60. Did you know?

Arriving earlier than expected in Wolfsdale the car came to a stop in front of Cafe Del la Carte, alighting from the back of the vehicle as the door opened. Justin frowned deeper. "What are we doing here? You have a meeting in thirty minutes."

He rolled his eyes in irritation. "It might have escaped your knowledge Justin, but even the all-powerful Alpha King needs to food and drink to survive. We are not above starvation."

His beta chose not to comment.

Shayde walked inside to spy the women that were standing in the corner, as a chestnut haired woman in her late twenties was being reprimanded by a girl who barely looked twenty. "This is unacceptable," the younger of the two was yelling at her. "Just taking off like that, not even to give proper notice that she was leaving town. I have half a mind to fire the little leach."

The chestnut-haired woman dropped her head. "I'm terribly sorry Ms. Gaines, but I'm sure she has her reasons for leaving town the way she did. Wasn't she approved for time off?"

Eleanor Gaines rolled her eyes. "Though for the life of me, I can't even begin to understand who'd granted her the time, it didn't come from me or Carl."

It suddenly dawned on them who they were talking about. Danika. When he'd learned of her employment at the Cafe, which was one of his many human businesses, he'd put in a leave of absence for the woman. He didn't want to have her lose her job due to him if it was her decision to remain in town following their deal, no matter how much money he was paying her.

"Ms. Gaines," he interrupted.

"Mr. Blackwood," she gasped, clearly surprised.

His expression was stony, "If you dare to terminate Ms. Wolfe's place of employment here while she's on leave, then you will be the one needing to find another employment. She's been given an extended leave of absence, approved by the highest level of this corporation."

She gulped. "The highest?"

He pinned her down with a stare. "By me."

"You?"

Shayde towered over her, a menacing force to reckon with. "Ms. Wolfe is aiding me at one of the other chains that I've opened up out of town, transitioning the opening quite smoothly. Furthermore, Ms. Wolfe will retain a position at this establishment until I alone decide otherwise."

"Yes, yes of course," she stammered. It was clear that the woman wasn't thrilled, in the space of sixty seconds he'd eliminated her chances of firing Danika, had threatened her job and ensured she could never be fired.

Though it was sure to piss off Justin that he'd taken the time to secure Danika's job in this place, it thrilled him to no end to get one over on the woman. From the moment he first met Ms. Gaines there was just something about her that rubbed him the wrong way, her presence always putting Caspar on edge. Some would believe that it was her overbearing nature or even the lust that glowed in her eyes anytime he was close, but none of it quite rang true. There was something else about this woman, some unknown sense that he couldn't quite put his finger on yet, that assured him to keep away from her. That she was bad news. He was wise to listen.

Approaching the counter he informed the chestnut-colored woman that he'd have his usual, who was flustered as she scrambled to prepare his order.

"Danika? Is she really okay?"

"You must be Sarah," he guessed.

"Yes," she admitted.

Leaning down towards the woman that stood before him, finally comprehending what part she played in Danika's life before him. "So you're the one that I have to thank for bringing Danika into my life?" He leaned in closer, whispered. "Did you know I owned Tremonti Manor? That you were sending her to the home of her own boss, when the two of you concocted this little plan of yours?"

Sara gulped in fear. "You own Tremonti Manor? Did you..." She took a deep breath to gather her strength. "Is she in jail? Please, you can't blame her. It was my idea. She was forced into the decision by circumstances."

Shayde waved aside her stammerings. "You have no need to be concerned for her, Danika is in the safest place in the world. Being the understanding man that I am, she got the help she needed."

Her head snapped up. "Aliciah?"

"Safely away at school," he promised her, aware of the fear she felt for the young woman and found himself wanting to soothe her, knowing it would go a long way to win Danika over. "Danika has been working for me personally for some time, after the job's done she will be paid very handsomely for her work, she and her sister will never have to worry about anything."

Relief floored her. "Thank you."

"My pleasure."

When she handed over his order he handed her a crisp hundred dollar bill, despite he never paid for anything, walking out with orders to keep the tip. Justin was frowning when he emerged from the front of the cafe, clearly unhappy with what had happened, but didn't say anything on the contrary. Good, he wasn't in the mood to listen to his complaints today. He already wasn't in the best of moods.

When he'd gone into his bedroom it was to find that Danika was still fast asleep, having fought the urge to crawl into bed next to her. Then denying his wolf the contact with his mate he'd dressed and left the castle, but the whole time it had been a constant mental tug of war. It was clear that the mate bond between them had strengthened further than he thought, as their distance was a physical pain, his heart clenching painfully. Everything inside of him urged him to say fuck the meeting, to head straight back to his castle and curl up into the arms of his mate.

Yet, he couldn't bring himself to follow through on the wishes of his wolf, knowing that it was for her that he was there in the first place. If he didn't deal with the Black Guard now, find some way to mollify them, then they would issue the death warrant for the human in his home and that would raise a whole list of problems. None of which he needed.