He nodded. “Yeah and something…feels off. He says he wants to meet. That he has something important to discuss with me but that we have to do it face-to-face.”
“Is it about the Faction?”
Calder shook his head. “I don’t think so. He said it was personal. But there’s just something about that guy that gives me a bad feeling.”
I knew exactly what he meant. Brian Kirkpatrick was not an alpha to be trifled with. He was ruthless, cunning, and had a deeply rooted sadistic streak I’d only seen in action once, but once was enough.
“Are you taking the meet?” I asked.
“That’s why I’m here,” he replied. “I wanted your advice.”
I got to my feet and moved over to the chin up bar I had set up in the corner. “What do you mean?”
Calder grunted in frustration. “I mean, do you think I should take the meet or not? I’ve only met him a couple of times, but you know him well. Is this likely to turn into a clusterfuck, or do you think he just wants to talk?”
I hopped up, grabbing the bar and began to pull myself up, smooth and slow. “As alpha, you can’t afford to offend your closest allies, Calder. I wouldn’t want to do it, but I would. If he needs help and we can provide it, we should. Because you never know when the situations will be reversed.”
He was silent for a few moments as I continued to do pull-ups. “I want you there,” he finally stated. “You have excellent instincts and it’s time for you to get involved in the pack again.” It wasn’t the request of a friend, but the command of an alpha.
My rhythm faltered for a moment before I continued. “Okay. Then I’ll be there. When’s the meet?”
“Tomorrow.”
I stopped and dropped back down to the ground, turning to face him. “Tomorrow?”
He nodded.
“That’s pretty damn quick.”
“Exactly,” Calder replied. “I’m not sure I can trust him. I feel like he’s up to something, but I can’t figure out what the fuck it might be.”
“I agree. He’s up to something.” I stared down at my shoes for a moment, thinking. “I’ll make some calls, see if I can find out if he’s in a dispute with another pack or something. What time tomorrow?”
“Ten a.m.”
“I’ll be there.”
Calder drove usinto McKinney for the meeting. To anyone else, he would appear relaxed, but I knew better. There was a tension inside him, humming just beneath his skin.
It wasn’t unusual for the alphas of nearby packs to request meetings to discuss working together or alliances, but this one was unexpected. There had been no rumors of unrest among the Houston pack or challenges from others.
Though it could be dangerous to discuss pack business in public, he decided that a busy restaurant would be best for today. If the Kirkpatricks had an ambush in mind, they would think twice in a place full of humans. In fact, the restaurant we’d agreed upon was also frequented by cops. Another deterrent.
When Calder pulled into the parking lot at the greasy spoon we’d selected as a meeting place, I turned toward him.
“What’s the plan?”
He exhaled, his fingers tapping the steering wheel. “I’ll do most of the talking. Watch them. Maybe you’ll pick up something I won’t.”
We walked inside, a half an hour early for the meeting. It was intentional. We wanted to make sure that we were waiting when they arrived.
The waitress came over, her eyes moving first over Calder until they reached his wide platinum wedding band. She looked disappointed until she saw me sitting next to him. Her mouth curved in a flirtatious smile that did nothing for me.
“What can I get you two?” she drawled.
“Just coffee,” Calder replied, all business.
She nodded and strutted away, hips swaying.
