The Princess & Her Alphaholes by Renee O’Roark

Chapter Four

Noah Callan

Eleventh Grade, age 16

Alexandra Hale

The beginning of my junior year of high school marked something huge for me. I’d be getting my driver’s license soon. Issy, Wade, and Azlan had been taking me driving for months, hours at a time. And Wade was building me a car at the garage he worked at. It was a sweet little cherry red something or other. No, I still couldn’t remember what it was.

In the meantime, Issy brought me to school. He’d worked his college courses around my schedule just so he could drive me to and from school, so I didn’t have to take the bus without them. It really wasn’t that big of a deal, but it was nice that I didn’t have to take the bus. That meant I could sleep in later.

“Have fun,” Issy said, dropping me at the side entrance on my first day.

I leaned over to kiss his cheek before I ran out of the car. Jules was waiting for me right where I’d told her I’d be dropped off.

“Hey, Xan,” she said, watching Issy drive away. “Isidro’s looking good, isn’t he?”

I glanced back as his little Subaru zipped around the corner and out of sight. It wasn’t that I didn’t agree. But at least I knew that he was looking good from more than a dozen feet away. He’d just gotten this gorgeous tattoo on his bicep. The main feature was a face of a girl that had painted lines all over her skin, kind of like calligraphy or day of the dead decorations.

It wasn’t finished. He’d shown me the sketch of whole of it. It was going to wrap around his bicep. Azlan’s tattoo artist, the one he’d been going to since he was fourteen (no, I’m not exaggerating), was seriously talented.

On top of which, he spent two hours every day doing some crazy workout. I enjoyed seeing the results, something he shared with me constantly, asking me which muscle group he should work on next. As if I knew muscles groups. I usually just pointed to a place and he found workouts that I couldn’t even comprehend.

Jules didn’t actually see any of that, though. She’d been crushing on Issy since we were kids, though she rarely actually saw him from a closer distance than this, and through the window of a car.

“Yeah,” I agreed. “Issy’s been working out. Come on. Let’s get inside before it starts raining.” Even as I said it, random heavy raindrops started splashing down. One landed on my head and it felt like my hair was already too heavy with water. The sky was an angry grey with rolling storm clouds hovering overhead.

Jules nodded. She linked her arm with mine and we walked through the doors. She talked incessantly until we got to our homeroom. Per usual, we sat in the back on the right side of the room. Close to the door but not to the front.

The first days back were mindless and boring. Half my classes loaded me with work while the other half were nothing but time wasters. At least they balanced out.

The second week was when it started to get interesting. Every Tuesday after school, the soccer team practiced on the fields. Although Issy and Wade were no longer in high school soccer, now playing for a local university team, it had been such a habit to go watch them on Tuesdays that I made my way there.

It certainly wasn’t the same without them, but the team was decent this year, too. It had been two years since they’d been on the team and somehow, I still found myself an avid supporter of their old team. Very few of the players actually remembered me, but there were a handful that did. That knew who I was and why I was there. There were three of them and they all greeted me every time they saw me, to this day.

At the end of the practice, I waved to them and the coach and headed back to the school. Issy would be by in an hour to pick me up. That meant I had an hour to mess around in the library.

I sat at one of the tables with a book. It wasn’t particularly entertaining. Mostly, it was pretty boring, so I was thankful when a shadow standing over me pulled me from its pages.

He was beautiful. Not quite Issy beautiful but still very nice to look at. I’d be willing to bet he didn’t have any ink and he wasn’t so well defined in muscle tone.

I gave myself a mental shake, blaming Jules for making me compare everyone to Issy now.

The boy I’d rarely seen in passing smiled. “Hi,” he said. “Mind if I join you?”

I glanced around, noting there were plenty of empty tables. Raising a brow in his direction, I nodded, gesturing to the seat across from me.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you around. I’d remember those eyes if I had.”

Vaguely, I wondered if he was flirting with me. If so, he’d be the first. Mainly, I hung around with Jules in school. Outside of school, I was either by myself or with Issy and the boys next door. But, I mean, I could do a lot worse with the quality of boys who chose to flirt with me.

“I don’t know,” I said, closing the book. “Maybe. I’m pretty quiet.”

He smiled again and I tried to remember his name. “Noah,” he said, offering me his hand.

Do teenagers shake hands? I did, whether it was ‘cool’ to or not. By the way he held my hand a little longer than was appropriate, I decided it was an excuse to touch me. I chose to be flattered.

“Xan,” I countered.

“Xan? That’s a unique name.”

“It’s the X A N from Alexandra. Lexi, Alex, Andy. My mother thought all those nicknames were overly used. But my name is after my great grandmother and she was set on it. So, she took a different part of my name and began calling me by that.” I shrugged. It wasn’t the first time my name had been questioned. Then again, a family with children called Xan and Issy or Isidro was certainly interesting to everyone. Especially when my mom’s name was Diane Hale and Issy’s father’s name was Lloyd Tatum. You’d expect something exotic. Not average.

Noah grinned. “I wasn’t insulting you. I like it. Noah gets boring after a while. Especially when there are three others in your class and have been since you were ten.”

I smiled. Yeah, I understood that. There were three Amys, two Johns, and two Caydens in almost all my elementary classes. I was happy not to have to be Xan H and just Xan. It felt like they became a number. Amy 1, Amy 2, Amy 3. And here I am, just Xan.

Noah started meeting me at the library after soccer every Tuesday for the next month. And then he asked me out. And before I knew it, I had my first boyfriend. It was exciting, especially since he was so sweet and good looking. I hadn’t been expecting anything different. I really thought I had it made. My best friend was envious. But then, she always seemed a little envious of my life. As if it had been a field of flowers.

Let’s see, there was my mentally abusive father. My crazy sister, who had given me every single scar on my body. Berta, who bullied me so bad I started hiding in closets so I didn’t have to go to school. And freshman year was Grace, who did everything she could to humiliate me.

Yes, my life was spectacular.

But at least my first boyfriend was perfect.

He had been used to Issy dropping me off and picking me up. My stepbrother. Family. Nothing threatening there. But the day Azlan showed up, Noah’s grip on my hand was almost bruising.

“Who is that?” he asked as I started toward the car. Azlan’s blue eyes almost glowed from here as he watched me, waiting for me to get in the car.

“Issy’s friend,” I said to keep it safe. “He lives next door. I guess Issy was held up so he must have asked Az to get me.”

“He’s fucking freaky.”

I looked back at Azlan sitting in the car. I supposed he could be taken that way. With the blank, intense expression as he stared unmovingly without blinking.

I chuckled. Yeah, I supposed he could be.

“I don’t want you getting in the car with him. I’ll drop you off.”

I shook my head. “Az drives me places all the time. He’s a perfectly safe driver.” I gently pulled my hand from his and kissed him quickly. “He’s bringing me right home.”

It was clear Noah was very unhappy about this, but he nodded. “Call me when you get there.”

I wanted to roll my eyes. Seriously, Az wasn’t dangerous. Not to me, anyway. But I agreed and headed towards Azlan’s black CRV and climbed in the front seat. I smiled at him, but he was still staring at Noah.

“Who is he?” he asked.

“Noah?” I asked, looking back to make sure that was who he was talking about. “You know about him. He’s my boyfriend.”

His blue eyes turned to me. And they were absolutely intense. “I think you need better taste in men.” He turned to the wheel and put us in park before skidding the tires, propelling us forward.

I laughed. “Don’t be so uptight, Az. He’s a nice guy. He’s very sweet.”

Azlan didn’t answer. We spent the remainder of the short ride in silence. Even when he dropped me off at home, he was quiet. I watched him as I unhooked my seatbelt. And he held my gaze. But he didn’t say anything further about Noah.

“You coming for dinner?” I asked. As Tuesdays after school were my traditional soccer watching days, Thursdays were the days that Azlan and Wade came over for dinner.

He nodded but still didn’t say anything. I got the distinct impression as I got out of the car that I’d be hearing from Issy about Noah later.

But I didn’t. Instead, Azlan started driving me to or from school every day. Noah still glared at him and Azlan held his stare right back. I sighed in exasperation.

By the end of November, I was convinced that my life was finally on the path to being great. Besides not liking Azlan, Noah was great. He was kind and thoughtful and playful. Jules was right in love with him. She was constantly flirting with him, despite him not giving in even a little bit to her flirting.

One Friday morning, the last of the month, Noah caught up with Jules and I right after Issy drove away. We were talking about which movies to watch that weekend. And that her mother bought chocolate melts for us to make our own chocolate drizzled popcorn.

Five minutes before the bell rang, Jules left, waving at me. She batted her lashes at Noah before turning and walking away. Swaying her hips.

I looked at Noah, who wasn’t looking in her direction at all but at me.

“What are you doing this weekend?” he asked.

“Jules’s house,” I answered.

“I’d rather you stayed home.”

I raised a brow at him. “Why? I spend the weekend at Jules’s house all the time.”

“You haven’t since we’ve been together.”

“Actually, I did three weekends ago. I even told you on the phone when you called that I was at her house.”

“You left out the part where you were spending the night.”

I rolled my eyes, turning to head toward my locker. “It’s not that big of a deal. We watch movies all night. Doctor up popcorn so it’s super unhealthy. Paint our nails. Do homework. Dye her hair whatever weird color she wants that week.”

He stopped me, swinging me around to press me to his chest. I blushed, as I always did. But I loved being here like this. With his arms wrapped around me. Usually, he’d end up kissing me, too. I really loved kissing Noah!

“Stay home this weekend,” he said in a voice that made me warm all over. “I’ll call you and we can stay on the phone all night. We can watch a movie and eat popcorn together.”

I sighed. “You’re really being silly about this.”

“Please?”

“Fine,” I said, rolling my eyes.

He kissed me, long and sweet and enough that my heart was racing. “I’ll see you after class, babe.”

I nodded and watched him walk down the hall.

I made some excuse to Jules about my mom wanting me home. I was in trouble for not taking out the trash or something. She was disappointed but didn’t make a big deal of it. I texted Issy and asked if he’d pick me up after school. I’d changed my mind and wanted to go home. He said he had ‘a thing,’ which I interpreted to mean he’d found a girl he wanted to fuck, but that Azlan or Wade would pick me up.

Noah promised he’d call me when he got home as I headed toward Azlan’s car. I nodded and waved as I climbed in. Azlan barely waited for me to buckle before he took off.

Once again, he didn’t speak and dropped me off at home in the silence.

Noah didn’t call. He didn’t call at all Friday night. Or Saturday. Or Sunday. When he finally did call me, it was Monday morning at 2am. The message he left sounded like he was drunk.

Later that morning, I was pissed as Issy drove me to school. He made me leave the house early so we could go get hot chocolates and breakfast pastries at the café down the road. I thought maybe he was waiting for me to say something, but I didn’t want to talk about it.

On the drive to school, he said, “Movies tonight?”

I shook my head. “I have a date with Noah.”

“Is he going to show up?”

I glanced at him, confused.

“What happened to going to Jules’s this weekend?” he asked, proving he knew damn well what had gone down.

I sighed, turning to look out the passenger side window. “It’s not that big of a deal,” I mumbled.

He pulled up to the curb and put the car in park. Before I could open the door, he had my chin in his fingers and pulled my face around to meet his eyes. “Be careful with him, Alexandra. I think you’re in over your head, baby doll.”

I swallowed. I hated when he used both of those. My full name because it made me feel like I was in trouble. And ‘baby doll’ because it made my stomach flip and my heart stutter.

He let me go and I got out. I shut the door and waved. He waved as he drove away. The car went around the corner and disappeared from sight.

Turning, I saw Noah waiting where he usually waited. I headed for the door instead of to him. He caught up and I could tell by the grip on my arm that he was angry.

“Why didn’t you answer when I called?” he demanded.

I pulled my arm from his hand and spun to face him. “You mean like you promised to call me Friday night and didn’t? Instead, you waited until two in the morning, when I’m dead asleep, to call. Two entire days later!”

Perhaps it was the shrillness in my voice. Noah’s anger dissipated and he looked cowed. He pulled me to him, hugging me against his chest. “I’m sorry. I know, I screwed up.”

“You prevented me from hanging out with my best friend this weekend and instead that’s what you did. While I waited at home like a fool for you to call me. Then you have the audacity to be pissed when I didn’t answer your call in the middle of the night?!”

He squeezed me to him. “I’ll make it up to you. Come with me.”

“Where?”

“To my grandma’s house. She has this huge plantation house that overlooks acres of fields. It’s so beautiful this time of year.”

“After school?”

Noah shook his head, feathering kisses up my neck to my ear. “Now,” he murmured. “Skip class. I’ll have you back before the last bell and no one needs to know.”

“I can’t skip class,” I said, pulling away from him.

“You can. If you love me, you’ll come. I promise, it’ll be fun. I’ll fix my screw up. Please, baby?”

I sighed, nodding. The beautiful grin on his face always melted me. Noah took my hand and led me around the corner to his car. He dropped his bag and mine in his trunk before opening the front door for me to get in.

We listened to love songs on the way. It was a forty-minute drive out of town into the land of one-time thriving fields and farms. The drive down the path to his grandmother’s house was packed dirt and riddled with craters that hadn’t been filled in in years.

Noah was right. The big plantation house was marvelous. It wasn’t ridiculously well-kept, but it was still beautiful. He parked behind a new Lexus and rounded the car to help me out.

We spent the afternoon touring the fields as he told me stories about his childhood here. The horses that they’d boarded until last year. The fields they leased out. That the house was used sometimes for movies and as a museum piece.

He took me far into the fields to show me the old barns. They were just as amazing as the house. It was like they were immaculate pieces from the past, just plopped down in the middle of the fields.

I turned to look back at the house and it was so far away, I could yell and scream, and no one would hear me. There was something peaceful about the seclusion.

“Come on,” he said, taking my hand. “There’s one more building out here. Nothing exciting but just so you have the full tour.”

I nodded, allowing him to lead me.

It was a little shed that had at one time housed a bunch of different tools for feed and animals. Now, it was completely empty, bare right down to the rafters. Even so, it was remarkable.

“I always imagined flipping this into an apartment,” Noah said. “It’s tall enough that a bedroom would be on the second level, but the bottom would hold a wide open concept. Through that door -” He pointed to the door at the back, a smaller one than the large double doors we’d come in through. “- I’d build on a bathroom.”

“It’s remarkable.”

Noah nodded. “I still may do that one day. But there’s no plumbing or electricity out here. It would cost more to run it than it would to convert it to a livable place.”

“Then you’d have to build a road back here.”

He groaned. “I forgot about that.”

I laughed, turning to look at the building again. Imagining people using the place as it was intended to be used. I turned when the large doors shut behind me, cutting off all the light. I thought Noah had shut us in. I grinned at first, until my eyes adjusted to the dim streams of light peeking in through the wooden panels that made up the walls.

He hadn’t shut us in. He’d shut me in.

“I’ll be right back, Xan,” he said through the door.

My heartrate spiked. “Don’t leave me in here!” I yelled, heading for the door. But it was locked. I tried the back door and that one was locked, too. “Noah!” I screamed.

A quiet chuckle that was not his had me spinning around. But there was no one in the little shed. Then, a sound like someone scratching at the side of the building had me spinning again.

“Not funny,” I said, crossing my arms.

A loud thud, the building shaking, made me jump and yelp. And then there was a growl, so low and feral that the hairs on my skin stood on end.

I reached for my phone only to realize it was in my backpack, which was locked in the trunk of his car. Dread settled over me.

I continued to yell to him. For hours. But the only sounds I got in return were the snarls, the loud crashes and building shaking. Scratches on various walls. Low, demonic laughs. Whispers.

The night came on, taking with it the semi-comfort of the peeking streams of sunlight. And it got incredibly dark and cold there with no artificial light of any kind reaching me. I screamed for hours. Sometimes on purpose, hoping the sounds would reach the big house. Other times it was because something new and frightening had caused the reaction from me.

I wasn’t allowed to sleep. Every time I’d start to fall asleep, some other frightening noise sounded. Like an axe hitting the door as if someone were trying to break in. Or loud footsteps and a low growl circling the shed, as if an animal prowled outside.

This went on for days until I was so terrified, I wanted to curl into a ball and not wake up. I’d only gotten maybe an hour or so of sleep at a time. The only thing I’d ever wake up to was little brown bags of food and bottled water once a day. I was never sure how it got in there.

But the food wasn’t worth the constant fear. Every sound. Every new scent. Every shake of the building. I was screaming until I lost my voice.

When the doors finally opened, tears stung my eyes as I huddled in the corner, wondering what else was coming. What would he subject me to next?

I was so terrified that when I looked up at the looming figure before me, it took me several seconds to recognize him.

“Wade?” I asked.

He reached for me, but I had no strength left to leap into his arms like I wanted to. Yet I still somehow managed to huddle into his embrace, as if he were three times bigger than normal.

Wade held me to him as I shook, telling him there was something out there. A monster. A beast. A ghost. An animal. Something was trying to get in.

“They’re all being taken care of, Xan,” he answered, his voice calm but strained.

He picked me up, tucking me in his arms once more, and left the shed. We met Azlan right outside. He was covered in dirt like he’d just planted a garden. A moment later, Issy came around the corner with a bat slung over his shoulder. He and the bat were covered in blood.

The sound from my throat was barely recognizable as my voice as I stared at him in distress.

“It’s alright,” he said. “It’s not my blood.”

“You got the monsters?” I asked.

Issy’s hand flexed around the handle. “I got the monsters.”

They got half the monsters, I found out later. Azlan had buried two men alive. Issy had beaten two others with the bat, one until he was unrecognizable. Noah managed to escape them all. Because Wade had been the one on his trail. He let him go in favor of rescuing me from the shed when he’d heard my terror-filled cries.

Noah transferred, never returning to school. I had been missing for a week. It took three teenagers to track me down.