“It’s not what he wants.”
“You know this after one meeting?” When Logan nodded, Jacob frowned. “I thought you usually waited until at least the second to tell them exactly what we want them to do when they join. Let them get comfortable with the idea first.”
“I do, but—”
“Have you told him already?”
“No.” Logan ran a hand through his hair, Cole’s words loud in his head. “But he told me he wants to teach, Jacob. And wants nothing to do with weapons.”
“He scored top of his class for combat training, right?”
“Yeah, but he has absolutely zero interest in pursuing a career in it. How can I tell him that’s exactly where he’s likely to end up?”
“Fuck.” Jacob sat back in his chair, hands clasped behind his head.
“Can’t we find a place for him in the training school? He’s got two black belts. Surely they’d want him there?”
“He’d be training people who could potentially have to use what he’s taught them to harm others. Humans. I’m not sure that’s much better.”
“But at least he wouldn’t be the one doing it.”
Jacob sighed, meeting Logan’s gaze. “And that’s all beside the point anyway. They want him, Logan. I was in Simon’s office when they were talking about it. They want him changed as soon as possible and hopefully out patrolling within the year.”
“A year?” Fucking hell. He slumped into the chair opposite Jacob. “There’s no way he’ll agree to that.”
“Logan,” Jacob’s voice softened. “They all agree in the end. Once he joins the pack, his fate is pretty much sealed.” Jacob didn’t have to say it out loud, his look of distaste spoke for him. Not many pack members liked how Paul got things done, but there was fuck all they could do about it. He got results, and that was what his beta wanted and ultimately what McKillan himself wanted. While that happened, they seemed happy enough to ignore his methods.
“He won’t do it. As soon as I tell him where he’s headed, there’s no way he’ll sign anything.” They looked at each other, both knowing that in the end, whether he wanted to or not, Cole wouldn’t have a choice.
“Is he a candidate for evacuation?” Jacob asked, expression grave.
Logan sighed. “I don’t know. Maybe?”
“You have to be sure, Logan. Places are limited, we can only take a few each time, and we can’t risk telling Cole unless you’re a hundred per cent sure he’s on board. Lives are at stake.”
“I know that,” Logan murmured. “I would never do anything to jeopardise them.”
Jacob glanced at the calendar on his desk, the full moon dates circled in red. He tapped July fifth. “That’s the date of the next evacuation run. They’re going to take advantage of the full moon. A little risky—emotions will be volatile, but a lot of shifters will be distracted or out on a run in wolf form. Either way, shifter police presence on the street should be less.” He looked up from the calendar to meet Logan’s eyes. “They’ll need his name and details at least four days before, which means you have about two weeks to decide whether Moreton is desperate enough to warrant evacuating out of here.”
“Yeah.” Logan rested his elbows on his knees. Two weeks to make a decision that could alter either or both of their lives forever. No pressure. “Fuck.” He rested his head in his hands a moment before sitting back up straight. “It never gets any easier does it.”
Jacob offered him a wry smile. “You’d think it would, but no. Each time is just as hard as the first.” He sighed. “I have to say I don’t miss that part of it.” He’d been in Logan’s position before it was deemed too dangerous for him to carry on, considering his position in the pack. “But just remember the end result, Logan. You’re saving someone from a life they’ll hate, or worse. It’s always worth it.”
Logan nodded. “I know.” And he did. Seeing their hope when he offered them a way out and imagining their relief when they got to their final destination was what he clung to when things got tough.
He couldn’t help everyone though.
The CEG was getting bigger, but still tiny in comparison to the number of candidates. Not everyone had someone like Logan looking out for them. For some there was no option but to join a pack.
Or take matters into their own hands.
The day after the pack affiliation deadline was one that a lot of people dreaded. Logan would do his damnedest to make sure Cole’s name didn’t appear on the dead/missing list. Either he’d find him a position he wanted or he’d get him out.
“What about your others?” Jacob asked, pulling Logan from his thoughts. “Any likely to want to jump ship?”
“No, I don’t think so. I’ve got a couple more to see, but I reckon they’re all pretty keen to join a pack. Not necessarily ours; there’s a few offers been put on the table already. But none of them reacted with the same horror as Cole.” He looked Jacob in the eye. “Probably because none of them have to work for Paul’s team.”
“Probably.” Jacob sighed. “If I thought for one second it would do any good, I’d suggest they place him elsewhere, but Moreton has them salivating over his qualifications. There’s no way they’re going let him go anywhere else.”
