Impeached

by Brenda Trim

  Chapter 4

  Erika watched Bart and Patricia leave the office then turned to Kelly. “I really think Bart needs to meet face to face with a few of the families. It will mean so much more than a press conference,” she continued.

  Erika wasn’t quite sure what to make of Kelly. The female waltzed into the room like she owned the joint, and practically threw herself at Bart. For a moment, Erika thought Kelly would hump his leg, staking her claim. Kissing him in front of her like that? When she worked for the male? No class whatsoever.

  And, why was Bart messing around with a staff member? Didn’t he know what that could do to his career, not to mention, his reputation? Not a wise decision. As far as Erika was concerned, Kelly could have Bart. He wasn’t even close to the type of male she wanted.

  Without warning, Kelly lunged forward, grabbing Erika’s wrist. “Let’s cut to the chase, shall we?” she spat and dug her nails into Erika’s flesh. “The only reason you’re here is to bridge a gap between humans and shifters. Once Bart establishes a connection, he’ll have no use for you. And, remember…you’re expendable. So, don’t fuck with me. Are we clear?” she muttered through clenched teeth and Erika felt a burning sensation at her wrist.

  She glanced down and watched blood seep through Kelly’s fingers. “Get your damn hands off me,” Erika demanded then snatched her arm free.

  This female was crazy. If Bart was seriously interested in Kelly, he must be an idiot. Perhaps, accepting this job was a bad idea, after all.

  Before she knew what was happening, Kelly shoved her onto the desk, pinning Erika with her weight. Her blonde bob brushed against Erika’s face and she wanted to snatch it from her head. “In case you didn’t notice, Bart is mine. We’ve got a good thing going, and I don’t need you interfering. Stay out of his bed, and you and I will get along just fine. If you don’t, I promise you’ll regret it,” Kelly threatened as she pressed her arm into Erika’s throat, choking her.

  Once again, Erika’s past rushed to the fore, and her survival instincts kicked in. Her wolf growled in her mind, demanding release. In the next blink, she shifted. The tearing of fabric filled her ears then Erika’s clothes fell in a tattered heap to the floor as her animal emerged. In one fluid move, her wolf tossed Kelly to the floor like she was a rag doll.

  Eyes wide, Kelly screamed and scrambled backward as the large animal stalked toward her. Her wolf growled low, baring its large canines. The female was terrified, and her animal relished having power over the weaker being. Suddenly, her wolf’s senses were bombarded from every direction. This human was evil, all the way to her core.

  “Stay back!” Kelly warned when her back bumped against the fireplace, preventing her from moving further away from the wolf. She reached over and snatched a poker from the fireplace set, and swung wide.

  The iron tool stabbed her snout and the wolf yelped then growled again as it lunged forward, sinking its teeth into Kelly’s calf. Kelly’s scream pierced its sensitive ears and the wolf bit down on the human’s flesh.

  Kelly grabbed her leg, trying to yank it free but her wolf refused to let go as its sharp canines tore through muscle and sinew. Blood filled the wolf’s mouth and the animal growled again, tasting sweet victory. How easy it would be to sever the appendage from the female’s body.

  “Erika! Stop!” yelled a male and the wolf’s gaze cut toward the sound.

  A blond-haired human came into sight. Her animal recognized him immediately. It was the male that carried her from that awful place. She remembered his tender touch and his warm brown eyes.

  “Hey there, sweet girl,” Bart cooed as he took a step toward the wolf. “Remember me? I’m your friend.”

  The wolf loosened its grip on the female’s leg. Its rage was eased by the sound of the male’s gentle voice.

  “That’s it. You don’t want to hurt anyone,” he explained and took another step closer. The wolf released the female’s leg and stepped backward. “Kelly, get out of here. Now!” he demanded.

  “She’s a psycho, Bart. You need to send that animal back to the wild where she belongs,” the female screeched as she limped toward the door.

  “Get out, Kelly!” he shouted and the office door slammed shut after the female exited the room.

  The wolf paced in front of the picture window, searching for a way out of the closed space. There was nothing worse than being caged, and her wolf was close to jumping through the large pane of glass. She recalled their imprisonment and the torture they suffered at the hands of the menacing human female. Her wolf would die before she allowed that to happen to them again.

  “It’s okay, girl. It’s just you and me now,” he murmured and sat on the floor in the middle of the room. “No one is going to hurt you. I promise.”

  The wolf stopped pacing and locked gazes with the human. His brown eyes held hers and she sensed his spoken truth. She could trust him.

  The wolf slowly stepped toward the male and lifted its snout. His masculine scent filled her nostrils. He smelled of musk and sandalwood, and it called to her. She took another step toward him.

  “That’s it. Come closer. Let me touch you, Erika,” he whispered. Hearing him speak her name drew her closer. Instinctively, she wanted to please him.

  The wolf stepped within reach, and Bart extended his hand. His strong fingers stroked her face, and the wolf closed its eyes, relishing the attention.

  “Captivating,” Bart muttered as his hand traveled along her neck and back. “So very strong,” he added, and ran his hand underneath her belly. The wolf slumped to the floor, allowing him free rein.

  His deep chuckle made her eyes open. “You like me, Erika. Well, your wolf does anyway,” he declared as he set about massaging her back, stomach, and head.

  The wolf whimpered and licked his hand. The salty taste was pleasant, so she licked it again.

  “Yeah, I like you, too. Unfortunately, Erika isn’t as easy to win over. Hey, I owe you a picture,” he muttered and retrieved an object from his pocket. He leaned closer and wrapped his arm around her neck, and the wolf snuggled closer. She felt safe with him, while at the same time, wanted to protect him with every fiber of her being.

  “Oh, this has best buds written all over it,” Bart announced then the wolf heard a click. Bart turned toward her, gently scratching her face. “Look, I don’t know what happened in here, but Kelly’s gone. You can shift now. I promise you’re safe.”

  The wolf stared into warm brown eyes and, once again, believed him. However, there was one problem. Her animal stood and walked toward the pile of ripped clothes then looked to Bart and back to the torn garments.

  “Oh, I see. You have nothing to wear. Did you bring extra clothes with you?” he asked, and the wolf nodded.

  “Okay, how about this? I’ll give you my jacket,” he offered, and the wolf nodded again.

  Bart stood there staring at the wolf, waiting for her to shift. The wolf shook its head then sat on its hind legs and cocked its head. Did he really think she was going to shift while he watched? Let him see her completely naked? Not a chance in hell.

  “What? Now what’s the problem?” he asked, confusion clear on his face. The wolf snorted then walked toward him. She nudged his body, forcing him to stand in the opposite direction.

  “Ah. You’re the shy type,” he chuckled. “Fine. My eyes are shut, and I won’t even sneak a peek,” he confessed and removed his coat then tossed it to the floor.

  In one quick motion, Erika shifted then quickly grabbed the jacket and slipped it on. “You can turn around,” she muttered as she wrapped the fabric around her torso, securing it as best she could.

  Bart slowly turned and rushed to her side. “Are you okay?” he voiced and drew Erika into his embrace. “You scared the shit out of me,” he whispered in her ear and pulled her so tight she could feel his pounding pulse.

  Erika was dumbfounded. She was certain Bart would be furious with her. Fire her on the spot for attacking his girlfriend. Yet, he was holding onto he
r like she was his lifeline. And, a part of her wanted to melt into his strong hold. There was an undeniable connection between them. Her wolf sensed it, and Erika felt it deep inside.

  But, she couldn’t allow it to interfere with her job. She needed to prove herself to Lawson, and the pack. That was far more important. She stepped out of Bart’s hold and tightened her grip on the jacket, keeping her body covered as best she could. The problem wasn’t concealing her breasts. It was the short length that barely covered her ass. If she wasn’t careful, her butt and girly parts would make their grand debut.

  “What happened?” he asked as he brushed a strand of hair from her face.

  “What happened is simple. Kelly doesn’t want me here, interfering,” she snapped. Should she tell Bart what Kelly told her about their relationship? Undoubtedly, he’d choose Kelly over her, and then she’d be out of a job. Probably best if she kept her mouth shut.

  “You’re not interfering. I need you,” Bart countered as he met her gaze.

  Needed her? Was this about the job, or something more? His tone held a hint of desperation which made no sense. Lawson could easily send another shifter to fill the position. Why did he need her?

  Bart cleared his throat and looked away. “Look, don’t worry about Kelly. I’ll set her straight. So, where are your clothes? Given your wolf’s reaction to my questions, I assume she understands what I’m saying.”

  “Yes, she does. I’m surprised how taken she is with you,” Erika admitted.

  Her wolf’s only interaction with humans thus far, besides Kelly and Bart, was when she was captured and thrown into a cell. Her animal wanted to shred them to pieces, much like she wanted to do to Kelly. Bart, on the other hand, was a completely different story. Her wolf craved his company. It was unsettling, to say the least.

  “Like I’ve said before, we bonded the day I carried you from the lab,” he replied with a wide grin. “We’re like this,” he informed and held up his hand, crossing two fingers.

  “Mm hmm. So I’ve gathered,” she teased then felt a cool breeze brush across her chest.

  Erika glanced down and gasped when she saw his jacket agape, revealing too much of her breasts. And here she was worried about exposing her lower half. She quickly looked to Bart, hoping he didn’t catch her peep show. His lustful gaze told her he’d caught an eyeful. Just great.

  “Um, my clothes are in the car. Maybe we should call it a day. I’ve had about as much excitement as I can handle. I’ll check into a nearby hotel,” Erika suggested. Today was a total disaster and what she needed was a long hot bath and a large glass of wine.

  “First, I want to show you something, if you don’t mind. It won’t take long. I’m happy to grab you a pair of sweats. I keep extras in my office in case I go for a run,” Bart offered as he watched her fidget with his jacket.

  “Sure, that would be great,” she admitted with embarrassment. Could this day get any worse?

  Bart rushed from the room, and before Erika could pick up her tattered clothes, he returned and handed her a pair of grey sweatpants and a red hoodie. “I’ll wait outside while you dress,” he offered and shut the door behind him.

  Erika realized her bra and panties were also destroyed in the shift then quickly slipped into the pants and hoodie. It was still better than wearing a suit jacket that barely covered her tits and ass. At least her boots remained intact, Erika thought as she slipped them on her feet.

  She noted Bart’s clothes, even his sweats, were top quality. This guy had no clue what it meant to struggle, she thought as she grabbed her ruined clothes off the floor.

  She thought about her pack leader and his generosity. Lawson gave her money to buy a few things for her new job. Now, she had one less outfit which wouldn’t faze someone like Bart. More than likely, he had a large walk-in closet stuffed with designer suits. Erika had four (no, make that three) outfits to get her by until payday. They came from totally different worlds, and not just because she was a shifter and he was human.

  Sighing, she stepped out of the office and handed Bart his jacket. “Thank you. I’ll return the rest of your things tomorrow,” she said as she glanced at the over-sized garments. Luckily, the pants were the right length, Erika thought as she rolled the sleeves of the hoodie.

  “Don’t worry about it. They look better on you anyhow. C’mon. I want to show you something,” he said and practically pulled her down a hallway then a large flight of stairs.

  Erika’s head darted every which way, trying to see everything, but Bart didn’t bother stopping. He led her down another long hallway, where she noticed a large conference room and a few smaller rooms before he opened a large door that led outside.

  “Where are we going?” Erika asked as he tugged her toward a smaller building that looked more like a residence. Was it the staff’s quarters?

  “You’ll see,” he answered as he walked to the front door and pulled out a set of keys. Okay, she hoped that wasn’t the case because she wouldn’t want someone barging into her private space whenever the whim struck.

  Bart opened the door and motioned for her to go inside. Erika complied and found herself inside a small furnished home. “Who lives here?” she asked, confused as to why he brought her here.

  “No one. Do you like it?”

  “Sure. What’s not to like? But, why did you bring me here?” she asked as she scanned the living room.

  There was a chocolate-brown leather sectional, a matching ottoman, and a large flat-screen TV hanging on the wall. And that was it. No pictures on the walls, no personal items, nothing.

  “If you’d like, you can stay here. The other day when I was researching apartments in the area for you, it dawned on me that this place wasn’t being used for anything but storage. So, I ordered a few basic items and moved some boxes to another area. And, voila! Casa de Pittman,” Bart explained with a shrug.

  “You want me to stay here? On the grounds? Wouldn’t that be weird?” she asked as she recalled Kelly’s threat. The female would go ballistic if she found out Erika was living so close to Bart.

  “Sure, why not? It’s not weird for me. Now, if you’re uncomfortable, I’m happy to show you a couple of apartments I put on hold for you,” Bart informed her then quickly added, “but, to be honest, I’d prefer you nearby. You’re working part-time as it is, and I’d like to get as much done as possible.”

  Again, Erika considered telling him what Kelly said, but decided against it. She didn’t want to rock the boat, and she wasn’t trying to come between the two of them. Her focus was the job, and nothing more.

  Besides, Bart made a valid point. Living on the grounds would eliminate commuting back and forth which would give them more time to work. Truth was, she was never comfortable with the idea of Bart paying for an apartment. This seemed to be the ideal situation, at least for the time being.

  “How about we give it a trial run for the next few weeks? You might change your mind, or I might change mine. And, no one gets offended if one of us decides it isn’t working out,” Erika suggested and extended her hand toward his. That way, if Kelly lost her shit and demanded Bart kick her out, he wouldn’t need to feel guilty about it.

  “Deal,” he countered with a wide grin and grasped her palm, shaking it.

  Erika admitted the male had a great smile. Perfectly straight teeth that were white as snow. His tousled blond hair fell over one eye as he looked down at her. The male was beyond gorgeous. She acknowledged Bart looked like he belonged on a surfboard rather than behind a politician’s desk.

  They stood there, shaking hands as if neither wanted to be the first to let go. Erika’s wolf howled in her head, giving her approval. Yeah, she needed to have a talk with her inner animal. Just because her wolf and Bart bonded during some car ride didn’t mean he was the male for her.

  Bart suddenly released Erika’s hand. “Oh, I forgot. Check this out,” he announced and reached into his pocket, retrieving his cell phone. He tapped the screen and showed Erika a picture. It
was of him and a beautiful, light-gray wolf. Her wolf.

  “Told you. Captivating,” he murmured, and Erika gazed into warm brown eyes that sent a shiver down her spine. Her wolf howled again, and this time, a small part of her agreed.

  Chapter 5

  “How can you say she’s not dangerous?” Kelly shrieked as her hands flew up in the air. “Did you see what that animal did to me?” she added and pulled up her pant leg, revealing a large bandage wrapped around her ankle.

  Bart raked a hand through his hair. He’d spent the past half-hour debating whether to fire Erika, or not. He was done with this conversation. Yes, Erika’s wolf attacked Kelly, but he suspected Kelly wasn’t innocent in the whole thing.

  “I’m not arguing about this. Now, I’m sorry about the unfortunate incident but Erika stays. I need her help with the shifters.”

  “Unfortunate incident? That wolf would’ve killed me if you hadn’t barged in when you did!” she screeched.

  “I think you’re exaggerating. Erika assured me that wouldn’t have happened. And, don’t forget, I was in the room with her wolf, as well. I find her to be a very docile animal,” he defended in earnest.

  “Her? That thing is an it! You’ve got blinders on where Erika is concerned. That’s going to come back and bite you in the ass one of these days. Don’t blame me when it happens,” Kelly murmured and walked over, wrapping her arms around Bart’s waist. “Look,” she exhaled, “I don’t want to fight with you. Let’s not talk about wolves anymore. How about we make up instead,” Kelly purred and placed her lips to his.

  Bart gently pushed her away. “Not here, Kelly. When we’re at work, it’s strictly business. I told you that,” he declared and grabbed her hands when they slid south, grasping his ass.

  “You’re no fun,” she pouted with pursed lips. “Want to come over tonight? I’ll make dinner then we can get naked by the fire,” she offered with a devilish smile.