Chapter Thirty-Three
Iwas digging into my second sandwich when there was a soft knock on the door. I looked up to see Alannah staring down at the floor. “Alpha Amy?” I put my sandwich down and smiled.
“Alannah, please. I am serious. You can just call me Amy.”
She shook her head. “Alpha Vince likes the distinction.”
I sighed. “Okay. What can I do for you, Allanah?”
She bowed again. “Alpha Brandon is here to take you to lunch…” Her eyes flashed in terror as she looked at the food on my table.
“Send him in.”
Brandon came in a few seconds later but stopped short. “Oh…” He looked back and I heard Allanah running back to her desk. “I didn’t realize you were already eating. I wanted to take you out for lunch on your first day.”
I smiled and winked. “I’ll have to reschedule. Maybe we can go tomorrow. Today, I have a date.” I rubbed my hands together and checked the time.
Brandon furrowed his brow and walked over and sat down. “A date? With who?”
I looked up, surprised to hear the jealousy in his voice. “With Rick.”
Brandon’s mouth fell open. “You have a date…with Rick. Old man Rick? Seriously?”
I laughed. I laughed so hard tears fell from my eyes. “Wait.”
“I don’t see what’s so funny.” He started to pout.
I laughed harder. “Wait. Wait. Wait.” I wiped my eyes and then heaved a deep sigh, trying to catch my breath. Brandon growled. “I’m sorry, that’s not what I meant.” I wiped my face again. “It’s not a date, date.” He finally stopped pouting.
“What do you mean, then?”
I smiled. “Rick wants to test me. He’s currently finding a spot to hide a bit of code in the mainframe, and I have to find it and try my best to find and eradicate the hidden code.”
“Oh.” Brandon looked out the door. “Like a test?”
I nodded. “Exactly. He’s testing me and seeing how good my abilities are. That’s why we had lunch a little early. While I finished eating, he laid his code, and once the time limit is through, I can start hunting.”
“You’re excited about this…” Brandon looks at me, confused.
I nodded, excited. “I am. I have a friend that I play around like this. They have honestly helped me so much in finding hidden code, and I am super excited to give Rick a run for his money.”
“A friend?”
I nodded, then lied. “A girl who is human.” I watched his eyes widen. “We met online, and she helped me with my course work since she went through the same course years ago. Like a mentor.”
Brandon’s mouth was hanging open. “You’re friends with a human woman?”
I shrugged. “Sorta.”
“That’s crazy. What do you guys talk about?”
I chuckled. “Server maintenance. Web site design. She helped me set up a business in my first year.”
Brandon leaned in. “A business?” Nix and Megan rolled their eyes.
This whelp of a man is so predictable. Nix shook her head.
I know. Say a friend, he thinks man. Megan chuffed. Say it was a human and he loses his mind.
Say business and he zero’s in. Predictable. I tossed back.
Nix whipped her tail across the ground. But we don’t actually know anything about Thoth.
True. I focused back on Brandon. But he needed to think Thoth was a woman, otherwise he would make my life even more difficult. Both my wolves nodded and turned away.
I nodded to Brandon. “Yeah, I help humans build websites for their businesses. It’s a fun little side job.”
“How much money do you make?”
I thought about it. “I think last year I made a couple hundred.”
“Oh, so little?” He chuckled.
“I mean, yeah, I was still in school. But five hundred thousand dollars isn’t really chump change.” I laughed. “It was a nice little boost into my investment portfolio.”
“You made five hundred thousand dollars from your side business?” His words were soft.
“Uh huh.” I bit the side of my cheek to stop the smile.
“Yeah. It helped build up my portfolio for school, though the money wasn’t really my goal.
I needed a better portfolio for my finals.
” I shrugged and pulled up a program on the computer.
“I just took the money and invested it. I don’t even know what my investments are at. ”
There was a knock on my door and we both turned. Rick opened the door and his smile faltered when he saw Brandon. “I’m ready whenever you are, Amy.”
“Awesome. I’m just going to finish my sandwich and then I’ll start.” I saw Rick vibrating with excitement. I laughed and glanced at Brandon. “I shouldn’t be more than fifteen minutes.” Rick nodded and knocked again before he left.
Brandon turned back. “He is actually excited by this?”
I nodded. “I am too.” I grabbed my sandwich and took a bite.
Brandon sat back and watched for a few minutes, but I busied myself with my food. “Tomorrow then, keep your lunch open, okay?”
“Will do.” I smiled up at him and then turned back to my computer.
He stood there for a moment and then with another look, he turned and walked out of the office.
As soon as he was gone, I hopped up and ran to the door.
“Alannah.” She looked up. “Tell Rick it’s on.
” I winked at her, earning a soft smile, and then I ran back to my computer.
The door to my office busted open. “Holy shit.”
I smiled as I sat back. “What?”
“You found me!” Rick rushed in and rounded my desk.
I felt my face pinch as he came close. Before I could think, he had me in his arms and he was jumping.
Literally jumping. “I can’t fucking believe it.
” He seemed to freeze and then placed me back down on my feet.
“Sorry.” He backed away with his hands raised.
“Sorry, I just…it’s just.” He blushed, and I chuckled.
“What?”
“No one has ever found me. Shit, half the guys Vince shoves in here can barely make it past the first trap I threw at them.”
I threw my head back and laughed. “The firewall that turned on me?” He nodded. “Seriously?” I furrowed my brow, and he just nodded again. “But that was easy.”
He tossed his hands in the air. “Exactly!” He yelled as he spun in a circle. “I told Vince every damn time that they failed, it was the easiest trap to unravel. But no.” He finally walked around my desk and sat down. “I thought…”
“You thought I was just going to be yet another disappointment.”
He sighed as he sat back in the chair. “I really did. Even when I saw you were Gavin’s daughter, I thought that was why you were here, and you were still going to fail.” He looked around, and I knew.
Nix? I turned inward.
Yeah. She trotted from the trees.
I don’t know his wolf, but is there any way you can go ask him if the offices are bugged?
She chuffed out a laugh. You doubt me? Be back in a second. She turned and ran back into the trees.
“Even my dad didn’t buy me any leeway.” I laughed.
He blushed deeper and then froze for a millisecond.
“Not in the least. I learned a long time ago to never give credit before someone earns it.” He tapped my desk.
“I have no problem taking you under my wing.” He stood.
“Brandon should be here any minute to walk you home.” He headed for the door.
“I’ll see you in the morning?” He raised a questioning brow.
“You bet.” He left as Nix came running back. So?
She was pissed. Every office is bugged, camera and sound. The computers all have key loggers and spyware, so Vince knows exactly what is going on.
Okay. That was honestly expected. What has you so riled up?
Vince. She shook down her fur. He doesn’t trust us, but I could tell his wolf wanted to spill. So I prodded.
And?
He said he wouldn’t tell me anything.
Why not?
Rick’s wolf wouldn’t even tell me his name. All he kept saying was that he wasn’t going to risk his mate and child. I felt my anger spike.
Was he playing with us?
No. Nix shook her head. He was petrified that anything he told us would get back to Vince. The only reason he told us about the cameras and spywear, is because he was never told it was a secret to keep.
I wanted to growl, but there was a knock and my door swung in, revealing Brandon standing there with flowers. “Congratulations on your first day!” He walked in with a huge grin. “How was it?”
I stuffed my anger away and jumped up. I walked around the table and gave him a hug. “It was great. I had a lot of fun, and I know I have a lot to learn.” I looked down at the flowers. “Are these for me?” I looked up at him through my lashes.
He smiled and nodded. “You deserved them.” He handed them to me and I hugged them to my face, taking a deep breath.
They smelled of mildew and rot, much like this pack, but I beamed up at him. “Thank you.” I wrapped my arm around his waist again. “I love them.” My phone chirped, and I pulled away, grabbing it from the desk.
“Everything okay?” Brandon leaned over and I sighed.
“Yeah. My mom called for a ‘family dinner’ to clear the air.” I rolled my eyes and sat against the table. “I don’t know what I should do.”
“What do you mean?” Brandon settled next to me.
“Shannon wants me to turn down this job and have nothing to do with you.” I wiggled my phone. “Even if my mom is pissed at Morgan, Shannon is still her stepdaughter, and he is still her husband. She wants us to get along.” I sighed and slid my phone into my pocket.
“I can understand that.” He nodded. “What are you going to do?”
I looked at him and bit my bottom lip. “I had a lot of fun today, and I enjoyed seeing you. But I won’t make my mom’s life harder. I’ll let Shannon win.” I sighed and stood.
“Wait what?” Brandon reached for me.
I nodded. “I stayed away from you in high school because Shannon loved you and I didn’t want to make my mom’s life harder. I know you want me to be your Luna, but I love my mom too much to hurt Shannon like this.”
He looked panicked. “Let me walk you home, and I’ll talk to your mom and Morgan. Fuck, I’ll even talk to Shannon. I don’t want to lose you because of this.”
Bingo.
We walked down the street hand in hand. Every so often someone would stop and stare, but I ignored the looks, until we turned down my street and my mother was pacing outside the door.
“Mom?” We walked up, and she turned. I watched her face shutter when her eyes landed on Brandon.
“Hey baby, how was your first day?”
I looked up at Brandon. “It was great. Why are you out here?”
My mom heaved a sigh. “Morgan is talking to Shannon again, and it isn’t going well.” She winced when another scream could be heard.
I nodded sadly and turned to Brandon. “I’m sorry.” I pulled the flowers closer. “I can’t.” I looked to the house. “I really like the job, and you are an amazing friend, and…” I trailed off.
“And what?” He pushed.
“And maybe we could have been a good mating pair, but I can’t do this to my mom’s family.” I stepped back. “I know you wanted to talk to them but I don’t think it’s a good idea.” I turned to leave, but my mom stopped me.
“Actually, I think it is.” She nodded to the house. “Go on in. Maybe she will listen to you and stop trying to control everyone around her.” My mom reached for me when I went to object. “He knows what he wants, Amy.” She nodded, and Brandon turned to head inside.
I waited until the door closed and turned to my mom. “You are amazing.”
“He’s dumber than I thought he would be. But this should give us a window of peace.” I nodded and then we headed inside together.
Brandon was in Shannon’s room as I walked to mine, and they were fooling no one with their whispered moans. But I just held my laughter in as I pushed in the door. My mom followed close behind me. “I’m going-”
“To stay right here for now. Brandon will stay for dinner.” She flicked her eyes to the closet, and I nodded.
“I’ll just send a quick message.” Then I ran to the cabin and told them to eat without me. I promised Carly I would be back for her bed-time story and then I grabbed my laptop.
My mom nodded at me before she turned to leave. There was a soft, steady thumping from next door. “They think they are being quiet, but you can hear everything from in there.” She grimaced as she walked to my door.
I shrugged. “At least they are trying to hide it before it was just loud grunting. It was gross.” I laughed as she shivered and left. I crawled onto my bed and opened my laptop. I jumped through the few hoops we had in place for our messaging and then finally a black screen jumped to life.
A blinking grey cursor waited for my first input.
NixtheGoddess: Hey are you up?
Within a minute, there was a soft ding.
Thoth: For you, always. How was your first day?
NixtheGoddess: Better than expected, and worse.
Thoth: What happened?
NixtheGoddess: I met someone my father knew, but there is something fishy about it all. Brandon was bugging me all day.
Thoth: Were there cameras like we expected?
NixtheGoddess: Yep. Exactly like you said there would be… How did you know?
Thoth: Vince is predictable. What did Brandon do?
NixtheGoddess: Kept showing up. But it worked in my favor in the end.
Thoth: Why?
NixtheGoddess: Because I told my mom before work to call for a family dinner. I knew Shannon was still going to be throwing a fit, because that was just who she was. Whether or not she gets her way, she just can’t help it.
Thoth: Okay…? I’m still lost.
NixtheGoddess: He was there, giving me dying flowers, and I told him I couldn’t keep the job. And I won’t be his Luna.
Thoth: I still can’t believe he just asked you like that.
NixtheGoddess: Right? Like WTF… Anyway, I had my mom poke the bear, so to speak, and have Shannon lose her mind. Brandon walked me home to ‘talk sense’ into her and Morgan.
Thoth: Did it work?
NixtheGoddess: Right now he is currently pumping sense into her.
Thoth: ???
I laughed out loud. Sometimes Thoth was lost.
NixtheGoddess: They are trying to be quiet, but the thumping of her headboard against my wall makes it pretty clear they are…together.
Thoth: He’s having sex with her? Seriously?
NixtheGoddess: Yup. Anyway, it doesn’t matter. This will give me some peace and I can work on getting closer to Rick.
Thoth: Good. The faster you figure this all out, the faster your dad can come back.
I sat for a minute nodding, like somehow Thoth could see me.
Thoth: Anyway, let me know if you need anything. I’ll get it shipped to you.
NixtheGoddess: … Are you ever going to tell me who you are?
I waited for a few minutes, but no answer came. Apparently that was a no.