Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 128413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 642(@200wpm)___ 514(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 642(@200wpm)___ 514(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
No cub of Remi’s would ever feel lost and unwanted.
Phoebe was old enough that she hadn’t been born into the pack, had entered RainFire at age twelve when her adventurous parents decided to throw in their lot with Remi right back at the genesis of the pack. That Remi had managed to earn the trust of her young heart? It meant a fucking lot.
For some odd reason, it also made him think of Auden. Whom, he wondered, did she trust? Clearly not anyone she could ask to teach her how to shoot. Unless, of course, that had all been a game, a way to play him.
For what reason?
That was where he got stuck. Because he couldn’t think of a good one for Auden Scott, part of the hugely influential Scott family, to bother ensnaring the alpha of a newborn changeling pack.
“I forgot,” Phoebe whispered. “To ask his name, I mean. I got distracted.”
“Come on.” He put his arm around her shoulders, cuddling her close. “Show me to our guest.”
Snarky muttering started up behind him the second he left Mliss and Theo alone. Smirking, Phoebe whispered, “Jeez, get a room.”
Remi grinned. “Shh. We suspect nothing.”
Phoebe mimed zipping her lips closed.
Funny kid. And a kid who was usually onto it—one of the reasons she’d been selected for this internship. Yet she’d forgotten to get their visitor’s name.
That she’d left the visitor alone in reception didn’t matter as much; Remi had chosen an office space with a secure door behind reception, which meant guests had to be walked in by one of the pack. It also meant RainFire didn’t have to assign a security team here on a day-to-day basis.
Reception itself was protected inside a spacious and bulletproof glass cubicle that backed onto another door leading to the back. Their designer had made it seem a feature, complete with water falling down one side of the cubicle and thriving greenery everywhere.
The entire thing had cost an arm, a leg, and both of Remi’s kidneys—but it had already paid itself off by setting his dominants free from having to stand guard. That was the better look, but they were too small to spread their manpower so thin. This way, the pack appeared polished and professional, while making sure their receptionist—whether it was Phoebe doing her intern hours, or their official receptionist—was protected against any threat.
Remi might not have thought of threats a decade before, but the past few years had been full of unrest. Pure Psy, the group with which Auden’s father had been associated, had vanished out of existence in terms of a public presence, but word was that malcontents who blamed changelings for the changes in the Psy race were still floating around.
Then there were the usual idiots who might think to target a small pack in the hope they could kidnap and hold a packmate for ransom.
Not happening under Remi’s watch. “Let’s go find out our mysterious visitor’s identity.” He pulled open the secure door.
Chapter 14
“You’re no alpha. You’re a coward!”
—Gina Denier to Rhett Farley, alpha, WhiteMountain (defunct) (9 April 2070)
“THERE HE IS,” Phoebe whispered, her cheeks going pink again.
Remi saw at once why she’d been distracted. The young male was tall and muscled, with thick auburn hair that he’d had cut neatly along the sides, but left long enough up top that it held a wave. The naturally cream tone of his skin held the slightest golden tan, and his jawline was square, his eyes a rich dark blue, his smile bright and engaging. And poor Phoebe was a juvenile running on hormones.
Their visitor was also a powerful dominant.
Leaving Phoebe just outside the door, Remi walked over, hand outstretched. “I recognize that familial scent thread. Kit Monaghan, right?” Around twenty-three years of age if Remi was correctly remembering what Rina had said.
Kit’s smile deepened. “That’s me.” He threw Phoebe a sheepish glance. “Sorry I didn’t introduce myself.”
The blushing teenager shuffled her feet.
Deciding to save her from melting into the floor, Remi nodded at her to return to her post. She drew out her short journey, throwing little glances back at Kit the entire time. Man was going to cause carnage among the single women of the pack.
“Rina’s told me a lot about you,” Remi said after they broke their handshake.
“She’s been telling me about RainFire, too. I hope it’s okay for me to drop by?”
“Of course it’s fine. Have you checked in with Lucas?” Rina’s younger brother was part of DarkRiver, a youth with the scent of a future alpha who’d gone roaming to stretch his wings, figure out who he wanted to be.
DarkRiver had made it clear to Kit that he didn’t have to take up the mantle of being an alpha if that didn’t suit him. Lucas had become alpha too young for ugly reasons, and though he’d been ready and willing to step into the role, he also understood what it did to a young man to carry that much weight on his shoulders.