*** Salma ***
“Papá, te prometo que los hombres lobo están locos. no envíe una bomba ni un pistolero,” (Papa I promise the werewolves are crazy. I did not send a bomb or a gunman).
I have been trying to convince my father for the past half hour that I was not responsible for trying to entice a turf war with the mutts, but he does not believe me. He thinks I am eager to take their land when in all honesty they do not really show up on my radar. As long as they keep their heads down and do what they are supposed to, I don’t really care about them.
Well, that was until I was accused of dropping the gauntlet in their ballpark. What do I look like? An idiot? My father stung my pride, he told me to get back in line or he would send Alejandro to take over. Threatening me with Alejandro! He does not know his ass from his elbow, the stupid jerk.
It was only after Alpha Aiden called me to apologise that I realised what the issue was. “Your car was spotted on our premises and I’m sure you can understand why that made my pack members suspicious, Ms Morales. But please accept my apologies. I will contact your father or Alejandro and apologise too.” The big dumb meathead, and why did he have to bring Alejandro into it too. He is not even a Morales- I am!
“Ms Morales, about the woman who was using your car...”
I cut him off. Eva does not have a clue about the world I inhabit, any talk of the Spanish Mafia is likely to make her hair curl and well, supernatural beings… I am definitely sure she thinks they are comic book fodder. I would not have believed it myself if I did not have first-hand experience in dealing with werewolves.
“Alpha Aiden, don’t worry. Mrs Jefferson is as green as the grass, she is safe, she doesn’t know about my identity and she certainly doesn’t know about yours.”
He gives a small chuckle. “That is not what I am concerned about but thank you for the insight. She applied for a lease car; however, she does not seem to be aware of her current financial situation.”
I cut him off again. “Just send the bill to me, I will cover it.”
I can feel he is becoming annoyed by my interruption, but I am eager to get on the phone and rub Alejandro “Shit for Brains” Suarez’s nose in the fact that he is not needed here. “This will be quicker if you let me say what I have to before you interrupt me.”
What an arrogant ass. “I am sorry, Alpha Aiden, please continue.” I spit the words out through my teeth; diplomacy is draining. Maybe Alejandro can deal with that side of things, he’s the sort of man who likes kissing butts.
“I have gifted the car myself. However, I am presuming, seeing as you loaned her your car and have offered to foot her bill, that she is your friend. And as her friend, you may want to know there is a massive loan against her house in Mr Jefferson’s name and it’s about to be repossessed.”
Shit. That will be Ryan fucking Jefferson’s doing yet again.
“She said she is married. Can her husband sort this for her?”
Oh, trust him to think she needs a man to sort this out for her, it is a bloody man that got her in this mess.
“No, as per usual he is a useless piece of shit, but do not worry, Eva’s got me. So, are we straight then, Alpha Aiden?” I am getting the feeling he is stalling but I cannot think of a reason why.
“I just wanted to verify her reference. She said she works for you so if you can tell me her job, when she works, her pay scale and how long she has worked with you and then send me a short paragraph about her for our files, I will then leave you to your important work.”
I tell him I will email it over tonight and that I will see Eva tonight at work so I’ll smooth things over with her then.
“She’ll be working tonight?”
Why is he so interested? “Yes, she works until 6pm on Tuesdays updating memberships and payment details. Is there something I need to know about, Alpha Aiden?”
“No, no. I will let you get back to your work. Please pass on my respectful regards to your father and I’ll look forward to your reference, Ms Morales. Goodbye.”
I end the call and I am just about to impatiently call Alejandro to gloat about Alpha Aiden calling to apologise when I realise something.
Did that hairy stinking mutt say he has gifted my best friend Eva a car? Why would he do that? He best not think this gives him one over us… but why else would the Alpha of one of the most powerful packs in the country give a club Membership Clerk a free fucking car unless he thought it would help him gain favour with the most powerful mob in over fifty years?
I need to talk to Eva.
*** Aiden ***
As I cut the call with Salma Morales, I feel Beta Preston and Gamma Ellis looking at me.
“What?”
They continue to stare at me expectantly.
“Why are you staring at me?”
“Are you going to go get her, Alpha? Your mate? Now you know she isn’t Mafia that should make the roads clear for you to make a move, shouldn’t it?” Gamma Ellis’ naivety and inexperience are showing yet again.
“She is married to another human. The rules are different because she is human, Gamma Ellis, I cannot just claim her. I have to get her to agree to be mine. I know she felt something, but there won’t be any obvious mate bond to prove to her that I am the other half of her soul.”
I think back to our encounter earlier today. The moment she slapped me, Roman started pouting and whining and her angry words echoed around the showroom.
“No, I am fucking not. I belong to no one”. She shouts at me with her tiny hand still raised, ready to attack again should she need to.
Her cheeks are flushed with indignation and I see a spark of fury in her eyes. Goddess, she pleases me so much.
She is tiny, about 5ft 2in with thick brown hair that’s tied up in a high ponytail like she just came from the gym. She has sultry blue eyes which are mostly obscured by a big pair of thick-rimmed glasses. Her lips, her pink kissable lips, are soft like rose petals.
“I am so sorry; I have been taking some medication for back pain and it’s made me act a bit peculiar. Please accept my apology and come straight through while we get your car sorted and get you some refreshments.”
I project my Alpha aura, so everyone else backs off. She follows me into the office, and as I pull her chair out, I get another blast of her alluring scent.
It's only when I take my chair on the other side of the table that I notice her wedding ring. Come on, Moon Goddess… cut me a break!
And yet when I fill out the application with her there is very little mention of a husband even with my inconspicuous prodding. She does not request a joint applicant, she does not specify another adult living with her, her mortgage is all her own and there is no income detailed for her spouse.
So apart from the ring on her finger, there was nothing to say she is a taken woman. She tells me she works for her friend Salma and my heart sinks. If she is connected to the Spanish Mafia, this is bad news. The issue with the car is cleared up as she tells me her car broke down and she borrowed Salma’s.
If I had maintained better control over Roman and had not kissed her without permission, I might have been able to question her further about her relationship status.
There is a part of me that wants to throw her over my shoulder and take her to bed and keep her there forever; however, she is human. There aren’t going to be any shortcuts if I want her to be mine.
I want the ground to swallow me up when Amber and Preston show up, especially when Amber comes storming into the showroom screaming like a banshee about someone slapping the Alpha. I am never going to live this down, especially after all the crap I have given Preston about my sister over the years.
When I get back to the office, my mate, Eva asks, “Is that your name? Alpha? It’s very unusual, isn’t it?”
I cannot help but grin at her. “It’s a nickname, you know, because I am the boss. My name is Aiden, Aiden Goldrick.”
I hold my hand out to her for her to shake and get those tingles I had been told about when you have contact with your mate. It is the most magical feeling in the world and I almost groan in satisfaction. I notice sparks crossing my palm and although she does not see it, I think she feels it.
Her eyes widen when she looks up at me and it feels like time has frozen.