Page 58 of The Pack Next Door (The Wolfverse #4)

Gideon

This is our alpha trial.

My brother’s words rang in my head as I walked through the warehouse.

“Emma.”

“Oh, hey, Gideon.” She looked over my shoulder. “Is Jace going to make an appearance? Mads was just here, asking about our client base. Seems like you Whitlocks are busy today.”

The look she shared with Seb made clear in what capacity she meant. In my experience, people who got the most excited about a courtship process were those not actually involved in it. All fun, no actual responsibilities. Perhaps I could use that to my advantage.

“I spoke to Briar this morning and she said to mention the venue deposits?”

“Shit!” The sly smile was replaced by horror, the order she was working on abandoned.

“Shit, shit, shit…” I watched her open her laptop and pull up her emails.

“Briar was umming and ahhing about what she wanted to do, and with everything going on, I forgot about following up on that.” Her hand raked her hair back from her face as she went milk pale.

“It might be too late to get our deposit back.” A bag was produced from under the table, her keys in her hand.

“I need to go down there and beg Lucien not to penalise her. I’ll… ”

She made an exasperated sound as she went still.

“Tell him that Briar’s mum had a fall, and that we had a catastrophe with the shipment?” Seb suggested. “We’ve sent enough business his way that he should be reasonable.”

“Lucien Woodward.” Her flat tone told me everything I needed to know. “Be reasonable?”

“What if I came with you?”

That desperate look in her eyes, it turned to hope, then became wary.

“I guess…” Emma looked me up and down. “You do look scary.”

“Lucien will either freak out or want to make out with you,” Seb snickered.

“Then he’ll be sorely disappointed.” They both watched me cross my arms. “I belong to Briar only.”

“But…” Emma looked me up and down. “You could be the eye candy. Keep Lucien distracted and help me get that deposit out of him.”

The idea was completely alien to me, but if this was a trial, I was determined to succeed at it.

“Tell me more about what is likely to get under this Lucien’s skin on the drive over,” I replied.

Be scary, remote, and imposing, she said.

As we walked up towards the convention centre front doors, I knew I had that in the bag.

Half of any game of alpha challenge was the mental game.

Larger and stronger packs than us had failed when we succeeded because they didn’t have the same strength of will.

There was a relief that came from finally having something to direct it at.

“Emma.” We were ushered into this Lucien’s office and his focus stayed on his computer screen for several seconds.

Taking his time to acknowledge us. That was a power move if ever there was one.

The man was fastidiously dressed, his suit tailored to fit him, but as he looked up, I settled against the wall, arms crossed.

One eyebrow rose as he fought to take me in. “And who do we have here?”

“Gideon Whitlock.” I moved to offer him my hand. His shake was firm, didn’t linger, but his eyes did. They seemed to eat me up in big bites and I just smiled, flashing a little fang in the process. “Briar Reynold’s mate.”

I felt a little pang at labelling myself as such. It was like claiming a prize I hadn’t earned, but it remained true. Whether she accepted the bond, I belonged entirely to Briar, and given a chance, I’d shout that to the rooftops.

“I didn’t realise Briar had found her mates.

” Lucien nodded at me before turning to Emma.

“Is that why the invoice for the venue hire went unpaid? We’ve had to give the space to someone else, as per the terms of our contract.

The lack of response to our emails and calls about the situation unfortunately means that the deposit has been forfeited. ”

“It is…?”

Emma’s stricken tone was not what was needed here, so I stepped forward.

“I’m sure you are following all the terms and conditions of the agreement to the letter.

” The possible threat of having a lawyer look it over was left unspoken, but when Lucien focussed back on me, I was sure he understood what I was inferring.

“Seems like a hasty decision to make with someone you’ve had a longstanding business agreement with? ”

I didn’t know that for sure, but the way this Lucien sat back in his office chair made me think that I was right. His fingers formed a steeple as he regarded the two of us through slightly narrowed eyes.

“Briar has been a client for some time. It’s why we extended the grace period for payment.”

“While she was dealing with her mother and her own…” How did I put Briar’s heat in discreet terms. “Health emergency? She’s had a perfect history of promptness before this?

” Lucien’s jaw muscle flexed, right before he nodded.

“I understand the frustration you must’ve felt, not being able to get an answer or payment finalised, but did it occur to you that there might be a very good reason for that? ”

My tone was perfectly pitched, firm but not getting louder for a second. Just a trace of a growl, my wolf pressed against my skin, wanting to tear into this male for daring to disappoint our mate.

So I reminded him that we’d done the exact same thing.

That had my wolf going very still and quiet.

“So what do we do to move past this?” Lucien was cutting straight to the next point of action and that earned my respect. “Briar is a valued client. Is the launch still going ahead?”

“No.”

“Yes.”

Emma and I looked at each other and she blinked, then nodded, indicating I should continue.

“It’s had to change in some aspects to deal with some… challenges that have arisen,” I said. “So, if the original space has been allocated to someone else.” I sat down in the chair opposite the man, Emma taking the other one. “What can you do for us, Lucien?”

With a sigh, the man turned to his computer monitor, opening up his bookings calendar.

“The renovated warehouse at the port,” I said, looking at the brochures. This was the point where I was out of my doubt. The room looked massive, bright and airy, but Emma shook her head.

“The proportions of the room are all wrong. The high ceilings and industrial atmosphere is brilliant for large scale paintings.” Her hands moved through the air. “Something epic, expansive. Omega Core is all about cosy.”

“Then the reception centre on the river is no good to you either.” Lucien removed that brochure, then turned and flicked through a folder, pulling something else out. “Though… We usually use this space for weddings, but maybe…?”

When he slid the glossy brochure over, I knew this is what we wanted. The state was filled with beautiful old churches and this was a particularly good example. Hewn from raw stone, I looked up at Lucien.

“This is a deconsecrated Lutheran church?”

“Know your architecture, do you?” The man’s smile was tight. “Yes. It’s up in the hills?—”

“An hour’s drive from the city.” Emma flopped back in her chair, a frown forming. “Who’s going to want to trek out there at night?”

“No competition for parking.” He shot us a rueful look. “The adjoining town has like ten houses. Beautiful lighting.”

“Which we won’t see after hours,” Emma countered.

“So we make the launch a weekend thing,” I said, tapping the brochure. “Small, cosy, beautiful architecture and all that natural stone and polished wood. We could soften the floors with some of those rugs you have bundled up in the warehouse.”

“The handwoven ones from India?” She nodded slowly. “I mean, yeah? We have to ask Briar?—”

“Can you take us out to see the church?” I said.

I wouldn’t bother my mate with anything, not until I had something concrete to offer her.

“If I can take some photos, visualise how the items will sit in the space and check the amenities, then perhaps I can get Briar to accept this alternative, with her deposit reinstated.”

Lucien’s breath came out in a faint whistle, then he pulled open a drawer, retrieving his keys.

“Let's go and look at the old church then, shall we?”

An hour later I was out of Emma’s car almost before it rolled to a stop.

Massive silver gum trees flanked the church, their twisting branches raking the air.

The slightly resinous scent of their leaves filled my nose as I marched up to the church.

I didn’t know what a venue needed to be fit for purpose, but some part of me knew this was it.

My claws raked at my jeans, wanting to snatch the keys from Lucien’s grip as he turned the key in the lock and then ushered us inside.

It was the stained glass window that sealed the deal for me. Emma let out an audible gasp when she saw it. Blues, golds, and reds created pools of colour on the pale wood of the floor.

“OK, I admit I had my reservations, but…” She stepped closer, scanning the walls and the floor, as if measuring the space with her eyes. “I think this is the place.”

That was all the confirmation I needed. As Emma spoke to Lucien about food trucks and security, arguing quite competently for additional services to be added to the new agreement free of charge, I pulled my phone out.

Ring Briar, that’s what my heart demanded.

I wanted to video call her and see that line in her forehead replaced by wide-eyed wonder.

We didn’t have that kind of relationship, though, so instead I photographed and recorded as much video as I could, so I’d have something to present to her when we got back to the warehouse.

“So, do we have a deal?”

Lucien held out a hand and I wanted to shake on it. To take this off my mate’s shoulders and put it on mine was so tempting, but I didn’t.

“We’re convinced,” I replied. “But the person with the final say is Briar. I’ll put the proposal to her when we return to the warehouse and then have an answer for you by close of business tomorrow. Is that acceptable?”

He wanted the surety of now, and I wanted it too, but both of us would have to wait. With a nod, we all filed out of the church, the sound of the door slamming shut in my ears as I felt my phone buzz.

Cracked pots are a winner , Mads had written. Just got one more person to ask. Briar, I thought. He needed to run the idea past Briar. Might be back late tonight or tomorrow.

Where the hell had my brother gone that it would take him that long to rejoin us?

My thumb pulled up the phone keypad, ready to ring and demand answers, when I took a long, slow breath.

I didn’t get to talk to Mads like he was a minion anymore.

His instincts had been right so far, so…

I walked over to Emma’s car and got back in again.

I had to trust he had it right this time.

“Thanks for the lift back,” I said to her as she pulled up out the front of the warehouse. Her work day was done and she was headed home, whereas mine was only getting started.

“Hey, any time.” She looked me over and then smiled. “Let's just hope the boss goes for this idea.”

“Only one way to find out.” I got out, strode over to the warehouse, only to find the front door open and so was Briar’s office. She wasn’t sitting behind her desk, nor at the packing bench.

“Oh gods…” I heard her gasp. “What did you do?”