The door to my office busted open. "Holy shit."


    I smiled as I sat back. "What?"


    "You found me!” Rick rushed in and rounded my desk. I felt my face pinch as he came close. Before I could think, he had me in his arms and he was jumping. Literally jumping. "I can''t fucking believe it." He seemed to freeze and then ced me back down on my feet. "Sorry." He backed away with his hands raised. "Sorry, I just...it''s just." He blushed, and I chuckled.


    "What?"


    "No one has ever found me. Shit, half the guys Vince shoves in here can barely make it past the first trap I threw at them."


    I threw my head back andughed. "The firewall that turned on me?" He nodded. "Seriously?" I furrowed my brow, and he just nodded again. "But that was easy."


    He tossed his hands in the air. "Exactly!" He yelled as he spun in a circle. "I told Vince every damn time that they failed, it was the easiest trap to unravel. But no." He finally walked around my desk and sat down. "I thought..."


    "You thought I was just going to be yet another disappointment.”


    He sighed as he sat back in the chair. "I really did. Even when I saw you were Gavin''s daughter, I thought since you were here, you were going to fail." He looked around, and I knew.


    Nix? I turned inward.


    Yeah. She trotted from the trees.


    I don''t know his wolf, but is there any way you can go ask him if the offices are bugged?


    She chuffed out augh. You doubt me? Be back in a second. She turned and ran


    "Even my dad didn''t buy me any leeway?" Iughed.


    back into the trees.


    He blushed deeper and then froze for a millisecond. "Not in the least. I learned a long time ago to never give credit before someone earns it." He tapped my desk. "I have no problem taking you under my wing." He stood." Brandon should be here any minute to walk you home." He headed for the door. "I''ll see you in the morning?" He raised a questioning brow.


    "You bet." He left as Nix came running back. So?


    She was pissed. Every office is bugged, camera and sound. Theputers all have key loggers and spywear, so Vince knows exactly what is going on.


    Okay. That was honestly expected. What has you riled up?


    Vince. She shook down her fur. He doesn''t trust us, but I could tell his wolf wanted to spill. So I prodded.


    And?


    He said he wouldn''t tell me anything.


    Why not?


    Rick''s wolf wouldn''t even tell me his name. All he kept saying was that he wasn''t going to risk his mate and child. I felt my anger spike.


    Was he ying with us?


    No. Nix shook her head. He was petrified that anything he told us would get back


    to Vince. The only reason he told us about the cameras and spywear, is because


    he was never told it was a secret to keep.


    I wanted to growl, but there was a knock and my door swung in, revealing Brandon standing there with flowers. " Congrattions on your first day!" He walked in with a huge grin. "How was it?"


    I stuffed my anger away and jumped up. I walked around the table and gave him a hug. "It was great. I had a lot of fun, and I know I have a lot to learn." I looked down at the flowers. "Are these for me?" I looked up at him through myshes.


    He smiled and nodded. "You deserved them." He handed them to ine and I hugged them to my face, taking a deep breath.


    They smelled of mildew and rot, much like this pack, but I Beamed up at him. "Thank you." I wrapped my arm around his waist again. "I love them." My phone chirped, and I pulled away, grabbing it from the desk. "Everything okay?" Brandon leaned over and I sighed.


    さん


    "Yeah. My mom called for a ''family dinner'' to clear the air. I rolled my eyes and sat


    against the table. "I don''t know what I should do."


    "What do you mean?" Brandon settled next to me.


    "Shannon wants me to turn down this job and have nothing to do with you." I


    wiggled my phone. "Even if my mom is pissed at Morgan, Shannon is still her daughter, and he is still her husband. She wants us to get along." I sighed and slid my phone into my pocket.


    "I can understand that." He nodded. "What are you going to do?"


    I looked at him and bit my bottom lip. “I had a lot of fun today, and I enjoyed


    seeing you. But I won''t make my mom''s life harder. I''ll let Shannon win." I sighed and stood


    "Wait what?" Brandon reached for me.


    I nodded. "I stayed away from you in highschool because Shannon loved you and


    I didn''t want to make my mom''s life harder. I know you want me to be your luna,


    but I love my mom too much to hurt Shannon like this."


    He looked panicked. "Let me walk you home, and I''ll talk to your mom and


    Morgan. Fuck, I''ll even talk to Shannon. I don''t want to lose you because of this." Bingo.