The Hybrid's Hope

Chapter 14: Meeting with Liam

Levi

After leaving Hope in her new apartment, I drop my things in my apartment next door, then head upstairs to the official offices of Holstin Enterprises, Inc. Alpha Liam runs a company that helps support not only his pack, but also other packs and many lone wolves. The company has two separate departments, security and construction. I’ve worked the construction side on occasion, but I prefer security,

However, I want to talk to him today about possibly switching so I can be home more often to spend time with Hope.

Although, that thought gives me pause. I have no idea what he plans to do with Hope. If he puts her on a security detail, she could be gone for longer periods of time.

When the elevator doors open on the main floor, I nod at Justine, the current receptionist for the office. That position changes frequently, usually based on who might need protection from the company and a place to live while the person or persons who are after them are found and taken out.

While Alpha Liam employs only shifters, he works for shifters and humans.

Justine is a human and has been in the position long enough that the bruises she came in with are gone, but the haunted look in her eyes and the constant checking of her environment will take longer to go away. At least the permanent scent of fear that she had the first few days she arrived are gone.

“Good morning, Justine,” I say. “Is Mr. Holstin in?”

“He is, Levi. He’s expecting you.”

“Have they found your attackers yet?” I ask, stopping a moment to check in with her. Most of us do this work because we want to help others, so I’m sure I’m not the only one who checks on her. But the Alpha in me doesn’t like seeing someone scared and alone.

“Not yet. But Mr. Holstin said he thinks they’re getting close.”

“Good. I’m back now, so if anything scares you, you have my number.”

“Thanks, Levi. Lachlan checked on me over the weekend while most everyone was away.”

“Good.”

Lachlan is a lone wolf who works for Alpha Liam and lives in the building too.

I go to the CEO’s office and knock on the door. Eventually, Alpha Liam will pass this company off to his second and third son, Alpha Xander and Alpha Cayden as the CEO and CFO. Both men plan to go to college to learn how to run the business, but it’s a great way for the younger sons to have a place in the world and still participate in the pack, since the company will fund their brother, Alpha Richard’s, pack.

Alpha Xander is finishing his senior year of high school this year and will be going off to college in a few months. Alpha Cayden will be going after he returns.

“Come in, Levi,” Alpha Liam says. I walk in and close the door, knowing that it’s better if Justine doesn’t hear our conversation since she doesn’t know about shifters.

“Good morning, Alpha. How was your weekend?”

“Busy! I feel like my children are growing up right in front of my eyes. My son has taken over as Alpha and now Leana has decided to go visit Araphyra with Lily.

Araphyra is the elf land that very few know about. Lily, another Guardian, Alpha Rik and Luna Cara’s daughter, is mated to King Aolis, the son of the current king, Ailduin. However, when she turned eighteen, she didn’t immediately accept King Aolis as her mate. I’m not sure why and it’s not my place to ask, but I’m guessing this trip is meant to rectify that. Lily and Leana have been best friends their entire life, so it makes sense that the two of them would go together.

“Well, Alpha, your pups are all very close in age, except for Reagan, of course,” I say.

Werewolf gestations are shorter than human gestations and Alpha Liam and his mate, Luna Angel, had pups every six months for two years. Then they waited a year and ended up with twin girls. I’ve heard the pregnancy wasn’t easy for Luna Angel and Alpha Liam insisted that they not have any more pups, as if six pups weren’t enough. However, Reagan was born three years later. She is, by far, the youngest of this generation of Guardians. Even at twelve, it’s obvious that she takes after her father rather than her mother. While all Guardians are strong, Reagan is already making a name for herself as a very powerful warrior.

“I guess so. Thank the goddess Xander and Cayd are next in age. When the twins come of age …” he shakes his head and I smile.

All the Guardians are well protected by their fathers and brothers, but the twins and Reagan are the youngest of the generation and everyone is protective of them. Plus, the twins have their mother’s gentle kindness making the packs practically fall over themselves to please them.

“Anyway, how was your weekend, Levi? Any important news to share with me this morning?” he asks.

Everyone knows that Hope and I are best friends. Everyone knows that I was hoping we would be mates.

“Yes and no. Yes, we’re mates, but Hope didn’t want to complete our bond. She also doesn’t want me to announce that we’re mated. However, I told her I wouldn’t lie if I was asked.”

He looks at me, nodding slowly as he thinks. All Alphas are intense. I’m used to Alpha Eli’s intensity, since he’s my Alpha. Alpha Liam is intense in a different way.

“She didn’t reject you?” he clarifies.

“She wanted to. She doesn’t feel like she’s good enough for me, but I convinced her not to.”

He nods again.

“This is about having pups, or in her case, pups or cubs?”

“Yes, and I wanted to talk to you about that. Well, it’s one of the things I wanted to talk to you about. Hope wants to use Holstin Enterprises resources to try and find her father. I’d like to help her, if you agree, and I’d also like to search for any scientists who might have been involved in the experimentation projects during that time to see if they have any knowledge of what would happen if Hope were to have a child. She’s terrified that any children she has will be hybrids like her.”

He gives me a disbelieving look. “You want to … talk to the scientists who were involved in creating Hope?”

“Well, I want to get information from them, then I want the rip them to shreds for what they did to Amber and Hope,” I say honestly.

“I don’t have a problem with you using the resources of the company to try and find her father or the scientists who hurt her and Amber. The problem I have is that I’m intending to send Hope on a job that will probably take her away for a month, possibly longer, if she accepts.”

I feel something inside me twist. “A month?”

“Yes. That’s why I asked about the mate bond. The job I have requires a female, a young female. It pays well and should be relatively easy for Hope. If the two of you were marked and mated, I couldn’t send her away that long. It’s not ideal, knowing you’re mates, but your wolf and Qadira can handle it since you’re not marked. However, that means you may be here searching for her father on your own while she’s working.”

He’s right, it’s not ideal, but at least I’d be doing something to help move our mate bond forward while she was working.

“If she agrees, I’ll do it. Thank you for letting me use the company’s resources to help try to find her father.”

He nods again. “I’ll warn you, Levi. When Amber first came to our packs, Eli asked me to search for the scientists. Of course, the hunters came and you know the story of how Grace took them out. But we were never able to find the scientists who headed the research project for Amber. I want you to know that going in so you can manage your expectations.”

“I understand, Alpha. Did you ever look for her father?”

“No. That we did not do. That will be a new search and if you need anything in your search for him, let me know. I’m happy to provide you with whatever you need to find him.”

“Thank you, Alpha.”

The intercom on his desk buzzes. He looks at me and rolls his eyes. It would be a lot easier if he could use the mind link.

“Yes, Justine.”

“Mr. Holstin, Hope is here for your nine o’clock meeting.”

“Thank you, I’ll be right out,” he says, then looks at me. “I do have a job for you today. However, given that I’m possibly going to send Hope out for a month, would you prefer to start tomorrow when her job will start if she accepts it?”

“I’d appreciate that.”

“Okay. Take the day, I’ll get you started on the security detail tomorrow. I’ll send Lachlin today.”

I step out of Alpha Liam’s office to see Hope dressed in a pant suit, like she’s here for an interview. It’s very cute and very unnecessary, but she doesn’t know that.

“Hey beautiful,” I say to her.

She blushes and Justine looks from me to Hope.

“Do you two know each other?” she asks.

“Hope’s my girlfriend. She just moved in downstairs. I’ll see you in a bit,” I say, leaning down to give her a quick kiss.

“Levi,” she whispers, giving me a frustrated look.

“You didn’t say I couldn’t call you my girlfriend, Hope,” I say, grinning as I walk toward the elevators.

I push the button and turn. Hope is staring at me, so I wink at her.

“Hope, come in,” Alpha Liam says, startling her out of whatever thoughts she was having.

I wave as I step into the elevator, then grab my phone and quickly make plans to take my mate out for a nice dinner tonight. If I’m not going to see her for a month, I’m going to make sure she doesn’t forget tonight.