Sold To The Alpha
A Love spoken Chapter 55

Olivia felt like she had been walking for days before in the early hours of the morning, she finally stumbled into a small town and curled up in the doorway of the local tavern, hunger and fatigue leaving her unable to take another step. She had fallen unconscious against the wooden door frame and was found a few hours later by the elderly woman who ran the establishment as she opened the door to let her cat out into the small yard.

Gasping in shock, the elderly lady had called out for her nephew who had strode to her side and quickly scooped the unconscious woman up into his arms, carrying her into the building and up to his aunt's small sitting room above the bar. Olivia had woken hours later to replace herself laying on a comfortable sofa, a cool rag on her forehead. Sitting up, she warily looked around at her surroundings, taking in the unfamiliar room, the door opened with a small squeak and revealed the rosy cheeked woman who bustled in, a smile gracing her lips as she noticed the wary young woman was awake.

'Oh thank goodness' she exclaimed, rushing over to put the tea tray she was holding onto the small coffee table next to where Olivia had been carefully placed. 'You gave me quite a scare, opening the door to replace you passed out on the doorstep' she chided. 'Where am I?' Olivia asked worriedly, shrinking away form the old woman as she sat down in the neighbouring armchair, from her smell the she wolf could tell that the stranger was a human.

'You are in Littleport' the woman replied with a warm smile as she proceeded to pour some tea into one of the bone china cups, adding some milk and sugar before handing it to the she wolf who accepted it slowly.

Pouring herself a cup, the woman sat back and looked appraisingly at Olivia before saying, 'My name is Delia, but everyone calls me Aunt Dee, do you feel like telling me your name?' she asked in a soft friendly voice. 'Uhh, my name is Olivia' the she wolf whispered back, nursing her cup between her palms.

'Well Olivia, you look like you have a story in you, are you a runaway?' Aunt Dee asked, her gaze never wavering.

Olivia shrugged, 'I'm too old to be a runaway' she replied with a small smile.

Aunt Dee shook her head, 'you can be any age to be a runaway my dear, the older you are, the more likely that you are running from your problems than running from family' she said in a knowing voice.

Olivia kept her eyes averted saying nothing, the old woman gave a soft sigh, 'it's OK Olivia, your business is your business and I won't pry if you don't want to share it with me' she said kindly.

'Thank you' Olivia muttered as she took a small sip of the tea.

The pair drank their drinks in silence, Aunt Dee leaning forward to pick up the plate of cakes that was still on the tray and offering it too the she wolf, smiling encouragingly as the young woman carefully took a piece of Victoria sponge and started to nibble on it. 'Well Olivia, you may want to keep your affairs to yourself right now, but it looks like you could do with somewhere to stay' Aunt Dee said decisively, 'so you can stay here with me if you like until you figure out what to do next!

Olivia raised her eyes to the old lady in surprise, 'no it's not necessary' she stuttered, 'you don't even know me, I could be a thief or something!

Aunt Dee threw back her head and laughed, 'are you a thief?' she asked in amusement.

Olivia blushed slightly, 'well no, but a thief would say that too wouldn't they' she replied defensively.

Aunt Dee shook her head, 'that is true Olivia, but to me, you look like a young lady that needs help rather than a thief looking to rip off an old lady who lives above a bar. I have a spare room and I'll be honest, it gets damn lonely around here after my nephew goes home at the end of his shift. I tell you what, you stay here with me for a few weeks, get some energy back and food in your belly, you can work downstairs behind the bar with me in exchange for a place to stay. The locals around here are good people, you get the odd flirty old man but they are harmless enough' she said with a twinkle in her eye, 'so what do you say? Do you fancy keeping an old gal company for little while?'

Olivia studied the old woman's face, seeing the concern behind her eyes, slowly she nodded her head and gave the woman a tight smile. 'Thank you Delia' she said softly, 'that would be really nice!

The old lady stood up with a beam, 'no problem sweetie, and it's Aunt Dee, only my mother called me Delia and that was if I was in trouble. Every time I hear that name a shudder runs down my spine, I can feel that slipper across my backside even now and the woman has been gone over thirty years. You stay here and finish your tea while I will go and make up the guest room for you' she chuckled before sweeping her way out of the room.

Letting her head fall back against the sofa, Olivia closed her eyes, breathing deeply, the tea warming her hands and calming her soul.

Soon Aunt Dee was bustling her way back into the room, smiling widely as she beckoned the she wolf to follow her.

Leading her out of the sitting room, the old woman made her way down a small corridor to a room at the end, pushing open the door she revealed a small bedroom that housed a double bed with frayed but immaculately clean floral bedding, a small wooden chest of drawers and a vanity. 'It's not much I'm afraid, but it'll keep you warm and dry each night' Aunt Dee chirped.

Turning around from the room, Olivia's eyes prickled as she first real smile in what felt like an eternity reached her lips.

'It's perfect, thank you Aunt Dee' she said softly.

Dee waved her hand dismissively, 'if you can't help out a young girl out on her own, then what kind of person are you' she replied with a beam on her face.

'Aunt Dee?' came a gruff voice from down the hall, 'Aunt Dee? You here?'

'In here Mitch' Dee called back, waiting until a burly man in his early forties, with sandy hair entered the room holding some clothes.

Olivia shrank back slightly at the sight of him as Dee took the clothes from his arms.

'Don't you mind him Olivia, he looks like a big bear but he's a little kitten really' Aunt Dee said fondly, patting the man's arm.

'Aunt Dee!' the stranger moaned, though the smile on his face let everyone know that he wasn't upset.

'Olivia, I'd like you too meet my nephew Mitch, Mitch this is my new house guest and barmaid Olivia' the older lady introduced. Mitch held out his hand, 'Nice to meet you Olivia, good to see you awake this time, are you feeling better?' he asked in his gruff voice. Olivia took his hand hesitantly and shook it, studying his friendly face and eased manner which caused her to relax slightly.

'Yes, much' she replied quietly, 'Aunt Dee has been much too kind to me' she added with a slight blush.

Mitch chuckled, 'oh Aunt Dee is notorious for collecting people in need' he replied, 'she ran an orphanage when she was younger, I don't think the desire to help can be taken out of her now. Anyway, I brought you some clothes, they belong to my wife but she said to keep them as you don't seem to have anything with you' he added with a smile.

Olivia took the clothes that Aunt Dee held out to her as she looked at the floor, overwhelmed by these two strangers and their kindness.

'Thank you, and please thank your wife for me' she murmured.

'It's nothing, that woman has more clothes than a clothing shop, I've had to buy three wardrobes since we were married and my stuff is still in drawers' he replied with a laugh, 'you are doing me a favour, I might actually get to hang up a pair of jeans after twenty one years!

Olivia looked up to meet his crinkled blue eyes, 'you've been married twenty one years?' she asked surprised.

Mitch nodded with a grin, 'yup, childhood sweethearts, got three kids to go with it as well' he agreed.

Turning to Aunt Dee, Mitch bent down and placed a kiss on his aunt's cheek, 'I gotta split Aunt Dee, Sarah asked me to mow the lawn and if she goes out and replaces I slipped off without doing my chores, I'll be kipping on your sofa as Olivia here has nicked my back up bed' he chuckled, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

Aunt Dee gave him a quick hug, 'go and do your chores young man, and tell Sarah I expect to see her tonight for karaoke' she chided. Mitch nodded as he gave Olivia a friendly wave and departed. Turning back to the she wolf, Aunt Dee smiled, 'he seems really nice' Olivia said carefully.

Dee nodded, 'heart of gold my nephew has, he will help anyone who needs a hand, from pulling your car out of the mud to fixing your gutters if they leak' she agreed, her voice filled with pride. 'He takes after you' Olivia replied with a smile as Dee chuckled.

'We are a family who believe in helping others' she said kindly, 'everyone falls on hard times in life, makes bad decisions, even hurt the people we love, but it's how we move on from those bad times that define us Olivia, not the bad things we did or that happened to us.

Patting the young woman's hand, she added, 'the bathroom in first on the left if you'd like a shower, I've already popped a toothbrush in there for you, feel free to make use of the shampoo and anything else you need. Once you feel up to it, pop downstairs and I'll show you around the bar before we open.

Nodding her head, Olivia gave her a small grin as the older woman went to leave, 'Thank you Aunt Dee' she said softly, 'you have no idea how much your hospitality means to me.'

Aunt Dee looked back with a knowing smile, 'Sweetie, you have no need to thank me, I'm just thankful that you made your way to me so I could help you!