A TRICKY RESCHEDULE

We had a moment to ourselves because Alpha Solomon wanted to personally supervise the set up of the treasures for our game. Beta Gerald kindly offered to accompany our guests to deal with the logistics. Alpha Solomon said he needed a large space to display his treasures, so we were going to let him use the basement training hall.

{He's so seriously into it.} Ben observed over our mindlinks, {I'm sure he's up to some kind of tricks.}

Behind me, my wolves had moved to whip out their screen of choice - everything from a mobile phone to a laptop was pulled out from what seemed like thin air. I had suspected the first time he did it, but now I felt quite sure, Ben was able to magic out a small laptop from within his jacket at will. How he managed such a feat was beyond me.

{Is this Alpha very tricky?} Fluffy asked innocently.

{He's the worst.} Ben was quite sure.

{But no worse than every alpha other than our own.} Ki added.

{Don't contradict me dog.} Ben scolded.

Ki was unfazed, {I wouldn't dare.}

In front of me, Beta Lucas had come to take Alpha Solomon' seat so he was able to consult his own screen from next to Dad.

I had nothing to do, so I busied myself with my tea.

"How are we on time, Lucas?" Dad asked.

"Good, good." Beta Lucas nodded, "Considering that Mimi and Alpha Mike are waiting at the checkpoint and Delta Charlie, Delta Felicity, AND Delta Simon due for their individual review meetings this afternoon, AND we still need to run through the media meeting agenda before our meeting tonight, we are right on schedule."

How was any of that on schedule? It was past 3 in the afternoon! Haha, and I thought I was bad.

Dad frowned his thinking frown, "Which should we postpone?"

"Whichever you want, Alpha." Beta Lucas shrugged, "Just say the word."

"But Mimi..." I worried.

"She can come back tomorrow." Beta Lucas waved it off, "That Alpha Mike too. If he wants to risk his life and run in without the paperwork again, he's welcome to do it! Tomorrow won't be our warriors at checkpoint duty though. He would be guaranteed at least a few free bullet holes."

Beta Lucas chuckled at his own joke, his broad shoulders shaking, "The Lorents are always quick to welcome trespassers properly."

Was it just me, or was the name Mike somewhat familiar? Ah well, none of my betas commented about it. They were too busy arguing, I mean discussing my schedule. Unlike Beta Lucas, my betas were a lot more stressed out by the delay Alpha Solomon's visit was causing. I'm not sure why - it's not like I had a line of deltas waiting to see me.

{Sam, do you want to see this Mimi person?} Ben asked.

Huh? Why were we whispering over the mindlink?

{I dunno.} I hadn't thought much of it, but my first thought was no. I really didn't know what to say to her. Her baby, Jude was in a bad way the last I saw him, and although my reports have been scant on him, I understood that he was going to have to "stand trial for treason".

{If you want to go, we need to get there before your dad.} Ben said.

{Technically, it would be preferable if we get there before we receive any further directive.} Harvey pointed out.

{What do you guys mean?} I asked.

{Nothing, Sam. Just do you want to go or not?} Ben was his usual impatient self.

{Oh,} Barry realized accidentally into the shared mindlinks so we all heard him.

{Oh what, Barry?} I asked.

Barry sounded very sorry, {I think they mean that if you want to go out to the checkpoint, it would have to be under the radar.}

Which I didn't understand either.

{Nobody said that!} Ben growled over the mindlink.

{Sorry, sorry, Beta.} Barry quickly retracted, {My bad.}

{Will it be dangerous?} Torque worried, {Our shift ends at 5, but I can come with...}

{It's not that kind of danger, Torque.} Harvey said kindly, {Thanks but take your rest.}

{85% our betas are planning to smuggle alpha to the checkpoint against Alpha Kingsley's wishes.} Ink was the first to realize.

{What's the other 15%?} I was just curious. I mean, I think by now it was obvious to me that this was exactly what my betas were planning, bless their souls. They were going to get into so much trouble for it too - especially if they were told NOT to let me get involved.

I don't think Dad or Beta Lucas had thought to say anything about it yet, so Harvey was right. Time was of the essence. If we met Mimi before being told not to, we won't be breaking any rules, not technically anyway.

"8% they would try to smuggle the detainees to you. 4% they will convince Beta Lucas to transport the detainees here where it's easier for you to meet them. 2% they will place a video call to checkpoint, 1%, none of the above." Ink explained.

Urm, yeah. Now that Ink listed all the options like that, running out to the checkpoint became quite obviously not the best choice.

"Hey Dad." Ben wasted no time picking a more efficient one, "Why don't you just have the detainees transported from the checkpoint over to the packhouse? It'll save Alpha the trip out to checkpoint. You'd be free to meet the Deltas once we're done here with Alpha Solo."

And just to make sure his Dad realized what a good idea this would be, Ben added, "We'd all be done in time for dinner. We can prep our alphas for the media meeting over dinner and have everything wrapped up by the end of the day."

Beta Lucas looked hopeful.

Fluffy thought it would be a good idea to add at this point, {Scary Beta can be most surprisingly helpful at times.}

Fluffy had said it over the mindlink, but I think Beta Lucas had also realized something wasn't quite right. He frowned, "What..."

There was his signature pause, we waited with bated breaths, was he going to call us out?

"And what will your Sam be doing in the meantime?" Beta Lucas demanded.

Oh boy. Was our plan getting shot down from it onset?

Ben shrugged, "How would I know?"

He looked at Harvey who shrugged very calmly, "I do have some administrative matters to attend with the princess."

And because it was my good beta who said this, Dad and Beta Lucas didn't question it further.

"Just make sure she does her admin far away from Young Alpha Loverboy here." Beta Lucas nodded towards to Bell, "No offence Luna Bell."

"Look but don't touch." Dapper Dad told Bell.

Bell smirked, "I am meeting Trevor at Black Forest later. I'll be borrowing Ki, Cobra, and Hiram and some men, princess."

And then he evily added, "Tell Mimi I said hi."

I froze.

But Dad didn't notice. He was frowning over something else, "I thought it was strange for Solo to come all the way here to apologize... What did you do now, son?"

"I offered to help him clean up the mess at Black Forest - for a price, of course." Bell smiled, his beautiful smile, "All he had to do was pay back everything he personally owed to me."

I hoped you read Bell's last words with foreboding.

"That's nice." Dapper Dad settled himself comfortably in his chair, "It looks like Sam's sponsoring both her sisters' mating gifts."

Because Savy's mating gift for River would be the "opportunity to redeem their Fire Pillar, Sir Wolfgang."

"And my son is properly settling our accounts." Dad leaned bacak and glanced up where Beta Lucas was standing behind him, "Looks like you were right, Luc, my friend. We will be free to retire soon."

How was any of what Bell did "properly settling our accounts?"

Beta Lucas shrugged cockily, "That's what I've been saying, Alpha. We're obviously not needed around anymore."

I narrowed my eyes at my uncharacteristically dapper dad. The only other time I had heard him charming and cool like this was when he was leading the war against the rogue army.

Should I be disturbed that my stern and zen Dad was behaving out of character again?

Should this be a red flag the way Ben's sudden helpfulness most certainly meant he was up to something? What would Dad's sudden change in character indicate?

"Why are you acting like that?" I demanded. I mean, I couldn't take this personality switch. It was too much!

"Like what, Sam?" Dad looked genuinely nonplussed.

"Like..." I looked to Beta Lucas, "You think Dad's acting different too, don't you?"

Beta Lucas looked confused. He turned to face his alpha and then back to me again, "What should I be looking for, Sam?"

What? I looked around at the faces of the wolves around me. Don't act like none of you noticed!