HIS SECOND MATE

Chapter 1

Marcus

At a board meeting, tensions were high, the staff breaking into cold sweat.

"Who was in charge of this project?" I practically growled, scaring the humans shitless and the wolves into submission.

Silence.

"I believe I asked a question. Who was in charge of this project?"

More silence. No one wanted to meet my eyes.

"Fine, you can tender your resignation on your way out." I finally said, slamming the documents hard on the table. If there was anything I hated, it was people not taking responsibility for what they did.

"S.. sir, it was me." a timid voice came from the farthest end of the room. Looking at him, I immediately knew he was not the team leader but had been forced to take blame by someone superior. Being in a leadership position has taught me how to read human behavior very easily.

"John stay in my office, the rest of you can leave." audible sighs could be heard throughout the board room as the employees quickly shuffled out of the meeting as if fire had been lit on their backsides.

John, the timid employee, remained standing on his spot looking very pale. I could see him trembling from where I was sitting. The scent of fear was wafting off of him. He hadn't been with the company for long and could be easily used as a scapegoat.

Picking up my things, I tell him to follow me to my office, which he does, stumbling all the way, bumping into me a couple of times on the way. I could not help but chuckle at his clumsiness, somewhat finding it amusing.

My Jane had been like that, she would trip over her own two feet. I had almost chained her to the bed when she was pregnant out of fear of her falling over and hurting herself and my pup in the process.

"Come in." I ushered him in myself when we got to my office. I have had to do everything myself the past two days. f*****g Johansen Association had poached my secretary and now I was forced to answer my own phone calls and plan my own schedule.

It wasn't that I could not do it, but my work load was heavy enough without me playing secretary for myself.

"Why did you take the fall for something that was not your fault?" I went directly to my interrogation and I heard John's breath hitch.

"He forced me to do it." he mumbles softly, "I am sorry sir." the final sentence is audible, meaning the first part was not meant for me to hear, thank the goddess for super senses. I hear him very clearly. Just as I had suspected, someone had decided to save their ass and use him as a scapegoat.

"Don't lie to me John." I thought a threat would tell him to tell me the truth.

"It was my fault sir, I'm sorry I messed up the deal." Well, at least he is loyal to his superior. That is a rare character trait to find in people these days. Look at my secretary for example, just a few promises and she had shifted loyalties.

"You know how important this deal was to the company, I can fire you for this mess. You know that, right?" maybe just a little push and he would cave? or so I thought.

"Then I will be grateful for having had the opportunity of working for Campanile Holdings." John answered back, his head held high.

Well, we were at least sure of two things. One, he was very loyal and two, he loved working at my company.

"Go get your things from your desk and move them into my secretary's office before 10 am, you will be working under me from now on." I needed a loyal person with me, someone I could count on.

"Sir?" he was still standing there looking at me, eyes wide open in disbelief.

"Huh?" I hummed in question before starting my own work, "why are you still here?" he had not moved even an inch so I lifted my head to look at him.

"Why me sir?" It made sense that he had questions. He thought he was going to get fired after all.

"You are loyal. I need a loyal person under me. I saw that you would not sell out the person who forced you to take the blame, which is very stupid might I say, but it also moves me. Someone that would endure threats even from their boss, that is the kind of employee I need." I finished my speech. I had never been one to sugar coat so I laid bare all my observations.

"Thank you for the compliment and insult." he was blushing, how adorable. He may seem gullible, but he was very steadfast in his beliefs.

"You may think of it as a demotion from your previous position, but I am willing to give you a salary increment for the inconvenience." Hopefully, I sounded convincing enough.

John wasn't all that outstanding, but I really really needed a secretary/ assistant.

"Chop chop! I said 10 am. It is now 9:50am. Keep wasting time and face the consequences." I added, looking at my wristwatch.

John quickly hurried out of my office. Well, tried to because he tripped on his own shoelaces and ended up making out with the floor.

"HAHAHAHA" this time I didn't hold back, bursting into an incontrollable laughter. Working with John was sure going to be very interesting.

Wiping tears off my tears, I noticed John still on the floor. Only this time he is staring at me, his face full of shock.

"What?" I asked, in between chuckles. I have not laughed like this in a while. Not since Jane died at least.

"You laugh?" What kind of question was that? All humans can laugh, right?

"As can you." I did not understand where he was going with the question.

"I mean I have never seen or heard you laugh before," he replied. So the timid guy could become bold too? Interesting. Maybe the coming days will not be as bad.

"Just because I do not laugh around you doesn't mean I never do it. Now quickly pick yourself from the floor and go get your things before anyone sees you. I don't want weird rumors flying around about me." My dismissive tone may have finally done the trick because he left.

It was quite once again in the office and my mind drifted back to work.

'What am I going to do about Johansen Association and their scumbag of a CEO?' I asked myself. First, they had taken my secretary and now they were going after every project I had lined up. Stupid Jessica must have told them all of that too. If I ever met her anywhere, the goddess help me, but it would be the first time I would dare hit a woman.

She knew how much those projects meant to me but still betrayed me.

'Was it because I had refused to give into her advances? Was it pay back?' Jessica used to be a diligent employee, she still was, but she had added seducing me into her work schedule. I know I am a widower and, somehow, being a man, I was expected to move on but I was not ready. I did't think I'd ever be. I had noticed Jessica's interest in me and had nipped it in the bud.

I guess she had taken it harder than I had expected. For now, though, I had to figure out how to stop my business rivals. I had to find a way to be a step ahead or I would be trampled to the ground in no time. I could not let that happen, my sanity depended on this job.

John had finally managed to get his things into the office, but guess what? The smooth day at work I had expected wasn't there because was nowhere to be seen.

I had spent almost the whole day teaching the man his job. What was the use of a secretary that did not know their duties?

Maybe doing everything by myself was better, but with a promise from John to be better next time, I didn't let him go.

I was going soft. I did not like that. An alpha, former or current should not be soft, we were supposed to be as tough as drill sergeants.

Today was a day my projects failed. My new secretary had been pretty useless, but instead of being in a bad mood, I was rather in a joyful mood. My life has not been filled with that much joy lately. I missed the feeling.

****

A hard day's work was done, I was ready to go back home. It was the weekend, I could spar with my son and the pack warriors on Saturday morning before visiting my wife's memorial stone.

My weekend schedule had always been like that until, just on my way out, the phone rung, Johansen Association's CEO 'threatening' me with a meeting.

That brat was getting on my nerves, making me break my routine to see my wife. It always seemed like my problems with him just kept piling up. I think this was the best thing. Maybe a meeting is what we need to air out our differences. Yes, we were the biggest rivals but had not met even once. I was so ready to give him a piece of my mind face to face.

I had to have the joy of tearing that man down while looking him in the eye.

Finally, we meet you stupid brat!

Finally!

Just you wait and see!

"..."