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“The human flat out said he knows about shifters while sitting in a building full of shifters? While meeting with a shifter-run protection company?”
Again, Padma nodded. “I told you I didn’t like him.”
“Hmm,” Wilder mused. “That’s odd. Not brave. Just downright foolish. In all of his talking, did he mention how he came to know of shifters?”
“Nope, but you’re about to find out.”
Wilder shook his head. “I’m not going in there. If he wants to be early, then he can wait. I have things to do before our meeting.”
She grinned. “I figured you would say that. I also told him as much, but he insisted on waiting in the conference room.”
“He’s a human trying to play it tough before he meets with an alpha. Ignore him. You’ve got my permission. And don’t worry because there is no way I’m going to work with a man who behaves like that.” Wilder went into his office, but before he closed his door, he turned toward Padma. “Thanks, Padma.”
She waved off the praise. “It’s what I’m here for, Alpha.”
Though Padma was not a member of the Wolverton pack, she was a wolf too. Her pack had a long history with the Wolvertons. The Jensen pack was respected and had prestige of their own. Wilder would never dream of mistreating a member of another pack. It just wasn’t done. And so he thanked Padma every morning and every evening.
She was the only person who ever got that from Wilder.
From everyone else, he expected his orders to be obeyed without questions. For the most part, his siblings, Ryland, Rylee, and Canaan, followed his orders. But it was hard for him to lead half of the pack from across an ocean.
Living in London was a pain in the neck, but he wouldn’t change it for anything. From his large office window, he looked over the city landscape. From his vantage point, he could see the London Eye and the River Thames.
It might not be a beautiful and lush forest, but it was his domain. His land. His playground.
With one last look at the city, he sat behind his desk and booted up his computer. He didn’t go into the conference room until 10:00 sharp.
No human would tell him what to do.
* * *
Wilder walkedinto the conference room and closed the door behind him.
Immediately, the hair on the back of his neck stood on edge. He turned and faced the two people in the room.
Mate.
The realization kicked him in the guts.
The woman—a human—sat at the long table with her arms crossed. Her long hair was styled in big waves, but it was her dark eyes that got his attention. They were nearly black and a perfect contrast to her pink lips. The Cupid’s bow was made to be kissed.
Of course, she’s meant to be kissed. She’s ours.
There was only one problem.
The woman—his mate—was already married to the asshole who had kicked his feet up on the table, slurping a coffee between mouthfuls of pastry. The ass and she were oddly matched, but married, nonetheless.
It didn’t matter if this woman was his mate. She belonged to another.
A big heavy door closed in his mind as his mate’s scent filled his nostrils. Two realizations slammed him in the face – he would never be with his mate and he would never marry or have children.
How could he?
No one would ever compare to this woman, and he hadn’t even heard her speak yet. Shit, he didn’t even know her name.
“About time,” the man snapped with a decidedly American accent.
The woman sighed, but she didn’t dare speak.
