“You’re perfect for the job,” Elias agrees with a proud smile.
His words make Garret blush even more.
“I’m counting on you, Elias, to keep him in line,” I tease.
“I’ve got your back, Alpha,” he nods.
Garret rolls his eyes. “That’s the last thing I need. Dude already has controlling issues.”
“Well, now he’s sleeping with his boss,” Marcel teases, making us all laugh.
“That’s awesome,” Elias chuckles, nudging Garret with his elbow. “Just think, everyone. We have a woman for an alpha, who is also a hybrid, a woman for a beta, and a gay guy as gamma.”
“And the black dude is an elite warrior,” Marcel adds with a grin.
Elias smirks. “It seems we did something right.”
Harmony and Marcel chuckle, while Garret looks at him with wide eyes. “You made a joke,” he mutters. “I can’t believe it. Please say it again so that I can record it!”
The rest of the day is busy, and I barely have time to think about anything besides work. Eventually, I drag myself up to the alpha suite, finishing my duties much later than I thought I would. I notice that I have a message waiting for me on my phone. I freeze when I see who it’s from.
Marius?
Hey Celine, I didn’t want to interrupt anything important by mind-linking you. I’m leaving the hospital next week. I would really appreciate it if you would allow me the opportunity to both apologize to you again and explain myself. Let me know the place and time that best suits you, and I’ll be there.
I put my phone aside and shuffle into the kitchen. I definitely need a snack before dealing with this, I think to myself, while rummaging through the cupboards until I find a box containing chocolate bars. I grab a Bounty and am about to close the box… before taking another one.
I promised myself I’d give him the chance to explain himself. I don’t know how I feel about Marius anymore, but I definitely want to know what his problem is. This is important to me too. Part of me thought he was just playing around again, promising something he wouldn’t keep to. But it seems this time, he’s serious.
I’m feeling unusually nervous, shaky, and anxious as I grab my phone again.
Next Friday, 3pm, at Starbucks.
*VALERIE*
The party yesterday was fun, but today is going to be busy. I’m helping Jazz move some of her stuff to Red Claw, and so far everyone has been really welcoming to her. Her mate Aryanna is the Alpha’s Beta, and as her mate, Jazz is now a higher rank too.
But what makes me really happy, is how sweet Aryanna is towards her, and how well these two get along. It’s so obvious that they are soulmates. They are both confident and straightforward, not to mention fun and helpful… and strong.
Aryanna is well-liked in her pack, and already a bunch of people offered to help move her stuff. They’ve even held a little surprise greeting for Jazz to welcome her as Aryanna’s mate.
“Do you think we overdid it?” Jazz asks Aryanna. We’ve just finished decorating the apartment with Jazz’s stuff, and since Jazz has a thing for fun and cheesy decorations, there is now a huge unicorn clothes rack at the entrance, replacing the old one.
Aryanna grins. “I love it,” she winks at Jazz. “I always needed more jazz in my life.”
Jazz laughs and moves in for a kiss while Aryanna pulls Jazz in for a hug. It’s nice to see them both laughing and smiling at each other. “I like it, but I don’t think it goes with my hair color,” she says. Aryanna has her hair dyed to a dark green ombre.
“Next time, you need to go for a fiery orange or red,” Jazz muses.
“If that’s what you want, I’ll give it a shot,” Aryanna promises.
Jazz turns to look at me. “Thank you for all of your help today, Val.”
I smile. “Anytime.”
“Maybe sweet Val will need help moving soon too,” Aryanna says with a very suggestive smirk. “I know for a fact, that a certain hot French guy is very happy to have found his mate.”
“You and Eric are getting along pretty well, right?” Jazz asks me with a hopeful smile.