Page 3 of Chev's Mate

Everybody knows the facility there is a joke, only placed so the shifters aren’t accused of playing favorites. The King of Wrath was the demon who discovered the cure for the female decline, and he and his mates were the ones who kickstarted everything. There are hardly any females in their facility, and the Wrath Queen, Charlotte, already acts as the facility manager.

I’ll have no work.

I want to make a difference, and that isn’t going to happen in Wrath. I let out a slow exhale, trying and failing to hide my disappointment. This is a joke. I should’ve known they wouldn’t put a rehabilitated female in a serious role.

They don’t think I can handle it.

Echo places her hand over mine. “Is everything okay?”

Her palm is warm, and she brushes her thumb across my wrist in a comforting gesture.

I gulp, hesitating. I probably shouldn’t tell her I’m disappointed. I don’t want to sound ungrateful, even if I am, and I don’t want to make a bad impression on my first day. This isn’t what I hoped for, but it’s better than nothing.

I moved out of my facility months ago, but the female community I now live in is boring. Ten communities have been built, and they’re essentially a woman-only retirement home. I loved it for about three months, but there are only so many bottles of wine I can drink and shows I can watch. I need stimulation.

Echo squeezes my hand, and I let out a low sigh.

“Everybody says the facility in Wrath is small and empty.” I hope this shows my concern without sounding whiny.

Echo nods, confirming my statement. “That’s true,” she says, “which makes it a great facility for learning. We start all new hires there, and once they’ve grown comfortable with the processes and work, we transfer them to a facility with more need.”

Oh.

“I should’ve started with that,” she continues, grimacing. “My apologies.”

I relax, beyond relieved to hear that. Echo chuckles and pats my hand before pulling away and leaning back in her chair.

“Let me show you around,” she says, standing. “Chev still wants to meet you, so don’t be too surprised if he pops his head into your office sometime later today.”

I lick my lips and rise, clutching my paperwork to my chest.

“I told him to wait until you’re settled, but he’s impatient,” Echo continues with a roll of her eyes.

I’m not excited to meet Chev, but I can’t turn him away. He oversees everything, and he’s an active member of the organization. I’ll have to face him at some point.

I’ll do my best to limit our interactions, though.

Echo leads me out of her office and through reception. Both of my interviews were conducted here, and I’m excited to see the rest of the building.

Her office opens to a large, spacious room full of desks. I tighten my grip on my paperwork as I exit the quiet security of her reception area. I knew her office was in the heart of the building—it makes sense—and I try not to look too scared as I eye the men and women bustling around.

They look distracted, but many shoot me friendly smiles as they pass.

I think I’m going to puke.

“This is a secure building,” Echo explains. “The doors are guarded, and the only portals are in Chev’s and my offices. They’re also guarded.”

She gestures toward a pair of shifters strolling the room. They’re men, and they’re large—probably bears. They must be guards.

It’s nice to know that not just anybody can enter the building. My nights are haunted by the ogres who owned me, and I still fear them finding me and stealing me back.

Echo walks into the room, and I wipe my sweaty palms on my jeans before following. Several shifters are working here,their leathers giving them away, but I spot a few elves and other breeds I don’t recognize.

It’s hard to tell what everybody is from only a glance, but the strength of the power they emit is suffocating. It’s impossible not to notice when they walk past, and I wonder what they must think about having a weak nymph in their workspace.

I keep my eyes peeled for Chev or demons as Echo leads me around. I’d rather die than have to communicate or be alone with either of them, but I’m interested in seeing them in person. There are rumors that the King of Wrath and his mates are frequently spotted here.

He has three of them: an incubus, a fate, and a human.

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