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I racked my brain to try to drum up Kate’s image, and finally I started to recall who she was. Beta, tall, on the thin side, with glasses and comic book tattoos covering her arms. I think she’d helped me that one time my computer crashed from all the…

Whoops.

“Well, spit it out then.”

“So, I’m really sorry this ended up taking so long. We had to redistribute all of Tyler’s tickets, and this was coded somewhat low priority and…”

“Kate,” I growled, pinching the bridge of my nose in frustration. “What the hell are you talking about? What happened to Tyler?”

“Um…”

Oh, that’s right. Tyler, the previous director of IT, and his pack had participated in the Rite. Last I’d heard he wouldn’t be able to eat solid food for a couple of months.

“Right, sorry. But what ticket are you talking about?”

“To clear James’s computer and get it updated. Patricia had put it in when Marlowe was here a couple of weeks ago and had been thinking of using his office.”

My chest constricted at the sound of my omega’s name. She’d been away from me as long as she had been with me, and sometimes I wondered if she hadn’t just been some desperate fever dream of mine.

Having her existence confirmed was a painful yet helpful reminder that she was real. She’d been mine. And I hadn’t been strong enough to protect her.

“And?” I asked. “I’m still failing to see how this warrants a phone call when I made it perfectly clear I’m not to be disturbed right now. Besides, it’s Solstice break, what are you doing at work?”

“I really wanted to clear this backlog. Tyler, um, hadn’t been on top of things recently and I hate starting the new year behind. Don’t worry, I’m not logging hours, this…”

“Kate!” I barked. “Log the hours, you’re not a slave. But please, for the love of everything the Moon touches, if you don’t fucking tell me…”

“There-was-only-one-file-saved-on-his-computer-and-it-was-a-letter-for-you!” she spit out.

I blinked, letting her word vomit settle properly in my mind. “… A letter for me?”

“Yes,” she replied, catching her breath. “I didn’t read it, but I asked Patricia what I should do and she said it was probably worth calling you about.”

I swallowed, running my hand down my face. My beard was longer than I usually kept it, but I couldn’t stand being in the bathroom longer than I had to. Even a glimpse of the shower brought a wave of memories of Marlowe’s wet, naked body sliding across mine, her panted moans echoing my name as I slipped my knot inside her…

I probably shouldn’t have been thinking of fucking James’s daughter when I’d just heard he’d left a letter for me.

“Thanks, Kate. I… I’m glad you called. Can you just send it to me?”

“Sure thing, boss.” A click of a mouse told me she’d already had it attached to an email, ready to go. “Um, let me know if there’s anything else I can help you with.”

I was about to hang up when a thought crossed my mind. “Actually, Kate, there is. When the office opens back up next month, go see Jordan in HR. I’d like to promote you to the new director of IT.”

“Wait, really?” she asked. “Me?”

“Yeah, really, you. You showed real initiative trying to make up for Tyler’s mistakes, and I could use someone like you in charge.But seriously, log the extra hours you’ve been working and take the rest of the break off. Got it?”

I could practically hear the smile through her voice. “Got it. I won’t let you down!”

I mean, I didn’t think she could, unless she too tried to enter an outdated contest and fight my pack for mating rights with my bonded omega.

I hung up and immediately opened my work email app, going straight to the attachment. I took a seat and a deep breath as it loaded.

Dear Camden,

If you’re reading this letter, I’m afraid it means something has happened to me. I can only hope I’ve died from natural causes, and you’re an old man yourself with a wife and pups of your own.

Otherwise, it means you’re all in grave danger.