Page 27 of Wulf’s Pack
Pride fills me, but I can’t let them all come.
“I love that you’re willing, but we can’t all go.
” I run my eyes over the Keller family. They’re such a good, wholesome family.
I can’t let anything happen to them. A meeting with a vampire mob boss is no place for them.
“You all have your strengths and are assets to this pack. I’m happy to have you, but none of you are very dominant or trained to fight.
You’d be a liability if things don’t go our way. ”
None of them look surprised by this, and even look a little relieved. “I need you here,” I tell them. “Preston, I need you to go through their financial records. You need to take anything you find to Nora at the FUA.”
Preston’s eyes widen. “ Nora Jacobs? The director?”
I crack a smile. Nora is the sweetest, friendliest woman I’ve ever met, but she intimidates just about everyone on the planet.
It drives her crazy. “Tell Ren—he’s the receptionist—that you’re part of my pack.
They’ll take care of you, I promise. Tell them what’s going on with us.
The whole situation. And tell them Skylar will give them an official statement when we get back. ”
“Why don’t you just call them now?” Carl asks.
I smirk. “If my clan knows what we’re up to, they’ll never let us go alone, and then it would get tricky because half of them are employed by the FUA. It’s better they don’t know until it’s too late to stop us or get involved.”
“It needs to be me, anyway,” Skylar says. “If I come with a small army, especially if I bring half the FUA, he’ll never agree to see me. I can get away with one or two escorts, he’d expect that, especially if one of them is my mate.”
Heads nod all around. I really hate this plan, but that’s just my protective instincts wanting me to keep Skylar out of trouble’s reach.
I know that’s impossible, though. I turn to the Kellers again.
“While Preston’s busy with the financials, Matthew, I’d like you to get started on converting those storage rooms like you mentioned.
We need an office for official pack business.
Elise and Sophia, if you could finish getting your packing done so that we can clear your home and get you out of your house and all settled here, that would be helpful.
Call my brother Rook to help you move all the furniture.
I’m sure he and a few of the guys wouldn’t mind lending a hand.
Rook needs to go through that storage room anyway.
He’s got a ton of stuff stored here. He's going to need to clear it out.”
All four of them nod, and Matthew speaks for all of them with a soft “Yes, Alpha.”
I try not to wince. I’m going to have to get used to some level of special treatment. As much as I hate feeling like I lord over them, a pack needs a clear leader. The chain of command is important to keep everyone in line. I am the boss.
“Great.” I rub my hands together and eye my two newest pack members.
They exchange glances. They know what’s coming.
I have to officially give them ranks. Bree is slightly more dominant than Carl, but they’re close enough Carl might want to challenge Bree for the position of my beta.
I really don’t want any animosity in the ranks.
We’re too small to have contention and petty power disputes.
“Bree.” She sits up straight. “The position of beta is rightfully yours. Are you willing to serve in this capacity?”
She inclines her head. “Yes, Alpha. To the best of my ability.”
I wait to see if Carl will challenge and relax my shoulders when he doesn’t.
He gives me a small smile, as if he knows what I’m worried about and is telling me it’s okay.
“Carl, you’re officially my third, and I’m going to make you my head of security and chief enforcer.
We’re a small pack, but protecting us is no small job. ”
He sits up straight in his chair and puffs his chest out, proud to be so entrusted. “Of course, Alpha. I’m honored.”
I stare him down. He’s not going to like my next command very much. “Bree, you’ll come with Skylar and me. Carl, as head of security, I need you to stay behind with the pack.”
His eyes narrow, and he purses his lips, but he doesn’t argue.
“I know you want to have my back, but we’re not fully secured here yet, and Victor’s pack is still coming. Word is out about us. It’ll be easy for him to find us. We can’t leave the Kellers home alone to defend themselves and without proper protections.”
Carl’s jaw relaxes. He sweeps his gaze over the Kellers and nods his understanding. His job is as important as Bree’s. More, even. “Yes, Alpha.”
“Get in touch with Parker and Oliver. Parker will help you go over the security I have on this building and come up with a plan to fortify our defenses as much as possible. Have Oliver take a look at our wards and see if there’s anything he can do to make them stronger.
We may have to fight our own battles, but there’s nothing wrong with having friends help us get set up as a new pack. ”
Carl cracks a smile. “It’s nice to have friends in high places.”
I return his grin. “That it is.” I look around the whole group and take a deep breath. For better or worse, we have a plan. “Nothing like being thrown straight into the deep end.”
“We can do this, sir,” Elise says.
I force a confidence I’m not sure I feel. “Yes, we can. Let’s get to it.”