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Lucas was busy with Paige, giving her a tour of the departments today. Thomas was going through the background checks as they were coming back, building files for each of the employees.That left Daniel with a free morning. He couldn’t remember the last time he had one. There were always things going on with the pack, and by putting a pause on new contracts, Donna was able to maintain any flow coming through Clearfork Securities. Which reminded him…He pulled out his phone, dialing in to Donna. Three rings in, she picked up. “Alpha?”“Donna, I need you to set up a work order and a two or three man team to come down with equipment. I’ll get you a detailed list of everything I want them to bring and email it to you. Pass it on to Justin and have him do the footwork. Emmanuel can run point on this and he can pick who he wants to bring with him,” he instructed. He could hear the scritch of her pen as she wrote the cliffnotes.“No problem, anything else?” She asked.“Actually, no, I don’t t
The morning began crisp and clear, but warmed quickly. Thursdays had always been his favorite days to come to the art park, ever since he was a kid, and he kept up with the same ritual of starting the day with an ice cream cone and throwing a few pennies into the fountain for a wish.He perused a few of the artists’ tents, admiring the ease of which they applied their talents, then paused at the edge of the square under a white flowering dogwood while he finished his cone.That’s when he saw her. Her dark hair was in a loose braid, slung over her left shoulder. Her steps seemed cautious, as if this coming here alone wasn’t something she was used to. At first, she seemed overwhelmed at the bustling activity around the fountain and stayed toward the edge, stopping to admire a few of the sculptures. She stopped at his favorite one, a rust-colored piece made of concentric circles on the same axis, each ring set at a slightly different angle than the one before it. The metal was hammered
Samantha couldn’t believe what she was seeing right now. The man on the bench, Dave, had been giving her increasingly creepy vibes. She hated how she just wanted to get away from him. She especially hated how she wasn’t able to stand up for herself.In the past, she would have let him know it was time to move the fuck on, but when she tried, her heart pounded and her mouth became dry. Images of this strange man reacting to her like Richard did that night paralyzed her every time she tried to assert he left her alone.It didn’t help when a group of men in suits passed by. A laugh sounding just like Richard’s coming from them. She froze, absolutely terrified. She hadn’t seen him since he left in frustration and anger last night. Afraid to look more closely, watching from beneath her lowered brows, one of them looked similar to Richard as well, in hair color and build. She didn’t realize it wasn’t him until they got closer. She was so afraid that if he saw her, he would know what she was
They deftly wove their way through the throng of people. Samantha expected it to be more difficult than it was. While the people around her didn’t magically part to let them pass, it was like they shifted just enough, and just in time to not touch her as she walked. Of course, for spatial awareness, she guessed there was a larger man behind her so that may have been the cause.The little bistro sat in the corner of a building, next to a small alleyway. Outside on the sidewalk were four metal tables with chairs around them, filled with people. She walked inside with the man still right behind her. A quick glance showed her a table for two right under the front window. She aimed for that, and took her sunglasses off on the way there, then pulled her chair out slightly and sat down.She looked up at him with a pleased smile on her face, happy they didn’t have to wait or go somewhere else. He smiled back as he sat as well, but she saw a strain in his eyes, which were weirdly focused lookin
Daniel had to think quickly. Not only did he and his wolf want to dig their claws into the soft tissues of the man’s neck and rip him off the bench, but there was a sickening, predatory nature in the way he was focused on her.When she looked up at him, Daniel could see the look of relief that turned to shock. She recognized him. That knowledge soothed a knot of anxiety he didn’t realize he was carrying. He didn’t know he even cared about it, but he could feel how pleased his wolf was, like a thin layer over its fury.Immediate violence wasn’t an option at this precise moment. Murder in broad daylight was generally frowned on. I can wait, his wolf promised. That meant he needed a non-violent option right now.He slowed his steps slightly as he neared the bench, and he glanced at his watch, checking the time. It wasn’t quite 11:30 am.“I wasn’t expecting you so early,” Daniel said in a light-hearted manner that he did not feel. “Are you ready for lunch?” He extended his hand towards he
The two sitting at the table went through standard introductions. Names. Superficial information. Daniel told her he was here indefinitely for business.Then, the conversation turned to the guy in the park, specifically, why Daniel intervened. She looked like someone who could use a little help. He didn’t want to scare her, but he did want her to take the level of threat the guy posed seriously.The man had already passed by the bistro once while she was hiding behind her menu. Daniel pretended not to notice. Daniel explained that the man seemed to have a calculated interest in her because she was alone and hesitant, and that with the show of confidence and eating lunch with him, the guy would back off before too long.Daniel saw the man had moved to the other side of the street for another pass, t
Daniel lingered on the sidewalk until Samantha entered the building, then turned around and headed back the way they’d come.Now we hunt, he thought grimly.Now we hunt, his wolf echoed with anticipation.Daniel let his wolf ascend enough to sharpen their senses, but not enough to show in his eyes. He obviously couldn’t shift in broad daylight in the middle of the city, but he didn’t need to.The man was going to know he had chosen the wrong woman today, and if he had his way, the man in the tan jacket wouldn’t bother anyone ever again.Alright, think. He would need to track him by scent, not imp
“I came to warn her. Julie.”“Warn her about what?” Daniel demanded.“I came to warn her about you! That you’re dangerous! A werewolf!” The shifter said in a whispered shout, looking both ways up and down the alley, either looking for help or a witness. Maybe both.“She’s human,” Daniel rumbled. “She wouldn’t believe you. Besides, I’m not near the danger to her that you are.”The shifter gave that odd, barking laugh again. “You’re a danger to everyone around you, Alpha. Just by being what you are. A stain on the world. A curse. Unnatural.” He tried to spit in Daniel’s face, but Daniel dodged it and pressed heavily into him again. But it didn’t stop the hyena’s laughter.Daniel’s jaw tensed. Cursed. That word again. The shifters - maybe not all, but the prejudice was common - saw them as a blight upon the earth, but Daniel believed it was out of preconceived fear and resentment. Since the werewolf curse was a thing of magic, it turned simple humans that the shifters originally had cl
When they returned to the hotel, it was pushing nine. Thomas retreated immediately, grumbling about being up before everyone else this morning.Thomas is getting a little cranky, Daniel thought aimlessly. He poured himself an Irish whiskey.His wolf is cranky, Daniel’s wolf commented. All of their wolves are getting restless.I’ll take everyone up for a run at Blue Ridge on Saturday, Daniel promised. Why aren’t you cranky, then? Daniel heard a coughing chuckle from his wolf at the question.
Samantha returned home and retreated to her bedroom. She still wasn’t ready to be in the living room, and she didn’t want to be downstairs when, or if, Richard came home tonight.It was ironic that just a few short weeks ago, his absence upset her, and now, the thought of his presence was almost too much to bear.She ran a hot bath. It was still early in the day, but she hoped the heat and some essential oils would relieve the knots of tension embedded in her back and shoulders, and she thought about her meeting with Mandy. It didn’t go how she expected.What did you expect? The silent, sarcastic voice mocked her. She didn’t have an answer to that. She just knew now that she had some big decisions to make.Mandy laid out a few options. Talk to a psychiatrist. File a restraining order. Petition for Divorce from Bed and Board. All of it was so detailed and were huge steps. It felt like overreacting. He had already left and had a chance to calm down. That moment last night was on both of
Richard couldn’t pinpoint when his fascination with Mari began. Once she began dating Nate, she became a natural addition to their friendship dynamic.He does remember their first night, though, when they crossed that line of friendship into… whatever this was. It wasn’t love. Neither one of them was going to leave their marriages. But it was fun, raw, and dirty, and the taboo of it all appealed to their mutual need for adrenaline and danger.He got her a job in the marketing department with his brother around three years ago. She excelled very quickly and had a great eye for detail. Almost two years ago now, she was working late on a project he was overseeing. Once she had his final approval on it, they went out for drinks afterwards to celebrate.After the long night and the glowing feeling of s
Edward could see where Daniel was going with the proposed changes, but he had to admit, in his situation, he would have pushed for the same thing. He knew Richard wasn’t going to take it well, but he did what he could to make sure Richard didn’t lose his stake in the company completely out of his own idiocy.He called him on the way home, the first time going to voicemail, so he called a second time. Richard answered the phone in irritation.“Uncle Eddie, what do you need?” He asked.“It’s not what I need, it’s what you wanted,” Edward snapped. “You asked me to do you a favor, and I’m doing that favor.”“Can this wait until tomorrow?” Richard asked, sounding repentant but distracted.
“We have a few things to discuss, I was hoping to inform the other shareholders of, and we will need a vote on some changes.“First of all, we’re announcing that Lucas Dunn, our COO, is now a twenty-percent shareholder. That leaves me, and Clearfork Securities at an even fifty,” Daniel explained.Daniel noticed as Edward nodded his head, and then he continued.“You’ll find the breakdown and relevant transference information on page one of your folder. The more important matter, however, is to generate the new bylaws and shareholder agreements to accommodate the acquisition. I was hoping your nephew would be present to weigh in on this, but since he is not, we’ll proceed without him.”
“Tell me you have some good news, Thomas,” Daniel said, looking over his CFO. “What have you found?”“Honestly, nothing yet,” Thomas shook his head. “Sorry, but I can’t seem to make any connection to either Merrick or Roble.”“How are we on background checks?” Daniel asked.“They’re starting to trickle in, but so far, the worst I’ve seen is an open container violation.”Daniel’s jaw ticked. He felt the pressure of time bearing down, making him restless.Thomas is a good hunter, his wolf said out of nowhere. Daniel drew his eyebrows down. It was right. Thomas was a good hunter. He was always patient and thorough. Sometimes his style reminded Daniel of a cat.He could crouch motionless for hours if he needed to. He could wait there, taking everything in. He’ll find something eventually.Daniel opened his mouth to speak when the men heard two sets of footsteps approaching. Daniel raised an eyebrow and looked at the others. Their expressions mirrored his.Paige knocked on the door a little
Paige walked calmly to her desk, which was set up directly in front of Lucas’s office. She opened her top drawer and reviewed its contents - a couple of loose paperclips, pens, and a used notepad.A man in light gray slacks and a cream shirt with his sleeves rolled up approached her as she took out the pen and notepad.“Good afternoon,” he smiled. He had light brown eyes with flecks of green. They were just a shade too dark to be considered hazel. She sat up straighter.“Good afternoon,” she returned, keeping her face in a professional mask.“I was wondering if Mr. Dunn was in his office?” he asked.“He’s not,” Paige replied. “He is preparing for a meeting toni
Daniel let the events of the morning wash over him, and let the stress and sweat disappear down the drain just like his shampoo and soap.Instead, he focused on his incredible luck at running into her today. Samantha. He had a name to the face. It made her more real, more concrete. Instead of being plagued by visions of an ethereal beauty with haunted eyes, he now had memories of her voice, emotions, mannerisms, and the feel of her hand in his.He waited for her inconspicuously. Since they’d come from the park, he didn’t know where she’d left her car. When she left the lawyer’s, he didn’t see the confident square of her shoulders indicating someone was taking back the power to reclaim their life. He saw worry and hesitant insecurity, causing him to worry.Which caused him to worry.
Samantha felt the coolness of the air conditioning blow past her as she pulled the door open to the law firm. She wasn’t sure if it felt like the premonition of a chill or like a breath of fresh air.She looked around, getting her bearings. It was surprisingly very soft and welcoming in the lobby. She expected something cold and intimidating and was pleased to find that wasn’t the case. It boosted her confidence and helped put her at ease with this daunting process.She identified the receptionist’s desk and checked in. The girl gave her a friendly smile when she looked up.“Hello, what can I help you with today?” She asked.“Hi, I’m Samantha Covington. I have an appointment with Ms. Mandy Schelbach this afternoon. Samantha proceeded with the check-in process, providing