Pack and Forth (Paranormal Dating Agency #82)
Prologue
PROLOGUE
G erri Wilder leaned back in her plush, burgundy leather chair, her perfectly manicured nails tapping against the polished mahogany desk. The office around her was a vibrant oasis, with lush green plants cascading from hanging baskets and colorful abstract paintings adorning the walls. Framed photographs of smiling couples, her successful matches, lined the shelves, a testament to her matchmaking prowess.
Usually, the office buzzed with the energy of love and possibility, but today, a palpable frustration hung in the air. Gerri’s assistant, a bubbly young woman named Tina, had left a stack of printed emails on her desk, each one marked with an urgent red flag. With a sigh, Gerri picked up the first complaint, her blue eyes scanning the words.
“Disastrous date,” she muttered, her perfectly arched eyebrows knitting together. “No chemistry, completely incompatible.”
As she read through the emails, her frown deepened. Tales of mismatched couples and horrible dates filled the pages, each one a stain on the reputation of her beloved Paranormal Dating Agency. She had built this business from the ground up, pouring her heart and soul into every match. To see someone fucking with her hard work really pissed her off.
“What in the world is going on here?” Gerri asked aloud, her voice laced with exasperation. “Someone’s definitely messing with my clients.”
With a growl of frustration, she slammed the last email down on the desk, the force sending a few papers fluttering to the floor. She stood abruptly, her heels clicking against the hardwood as she paced the room. Her mind raced with possibilities, trying to piece together the puzzle of who could be behind this sabotage.
As she turned back to her desk, a cream-colored envelope caught her eye. It was the letter she had received just that morning from Maggie Cress, the sister of a private investigator. Maggie’s words echoed in Gerri’s mind: “Please, Gerri, I know you’re the best. If anyone can help my sister find love, it’s you.”
Muttering to herself, Gerri questioned who could be behind this sabotage and how they managed to infiltrate her well-established business and hack her defenses. She picked up a flyer found in one of the complaint emails, showcasing an advertisement for “Gerri’s Paranormal Dating Agency” with her contact email. Attached to another, she discovered what appeared to be a mirror website of her own. The subtle differences between the two were cleverly designed to deceive her clients, a testament to the impersonator’s cunning approach.
Gerri’s eyes drifted to her computer screen. She scrolled through the data, and frowned at the list of refund requests.
“I didn’t even match you people!”
A growl rose up along with a wave of anger. Her blood pressure rose with every second she thought about the fact someone had messed with her business. It wasn’t about the money for her—no, the majority of the agency’s profits went straight to her beloved charities. The image of those in need, the very people she had dedicated her life to helping, flashed through her mind. The thought of her charities suffering, of the good work being undone because some malicious entity decided to mess with her business, ignited a fury deep within her.
“Unbelievable,” Gerri muttered through clenched teeth, her hand balling into a fist. “All the lives we’ve changed, all the love we’ve brought into this world, and some lowlife thinks they can just waltz in and tear it all down?”
Her gaze fell upon the framed photographs again. The anger that had consumed her moments ago began to dissipate, replaced by a bittersweet warmth. She reached out, her fingers gently tracing the smiling faces behind the glass.
The first picture was of her with Talia, Connor, Theron, and their adorable children. Talia’s journey to find love had been a long and arduous one, filled with disappointment and heartbreak. It was her story that had inspired Gerri to expand the agency, to pour even more of her heart and soul into bringing people together.
A soft smile played on Gerri’s lips as she picked up the second photo, one of her godson Noah, his wife Maya, and their beautiful brood. The happiness that radiated from their faces was infectious, a testament to the power of true love. It was that joy, that pure and unbridled bliss, that had always been the driving force behind her agency.
Gerri felt a renewed sense of purpose coursing through her veins. Matchmaking wasn’t just a job for her; it was a calling, a vital part of who she was. It was in her blood, a legacy passed down through generations of her family.
Gerri’s eyes narrowed as she spotted the newest complaint at the top of the list, the bold lettering seeming to jump off the page. She snatched it up, her gaze quickly scanning the words. It was from Lila Nash, the mother of the Blood Stone Pack’s beta, Nash Jeter. Gerri’s heart sank as she read Lila’s words, each one laced with a palpable disappointment.
“I can’t help but feel saddened that you were unable to find the third part of the triad for our alpha and beta,” Lila wrote, her words polite yet tinged with an underlying frustration. “I know you’ve tried your best, Gerri, but I can’t help but wonder if there’s anything more you can do. Rex and Nash have been waiting so long, and I fear for their happiness if they cannot complete their alpha triad.”
Gerri sighed, rubbing her temples as she felt a headache beginning to form. She never matched Rex Stone and Nash Jeter. She didn’t get the original email, which means it had been intercepted and someone had tried to mess with them too.
Just as she was about to toss the letter aside, her eyes caught sight of another email, this one from Maggie Cress. Maggie’s words leaped off the screen, a plea for help in finding love for her sister, Kira. Gerri’s brow furrowed as she read the email, Maggie’s desperation for her sister’s happiness evident in every word.
And then, like a bolt of lightning, an idea struck her. Gerri’s eyes widened, a slow grin spreading across her face as the pieces began to fall into place. “Two birds, one stone,” she muttered, her grin morphing into a full-blown Cheshire cat smile. “Or is it three? Hell, who cares? I’ve got this in the bag.”
She reached for her phone, her fingers flying over the keys as she dialed Kira Cress’s number. As the phone rang, Gerri snatched up a paperclip and deftly clipped together Maggie Cress’s email and Lila Nash’s request. The symbolism wasn’t lost on her, and she chuckled to herself, the sound a mix of mischief and anticipation.
“Kira Cress speaking” came the crisp, professional voice on the other end of the line.
“Kira, darling, it’s Gerri Wilder,” Gerri purred, her voice dripping with charm. “I don’t know if you remember me. We met at one of my charitable events for the Light the Dark Orphanage.”
“Ms. Wilder, I do remember you. Thanks again for inviting me to the silent auction. My sister and I had so much fun and felt really good about helping the orphanage.”
“Thank you, dear. That’s so nice. But I called because I need your services.”
“Oh? What can I do for you?”
Gerri grinned. “I have a proposition for you, one that I think you’ll find quite intriguing.”
“Of course, Gerri,” Kira replied, her tone professional yet warm. “What seems to be the problem?”
Gerri leaned back in her chair, twirling a pen between her fingers as she spoke. “Well, it appears some low-life jerk has taken it upon themselves to impersonate my agency. They’ve set up fake websites, phony phone numbers, and are matching up clients left and right. But here’s the kicker—these matches are about as compatible as a vegan at a barbecue festival.”
Kira chuckled on the other end of the line. “That does sound like a problem. What kind of matches are we talking about here?”
“Oh, honey, you name it,” Gerri replied, her free hand waving in the air as if Kira could see her. “First of all, I keep my matches strictly between shifters and humans or shifter with shifter. Whoever this person is has caused all types of havoc. Matching werewolves with vampires, witches with fae—I even had a poor mermaid who ended up on a date with a desert-dwelling dragon. Can you imagine the logistics of that? The poor dear would be fish jerky before the appetizers even arrived.”
This time, Kira outright laughed. “Okay, I see your point. But what’s this doing to your business?”
Gerri sighed dramatically, her tone shifting to one of mock despair. “Darling, it’s a disaster. Clients are demanding refunds faster than a speeding bullet, and my bank account is looking sadder than a basset hound’s face. But the real tragedy? My poor charities are suffering. The children’s hospital, the animal rescues, the homeless shelters—they all depend on my donations, and now I’m watching that lifeline slip away like a greased-up pig at a county fair.”
“That does sound serious,” Kira said, her voice laced with genuine concern. “What do you need me to do?”
“I need you to work your magic, Kira,” Gerri replied, her tone turning serious for a moment. “Find this scammer, shut them down, and save my agency from ruin. I know it’s a tall order, but if anyone can do it, it’s you. You’re the best private investigator I know, and I trust you more than I trust my own instincts—and that’s saying something, considering I once matched a werewolf with a silver allergy to a lovely lady who owned an antique shop specializing in silver jewelry.”
Kira laughed, the sound warm and reassuring. “Don’t worry, Gerri. I’m on the case. I’ll find this impersonator and make sure they never mess with your agency again.”
Gerri let out a whoop of joy, her free hand pumping the air in triumph. “Excellent! I knew I could count on you, darling. Now, here’s what I need you to do...”
As she outlined her plan, Gerri’s mind was already racing ahead, envisioning the romance that was about to unfold. Little did Kira know she was about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime; one that would lead her straight into the arms of Rex Stone and Nash Jeter.
“Buckle up, buttercup,” Gerri murmured, a wicked gleam in her eye as she ended the call. “You’re in for one hell of a ride.”