~HENRY
My phone buzzed on the bedside table, and I grabbed it immediately. As soon as I set eyes on the caller's ID though, a small sigh slipped past my lips.
I dropped the phone and listened to it ring out, but Alisa started to call me almost immediately after.
Another resigned sigh slipped past my lips. I pinched the bridge of my nose before I eventually picked the call.
"Hello, love," I stated, and just like that, my newly engaged fiancée started to rant about something entirely random and excruciatingly boring.
I stifled an annoyed sound. Fuck this. Alisa might have a banging body and a pretty face, but aside from that, there was absolutely nothing appealing about her. She was a boring as hell, vain, and shallow woman with air for brains.
Sometimes, I almost wished that I hadn't proposed to her. She was so unlike Nyssa, who was always so sweet and gentle and spoke to me in the softest tones.
As soon as my thoughts wandered to my ex girlfriend, heady desire coursed through my veins. I tried to imagine what she might be doing across the hall in her room right now.
Was she taking her bath? Thinking about me as she ran a hand down her naked body, perhaps? I could almost see the scene in my mind, and I was so lost in my imagination that it took me a while to realise that Alisa was calling my name.
"Are you even listening to me?" she snapped.
No. No I wasn't. I shook my head, but it was a useless action. She could not see me.
And if she realised that I had been zoning her out, well…
It wouldn't turn out well. And the last thing I needed right now was for her to start bitching on me.
"I'm sorry, Alisa. I am just so tired from driving all the way here. I don't think I am up to talking right now. Can I call you back as soon as I wake up?" I asked, intentionally making my voice go soft at the edges.
Alisa was silent for a long moment before she eventually responded.
"Promise to call me back immediately?" she asked.
"Of course, love. You're always on my mind," I responded very smoothly.
"On no account should you attempt to talk to Nyssa. Stay away from her as far as possible, okay?"
The edge in her voice, in addition with her words, made a surge of irritation well up in me.
I barely managed to push it away as I reassured her what I wanted nothing more to do with the woman I was just fantasising about a few moments ago.
As soon as the call ended, I flinged the phone away from me. It landed on the edge of the bed, and I left it there.
As if someone had been waiting for me to end the call, a sharp knock sounded on my room's door.
I stood up, and walked up to the door, wondering who could have come calling. Before I had a chance to find out though, a very familiar voice floated past the door and into my ears.
"For fuck's sake, Henry. I know you are in there. I know you can hear me. Open the goddamn door," she snapped impatiently.
My lips stretched into a small smile as I yanked the door open.
"Missed me already?" I asked, my voice soft and teasing as I winked at Nyssa.
Her expressions flashed with anger, but she didn't take the bait. Instead she crossed her arms over her chest and started to speak.
"We need to talk," she spat at me.
I raised my eyebrows at her. "And you think standing in the hallway is the best place to have a conversation?"
Nyssa snorted at my not so subtle invitation for her to come in. "I am not coming into that room with you, Henry. And I am not going anywhere else with you. I don't trust you anymore. So yes, standing in the hallway is the best place to have a conversation," she snapped.
My lips parted as I tried to respond, but she interrupted by speaking over me.
"Listen to me, Henry. I think this trip was a waste of time. We should have gone to one of the neighbouring packs for help instead."
At her words, my smile fell away, and my entire body went rigid.
"And why, exactly, do you say that?"
Nyssa shrugged.
"Because the King's sister just came into my room and asked us to leave?"
I held her gaze for a long moment, wondering if this was some sort of elaborate joke, but Nyssa was serious.
My hands curled into fists.
"That is impossible. I don't know whatever Aria was on, but she can't be serious. The King will see us," I deadpanned, not leaving any room for doubt in my words.
Nyssa's expression twisted with frustration. "She meant what she said, and I think we should leave now. We can still make it back in time to visit one of the other neighbouring packs. They should be able to offer us enough help to save our people."
My anger flared hard and fast, and when I took a step closer, Nyssa backed up.
"You will not tell me what to do. I am your Alpha, and my word is law. The King will help us, and we will stay here for as long as we have to. I will not let you mess with my head just because someone saw you as a stupid, gullible woman."
My words were cold and harsh, and a flicker of hurt flashed past her face as the words settled around me.
Nyssa gave me a cold smile.
"Fine. Have it your way, then. But when all of these blows up in your face, don't say I didn't warn you."
I said nothing as she stormed back into her room, and as she slammed the door shut, my hands fisted tighter.
Nyssa was wrong. Aria was just messing with her. I had known the King's sister for as long as I knew the King, and she always liked to mess with people.
The King had to help us. I would give him no other choice than to do what I asked.
He owed me that much.