Werewolf CEO 2, page 2
“We aren’t worried about the truck,” Lexi Peterson, the Board Secretary, chimed in.
“This is a very serious threat, Josh,” Susan O’Malley, the Vice-Chairperson, said. “We thought you handled the threat.”
“I did,” I said. “I killed Drake. I figured if we nipped this thing in the bud, then the rest of his pack would disperse.”
“Evidently not,” Collins sneered and turned his fat nose up at me.
“Look, I wasn’t gonna kill innocent wolves just because they were forced to join that asshole’s pack,” I snapped. “I couldn’t separate the wheat from the goddamn chaff.”
“It was very noble of you,” Victor said with a sympathetic nod. “But now we have another problem on our hands.”
“Do you know who this might be?” Susan asked and leaned a little closer to me across the table.
Susan was like the mother figure in the group, and I could see the urgency behind her black eyes. Her thin eyebrows, which looked like black strings, were pulled down in a ‘V’ shape, and she rubbed her hands together over and over again as they rested on the wooden table, like a nervous tic.
“I have an idea, but it’s nothing solid,” I said as I ghosted my eyes over each board member.
“Let’s hear it,” the old businessman said and stretched his thin arms out at his side.
“There was one Beta who stood out to me after I gave them the choice to either stay with me, or go off on their own,” I started to explain. “He looked pissed. And he was the only one who stared me down.”
“Did you get a name for this Beta?” the gray-haired wolf asked me with a raised eyebrow.
“No,” I sighed in defeat. “But I might know a few people who would know him.”
“Your new pack?” Susan asked as she sat back in her chair. “Congratulations on acquiring them.”
“Thanks,” I said with a fleeting grin. “It’s worth asking them, but something tells me that Drake’s pack weren’t all exactly friendly with each other.”
“So, we have a potential new leader in our midst,” Victor said with a deep sigh. “This is rather unusual, Josh. Betas can’t lead. It’s not in their blood.”
“Which is why this makes this situation all the more unique,” Susan said wisely.
“And all the more serious,” Lexi added. “Despite Drake being a tyrant, there is no one to keep those Betas in check anymore.”
“Which means we need to find this new ‘leader’ of theirs and deal with him before he can act on this threat,” Victor said, and he slid a printed image of the truck with the message clawed into the side onto the table.
“He must have run straight to the truck,” I said as I put the pieces together. “As soon as I let him leave the subway station, he must have run straight there with anyone willing to follow him.”
“Perhaps next time, you can be a little more assertive in your approach,” Benjamin commented with a sour face.
“I didn’t see you down there handling it,” I fired back. “I did what I thought was right. And if I hadn’t, innocent lives would have been taken for no good reason.”
“Well, now even more innocent lives might be lost because there’s a pack of ravenous Betas running around thinking they can do whatever they want,” the treasurer snapped. “You should have put them all out of their misery.”
“If I’d have done that, I wouldn’t have a pack,” I growled as I suddenly felt protective of them.
I’d saved them. I’d given them another chance. It was only Katie and Finn who had an actual home to go back to. I’d put Luke, Amy, and Klaus up in a hotel for the time being until I could find them something more permanent. Those guys needed help, and I wasn’t gonna turn them away. And I sure as hell wasn’t gonna just kill them just because they’d been forced to join Drake’s pack.
Collins’ eyes widened, and he pushed his glasses up his nose a little more with a trembling hand.
“My father wouldn’t have just killed all of those wolves,” I said as I started to calm down a little. “And I’m trying to do my best to follow in his footsteps.”
“It’s admirable what you did, Josh,” Susan said softly. “I’m sure Collins is struggling to understand your decision because he wasn’t there.”
Susan sent a stern look toward the young treasurer, and he immediately averted his gaze from her intense black eyes.
“S-Sure,” he stuttered. “That’s, uh, exactly it.”
“Right,” I scoffed before turning my attention back to Victor. “There’s another thing I want you guys to be aware of. I offered some of the Betas who didn’t want to join my pack some of our stock to show that we weren’t really the bad guys. They’ll be here at noon.”
“You’re giving away our products?” Collins protested, but as soon as I glared at him, he shut his mouth again and slumped back into his chair.
“We need to prove to these people that we aren’t the villains Drake made us out to be,” I reasoned. “Drake forcibly turned most of these people, and he was filling their heads with hateful bullshit. If he really did indoctrinate as many wolves as we thought into thinking our pharmaceuticals are bad, then we need to try and rectify that.”
“Josh is right,” Lexi said with a firm nod. “Our image is important. And if giving away tasters is what it takes to protect that image, then that’s what we should do.”
“Very well, I shall have security notified and ready to escort them into the warehouse,” Victor said. “We trust your judgment, Josh. If you don’t think these wolves will be trouble, then feel free to do as you see fit.”
“Thanks,” I said with a grateful nod.
“Not to mention, you could see what they have to say about this mysterious Beta,” Susan suggested. “Even if it’s just a name, it will be something to go off of.”
“Good idea,” I agreed. “I’ll see what they can tell me.”
“If it isn’t the Beta, who do you think it could be?” Mia asked and spoke for the first time during the whole meeting.
Her brow was furrowed, and I could tell she was trying to work it out herself, which would probably explain why she had been so quiet.
“It is possible another Alpha has already claimed those who left for himself,” Victor said with a slight tilt of his head. “It is also possible that the Betas are acting as individuals without a leader in the hopes of getting retribution for their fallen Alpha.”
“That would be one of the few reasons they would be able to stay as a group,” Susan explained. “Betas naturally need some sort of leadership from an Alpha in order to survive, without taking our drugs, at least. If they were united under a common cause…”
“Then they could very well act without an Alpha and live long enough to do some serious damage,” Victor finished for her. “This needs to be dealt with. And quickly.”
“Understood.” I nodded. “Let’s up security. I want people guarding this place around the clock until whoever wrote that message is gone.”
“We can arrange that,” Victor said and sent a look to Benjamin, who nodded in response. “Is there anything else?”
“Be on your guard,” I warned. “If whoever is gunning for us now is as ruthless as Drake, then we need to be careful. Don’t travel anywhere alone, and don’t let your guard down.”
I want you to stay with me at the penthouse until this is finished, I said to Mia down our telepathic bond.
That was one of the many perks of having her in my pack. There was no need for verbal communication when we had a constant mental link between ourselves. The same went for the rest of my pack, and now that there were more of us, I’d have to be careful how loud my thoughts were, especially if it was when I was around Mia.
I’m not complaining about that, she replied, and I could see the corners of her mouth quirk up as she fought back a smirk.
If I let Mia go back to her apartment every night, I’d never sleep. Having her close by at all times was the only way I would be able to cope and get to the bottom of this whole mess. And if anything happened to her…
The thought made me feel nauseous, and I shook my head to get rid of the possibilities before I could get worked up.
“Alright, if that’s everything, let’s get back to it,” Victor said. “Let us know if you find anything out, from your leads.”
“Yeah, will do,” I said as I stood and grabbed Mia’s hand. “Same goes for you guys. If you get so much as a whiff of foul play, let me know, and I’ll sort it out.”
“As you wish, Josh,” the gray-haired businessman said with a faint smirk.
I knew he was impressed by my initiative. Even I was surprised by how quickly I’d adapted to this life and role, and I wasn’t planning on stopping this ball from rolling any time soon.
I waved to the rest of the board, who started sorting through the paperwork they had on the desk, and Mia and I headed back to the elevator to take us up to my office.
It only took a few seconds for us to reach the ninety-ninth floor, and Mia beelined for her little desk in the hallway. I really needed to get the renovations sorted for her to have an office alongside mine. It was way too big for one person, and I felt bad having her sit out in the hallway on her own.
“Hey, I’m gonna try and talk to the pack and warn them,” I said as I opened the large double doors leading to my office. “I figure it’s best to let them know as soon as possible so they’re not caught off guard.”
“Good idea.” Mia nodded and leaned up on her tiptoes to give me a kiss. “I’m gonna get started on my emails. Let me know if you need anything, okay?”
“Alright,” I said with a dopey grin as she pulled away from me and sat at her desk.
I kept staring for a moment in a lovestruck trance, and when I didn’t move, Mia raised her eyebrow at me.
“Are you gonna stand there and admire me all day, or are you gonna go do what you need to do, hotshot?” she asked in a teasing tone.
“Y-Yeah, I was-- that was what I was--” I stuttered and cleared my throat. “I’m shutting up now.”
Mia giggled as I made my way into my office with red cheeks. Honestly, it was no surprise she made me act like a fool in love. She was smoking hot and was the most gorgeous woman I’d ever seen, let alone dated.
And she was my mate.
I kept both of my doors open so I could keep an eye on her. And so no one would be able to get the drop on us. I’d hear them from a mile away, but if a Beta somehow managed to get in the elevator like Drake had, I’d be ready to fight as soon as those doors opened.
My office was awesome, and despite it being bittersweet that it used to belong to my parents, I was super grateful it was mine now.
There was a whole row of towering bookcases lining the back wall, and my oak desk sat in front of them with two leather chairs positioned in front of it. It was neatly decorated with expensive decor, and paintings were hung around the room.
Most of them depicted wolves in some capacity, and when I’d first entered this room, I’d been super confused about what I was missing. I’d figured it was some sort of running joke because of the company name, but now it made so much sense.
The room was illuminated by huge floor-to-ceiling windows on the left side of the room, and when the sun went down, there was a crystal chandelier I could flick on to provide a bit more light.
Now, though, the morning sun was beaming into the huge space, and I moved toward the window to really feel the heat. I sighed as I took in the breathtaking view I had towering above all of the other buildings in the Financial District. I’d never get used to it, and frankly, I didn’t want to.
I closed my eyes and let the sun’s rays hit me before I started to concentrate on the bond between me and my pack.
Guys, it’s Josh, I need you all to focus and listen up, I said down the bond.
What’s up, Alpha? Luke’s voice asked in my head, and I smiled at his quick response.
Luke was one of the youngest in my pack. He and his sister were two of the Betas staying in the hotel, and I felt super protective over them after what they had gone through with Drake.
I think some of the Betas I let go have threatened us, I said. We don’t know who is specifically behind it, but I’ve got a feeling it was that asshole Emily had in a headlock. Any idea who he is?
I never heard his name, Finn replied. Drake didn’t really use names when he was ordering us around.
Yeah, because he never bothered to learn them, Amy grumbled down the bond. We were the runts of the pack, Josh. But whoever that guy was, he was far up in the food chain.
So, you guys have no idea? I asked.
Each of them replied with a timid no, and it felt like they were expecting some sort of punishment for not knowing.
Hey, don’t worry about it, I quickly reassured them. We’ll figure it out. I just want you guys to be on high alert until I can get you in a safe place.
Understood, Alpha, Katie said, and I could practically see her saluting to the air in front of her.
Alright, I’ll keep you updated if anything happens, but for now, lay low, I ordered.
Thanks, Alpha, Luke said with a sigh of relief before the bond went quiet.
When I opened my eyes again, my vision was a little blue and blurry from how long I’d had them closed. I squinted at the glaring sun and felt my shoulders relax a little.
Knowing my pack was safe and that Mia was right here with me put me at ease, and I made my way over to the desk to start the day.
We needed to continue the day like nothing had happened, which was super weird. There was paperwork to file and sort out and numerous things for me to sign my name on, but it was so hard to actually concentrate on everything going on, even with the peace I’d gotten from talking with my pack.
When would the Beta strike again? Was it actually him, or had some other Alpha picked up the scraps and claimed them as his own?
There was too much to think about, and it made my head feel a little fuzzy. When noon came around, Mia reminded me about the other Betas who we’d offered the drugs to, and I shot up from my desk quicker than I could blink.
It was time to meet the Betas.
And I prayed the ones that came today were on our side.
Chapter Two
The journey down to the warehouse was tense. Sure, I was hoping these guys showed up so I could give them what they needed to survive, but at the same time, what if they had changed their minds? What if the mystery Beta had gotten inside their heads and convinced them to turn on me?
Mia stopped my overthinking by taking my hand in hers, and the blonde offered me a cute reassuring smile. She made my mind go quiet, and I felt my breathing regulate.
I was so thankful that I had her to be my anchor.
Finally, we stepped out onto the warehouse floor, and the sun blared in through the open delivery bay. There were five guards posted outside of it facing us, and in front of them were around twelve Betas. They hadn’t half-shifted, so as their eyes snapped toward me, they were the normal human color rather than bright yellow.
I recognized most of them from yesterday, and the small anxious blonde Beta who’d been kidnapped by Drake was pushed in front of the others.
She fiddled with her hands as we approached and refused to look me in the eye.
“W-We came,” she stuttered and cast a look back at the other Betas. “Some of us chickened out, b-but we came.”
“I’m glad you did,” I said softly so I didn’t intimidate her.
I felt bad for these guys. It looked like they’d been through hell, and most of them were probably those that Drake had stolen away from their families in the dead of night.
“Mia and I are gonna get you some of our products,” I said to the rest of them. “It won’t take us long, so all I ask is you trust me and wait here a little longer.”
“O-Okay.” The blonde Beta nodded. “T-Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it,” I said with a small smile before my mate and I both turned to the various shelves lined with boxes of our product.
I headed for the shift stoppers and the aggression regulators while Mia went for the scent suppressants and heat suppressants. Most of the boxes had smaller boxes inside that held around twenty to thirty bottles, so I pulled out a few of each and made my way back over to the gathering of Betas.
“Alright, in here are shift stoppers and aggression regulators,” I said as I pointed down to the goods. “They do exactly what they say on the label. If you guys are returning to your families, I highly suggest you take these. You’ll need a bit of time to come to terms with your new nature, and you don’t want your family to be caught in the crossfire.”
“Can you…” the blonde trailed off as she thought of the right words. “Can you take these for like… forever?”
I realized at that moment just how young she was. She must have still been a teenager, and it made me hate Drake even more for what he’d done to them.
“It is possible, yes,” I said after sharing a brief look of approval from Mia. “I actually had been on these for most of my life, up until recently.”
“Really?” the girl asked in surprise.
“Yep.” I nodded. “I didn’t even know I had these powers. So, if you wanted to hide this part of yourself, you could. For as long as you wanted.”
“The same goes for the scent suppressants and the heat suppressants,” Mia said as she put her box down. “They’re most popular for Omegas because of the social differences I’m sure you’re all more than aware of, but it can still be dangerous for female Betas.”
“And… the price?” the Beta said as she picked up a red bottle.
“They’re a little more expensive than normal prescription drugs,” Mia explained.
Can we figure something out for them? my mate asked me telepathically.
I nodded my head in response, and I appreciated that she hadn’t just outright said it.
“We understand most of you don’t have the means to afford this, but we can try and do something for you to combat that until you’re able to,” Mia added.
“You’d seriously do that?” one of the male Betas asked. “Drake tried to kill you. And he had us attack your stock.”
