Page 47 of Witchwolf

“Do you Americans have any worthy karaoke clubs?” Minori asked, looking at Maia innocently, and something about it felt like a challenge to me.

Maia clearly agreed, but it seemed she also thought she was up to the challenge, as a wicked smile bloomed on her face. “As it happens, we do. Want to go tonight?”

Karaoke. So, I knew the stereotypes. I knew that karaoke was in fact quite popular in Japan as an easy way to socialize, even with relative strangers. I just hadn’t in a million years expected to be involved with it. I’d never done it—had in fact thought of it as kind of a joke, and it wasn’t like Donnie had ever wanted to do it. He was all about dancing at clubs, mostly while looking for hookups.

“I, um, can’t really sing,” I said, getting both their attention and hedging. I didn’t want to humiliate myself unexpectedly, at least.

Minori waved me off. “It isn’t about that. Most people aren’t secretly great talents.”

Maia nodded at that. “It’s about letting loose and being allowed to not be good at something. You can’t be mediocre at work and not be in trouble, but you can at this. And we’re all equal because the boss is just as likely to stink as you. No one cares if you’re going to be a famous singer someday. Heck, it might be better if you’re not.”

Minori smiled and nodded, and she and Maia shared a moment like that, excited and pleased and on the same page. It was perfect, and unexpected, and for the first time, gave me hope that this merger could truly work.

I looked back down at my phone and Donnie’s demand that I get home for dinner.

To Donnie: Sorry, can’t make it. Like you said, office job, long hours and lots of overtime. Got to keep the boss happy so I can pay my rent.

Then I silenced my phone and slid it back into my pocket. Sure, maybe I didn’t especially want to humiliate myself by singing in front of strangers, but also, it didn’t sound like much of a sacrifice. Going home and skipping it? That sounded terrible.

Maia and Minori were full into planning mode and the office had finished getting their lunch, so I took the opportunity to grab a second plate. Minori glanced up at me, her eyes twinkling. I ducked my head, but she waved me off. “I’m sure werewolves go through the same when they come of age.” She turned and looked at Maia, interested. “Yes? The need to eat all things?”

Maia laughed aloud. “It’s almost a rite of passage, eating everything in the house and then asking for more.”

The elevators opened and Jax... well, stormed into the room was the right term, but almost immediately, the wind seemed taken out of his sails as he entered to find Igarashi Minori laughing and nodding. “I once caught my student eating dry noodles, and when I scolded him to cook them first, he said it took too long.”

Jax stared at her, stunned, and I grinned at him. “So boss, you coming to karaoke with us?”

In my pocket, my phone vibrated, and I ignored it.

22

Jax

They were... having fun.

Dakota had somehow put everyone at ease.

All right, Maia undoubtedly had a part in that. She was an exceptional employee, a fantastic packmate, and still, the swell of pride I felt looking at Dakota dwarfed everything else.

“Ah, yes. I’d love to. Karaoke, you said?”

Behind me, Seth snorted. “I’ll go call Charles.”

“For a ride,” I added when Igarashi arched her brow at me. “He’s my driver. I take it you haven’t found anything out of order?”

The smile she sent my way was full, her dark brown eyes twinkled merrily. Was this the same woman who’d marched into our office only a little while ago, wanting to see how we treated our employees?

Something in her seemed to have opened up, and even knowing Dakota only a short time, I understood why. When I glanced over at him, he gave me a tiny nod to let me know it was going well.

By the look of their empty sushi containers, I suspected so.

“We... haven’t,” Igarashi admitted, though when she spoke to me, she seemed less relaxed than she did around the others.

Well, maybe it wasn’t because I was a werewolf. Maia didn’t seem to offend her. We just couldn’t trust each other entirely while trying to look out for our own people’s best interests. I could understand that, even though I hoped, in time, this would get easier.

Seth returned when Charles pulled into the parking deck, and we piled tight in the back of the town car.

The karaoke place wasn’t quite what I was expecting. When we got there, we were led to a private room for our party. It was cozy, almost intimate, with bench seating and comfortable chairs, and a QR code on the table for us to order drinks and snacks.

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