Page 6 of Howl You Doin'

"My daughter's dance recital is next week," Martha cut in, bouncing her toddler on her hip. "Should we move it somewhere else?"

Wade shot him a sympathetic look as he continued scrubbing. The questions kept coming, each one pulling Caleb in different directions.

"What about security?"

"Is it true Thompson was working for them?"

"Everyone." Caleb's voice carried the weight of his alpha status, quieting the chatter. Paint dripped down the wall behind him as he faced his pack members. Their anxiety rolled off them in waves, making his wolf restless. "The community center stays open. All classes continue as scheduled. And yes, we're implementing better security measures."

"But who's going to run it?" Mrs. Henderson clutched her designer purse closer.

"For now, I'll-"

"He means I'll handle the day-to-day for now," Wade interrupted. "While our illustrious alpha focuses on more important matters."

Caleb shot his second a grateful look. The crowd seemed to relax slightly at Wade's casual tone.

"Now," Wade continued, "who wants to help us finish cleaning this wall? I've got extra sponges, and I know Mrs. Henderson's arms are perfect for scrubbing after all that pottery throwing."

"I'll have you know this is a Chanel blazer," she huffed.

As the tensioneased and some pack members actually stepped forward to help, Caleb's shoulders remained tight. He needed a plan - not just for the community center, but for dealing with Victor once and for all. Before someone got hurt.

Caleb slumped into Thompson's - no, his former manager's chair, the leather creaking under his weight. Paint thinner still clung to his clothes, and his muscles ached from scrubbing graffiti. He rubbed his temples, trying to ward off an impending headache.

A knock at the door interrupted his brooding. Sandra from the front desk poked her head in.

"Alpha Rivers? There's someone here about the manager position."

His nose caught it before Sandra finished speaking - the sharp scent of cinnamon and woodsmoke. A witch. An elemental, by the distinctive magical undertone.

"Send them in."

The woman who walked through the door made him sit up straighter. Waves of red hair caught the afternoon sunlight streaming through the window, and determined green eyes met his without hesitation. His wolf perked up with interest.

"I'm Fiona Ashwood," she said, extending her hand. "I heard you might be hiring."

Caleb shook it, noting the warmth of her skin - definitely a fire witch. "Might be is the operative word. How did you hear about the position?"

"Nina at Cauldron & Cup mentioned it." Fiona settled into the chair across from him, smoothing her pencil skirt. "I just moved here from the city, and I have extensive experience in event coordination and management."

The timing was too perfect. Victor had eyes everywhere these days, and non-shifter allies weren't beyond him. But something about her directness didn't fit with Victor's usual schemes.

"That's quite a career change, coming to manage a community center."

"Sometimes change is exactly what we need." A smile played at the corners of her mouth. "Besides, I hear Saltwater Grove is more accepting."

Caleb leaned back in his chair, studying the witch across from him. Her posture remained perfect despite the chaos he could hear through his office window.

"Want to prove yourself?" He gestured toward the window. "Handle that mess out there, and the job's yours."

Fiona's eyebrow arched. "That's quite the interview technique. What exactly needs handling?"

"There's graffiti that needs cleaning without damaging the brick, about thirty people who need reassuring their classes aren't canceled, and general panic control." He ticked off each item on his fingers.

"I assume the vandalism wasn't a local art project gone wrong?"

His wolf bristled at the comment. "Let's just say we have some territorial disputes."

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