It was then I realized I didn’t know what the office looked like, or even really where it was. Callie mentioned it was in downtown Asheville, but that didn’t tell me much. A thrill coursed through my body as I thought about all the new beginnings I was about to have.
Ms. Elsie was filling up the eggs when we walked up with our empty plates.
“Mornin’, you two.”
We both mumbled our greetings as we scooped breakfast onto our plates. I noticed Aubrey near the sink doing the dishes, but I ignored her. It wasn’t ideal, but I refused to be treated like that. It didn’t matter if she didn’t like me or my position in the pack. The facts were what they were, and it wasn’t going to change because she had a problem with it.
A part of me wondered what I could do to fix it, though. I didn’t want there to be animosity or discomfort whenever we were together. She worked where I lived, and we would wind up seeing each other around, anyway. I needed to figure out how to convince her I wasn’t the bad guy. That I was someone she could rely on as a pack member and, one day, respect as an alpha.
I figured I’d have to start treating myself like that first if I expected anyone else to.
It was hard for me, though, stepping into a leadership position. I’d never run or led anything in my life. Never wanted to.
Now, there was no denying that being a good alpha for the pack was important to me. No hiding from the fact that I wanted them to like me and I wanted to be a positive influence in their lives.
I think having alpha appointments was a good step in the right direction. The more people I helped, the more people would feel comfortable coming to me. When they saw that I cared about their problems and wanted to help, hopefully that would make them respect me as their leader.
We finished breakfast, and I stacked my dish next to Aubrey without a word. Abraham slung an arm around my shoulders and led me toward the hallway.
“I’ve got a busy morning. What are you gonna be doing?”
“Well, I’ve got those appointments this afternoon, but in the meantime, I’m going to talk to Callie about her offer and, when I get some time, I’m going to see if Craig’s changed his mind about being a dick. If not, then I’ll be having a conversation with Brad.”
Abraham raised a brow. “Sounds like you’ll be busy, too.”
I nodded once, and he pulled me closer, his lips dipping down to my neck.
“You know what it does to me when you act all bossy?”
I shivered in his arms and tilted my head so he’d have better access.
“Hmm,” he hummed against my sensitive skin. “I can’t wait for lunch.”
I laughed and pushed at his chest. He moved a fraction of an inch, but I didn’t delude myself into thinking it was because of anything I did. Abraham was a mountain of a man and only he decided if he moved or not.
“Same time?”
He nodded.
“Same place?”
He nodded again and pulled me back into his chest. “And before you ask, it’ll also be the same number of torturous hours before your hot little body is wrapped around me again.”
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, reminding myself that we weren’t alone, and I couldn’t jump into his arms and start tearing off clothes.
He chuckled and kissed me on the lips before swatting me on the butt. “See you later, baby.”
Chapter 13
I watched Abraham’s impressive form disappear down the hall and up the stairs. When he was out of sight, I sighed and shook my head. He really did scramble my senses.
I turned around to find the kitchen emptying of werewolves, and soon it would just be Aubrey and me again. Not wanting to go another round with her, I figured now was as good a time as any to go talk to Craig.
I glanced at the hallway behind me.
Or, I could go find Callie. We could start talking about specifics and work out a contract for me. Even paperwork sounded better than talking to the grumpy mechanic.
I sighed and stalked through the kitchen towards the back door before I could change my mind. It was better to just get this Craig nonsense over with and move on with my day.
My footsteps crunched down the gravel path as I headed toward house four. I scanned the second house for movement, but Paul was nowhere to be seen. He was probably at work at the police station. I’d still keep an eye out for him while I was down here.
When I got to Craig’s house, I found him much the same as I had last time. He had on a dirty t-shirt that stretched over his belly, and he was leaning over the engine of an older car. I took a deep breath, straightened my spine, and marched up his driveway.
“Craig,” I called when I was close. I knew he’d heard my footsteps and that he was ignoring me. That didn’t bode well for this conversation.
He peeked his head out from under the hood and narrowed his eyes. Turning his head, he spit on the ground and nodded at me. “What do you want?”
My hands wanted to fist at my sides, but I held them still. I didn’t want him to see me react because that was exactly what he wanted.
“I’m here to see if you’ve changed your mind about your prices.”
He spit again. “Nope. I’ll charge what I wanna charge.”
I ground my teeth together before trying one more time. “This is your last chance, Craig. If you don’t change them, you’re done as the pack mechanic.”
One side of his lips twisted into an ugly grin. “Oh, yeah? And how do you think you’re gonna do that?”
“I have another mechanic lined up.”
His eyes widened for a moment before slitting again. “You wouldn’t replace me. I’ve been the mechanic here almost as long as this pack’s been around.”
I shrugged a shoulder. “If you want to keep the position, you lower your prices. If you don’t, you’re out. The choice is yours.”
He threw his hands in the air. “And what kind of fuckin’ choices are those? Either way I get fucked.”
I could smell the anger radiating off him, and I struggled to keep my cool. You’d think that after facing down a psychotic serial killer over a month ago, this wouldn’t faze me, but it did. I didn’t want it to, and I fought against my reaction, but it was there anyway.
Regardless of that, Craig could bluster all he wanted, but I was the one holding all the cards.
“What’s it gonna be, Craig?”
He spat again, his face red with rage. “You replace me and you’re gonna regret it.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“No, I’m not changin’ my goddamn prices and you can go to hell!”
I nodded once, my back still ramrod straight. “Have it your way.” I spun around and walked calmly down his driveway.
Abraham was right. This was the way to handle Craig. I hadn’t ordered him to do anything but be fair. He was the one who chose to be stubborn and lose his position. He couldn’t really blame anyone but himself.
Not that I thought that would stop him from blaming me.
At the end of his drive, instead of turning toward the lodge, I headed deeper into the pack houses. When I reached the tenth one, I walked up and knocked on the door. A few minutes later, a tall man with a dark brown goatee and disheveled hair answered the door.
“Yeah?”
“Hi, Brad? My name’s Elizabeth.”
He opened his screen door and stepped out onto the small porch. “I know.”
My smile got wider. “Great. Do you have a minute?”
He shrugged, but his dark eyes were wary.
“Actually, I have good news and bad news. Which do you wanna hear first?”
His brows furrowed, and he looked like he was trying to solve a complex math problem. “Um, bad?”
“The bad news is, you need the quiet the hell down at night. We’re implementing quiet hours from here on ou
t. That means you’re not allowed to blast music or mess around with your car from ten at night until eight in the morning. If we get complaints, they’ll start turning into fines. Got it?”
His eyes were a little wider than they were before, and his lips had fallen open. Finally, he nodded, and his Adam’s apple bobbed with a swallow. “Okay, and what’s the good news?”
“We need a new pack mechanic and I’m offering you the job.”
His frown was back. “Pack mechanic? Isn’t that Craig’s job?”
“Not anymore. Craig’s out and you’re in.”
He took a little longer this time, but finally, he nodded. I clapped my hands together. “All right, any questions?”
He took a step forward and ran a hand through his messy hair. “I don’t understand. Why isn’t Craig the pack mechanic anymore?”
I shrugged. “He started charging unfair prices and wouldn’t change them back, so he got fired.”
Brad shook his head. “So, I’m his replacement? I’m not sure how I feel about that.”
Oh, jeez. Now we were having a moral dilemma?
I took a step toward him and pasted on a smile. “Listen, Brad, none of that has anything to do with you. We have an open position and I’d like you to fill it. If you don’t want it, I’ll ask someone else.”
“I’ll take it,” he said, the words tumbling from his mouth one on top of the other.
I smothered a grin. “Great. Are we good here?”
Brad nodded. “Yeah, thanks. When do I start?”
“Today.” I turned to leave when another thought struck me. “You are qualified for this, aren’t you?” Crap. Maybe I should have checked his credentials before offering him the job.
He laughed and nodded. “Yeah. I’ve been a mechanic since I was a teenager. I know what I’m doin’.”
Thank goodness.
I gave him a sincere smile. “Sounds great, Brad. Don’t let me down.”
He nodded again, and I left him on his patio, still looking a little stunned. I’d just made it back to the road when someone called my name.
“Ellie?”
I turned to find Maddy coming out of the house next to Brad’s. Her smile was wide as she crossed the distance between us and wrapped her arms around me. I gladly returned her hug.
When she pulled away, there was a touch of hesitancy in her eyes. “Was Brad mad about the quiet hours?” she asked so softly I could barely hear her.
I leaned in close. “Not at all. I don’t think you’ll have any more problems with him.”
Maddy’s smile spread across her face and she pulled me into another hug. “Thanks so much, Ellie.” She pulled away and took a step back. “I was just about to have a cup of tea. Can you stay for a few?”
I still needed to talk to Callie, and I’d told Bea I’d spar with her, but it was probably a good idea to get to know my pack better and this was a great opportunity.
“My roommate, Sophie, should be home soon. I don’t know if you’ve even met yet.”
“Was she at my first pack barbecue?”
Maddy nodded and threaded her arm through mine, leading me toward her house. “Yep. You’ll love her.”
I let her drag me inside and barely had time to look around her homey living room before she hauled me into the kitchen. She nodded for me to have a seat while she filled a kettle with water.
“What are you doin’ here today? You don’t come down often.”
I bit my lip. I really didn’t come down here very often. I needed to change that.
“I had to talk to a couple pack members about some issues.”
She shot me a look over her shoulder. “Uh oh. Who’s in trouble?”
My lips twitched with a smile. “No one’s in trouble.”
She set the kettle on the lit stove and turned to me with her arms crossed over her chest. “Uh huh. The alpha’s mate comes stormin’ down to the pack houses just to chat. I don’t buy it.”
“I did not storm.”
She rolled her eyes. “I could hear you comin’ from the lodge.”
My face heated, and I broke eye contact with her. “Okay, yes. There was an issue I had to deal with, but I did, and it’s done.”
Her eyes lit up. “Ooh, who was it?”
It was my turn to roll my eyes. I opened my mouth to tell her to forget about it when her front door opened.
“Maddy?” a woman called.
“We’re in the kitchen!”
“We?” the woman asked as she walked around the corner and scanned the room. When her green eyes landed on me, they widened. “We’re hosting the alpha’s mate today?”
My lips thinned, and I just barely stopped my hands from fisting. Was that all I was? Abraham’s mate? That needed to change.
I stood and held out a hand. “Hi, I’m Elizabeth but everyone here calls me Ellie.”
The dark-haired woman eyed my hand for a moment before she stepped closer and shook it. “Sophie. We’ve met before.”
“Yeah, I remember. I think that was the first pack barbecue I went to, right?”
Sophie chuckled. “Yeah, and with everyone and their mom there, I’m not surprised you don’t remember me.”
“I remember you, I just forgot your name. I’m terrible with them.”
Sophie shrugged. “It’s not a big deal.” She turned to Maddy and her smile grew. “Hey, Mads. What’s goin’ on?”
Maddy’s smile was almost manic. “Ellie here was about to tell me who she came down here to yell at today.”
Sophie clapped and grabbed the seat next to mine. “Was it Jimmy? I swear, I’ve got half a dozen complaints about him alone.”
Jimmy? Did I know Jimmy?
Maddy must have noticed my blank stare because she spoke up. “He’s in his thirties, long brown hair to his shoulders, scraggly beard…”
I nodded slowly. “I think I remember him now. He always eats all the deviled eggs, right?”
Maddy nodded with a smile. “That’s him. Was he the one?”
I rolled my eyes. “No. And I’m not going to tell you who is.”
Sophie scooted her chair closer. “We’ll find out eventually. There are no secrets in a pack.”
“So, I’ve heard,” I deadpanned.
The kettle started whistling, and I was saved momentarily from any further scrutiny. They might have been right that they’d find out eventually, but it wasn’t going to come from me. I knew Craig was mad enough as it was, I didn’t need to go gossiping about him too.
Maddy handed us all mugs of steaming hot tea and placed some milk, sugar, and lemon on the table between us. Thankfully, we were all pretty quiet while we doctored up our drinks.
I knew that couldn’t last long, though.
“Well, I at least know you talked to Brad.”
“Ooh, about him being loud late at night?” Sophie asked, her hands wrapped around her mug and pressed to her chest.
I rolled my eyes. “Yes, I talked to Brad. Told him we have quiet hours now and to respect them or he’ll be fined.”
“Tell ‘em, girl,” Maddy cheered.
I bit my lips, but they curled into a smile, anyway. These ladies were fun.
“So, what’s going on with you and our alpha? How come you two haven’t set a ceremony date yet?”
“Sophie! You can’t just ask her something like that!” Maddy chided.
Sophie shrugged. “What? Everyone’s wondering the same thing I am.”
My belly flipped deep inside me. Everyone was wondering why we hadn’t set a date? Why? We just got engaged. What was wrong with these people?
I took a long sip of tea and cleared my throat. “We’re not in any rush.”
Both ladies raised a brow at me, and I would have laughed if my insides weren’t knotting.
“Who wouldn’
t be in a rush to mate that man?” Sophie asked, her face making it clear how intelligent she thought I was.
I shrugged a shoulder. “I want to marry him. I will marry him, but I don’t see what the hurry is. Who cares if I marry him next month or next year?”
They both gasped.
“Next year?” Maddy whispered.
I frowned. “Yeah. What’s wrong with that?”
They were both shaking their heads, varying degrees of pity on their faces.
“That’s almost worse than not mating him at all,” Sophie said.
My frown deepened. “What are you talking about? A year long engagement is perfectly normal.”
They turned to look at each other before facing me again. “No, it really isn’t,” Maddy said.
I took another long sip of my hot drink and set the mug down carefully. “As you both know, I wasn’t raised as a werewolf. Where I come from, waiting a year, or even two, is perfectly reasonable.”
Both sets of eyes widened simultaneously as if they’d practiced this.
“Two years?!” they both yelled at the same time.
I shrugged, but my shoulders hunched a little too. “Yeah? I’m not saying I want to wait two years, but there’s nothing wrong with that.”
They were both shaking their heads, and I had to wonder if the two were related they were so similar.
“Ellie, fated mates don’t wait. It’s almost an insult to your mate.”
There was so much I could say to that, but I swallowed the words.
I didn’t know if we were fated mates or not, but I wasn’t about to tell them that. It wasn’t something I’d even wanted to tell Callie, Evey, and Del, but they’d dragged it out of me. I would have rather stewed in my suspicions than air them.
And was I really insulting Abraham by not marrying him right away? That was the very last thing I wanted to do. I loved and respected that man so much, it hurt my heart to think I’d slighted him in some way.
I cleared my throat again. “I don’t think he sees it that way. He understands that things are different for me. It has nothing to do with him and everything to do with how I was raised and what I believe.”
Rise Page 11
