By noon, I’d survived my first round of phone calls, typed up two proposals, and managed not to spill coffee on myself—or anyone else.Mack stopped by my desk, looking pleased.
“You’re doing great,” he said quietly, his gaze lingering on me a moment longer than necessary.“Take a break.There’s coffee and snacks in the break room.”
I smiled, feeling the warmth of belonging start to take root.Maybe, just maybe, I could handle this new life after all.
11
Iwas just finishing up my third cup of coffee, reviewing a report on my computer, when Levi appeared in my doorway.Like usual, he didn’t bother to knock.He just strolled in like he owned the fucking place and closed the door behind him, his face set in that look he got when he was gearing up for a lecture.
“Goody!”I thought.
“Morning, Levi,” I said, not looking up from my screen.“Is this about the new contracts, or did Jax break the espresso machine again?”
“Nope,” Levi replied.He leaned against the doorframe; his arms crossed over his chest.“This is about the new girl.”
I finally glanced up, giving him a flat stare.“Audrey.”
He raised an eyebrow.“You brought a human into Arrhythmia, Mack.You know that’s against the rules.The council’s gonna’ lose their minds if they find out.She’s not even… one of us.What were you thinking?”
I bristled at his words.My beast immediately pushed to the surface.
“Tell him to back off,”my bear grumbled, not in the mood for anyone questioning us about our mate.
“She’s my assistant.I need someone I can trust, not the parade of thieves and con artists I’ve had lately.Lisa stole millions from us.Now, we have to track her down and hope like fuck we can get our money back from the conniving demon.”I said, keeping my voice calm even though my blood was heating up.
Levi shook his head.“You’re not hearing me.You could be in serious shit for this, Mack.If the council finds out, it won’t just be you on the line.You could put the whole damn town at risk.”
I crossed my arms, jaw clenched.“You’re making a mountain out of a molehill.She’s not just my assistant,” I said, my voice low and lethal, telling him to back the fuck off.“She’s my mate, Levi.I will be damned if anyone—including the fucking council, or you, gets in my way when it comes to her.”
Levi’s eyes went wide for half a second before he scowled.“Are you out of your fucking mind?Mack, you barely know this woman.You sure about this?”
I stood up, feeling the familiar surge of protectiveness that always came with thoughts of Audrey.“I don’t just know it.I can feel it.My bear knows it.She’s the one.I don’t expect you to get it.Hell, I wouldn’t have believed it myself until now.You know that story about knowing your mate instantly that we all rolled our eyes over?”
“Yeah.It’s just a fucking story, Mack.”
“The hell it is.I knew the second her scent hit my damn nose.Wait.You’ll see.”
Levi looked like he wanted to argue, but I could tell the wheels were turning in his head.“This is gonna’ blow up if you’re not careful.Did you at least tell her what she’s landed in the middle of?”
“Not yet.I will, but not until she’s ready.She’s got enough to deal with, just getting her feet under her.I’m not going to dump all of Arrhythmia’s secrets on her first thing.”I ran a hand through my hair, my beast restless beneath my skin.He didn’t like being questioned about his mate, and neither did I.
Levi shook his head again, but his tone softened just a little.“This is risky, Mack.You get caught; you’re on your own.I’m not covering for you with the council.”
“I don’t need you to cover for me,” I snapped.“Just mind your own business.Let me worry about and protect what’s mine.”
Levi studied me for a long moment, then finally nodded.“You’ve got balls, I’ll give you that.Stupid as hell, but balls.I hope you’re right about her.”
He turned to leave, pausing at the door.“If anyone else gets wind of this, you’d better have your story straight.”
“I always do,” I replied, feeling the steel in my voice.
When the door shut behind him, I blew out a slow breath.My bear was pacing, ready to tear apart anyone who threatened what we’d finally found.Audrey was my mate, and I’d fight the whole damn council if I had to.No one was taking her away from me.
“Ours,”my bear growled, satisfied.
Yeah.Ours.
I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop.Not really.I’d gone looking for the copy machine, and when I got back to my desk with an armful of file folders pressed to my chest, I could hear the raised, tense voices coming from Mack’s office.I heard Levi’s voice, tight and low—“…you brought a human into Arrhythmia, Mack.You know that’s against the rules.”
