Chapter Fourteen
“So you’re telling me that Mrs. Peterson’s tree is dropping leaves on your lawn and you want me to… what, exactly? Order the tree to stop?”
Walter shifted his weight, looking sheepish. “Well, I thought maybe you could talk to her. She won’t listen to me, but as alpha mate…”
“Walter.” Connor pinched the bridge of his nose. “It’s a tree. Trees drop leaves. Rake them.”
“But it’s her tree…”
“Growing on her property. Which means you have zero authority to demand she cut it down.” Connor leaned back in his desk chair, fighting the urge to bang his head against the wall. “Is there anything else?”
Walter opened his mouth, then closed it. “No, I guess not.”
“Great. Thanks for stopping by.”
The moment Walter left, Connor dropped his head into his hands. That made seven pack members today. Seven separate problems that could’ve been solved with basic common sense and zero alpha mate intervention.
His wolf grumbled irritably. This wasn’t what Connor had signed up for.
Being Davis’s beta meant security work, enforcer coordination, threat assessment. Real problems that required Connor’s specific skill set. Not mediating disputes over fallen leaves or whose turn it was to clean the pack hall bathroom.
A knock sounded at the door.
Connor suppressed a groan. “Come in.”
Janet Moseley - one of the new enforcers they’d hired - poked her head inside. “Sorry to bother you. Got a minute?”
“Sure.” Connor waved her in, relieved to see someone who might actually have a legitimate issue.
Janet shut the door behind her, looking uncomfortable. “This is probably stupid, but Marcus won’t listen to me. He keeps taking the north patrol route even though it’s my scheduled shift, and when I confront him, he says you’ll back him up because he’s been here longer.”
Now that was something Connor could actually address. “Marcus is wrong. The schedule’s the schedule. I’ll talk to him.”
“Thanks.” Janet relaxed visibly. “I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, but…”
“No, you did the right thing. Chain of command exists for a reason.” Connor made a note on his laptop. “Anything else?”
“Nope. That’s it.”
Janet left, and Connor returned to the enforcer rotation schedule he’d been building. Leyden handled most pack administration - finances, territory negotiations, inter-pack politics. Connor managed security, background checks, and enforcer coordination.
Except lately, pack members kept bringing him everything else too. Neighbor disputes. Cleaning schedules. Who parked where. Complaints about noise levels, borrowed tools never returned, someone’s kid digging up someone else’s garden.
Petty bullshit that had nothing to do with his actual job.
Connor understood why it happened. An alpha mate was typically more accessible than a pack alpha, less intimidating.
Connor snorted at his thoughts. Leyden was actually the more approachable of the two of them.
He listened to everyone and anyone with the same calm and patience.
Connor knew the pack was testing him - checking him out.
It had to be the only reason for his first morning annoyances.
His phone buzzed. A text from Leyden: How’s your day?
Connor typed back: Mediating tree-related disputes. You?
Budget meeting with neighboring packs. I want to stab everyone. Miss you.
Connor’s mouth twitched into a small smile. Miss you too.
Dinner at 7?
I’ll be here.
Connor set his phone down and pulled up the next item on his list - inventory for the armory. Actual security work that required his attention and expertise.
He’d barely started when another knock interrupted him.
“Come in,” Connor called, not bothering to hide his exhaustion.
Lonnie entered, all bounce and artificial sweetness. “Hi, Alpha Mate. Got a problem I’m hoping you can help with.”
Connor’s wolf perked up, sensing trouble. Lonnie hadn’t approached him since coming to ask for Connor’s help when Leyden was facing his challenges. Connor had forgiven the stupid kid because Lonnie helped save Leyden’s life, but that didn’t mean he trusted him.
“What’s the problem?” Connor kept his voice neutral.
Lonnie settled into the chair across from Connor’s desk, crossing his legs. “It’s about the pack hall. Sarah scheduled me for cleaning duty this Saturday, but I’ve got plans. Can you reassign someone else?”
Connor pulled up the cleaning schedule on his laptop. “You’re scheduled on Saturday because you missed your last two rotations. Everyone pulls their weight, Lonnie.”
“But my plans are important…”
“More important than pack responsibilities?” Connor raised an eyebrow. “What are these plans?”
Lonnie hesitated. “A date. In the city.”
“Cancel it or reschedule.” Connor turned back to his computer. “You’re on the rotation for Saturday.”
“That’s not fair. Marcus got out of his shift last month…”
“Apparently, Marcus got out of his shift because his sister was in the hospital. It’s right here in the notes.” Connor looked up, meeting Lonnie’s eyes directly. “Did you want to claim a family emergency?”
Lonnie’s mouth tightened. “No.”
“Then you’re cleaning on Saturday. Anything else?”
“Actually, yes.” Lonnie leaned forward. “I’ve been thinking about the enforcer positions. I’d like to apply.”
Connor studied him. Lonnie was small, pretty, and about as suited for enforcer work as a house cat - actually a house cat would be better at it. The kid had decent speed but zero combat training and even less discipline.
“You don’t meet the physical requirements,” Connor said flatly.
“What requirements? There’s nothing posted…”
“Because everyone who’s ever applied understood the basic expectations.” Connor pulled up the enforcer guidelines he’d drafted with Leyden. “Minimum height five-ten. Lonnie, you’re what, five-six?”
“Five-seven,” Lonnie said defensively.
“Still three inches short.” Connor scrolled down the list. “Combat training certification. Do you have one?”
“I could get one…”
“Wilderness survival certification. Emergency medical training. Weapons proficiency.” Connor looked up. “You have any of these?”
Lonnie’s jaw clenched. “No. But I could learn…”
“Great. Get the certifications, gain another three inches, and reapply.” Connor closed the document. “We done here?”
“This is because of what happened with me and Trixie, isn’t it?” Lonnie’s voice rose. “You’re punishing me…”
“I’m applying the same standards to you that I apply to everyone, which technically is more than you deserve.” Connor kept his tone level despite his growing irritation. “Janet, Marcus, and Thomas all met the requirements before they were hired. You don’t. End of discussion.”
“Leyden would’ve given me a chance…”
“Leyden hired me to manage security because I’m better at it than he is.” Connor stood, using his full height to loom over Lonnie. “And I’m telling you no. You want to argue with an Alpha Mate’s decision?”
Lonnie paled slightly. “No, Alpha Mate.”
“Good. Your cleaning shift is Saturday at nine. Don’t be late.”
Lonnie left in a huff, slamming the door behind him.
Connor sank back into his chair. Fucking little shit. The whole interaction had been designed to make him look incompetent - either by forcing him to approve an unqualified enforcer or by making him seem petty for refusing.
Connor saw right through it. Lonnie wanted to prove Connor wasn’t fit for the alpha mate position, probably still bitter about losing his shot at warming Leyden’s bed permanently.
Too damn bad.
Connor’s phone buzzed again. This time, a text from Josie: Can you settle something? Walter says you agreed his tree issue wasn’t his fault.
Connor stared at the message, his wolf growling in frustration.
He typed back: I said trees drop leaves and he needs to rake his own yard. That’s it.
Oh good. He made it sound like you were going to force Mrs. Peterson to cut down her tree. I’ll let her know she’s fine.
Connor tossed his phone onto the desk and scrubbed both hands over his face.
This is beyond ridiculous. He’d gone from managing actual security operations to playing referee for the world’s pettiest disputes. His skills were being wasted on bullshit that any rational adult could solve themselves.
But pack members kept coming to him because he was alpha mate now. They expected him to handle everything, to have answers for problems that shouldn’t require alpha intervention at all.
Connor glanced at the clock. Four-thirty. Two and a half more hours until he could escape to dinner with Leyden, to his mate’s steady presence and understanding.
Another knock at the door.
Connor closed his eyes briefly, gathering patience he didn’t feel. “Come in.”
Thomas entered, looking apologetic. “Hey, sorry to bother you…”
“Let me guess. You need me to solve a problem that has nothing to do with security, enforcers, or actual pack safety.”
Thomas blinked. “Uh. Yeah, actually. Mrs. Henderson says I parked in her spot again, but there aren’t assigned spots in the lot, and I don’t know if I should…”
“There aren’t assigned spots. Park wherever you want.” Connor pointed at the door. “Anything else?”
“No, that’s it. Thanks.”
Thomas left.
Connor pulled up his email and started typing.
To: All Pack Members
Subject: Alpha Mate Office Hours and Appropriate Issues
Effective immediately, my office hours are limited to security matters, enforcer coordination, and legitimate pack concerns. This includes suspicious activity, safety threats, enforcer scheduling conflicts, and territory patrol issues.
This does NOT include neighbor disputes, cleaning schedule complaints, parking disagreements, or personal conflicts that don’t threaten pack safety.
For non-security issues, contact Josie (the pack administrator) or bring them to the monthly pack meeting.
-Connor, Alpha Mate
He hit send before he could second-guess himself.
His wolf settled slightly, satisfied they’d established boundaries.
Connor returned to the armory inventory, determined to accomplish at least one useful thing before dinner.