Chapter 1 GRANT #2
"What's the situation?"
"We've got reports of suspicious activity near the eastern border. Could be nothing, but..." Graham's voice is tight with concern. "Maybe you should come in early today."
I glance at the envelope Luther gave me, still tucked inside my jacket. "I'm already here. My Office, ten minutes."
"Copy that."
I end the call and try to focus on the immediate threats facing my pack. Try to push thoughts of gray eyes and rain-soaked skin to the back of my mind.
But as I change into dry clothes from the emergency stash I keep in my office closet, I catch myself breathing deeply, searching for any lingering trace of her scent on my skin.
And when I close my eyes, all I can see is the way she looked at me in that moment before I pulled away. Like she was drowning and I was air.
I’m obviously projecting, I realize with a start. For the first time in years, the restlessness is gone. The aching loneliness that's been my constant companion has quieted to a whisper.
As soon as I walk out of the closet there's a soft knock on my door.
“Come in,” I say, finishing up the buttons on my shirt.
Graham and Nate enter my office, already chatting among themselves. “Jeez, they said you got stuck in the rain, but was it that bad?” Nate asks.
“What do you mean?”
He gestures to my hair, and I sigh. I'd forgotten to dry it off. I go back to the closest and pick up the towel there to get the job done as my wolves wait for me.
“How'd the meeting go?”
If there are people I trust most in this office, it's Graham and Nate. Both men have continually proven how reliable they are. That's why I feel comfortable being away.
Still, there's something they currently have that I would rather do without. Even just looking at them, I can tell.
“I'm going to need both of you to calm down,” I state.
Graham and Nate share confused looks. “I don't understand,” Graham says.
“You both look like you're ready to bolt out of here. Don't worry. Your mates aren't going anywhere.”
Nate chuckles. “I would have agreed with you if this was maybe a year or two ago, but I'm all in with Madeline right now.”
“I can't even talk about you,” I say, looking at Graham. “You've been obsessed with Rose even before you found out she was your mate.”
He shrugs, smiling. “What can I say?”
I shake my head at both of them. “This is why I try to stay away from female shifters.”
My mind journeys to the wolf I saw on my way to the office. I push the thought away again.
It's clear to me that the only reason she keeps popping into my mind is because of how tired I am. I've been working myself to the bone with affairs of the pack and this firm.
“The meeting was fine,” I add. “Luther won't be any trouble. He was just posturing.”
Both men breathe equal sighs of relief. “That's good,” Nate says. “For a second there, I thought we were going to fight hunters and our kind at the same time.”
“What did you say to him?” Graham inquires.
“He has temporary use of our eastern border. We're all clear on that.”
“Yes Sir” they say in unison.
“Here’s the Intel he shared about the Hunter” I hand over the file. “Crosscheck and verify, They know about the firm. We need to be ready.”
“Alright. We’ll take care of it,” the large man says. Graham's frame has always been so prominently huge, but he's the definition of a gentle giant.
“Now we can focus on you.”
“Me?”
“Nate and I were talking and we figured that you need some help.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, moving closer to my desk. They follow me.
“You've been so busy,” Nate explains, “especially the past few months. It's almost like you're tearing yourself between the firm and this search for hunters.”
“I don't have a choice.”
“I understand,” he says. “That's why we think you should get an assistant.”
“Hmm.” I muse on the idea for half a minute. “I've never thought about having an assistant before.”
“Yes,” Nate continues. “But it would be a nice change and a lot of help. If she's on the case, you can get some much-needed rest.”
I raise an eyebrow. “She? I haven't even agreed to this yet and what if I want a male assistant?”
“Then that's going to be a bit of a problem,” Graham laughs. “We've already got you an assistant, and she should be here by now.”
“What?” Not many things catch me off guard, but Graham and Nate have managed to pull one off. “You already got me an assistant?”
“One that's willing to be a live-in employee,” Graham says.
“I'm sorry, what?”
“I told you we should've said this before he got here, Graham.”
“Yeah, it's a bit late for that now.”
“Wait, let me get this straight. Both of you hired a live-in assistant for me without telling me.”
Graham sighs. “You're under a lot of pressure, and I know you can handle it well, but this will help. If you hate the idea, we can work on it, but at least meet the girl first.”
I let out a small breath. “Fine, but you know that no one else would be able to pull this thing off. You're lucky it's you two.”
They give me mischievous smiles. “It'll be fun having people around,” Graham says.
“I have people over at the IronFang's land all the time,” I argue.
“Yes, but they don't stay for more than a few days. A constant presence might be a good thing. Right, Nate?”
“I don't know about that, but I know an assistant will be efficient. You'll have an insane amount of work done.”
“Of course you think that,” Graham laughs.
“Alright,” I say. “This assistant, when do I meet her?”
The knock they've been waiting for finally happens. “It’s open,” I call out, leaning against my table. Graham and Nate move to either side of me, preparing to welcome our new guest.
Olivia, one of IronFang’s most dedicated employees, enters with her usual smile. She gives me an awkward sort of curtsy, still unsure of how to greet me properly. “I've got Leena here with me.”
She steps aside, revealing a woman who's completely drenched, so much so that her dark hair sticks to her face. Before she pulls the hair back, I already sense who it is.
There's no way… what are the fucking odds?
The girl turns to me with stormy gray eyes filled to the brim with nerves. “Leena,” Olivia introduces, “this is our alpha.”