“Indeed,” Hunt chuckled. “So, why were you looking for me?”
“Uhmm…remember the job I accepted in New York?” asked Mac. After seeing Hunter’s nod, he continued, “Well, I found out yesterday that it’s not actually in New York City.”
“Okay, where is it?” asked Hunter.
“Here.”
“Here, where?” asked Mason.
“Here, with the Blackwood Pack…as their doctor…at least temporarily. Ian is pregnant and I’ll be filling in for him,” Mac said.
Hunter frowned. “You found this out yesterday and you didn’t think to tell me?”
“How come you didn’t know before yesterday?” asked Mason.
“Because all they said when I joined Frontline Doctors was one of their doctors was pregnant, so I’d be filling in for him during his paternity leave. All they told me was who I would be taking over for…a male omega by the name of Dr. Ian Wallace…but I never knew he was a member of Jackson’s pack.”
“He doesn’t like you,” growled Hunter.
Mac smiled. “According to Maximus, he’s changed his mind.”
“Who the fuck is Maximus?” asked Mason.
“He owns Dire Enterprises. Their medical division founded Frontline Doctors to help bring medical services to underserved shifter communities,” Mac explained.
“Why is it I always feel like I’m missing something?” Mason asked, shaking his head. “Let’s try this again. How does the Chairman of Dire Enterprises know Ian who, according to you, is just one of a bunch of Frontline Doctors?”
“Wait…you spoke to Maximus?” asked Hunter.
“Well, to be accurate, I met with him.”
“See there you go again…not making any sense,” Mason said. “When and where did this meeting take place?”
“In the pack house…just now. That’s why I was looking for you.”
“What is Dire Enterprises’ Chairman doing at the Blackwood Pack house?” asked Mason.
“He lives here along with his wife and two sons.”
“Mac, what the fuck is it with you? Why are you making me drag this out of you, piece by piece?” growled Hunter. “Who are his sons and why are they living here?”
Grinning at his brother’s frustration, Mac said, “I’m just relishing the one time I know something more about your world than you do.”
“Mac…”
“Okay, okay. Chill out. Jackson’s mate Steel is the CEO of Dire Enterprises and his brother Slate, is the COO,” Mac smirked. “Our cousin, Dakota, is Slate’s mate.”
“Oh, shit!” Hunter stared at Mason. Then he buried his face in his hands, mentally kicking himself for not having done further research. He and Mason had spent a year putting together a business plan which they’d submitted a couple of months ago, proposing their company, Beowulf Trust handle all Dire Enterprises’ investments worldwide. Admittedly, it was an audacious move, but one he and Mason agreed they could handle. Groaning, he thought back to breakfast and his conversation with Steel.How fucking stupid can I be?Of course he was familiar with the Valentin family…maybe ‘familiar’ wasn’t quite the right word…anyone in his field knew the name and yet at breakfast he never made the connection.Fuckingbedamned! I would have if I’d bothered to ask him what he did.All that work, wasted because his mind was focused on his mate…a mate who obviously didn’t want him. Can’t blame him…who wants someone who blows an opportunity because I didn’t do my homework.
“Hunter? Hey, you okay?” asked Mac, worried after listening to his brother’s groans.
“Hunt, it’s okay,” Mason said.
Slapping the table hard with his hands, Hunter’s eyes narrowed as he looked at his brother. “No, you’re wrong Mase. It isnotokay. I fucked up big time. A fucking year of work…wasted…all because I couldn’t keep my head on straight. Now, how am I supposed to support my mate? He has a hoard…a fucking hoard! Fionn can probably buy anything he wants and what the fuck do I have to offer? If Dire Enterprises even gave us a tenth of their investments to manage, I’d have felt like we were in pig-shit heaven. But now…did you know Steel asked me at breakfast what I did, and I never made the connection? He fucking knew! But me…no I sat there like a fucking clueless asshole, pining for my mate…someone who fled from me. And can you blame him?” Taking a deep breath, Hunter lowered his voice. “No, Mase, no matter how you look at this, it isnotokay.”
Mac stared at his brother, then shifted his gaze to Mason. “Hunt has a mate?”
“Had! I had a mate!” snapped Hunter.
