just a hint of dense curls—and he wore a business suit for our meeting.
Like most werewolves, he had an impressive set of broad shoulders, and I could see the shadow of defined muscles in the way his black suit fit him.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Chase. Tell me about your skills.” I smiled at him as I edged closer to the stalls, angling for the one Eclipse had claimed for herself.
“I’m versed in various forms of martial arts, I have extensive firearm training, and I served as a marine in active duty for six years,” Chase said.
“Any leadership training?” I propped my arm up on the edge of the stall, smiling when Eclipse joined us.
Chase slightly bowed his head to Eclipse and didn’t appear at all bothered by her frightening appearance. “Yes. I am one of the top ranked wolves in my pack, and I have experience leading both civilians and shifters…”
He listed his work experience, but I wasn’t too concerned about that. Skye said he was competent. For her to say that he had to be good.
I was far more interested in seeing how the night mares reacted to him.
Eclipse was doing her best to beg my apple from me and was mostly ignoring him—that wasn’t a bad thing, though.
Suits—the guy who had shown up with Lady Demetria and the others when they found me—had stormed the stable once to object when he heard I was selling the sun stallions, then left immediately, screaming, because Twilight almost kicked him.
In fact, the longer we stood by Eclipse and the longer she didn’t react, the more I suspected Chase had to be a stand up sort of guy.
“That’s really impressive.” I finally gave in and gave Eclipse the apple. She slobbered over my hand in her version of thanks. “Skye said you were from the Northern Lakes Pack. That’s in northern Wisconsin, right?”
“Yes, Queen Leila.” He straightened up and stood with his hands clasped behind his back.
“Which means you are leaving your pack?”
Magiford straddled the state line between Wisconsin and Illinois and was hours away from the Northern Lakes Pack territory. Werewolves lived with—or at least near—their pack, which meant there was no way he was remaining part of the Northern Lakes Pack.
“No, actually. I’ve received special permission from my pack Alpha, and from the Pre-Dominant, to apply for this position and take up residence in Magiford but remain a member of the pack.”
I almost put my slobbered hand on my hip in my surprise before I caught myself. “The Pre-Dominant?” The Pre-Dominant was the highest-ranking werewolf in the region. For her to be giving her approval to Chase was a pretty big deal.
“My pack has a higher-than-average number of wolves with alpha capabilities,” Chase said. “It’s not a problem due to the strength of our pack, and all of us would follow our Alpha no matter what. The Pre-Dominant approached our pack and asked if several members would be willing to relocate and find strategic positions.” He hesitated, then added, “Given the events of the past year, it’s become obvious to us werewolves that we need to make greater strides in working with other supernaturals.”
Which was political speak for saying that the vampires and wizards getting along splendidly due to Killian and Hazel’s romance was scaring the pants off the werewolves, because it meant the vampires and wizards could team up on the Regional Committee of Magic.
See? Sometimes it did pay to be more aware of local politics than whatever dramas the fae had most recently invented to amuse themselves.
I tapped my hands on the stall door and glanced at Eclipse.
She blew her sulfuric smelling breath at me. I tried to discreetly tilt my head in Chase’s direction.
Eclipse just swished her thin tail and stared at me.
When I made a face at her she finally took my unspoken hint and reached over the stall to nudge Chase.
He glanced at the mare, then gently patted her neck.
Eclipse grunted at me, checked my hand for any additional apples, then retreated into her stall to blow smoke at her haynet.
His non-reaction made me narrow my eyes and openly study him.
Chase wasn’t what I wanted. He was a werewolf, and still susceptible to fae magic.
But as a werewolf he’d have some advantages. Werewolves were agile—not like the vampires, but in strength they could beat vampires every day. They—most shifters, really—also were extra perceptive with better eyesight, hearing, and smell.
What I really need in a director of security is someone competent that I can