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A short, stocky redhead nodded. “Just getting ready to prep for lunch. Are you after something?”
“No, we’re good at the moment,” Aaron replied. He gestured to Marshall. “George, this is Marshall Cavendish. He’s a new friend of the Pack. You’ll also see Marshall’s friend and business partner, Saint, about the place.”
Marshall smiled at the man, who extended a hand. “Good to meet you.”
“George is our chef and runs the kitchen and café we have here.”
“Ah, so you’re responsible for the delicious breakfast this morning,” Marshall complimented him.
“Thank you, yes I was.”
“I’m just showing Marshall around, but can you arrange coffee and maybe some pastries for us in about an hour?”
“Of course, Alpha. In your office?”
“Yes, I’ll have to stop in to check in with Josh, so that will work.”
“Very good.” The chef nodded at Marshall. “Good to meet you, Mr. Cavendish. If there’s anything in particular you’d like while you’re here, let me know.”
“Please, call me Marshall, and Saint and I are pretty easy-going when it comes to food. Too many years eating MREs,” he explained.
“Say no more. Enjoy your tour, and I’ll see you later.”
The chef took his leave, and Aaron led Marshall toward a bank of windows at the far end of the room. They soon found themselves outside, overlooking a well-manicured lawn that led down to a slow-moving river.
Marshall could see a short wooden pier and what he presumed was a boathouse on the far right-hand side.
“This is beautiful.”
“We’re very lucky,” Aaron conceded. “The land has belonged to the pack for nearly a hundred years, and mostly, we’ve been self-sustainable.” He gestured towards a tall hedge. “Behind that, is a full vegetable garden and greenhouses, which George oversees.”
“How many staff do you have here?”
“Actual employed staff, only about forty. The security staff and specialized positions like chef, groundskeeper, housekeeping, and doctor. Then we have administration staff that help run West Enterprises. Everyone else we have working here are younger pack members on internships, learning how the Pack works and trying various positions to find something they like.”
“West Enterprises?”
“Yes. That’s our official business arm. As well as the paper mill, we have several other businesses in different sectors.”
“Of course,” Marshall said with a shake of his head. “I should have put it together. I’ve heard of West Enterprises. I should have realized you were the same West.”
He looked at Aaron, realizing now what a toll the symptoms of the unclaimed soul bond would have taken on him, not only physically but mentally as well.
“Is that a problem?” Aaron asked. “Me being the head of West Enterprises, as well as the Pack?”
“No, of course not,” Marshall rushed to reassure him. “I’m just amazed at how you’re managing both roles, considering how the soul bond has messed with us both. I mean, I’m struggling to run three gyms with a dozen staff, let alone a multi-million corporate and a pack with hundreds of members.”
Aaron rubbed a hand around the back of his neck and gave a rueful grin. “Yeah. Some days are definitely easier than others, though they’ve been few and far between lately. I’m lucky I have a great team of directors, plus Josh, and my parents and the Elders.”
Marshall was impressed. The whole place gave him a sense of home, and he liked the structure Aaron had in place. They continued to meander through the grounds, chatting about the Pack and Marshall’s business. Marshall was telling Aaron about his family when pain lanced through his leg, causing him to stumble, his cane sliding away.
Aaron’s quick hands caught him before he hit the ground, and Marshall leaned gratefully against the shifter’s shoulder.
“Sorry.”
“No, don’t apologize,” Aaron said, brushing a strand of hair from Marshall’s forehead. They both froze at the gesture, and there was an almost audible crack of energy between them. Painful heat surged through Marshall, and he could not hide a wince at the suddenness of it.
Aaron immediately let go of him and stepped back, concern etched on his face.
