THE ALPHA' HUMAN

THE CALL

NICOLE

I've had a crush on Nathaniel for as long as I can remember.

It starts back in high school, somewhere between awkward smiles across crowded hallways and stolen glances I pray no one notices. I never act on it—not even once.

Not because I don't want to.

Because Natalie forbids it.

She's my best friend. Nathan's twin sister.

And the very first rule she gives me when we become friends is simple.

"Don't become friends with my brother. And whatever you do, don't even think about dating him."

I agree without hesitation.

At the time, it sounds easy enough.

I genuinely like Natalie. She's funny, loud, unapologetically herself, and somehow sees through the walls I've spent years building around me. Keeping my distance from her brother seems like a small price to pay for someone who becomes my first real friend.

Besides...

How hard can it possibly be?

Turns out, impossibly hard.

Because the first time I truly look at Nathaniel, I realize every teenage fantasy I've ever had suddenly has a face.

He's unfairly handsome.

The kind of handsome that makes every other boy blur into the background.

While the guys around school are trying too hard to look cool, Nathan simply exists. Dark hair that's always slightly messy, calm blue eyes that seem to notice everything, and an effortless confidence that never crosses into arrogance.

Looking at him makes every other boy resemble Shrek standing next to Prince Charming.

Even now, years later, the stupid crush refuses to die.

I've buried it beneath friendship, responsibility, and common sense, but every now and then it crawls back to the surface like it never left.

I've simply learned not to feed it.

No crush is worth losing my best friend.

"How are you doing?" Nathan's familiar voice drifts through the phone, warm and steady.

"I'm good." The lie slips out automatically. "You?"

My voice comes out a little higher than usual.

Great.

Now I sound nervous.

"I'm good too." He pauses briefly before asking, "Natalie's with you, right?"

Despite everything, despite the constant bickering that defines their relationship, I don't miss the concern beneath his calm tone.

"Yeah. She's staying at my apartment."

Silence lingers for a second. "You heard about the breakup?"

"I did." His voice hardens instantly. "I swear I'll kill Hunter the next time I see him."

My eyes widen slightly. He's always collected. Always calm. Like nothing in the world is capable of shaking him.

Which is exactly why hearing genuine anger in his voice earlier catches me off guard.

"How's she doing?"

I lean against the hospital corridor wall and stare through the glass window overlooking the parking lot.

"Honestly? Bad. She's pretending she's fine, but I know her. She keeps making jokes because if she stops talking..." I sigh. "...she'll start crying again."

“So please, keep that promise and make his life hell. We both got drunk last night because of asshole.” He lets out a smalls laugh.

"Thank you for staying with her."

"Of course." There's never another option.

Natalie has been beside me through every ugly chapter of my life. This is the least I can do.

After a brief silence, Nathan asks carefully, "How are you?"

The question catches me off guard. "I'm okay."

"Nat told me about your mom."

My chest tightens immediately.

"How is she?"

I close my eyes.

For one tiny second, I allow myself to feel everything I've been suppressing since the doctor spoke to Eric and me this morning.

The fear.

The exhaustion.

The uncertainty.

"She's... better."

The word tastes fragile.

"I think she's responding to treatment."

Nathan is quiet for a long moment before speaking again.

"Nicole." The gentleness in his voice nearly undoes me. "I know you."

I blink rapidly, willing the tears gathering in my eyes to disappear.

"You're independent. You hate asking people for help. I also know how expensive treatments like this are."

I grip the phone tighter.

"Nat is your best friend." Another pause. "I'd like to believe I'm your friend too. So if things become too much..."

He exhales softly. "Ask. It’s okay to ask. I mean it."

The eyes sting harder.

Ever since people found out Natalie and I were friends, they've assumed I only stayed close to her because of her family's money.

Apparently, there couldn't possibly be another explanation.

Why else would the quiet scholarship student suddenly become inseparable from the school's most popular girl?

The whispers never stop.

Gold digger.

Social climber.

Fake friend.

I pretend they don't affect me. But they do. Enough that I make myself a promise years ago.

Never ask Natalie—or anyone in her family—for money. Never give people the satisfaction of believing they were right.

Even now.

When Mom's hospital bills continue stacking higher, whhen every solution seems to disappear the moment I reach for it, I still can't bring myself to cross that line.

"I'm okay." The lie comes easier this time. "Really."

Finally, he sighs. "I have to get back to work."

"Okay."

"But promise me something."

"What?"

"If things get worse..." His voice grows firmer. "You'll call."

I hesitate. “Okay.”

"Take care of yourself."

"You too."

"And keep an eye on Nat."

"I always do."

"Bye, Nicole."

"Bye, Nathan."

The call ends.

For several seconds, I continue staring at the blank screen.

Then I lower my phone. A tired breath escapes me. I honestly have no idea what I'm going to do.

Tomorrow is my first day at Lockwood Marketing. Maybe.

Maybe I can ask for an advance on my salary.

The thought alone makes me cringe. Who asks for money on their first day? It's embarrassing. Probably impossible.

But desperation has a way of making impossible ideas sound reasonable.

Right now...

I don't have the luxury of pride.

Only options.

And unfortunately, I'm running out of those.

~~

The drive home feels longer than usual.

The city glows beneath the night sky, headlights streaking across wet asphalt as if everyone has somewhere important to be. Normally, I'd enjoy the quiet of the ride, but my mind refuses to settle.

The doctor's words keep replaying in my head.

She's responding... but the treatment can't stop.

You need to prepare for the coming weeks.

The payments must be made on time.

Every sentence feels like another weight added to my chest.

I tighten my grip on the steering wheel before forcing myself to breathe.

One problem at a time, Nicole.

You got the job.

That's something.

It has to count for something.

By the time I reach my apartment building, I've plastered on the same calm expression I've worn all day.

I refuse to let Natalie see through me.

She's finally beginning to smile again after Hunter shattered her heart.

She doesn't need to carry my burdens too.

The moment I unlock the apartment door, a loud squeal echoes through the living room.

"You're back!"

Before I can react, a blur launches itself at me.

Natalie.

She crashes into me with enough force to send me stumbling backward.

I laugh despite myself. "Easy there."

She wraps her arms around me tighter. "I missed you."

"I was gone for a few hours."

"Still counts."

I shake my head, smiling as I hug her back. No matter how dramatic she is, this is the Natalie I've been waiting to see all day.

The one who smiles. The one who fills every room she walks into.

When she finally lets go, I study her face.

Her eyes are still slightly swollen from crying, but the emptiness that consumed her last night has eased.

"You feeling better?"

She grins. "Oh, absolutely."

That grin alone tells me she's up to something. "What did you do?"

She throws her shoulders back proudly. "I went live."

I blink. "You what?"

"I went live," she repeats, completely unashamed. "And I flamed Hunter in front of half the internet."

A laugh escapes before I can stop it. "Natalie..."

"No, listen!" She grabs my wrist and pulls me farther into the apartment. "You won't believe the nerve of that idiot."

She dramatically flops onto the couch. "He actually posted some pathetic statement trying to save his image. Can you imagine?"

I set my handbag on the chair.

"So I decided to help him."

My eyebrows lift. "Help him?"

"Yes." She beams. "I exposed every single lie."

I stare at her. "You didn't."

"Oh, I absolutely did."

She reaches for her phone. "I even showed screenshots."

I cover my face with my hand. "Oh my God."

"The comments were glorious."

"Natalie."

"He disabled his comment section."

I can't hold it in anymore. I burst into laughter. The sound surprises both of us. For the first time in what feels like forever, we're laughing without forcing it.

She points toward the table. "I ordered pizza."

My stomach growls on cue.

"I knew you'd be hungry."

The familiar smell of melted cheese, garlic butter, and pepperoni fills the apartment.

She slides the open pizza box toward me before dramatically placing it in my lap.

"Eat."

"Bossy."

She snorts.

I pick up a slice. It's still warm.

The first bite melts in my mouth, and I nearly moan. "I swear this is the best thing I've eaten all week."

Natalie watches me with obvious satisfaction before taking another bite of her own slice.

For a few quiet moments, neither of us says anything. The silence is comfortable. The kind only best friends can share.

Eventually, she speaks.

"How's your mom?"

The question steals the smile from my face. I swallow before answering.

"Better." Not a complete lie. "The doctors say she's responding to the treatment."

Relief flickers across her features.

"And Eric?"

"Still refusing to leave the hospital." I shake my head fondly. "I don't think anyone could drag him out of there."

"Sounds like Eric."

She chews thoughtfully.

"What about the hospital bills?"

The question lands like a punch. For the smallest fraction of a second, I freeze. Then I smile.

"It's under control." Another lie.

I decide to change the topic before she asks more questions. "I got the job."

She blinks.

"What?"

"I got it."

Her eyes widen. "You mean..."

"Lockwood Marketing." I complete.

She screams. An actual, ear-piercing scream. Before I know it, she's throwing herself at me again.

The pizza box nearly slides off my lap.

"Natalie!"

"I knew it!" She squeezes me until I can barely breathe. "I knew you'd get it! I'm so proud of you."

Something warm spreads through my chest. Those simple words mean more than she'll ever know. "Thank you."

She pulls back just enough to cup my face dramatically. "I always knew you were too talented for those tiny companies."

I roll my eyes.

"It's just a job."

"No." She shakes her head. "It's your fresh start."

Maybe she's right. Maybe tomorrow changes everything. Maybe this job is exactly what my family needs.

"I knew they'd be lucky to have you."

I smile.

I don't tell her about Mr. Knight.

Or the strange interview.

Or Ian Lockwood.

Or the unsettling way he'd looked at me.

There are too many questions with no answers. And somehow, I have a feeling those answers won't be simple.

Natalie suddenly claps her hands.

"This calls for a celebration. We're going clubbing."

"No. Absolutely not." I object immediately.

She gasps dramatically. "You haven't even thought about it."

"I have."

"When?"

"Just now."

She narrows her eyes. "Traitor."

"I start work tomorrow."

"So?"

"So I'd rather not spend my first day hungover."

She waves dismissively. "You'll survive."

"I'd rather not test that theory."

She pouts. A full-blown, lower-lip-sticking-out pout.

It's the exact expression that usually gets people to give her whatever she wants.

Unfortunately for her, I've built immunity over the years.

"Please?"

"No."

"Pretty please?"

"No."

She crosses her arms.

"I hope you know you're ruining my social life."

"You will survive.”

"You're no fun."

I laugh, reaching for another slice of pizza.

Just then...

My phone vibrates on the table.

The unfamiliar number flashes across the screen. I frown. "I should get that."

Natalie wiggles her eyebrows.

"Mystery man?"

"Probably spam."

"Answer it."

I hesitate for only a second before picking up. "Hello?"

A deep voice answers almost immediately. "Is this Nicole?"

Every muscle in my body stills. There's something about his voice. It sends an unexpected shiver down my spine.

"Yes." I sit up straighter. "Who's speaking?"

A brief pause follows.

Then—

"It's Ian Lockwood."

My breath catches. My fingers tighten around my phone.

Why...

Why is the CEO of Lockwood Marketing calling me at night?