Page 46 of Escalating Alpha

The guy who just woke up sighed. “So he has a death wish. Got it. Fuck, why is everything so… He’s using this to his advantage so you can’t tell him to fuck off from a distance.”

“Yes, because he’s started running his mouth that clearly I can’t handle more and blah, blah, blah since I haven’t come running to him and his generous offer.” I groaned. “I really will kill that asshole if I have to see him face to face and he spouts that bile at me. I mean, yeah, he’s not wrong that I’m overloaded, but he doesn’t actually know that.”

Emilio frowned. “Brian’s calling me.”

I nodded for him to answer it.

“Galvin approved the exception because he’s still on the damn phone,” Brian drawled. “Someone seriously teach Sera how to use her office phone.”

I swore under my breath and glanced over. “They need to stop changing the colors of shit when they upgrade whatever.”

“You are a genius but technology impaired, Sera,” Brian chuckled, clearly able to hear me.

“I just don’t care enough, and it’s happened a whole two times, so don’t act like—” I defended.

“Four,” Emilio coughed as he came closer and hovered over the button to hang up the call. “Are you going to say sorry or anything?”

I gave him a look like he was nuts. “I just got done suing his ex-wife for millions of dollars and I’m not fired. If that didn’t get me on his shit list, nothing ever really will. He needs me even if I’m a pain in the ass because I’m good. And I get to be pissed that I have to go deal with this bullshit because people are stupid.” I pushed the correct button this time.

Brian snorted from Emilio’s phone. “He said have fun smacking people in line and give him a list of who to write up.”

Oh good, so he was still talking to Galvin. I flicked off the phone in my office as if Galvin would feel it somehow. I was so tired of cleaning up everyone else’s bullshit and smoothing it all over. “Who is tagging in for me to run this office? We know it won’t be a day even if it should just be a day trip.”

“Good point,” they all said together.

Which was why Brian was coming to take over for me to be in charge of both offices. The training center could do without him for a few days. Perfect. He’d be close enough to Topher if there was a problem then.

At least a legal one or someone with a badge was starting. Eva was the best protection for Topher by far and she would stay glued to him while I was gone.

What I’d asked for was fairly simple, so I was a bit surprised when there were more people attached to the party than I’d planned. I just pointed between them and sighed which amused most of them… But made Ashley seriously worried.

“You get used to this with Sera when she’s not curbing it around you kids—younger wolves,” Freddie explained. “And she watches her upset around you guys now. I’m used to this being her normal state when she deals with bullshit.”

Except his eyes said something else. They made it clear that my anger was a bit much and they were worried. He eased back when I gave a slight nod.

No one was denying that I deserved to have a short fuse or feel the way I did. They were just worried or scared of it. I didn’t blame them either.

“She keeps asking to travel and see how we handle things with other packs, and—she wants to learn if she’s going to be a liaison for the pack,” he explained. “Except I’m an…”

“Overprotective helicopter parent who—” she started to say.

“No, he’s not,” several of us said at the same time, but I continued. “Sometimes your mom can be, but even I understand when Jessica goes over the top after all you’ve been through. They know more and have seen too much.”

Freddie didn’t like me knocking Jessica but didn’t say anything either. Mostly because we both knew I was being fair.

I let out a slow breath. “Someone’s covered what you have on your plate?” I waited until she nodded. “Okay, I’ll allow it, but youlistento everything we say without fail or even if it seems over the top. People don’t keep their heads when there are dead on the scene or involved. I’m going to even assign you an ancient guard so Freddie can focus and not on you.”

“I was hoping you’d say that,” Freddie admitted. “Take it or leave it, Ash.”

“Take it,” she accepted.

Good. I glanced at Reagan next.

“Eva was caught up and told me to get my ass out the door to help you because in no world should the ‘bozo’ ever speak to you after his disrespect. Even in your professional capacity. He used death to push his agenda, and I’m here with facts and to be your shield. Lewis and his team already flew ahead to secure where we’re landing and get set up.”

“I was going to have my FBI team go out with whichever ancient team,” I grumbled.

“Davis was with them and a team,” Corbin informed me as he handed over two files. “Sorry, meant to tell you but damn, you guys move fast. They headed right to the airport with their go bags. That’s everything the director sent and we have. It’s light.”

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