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But while all of the chaos was unfolding, the founder of All Supes Hospital opened a small location in the middle of the racist, segregated area of the US. The South even where humans hated each other most days back then.

And they did it for supes. It was a beacon of hope of a brighter future, even to my parents who were dealing with problems in England. All around the world. The owner had inspired a lot of people and was a hero who was credited with a lot.

Even if no one knew who they were. That in itself was amazing. Most would want the credit or fame—the recognition for their hard work.

Not the founder of ASH. No, they wanted the work to simply continue.

And they’d done it. The hospital was amonster… But in a good way. It was the largest hospital in the world with its own damn airport. It practically became Atlanta, and most of the city around it was where the medical staff, researchers, and employees all lived. It was astounding.

Truly. I was always impressed with it and the founder.

Which was why I was always so damn upset when I was denied a chance to be a part of it over and over again. My whole career I’d tried to get a position there.

And finally, I had my chance. I felt horrible for the way it was coming about. I didn’t like the board of directors going behind the back of the Chief Administrative Officer—and I didn’t like most of the board—but I would take whatever chance I could to be a part of my dream.

“Just let us do the talking and handle Ellie Reed,” the “leader” of the board, Joel Warren, told me with a smile… And something dark I didn’t like in his eyes. “She’s a paper pusher who doesn’t know her place. You’re exactly what our hospital needs and the future we want to bring. She’ll get in line and see that. Either way, let us handle it all.”

“I appreciate that, but I think it best I smooth things over instead of forcing her,” I told him, playing the game. I pushed a bit more when the other board members flinched like they were shocked their new toy would talk back. “You get more with honey than vinegar after all, and you’re not the only hospital recruiting me. She’s smart enough to see I’m an asset.”

And not their puppet. Hopefully, they understood that. I knew what they wanted from me, but they could fucking shove their shit.

Idiots. They really thought they could lead me around by the nose and use me to pull the rug out from under the woman who made this whole huge machine work?

Seriously… Fucking idiots.

Greedyfucking idiots.

The facilities were as amazing as I’d dreamed they’d be. Even the little bit the board took me around to see to impress me—it impressed me. They’d done none of it but bragged like it was all because of them and their accomplishments. Honestly, that was the only disgusting part, and if I thought they had any real power at the hospital, I might have walked.

But everyone knew the truth.

Correction—anyone with abrainknew the truth and who really controlled the hospital.

We arrived at the shifter ward of the hospital which was big enough to be its own hospital honestly. It was six different buildings, and one day I hoped to be in charge of it all. That was my ultimate goal and everything I’d been working for in my career.

A beautiful woman was talking with several other people and my pulse picked up at seeing her. Normally, I appreciated a beautiful woman just like any other straight man, but this was a bit much of a reaction for me.

I realized part of it was my wolf. Something about this woman interested my wolf. Not a warning, but he was curious in a way that let me know something was off about her.

She glanced in our direction and deep golden eyes met mine that startled me they were so brilliant. They complimented her light brown hair that had several different shades from what I could see. She had it pulled back in a professional style with a clip, but the strands around her face showed the tones and highlights.

They were very flattering to her face shape and complexion. She was beautiful. Maybe five-eight with a curvy, lush body. I locked in on her plump lips but worried when she was frowning.

No, please don’t let this be her. I cannot lust this much after the one woman I need to win over. That would be a nightmare.

“Oh, Ellie, good, you’re here,” Joel called over to the group.

And the woman I’d been checking out was the one who responded.

Fuck.

She locked gazes with him and hers was less than thrilled. “Mr. Warren, you’re too old to be this childish. We’re not friends, and you’re setting a bad example to the staff yet again. Please remain professional and follow the rules of the hospital.The board members should always be the example others follow not the ones I have to worry about constantly breaking the rules.”

Wow. Just…Wow. That was a lot to say quickly, and clearly her words had impact because the man had steam about coming out of his ears.

Something a few of the other board members enjoyed even as they followed Warren around like pack to an Alpha.

Leroy Gordon took that moment to step in and flaunt his perceived authority now that we had a large audience. “We were just showing Dr. Clark around. We notified you about it and his coming aboard. There shouldn’t be any problems given—”