Page 232 of Fated to the Wolf Prince
Ty laughed when I said that, showing me that the men’s credentials checked out on paper. “It’s just their personalities that are questionable.”
We still had one more interview to get through. I hoped against hope that this one would be better than the rest.
Harlem’s binge meant my plate of cookies was now more a plate of cookie crumbs, so I hurried to the kitchen and grabbed the remaining dozen cookies I’d hidden, thinking I was keeping them from Ty, not an antiquated, sexist prick. Luckily, there were no kitchen staff in my way.
I was fuming over Harlem’s asinine comments. Who the fuck did he think he was, waltzing into his alpha’s office, insulting his mate, and disparaging all female shifters? I wasn’t surprised he hadn’t found a good little woman. Good luck to him.
Ty wasn’t in his office when I returned, so I wiped his desk of cookie bits and Harlem spit, then rearranged the fresh cookies, all the while grumbling under my breath about Harlem’s sexist comments. “What kind of person insults not only women in general, but the alpha’s mate while interviewing for the position of informant? Who the hell, in this day and age, thinks a woman’s place is in the kitchen? Damn fool.”
As I used my angry energy to rearrange the flowers, a voice from the doorway caught my attention. “Personally, I think women are more capable than men in many areas,” the newcomer began, his tone warm and sincere. “I don’t believe a woman belongs in the kitchen, but some of the best chefs I know are women. Women thrive in the kitchen... or any other venture they choose to take on.”
I turned to see Ty standing at the doorway with the man who’d spoken. Ty introduced me to Isaiah. He was roguishly attractive, with salt-and-pepper hair that hinted at his age being in the mid-to-late-forties, smoky gray eyes that stole my breath away, and beautiful earthy brown skin. For a split second, I considered snapping a photo to send to my best friend Sabrina but thought better of it. I’d describe him in detail when I called her later.
Isaiah’s intelligence and wit were displayed throughout the interview, his devilish smile and quick answers keeping us engaged.
“Tell me about your career. What kind of experience do you have that would lend itself to this position?” Ty leaned forward. He was fully engaged in the interview, totally unlike the others.
“I worked closely with Nico for several years and have actually served as a source for him,” Isaiah explained.
“What do you mean, ‘a source’?” Ty scribbled a note in his folder.
“There have been times in the past when Nico didn’t have enough security or enough manpower for specific missions within the Keller pack. At those times, I served as a sort of substitute, or temporary employee, until the job was done.” Isaiah sat up straighter in the chair. “I can assure you, Alpha, I have the capabilities necessary to handle the job you’re attempting to fill. My background and experience give me the upper hand because I know how to be discreet and get the job done. No questions asked.”
He spoke confidently, but I wanted to test his mettle. “How would you handle a situation like we’re currently in? We have an enemy on the run who used a pack member for his bidding, causing damage to the pack. When he was done using her as a pawn, he murdered her and hung it over Ty’s head, treating it like a game with no regard for the life lost.”
Isaiah crossed his legs and clasped his hands in his lap. He took his time to answer, carefully considering his words. “First, I would gather all available intel on this enemy’s whereabouts and activities.” His eyes were focused and determined as he explained his hypothetical process. “Next, I would work closely with your pack’s security to devise an appropriate plan of action to find and apprehend him. As for the woman who did his bidding, her unfortunate fate should serve as a cautionary tale to the rest of the pack.”
I admired the conviction in his voice. He approached the matter seriously and, despite being put on the spot, considered the situation, then offered a credible plan of action. It appeared Ty shared my sentiments because he nodded along with Isaiah’s words.
“Regarding the message to the public,” Isaiah continued. “It’s important to be firm. Our pack will not tolerate such actions. We need to show strength and unity while also honoring the deceased woman’s memory.”
I found myself liking Isaiah more and more, and his calm demeanor and attitude reassured me. Ty’s expression suggested he felt the same way. After a few more minutes of small talk, Ty rose from his chair. “Thank you for your time, Isaiah. We’ll be in touch soon.”
We waited until he left before looking at each other.
“Out of all the interviews today, I think Isaiah definitely stands out,” I said.
Ty nodded in agreement. “We’ll see after tomorrow’s interviews.”
But I could tell he already had a strong inclination toward Isaiah.
Later that night, standing on the balcony off our master suite, I gazed out at the woods. We’d been so busy lately, I hadn’t really had an opportunity to speak to Ty about the strangers in town, or the people trying to get my photo through the window at my office. The unsettling feeling from my earlier run still lingered in the back of my mind, and I hadn’t mentioned that to him, either. With the interviews going on, it had seemed unimportant.
When I turned to head back inside, a figure in the trees caught my attention. Fear locked up every muscle. I covered my mouth, wanting to scream out to Ty, but the person would flee if I did. Instead, I prayed that our bond as mates would allow him to sense my distress.
Almost instantly, Ty rushed into the room. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
“Someone’s in the woods,” I said, unable to tear my eyes away from the shadowy figure.
Ty moved quickly to my side, pushing me protectively behind him. But in those few seconds, the person vanished.
“I don’t see anyone.” Ty leaned over the balcony, straining to glimpse the shadowy figure.
Confused and frightened, I squinted and scanned the tree line. “I swear someone was lurking under the trees. There was someone there just now, and there was someone out there when I was running. I promise I’m not fucking crazy.”
“Liza, I know you’re not crazy. Of course you’re not. Why didn’t you tell me there was someone out there earlier?” He looked hurt that I hadn’t told him.
“I’m sorry, Ty, I meant to, but with the interviews and everything else, we were both so busy. Then I started second-guessing myself, but when I saw someone out there...” I was starting to panic, so I took in a few steadying breaths.
