Chapter 18 #2
“Look,” Dewi said, refocusing on the couple.
“Once we get through this, I promise everyone will be amply rewarded with pay bumps and all-expenses-paid vacays wherever the fuck you want to go. But we have to do this. We can’t and won’t order people to go.
But we will accept all qualified volunteers.
Lowri has skills and knowledge that will be helpful.
If she were a home-ec teacher, I’d agree it’d be better to keep her here and, hell, train her to be an Enforcer. ”
Lowri perked up. “I can be an Enforcer?”
“No—” Aaron immediately said.
“Yes,” Dewi and Badger said at the same time.
Aaron’s scowl darkened even more. “I don’t want my mate being an Enforcer!”
“Why not?” Badger asked.
“Because…” He scrabbled for a reason. “Because!”
Ken finally snorted in amusement.
“She’s an Alpha, is she not?” Badger asked.
“Well, yeah,” Aaron said, “but—”
“An’ she’s a shifter, correct?” Badger asked.
“Yes, but—”
“Do you want to train to be an Enforcer?” Badger asked Lowri.
“Yes!” Lowri said.
“No!” Aaron said at the same time.
Dewi closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead.
She was definitely getting a headache, and she rarely got those.
“Aaron, you might not like this, but when all this other—” she waved her hands “—stuff is resolved, if Lowri still wants to be an Enforcer, and if she can meet the qualifications, she can go through training and work for the pack. The only female Enforcers we have are Aisling and me. We can always use more.”
“What? No!” Aaron protested.
Lowri got in his face. “You don’t think I can cut it?”
“No! That’s not it at all! I—”
“Stop!” Badger roared, silencing the room. He jabbed a finger at Aaron. “If she wants a chance to try out, she’ll have it. If it makes ye feel better, if she passes, she’ll work wi’ ye, not alone. Satisfied?”
“Yes,” Lowri said.
“No!” Aaron said at the same time.
“Well, tough,” Badger said to Aaron. “I know ye love her and wanna protect her, but if I could let Dewi go out and start workin’ at twelve, I think ye can deal. So haud yer weesht and get oan wae it.”
Aaron scowled. “What my what?”
“Suck it up and deal,” Ken wearily said. “Unfortunately, I’m getting very fluent in slang from ‘over thar.’”
They finally headed out to meet up with Aisling, because Dewi called her and asked her to evaluate Lowri’s skills.
Dewi handed the decision to Aisling to make the final call, if she thought Lowri could hold her own.
If so, Aisling would help them obtain appropriate gear for Lowri so the couple could travel over with Aisling.
Dewi tipped her head back and stared at the ceiling. “This fucking suuuuucks,” she groaned.
“I’m proud o’ ye,” Badger said, patting her arm. “Ye handled that well.”
“The worst thing is, I understand where they’re both coming from. I get it that Aaron’s terrified.”
“Do you?” Ken asked.
She lifted her head and stuck her tongue out at him. “Yes, smart-ass. I do.” She jabbed her finger against the top of her thigh. “Because you weren’t on this end of things when you disappeared to the UK. Even after I knew where you were and that you were safe.”
“She’s not wrong,” Badger said to Ken. “She was a might fashed,” Badger teased, smiling.
She tipped her head back again. “Fuck all of you,” she wearily said.
“I still don’t apologize for losing my shit over that when he and Nami literally drove off the side of a fucking mountain not that long ago, if you’ll recall.
So forgive me for panicking, but sorry, not sorry. Emphasis on the ‘not.’”
Ken sighed and moved to sit next to her. “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you, sweetie. “That was—”
“Do not say ‘Pack Alpha business’,” she said without lifting her head. “If I ever do end up stuck being ‘it,’ I will ban that phrase from ever being used. First fucking thing I’m doing.”
“I’m sorry I scared you,” Ken said.
“I know.” She felt it, too. She knew he was sorry for that, but it didn’t change the fact that it happened.
“But Lowri has a right to try out to be an Enforcer. If she weren’t an Alpha, or didn’t appear to have the right temperament, obviously I’d gently tell her thanks, but no thanks.
But even if she wasn’t Aaron’s mate, she’s still someone I’d give serious consideration to hiring.
Especially if Aisling signs off on her.”
“You? Deferring to Aisling?” Ken teased.
She blew him a raspberry. “Hey, I have an image to uphold. Yes, I like her, okay? And I respect her even if we got off on the wrong foot. But more importantly, Peyton was absolutely right that she has experience and skills we desperately need in this pack. And if either of you tells him I said he was right, I’ll smack both of you. ”
They both laughed, but Ken spoke. “Your secret’s safe with me, baby.”
Dewi lifted her head. “I mean, did you see how Lowri threw him? She’s obviously trained for years to effortlessly do that.
To do that to a wolf. An Alpha wolf with combat skills.
And if I hire her and assign her to work with Aaron, it’ll help reduce her anxiety over where he is and what he’s doing.
Not to mention, again, having another female Enforcer would be awesome.
Most ‘problems’ Enforcers typically deal with are domestic or family squabbles, you know that.
Having a woman or girl get advice—or an ass-chewing—from a female Enforcer will have a different impact than from a male Enforcer.
Likewise, she’ll bring a more balanced point of view to interactions. ”
She sat up and looked at Ken, turning to face him. “And also yes, if she gets pregnant, that will change her role to a primarily administrative one for the duration. Happy?”
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Yes, thank you. I’m sorry, but I’m less than two years into all of this. I bring a different and human perspective, okay?”
Badger hauled himself to his feet with a grunt. “All right, I’m gonna get dinner started. Ken, wanna help?”
Dewi kissed him and then shooed him off. “Go on,” she said. “I have paperwork to do and calls to make.”
When she was alone, she sat back, her hand on her stomach.
Me and you and your big sis will have some serious talks while you grow up about making sure you choose your own paths.