Page 5 of Assisting the Alpha
“How can I possibly celebrate? In a month I’ll have no job and nowhere to live. I amsoscrewed.”
Zaiden sighs, then gets up and comes around the table with his pint, dropping into the chair next to me. He puts his muscular arm around my shoulders, dwarfing me, of course, and I lean into his side. I might not be a wolf, but he’s the only one who shows me this much physical affection. Wolves are physical types, and I don’t hate it.
Sure enough, he scents my neck. I used to think it was weird back when we were kids, but I get it now.
“I know it doesn’t seem like it, but this is a good thing. We’ll find you a place, okay? You can stay with me for a few days if you need to.”
“I know.”
“I wish you could move in, but…”
“Yeah.” The only way to live on Connor Pack lands is to be part of the pack. And while the wolf pack are relatively friendly to me, considering I’m a magic-user, the only way to be pack is to renounce the coven completely and swear an oath to them.
There’s no way in hell I’m leaving my people, so living with Zaiden is out. A small part of me wishes he’d move into the city centre with me. Living in the neutral zone, we’d be able to share a place.
It would be really unfair of me to ask, though. Wolves need their packs, and unfortunately, I wouldn’t be enough for him. He’d do it in a heartbeat if I asked, I know he would. It would take time, but eventually, he’d miss his pack too much and our friendship would suffer.
I won’t do that to him.
“I’m more worried about a job, to be honest.”
Zaiden lets me go, pulling out his phone. “I have an idea about that.”
I take a large gulp of my drink. Zaiden often has crazy ideas and I likely need the fortification. “Let’s hear it.”
He taps the screen a few times, then shows me a website for Soldati Security. I frown at the screen. That’s the group they were talking about in the meeting.
“You’re gonna need to elaborate.”
Zaiden smirks and there’s a familiar look of mischief in his eyes. “Heard of them?”
“A bit, yeah.”
“According to Dante, they’re this new supe group. Ex-military, all badass and shit. Word is they’ve gone up against your coven a few times already, vying for the same jobs. There’s a rumour going around that they’re bidding against your coven for the BSG contract. If they win…”
“They’d be the new task force. What’s that got to do with me?”
Zaiden’s smirk deepens and he scrolls down the screen. “They’re looking for a local liaison. Initially for three months, with the possibility of making it permanent. I saw it the other day and thought of you, but figured you’d never go for it. Now, though…”
I snatch his phone from him and scan the job advert. There’s nothing in there that explicitly states it’s supernatural in nature, of course, since humans don’t know we exist, but reading between the lines…
“You want me to apply for a job that will pitch me against my coven?”
Zaiden snorts. “Ayo, you’re about to be jobless and homeless. Nyoka won’t give you the chance you deserve, but these folks might. I literally can’t think of anyone better for this job than you. You’re one of the few people who could walk into any territory and be greeted as a friend.”
“That’s true.”
Most people trying to do this job would be discriminated against by one species or another. Thanks to my mum, that’s not the case for me.
It’s definitely worth considering, and the salary is a lot better than my old job. Even if it were just for three months to get myself on my feet, it would give me breathing room to find something else. “But going against my coven…”
My best friend’s eyes twinkle. “You’re not going against your coven though, are you? It’s just a job thing. Local liaison. Help the new guys settle into the city.”
I look up from the screen and narrow my eyes. “What aren’t you telling me?”
Zaiden looks around the bar, then leans in close, lowering his voice. “According to Dante, Nyoka and the boss of this Soldati Security can’t stand each other. What better way to show your cousin how wrong he is about you?”
“Do this to get back at Nyoka, you mean?” I don’t know about that. It’s not like it’s Nyoka’s fault I keep messing up the tests. Or that I quit my job in a fit of frustration and despair.
