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“I hear you had your first week with Red as the Director of Equine Acquisitions. How is that going?”
He tried to focus, tried to think of what was expected of him, what his future Alpha would want to hear, but he couldn’t. He was still Makaii, his best friend, and his cousin.
“I hate it.”
“Yeah. I told my dad you would. That it wasn’t for you, but your dad wants it to be done. Needed to retire. Said he wanted to be better for your mom. Not sure what that meant, do you?”
He shook his head. Honestly, he had no clue why his dad decided it was time to retire. His parents never discussed it with him. You’d think out of all people, he would have known.
“I think he’s going to take your mom on the trips she’s always wanted to go on. Crazy part was, he said he will leave the pack if my dad doesn’t give permission. Said he’d do what he needed to do. It’s been in the special requests pile for my dad at least two years now.”
He didn’t know any of this, and he frowned. “That doesn’t sound like him.”
“Yeah. I know.”
“Now, you both would know better if you paid any attention. My sister has always found ways to get away here and there, but she always wants to do more. She could never sit still for long. Your grandpa let her do much more than Axel has.” Nubia’s no-nonsense tone changed as she played with Kuraii, cooing at him when he babbled. “You men just think business all the time. Tell us about your honeymoon, Makaii. I’m excited to live through you a little.”
“I never knew so many beaches could be so different. I thought, I’ve seen one beach, I’ve seen them all. But I was wrong. Florida panhandle beaches are breathtaking. But the water up in Oregon is…I don’t know the words to describe it. You have to experience the coast in the Pacific Northwest to understand it.”
“Safe to say, Ava enjoyed it?”
“I thought I’d never get her out of the water, even when it was fifty-five degrees.”
“I’m sure you had your ways.”
“Gross.” Lana screwed up her face, looking sideways at their mom.
“Mom.” He’d never seen Makaii blush, but he flushed, the red just visible under his skin, and Nubia grinned.
“I want more grandbabies, and there’s only one way to do it. So, let me know anytime I need to babysit my sweet boy again.”
Lana jumped at the opportunity. “Or I can go to Aisling and babysit for them. Bai—people—said they would show me around, so I can go over to babysit anytime. Maybe spend whole weekends there.”
“You just want to meet men outside of Tuisa. Not happening.” His tone was flat, uncaring. He didn’t mean to rat her out to Makaii, but something about the way everyone was trying to avoid saying Bailey’s name annoyed him.
“It’s not up to you, Nassau.” She glared at him, then glanced at Makaii, who returned the glare. “Mom already said she thought it would be a great idea. A safe way to look for my new mate. Otherwise, I’ll wait for the bar at NahleCheile to open, and then there’s nothing any of you can do.”
“Wanna bet?”
Makaii’s casual tone belied his words, but Nubia put a stop to all of it. “Not the time. Lana, you talk to Keoni this morning? Any word on their mission?”
“Mission? What is going on?”
“Ohhh, I forgot. You have a lot to catch up on, Makaii. You’re going to die when we tell you about Isaiah. And I have video evidence. It’s great.” Lana’s whole demeanor changed, and she started pulling up videos on her phone.
Despite a few sideways glances at him, they recounted how the stalker infiltrated Aisling and Bailey’s plan to bait him.
“So? Last night was another mate party. Anything happen? What are the next steps?”
“Talked to Keoni this morning. Nothing. Just a normal party, no sign of him.”
With that information, his heart leaped a little. That meant she would stay in Aisling for at least another week, but it also meant there was still a psycho Alpha trying to kidnap her. He held his breath, waiting for Makaii’s reaction. Either he or his father could decide the mission was useless and call them back. He wanted the stalker caught, but he didn’t want Bailey back on that tour. At least, not without him. He could only imagine the other wolves pawing at her, dancing with her, and trying to fuck her.He’d kill them.
He wiped his face with his hands in frustration, pressing his palms into his eyes. This is what she meant. How many times did she say a mate would never let her do her job, would never leave her alone? Visions of her dancing with the dozens of shifters the night of the ceremonies, only three weeks ago, crowded his mind, and he knew that it was all an act. Even then he knew she didn’t care for any of them, had been putting on a show.
But that didn’t make him feel better.
He needed something to do, something to keep his mind off her and her job, and her and the stalker. And her.
