Page 62 of Claim Me
“Barf!” Lucas yelled from the shower.
“Why have we been spending so much time at my place?” He smiled. “We should do this more often.”
I shook my head and shoved him out the door. He made kissy faces at me through the window as he disappeared into the darkness. Mav’s head popping up in front of the window conjured a yell out of me. I grabbed his arm and pulled him in before I smacked him. “What is wrong with you?”
“I’m on Jade duty!”
I frowned. “Is that what they’re calling it now?”
He shrugged. “Something like that. Did you and Rafe make up?”
I hummed deep in my throat. “I’m not really sure.”
Mav threw himself onto the couch he broke and shrugged. “I’m sure you’ll be back in his house before you know it.”
I tried to hide my smile. “Not if I can help it.”
“Rafe is really good about turning things around to benefit himself.”
“Oh yeah?” I snickered. Mav was probably right.
“Watch out, you have another nightmare and there’s no way he’s going to let you leave next time!”
I knew Mav was right. All it took was one more thing and Rafe was going to throw away the key.
* * *
Alice was waiting for me at my desk the next morning. I hadn’t touched my computer or files in a while and I knew I needed to check in on it all. Nerves lit in my stomach but her smile calmed them a bit.
“Good morning,” she exclaimed cheerfully. “I didn’t expect to see you this morning.”
I smiled. “I have work I need to look over and make sure everything is still on track.”
Alice shook her head. “You don’t have to do that. Most of our businesses here on the Pack Lands are closed because of the war. There are only a few in the town and city that will remain open. You don’t have to worry about those. I can handle them. You have a lot on your plate.”
“Pot meet kettle,” I leaned against the door.
Alice shook her head. “I’m serious, Rafe needs you more right now. Being the Alpha’s mate comes with a lot of responsibilities. You will get compensated for it.”
I frowned. I wasn’t sure I understood what was happening. “Am I losing my job?”
Alice stood from the chair and reached out toward me. “No!” Her head tilted to the side as her shoulders relaxed. “You are more than qualified for the job and if you choose to keep it, you are welcome to it. I just wanted to let you know that you have options. When I hired you, I had no idea you would be the mate for my son. I had my suspicions but I didn’t want to push anything. Especially since you didn’t know anything about it. You had enough going on in your life, the last thing you needed was my duties.”
“So if I chose to take on the Alpha’s mate responsibilities, you would do this?”
She nodded. “Yes, I always liked doing this but with Rafe not being mated for so long. I couldn’t add anything else to my growing list. When the kids go back to their covens and things are resolved here… I would love to be able to retire from being the Alpha wife.”
I couldn’t imagine how much this weighed on her. Everything she did came from her being the past Alpha wife. I couldn’t imagine just how much this hurt her. She had to go on without her mate. Without her beloved husband. Of course, she would want to retire and do something else.
I nodded. “Yes, I would love to take that on. Would you be showing me the ropes?”
She beamed. “I would love to show you how it’s done as soon as you’re ready!”
“There’s no day like today.”
