Page 1 of Assisting the Alpha
Chapter One
AYO
“Wish me luck!” I hit shutdown on my computer and pick up the folder I’ve prepared.
A chorus of “good luck” sounds around our small office as Sally gets up to give me a hug. “You’re going to smash it.”
“Absolutely.” I let go of her and do my best ‘I’m not nervous’ smile.
It’s possible I haven’t shut up about my meeting since I arranged it. I’m determined to end today with a promotion, and my fabulous colleagues are one hundred percent supportive.
My Scottish friend, Irving, hasn’t looked up, too busy frowning at his computer, so I lightly punch his shoulder on my way past.
He looks up, blinks at me, then points at his screen. “Do you know what this is for?”
I quickly check the time on my phone. I’m mega early, so I suppress my sigh and take a look. Irving really can be oblivious sometimes.
The invoice on the screen is for rent on a property in vampire territory. My eyebrows shoot up, because that is definitely not what I was expecting to see. With the antagonistic species divisions in the city of Birchester, renting property from another species is virtually unheard of. Our coven owns a large amount of land and property on the east side of the city, so why would we rent a building from the vamps?
“No, sorry mate, no clue. Raise it in case someone is trying to pull a fast one though. I’m headed out.”
Irving’s green eyes widen. “It’s Friday afternoon.”
I grin and bounce a little. “Yep.”
The witch stands and smothers me in a hug. Irving is my physical opposite: a large, bearded white guy with a mop of brown hair—nothing like my mahogany skin, short afro, and vertically challenged stature.
Irving does give amazing hugs, although this one lasts a little longer than anyone else’s did. “Good luck. Message me, aye? Let me know how it goes?”
I meet his smile with an easy grin. I so got this. “Definitely. See ya.”
I head out of the office, which is actually an old stable building that was converted years ago, and head across the sun-drenched cobbles to the eighteenth century English manor house. I don’t know if it’s the blazing heat of the summer afternoon making me sweat or simply nerves, but I slip my hand inside the collar of my shirt and run my fingers over the moonstone in the centre of the pendant that serves as my focus. A warm pulse of my sorcerer magic reassures me everything is as it should be. I’m going to ace this.
I bypass the side entrance I usually take since I’m not heading to my apartment, and instead enter through the grand double doors at the front of the building. I don’t often go in this way anymore because the task force work in this section, but if Iwait for my coven leader in his office there’s a chance he’ll forget like last time. Or someone will need him for something, like the time before.
Nope, this time Nyoka won’t escape.
The wards around the manor greet me as an old friend. The checkerboard floor and wood panelling of the entrance hall provide a cool respite as I clutch my folder tighter and head for the formal dining room that was turned into a conference room back when my mum was coven leader.
One of the advantages of working as an admin for the coven? Having access to everyone’s calendar. I know they’re finishing up a meeting in the next ten minutes, so this is the right place to wait.
Someone must have cast a silencing ward, because I can’t hear anything from behind the closed door. Hmm. I should probably give them privacy.
But what if Nyoka isn’t actually in there? It seems pointless to wait around when I could simply check really quick and track him down if he’s elsewhere.
Decision made, I send a trickle of my magic out, locating the ward around the room. I make sure to stand next to the door rather than in front of it so if someone comes out I won’t be seen immediately. I massage the ward, tickling it and convincing it I’m a friend, that I’m helping make sure no one else can listen in.
The ward welcomes me, letting me hear as clearly as if I were in the room myself.
“We have to dosomething, Nyoka! Two murders, and right as the BSG is renewing our contract?”
I recognise the voice of the deputy leader of the task force, Will. I didn’t realise the British Supernatural Government was about to renew their contract. The two murders though, those I did know about. It’s what prompted me to nag Nyoka into meeting with me today.
“We’re doing plenty.” I recognise Nyoka’s annoyed tone. It’s one he’s used with me a lot over the years. “We’re investigating both deaths and protecting the families. As for the contract, we have nothing to worry about.”
“Not even Soldati Security?”
There’s a feminine scoff. “Please. That bunch of outsiders? No supe in the city will hire them. They don’t stand a chance of beating us to the contract.”
