Page 43 of Fixer
I cleared my throat.“Wade McKinley.I left my pack as a lone wolf seven years ago.”
“You also have no manners?No knowledge of pack law?”
“I don’t live here, Alpha.”I closed my mouth before offering more feeble excuses.
“He’s an old friend,” Dustin said.“We just met up again recently, and I asked him to give me a hand with a project.”
The Alpha prowled around us.Dustin and I didn’t move or look over our shoulders when he was behind us, despite the crawling sensation on the back of my neck and the way my wolf had roused and was growling, deep and low down inside me, ready for any challenge.
When the Alpha finished circling and stood in front of us again, he mused, “Now, what to do about the two of you?”
“I could fight that one.”Dustin waved at the young wolf.“I beat him and you let us go?”
The youngster’s eyes widened.The Alpha laughed.“Not much of a challenge for you.Not yet.Although give him a few years.”
“Let us petition you, then, to remain lone wolves.”
“Not in my territory.No.”
“Outside of it.I was thinking about leaving the city anyway, relocating my business farther north.”Dustin didn’t look at me, but my wolf rumbled an approval despite his tension.With us.
“I want you for my pack,” the Chicago Alpha told Dustin.“My Fixer’s old, over a hundred.His previous apprentice was a disappointment, and the current one is far too young.”He nodded at the young man.“Rick will be good at the job someday, but he’d benefit from decades of mentorship first.We’ll find a place for you in my pack and you can be that mentor.You could even keep this business.”He gestured around the office.
“And if I refuse?”
“You might be made to accept.”The Alpha stood taller, balanced for action on the balls of his feet.
“Two of you, two of us,” Dustin drawled.“Could be interesting.”He hesitated a beat for the implications to sink in, although only Rick betrayed his anxiety in the quickening of his breaths.Then Dustin added, “How about a compromise?No one dies, Rick learns some tricks, and you don’t end up with a Fixer you can’t trust because you coerced them into your pack by force.”
“I’m listening,” the Alpha rumbled.
“Wade and me, we’ll move north to where he lives now.An hour out, but not too far.You let us be lone, or maybe a pack of two once we figure out who’s more Alpha, and in exchange, I’ll consult for Rick.I’ll come down here to teach him stuff, or he can come to Darville, if you don’t want me in your territory.I’d be available on the phone if he’s in a bind, let him have some of my useful contacts, gradually, over time, if I trust him.He gets the mentoring, we get our freedom.”
“Hm.”
“We’d claim a territory, but a small one.Just the city limits of Darville.We’ll stay out of all of greater metro Chicago unless you invite us, your wolves stay out of our town.In exchange, we provide any assistance Rick needs going forward.”
“You can’t continue your business in this city.”
I heaved a huge internal sigh of relief, because if the Alpha was negotiating terms, this was less likely to end in bloodshed.My pulse slowed and my wolf eased down from fight-or-flight.
“Of course not,” Dustin agreed.“I’ll move my PI firm up to Darville as well.I’ll need a week or two, though, to pack my office and find a new location I can rent.”
“I’ll give you three days,” the Alpha said belligerently, as if daring Dustin to say no.
“Done,” Dustin agreed.
“I’ll send a team of wolves to help you pack up.See you on your way.”
Crap.A bunch of Chicago wolves all up in our business meant Dustin and I would have to be insanely careful and discreet for the next three days.I made sure not to visibly react.
Dustin nodded, because there was no other safe option.“I’ll be glad of the help.I’ll rent a truck.Starting in the morning.What time should I expect them?”
The Alpha blinked as if that simple question took some of the wind out of his sails.“Let’s say seven.”
“Excellent.”Dustin bowed his head.“Thank you, Alpha.May our future relationship be a fruitful one.”
After another long pause, the Alpha said, “See that it is.”He whirled on his heel and strode out.
