by Erin R Flynn
“Is everything okay?”
“I am not sure, but I thank you for your concern. It’s nothing the council can’t handle.”
I left it at that, his tone clear to back off. Hey, I didn’t need to look for trouble as it always found me anyways. I stared at him, sexy, smiling, and buzzed from my blood, and wanted more from him before he had to leave too.
Which he very much enjoyed.
“I have to get back and give a kiss to the next winner,” I panted, completely mush after that last round.
“I’ve never seen dominance fights where the Alpha gives the winner a kiss,” he chuckled, going over to the sink of the private high rollers’ bathroom of the casino and wetting some towels. He came back and cleaned me up, smirking with pride a man could only have after thoroughly sating a woman.
“Not every Alpha has the ability to feed power to their wolves,” I reminded him. “I’ve got the best perks.”
“Yes, yes you do,” he murmured, licking his lips. “But it is more than that as most—even if able to—would never share their power.”
“Does that mean you’re willing to load me up?” I burst out laughing when his eyes filled with heat, knowing exactly where his mind went. I spent the next few minutes juicing up on him before getting dressed and heading to the door while he recovered.
“The conversation was had with Vlad,” he warned me. “And he was told how it went about. Also that if he lashes out at you again, Goran has full permission to dispose of him and put Carter in as Chicago’s master with the approval of the council, as we’re more concerned with keeping you safe than him.”
“Oh, he’s so going to hate me,” I sighed, turning back to him. “But thank you for making the line clear.”
“Not even a kiss of thanks?” he challenged.
“Maybe I’ll Skype you next time I let Carter mount me so you don’t get lonely,” I purred, throwing my head back and laughing as I left when he muttered someone was mean under his breath. Yes, but it was fun to be a bitch sometimes.
Jacqueline won the next fight, smiling brightly as I went to congratulate her and give her power. I praised them both for taking it seriously and trying so hard for the pack, even the loser beaming as I said it in front of so many though off to the side and not in front of cameras. The subterfuge of the club wouldn’t mean much if I was feeding energy to my pack on a livestream.
Originally the pack had had six Betas and twelve enforcers with about four fill-ins, and that was enough for such a large pack. But we’d cut a good deal of the pack—especially the leadership roles—when I’d taken over and sent so many to the council. However, we were a huge target with my power and being the only female wolf Alpha in North America. And we had a line of people who wanted in our pack because it was now a good pack.
Something apparently there weren’t that many of.
So we were keeping six Betas—Hagan, Reagan, Theon, Freddie, Nestor… And one spot open as Jonathan wanted to go back to enforcer or fill-in Beta if we needed it. But we were also planning on doing more than a dozen enforcers. A dozen wolf ones, but we decided to have a few of the fae, and now we were discussing the vampires that were mine.
Which had never been done before, but if I could be Mistress of a coven, we could have an honorary vampire Beta or fairy one, which I’d really thought for Noah and Dain since they were mine and that would give them the right authority. However, things were a bit fucked up, so that was getting a pin put in it.
That could come later, and for the moment, we were getting done what we needed to. Finally laying the foundation for the pack so we could build it back up and accept people in if we wanted to, if we were strong enough to handle any who would come in and try to take over. Because I wasn’t ever giving up the pack when it was a fucking death fight. Umm, no.
“The mayor had the ME’s office rush everything given it was his office that the body was dumped at,” Harris said quietly as I rejoined the FBI group. I glanced over my shoulder at him and took the tablet with the results. “There was something interesting found this time. And you were right on the fur.”
I read between the lines, meaning it was bear, as I’d thought I’d smelled one on the first body. Looking over the results, it wasn’t all that hopeful, as there was nothing to identify the wolf. But the interesting fact was the paw wasn’t cut off… It was bitten off.
“Don’t bite the hand that feeds you,” I muttered, my eyes going wide as I finally put the pieces together. “Fuck!” I was out of my seat and raced over to Axel, grabbing him by the arm and dragging him into the locker room for some privacy. “What happened to that bear Alpha we sent you from the opening? The one who accosted me and I got the images of him doing all kinds of shit to other leaders if they weren’t ‘friendly’ with him?”
“He’s dead. Very dead,” he muttered, searching my eyes for a clue. “So were several of his sloth who did everything from rape to theft to… Lots. You should have gotten a full report.”
“I’m sure we did, but Haton said she handled it, and it was at the same time as terrorists. It technically wasn’t an FBI thing since I gave him right over.” I waved him off and made the back up gesture before filling him in. “Who was left of that sloth? The pieces fit to point at them. Feel like going bear hunting, my tiger?”
“Always, but let me make some calls first to get some more info,” he muttered, pulling out his phone. I gave him a kiss, feeding him power first as my thank you and reward for handling something that would have been on me to handle. “You’re welcome.”
“Can you take Harris with you so it’s official and maybe teach him some tracking tricks?”
“You reward well enough I might agree to just about anything you ever ask me,” he admitted before turning away so I didn’t have time to reply.
It was probably better that way.
The moment I sat back down, Monroe leaned into me. “You think it has to do with that asshole bear Alpha that was spouting shit about making smart friends and remembering how people keep their power.”
“It fits,” I sighed, scrubbing my tired neck. “I mean, he wasn’t a hand that fed me that I bit, but in their minds, I could absolutely see that being how they saw things. I mean, he wasn’t impressive and a douche, but with that ego he would think he had some hand in my holding Chicago.”
“Funny how one little thing can make you see the whole picture in a new way.”
“Sleep helps too,” I grumbled, focusing on the next fight that was starting.
Another deal we’d made was we’d accept any of the Greek wolves who wanted to permanently stay if they could claim a spot as enforcers. Maybe it was mean, but we needed muscle to keep us safe. We needed the strength, so after we’d announced that, there were several more who came to fill in for those in Milwaukee while some of them came back to fight. It might have seemed a bit much, but it was less than a two hour drive.
And it was the starting point we needed, as we had others from all over who wanted into our pack… Or now even a chance at Milwaukee as it was mine.
Except that opened the door to potential trouble in the form of Linus who couldn’t even hide he was hungry to advance. He’d come in with the last group, and every red flag went off when I was near him, but he’d not done anything wrong, so there wasn’t much to say. When he won the next fight, he went over to the designated area, and I went to meet him and the wolf that had lost.
“Alpha,” he breathed before lowering his face to mine. I gave him a tiny bit of energy as I’d promised it, but he was strong enough. Plus, I wasn’t happy with what I saw.
“It won’t ever happen,” I warned him, showing him how serious I was. “You won’t ever get the pack from me.”
“That is not what I wish,” he promised, leaning in and sniffing my hair. “I very much wish to be the man behind the Alpha.”
“That you puppet,” I corrected. “I see more than you’re used to because you’re so damn excited I leave running the pack mostly to my Bet
as.”
“No, not puppet,” he argued, frowning. “You are Alpha. You are strong and not one to puppet. There are other chances under your umbrella though.”
I gave a slow nod, knowing he was speaking the truth and what I saw wasn’t always specific as to intentions. “As long as we are crystal clear on that and the limits, I’m still open to you joining my pack.”
“Thank you, Alpha.” His eyes lit up with excitement, and I wanted to sigh, knowing he was still trouble.
I moved to leave but then glanced back at him. “And stop fantasizing about me getting on my knees for you. I won’t. No man gets that from me. I’m Alpha.”
He simply shrugged, but his eyes showed he was shocked I saw it, would comment on it. “I can’t help what I fantasize about. It’s not even about power or wishing for some way to have you kneel before me. I promise it’s purely sexual without deeper meaning, as you are gorgeous, Alpha, and my little head wants you in many ways.”
“Tell him I have enough on my plate and to act accordingly.”
He nodded but muttered under his breath when he thought I was too far away to hear it. “But that doesn’t mean I won’t give chase.”
“He’s trouble,” Carter grumbled as he fell in step with me.
“I find most men are,” I sighed, rubbing my forehead. “Apollo is leaving tonight. How are we planning things? Are you all going back with him and packing up?”
“Nikos and his team are going, as he has the pilot and will start the move, and we will handle that with Noah. I did wish to discuss where we will reside.”
“Wherever you want,” I told him, shrugging as I reached my seat. “We went over the rules, you have Goran and the others to ask if there’s any confusion, but I don’t care where you guys live. We have no guarantee of this idea taking off, so until we get permission, I’m sponsoring your visas and the club will be your listed employment. We will go from there.”
“There is a house about two blocks from you we wish to purchase as our coven house to start, but we wish to also discuss having an apartment in the same building you will be staying in.” He nodded when I raised an eyebrow at that. “You will not be as protected there, as you bought it to protect others and will leave the security for the boys in Highland Park. We wish to make sure you are secure. And start driving you.”
“Wait—what?” I asked, raising an eyebrow at that.
“Mistress, how much time do you waste driving back and forth here and there?” he muttered, careful of what he said given the ears around me.
I searched his eyes and read between the lines. “You don’t like how often I’m alone whereas other Alphas always have Betas around them or like Vlad very rarely goes anywhere alone. You’re saying I have to think like that instead of Simone who hangs out mostly around shifters but her and Noe don’t worry like that.”
“Yes, you are a big and bigger fish.” He shook his head when I went to argue. “There are twenty of us. We can each take a work day to drive you and watch your back. We will also each take a day to protect the boys. We understand what you ask of us. We ask you take your safety seriously and consider this. Lyon will not be the last to make a play, and you’ve already had hitters and others come for you that won’t do it trying to use shifter laws.”
“He makes a good point,” Monroe agreed quietly. “We want them cleared with the FBI anyways, so what does it matter if they drive you to crime scenes or in the office? They have enough for two full SWAT teams—even three—so they all won’t be on call. Let them cover you when they’re off.”
“It’s not like there isn’t room for them,” Brian drawled, and I winced.
Carter frowned as his eyes filled with questions.
“So I sort of accidentally bought a twenty-five-story apartment building with two hundred and fifty units.”
Yes, that got me several looks.
“How do you accidentally buy a place like that, Thomas?” Galvin asked, raising an eyebrow.
I let out a sigh. “Apparently guys shouldn’t die while with their mistress, and that’s how their wife finds out they had not one but four mistresses in his will that she was executor for. So in my defense I got it for a fucking steal . I wasn’t involved in it all, Simone and her realtor got the tip, and yeah, she told me the address, but I was thinking of the building a block away that’s like twenty-five units and older.
“So here I’m worried about getting a super for the building and snag a contractor from Virgil’s pack who wants away from his family—Giles, who’s fighting today—and he comes to me asking what the hell needs repairs on new construction. Because it’s brand new and just finished, like was just starting to take applications to lease the apartments when the guy died. And that’s sort of where I realized I’d gotten the wrong building and checked it out.”
“Oh dear lord, Thomas,” Galvin sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”
“I don’t always pay attention to details in my personal life,” I admitted, accepting I deserved to be picked on. “In my defense, we had been looking at buildings like what I thought, and they were all around that price range. So it wasn’t really that far off I didn’t get it was some super swank new construction giant.”
“Except even I heard Simone tell you that you needed to move on it quickly because it was a crazy good offer and insane what you were getting,” Brian muttered.
“Yes, but we were also working on stuff for the townhouses Laila bought for the fae refugees she’s finding and the club opening just happened and I was in Memphis and Laila and I went in on those new greenhouses and I got the farm to sponsor those elves that they’ll buy back, and oh yeah, the silkworm farm that’s the same,” I drawled, rambling it all out so they understood there was a lot.
“I know it’s a lot and always piling, but it’s seriously endearing you don’t get all into it and just agreed once Simone told you it was good because you trust her.”
“I believe you know how I received that money, Bri,” I muttered, looking at the tablet I’d taken back from Harris and pulling up what I needed. “I like doing good with it, and that’s about all I want to get into, okay? Dain wouldn’t let me buy something bad or a bad deal so, yeah, I trust them. Be nice because I was going to offer you one of the corner three-bedroom apartments.” I handed him the tablet across Galvin now that I’d pulled it up.
“Sera, I can’t afford one of those brand new, super cool apartments, and certainly not a three bedroom one,” he grumbled, taking the tablet from me. “I saw the prices they were taking applications for.”
I snorted, watching the next round get ready to fight. “I’m not charging that. My wolves couldn’t afford them then either. Simone and Dain worked out some plan that covers the insane yearly taxes and makes up what I paid over the next four years, a bit longer if we don’t reach full occupancy, which I’m fine with. I didn’t do this to make money but to keep my wolves and employees safe.
“I thought of you because I know your landlord is a dick who is always giving you crap about not fixing his parking tickets and whatever other bullshit. Plus, didn’t he just hike up the rent? That’s why you were talking about buying a condo, right?”
“Wow, you’re serious,” he whispered. “Shit, Sera, this place has a rooftop pool and gym. And a theater, right?”
“The penthouse is one huge clubhouse with game lounge, huge party kitchen, and library,” I answered, feeling awkward at being the owner of such a cool place. Hell, I wasn’t sure I could have gotten an application in there normally, it was so in and chic. “No pets though. I changed that.”
“Why would… Right.”
“Yup,” I chuckled. The animals would freak out being around wolves and cats. “But it’s not individual internet and cable. I did one huge business package, so it’s included like dorms. I think people have to pay extra for a DVR, and we got a group discount on Amazon Fire Sticks.” I shrugged. “Gayle put the house she lived in with Tony up for sale and is m
oving in. Beth already did because her place was shit. Lillie too.”
“You’re so fucking cool, Sera,” Brian murmured, handing me back the tablet. “Yeah, I so want a sweet three bedroom with my own balcony at a place like that. I can have an office and a guest room now.”
“That’s what I was thinking too,” I admitted, my cheeks heating at the praise.
“May I?” Carter asked.
I nodded and handed it over. “For now Giles and Christos are front door and on call security and have units there because while no applicants had signed leases since the place still needed the last building inspection signed off, people were not happy one of ‘us’ bought a swank place and took it over. I would very much like someone else to be the adult on that and handle it. I keep piling more and more on everyone, and I’m not the only one drowning.”
“I will handle it with Noah and whichever Beta takes charge of pack security,” he muttered. “You said twenty-five floors, but there is the penthouse clubhouse and then apartments on the twenty-third floor. What happened to floor twenty-four?”
I let out a heavy sigh that made a few people chuckle that my answer should be good. “That’s the private floor for the owner. Those aren’t included in the two hundred and fifty units and well, um, yeah, there are extras.”
“Like?” he drawled, raising an eyebrow for me.
“Oh god, that’s where the mistresses were going to stay, right?” Harris guessed, sounding like he was going to burst out laughing.
“No, just the one who got the building if he died,” I drawled. “Or that was the plan, but the asshole thought his wife would seriously just facilitate all of that instead of using the clause ‘at her discretion given the market’ and her discretion was to sell it for super cheap and screw the mistress as much as possible but not so much it would land her in court for abusing her role as executor.”
“What extras?” Carter pushed, and I shot him an annoyed look.
“I didn’t get all into it, okay? He planned his own super swank apartment away from his wife with all the rich man cave amenities and his mistress down the hall. I’ll stay in that one, and I know there’s a huge jacuzzi tub in the master suite. There’s a media room with a mounted screen. I have a very nice home, so I didn’t care about it. I believe you get why I still won’t even if I’m staying there.”