Page 36 of Reject Him

“So, who is your beta?”

“I haven’t elected anyone yet. When this mess is over, I’ll find someone.”

“Very well,” she says. She digs back into her meal, and then she remembers her task and calls Val back over. With the company they’ll be having, she won’t be able to complete the task on her own. It annoys her because, though it’s only a small gesture, she had wanted to do it in person. “Can you do me a favor?” she asks.

“Sure, doll. What is it?”

“Can you send Clark some flowers?” It’s a small gesture, but it’s a start. She wants them to know she cares about them while giving them the space they deserve.

Val nods as the door opens and lets in a gust of wind that crawls up Eme’s legs.

“Ah, Wayne,” Lee greets. He turns on his stool and shakes Wayne’s hand when he approaches.

“Mr. Stonewell.” Wayne looks around the kitchen. “Where’s Logan?”

“He’s still -” Eme begins.

“I’m right here,” Logan calls. Eme looks over her shoulder and watches Logan descend the stairs. He’s dressed in jeans and a t-shirt that shows off his biceps. She can smell his soap from where she sits, and she inhales the aroma deeply.

“You’re awake,” Eme says unhelpfully.

Without saying a word, Val places two heaping plates on the island, one on the other side of Lee, and the other on the side of Eme opposite her father. She then sets two mugs down.

Wayne holds up a hand. “Don’t sit down, Logan. We can’t eat.”

“Why not?”

Wayne crosses his arms, and a stern look overcomes his face. “We found a fresh scent this morning.”

Logan perks up, but it’s Eme who asks, “On the territory?” Wayne nods. “Where? Of who?”

Eme looks at Logan from over her shoulder, but Logan does not look at her. Instead, his eyes flick down to Lee’s.

“What’s this about?” Lee asks skeptically.

“Do you want to tell him, or do you want me to do it?” Wayne pushes.

Logan sighs and rubs a hand down his face. Eme has learned that it's a sign that he’s stressed.

She studies both men. “He’ll find out anyway.”

Logan puts his hand on the back of the stool. “Someone has been coming onto our territory. It hadn’t been for a while, so I didn’t want to mention it.”

“Who?” Lee pitches forward on his seat.

“We don’t know,” Logan divulges. “But we keep catching his scent crossing the borders.”

Lee taps his chin. “And your patrol doesn’t catch them?”

Logan shakes his head.

Wayne answers, “It’s like they know our patrol schedule. Even when we change it up, it doesn’t make a difference.”

Eme can feel herself starting to get angry. She balls her fingers into a fist on her lap. “Why wasn’t I told the whole story?” All she knew was that someone was getting close to their land.

“Better yet,” Lee chimes in, “who’s telling them the schedule?”

“Now there’s a question,” Wayne answers.