The Silent Heart

From the Other Side

Aidan wasn’t as concerned about this first meeting as the others. He had an easy job, sitting quietly and forming an opinion while listening to everyone. He didn’t tell the rest of the guys, but little of it had to do with being a Gamma and more with learning that if you were quiet you picked up on those subtle vocal cues and body language better. Beau had been complaining the whole ride there about wearing a tie but he was the one that insisted on coming to the first meeting with this Camlan group. Aidan had switched cars at the last minute, knowing full well that Kai’s good-natured teasing would just put Beau over the edge and someone would have ended up with a bruised jaw or black eye before they even got there. Cole had driven the other car, with Lucas and Kai, while Aidan drove with Beau. He didn’t mind the man chattering or playing with the radio station, so it was an easy decision.

Once they arrived and parked, they headed toward the main building. It was still early, but the parking lot already seemed full. They must be one of the first appointments of the day. Cole stopped short before heading inside and looking at them all. “We clear on the agenda for the day?”

Before anyone could make a joke or ask questions, Lucas nodded. “Yep. We are just feeling them out, not agreeing to anything yet, and if we can, ask questions.”

Cole gave a short nod “Exactly, and if we ask questions, we are going to be subtle about it.”

Beau snorted, “That leaves Kai out of it. Ah well, no talking is best for you, just smile pretty.” He laughed and clapped Kai on the back.

Kai took it well and then just smiled at Beau, “And remember, you should just stand there and wait for someone to ask for something. Then fetch it like a good guard dog.” Grinning, he headed for the door before Beau could think of taking a swipe at him. Beau glared at Cole and pointed at Kai. Cole just shook his head and headed inside, followed by Lucas.

“You kind of set yourself up for that one,” Aidan mentioned before following, and Beau sighed.

“I did, didn’t I? Damn it, just never going to beat him with words am I?” He shook his head as if truly defeated but followed them inside and glanced around the building as they entered. He gave a low whistle and shoved his hands in his pockets. “Never mind, I think this place is too rich for my blood. Do they have their own cafe’? In the offices? Why do we only have a crappy coffee machine?”

Cole didn’t even turn to look at him, “Because you can only make crappy coffee? Why waste money on a good machine?” Heading for the kiosk in the center, they looked up the office they were supposed to meet at and headed for the elevators. Top floor, so their first meeting must be with the higher-ups. Just as the door was closing on the elevator, Aidan stiffened and reached to stop the doors but it was too late as they headed up the twelve floors.

Lucas looked at him, “Hey, you okay?”

Aidan stared at the door and frowned, “Yeah, yeah just, I don’t know. Weird feeling again.” He muttered. He missed the look they all gave each other and tried to put it out of his mind so he could concentrate on the meeting.

***********************************************

The meeting had been all pomp and no circumstance. If they were wary of it before, they are more so now. Entering the elevator some three hours later, they headed down and Beau finally pulled his tie free from around his neck. “Was it just me? Or was that lady all about the charm and somehow not answering any of our questions?”

Kai nodded, frowning, “I think she has beaten me. I couldn’t even get her attention and I gave my best bedroom eyes!”

Cole looked over at Aidan, “What did you get out of it? Did we miss anything?” When Aidan didn’t answer, Beau elbowed him and he looked up.

“Huh? Oh, yeah, she’s really not much on details. It was odd though, she seemed to already know a lot about us.”

Lucas shook his head, “Well it is a public company, she probably just read our profile, maybe looked us up individually, and checked references and reviews.”

Aidan shook his head, “No, she knew things that we definitely hadn’t made public. It was subtle, but you heard her talk about our ball last year? That was a mating ball. Only other packs would know about that.”

“I didn’t even catch that, just that she was trying to invite herself to the next one and flirting,” Cole muttered. “We have to dig up something more on her, and on this company. At least we don’t have to worry about contracts, she wants to meet a few more times to see if we are ‘compatible’ before even telling us what she wants to be built.” Cole looked up as the elevator sounded and the doors opened. They filed out to head for the front doors when Aidan froze.

They didn’t notice right away, but when they turned and saw he hadn’t kept up, it was Lucas that put a hand on Cole to keep him back. A Beta was there to protect the Alpha and something was up. It wasn’t just that Aidan had stopped walking. He was still, but the kind of still that was full of energy. Every muscle was tight and ready to pounce like an animal stalking its prey. It was so much pent-up energy that some people were starting to give looks. Beau was the one that stepped forward.

“Aidan? What is it?” He looked around himself and, like the others, they were suddenly taking in the scents around them to find whatever they had missed and where the threat was from.

Aidan’s jaw ticked and a soft growl came as soon as Beau stepped near. “Mate.” He growled and Beau looked down to see Aidan’s hands fisted at his sides.

Beau swore under his breath and mind-linked them all. “He scented his mate. Only humans are here. He must be holding back.”

Lucas and Cole looked at each other and Cole thrust the file into Kai as he and Lucas took either side of Aidan, both putting a hand on his shoulder. “She’s human?” Aidan nodded stiffly and so Cole and Lucas looked around. “Where is she?”

Aidan was breathing hard now and his eyes were tracking a blonde with two cups of coffee as she headed out of the cafe. Kai watched and nodded, “Okay, I’ll go find out what I can about her.” Aidan’s wolf wasn’t happy with that and his eyes flashed at Kai in a warning. Kai threw his hands up, “Hey, no touching your mate, I’ll just talk to her coworkers, okay? You should go sit outside and cool off.” He waited to see if that was going to be a problem and when Aidan didn’t move he looked at Cole, who nodded.

“Good idea, meet us at the cars. Come on, Aidan, we know where she is. You aren’t losing her.” Cole started softly as they escorted him out of the building. Once outside and out of sight of her, he almost collapsed, his body relaxing. Lucas opened the passenger door for him and sat him down. The three men surrounded him to keep him out of sight as much as to keep her out of sight of him as well.

Cole frowned, “You okay? I’ve never seen you like that.” He looked at the others, wondering if he just wasn’t aware of how powerful the mate bond really felt. Aidan had never been one to hunt as they did. He let his wolf loose, but he hunted simply, cleanly, never stalking his prey but simply taking it out. He always claimed it was out of respect for the animal, no fear of it.

Aidan swallowed hard and felt shaky as he ran his hands through his hair. “Yeah, yeah I’m fine. It was just more intense than I thought it would be. Not that I thought about it.”

Beau tried lightening the mood, “What do you mean you haven’t thought about it? We all think about finding our goddess-gifted mate. You just got to be lucky number one.”

Aidan looked up at them and his eyes looked both sad and scared, “At first it was just Caliburn scenting her, he wanted to get to her right away, so I stopped to get him to call down but then. . . “ They all stared at him waiting for him to finish. “I didn’t just scent her, I, I felt her. I knew what she was thinking and how she felt.”

Lucas crossed his arms over his chest. “I thought the one person that a Gamma couldn’t calm down or use his Gamma gift on was his mate?”

Aidan nodded and looked up at him. “It is. I thought that must mean that she’s Cole’s mate, but you didn’t scent her?” Cole shook his head and Aidan nodded, “Maybe I’m losing it. I’ll talk to my dad when I get back. I’m sorry.”

Kai quickly joined them and stopped when he saw them all standing there looking solemn. “Oh don’t tell me she’s not his mate? Not when I just got all the information!”

Cole sighed, “No he scented her, it’s just, it might be more than that. What did you find out?” Aidan was all ears and his head jerked up to hear what Kai found out.

Kai grinned, “Ah I got all the juicy bits, “ He looked at Aidan and put his hands up again before he upset him or his wolf, “All from her boss, a charming older lady by the name of Marcia. Anyway, your mate's name is Gwen. She’s not deaf, but I guess she doesn’t speak. Anyway, she teaches the kids sign language and is really good with the kids. She’s a little old-fashioned, Marcia says, and doesn’t go out with them for drinks or to clubs though she’s been invited. She’s an orphan, and so Marcia thinks she’s not that great at social cues and has no idea that half the accounting department has been flirting with her.”

Aidan glared and a growl escaped him before Kai could finish. Kai sighed, “She hasn’t dated anyone, as far as Marcia knows. Says she prefers a good book at home.” Kai rolled his eyes. “One weird thing though, I guess Gwen was told that she was recommended to apply for this job. She was working a low-paying daycare job before this and living in a hostel. But Marcia says that she was told she would only get her job as manager if she hired Gwen full-time when she came for the interview. I guess the job here pays better because she’s out of the hostel now.”

Lucas just made a hmm noise and Cole frowned, “This place is getting weirder and weirder. Did you get a last name? We can run our own background on her. “ Kai nodded and handed over a business card with her name on it. Cole took it and, as Aidan was staring, handed it over. “Beau, you and Kai drive back, Aidan, you’re with us.”

Kai and Beau looked at each other, each not happy with the arrangement but aware that complaining would do no good, so Beau sighed and pulled out a coin. “Flip you for driving.”

“You hate driving, I’ll drive,” Kai answered.

“Only if I get to pick the music,” Beau nodded.

“Nope, sorry, the driver picks the music. Besides, that metal crap you listen to isn’t music.” Kai added as he reached for the keys from Aidan. Beau growled and grabbed the keys from him.

“Then I’m driving, and we’re listening to country,” Beau retorted.

Kai whined then. “Can I just walk home?”

**********************

By unspoken agreement, Aidan was riding up front with Cole and Lucas in the back, already on his phone and probably looking up information on Gwen. It was twenty minutes of silence before Aidan sighed. “Just say it.”

Cole glanced at him and then back to the road. “You know you have to go slower with humans.”

“I know. But that isn’t what you want to say.” Aidan continued, staring out the window.

“You know, sometimes I hate it when you do that,” Cole grumbled. Aidan always knew what they were thinking and it wasn’t being a Gamma. He just knew them. Sometimes better than they knew themselves. “Something is weird about her, and about that place.”

Aidan finally turned in his seat and looked at Cole. “I know, and I know she’s not a danger to us. But I will take it slow, and we will investigate them both. I know Lucas will probably know her measurements and when she lost her first tooth before we even get home and I’m trying not to be angry about it, but I know the pack’s safety comes first.”

Lucas snorted and Aidan looked back at him. Lucas then looked up and caught Cole’s eyes in the rearview mirror. “He must have his senses messed up if he missed what you are thinking this time.”

Aidan frowned and looked from Lucas to Cole. Cole shook his head. “I’m not worried about this hurting the pack, Aidan. If she’s your goddess-gifted mate and she’s involved in something weird, I’m worried about you.”

Aidan shifted uncomfortably. The truth was, while he was there to listen to everything they all had to say, and had to have private talks with each of them at some point to help support them, he just sort of dealt with his own thoughts himself. After all, who can a Gamma go to when they are the ones everyone else goes to? He jerked slightly as Lucas leaned forward and put a hand on his shoulder.

“Hey, just because you always have it together doesn’t mean we don’t worry about you too. Just take it slow and let us see what we can find out about her, okay? Especially her connection to this company.” He added softly.

Aidan nodded and the rest of the ride was pretty quiet. He was unsure what he could help with and knew they would want to do the investigation themselves to make sure he didn’t overlook something because it was his mate. So instead, he pulled out his phone and looked into how you learn sign language. If they gave him the all-clear, he would have to be able to at least talk to her, and all he wanted to do right now was turn around and actually talk to her. He and his wolf both knew they wouldn't hear her voice, but somehow they knew they would feel better finally getting to actually meet her.