Chapter 30 The End

(Chapter song ‘Teeth’ by 5 Seconds Of Summer)

EMBER “Ok, Valentino. What’s next?”

I walk into the all red office and stride up to the blood red desk, slamming my completed assignment down in front of him. He types on his red keyboard and stares at his red monitor. He loves his red.

“Nothing. Have a seat.” He says while still staring.

“Ok.” I feel a little like being called to the principals office as I pull up a chair to his desk. “What’s up?” I cross my leg and bounce my thigh high, dark red platform boots and adjust my black leather jacket.

He turns. “Ok. Understand. I’m not knocking your success rate. You’ve closed every case I’ve given you.”

“Yes, I have.” I nod quick and smirk.

“But…” He holds up a finger.

“But.” My face falls.

“Since joining the Betas, it’s been nothing but a dumpster fire meets a train wreck. Ember…I’m not sure how these people remain together, much less alive.” He opens my file, flips through it and closes it again.

I stand, press my lips together and lean on his desk. “Look. We don’t have time for cutesy romance, ok. The main office fucks up, we are the last resort for these idiots. I get the job done. How that happens should have no bearing on my results.”

Valentino arches a brow. “We would like our clients to be sane, Ember. You’re sloppiness is going to get someone locked up or killed. No. I can see from your attitude, I’m going to have to demote you back to Delta until you can perfect your strategies.” He opens another file and picks up a pen.

“You can’t do that.” I grit.

He takes the end of his pen and taps his nameplate on his desk. “What’s in front of my name right there?”

“Saint.” I grind.

“Right. That means I can do whatever the hell I want. Now report to Eclese. He’ll get your new assignment.”

“Come on, Valentino. You can’t! Look, give me another chance. I promise. It’ll be super smooth. No mistakes. I have 100% kiss rate. You can’t deny that.” I plead.

He sighs, folds his hands on his desk and looks up at me. “Ok…I think I may have something.” He looks at me and snaps his fingers.

In a blink, we’re standing in the middle of bar. It’s crowded and our shield protects us from being seen.

“Ok. I like this already.” I snatch a beer off a waitress tray and chug it back.

Valentino looks down at me. “Focus.” He points to the crowd and a set of tables at the back. “There.”

I train my eye to a dirty blonde guy in a white button down. He’s sitting with a blonde girl.

I turn my head and train my ear. The loud music and noise of the bar fades and only his voice comes through.

“I’m so glad I met you tonight. You’re so beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

“I can’t wait to show you my pack house.”

“Pack house?”

“Oh, yeah. You’ll love it. I’ve always pictured it filled with beauty like yours.”

“Excuse me?”

“Oh. Not like right now, but ya know. Our future together. You want a future right?”

“Well, I’m…”

“It’s OK. Take a week or two think about it, in the meantime, we can get to know each other, make plans for the blue moon. That sort of stuff.

“The moon? A year away?”

“Can’t be too prepared.”

“I don’t…

“You know what? You’re right. I shouldn’t put that on you. Im sorry.”

“Oh, good. I was kind of getting worri…”

“I’ll plan everything and you just buy your dress. I’m thinking purple.”

“Look. You seem like a nice guy…

My jaw hits the floor. “You have got to be kidding me.”

“Really?” I throw my arms out to my sides.

“That’s the deal, Ember. You match that Alpha and I’ll retract your demotion.” He eyes me.

I look up at Valentino. “This guy? He’s a complete idiot. Dripping in desperation and making false promises everywhere. I bet he strings them along and ditches them.”

“Actually, he’s the one that suffers the rejection. He has so much love built up in his system. It’s starting to leak out. I need you to plug those leaks and find his match.” Valentino holds his hands behind his back.

“Valentino, look at this asshole. He’s a douche. He deserves to be alone for the shit he’s pulling.” I stuff my hands in the back pockets of my black jeans.

“We don’t pick the matches, Ember. We just match him. Do your job, smoothly with no issues, and you will get the promotion. Simple as that.” He looks down at me gives me a look of encouragement.

I look over my next assignment. Large muscles for days. Cute smile, I guess. Carries himself ok. I think I can work with this.

“I’ll match him alright. I kick his feelings right up his ass and straighten him out.”

“Ember. Be nice.” Valentino warns.

“I’m nice. I’m full of love. Painful, agonizing, torturous love.” I smirk as I stare at his blue eyes and white smile as he laughs. “He won’t know what hit him.”

THE END Thank you for reading Nala. I appreciate all my readers for giving Behind The Alpha a chance.

Behind The Alpha Series continues with Book 4: Cass Quinn Wes Nala Cass Raven: Cass Raven is hard up for his mate. At first, the casual relationships were fine, but he’s not playing anymore. Seeing Jayson, Luke and Wren have happy lives is driving him nuts. So much so, he’s been pushing his desperate love on the women he meets. It’s not until he gets some unexpected help with his love life, that he sees the error of his ways. He has the love he wants…as long as she doesn’t break him into little pieces before then.

Deacon Oliver Graham Adam For the best context Read The Falcon Ridge Series starting with Book 1 She’s Not For You Author Revised The Phoenix Mountain Series starting with Book 1 City Of Dreams From the pipeline: The Axelridge Series and The Oceans of Atlas coming 2023 to 2024 Follow me:

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M. McTier