Page 22 of Bad Situation

“Are we good?” Moe asked.

Grant looked at Jenna, and she nodded. “Yes.” They would do it and hope the goddess was with them.

"We need to get going," Tyne informed.

“Thanks for the food.” Harry offered as she grabbed Moe and Tyne before they disappeared.

“Just like a tornado," Jenna observed.

“Just what I expected, what we expected," Grant agreed.

“Are you good with this? The fight will be all yours, as well as the possible risks that go with it. After you win, the real work will begin," Jenna said.

“I can handle it, but I had some training, and I'm sure that will all come back. What about you?”

“I don't know, but I'm sure that managing the office has given me some of the skills I need. All I can do is give it my best, and with the right help, I hope that's good enough.”

“I think it will be, but we will have to take this on one step at a time," Grant concluded.

“We'll see what happens. Meanwhile, we'd best get back to work.”

Grant checked out the equipment and began to load what was needed. He realized that he didn't have a list. Once the truck was loaded, he hurried back inside to grab one. His list was lying on the counter, and Jenna was cleaning a crock pot to get the food ready for the next meal. She might have to cook that on the stove since the crockpots took time to heat. Grabbing the list, he hurried out and got on his way.

There were three jobs on his list, and the first was fifteen miles out. He started there. Grant was sure some of the others were even further out, and Jason and Sylvia were probably on those. They hadn't been doing any jobs that required overnight stays. Plenty needed to be done within the twenty-mile area. Tyne was starting another office soon. He wondered where the people would be coming from.

He was always cautious when starting a new job, but he was lucky, and there was no trouble today. Grant finished the threejobs, but he arrived a bit later than usual. Sally was no longer happy about beating him because the other experienced teams still beat her. Jenna had cooked something in the oven that smelled like lasagna, which was one of his favorite foods. It was hard to deny that he was happy, and when he saw the garlic bread, salad, and asparagus, all he could do was wonder where in the world she had gotten this from. The only thing that came to mind was Harry, but she was nowhere to be seen.

Everyone seemed to be eating, and they all looked happy. It was a great meal, and he had a feeling it was a free one. He saw a fixed plate sitting next to the stove and wondered if that was his. Jenna handed it to him and then filled it up herself. They sat at the table with the others and ate. Meals like this were great for a group that had to work closely together, and many lived together. Sylvia was the only one who had a local home to live in.

Everyone seemed to be in a lighthearted mood. Maybe they all felt the visit with the bosses had gone well for them. Although the visit hadn't been about them, none knew that. It could also be that a free meal just brought out the best in everyone. Grant knew that it brought out good feelings in him when he got one. They were beginning to bond as coworkers, and some of them as friends, at least those who were not already friends like many of the new ones were with each other. He couldn't be sure why, but he would enjoy it because he didn't know what the future would bring.

Life could be short for some and too long for others. Damn! Now, he was becoming a philosopher, and that was the last thing he wanted to be. Grant decided to enjoy his food and the good company, and hopefully, he would get lucky later. The lasagna was amazing. He knew she had made it just for him. Asparagus was difficult to get here and probably in most places. She added cheese for the garlic bread, which made it even better. He wondered if Harry had gotten some before she left, and he betthat she had. She needed the energy to make it all the way back to Missouri.

Grant got himself some water, which was what most of them drank most of the time. The coffee was usually reserved for the morning and the working day, and teas were only enjoyed occasionally, if available. Powdered drinks were rare but not nearly as rare as soda or other things. Wine and beer were like unicorns, and they rarely showed up. If someone was coming in from Missouri, a case or two of wine or beer sometimes came with them. Tyne was nothing if not appreciative when his teams were doing well.

The new security officers weren't used to bonuses or signs of appreciation. The previous company had pulled out every dime they could find and had nothing left to pay with, and in the end, even the last paychecks hadn't been paid out. He thought all of them would enjoy working for Tyne and appreciate the little extras that he gave them. The bonuses would be great if they worked hard and did a good job.

No one could be Tyne as an employer. The problems here in Alaska were unusual for his organization, and he did everything he could to ensure that no one got hurt. Some of those who had gotten hurt had quit, and he had done everything he could to make sure that they got to travel to wherever they wanted to go and a small bonus to help them get started. He was just that kind of guy. He understood that not everyone could handle the pressure that the haters put on them. It was better if they left, and he usually offered them a job in a safer location.

Things were getting quiet here because people were full, and now the tiredness of the long hours that they were working began to catch up with them. Slowly, one by one, they began to disappear into their rooms. When only the two of them were left, he helped with the dishes so his mate would get done sooner and not be as tired. Even though the heat was gone, the changecontinued, and he could see she was tired. When he thought about it, a change like that was just unbelievable, and it wouldn't be long before they needed to go somewhere so she could make her complete transformation.

They were done cleaning up, and it was time to go upstairs to their room. Jenna always carried the radio with her in case there was a call. So far, they'd been lucky, and most of the places under their security had not been bothered. She set the radio down on the nightstand, and they sat down to talk first.

“Moe sent the ingredients for the meal so we could have a mating party. As you probably guessed, Harry brought them, and she taste-tested the first plate.” Jenna giggled.

“I imagine she enjoyed it since it was not usually available here, and you did an excellent job of cooking it.”

“Yes, she was very complimentary.”

“Was there any other news?” Grant asked.

“No, she just mentioned that everything else would proceed as had already been explained. We are getting a little time to adjust to each other as couples often need to do.”

He wasn't sure if he was happy about that or if he wished they could just proceed. This would be on his mind constantly up until the time he was able to fight. It would be the first step and maybe even the easiest step. Taking over the pack would be the biggest step. These were strangers to him and to Jenna, and the only reason they might welcome them was because the alpha they currently had was so awful and evil. They were both average wolves. Maybe a better description was average alpha wolves.

The people that were bringing them there were legends in their own areas. None of them would know him or Jenna because they had been removed as children. Would it help if they knew their mothers? It was impossible to say. The family was big with wolves, but not all of the family was helpful. If everything proceeded as expected, his grandmother, Jenna’s grandmother,and the little girl would move to the pack. He wasn't sure how they would feel about it, but he would make it happen.

Grant felt free and happy lying next to his mate. They had made love, and they were relaxed and ready to sleep. It would be good to build their strength and relax their mind for what was coming. He could tell that she was sleeping by her deep, relaxed breathing. If only he could follow her and get the rest that he needed. At some point, he drifted off, but his sleep was anything but relaxed. His sleep was filled with battles and concerns. That was not unlike his waking moments. The alarm went off much too early. It was set for Jenna, who would go downstairs and check on the cooked food.

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