Job Openings

Talia’s POV

Tomah Pack Alpha’s Offices

“Before we get on the big call, I need to talk to the three of you and Randall,” Dad said.

“I’ll see if I can get him on Skype,” I said. “He’s working, but hopefully he can get away.” I sent him a text with the address to call, and a few minutes later I saw his call pop up on the screen. “Hi honey,” he said. “What’s going on?”

“Family meeting, can you get somewhere private?”

“Yeah, just a minute, there should be a room open somewhere.” He moved around while the rest of the family sat down; Brent and Patty to my left, Bobby and Tania to my right. The screen showed him closing the door to an office, while I widened the screen to show all of us. “Congratulations, Mom and Dad, you guys are going to do great things at the Council. And congratulations to Bobby and Tania. You’re going to be fine Alphas, I’m so proud of you.”

“Thanks bro,” Bobby said.

“Things have changed quite a bit in the last day, and the changes will have a ripple effect,” Dad said. “I’m turning over the Pack to Dusty and Kimberly immediately. Bull Baldwin can remain their Beta until one of the brothers is ready to replace him.”

“Maybe two, now that Matt and Mark have Gia and Tia, they could slot in as Beta and Gamma,” Randall said.

“That’s probably how it will go, allowing Bull to retire.” Dad looked over at Bobby. “Is there a Beta you would trust in this Pack?”

“Not really,” he said. “Since Alpha Todd fled and Beta Mendez was arrested and released, we’ve been operating without one. I doubt the Pack would accept him back, even if he would return.”

“My concern is simple; you are both new to the job and young. A good Beta pair can make your life a lot easier while you settle in, and it’s no time for rookies. You need someone you can trust, someone with experience.” He put his hand on Bobby’s back. “Ideally, someone in the family or who you know well.”

“Who?”

“When Denise found her mate in Chief Enforcer Jacque Jones, that was a great pairing for our family. Right now Terry Baldwin is at Copper Mountain as Beta Male with Denise as Beta Female, so one has to go. Of the two options, Denise and Jacque have the most experience. I think you should ask them to be your Betas, leaving Terry in Colorado.”

I could see the idea turning over in his head. “My big sister working for me?”

“They aren’t going to be Alphas but are excellent Betas. Both are experienced and would be a big help. Terry has potential, but he’s still young and unmated. Your sister is the best choice.”

“Jacque is a good man, he’s been a lifesaver for me at the Council,” I said. “You aren’t going to keep them on at the Council, Dad?” I had thought that he would talk Jacque into staying, allowing Denise to be with them in Pennsylvania.

“We talked about it this morning just in case it happened, and we have a different pair in mind for Chief Enforcer. That job requires people with a specific skill set. You need the body of a fighter, the mind of a cop and unquestioned integrity.”

“But Jacque and Denise have that,” I said.

“Who could walk into a hostile Pack and immediately gain compliance and carry out an arrest, even if the Pack refused to cooperate? Who has years of investigative experience? And who can I trust with my life as I build bridges between the Werewolves and the Vampires, with people on both sides who will be resistant to change?”

It hit me. “You want Randall and I to be your Chief Enforcers.”

He nodded. “You two are easily the most qualified for the job. With the connections you have with the Covens, and Randall’s FBI training and ties with human law enforcement, you’re perfect for the job.”

“But I swore a…”

“What’s left to avenge,” Tania interrupted. “I love you, you never gave up, you rescued me from those bastards, but who is left to pay?” She got up and hugged me from behind. “Todd is in the cells with a death sentence, Justin is dead, the training center is shut down, the island is shut down, my pimps in Texas are dead! The only thing left is the people who paid to use me, and they’re being arrested by the dozens! By the time the Feds and my lawyer are done with them, I’ll have my vengeance,” she said as her tears fell. “It’s time for you to move on and have your own life. Dad’s right, you guys are perfect for the job, and he gets people in a top position who have his absolute trust and respect.”

I got up and hugged her tight as we let the tears flow. Since I was sixteen, exiled from our Pack after losing the challenge to Todd, I’d been consumed by anger and a lust for revenge. So much had changed, but who would I kill now? I couldn’t start killing humans, and the wolves involved were taken care of. I didn’t want to be an Alpha, and I didn’t fit in a Pack. I let her go, and she was pulled into Bobby’s lap. Turning to the screen, my tear-streaked face looked at my man. “Randall?”

“Tania’s right, your blood oath is finished. It’s time we started to live again, and I want stability for us to raise our family.” The thought of pups had my wolf spinning in circles in my mind. “The FBI was a good experience, but family and Pack comes first. The only reason I went that way was because I was so far down the list, I thought I’d never have a Pack rank. Dad’s right, the Covens will be more comfortable with us involved since you and Erica have such close ties. If you want this, I’ll resign my badge and we can move to Pennsylvania together.”

“You’d do that for me?”

“I’d do it for us, and for my parents, and for our kind,” he said. “It’s an amazing opportunity, and we would be keeping my parents safe at the same time. Dad’s also right in that Denise and Jacque would be a big help for Tania. Dad, have you broached this subject with them yet?”

“No, I wanted to sound you all out first. If you turn down the Chief Enforcer positions, then they are my next choice. There’s lots of moving parts in this, and your answer is key to it all.”

“How will the Packs react to me being on the Council? After all, I’m the Alpha Killer!”

“I think the revelations of the past few weeks have resolved that. The Alphas you killed, they needed killing. Master Jarrod did not send you out without cause. I think there will be relief that you are back in the fold, constrained by our laws again.On your own you’re too much of a wildcard.” He put his hand on my shoulder, leaning in. “Patty and I trust you with our lives, that’s enough for the Alphas. You will prove your worth quickly, I’m sure.”

“And I want pups in the house now that I have to move,” Patty added.

I broke out laughing as I thought of how much my life had changed. I was going legit, starting a new life with an amazing man. My hand moved down over my belly as I looked up at the screen. “Are you sure?”

“Let’s do this,” Randall said. “I’ll turn in my resignation today if you say yes.”

“Yes,” I said. “We’ll take the job.”

Brent and Patty got up and hugged me, then Bobby and Tania did as well. “You’re going to be amazing,” Tania said. “The only Wamp pair in existence, kicking ass with Council authority?”

I laughed with her. “You know I don’t like paperwork.”

“So leave that for Randall! You’re the one with the reputation, who cares if he’s just as deadly as you are.”

“Thanks, sis. We’ll still see each other, right?”

“Of course, there’s Council functions and these things called ‘vacation’ and ‘airplanes.’ How long has it been since you’ve taken any time for yourself?”

I thought about it; since that summer day, I’d been training or fighting constantly. “You’re right, Randall owes me a honeymoon.”

“As soon as things settle down, baby.” Randall gave me a kiss on the screen. “I’ve got to go put in my notice and start making arrangements. I’ll get my condo sold and shipped up there, I should be able to get there in a couple of days,” he said. “I love you, Talia Stillwater.”

“You haven’t put a ring on it yet,” I teased. “I want romance and all.”

“You’ll get it. I love you all, but I have to go.” We said our goodbyes and he ended the call.

“I guess now we need to talk to Denise and Jacque,” Bobby asked.

“Let’s get them on the videoconference then,” I said. We had to pull Dallas and Vivian into the call, since the move affected them as well. Dad let Jacque know that Randall and I were taking over as Chief Enforcers and the reasons why. They were happy for us, and were looking forward to a calmer life.

The purges of the Copper Mountain Pack ranks had been completed. Terry was doing well as Beta, so they agreed to let Denise go if she wanted the Tomah job. Bobby and Tania made their pitch, and Dad explained why he thought it was best for everyone. The real question was whether Denise would work for her younger brother, and Jacque an Alpha less than half his age.

“It will be fun, Denise. Phillip and Austin will be able to play together, and there are other kids up here his age. Tomah is a great place to raise your family.” Tania was going for the kill, bringing up the two boys and their friendship.

“We really need you,” Bobby added. “I never expected to be Alpha, and Tania is going to be busy with school as well as the Pack. We could really use your help.”

“We need to talk about this first,” Jacque said. “We’ll call you back in a few minutes.” We ended the call and waited.

“What now?”

“I got a text from Dusty, they’re taking off in a few minutes,” Bobby said. “Kimberly said the pups were playing in the lake all morning and are exhausted. Sandy and Phillip are already asleep, check out this photo,” he said. He showed us his phone, the two were strapped into the seats in their boosters and were holding hands as they slept. “I can’t wait to see Phillip and the girls.”

“It was nice of them to take care of our boy for us while we had this time,” Tania said. “I didn’t want to disrupt everything for him until we had a decision here.” His brother had other commitments and couldn’t get up here before the votes, so they had to wait until it was done to take the charter jet up.

The video call came back, and as soon as the camera showed Diane, I knew their answer. “We’ll do it,” Diane said with a smile. “Most of our stuff hasn’t been unpacked yet, so we’ll get it on a truck. We should be out there in a few days.”

“Thank you, sis,” Bobby said.

I felt better, knowing that my little sister would be in good hands. I felt a buzzing in my pocket and pulled my phone out, smiling at the number. “Hey Jarrod, how’s the Council?”

“There’s a problem, Talia. A big one.”

“What’s happened?”

“Master Louis has escaped. The guards were killed or were complicit. They are all gone, and the video has been deleted. The noon shift reliefs went down there and found him gone.” This was bad. “Just because the Council is behind peace with the werewolves and acceptance of hybrids does not mean all Vampires are. This couldn’t be done without the cooperation of other Covens. We’re working it now.”

“I understand. I’m not the Chairman anymore, Brent Meechum just took that job from me but he’s in the room and heard what you said. I’m the Council’s Chief Enforcer now, so Randall and I will help in any way we can.”

He paused for a second. “Just be careful, Talia. We took down Daniela, but the basic plan they had was sound. Keep yourself and the Council safe; these people will do anything to spark a war.”

“Because war is the only way to keep the two sides apart,” I said.