She found her shoes and socks and pulled them on then curled and uncurled her toes several times but her trick for relaxing didn’t appear to be working. ‘Fake it till you make it, Mal,’ she muttered, then she went to look for Alexander.
Unlike the last time she’d been in the MacTire stronghold, there were people everywhere. Most of them also looked hungover, although their morning-afters were the result of post-shapeshifting shenanigans rather than whisky. She tried to recall if Alexander had looked bleary eyed but all she could remember was the fury in his amber gaze. Hey ho. She did her best to shake off her lingering embarrassment. What was done was done.
Most of the werewolves were too wrapped up in their own recoveries to pay her any attention, but some nodded at her with surprising respect. Nobody seemed shocked to see her padding around the hallways of the MacTire mansion. She started to greet everyone she saw, each greeting getting brighter as she moved further away from her hangover and shame, but when she saw the stern, leather-clad woman waiting for her at the foot of the main staircase she blanched. That was most definitely Samantha, beta of the MacTire pack and the scariest woman alive. Given the Preternaturals Mallory had got to know in recent years, that was a considerable claim.
Determined not to be intimidated and to retain her sunny sparkle, Mallory pushed away her anxiety and smiled. Although Samantha didn’t smile in return, at least she didn’t appear angry like Alexander had; if anything, she looked perplexed. And she certainly didn’t appear to be suffering any ill-effects from the previous night. She was probably one of those werewolves who, like Alexander, required zero recovery time.
Given that Mallory’s head was still throbbing and the only thing furry about her was her tongue, she felt very jealous.
‘Good morning, Ms Nash,’ the woman said.
‘Good morning.’
‘I’m Samantha.’ The ice-cool werewolf extended an elegant hand and for a moment Mallory wasn’t sure whether to shake it or kiss it.
‘I know who you are,’ she said. ‘Your reputation precedes you.’
Samantha quirked an eyebrow.
‘Not from Alexander,’ Mallory said hastily. ‘You’re well known in your own right.’
If Samantha was pleased or dismayed by that news, she didn’t show it. ‘He asked you to call him Alexander,’ she said thoughtfully. ‘Interesting.’
Was it? ‘He’s pretty friendly for an alpha,’ Mallory responded.
‘Uh-huh.’ Samantha suddenly looked amused. ‘He likes you, you know.’
Mallory wasn’t so sure about that, especially after the way he’d been glaring at her less than an hour ago, but she continued to smile. ‘Most people do, once they get to know me.’
‘I imagine likeability is important in your line of work.’ Samantha’s voice softened. ‘What you’re doing for him is incredibly important to all of us.’
Mallory eyed her dubiously. ‘He’s told you?’
Samantha laughed. ‘Of course. Alex’s choice of First Mate affects us all.’
True. Mallory relaxed slightly. ‘So who doyouthink would suit him?’ Samantha was his beta; she was bound to have an opinion.
‘A woman who’s not afraid of him would be a good start.’
‘A werewolf?’
‘To be honest, I’d prefer it if he chose someone who wasn’t lupine.’
‘Less competition?’ Mallory asked.
There was a flash of surprise in Samantha’s eyes but thankfully she didn’t take offence. Quite the opposite. ‘Other packs have had … trouble when their alphas have taken on First Mates who are werewolves and who think they deserve a high rank simply because of who they’re shagging. Not to mention that Alex doesn’t always know what’s best for him.’
‘But you do?’
Samantha laughed again. ‘I have no romantic designs on my own alpha, you can trust me on that score.’ She paused. ‘Regardless of my feelings about his choice of partner, he’s been in an extraordinarily good mood since you arranged the datewith Cathy West. Even though she’s a wolf, she seems like a good fit.’
Mallory held up her hand and crossed her fingers. ‘Here’s hoping.’
‘Whoever he chooses, she’d better make him happy.’ There was a glint of furious loyalty in Samantha’s green eyes. ‘He deserves that much.’
Perhaps the MacTire beta wasn’t so scary after all. ‘He certainly does.’
They exchanged smiles. ‘Come on,’ Samantha said. ‘I’ll take you to his office.’
