Page 56 of His Rejected Alpha Mate
“Agency staff? Really? Avery, Alex, and I are offended.”
“Oh.”
“Yes, oh. When do you want us to start? How long is it for?”
The thought of having part of my old team working with me again nearly brought tears to my eyes. “Um, as soon as and most likely permanent. I was going to suggest to Blake that we take on some more people. The pack is growing, but not fast enough to keep up. We’d have had to take on outsiders, anyway.”
“And we’ve been vetted, so we’re cool, right?”
“Right. This is perfect.” Then I remembered Taylor. “What about Taylor?”
“Too pregnant for a job change. They are taking maternity early because of all the stress. Isaac ignored your note about moving them until a doctor got involved. Goddess, I wish you’d have been here, Dakota. It was a whole mess.” My mind whirred. Poor Taylor. I immediately felt bad because I’d neglected them as soon as I’d left.
“I’m sorry for not calling.” I heard the shame in my voice clearly.
“Hey, it’s okay. Look, you left on bad terms and we knew it wasn’t because of us. You needed a clean break. I’m just calling to remind you that you have friends and we would also like to get out of dodge.”
“That bad?”
“Taylor had to get the union and people’s resources involved to get proper working conditions for their pregnancy. They spent a couple of days in the hospital.”
“Shit.”
“Indeed. Look, I know you had your moments, but you were a fair boss. Isaac is… he just isn’t and we need out of here. I don’t know what hold he has over management, but they don’t care about what we say.”
“Start as soon as you can. I’ll let the manager know to expect you and get you passes for the back gate. Go there tomorrow. You know where it is?”
“We’ll find it. Do you need anything else, boss?”
“I’m sure Kade is needing some hugs from his peeps. He and his papa, my mate—“
“What the fuck?”
My laugh burst from me. “Oh, by the way, I’m mated, and he’s pregnant.”
“Moon help me, but what the actual fuck, Dakota?” Shelby laughed.
“I guess I really should have kept in touch better.”
“Damn straight. Okay, hug the pregnant people with my peeps and then work tomorrow.”
“That about covers it.”
“When can we expect to see you?”
“Please, don’t come here. I’d love to see you, but I have five sick betas here. All in coma like states.”
“Holy fuck!” I would never get used to Shelby cursing as much as this. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Well, I’m utterly exhausted. What was it that Brit used to say? ‘Knackered?’”
Shelby giggled. “Yeah, knackered.”
“That’s me. Done in. Used up. My kid is here. She isn’t mine biologically—“
“She’s your daughter because she belongs to your mate.”
“Yeah. Angelica is a beta. I’ve not heard her speak, or seen her open her eyes in two weeks.”
