe me one! I said, pretending like I really was doing him a favour.

I met Star at her room and was careful with the broken door. She looked absolutely radiant. I told her a little bit about my three best friends and fellow bandmates: Chester, River and Clarence. Clarence was nicknamed Brink but I didn’t tell Star that, hoping she would call him Clarence to his face. He would hate that!

She met them and they seemed to be hitting it off. Angelique came out of nowhere and insinuated that Star shouldn’t be backstage because she wasn’t a performer. Ugh. Couldn’t she mind her business for once? I let her know Star was part of the band as my Muse. My bandmates agreed and even the other cheerleaders on Angie’s squad seemed to like the idea of Star being my Muse. Girls ate that stuff up. My Movie Star actually was my Muse though. I was glad to see Angie go.

Star spotted Brink lighting a cigarette for the cheerleader he’d been banging and immediately assumed they were mates. That right there was the innocence I was trying to protect. The guys made a suggestive joke about Star, something about me corrupting her.

“This one is off-limits! You’re not to disrespect her even in jest!” I said in Arabic, flashing them my black eyes so quickly I knew Star would miss it. They spotted it though. The guys had grown up with me in Dubai where my father was from. We had all lived in the same rich neighbourhood and our parents all went back and forth between there and the Viper Moon Pack lands where my mother was from.

Finally it was showtime. We knocked it out of the park. The crowd was on its feet cheering for Pariah. I mellowed the audience out with my ballad for Star afterwards. It wasn’t exactly a romantic song but it wasn’t friendship either. It was something else. I felt like we were the same person in a weird way. I spotted my little Movie Star cheering in the wings for me.

She was so cute. Those Quads needed to start acting right if they expected to be with her. They also needed to pack Angie’s bags and send her on her way. I dedicated the performance to my little Movie Star. I went over to her in the wings while the crowd was still screaming. I loved the sound of screaming fan-girls. Now that was music to my ears.

I picked Star up and spun her around. I bear-hugged her. I kissed her forehead and then nuzzled her and pressed my forehead against hers. Nuzzling and forehead-touches were signs of great affection between two wolves. Zaya spotted us with our arms still around each other. He seemed pissed. I didn’t get what the big deal was. Where was all this animosity towards Angie?

They were so hypocritical. It irked me. I wasn’t backing down. Zaya shifted and so did I. I wasn’t going to hold back. I was about to go for the jugular when Star became lightheaded. I felt it as it happened. I felt the darkness encroach upon her like it was me who was fainting. Zaya felt it too as her mate. We both shifted back and caught her before she hit the ground.