Page 66 of My Solemn Vow

Patrick’s top two candidates match my choices. The oldest guard in the group at fifty years old, who tragically lost his mate and son inan ‘accident’ twenty years ago, and the youngest in the group, a twenty-eight-year-old who has formal military training as well as working in Gardaí. I’m not concerned about either candidate or their ability to take care of my daughter, only that they’ll be able to connect with her.

The doorbell rings, and I leave the kitchen, where I’ve been cleaning things that aren’t dirty, which Holly used to call my ‘stress tell,’ to go answer it.

Kerrianne and Antonella are in the living room and had been working on some of her makeup homework.

She whispers loudly to Antonella, “What do I do if I don’t like him?”

It’s refreshing to hear that my daughter has the same concerns I do, which is why it felt like the right time to involve her in the interview process. She’ll spend a lot of time with her guard, between the commute to school and anytime she’s not at one of the main properties. They have to get along.

Antonella certainly isn’t the damsel she could have been, but she isn’t a wolf.She isn’t a wolf yet.I’d feel better knowing that they get along with and trust their primary security and that it’s someone who respects them.

“We finish the interview. Then you tell your dad,” Antonella answers her.

I pause to be sure I hear the rest of their conversation. The interviewee can wait.

“Remember that kindness is important. We can have opinions, but that doesn’t mean they’re good to share out loud.”

“We can be nice without being friends.” Kerrianne recites something they must have talked about.

It’s a much nicer way than I would have phrased it.I open the door, and the first interviewee, the older of the two wolves, is waiting.

“Alpha.” He greets, turning his head away from me, exposing his neck.

I’m not the pack alpha, not yet, so being treated with that same respect is overly formal. But it shows that he takes who I am seriously.

I step aside and let him in. “Thank you for coming.”

“An honor.” Declan looks around my home as we walk through.

It’s not in the curious, snooping sense of what my home looks like, but his eyes look at the security of it. Window latches, entrances, potential hiding places, and potential weapons.

Kerrianne opts to sit in my chair with her little legs curled up cross-legged. I sit with Antonella on the sofa and offer the last wingback chair to Declan. He walks over to Antonella first and offers his hand out to shake.

“Afternoon, Mrs. Cavanagh.” He nods.

Got the memo she doesn’t know.His thoroughness is impressive.

I like him. You can feel how calm his wolf is.My wolf takes note, cocking his head and watching as Declan goes toward Kerrianne.

“Miss Cavanagh.” He extends his hand. “My name is Declan O’Toole.”

“Nice to meet you.” Kerrianne smiles at him, shaking his hand.

Seems he’s already winning points.I look over to Antonella, and she gives a tiny nod, disguising it as moving her long hair from one shoulder to the other.

He sits forward in the chair and looks at Kerrianne, pretty much ignoring me and Antonella. “So, tell me, Kerrianne. What is your favorite subject in school?”

It’s a strange question, and I want to cut in, but Antonella places her hand on my knee. So I keep my mouth shut and let the two of them talk.

“I like science. I’m really good at math.” Kerrianne beams.

“That’s fantastic. I’m partial to it as well. Good at countin’ things.” Declan nods.

His file said he worked inventory for the Doyles when he started.My wolf reminds me.

He immediately asks her another question. “What changes in your schedule the most?”

Not the direction I anticipated.