Chapter 7: Angela

The room feels too open and different.

The ceiling is a little too high, and the bed is a little too…well, it feels like it’s a little too much for one person.

At home, my fan spins with a lazy clicking I could never fix and the house is never really quiet; it creaks with age and memories.

In the stillness of Maverick’s guest bedroom, my breathes echo off the walls.

I can tell it’s late. The moon has all but reached its peak in the sky and I’m so tired I can’t fall asleep. Maverick’s room is opposite the wall where my bed sits against. Yet, the walls are so thick that just a room apart feels like oceans. We are so close, but how can I feel so far away?

I breathe in.

I breathe out.

My wolf is restless; not in the get-out-and-run way. More like, the can’t-sit-still way.

I get up and let the blanket fall away. My feet tap tap tap against the floor as I head to the bathroom. The lights turn on automatically.

At the sink, I avoid looking in the mirror but turn on the water to splash my face. Barely 24 hours of being Beta and I already feel unraveled. But I’m nothing if not resilient.

The person that stares back at me in the mirror is someone who will wake up tomorrow a new person. Ready to take on the day and prove my worth to my pack and my king.

---

Whoever invented mornings needs a new hobby.

There is an incessant knocking at my door and it doesn’t abate, no matter how I try to bury myself in my sheets. I maybe got a few hours of sleep and I wasn’t about to lose any more to the idiot on the other side of my door, last night’s promise be damned. At least until I’ve had a solid 8.

“Go away.”

“Sir, you’re late.”

I sit up abruptly. I’d never heard that voice before.

I’m aware enough to throw on a t-shirt before I open the door. Standing before me is a young shifter with a bob-cut and thick-rimmed glasses that reflect the glare from the tablet in her hand. She doesn’t look up as she says, “you had a meeting with Kline Thomas that started…” she glances at her watch, “ten minutes ago.”

“...And you are?”

“Angela.”

“Ok, Angela. Um, what are you doing here?”

Angela huffs, finally looking at me. I watch as her eyes give me a once over and for some reason, I can’t help but feel she’s not impressed. Which, fine, I’m not really into her anyway, but the distaste didn’t have to be so blatant.

“Look, sir. You have to get ready. You have a full schedule this morning.”

Angela pushes past me into the room and my ‘hey’ goes ignored as she makes her way to the closet. She disappears for a moment before coming out with a smart-looking outfit in her hands. She throws the hangers on the bed and looks at me expectantly.

“I can get my own clothes, you know. Why are you even here?”

“Alpha Maverick assigned me as your secretary. He didn’t mention I’d have to baby you, however.”

“Hey, you barged in here.”

“And you’re still not dressed. Time is of the essence. I’ll give you five minutes before I come back in here and take matters into my own hands.”

The door slams behind her and she’s scarier than my mom when company comes over. So, I dress quickly because I’m not about to call her bluff.

Angela has me in dress pants, a tie, and a blazer. I frown in the mirror. This isn’t me at all. I’m given a moment to peek into the closet to find a wardrobe full of the same posh clothes and no signs of a hoodie anywhere. Angela bursts in a moment later.

“You clean up nicely. Too bad about your hair though, we’ve got to get going”

“What’s wrong with my hair?”

---

The short walk to Kline’s house doesn’t take long. Sitting in his foyer does. I shouldn’t be surprised that Kline was petty enough to keep me waiting as long as I apparently kept him. I didn’t even know I had a schedule. Or an itinerary.

Angela so kindly informed me that her job is secretary to the Beta, someone to help keep errands and meetings in check. Apparently, she has been in contact with Maverick and was able to, not only reorganize the schedule of Beta Yoseph to fit mine, but also set up this spur-of-the-moment meeting with Kline. She is meticulous and no-nonsense. I can tell we are probably going to butt head’s way more than once.

Speaking of, I do my best to run my fingers through my bedhead. I mean, honestly, was a comb too much to ask?

Apparently, because that’s also how Kline catches me when he finally deigns to grace us with his presence.

I drop my hands and clear my throat. Angela stands in greeting, so I do too.

“Such a pleasure of you to finally arrive,” Kline says, and I just smile tightly in return. It’s impossible to not notice his navy blazer and sleek shoes that shine stronger than the waxed floor. After a glance at my own clothing, I can’t help but think I’m a cheaper version.

“Apologies for the tardiness,” Angela replies next to me, “I hope we didn’t delay your day too much.”

“Not at all. Cayden is nothing if not predictable. I don’t recall an instance where he was ever on time. So, I planned accordingly. You clean up well, Hawks.”

I don’t get a chance to tell Kline to piss off because I’m being ushered forward by Angela as Kline turns and walks out of the foyer. I have to tell myself that Kline is doing me a favor and no matter if I like it or not, I need him to be able to do my job.

“We will have our first lesson in the library.”

He leads me to a room across the hall, “what’s in the library?”

It’s as impressive as any rich kid’s library should be. Walls that are lined with all sorts of books, tomes, and scrolls. It’s a treasure trove of words. There are probably more books here than the pack’s public library and it’s almost unfair for all this knowledge to be kept in a home where most of the books have a layer of dust on them.

Kline turns to me with an unreadable grin, “...A history lesson.”