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Chapter 390: The human way
Chapter 390: The human way
«Alpha Nate, there's a wolf from Mayford in our territory!» the chief of the technical team shouted when he saw Nate walk into the room they worked in.
Nate sighed.
«Let me guess,» he said.
The technicians closed their mouths and stared at him, patiently waiting for his attempts.
Lara chuckled behind him. Nate had dragged her along when secretary Jack told them about the emergency.
«Who is it?» she asked.
«Renato Cannella, Mayford's chief of security,» Nate said.
«Oh? Luciano Polenta's right-hand man, right?»
«He was,» Nate said. «Now, he's just Samantha's mate. They came here to collect her things. She's taking charge of the pack. I'm not sure how conscious of it they are, but she's becoming their Alpha. If she isn't yet.»
«Oh, what a twist! So, they're not our enemies anymore. We're kind of allies.»
«More or less,» Nate sighed.
Before signing any alliance, he needed to wait for Samantha to stabilise her position. And her life as well.
While she worked on that, he had to find Polenta and make sure he couldn't hurt his family ever again. With or without a pack.
«Correct!» the head technician exclaimed, looking at Nate with admiration. «You guessed, Alpha!» Your journey continues on ???
«Samantha sent me a text message,» he pointed out. He had no magic powers.
He turned back, ready to leave when the technician cleared his throat.
«There's something else, Alpha,» he said.
«Yes? Regarding wolves from Mayford?»
«Not exactly, but...»
«So? Tell me.»
«Miss Brown came to the company. I've seen the security tape. She talked with the receptionist for a while. Then, she left.»
«Miss Brown?» Nate said. «Who is that?»
Lara laughed behind him. He felt a little stupid, but he couldn't remember any client, retailer or business partner with the surname Brown.
«Abby Brown?» Lara asked. «You've caught her attention, Nate. Congratulations.»
«What? I haven't ever talked to her,» he said, defending his honour. «I mean, other than at the gala, but you were there.»
«I see,» Lara hummed, pretending to be concerned. «What could she want from you, then? She's after you!»
«No, impossible!»
«She is...» she repeated. «Since Polenta isn't available anymore, she thinks she can have my man. You better be clear with her when you meet.»
«Meet? Why should I meet her?»
«Nate,» Lara called him. «Wake up.»
He blinked, stopping his useless defence. Lara was so calm: her heart was beating steady, her face was relaxed, and her eyes showed no hint of jealousy. She was just being a little territorial, playing with him like only someone certain of the other person's feelings would do.
It was odd, but he liked that feeling. Even though he knew it was just temporary. He wasn't an idiot. Lara's problems couldn't be solved just like that, without anyone doing anything. If she had a panic attack that woke her up during the night, hers weren't simple issues.
«What is it that you want to tell me?» he asked. He got distracted and forgot what they were talking about.
«Abby Brown came to the gala with Polenta. She knows him, right? What if she's here to tell you something about him? Either that, or she's really trying to hit on you. In this case, I prefer being nearby when you talk with her.»
«Nearby?»
«If it's not a problem,» Lara added in a whisper, suddenly shy. She looked down at her fingers, letting her hair slip from her shoulders and hide her face.
That had been a little too much. Nate was a grown man. He knew how to defend himself.
Even if she did feel jealous, she had no right to check him out during his job. She should just trust him.
«Come with me,» he agreed, reading her worries. «And keep your eyes open, Lara. I might fall into some trap or do the wrong thing. Watch me very, very closely.»
The technician in the room, still trying to work, was distracted by their Alpha's flirting. Was that the right moment and place? Couldn't they step out and close the door?
People were trying to do their job!
«Also, I'll take the chance to get out of here. Not that I dislike the base, but any excuse to go out is welcome. The others are like... like waking up! I had two wolves asking for help yesterday. And other three this morning alone.
If I stay here, there will be double the requests in the afternoon.»
«Yes, sure,» Nate agreed.
A little disappointed, however. So, Lara did want to come with him, but not to claim her territory. She just wanted to run away from extra work.
Was she really so uninterested in the reason why Abby Brown had gone to the company? Not even a little bit?
He stopped just in time before pouting then and there. He was in public. He had to keep his Alpha composure.
«Let's go,» he said. «I'll call the company and tell them to schedule an appointment with her.»
«I can do it,» Lara said, blinking slowly. «I know your schedule, and I will find the best moment to meet.»
She even smiled, making Nate even more desperate. Couldn't she be a little bit concerned? Not even jealous, just annoyed! That would have been enough for him.
But she didn't seem to care. If it were Lara in his place, he would have already hit the other man daring to use her time. Oh, he kind of did that already. Luciano Polenta touched his woman and was out of favour.
«I will make that phone call for you,» Lara repeated, touching his arm. Only then did Nate realise.
His woman was so good at hiding her intentions. Calling was a way to make a claim. She had the right to decide Nate's schedule, and Abby Brown could meet him only because she allowed it.
«Oh, smart,» he murmured while following her back to their lodgings.
It was a delicate and discreet way of marking her territory. It was new to Nate. He was used to wolves, but humans also knew how to show their claims on their mates.