The Alpha King Call Boy
Chapter 135

Alexander

I watched the pack from a distance, pretty sure they couldn't see me from my strategically selected vantage point, for a few minutes.

They were running a punishing rope-based obstacle course that I was sure Kayden had spent a lot of time setting up this morning. Probably trying to distract himself from thinking about Nina being here. The men looked good. They were working hard.

I was certainly not done whipping the pack into their best fighting shape, not by a long shot. And it was urgent that they get there soon. But at least I could see the needle moving in the right direction. Fiona texted me.

She said Nina wanted to take her shopping, and asked if I'd bring a credit card for her to take with them.

This plan worked out well for me. I was itching to run this course with the pack now, and I knew Fiona needed more maternity clothes; I'd been watching the changes in her body every day. Plus, I'd ripped up more than a couple of her outfits and explicitly owed her replacements.

I hoofed it back to the room and handed over my black card. The ladies were already getting their shoes on and preparing to leave.

"Don't abuse it," I said, only joking.

Nina snatched the card out of Fiona's fingertips and spun it through her own fingers in a showy little pinwheel movement. Then it disappeared into a barely-visible pocket in her tight black shorts.

"We would never," she said, giving me a wink that implied the opposite.

"So what was going on with Nina this morning?"

I'd taken the opportunity, back at the room after Fiona and Nina left, to change into sweats before heading back to the courtyard to join Kayden and the team for training.

Kayden clenched his teeth. "She had some questions about Iris."

I didn't need to ask what kind of questions, or how Kayden had answered them. I knew him and Nina well enough to predict just how that conversation had gone.

Nina must have wanted to look Kayden in the eye while confronting him with concerns about her friend. That meant she'd believe him when he told her the truth. So, hopefully, those concerns had been put to rest.

Taking care of Iris was undoubtedly the right thing to do. But her being here sure came with a big downside. Not only was she annoying to Fiona, but her presence here also provided fodder for unfortunate speculations about my own behavior.

Sure-I could speak out against the rumors. But defensiveness, in matters like this, tended only to be interpreted as proof of a story being true. The only choice I really had was just to let it lie.

"On a different note," Kayden continued, "I took care of that thing you asked me to do last night."

I had instructed my Beta to track down the current pack leader of the Hellhounds for me. I only knew these men by reputation so far. I'd never had or wanted an opportunity to interact with any of them personally before now. "Great. You set up a meeting?"

"Yeah. Tomorrow. But there's, uh, something you should know. He's currently incarcerated."

"Figured there was a chance of that. Where?"

"A few hours' drive up north. A max security place out in the middle of nowhere. He's serving a three-year sentence."

"Three years? In maximum security?"

"It was a weird case. He went to trial on a whole bunch of felony charges, all related to gun running. But he was only convicted on one lesser count, possession of an illegal firearm, and received the minimum sentence." "And he's able to receive visitors."

"He is. You've got a date tomorrow at noon."

"Good."

Damage control on this situation with the Hellhounds was overdue already, so it was for the best that I make this trip right away.

Going to the penitentiary tomorrow did mean, however, that I couldn't spent the day with Fiona like we'd planned.

She'd be understanding. But now I'd have to tell her about what was going on.

Fiona

"Okay, I have something to confess." Nina kept her eyes forward while she drove. We turned off the palace service road and she picked up speed, climbing an onramp onto the highway. "Oh?"

"There's a reason I was a little weird at breakfast, when Alex said that thing about, 'we could be twins' or whatever..."

"You don't need to explain, Nina. I get it."

"No, it's not just... the past." She sighed. "The thing is, Mike actually reached out to me recently."

"What? When?"

"A couple weeks ago."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I don't know. I guess I just didn't really want to talk about it yet."

I thought back, trying to remember the last time I saw Nina's brother Michael.

It was at our high school graduation. Nina wasn't there. She finished school, of course, but she ditched the ceremony. Things were already tense between her and her family by that time.

"I haven't gotten back to him," Nina said. "And I do feel bad about ignoring him, but I just don't know if I want to go down that road..."

"Well, what did he say? Is there something going on?"

"Nah. Well, not that I know of. He just said... ugh..." Nina loosened her seatbelt and readjusted her body posture. She looked uncomfortable and claustrophobic. "He said he missed me and wants to talk." Finally Nina stole a glance in my direction. Her eyes were shiny and sad.

I held my tongue. There were things that I wanted to say, but what my friend really needed was just for me to listen. If she wanted my advice, she'd ask for it. And she did not ask for it.

"I've been thinking about it, you know. It would be nice to talk to him. But I feel like it'll just open up a box of worms. I don't want to go back to wasting all my time and energy worrying about those people, you know?" "Those people" always meant Nina's parents.

She sighed again. "Anyway. Sorry if I made things awkward back there."

"It's really not a big deal."

Nina reached over and gave my arm a quick, affectionate squeeze. "Anyway. Let's go find you the most fashionable maternity clothes this world has to offer."

I laughed. "We will need lots of luck with that. So much of it is awful."

"I got you, girl. We'll get a good haul."

Nina and I were trying on clothes in adjoining dressing rooms when my phone chimed once. The sound was barely audible from within my purse.

I'd managed to get myself half-zipped into the dress I was trying on. Getting it the rest of the way closed was either going to require a lot of effort or Nina's assistance.

I took a break from all that work and sat down on a bench in the dressing room, fished my phone out of my purse and opened the text from Alexander just as a second one came in.

Alexander: Hey beautiful. How are things going?

Alexander: I need to tell you, something's come up and I'll be busy tomorrow. I'll explain more later. Just wanted you to know - maybe Nina wants the time with you.

I glimpsed my reflection in my peripheral vision (there were mirrors all around me). And found that I was frowning.

I wrote him back: No worries. Thanks for the heads up. I'll tell her.

The heavy curtain of my dressing room suddenly flew to one side and Nina appeared in the open doorway. She was wearing a sleek, sophisticated gray dress. It was strange to see her in something so conservative, but she also looked gorgeous in it. "Oh, please come on in," I said sarcastically.

Nina had been about to say something else, but when she saw me sitting there typing on my phone, the subject changed. "Ahh, we're texting, huh? I was wondering why you were taking so long."

I rolled my eyes. "He was just telling me he can't come with me to the nursing home tomorrow. Because he is considerate. That's all."

"Then why are you blushing?"

I put my phone away. "Why are you barging into my dressing room?"

Nina grinned and made a motion with her finger that meant: stand up and turn around so I can zip you.

I lifted my hair up while I did this. Nina slipped behind me and zipped me up, then snatched the mass of my hair out of my hands and started tying it up into a high ponytail, using a black band she'd been wearing on her wrist. "Nothing else you and Alexander text about?" she asked, feigning a disinterested tone.

My phone chimed with another notification.

She locked eyes with me in the mirror, arched an inquisitive eyebrow and asked, "You need to get that?"

It turned out I was blushing a little. That could not be denied in a room full of mirrors. "I'll check it later, thanks."

"Ah. Good idea - wait till you're alone."

I covered my face with my hands, unable to tolerate looking at my own reflection while discussing this topic any longer. That gesture was as good a confirmation as any for Nina, I guess.

"Oh, my god, I'm right, aren't I?! You guys have been doing dirty stuff on the phone! Oh, Fiona. You are badder than I thought." She pushed my wrists down and forced me to look at her. "I'm afraid you're going to need to tell me more about this," she said, smiling like she was proud of me.