Page 7 of His Wild Mate

“That's the one you’re going to have to worry the most about. Has her nose stuck in a book already. Learning all sorts of things in this world. Yup, she's going to be the problem child come the teen years. Bookworms are always the hottest, but there's the middle child syndrome to consider.”

“Shut the hell up. That's my daughter, dude.”

“I know. I'm just trying to warn you so we can prepare to properly handle things when the time comes.”

He groaned. “Shut the door and take a seat.”

I chuckled. It was so easy to get him riled up. Almost took the fun out of it.

“So, what's up?”

“Talked to the guys. Biggest gripe was your stupid foreman. Running him out of territory will keep the troops in line and working for now.”

“I didn't run him out of town. He left on his own accord.”

“Apples and oranges. He's gone and everyone's happier for it. Had a meeting afterwards with Ridge who was acting as their representative. All good. There’re a few issues and changes necessary but nothing too concerning. A lot of their gripes came from personal vendettas and the asshole punishing people he didn't care for. I'll go over the work schedule and make sure it's been divided equitably and things should smooth over quickly.”

“It's a big job, Emmett. If you run into any issues or it becomes too much for you to handle, you have to let me know. Don't be stubborn and prideful about it.”

Normally I would have made some sort of snarky comeback, but I knew he was right.

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Yes, okay. I do understand the magnitude of responsibility you are entrusting to me here, Thomas. I don't want to let you down, but I also don't want to hurt the guys or thePack. So pride aside, I will try to be better about discussing my own needs as I settle into the job. And if I need help, I'll get it. I promise.”

He blew out a breath and leaned back in his chair.

“Thank you. Honestly that was probably my biggest concern about handing this over to you.”

“I can do this.”

“I'm fully aware you can, but I also don’t want you killing yourself in the process.”

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

I groaned. “Again? I got it. Stop worrying.”

“The sheer fact you came over to talk tonight is big.”

I snorted. “Who said I came over to talk? I'm just waiting for you to pour me a drink already.”

He chuckled as he leaned down and retrieved the bottle of whisky and two glasses I knew damn well he had in the bottom drawer of his desk hidden behind a stack of hanging folders.

He filled them, and then passed me one. We clinked them together and downed the contents in one swig each.

“Okay. Well, tomorrow's going to be an early day, and I want to go through some of the list he gave me tonight.”

“Sounds good. I'll probably swing by the next few days just to be visible and make sure everything's okay.”

“I expect nothing less of my Alpha.”

Leaving the loud, boisterous house of my friends’ to go home to my painfully quiet house on the edge of the range was a stark reminder of everything I didn't have in my life.

I had always hoped to find my mate too, settle down, and maybe even have a few pups of my own. That didn't feel like it was in the cards for me, but life could change in the blink of an eye. I'd certainly learned that from watching my friends.

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