Welcome and happy birthday, Amber! It's such a pleasure to have you here!
Stanley followed Fenris home. His place still stank and the idea of a bed with Fenris in it, definitely a worthy lure. It turned out that Fenris’ family actually owned the building and the others lived there as part of a pack agreement.
“Though if you don’t want them there we can kick them out. It should be the alpha’s home now,” Fenris said with an earnest expression.
Stanley didn’t feel completely comfortable throwing people out of their home. “I don’t want to toss them out. I mean how long have they lived with you?”
“Too long.” Fenris rolled his eyes. “But Sandy is a kick ass cook and even though Paul is a bit of a tool, he knows his stuff about security.”
“Well as it’s your house and I’m your mate do you want them out of there?”
Fenris shrugged. “Packs usually live in groups but it isn’t that large of a place. How about we look around for other lodgings everyone can move into. Our last Alpha liked his privacy, which probably should’ve sent warning bells to everyone. I’m sure we can find a nice building to purchase.”
“Is it just us? I mean the four of us?” Stanley didn’t know why four people needed an entire building but then he didn’t know much about pack politics.
Laughing Fenris opened the door to his apartment. “No, there are twenty of us. We thought it best to wait a bit before introducing the others. You were a little overwhelmed with meeting the three of us.”
“Twenty? I’m responsible for twenty people.” Stanley couldn’t even take care of a goldfish as proven by the demise of goldy one through thirty. How could he possibly oversee the care and protection of twenty people?
Fenris kissed him on the cheek. “You don’t have to watch over us. Well, except me. They all have jobs and some even have families of their own. Your job is to look strong and studly.”
“And kick the ass of any alpha who threatens us,” Paul interjected.
Sandy nodded from her spot, curled up on a loveseat with a gossip magazine. “Defending the territory, acting as an advisor and watching out for our finances are all alpha tasks.”
“And you already punched Sebastian so you have one job down,” Fenris offered.
Sandy dropped her magazine. “You punched Sebastian? What did he do?”
“He bled on the floor,” Fenris announced with glee.
Sandy and Paul stared at him at him intently as if he’d grown another head. The look became so prolonged he almost checked to see if he had. “He peed on my stuff!” Stanley protested.
Paul laughed. “Trying to bring you to heel was he?”
“Apparently my father promised me to him.”
Sandy nibbled her lower lip. “He might try to retaliate. It’s best we get the pack moved into a secure building. The better to shore up our defenses.”
“You’ll have to quit your job,” Paul told him.
“What? Why?” Stanley asked.
“Dude, you’ve got a family to take care of. What is Fenris going to do with his pretty self all day while you’re crunching numbers?”
Good thing Paul had fast reflexes. Stanley didn’t even see the book before Paul ducked to the side to avoid it impacting with his skull.
Fenris turned to him. “He’s right, Stanley, I hope you weren’t in love with your job. Most alphas can’t keep up with their responsibilities and a regular job too. Being an alpha is a full time occupation.”
Stanley thought of his little office with its dying ficus and buzzing lights. “I really like my job but I don’t mind leaving the company. It sounds like I’ll still be doing accounting, except for the pack instead of a company.”
“That’s the spirit,” Paul said. “Just think of it as a really physical accounting job where you might need to shift into a wolf and battle to the death.” He turned to Sandy. “I give him a month.”
A loud thud echoed in the air as Paul tumbled to the floor.
Stanley turned a shocked gaze to his mate.
Fenris shrugged. “I guess he forgot to duck.”
