“It didn’t have a name on it!” Aisling said. “And neither did yer man there. And, to be fair, he is starkers.”
Dewi nearly tripped trying to get the bathrobe off. Duncan finally helped her with it and handed it to Ken, who pulled it on.
Then Ken wrapped his arms around Dewi from behind. “Honey,please, let’s let Peyton talk, okay?”
Peyton returned the single round to the magazine, inserted it into the gun, laid it on the counter, and then took a deep breath. “By the way, Ken? Good reflexes,” Peyton said. “How you doing?”
“Thanks, and I’ve had better mornings. Thanks for the warning, by the way,” he snarked. “I thought you said you weren’t flying back until tomorrow?”
“Plans changed.” Peyton ran his hands through his hair. “Aisling, this is Dewi, your new boss and my little sister. Also head of the expanded Pack Council. This is her husband and mate, Ken. Now that you know who he is, I suggest you show a lot more respect, because he’s also in the chain of command over you. That’s Badger Williams and Duncan Lister—both of them over you in terms of hierarchy—and this, for everyone who doesn’t know yet, is Hamish Lewis.”
Okay,thatgot Dewi’s attention. She and Ken both turned and now Dewi had time to reallyprocesshis appearance.
Yep, he looked like the picture, maybe a few years older.
“Holy shit!” she said.
Peyton pointed at the spilled coffee mug. “Someone please clean that up and make Dewi some coffee before she gets even more homicidal. Dewi, Aisling, follow me and please don’t kill each other.”
Dewi bared her teeth at the woman but followed Peyton as he led the way to the office, then indicated for both women to proceed. He stepped in after them and closed the door, rounding the desk, where he sat in Dewi’s chair. Dewi remained standing, and so did Aisling.
“Dewi, please let me explain,” he said. “Aisling comes highly recommended from Trevor Clarke. I tested her myself, and she’s good. Every bit as good as Beck or anyone else.”
“Still got bruises on my bruises,” Aisling muttered.
“Any of them on your fucking mouth?” Dewi quipped.
“Listen, pup. I’m old enough ta be yer mammy.”
“That’s not a ringing endorsement!” Dewi shouted back.
“Stop!” Peyton glared but kept going. “She’s going to start working with Tamsin. It looks like Tamsin will be here for quite a while. I’m going to expedite construction of new houses on the property we just closed on, so we can start consolidating our presence and close ranks.”
“We have Tamsin under control,” Dewi said. There’s no room in the house for another person. Not with the nursery.”
“Brianna and Da’von can stay with Malyah and Joaquin for a couple of months. They live close by. I want Aisling to move into that house once Tamsin gets to know her better. Not right now, in a few weeks. She also needs Bebe, Dania, Laura, and Lucia to get to know her because she’s going to be their teacher. And—”
Dewi scoffed. “Seriously? You’re going to trust the woman who actively ogled my husband’s dick to teach those babies?”
“And,” Peyton tried again, “she’s going to be working with Imani, once we break the news to her. And Lu’ana and Reggie, because we need to see if Reggie can shift, too. Aisling’s an Alpha, and I’m convinced she can do the job.”
Dewi finally took the time to actually sniff the air. “She’s not a wolf. Or a corgi.”
“She’s an Irish Wolfhound.”
Dewi stared at him. “I’m sorry, she’s awhutnow?”
“You heard me,” he said.
Dewi stared at her. “You’vegotto be kidding me.”
“Well, what’d you expect?” Aisling shot back. “An Irish Setter?”
“Well, actually, yeah,” Dewi said. “I kinda did. You’ve got the hair for it.” She looked at Peyton. “I needwolvesfor Enforcers, Peyton.”
“Mateo’s a human,” he pointed out.
“And Mateo’s mated to an Alpha wolfandworkswithhim.” Dewi shook her head. “I’m not running a dog kennel.”
