Page 47 of The CEO Alpha’s Substitute Mate

Ariela’s head lifts, her voice not as happy as I would have thought. “Can we talk outside?”

I follow her onto the landing, and she closes the door behind us. “Look, it’s really nice that you’re letting her come.” Her fingers are working at the hem of her sleeve. “But we both know the staff doesn’t really like me, and I don’t want them being rude. It’s one thing being rude to me; it’s another thing being rude to my friend. I think it’s better that she doesn’t come. I can always meet her outside.”

All these weeks under my roof and she still feels like an outsider. My wolf strains, displeased by the idea.

“That’s no reason.” I keep my hands behind my back so I don’t reach for her. “If the staff misbehaves, you let me know. I’ll make sure they treat her with the utmost respect.”

“Callum…” She trails off, and I give her a firm look.

“They will not disrespect her. I’ll make sure of it.”

She hesitates. “Can’t you just come back with us? If you’re there, they won’t.”

My wolf soars for a moment. This proud, defiant woman is leaning on us. She wants the safety and security our presence offers her. My wolf wants to do it. Go with her, let her see how she is treated with my protection around her.

However, I have things to deal with, matters that I couldn’t handle before her.

“I have to return to the office. But you have my word.” I hold her eyes until she stops working at that sleeve. “It will be fine. And if anyone dares, you can call me, and I will deal with them. Since you are under my roof, you are allowed to have company over.”

I’m sure my staff will object to serving humans, but they work for me, and I’m not going to let them have a say in the matter.

She looks toward the door beyond which Luca and her friend stand. Finally she asks, “How will you get back?”

She’s worrying about me. My wolf preens.

“You, your friend, and Luca can take the car to the estate. I’ll have another driver come by.”

“We’ll go once your car arrives.”

Does she realize what she’s doing? I muse. Probably not. She’s not a shifter, so she doesn’t understand what her actions of trying to look after me imply. My wolf, however, understands a little too much. I force it down.

“I don’t need you to wait for me,” I answer. “It’s fine. Go.”

“If you say so.” She heads back inside, and two minutes later, she is followed out by her friend and Luca. I help carry the bags downstairs, along with the two bottles of wine she refused to leave behind. I’ve already alerted the second driver by the time Petrov takes off with the three of them down Garrick Street. As I wait for the car to arrive, I call the house.

Reid answers inside two rings. “Alpha.”

“Miss Reyes is bringing a guest home tonight, a woman called Zara.” I watch the taillights go. “She’s human. She’ll be treated properly.”

“I’ll handle it.”

“One complaint, Reid. Just one, and you know what will happen.”

He falters on the other side of the line, and when he speaks, his voice is firm. “There will be no problems, Alpha.”

By the time the driver arrives, I’ve already called Damien and given him my instructions. I reach the office, and I’ve only just sat down behind my desk when Damien brings Camille inside. She looks worse than she did running out of here this morning. Her nose has been set by somebody competent, and the bruising under both eyes will be gone by tomorrow night. There’s blood down the front of her blouse. Her hands won’t stay still. She tears out of Damien’s grip the second the door closes, and her knees go on my carpet.

“You said I could leave.”

“I said that for her benefit.” I come around the desk.

Camille lifts her head. I go very still, and her breath stops in her throat. She starts moving backward on her knees before she’s aware she’s doing it. I take her jaw in my grasp and stop her.

“Where did you get the right to put your hands on my people?”

“I am also your people!” she cries out.

“No, you’re not.”