“Jenn,” Cam began, startling Rachel into paying attention. “I realise you’ve had little to no time to get to know your unit, but I’d like to hear your initial thoughts.”
Jenn blew out a breath. “They’re a young, stubborn lot who’re struggling to accept that they’ve been lied to for the past few months.”
Cam nodded. “Yeah, pretty much what I thought you’d have to say, although with more obscenities.” He grinned at her and she chuckled.
“I’m trying to stay positive.”
“Good luck with that,” Daryl muttered from the armchair opposite. “Sorry,” he added when Cam sent him a pointed look.
“I think it’s safe to say that you’ve got your work cut out with those six—some more than others,” Cam said, his attention back on Jenn. “I had originally planned on letting you work with them for a while before offering any suggestions, but I’m wondering if it wouldn’t be better to start the ball rolling now rather than later?”
Jenn nodded. “I agree. As much as I’d like to think I can turn them around on my own, certain members might take more work, more experience than I can provide.”
Cam’s pleased look showed how happy he was with her honesty. As one of the newest betas, Jenn might have felt she had something to prove—like Rachel did—and told Cam she could handle it. But she hadn’t.
Alec, quiet up until that point, sat forward, elbows on his knees. “I take it you have something in mind?”
Cam grinned at him. “I do indeed.” With a quick glance at Rachel, he said, “Before she and Alpha Jones left, Alpha Wallace told me she had some ideas of how to bring this pack together if we were struggling. Rather than wait until we reach that point, I’d like to take her up on her offer now. The sooner we get Jenn’s unit working as a team, the easier it should be to integrate them into the rest of the pack. They need to feel like they belong.”
Jenn nodded vigorously. “They do. There’s no trust between them at the minute, not like what your units have with each other.” She gestured around the room. “And they certainly don’t fully trust me, yet.”
“And that’s something we need to change as soon as possible. So…” He looked at his betas, and the hairs on the back of Rachel’s neck prickled. “I’m going to pay a visit to the alpha council this weekend to discuss exactly what Alpha Wallace had in mind. Ideally”—he gestured to Jenn—“I’d ask you to accompany me since this concerns your unit, but I’m reluctant to whisk you away when you’ve only just got them. I think removing you, even for a couple of days, will harm what little progress you might have made. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Yes, definitely.” Jenn’s shoulders loosened, as though hearing him say that was a huge relief.
“Which is why I think Rachel would be the next best thing.”
Rachel jerked at hearing her name, just stopping herself from blurting out, “Why me?” She had no wish to go anywhere near the alpha council. Especially not when Sara was staying with one of the—Oh. She caught the glint in Cam’s eyes and didn’t know whether to be excited or terrified.
Looking straight at her, he said, “As a new unit leader yourself, you’ll be a better judge of whether the plans proposed are manageable or not. I don’t want to make things worse by giving Jenn more work to do.” His gaze fell back on the rest of his betas. “But I would like someone along who knows Davies and the others, so Jason, I’d like you to accompany us too.”
Jason nodded. “Of course.”
“And Daryl, you might as well come along.”
“What?” he sputtered. “Why me?”
Rachel smothered a laugh. But she did wonder what Cam’s reasoning was. From what she’d picked up from the others, Daryl wasn’t usually one to accompany Cam on trips away from the pack.
“Because,” Cam raised an eyebrow. “It’s been at least two years since you left London. The change of scene will do you good. And because I said so.”
Rachel watched in amusement as a range of emotions flittered across Daryl’s face before resignation settled in.
“Yes, Alpha.”
Cam’s answering grin made Rachel want to laugh even more. At least she wasn’t the only one with reservations about going.
“Right.” Cam clapped his hands together, signalling the end of the meeting. “If no one has any questions…”
“I have a few,” Rachel said, garnering a few curious looks.
“I thought you might.” Turning to the others who’d stopped in the process of either getting up or leaving the room, Cam said, “The rest of you can go. I suspect this question will be more of a personal nature rather than a pack-related one.” He looked to Rachel for confirmation.
“It will.”
When it was just the two of them left, Cam turned to her, expression serious. “Yes, I’m aware Sara is staying with Alpha Cornell. No, I didn’t fabricate this meeting to enable you to see her. I genuinely need to see Alpha Wallace. But yes, in taking you along with me, I’m hoping we can work something out.”
“But—”
