Alpha Micah Black: Homecoming

Chapter17

March 6th, 12:37 AM, 2526 N. Hampton Street, Blackwater Industries, Inc., penthouse suite

After Henry led me through the woodsy foliage, I waited outside my cousin’s office. I could hear him and his mate discussing something important. I could only assume it’s business-related. Henry knocked instead of using the mind link. That’s odd. I’d figured theirs would work among the pack members.

“Enter,” Dylan Blackwater hollered. His voice carried through the thick oak door. Henry opened the door and stepped to the side.

“Sergeant Black seeks an audience with you, alpha,” Henry announced professionally. My cousin smiled and waved me into his office. Hanna, his mate, sat comfortably in Dylan’s chair, looking over some papers.

“Thank you, Henry,” Dylan said. “Come on in, Mike. What brings you here? Are you feeling better?”

“Thanks,” I grunted. “Do you always ask rapid-fire questions of your guests?”

“No,” he laughed. “Just you.” I’m so loved.

It was nice to see a genuine smile on my cousin’s face. His green eyes sparkled with life, unlike my little Jewel’s eyes. I wish I knew the reason for that.

“Gee, thanks,” I retorted back, scratching the back of my neck. “I need to ask an odd favor from you.”

“This ‘favor’ wouldn’t interfere with my probation, would it?” my cousin pressed, using the air quotes.

Eh, I can’t blame him for asking. He’s smart enough to know what is required from him so he can get back to running the Blackwater Canyon pack.

“It shouldn’t,” I honestly answered. “I’m not sure how to ask…”

“One word follows another,” Hanna advised. She’s settling into her Luna role nicely. My signature smirk formed on my face.

“Right. Thank you, Luna Hanna,” I playfully sarcastically said.

“Mike, just spit it out. You’re family. What is it?” Dylan also added.

“Okay, fine,” I sighed. “Do you have an extra laptop that's not in use that I could borrow for a while?”

“That is an odd request. Why do you need one, and why don’t you have one already?” my cousin asked, confused. Hanna looked just as surprised as her mate.

“I’ve never needed to have one. I’ve kept work-related stuff at work,” I confessed. “Chief Edwards has me working ‘off the record’ on a project, and I need a laptop to view some CCTV footage.”

“Okay… that sounds like a reasonable request,” Dylan agreed. “How soon do you need it?”

“Today… preferably, if it’s not too much to ask?” I answered my cousin.

“Should I buzz Henry?” Hanna questioned her mate. They shared a serious glance. Dylan gave her the okay to proceed.

“What was that look about?” I asked them.

“We think Blackwater Industries and Security may have a mole,” Hanna grumbled as she buzzed Henry. “And we’re waiting to hear back from the credit card companies.”

“Has anyone from Wolfdale City PD paid you a visit yet…besides me?” I questioned.

“No, why? I haven’t violated my parole,” Dylan replied, automatically defending himself.

“It has nothing to do with your probation, Cuz,” I reassured him. “We found Blackwater Industry property on a person of interest, and I wasn’t sure if you or anyone from your company had been contacted yet.”

“If any contact was made, it never made its way up the chain of command,” Hanna griped. “That’s another one to add…”

Dylan clenched his jaw and fists when he turned to look out the large window. His muscles twitched at each irritating thought invading his mind. His business endeavors have taken a mysterious hit since he stumbled into a roped-off crime scene.

“Are you okay, Dill?” I asked. “I didn’t mean to bring on more troubles for you. I figured you’d like to know what Wolfdale City PD has discovered.”

He slowly inhaled through his nose and exhaled through his mouth. He counted to ten on each part. But before he could answer, Henry entered the office with a large cart of food and drinks. Various types of sandwiches, cut fruit, freshly brewed coffee and lemonade, and a special smoothie for Hanna lined the cart. The delicious smells made my mouth water.

“I’ve prepared extra, Alpha Dylan. I figured Sergeant Black would like to stay for lunch. I hope I didn’t overstep,” Henry explained. “You’re fine, Henry,” Hanna answered, smiling. “Thank you for being so thoughtful. But we buzzed you for another reason.”

“Oh, I’ve already dropped off Luna Tiffeny’s lunch in her room,” he whispered.

“Thank you again, Henry,” Hanna frustratedly stated. “But that’s not the reason, either.”

“Remember the box of new laptops I had you bring upstairs?” Dylan questioned his butler, taking his rightful lead.

“Yes, of course, I do, Alpha,” he replied. “It wasn’t a simple task. I placed them with the other items you’ve told me to set aside.”

“My cousin, Sergeant Black, needs one. Will you please grab one and bring it here for us?” Dylan instructed Henry. He nodded and went to retrieve the item.

“I didn’t mean to cause trouble,” I mumbled a pitiful apology.

“Sergeant, enough with the pity party,” Hanna chided me. “Grab a sandwich, some fruit, and a drink.”

So I did as she instructed. Hey, have I ever been one to turn down free food? Hanna subtly motioned to Dylan to help her into her wheelchair.

“You’re not getting out of drinking your protein smoothie,” Dylan playfully scolded his mate. He gently lifted her from his padded office chair and placed her gently into her wheelchair. He subtly kissed his mate’s head during the transfer. I’m telling ya, that mate bond is a powerful thing.

“I’ll drink it. I just need to check on Tiff,” Hanna promised. “She’s been having it rough lately.”

Tiff–why does that name sound familiar? Is she the pretty lady that Jewel likes from The Broken Badger?

“Is she okay? What’s wrong with her?” I inquired, my curiosity piqued.

“She’s been struggling with morning sickness,” Dylan rattled off nonchalantly.

“Be nice. She’s carrying an alpha pup,” Hanna retorted, wheeling herself closer to the doorway.

A loud growl rumbled in my throat, surprising everyone in my cousin’s office–including me. What? Why should I care if she’s with pup? It’s not like it’s mine, right? My wolf, however, seems to think otherwise. It’s getting annoying. But before Dylan could question me about my response, the phone rang. Dylan went to answer it.

“That should be the credit card company calling back,” Hanna replied, wheeling herself out the door that Henry held open with one hand while carrying the retrieved item in his other one.

“Your requested item, alpha,” he reported, placing the unopened box on Dylan’s desk.

“Thanks,” he quietly mumbled. “Yes, that’s correct. I need an immediate hold placed on all cards linked with Blackwater Industries, Inc., and Blackwater Security Company,” Dylan instructed the card company employee on the other end. “Yes, immediately. I know it will cause an uproar, but it needs to be done, please. Thank you.” He hung up the phone and grabbed the roast beef sandwich Henry had placed in front of him. “Henry, could you please take Luna Hanna, her protein smoothie for me, and keep an eye on them?”

“Of course, alpha,” he replied, grabbing Hanna’s meal. He quickly left to watch over the Lowell cousins.

“So… with you cutting off the credit cards, are you halting anything else?” I inquired, being nibby.

“Yep, the security company will no longer take on new clients, and the dominant company has a buying freeze on new properties. I’m getting ready for an internal audit for both companies,” he explained.

“I’m sure your employees are gonna love that,” I somewhat joked with my cousin.

“It will be business as usual for them. Only Hanna, Henry, and I know what’s getting done behind the scenes,” he stated, then gulped down the last bit of coffee.

“Do you have anyone you can trust within the pack lands?” I asked, genuinely concerned. I’m still technically a part of that pack.

“Yeah, my beta,” he answered. “He’s only your childhood best friend.”

“Isaac? Isaac Mann is your beta?” I repeated…flabbergasted. “Has he found his mate yet?”

“No…not yet,” he grumbled. “I’m finding it weird that none of us has found our mates within the pack. It’s only when we travel… we seem to find them.”

“Um, that’s normal wolf behavior,” Hanna casually stated as she wheeled back into the office. Henry and her cousin Tiffeny, the pretty lady from the bar and grill, followed close behind her. “Most young wolves will leave their packs searching for a mate or choosing a solo life.”

BOOM! The heavy door slammed open, echoing throughout the penthouse.

“DYLAN MICHAEL BLACKWATER!” a familiar female voice screeched.

All the wolves in the office softly growled in unison. Dylan’s “chosen for him” Luna had arrived.