Bailey grimaced.“I shouldn’t say, but as I’m here on a Pride matter and you’re dealing with a Pack officer, yes.The old Alpha has left some boots to fill, and his son isn’t popular.”
Ryan narrowed his eyes.“I appreciate your honesty.”
“Thank you, sir.I’m hoping it will be reciprocated.”
He smirked.“Looking for promotion already, officer?”
Shawn jolted in surprise.“How did you know that?”
Ryan cocked a brow at him.“Because I’m Pride leader, this is my estate, and if Bailey handles himself well, he’ll know that I’ll put in a good word for him so that we’ll have links to the Pack through the PD?”
Shawn blinked.“Yeah.You see?This is the kind of politics I need to be aware of.”He shot Bailey a look.“Although, he was honest and did say he was looking for a promotion.”
Ryan just smirked, then turned to El and rubbed a finger down her snout.She rumbled out a satisfied purr which came to an abrupt halt as he told her, “El, you’re going to have to decide one of two things.”
Her head tilted to the side in question.
Taking that as her understanding, he continued, “So, I’m going to talk about some things that may distress you.I’m warning you so that you can leave now or you can stay.If you stay however you will likely shift.If you shift, Officer Bailey is going to see your ass.Now, it’s part of Shifter culture.He’s seen many, many asses.But I know it might embarrass you so I’d prefer to warn you.”
Her head moved from one side to the other, and he grinned as she stayed put.
Tapping her on the nose, he murmured, “Stubborn.”
“Sir?I really do have some questions I need to ask.I’ll have to put in a report soon.”
Ryan snorted.“We both know I’ll have to put in two reports.One to the humans, and one to a Shifter on staff.Why should I talk to you and not call in my Pride officers?”
He knew he was making it hard on the Wolf, but truth was, Ryan had to test the guy’s mettle.He was young, and from what Ryan could discern—which in comparison to usual wasn’t much thanks to his senses being fucked after the explosion—unbonded.
That was important.
Unbonded males usually had more to prove in the Pack.
Bailey straightened his shoulders.“I know I’m Wolf, sir, but I graduated top of my class, and only joined the PD so I could advance our position in there.
“We all know there’s barely any representation on the Force.That’s wrong.There are too many of us to be without someone in the department on our side.”
He wasn’t wrong, so Ryan couldn’t argue.
“What did your Pack say about it?”
“Not much.My family’s all in the department.”
He cocked a brow.“That’s unusual.”
“Not really.”
“I don’t know of any Wolf officers on the Force.”
“That’s because there aren’t any.I’m originally from New York.My family’s on the Force there.”
“Why the move?”Ryan demanded.
Shawn snorted, interrupting their conversation with the intrusive sound.“Is this a job interview?Who the fuck’s supposed to be answering questions here?”
Ryan’s lips twitched, but Bailey’s didn’t.If anything, he tensed.
“It’s okay, Officer.He’s my rank.”
