Sam looked around her room. She had a massive smile on her face. Today she would get to work out some of the pent-up stress. Meetings all day with the council were bound to push her stress levels past the breaking point. She showered and wondered who Amber was going to send to her. It would be someone she didn't like, someone whom she thought needed a lesson, a true and deserving sacrifice. Because she would annihilate them. It didn't matter who Amber sent. Things were looking up. Now all she had to do was beat Amber in their fight and everything would be great. Sam dressed, in her usual blue jeans, white T-shirt, and black boots. She tied her hair back in a ponytail and nodded at herself in the full-length mirror.
"Looking good!" She told herself and turned to leave. She wanted to get this day over with and get to her sparring date. Sam opened her door and smiled at Mya. "Good morning, Mya." She said with a laugh. Her eyes dancing.
"Uh, morning Alpha," Mya said and watched the woman warily. "Did you have a good night's rest?"
"Yes, I did," Sam said. "I can even tolerate having you around today." She jabbed.
"There she is! I was just starting to worry that someone got past security and swapped you out with a friendlier version." Mya smiled sweetly.
"You know. There's this place under this house, where my father used to tie up bad guys and rehabilitate them. When they came out there, they were stiff and bitchy. Were you one of those?"
"Maybe, but then one never talks about torture club, Alpha." My answered deadpan. Sam stifled a laugh.
"Maybe we would have been friends in a different life." Sam looked over her shoulder. "Or maybe just f**k buddies." She sighed. "We'll never know."
"Oh no! I know. In a different life, I would be a Queen with a harem of woman lavishing me in affection."
"Is that a joke? Did miss broody pants just make a funny?" Sam asked, unable to hide her smile now.
"Maybe." Mya smiled too. They walked into the kitchen and everything turned serious again.
"There you are! I have been trying to call." Matt, Sam's brother and mayor of Jake's Town sat at her kitchen table, coffee in hand. Sam grimaced, knowing that him being there meant drama. She took out her cell and looked at it.
"Well, what number did you call? Are you hiding a sister from me?" Sam went to the coffee machine and poured herself a cup. She gestured to Mya to help herself.
"Shouldn't she be pouring your coffee?" Matt asked, sneering at Mya. He didn't wait for an answer. "I called your office. You know the one you have at the Council Gathering House. CGH's not there just for show Sam, you have responsibilities. Do them."
"Sure, Matt." She sat. "Why are you here?"
"I got run over yesterday. Some d**k racing down the main street."
"Run over?" She wondered why she didn't know.
"He didn't hit you, and he explained what happened," Mya said from her perch at the door.
"Stay out of it. This is none of your business."
"It is her business. If you tell me half-truths, people get hurt for no reason. Remember?"
"That is not the point. The point is, he was racing down the main street, and he nearly killed me."
"Did I miss something, Matt? Are you suddenly human? Did you lose your wolf?" She faked concern.
"Don't be stupid! Of course not. But he could have, if it was a child of one of the human mates, they would not have been as lucky as me." He stood. "Deal with this."
"Our office already has. You know this Mr. Mayor." Mya said, not liking the way he spoke to the Alpha. Sure she had issues with Sam, but she was still the most important person in town.
"Stay..."
"Enough. If Amber security dealt with this, then I'm satisfied it's dealt with. You and I both know Amber Security does a great job when it comes to laws and having them followed. And dealing with those who don't."
"What? Are you suddenly all-pro Amber team?"
"When it comes to policing our town, yes. My issue has nothing to do with that." Sam stood too. "I have duties, responsibilities, as you pointed out." She waited for Mya to open the door then pushed her brother out. "I'm glad you're okay. See you, Matt."
"He is such a joy," Sam muttered.
"Yes, I think he stole my broom Alpha."
"Jesus, now that I won't have you around for much longer, you start being funny." Sam shook her head and walked to the waiting car. "Can I drive today?"
"Sure. But please keep to the speed limit. Amber installed a new sensor, the car cuts out and ejects you when you pass a certain speed."
"You see, now I don't know if you're telling the truth or just pulling my leg." Sam caught the key Mya threw at her. She threw it in the air caught it, threw it caught it. "Let's find out." She said and got behind the wheel.
Sam laughed as she parked the car in front of CGH. She broke the speed limit twice, and nothing. She admitted that she was telling the truth earlier, maybe in a different life she would have been friends with Mya.
"How many meetings today?" Mya asked.
"You know my schedule better than me, you tell me."
Mya laughed. "Three. And one is with all the members."
"Yep, annihilation coming up."
"What?"
"Nothing. Just looking forward to my sparring date." Sam stopped Mya with a hand on the elbow. "Come on, tell me who it is?"
"I honestly don't know, Alpha. I even asked Taylor, who knows everything about everything at Amber, and she didn't even know. All she could tell me was that Ash, Amber's second, left Amber's office in a huff, muttering about idiots and adult children."
"Mm, right okay. Well, let's get this day over. You piqued my curiosity now."
"No, you can't expect me to declare this a disaster just because your yard is underwater. And come on, underwater. Really? Have the guys from water management get their asses over there and open up your drain pipes." She looked at Liam. "Seriously man, it's only a disaster if it can't be fixed." She was fed up. All-day, she had to deal with silly problems Josh could have handled. But no, the Council just won't allow a lowly PA like him to deal with their all-important issues.
"What about my roof?" Larry asked. "I know maintenance is our own problem, but this was a pup seeing how far they could throw a boulder." He shook his head. "I get they have to push their limits. But do they have to do it onto The Juice's roof?"
"I will have Jane go do a quote and have it fixed. Someone needs to talk to the pups about where they can go to have fun. We still have the watering hole in the woods set up. Why are they not playing there?" Sam asked. Mya spoke up.
"The council decided that it should be closed, Alpha. They now use it to host their afternoon ah..."
"What Mya?" Sam pushed impatiently.
"Their s****l playground. Alpha." Mya answered.
"What?" She glowered at the four wolves. "Children need space. You all know how volatile the shift and restlessness are at that age. Have your s****l trysts somewhere else!"
"You can't just take what's ours!" Trudy shouted. Sam rounded on her.
"I am Alpha! I am telling you that you will not use that watering hole as a f**k nest! Do you understand me?" Her voice went dark and deep. They all nodded. "Good. Now, is there anything else?" Bryan stuck his hand in the air. As the newest member, he irritated her the least. "Yes?"
"We heard about your upcoming fight. Do you really think it's wise?" He asked and she could see he had drawn the short straw.
"That doesn't concern anyone, except Amber and I. It won't affect any of you."
"You are mistaken if you believe that," Bryan said, a little braver now. "What do you think would happen if you won? Most of the companies and people using them will let them go if not all. If Amber Security has to leave to keep their business alive, we will all be left without protection."
"We are werewolves! Most of us here are more than capable of protecting our own and our town. But that won't happen, this bargain is between me and Amber securities. All I want is to get rid of this one. I'm tired of her staring at my ass all day. Great as it may be."
"Screw you, Alpha." The four members gasped but Sam laughed.
"You wish." Sam laughed.
"I hope you know what you're doing Sam," Bryan said. Bringing the last meeting to a close.