Into the Spirit

Delaying the Inevitable

---POV: Terra---



The lobby looked immaculate, and all the employees were both human and wolf. I think I even smelled a vampire or two. I mean, I’m not living under a rock and my best friend’s dad is an alpha. I also know he's the Head Alpha as of last night, so, none of this is surprising. When I noticed their logo again for Rogue Industries behind the reception desk, I had to remind myself again that they are one of the most powerful companies in the world.

They have had centuries to create this masterpiece. Wait…and they are going to entertain a nomad like me? Yeah…right. Mya was an exception. At least she was an alpha’s daughter. I didn’t have any type of connections like that. I’m just the foster kid her family took in. “Annnnnd…I’m sure of it now. This was a stupid idea.” I mumbled under my breath as my thoughts spiraled me further down into my world of doubt.

I kept walking up toward the reception desk, but I didn’t realize I was already being called by someone. “Excuse me. Ma’am!” Those within ear shot darted their eyes my way. Even if it was just for a moment, the discomfort set in immediately.

“Oh, my bad. I didn’t even notice you. Sorry.” It was the best thing I could come up with and I instantly regretted it. Her cheeks burned a bit and she scowled. I didn’t mean to offend her, but I do try to take in my surroundings. It’s not my fault she wasn’t a threat. Omegas tend to have no scent at all. Even humans have something, but for a second, she was invisible. I wasn’t trying to be rude, but instead…honest. Don’t get me wrong though. It makes them great spies for sure! We had two in my…in my old pack. They were some of the best warriors. Stealthy and effective.

“Who are you here to see?” Now this woman could care less about me, and she was not happy. I could hear her teeth grinding as I walked up to the desk.

Yelling is not necessary if you are actually close enough to have a conversation. However, there is no reason for me to explain myself to her. I wasn’t expecting to stay long enough to affect her life in the future. “I’m here to see Ayden Rogue.” I remembered the name on the card and, thankfully, I sounded believable.

However, once his name slipped off my tongue, those in earshot looked directly at me again. Those with hearing like mine, heard his name from the other side of the lobby and turned my way as well. Ugh, it was like the club all over again. Stunned half the room to silence with just a name or action.

Seconds later, I see the receptionist’s demeanor change from irritated to cocky. She knew she was the gate keeper to one of the wealthiest families to exist. She realized she had the upper hand, and she held the power. And I just accused her of being invisible. Great. “And for what reason would he like to see you?”

I smirked and pulled the card out of my purse. I noticed it had his signature in pen on the bottom with a time and date on it. How did I not notice that before? I guess I was more focused on the front of the card more so than the back. Maybe that's why Bryce told me to hand the receptionist the card.

It would make sense that it had to have a specific ID on it, or it could have been made by anyone. I turned it around so that information was presented first and handed it over the marble monstrosity of a reception desk, that literally blended into the floor, into the hands of the woman waiting patiently to kick me out. “Jealous much?” My wolf growled through my mind as if she wanted to teach the girl a lesson.

“Ignore her. She’s just dejected. I shouldn’t have called her invisible out loud. That is really rude to Omegas. So, I guess an eye for an eye is in order.” I felt my wolf agree angrily, but she knew I wasn’t wrong. The receptionist looked at the card at least three times. She begrudgingly threw it back to me and I was grateful for my reflexes. I held the card between my fingers as she pointed to the elevator. She cleared her throat and clenched her jaw. She really wanted that card to be fake, but no one was stupid enough, especially a werewolf, to try and trick the Head Pack.

“Go ahead to the elevator. On the 80th floor, the Pack Head Security and Secretary will greet you.” I guess - since she said 'pack head' - she was a part of the Head Pack. That makes sense. I’m sure the majority of the wolves here are a part of their pack in some form or another.

“Thank you.” I added kindly and she made a face that seemed like she wanted to smile, but she really couldn’t. I walked toward the elevator and the silence in the room was making my head pound. I didn’t know if it was my heels connecting to the floor or the eyes that were more disturbing. The main thing is I was probably one of the few that didn’t end up being escorted out kicking and screaming by the security personnel now staring directly at me. I just have to keep walking. I could feel my heart rate increasing and I wanted to run.

“Ignore them.” My wolf cooed. She knows I hate attention. It’s never brought me any good. That and I guess it was her turn to tell me off. I held my head high and walked to the elevators.

Once the doors closed behind me, the clattering on the main floor resumed with many comments like, ‘that’s her?!’ They are aware I can hear them, right? At least the supernatural peanut gallery should be.

I felt my head get a bit dizzy as I moved up one floor at a time. It didn’t help that the closer we got the more agitated my wolf became. Let’s just say getting to the 80th floor took time. A lot of time. Once the elevator dinged acknowledging my arrival, I stepped out brushing invisible lint off my pants, so it didn’t look like I was ready to pass out.

Once I finally regained my bearings, I looked up to see a simple lobby quite a bit smaller than the last with two people there to greet me. Bryce and another person who seemed like she did not want either of us to be here. I didn’t want to be here either, so now, having to deal with two possessive she-wolves that have nothing to do with him, was starting to annoy me. “Hey, T. Ready for your meeting?” Bryce asked with a smirk.

The double meaning was so obvious, and the other girl noticed too. She decided to lay it on thick. She shifted her weight to one leg and folded her arms with a smirk across her lips. I’m assuming she was the Head Secretary. “Sir, I could have–”

Bryce growled a bit in warning, and I think that was the first time I remembered the initial receptionist had called him the Pack Head of Security. I guess that is his role in the pack. I never really noticed or asked, but it makes sense. I thought he did finances for the company though. Since there are humans here, it makes sense that he would keep up the finances front, not the security. Even though everyone on this floor is a wolf, I wonder where he sits normally. “Enough, I’ll take her from here.”

Bryce, thank goddess you know how to read a room! The last thing I wanted was another…woman…glaring daggers in my direction. Also, there was one more thing I wanted, and I knew he was the only one who could do it. I batted my eyes, hoping he would cave at my feeble attempt at flirting. “Please tell me we are going anywhere else, but there.” I asked, pointing to the large double doors separating the main offices from the lobby. At this point, I knew he was through those doors. I could smell it. The meadow, the whiskey, the coffee...everything my heart desired.

He grinned, shaking his head a bit. It was like he could read my thoughts. I wanted to get out of here. “You tried it…but no.”

I grinned and walked up to him, tapping my fist on his shoulder. The girl gasped as if I had gouged his tendons out his arm. “At least you can say I tried.” I responded jokingly, ignoring her. The secretary tried to reprimand me, but we both decided it was best to continue to ignore her flustered responses. Without a word, we both agreed on that. He even chuckled at her weak attempts.

Bryce nodded for me to follow him and once we passed through the doors, he ushered me toward the corner office. This side of the floor didn’t have any cubicles in the center, like I thought an office should have. Only a group of rooms and three desks. One next to each of those rooms. There was also a nice little waiting area in the middle of the room with a couple of loveseats and armchairs that added a bit of a homey touch to the spotless office space. Each room was labeled something different in smooth gold-plated letters above the wood-carved decorations, but the three that stood out were the CEO, CFO, and the SVP: TR. I wonder why an SVP would be up here.

As if on cue, Mason walks out of the SVP room and smiles as he sees me. Well, that explains it. “Nice, and on time I might add.”

I smiled and accepted a quick hug. “You know I’m punctual.”

He nodded and leaned back, shoving his hands in his light beige khakis. He dressed pretty relaxed for someone on the executive floor. He paired the khakis with a white button up and he just looked chill. Interesting he’s like this at work too. “Right, makes sense. Without you, Mya would never make it to her meetings.”

I nodded, remembering three if not four incidents right off the bat. “Don’t worry about it. In just a few days’ time, that will be officially your job.” I smiled and I was a little saddened by the truth, but it was nice that she had someone.

“Oooo, that hurts, making me go solo.” He playfully winced, but I know they have really grown to love each other. Mates are really your other half and to lose them is like losing half your soul, but that bond must be nurtured, or it dissipates just like a regular relationship. The males tend to be more possessive and dominant, and the females must choose to submit. It is a rather interesting structure. It also allows us not to go insane either.

We must be able to be apart from each other to do things like our jobs so, thankfully, that is no longer a trait. But until we accept or push to reject each other, the pull is a bit much. The pull I’m currently feeling firsthand. It was nice to know that Mya would have Mason forever. They fit together and my best friend deserves the best mate. However, I don't know if I deserve mine. Mason glanced at his phone and sighed heavily. “Well, as you know, business calls and I’m required to deal with it.”

I looked at them both quizzically. “Pack or office?” Bryce asked sternly and I know he was in business mode. Must be short for pack problems or office tasks. Then, it came to me.

“Oh, that’s right, you’re the Head Beta, right?” I asked, as if I just remembered this fact…which is the truth. I really did just remember.

Mason chuckled and turned back to me. “Yes I am.” I nodded and he looked back toward Bryce. The male wolves were a bit bigger than the females…well a lot bigger than the females. Some, like Mason, are more toned and lean than just walls of muscle. Either way, it doesn’t mean much on strength and ability to fight though.

Wolves have learned to use what they have as their strengths, kind of like the Omegas rising from servants to warriors by using their invisible scents. Both Bryce and Mason were around 6’3–6’4 and, from my quick assessment of the man I’m supposed to be seeing today, he was at least 6’9. All three of them were around the normal height for a fully grown wolf, but it did mean I was the shortest in the room aside from the secretaries, who are mostly of beta bloodlines.

Mason adjusted his simple black glasses and ruffled his short spikey brown hair. He didn’t sport a beard like his brother, but he had more of a young man's persona, while Ayden was like a burly warrior in a suit. I chuckled at this thought. They both looked at me curiously, but I ignored them and rolled my eyes. “Anyway, it’s the pack this time.” Mason finally concluded.

Bryce balled his hands into fists and looked a bit more menacing. “You need an assist?”

Mason shook his head and grinned. This immediately relaxed the Head of Pack Security, the Head Gamma. “No, this is more of a cordial visit from one of our potential sister packs. Goddess knows what they want. Ayden will need to come when he can, but I think we have this taken care of.”

“We?” He asked and I was just as curious.

“Yes, myself, Mya, and Momma Rogue.” Interesting that her sons call her Momma Rogue as well. I wonder if it’s because they are in public. Strange. Bryce tenses. Maybe now I can finally get out of this nonsense. If he deems this more important, I should be able to make my escape. My wolf did not like that idea and her growl was almost deafening.

I looked over to both him and Mason knowing it wasn’t even worth asking, since they seemed to have this under control and my wolf would not let me hear the end of it if I tried. They were also occupied in a mind link anyway, so they wouldn’t hear me until they were done. Finally, Mason nodded and waved his hand toward us while he walked the other way toward the exit. “Yes, yes. I’ll be careful. I have a soon-to-be wife to get home to, and she will be there, so that makes me even more aware of my surroundings.”

He sauntered off and his comment reminded me of the conversation Mya and Mason had with me before she moved out. It was weird living by myself again, but I was glad Mya and Mason finally moved in together. Cheaper rent for me and they definitely needed the space. I needed the quiet. After a while, the tumble in the sheets was more than the bed – and my ears– could handle.

I felt myself getting sidetracked again at the not-so pleasant memories. “Well, enough procrastinating. Are you ready?” Bryce asked, nudging me out of my train of thought. I turned to him for a moment, and I knew I had to think of something else to prolong this conversation. Anything to delay the inevitable.