“I’m good, it’s Friday.” She smiles.
“Glad to hear it. I just wanted to see how the billing files were coming along.” He asks, getting right to business.
“I’m about halfway through, I’m going to need another few days. It’s a lot of information to pour over.” She says apologetically.
Mr. Langly winks at her, “I’m betting you can have it done by the end of the day today.”
“I don’t know, I’m thinking it will be more like Monday before I’m done.” Emma pushes back.
“Go ahead and stay late tonight to finish it. I’ll approve the overtime.” He turns to walk away from her cubicle, “I’m sure you don’t have plans.”
She opens her mouth to speak, but he’s out of earshot before she can answer. Emma plops down in her chair defeated thinking to herself what a dick he is. What if I did have plans? “There’s no way I can finish this.” she runs her fingers through her hair, blows out a breath and gets to work.
Chapter Five
Zane forces his eyes open to see the inside of the jail cell again. He lays still on the bed as a wave of pain attempts to drag him back to unconsciousness.
He can hear Kristi talking, but she sounds distant, “No, he’s getting worse. He’s been killing more elk than any wolf could possibly eat, but he’s managing to eat it all. He’s out of control and I don’t know what to do.”
She pauses, and Zane can faintly hear the voice of a woman on the phone, “I’ll be there in an hour. Keep him locked up.”
“Yes ma’am, thank you so much.” Kristi pushes the button on her phone and lays it on the desk. She cautiously approaches the jail cell and stops just short of the bars.
Zane rolls over in a pool of his own sweat, “Kristi, you have to let me out of here.”
“I can’t.” She says quietly. “Ryland says you’ve got to stay put. You’re causing too much trouble.”
“I’ll fucking kill him,” Zane says getting up to pace in his cell. His wolf wants out and he’s having trouble controlling the shift.
He eyes the reinforced bars across the cell door. Kristi smiles, “Yeah, you’re not going anywhere.”
“You can’t keep me in here forever.” Zane grits through his teeth.
“Can’t we?” Kristi says, “Listen, you’ve got to apologize to Ryland and you have to promise to stop all this.”
Zane sits on the cot in defeat, “I don’t know what’s wrong. I’m starving all the time, I’m horny all the time, I’ve gotta get out of here.”
“I’ve got help on the way.” Kristi gets closer to the cell and lowers her voice. “She was a friend of your mother’s.”
Zane’s eyes flash to Kristi, “My mother?”
“Yeah, she’s...well, she’s a shifter, but she’s different. I think she can help figure out what’s wrong with you.” Kristi all but whispers, “Ryland would let you rot in here, but I know there’s something wrong with you. The healer won’t come so Gerri’s our next best thing.”
“Why the hell is Ryland being such an asshole. He knows I’m not going to challenge him.” Zane lays back on the bed.
“Because you’re being an asshole. You’re killing out of season, you’re getting into fights with humans and bringing more bad attention to the pack. You’re lucky he doesn’t exile you.” Kristi ticks off each thing on her fingers.
“Maybe I don’t want to be part of the pack anymore.” He peeks at Kristi from under his hair covering his eyes, “I’m not the worst thing about this pack, not even close.”
“Hush,” Kristi hisses, “It’s all of that talk that’s making this worse. You’ve got to stop.”
Zane sits up on the bed trying to hold his wolf back, anger boiling in his blood, “Ryland has done nothing but screw the locals over. Steal from them, price gouges them on resources.” Zane shakes his head, “Me hunting a few elk out of season is the least of this pack’s offences.”
“I wouldn’t call twenty a few.” Kristi deadpans.
Zane tries to recall killing twenty elk. That’s not like him, he wants to question her, but she’s never lied to him before. “Twenty?”
“Yes, that’s how many we’re aware of.” She widens her eyes.
Zane sniffs at the air and stands up, his fists balled at his sides as he watches the door.
“Well, well, if Sleeping Beauty hasn’t finally awoken.” Ryland struts in the door and straight to Zane’s cell.
Zane remains silent staring at him unblinking. His wolf is raging to get out and he’s not going to be able to control it much longer.
Ryland looks at Kristi, “You got the tranqs if we need em’?”
“Yes sir,” she answers with her head hung low.
“You ready to apologize and stop all this nonsense?” Ryland leans his arms on the bars.
Zane lunges at him trying to reach him, but Ryland backs away in time. “You’re not making this any better. You know what happens to feral wolves?”
Zane doesn’t answer, he only glowers at Ryland.
“They’re destroyed.” Ryland ticks his brow.
“He’s not feral.” A small sing-song voice fills the room before Gerri does.
Zane studies her short silver bob and tiny round frame.
Ryland steps away from her, “What are you doing here?”
“Shut up Ryland, I’m working.” Gerri goes straight to the cell where Zane is up against the bars. She looks at the reinforcements along the door. “You think that’s going to keep him in?”
“That and the tranquilizers,” Kristi says expressing her disapproval.
“Well, that’s not going to cut it.” Gerri turns and pins Ryland with harsh eyes. “You’re going to need to let him out.”
Ryland presses his lips into a thin line, “I’m afraid not.”
“You should be afraid of telling me no. This boy needs to get out, find his mate.” Gerri says with authority.
“His mate?” Kristi asks bewildered.
“He’s not sick, he’s got The Hunger.” Gerrie shrugs, “And if you don’t let him out to find her, he’s going to tear this whole place down.” She smiles knowing that she has Ryland by the short hairs.
“But if we let him out, he’s just going to cause trouble.” Ryland argues, “He’s been hunting, on other’s land and out of season, getting into fights…”
“Yes, well, we are going to need him to control himself for just a little longer.” Gerri reaches her hand through the bars toward Zane, “Do you think you can behave for just a little longer?”
“I honestly don’t know. I don’t know what you’re talking about with The Hunger.” Zane says helplessly.
“I’m going to help you, but I need you to stay put just a little longer, okay?” Her calm voice puts Zane at ease.
“I’ll do my best.” Zane shakes his head.
Gerri turns to Kristi, “Food, he needs lots of food. I’ll be back tomorrow. Can you explain The Hunger to him?” Gerri asks.
Kristi hangs her head, “Yeah, I’m very well aware of it.”
“Oh hun, you’re going to find your mate. I guarantee it!” She says pulling her shoulder to her ear playfully as she flits out of the building as quickly as she entered.
Kristi, Ryland, and Zane sit stunned at the whirlwind of a woman. “You heard the lady, he needs food,” Kristi says to Ryland.
“I’m not his servant,” Ryland says with disgust.
“Actually we are his servants
and we have to feed him. Do you want to stay here with him or do you want to get something for him to eat?” Kristi puts her hand on her hip.
Ryland glares at her while weighing his options. “I’ll send someone with dinner.”
Chapter Six
Emma hears the sound of the lobby door opening and closing over and over again. She knows it’s the sound of the entire law office clearing out. It’s Friday night and they all have lives to go to. She apparently doesn’t according to her boss.
“Hey girl, I’m outty, did you want
to grab drinks?” Brittany asks leaning over the half wall of Emma’s cubicle.
“I can’t, I have to get this done ASAP.” Emma rolls her eyes.
Brittany comes into her cubicle and leans down, “Tell him to screw off. It’s Friday night, you’re a single woman and you shouldn’t be sitting at your desk laboring over his emergency.”
“Ladies.” Mr. Langly stops at Emma’s cubicle with his jacket slung over his arm.
“Hey there,” Brittany straightens up.
Emma moves her mouse to the shutdown button on her computer. “Big plans for the weekend?”
“The wife and I are going to the mountains.” He says and eyes her computer. “Did you finish the reports?”
“No, but I’m going to get back on it Monday,” Emma says with confidence.
“Emma, we really need that done this weekend.” He says with an edge of warning. “Did you have some sort of plans?”
Emma hangs her head thinking to herself, yeah, I’m going to finish that cake, order pizza and play video games on my phone until I pass out from drinking too much wine. “Not really.”
“Then it shouldn’t be a problem. Besides, I’m sure you’ll be happy with that over time.”
He doesn’t allow her to answer as he starts walking away, “Have a great weekend, ladies.”
“He’s such an asshole,” Brittany says when she hears the front door close.
“He is.” Emma restarts her computer.
“What are you doing?” Brittany’s mouth twists with disgust.
“I’m going to get that overtime.” Emma rolls her eyes.
“Well, you do you, but you need to get a life. Come to the bar with us. You never know, you could meet someone.” She pumps her eyebrows.
Emma remembers the last hookup from the bar, a pussy hound that drank all her wine and never called her back. “Yeah, I’m going to pass on that.”
“Suit yourself.” Brittany says putting on her coat, “We’ll be there if you change your mind.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it.” She watches as Brittany walks away. Part of her wants to go, but her luck with dating has been in the shitter and she’s not up for being the last one standing with no one to go home with. She’d rather sit here and earn some extra cash than go through all that.
She turns around in her chair and sees Gerri’s card sitting in front of her keyboard. Not a wrinkle in it from when she crumbled it up and threw it away earlier.
“What the hell?” She breathes and looks down in the trashcan to find the card she threw away. It’s not there.
Okay, Emma pull it together, you’re digging through the trash now, this isn’t good.
She takes the card and walks with purpose to the break room and tosses it in the compactor. “That should do it.”
She goes back to her cubicle and freezes in place. The card is back. There’s a sparkle coming from it as though the glitter fairy is trying to entice her.
“Oh no, you don’t.” Emma looks at the card with malice. She picks it up and stomps toward the lobby. She makes a stop at the receptionist’s desk knowing she’s a smoker and will have a lighter. She hits paydirt and heads for the restroom.
She locks herself in the stall and looks at the card, “I’m not this desperate.” She says it out loud. She sets the card on fire and tosses it in the toilet before it burns her fingers. She flushes the toilet with her foot and starts out of the stall.
Emma’s confronted with her own frazzled image in the mirror. She wants to see a pretty girl, but she doesn’t look like other women. She loves her curves, always has but wonders if she should go on a diet, or at least lay off the cake for breakfast.
“Shit!” She hisses turning back around toward the stall, “Maybe I am that desperate, I just considered giving up cake.” She looks down in disappointment that the card is gone. Not that she rationally expected anything to be left of it. “It’s better this way. Can’t get hurt by something I don’t do.”
She heads back toward the office, there’s no one left here. It’s only her. The other sections of the office are dark, the only light is the lamp in the lobby and the group of lights over her cubicle.
She hangs her head and walks to her desk lacking enthusiasm.
Emma sits down and types her password into her computer and rests her head on her desk in defeat.
“Why does my life suck?” She says with exasperation.
“Could it be because you’re at work at seven PM on a Friday night and talking to yourself?” A man pushing a cleaning cart chuckles.
Emma startles at getting caught talking to herself and turns to face the man, “You be quiet, James. You’re working on a Friday night.”
“True, but this is the schedule I chose. But judging from the fact that we’ve been on a first name basis for over six months, you’re here many Fridays.” He says. “Surely, you’ve got someone waiting for you at home.”
“I don’t even own a cat.” Emma says rolling her eyes, “Although, not a bad idea, if I liked cats.”
“A pretty woman like you doesn’t have a boyfriend?” He tsks, “That’s a shame.”
“I know, crazy right?” Emma says with a laugh.
“If I were twenty years younger…” He starts.
“Your wife would whoop your ass.” She says with a smile.
“You’re right.” James answers, “But as you’ve just pointed out, you’re not going to meet anyone here.”
“I’ll be fine, I have to get this done though.” She says dismissively.
“I’ll let you get back to it. But first.” James leans in closer to her inside the cubicle. “Before you leave, you might want to get that off your forehead.” He points to her head.
Emma reaches up and peels the business card off her forehead. She turns it over with a smile, “Thanks.”
“Have a good night, and don’t work too hard.” He says walking toward the break room.
Emma looks at the card, it must have been on her desk when she put her head down, “Okay, I’ll call.”
She stares at it for a long drawn out moment, she peeks over the cubicle wall to see if James is far enough away that he won’t hear her call.
She dials the number and waits while it rings. A woman with a magical voice answers, “Gerri Wilder.”
“Um, ah…” Emma sputters.
“Spit it out dear, I’m an old woman and don’t have all day,” Gerri says.
“Sorry, my name is Emma and I--”
“Perfect, it’s about damn time. Meet me at the Colfactory on Colfax for dinner in an hour. I have an emergency to tend to, but I’ll be there.” Gerri hangs up the phone.
Emma studies the phone with disbelief. Her eyes shift back and forth wondering if this is some sort of prank. How did she know I was going to call?
She looks at the time thinking she needs to leave now. If traffic is bad it could take an hour to get downtown.
***
Emma worries the hem of her coat waiting for Gerri to arrive. She has no idea what she looks like so every woman that comes into the restaurant is potentially her.
A woman wearing a long fur coat walks through the door and looks from left to right. Emma thinks about it for a moment, laboring with the thought of whether Gerri Wilder is the type to wear real fur or not.
“You’re going to hurt yourself thinking that hard.” Gerri’s voice pulls her out of her thoughts.
Emma shoots up out of her seat, “Gerri?”
“Yes, Emma I presume.” Gerri offers her hand and a kind smile. “Did you get us a table?”
Emma looks down at the floor, “I wasn’t sure--”
“No matter. I’ve got it.” Gerri moves to the matre di stand. “My regular table, sweetheart.”
“Of course Miss Wilder.” He collects two menus, “Right this way.”
The two women follow him through the restaurant to a table toward the back. Gerri takes a seat and puts the menu to the side. “Now, tell me what it is you’re looking for.”
/> Emma pauses trying to think of anything other than her mystery wolf from Duskmoon. “I’d like him to be handsome.” She says hesitantly.
“Okay, sweetie, I want you to clear your mind. There’s a lot more to love than good looks.” Gerri pins her with a look, “That’s not to say that I won’t pair you with someone that’s panty-melting hot.” She laughs.
Heat travels up Emma’s neck at the thought. “Well…”
“Okay, do this.” Gerri leans both of her hands across the table motioning for Emma to take them. “Breathe, clear your mind for a moment.”
“Okay.” Emma breathes out. “Now what.”
“What do you want?”
“I want a man that’s considerate, kind, will be my cheerleader…” She trails off.
“Okay, that’s a given,” Gerri says squeezing her hands. “Clear your mind again, tell me when you’re there.”
Emma breathes in and out trying to imagine nothing. The image of Zane invades her thoughts and won’t go away. No matter how hard she tries, Zane has been at the back of her mind for days.
Gerri loves it when it’s this easy. She doesn’t have to go into the normal twenty questions, she already knows who Emma’s fated mate is. She just has to get them in the same room.
“Just as I thought,” Gerri says with a satisfied smile.
“What,” Emma asks.
“I have your perfect match.” Gerri smiles. “Tomorrow night, your date will pick you up at home. Be ready at seven.”
“Okay. What should I wear?” Emma asks as though she’s never been on a date.
“Whatever you’re comfortable in,” Gerri answers waving her hand.
The waiter approaches the table with two plates of food. He puts one down in front of Gerri and the other in front of Emma.
“I didn’t order anything,” Emma says bewildered.
Gerri leans forward with a mischievous smile, “I did. It’s my job to know what you want and to get it for you. All you have to do now is eat it.”
Chapter Seven
Gerri walks into to the jailhouse carrying a duffle bag. “Good morning Kristi, how’s our prisoner?”
Paranormal Dating Agency: Lycan Her Mate (Kindle Worlds Novella) (A Wolf's Hunger Book 14) Page 3
