Everett

Last time I came to Lakota, I had followed Meleri in. She talked to the guards at the front gates and they waved me through, no problem. This time, I was on my own. I stopped in front of the closed gates and waited while a guard approached my car.

I rolled down my window when he got close and he said, "State your name and business."

I was expecting something a bit friendlier, but I shook it off. "Everett Ibarra. I'm transferring into the pack." I pulled the transfer paperwork out of my bag, though it didn't really prove anything since Spencer hadn't signed or stamped them yet. "I'm meeting with the alpha at eleven."

It was 10:36 now, which should give me just enough time to find my way to his office without feeling rushed.

"Wait here," the guard said, taking the papers from my hands and walking into the guardhouse. I watched through the big window as he made a phone call, clearly reading from the paperwork. Finally, with his expression still completely neutral, he returned to my window. After passing me my paperwork and a map, he said, "You'll want to follow the trail to the left. The office building is right here. Don't go off on your own until after you've seen Spencer."

Then he walked away, closing himself back up in the guardhouse. The gates swung open and I eased through them, feeling a little off-balance from the whole encounter. Was this what the rest of the pack would be like? Was this how it was, living in a pack that always faced the possibility of attack?

I drove down the path to the offices slowly, palms sweating as I started to have serious doubts about what I was doing. I didn't belong here. What was I thinking, moving to this place?

I drudged an image of Felix to the forefront of my mind and it calmed me down a little. I was doing this for him. This was what Felix needed from me, though he wouldn't come out and ask for it, and I would be damned if I didn't at least give it a shot. Besides, I reminded myself, Neil had said Felix and I could join Delta if things didn't work out here.

I parked in front of the office building with eight minutes to spare. I needed them to finish steeling my resolve. I shut my eyes and tried to recall the way Felix smelled. What my mind could conjure was a shadow of the real thing, but even his imagined scent made me feel better – especially knowing I would have the real thing in just a few hours.

I just had to get through this meeting. Then I would go back to the cabin, surrounded by Felix's scent and his things, until he got home. Maybe I would even have dinner waiting when he arrived. It seemed a little late to try making a good impression, but no harm in trying, right?

I cursed myself for having too good an imagination when the memory of his scent grew so strong it hurt me like a punch. Just a few more hours, I reminded myself. I would meet my new alpha and then I'd just have to get through a few more hours before I had Felix with me again. After two weeks, what were a few hours?

But they felt like a lot and I was shaking like an unbalanced washing machine, trying to keep myself from running through the pack lands looking for my mate. He worked near the cabin, I knew that much. I could pick up his scent there and follow it to him. Maybe after this meeting –

Someone pulled on the handle of my car door, which was locked, then rapped on the window. I jumped and looked around wildly, in utter panic mode. Then I saw a familiar pair of dark eyes through the glass and the panic melted away. There was no room for it with the utter joy that filled me at the sight, joy that hit so hard it registered like pain. I flung my door open, narrowly avoiding hitting Felix with it, and launched myself at him. Felix's arms wrapped around me and we stood like that for a solid minute, breathing in each other's scents and trying not to cry. Or, I was trying not to, at least.

It was curious, the sharpness of the relief I felt on having him near again. Everything about Felix soothed me and I realized just how terrible I had felt during our separation, now that I was whole again. I had put it down to being overworked.

"I didn't think I'd see you until you got off work. Don't you have work today?" I finally asked, drawing back enough to see his face, though my arms remained clamped around him. I wasn't sure I had the willpower to pry myself from Felix and I didn't care to find out.

Felix's eyes glinted with happiness and he shrugged. "Yeah, I have work. I got someone to cover for me for a couple of hours. I wasn't going to make you meet the alpha without me, and I'll have enough time to get you settled in afterward."

"That's perfect. Thank you."

"I knew you would be worrying, and I was right," Felix said with a teasing smile. "Calm down, Spencer's great."

"I wasn't that worried," I said. I didn't feel guilty for lying since it was so obvious.

"Sure." Felix and I smiled at each other until his faltered, a strange expression blurring the happiness on his face. "We had better get inside," Felix said before I could ask him what was wrong.

I looked up at the building in front of us. It was huge, three stories tall, and had more windows than wall. It was probably amazing, working in there. Back in Delta, my office building only had a few windows, and they had overlooked a parking lot.

"Ready?" Felix asked when I took too long to respond.

After retrieving my laptop bag from the car, I took his hand, clinging both for comfort and because I had missed him and needed the link. "Ready."

Felix squeezed my hand and led me forward. There was a secretary desk set up across from the door with a pretty redheaded woman behind it. When we entered, she jumped to her feet and darted around the desk, smiling broadly.

Felix smiled back, shaking his head a little. "Everett, this is my good friend, Molly. She and I grew up together. You wouldn't believe the trouble she got me into."

"You wouldn't believe the trouble he got himself into," Molly corrected. "I just helped him a little." She stuck out a hand toward me, but yanked it back before I could take it. Instead, she wrapped me in a quick hug.

I couldn't help joining in on the smile party Felix and Molly were having. "I hope you won't mind sharing some Felix stories with me some time," I said.

Her bright green eyes sparkled with mischief. "Oh, just try and stop me." She looked slyly at Felix and added, "I mean it, go on and try. I dare you."

Felix cuffed her arm lightly and shook his head. "I wouldn't dream of it. Just know that for every story you tell Everett, I'm going to tell your mate one when you find him. With interest." Felix glanced at me and winked, adding, "That's a finance term." I laughed, thoroughly amused.

Molly's bright expression faltered for just a second before she smoothed it. "I'm not afraid of you."

A door opened behind her and I looked up at a forty-something man with salt-and-pepper hair and an intimidating build. He had a stern expression as he said, "I take it my eleven o'clock is here?"

Molly looked over her shoulder at him, her eyes so wide she looked kind of like a cartoon character. "Oh, sorry! Felix was just introducing me to Everett here."

So, this was to be my new alpha. Neil had never stood on formalities. He was a great listener, and even though I never felt comfortable talking to him like he was a peer, I knew that a lot of Delta pack members did. I couldn't imagine them being so casual and free with Spencer.

Just as I thought that, he took on a doting, almost paternal, look, the fondness evident in his every feature. "Someday, Molly, I'm going to find a secretary who respects my schedule."

She wrinkled her nose at him. "But then you'd have to start respecting your schedule. My job is safe."

"So it is," Spencer agreed. He finally looked at me and Felix and stepped back into his office, leaving the door open wide. "Join me, won't you?"

Felix stepped forward and tugged on my hand so I followed him. I hoped he didn't notice how damp my hand was getting. I could be a nervous sweater.

"So, Everett Ibarra, right?" Spencer asked when we were settled in his office.

"That's right, sir," I said.

Spencer's lips quirked in amusement. "No need for all that here. Call me Spencer."

I released a shaky breath and nodded. "Okay, Spencer."

Spencer glance at Felix and said, "It's always funny when the wild ones settle down with a respectful, polite mate, don't you think?"

I looked at Felix too and watched in astonishment as the tips of his ears reddened. "That was a long time ago," he protested.

Spencer looked back at me and said, "Felix and my daughter used to get into trouble like you wouldn't believe."

His daughter? Surely, he couldn't mean...

Felix glanced at me and nodded. "Molly is Spencer's daughter."

And she worked as his assistant? How odd. I loved my mother, but no way would I want to work for her. Or maybe Molly was learning the family business? I couldn't picture her taking over for Spencer, though, and leadership of packs didn't always pass down through families.

I forced myself to focus on the meeting. Spencer was leaning back in his chair, looking utterly relaxed. He didn't seem worried about sticking to any kind of agenda. Out of sheer awkwardness, I fell back on formality. I pulled the transfer paperwork out of my bag and set it on Spencer's desk along with my driver's license. "I believe you'll find everything you need there."

Spencer sat up a little straighter and slid the small stack in front of him, giving it a cursory glance. Then, without any ado, he picked up a pen and signed off on my transfer, adding his official stamp next to it. "Welcome to Lakota," he said, smiling at me.

I blinked. It couldn't be so simple, could it? But Felix squeezed the hand that was now limp in his and when I glanced automatically at him, he looked excited.

"Thank you, Spencer," I said automatically, and wondered what was supposed to happen now. Some packs had an induction ceremony, but usually that was only for small, tight-knit packs. It was impractical for a pack of Lakota's size to gather every time there was a transfer. Some packs held mandatory classes for new members so they could learn about the history of the pack, brush up on fighting skills, and learn the rules they were expected to follow.

Spencer just struck up a conversation with Felix about how his current class of trainees was performing as though any discussion of my transfer was over. I listened as Felix talked about his students, trying to memorize their names. I knew they were important to him.

After Felix was done updating Spencer, Spencer turned his focus back to me. "I spoke with your alpha about you this morning. He said you're one of his most valuable pack members. Or, you were," Spencer corrected with a smirk. "You're in Lakota now."

A shiver ran down my spine. I wasn't a member of Delta. I was in a different pack than my mother. I maybe wasn't totally straight like I always thought myself to be. My life was changing too fast.

Felix squeezed my hand. I didn't know how he could tell I needed his support in that moment, but I was grateful he did. I focused on Felix's face. He was the reason my world was shifting, and he was worth it. I believed that. Spencer was still waiting for a response, I realized, though I had no idea what to say. "Thank you for letting me join your pack, sir," I finally said.

Spencer snorted in delight. "Felix, you have to bring him around more. Everett, no need to be so formal, okay?" I swallowed and nodded. Spencer took that as his cue to go on. "Neil explained that it will take some time for you to transition out of your role within the pack. He and I are still working to come to terms over details of your contract – how long Delta should expect you to work for them full-time and how much they'll tithe to Lakota as payment. Your personal pay will remain the same, at least until your work for Delta is complete. With me so far?"

"Yes, sir." This was all normal so far. Like humans paid taxes, werewolves paid tithes to their pack. The tithes went toward the costs it took to keep everyone healthy and secure, as well as paying for resources that were available to every pack member, like training sessions, swimming pools, and schooling. Delta had to pay Lakota to work with me – the logic was that I was spending time helping Delta when I could be contributing to building up Lakota.

Spencer leaned forward, his gaze locked with mine. "I haven't worked with Alpha Neil much in the past, but I make it my business to know about the packs in this region. I know that Delta is a wealthy pack, and I know that you are personally credited with raising them up from being financially comfortable to being truly affluent."

I fought back a blush, but I could feel the heat burning not only in my cheeks, but in the tips of my ears and down my neck. I never knew how to handle praise, and Spencer made it sound like I was some kind of financial messiah. "I didn't do it alone," I protested. "There were a lot of people on my team who worked just as hard as I did, and there are other departments within Delta that have done a lot to build up the pack, too."

Spencer smirked. "You're being modest. I have an old friend who moved to Delta years and years ago to be with her mate. I asked her about you and she told me just how lucky we are that Felix here is your mate." Spencer turned to Felix and grinned at him. "It's almost enough to make me forgive you for crashing my motorcycle."

I looked at Felix, wide-eyed. He held up his hands. "I was fifteen! Molly dared me to ride it! She's at least as guilty here as me."

"I loved that motorcycle," Spencer grumbled.

Felix, clearly desperate to change the subject, looked to me for help. I shrugged helplessly. I couldn't figure Spencer out. He kept swinging between being overly casual and complimenting me way too much for comfort. I couldn't get my bearings.

Spencer cleared his throat and took control of the conversation again. "I can see that I'm embarrassing you, so I'll get to the point. I wanted you to know that I'm aware of how much you can do for our pack. When you're done working with Delta, I hope you'll consider joining our financial group. I'll give you your own team and some start-up capital and let you do your thing."

I shifted in my seat. This was almost too good to be true, except that I knew I had a good reputation. I just hadn't expected it to do quite so much for me. "I'm honored," I said, "but I need to make sure you understand that there are no guarantees. Don't put any money in my budget that you aren't comfortable losing."

Spencer waved this off. "Don't worry. If this doesn't work out, no one will come for your head."

I swallowed. The mention of taking heads didn't do much to soothe me, even though he'd been saying he wouldn't take mine.

Spencer stood up. "Thank you both for coming in. We'll have to have the two of you over for dinner once you've settled in, Everett. Felix here is like another son to me and I'd really like to get to know you better."

I glanced at Felix to make sure he was okay with this and said, "That would be great, sir." Felix said our goodbyes and we walked out of the office. Molly wasn't at her desk when we walked out, which was a relief. Felix and I were able to leave without any further ado.

Felix walked me to my side of the car and braced his hand on the door so I couldn't open it. "Mind if I drive us back to the cabin?"

I passed him my keys, relieved that he wasn't going back to work just yet. Felix climbed into the driver's seat and started the engine while I took the passenger seat. "I hope you know I don't normally let other people drive my car," I told Felix. I knew I had a stupid smile on my face, but I couldn't help it. We were together. Felix had his hand on the shifting lever and I put my own hand on top of his, stopping him from bringing the car out of park.

Felix looked at me questioningly and I struggled to find my voice. Finally I just shook my head. He and I could talk later about what my moving in with him meant. For now, it was enough just to be here with him.