Havoc's Mate (Badlands Territory #2) - Lila Rose Page 0,19

to reply was “Um, okay?”

She cackled and led me into a large office to show me the ropes. I would have to believe her, because I’d never experienced this type of connection before.

Chapter Seven

Cora

A couple of weeks rushed by in a blur. Jackson hadn’t been messing around when he said he needed help. He did. There was a lot of added work also, since DeeDee hadn’t enjoyed doing it. She’d fluffed over her explanations that first day because she wasn’t entirely sure herself. Eventually… okay, it took me the first week to get things down, but I did.

Not only was I busy reorganizing and then making sure the bookkeeping ran a bit smoother, but Jackson was busy with all alpha things.

However—and the knowledge still brought a smile to my face—he made sure he had lunch with me every day. He’d ask me questions, and I pestered him about things, wanting to know everything I could when it came to Jackson. He didn’t seem to mind, though, especially since he left me in the office flushed from being kissed thoroughly every single time.

As the days went by, I looked forward to going to work. I was eager for each and every day because it meant happiness. It had been a long time since I felt the touch of pure happiness. Not only that, but I was also getting to know the rest of the pack and experience the growing feeling of acceptance. Kathy was dropping in all the time, as was DeeDee. There had been a few pack members who’d stopped by to see Jackson, and to start with, they’d looked worried, but they all left smiling. One had even said to me he was grateful I was around because it was good to see a new, jovial side to their alpha.

Of course, I straightened with pride. It was amazing to know Jackson was cheerier with me around.

Getting to know the people around him, close to him, was also making it easier for me to accept I lived in a town of shifters. I hadn’t seen anyone shift since that time in the bar, but certain moments reminded me they weren’t completely human. Like when they could scent someone from a long way off. I also witnessed Kathy’s eyes change color when she got peeved about something Alton did.

They moved elegantly, but fast when they needed to. They were also strong. I’d been out front one day, and I noticed a little boy, or pup as Jackson called him, playing not far away when his ball went under a low car. Jackson jogged over, lifted the car like it weighed nothing, and the boy got his ball back. Jackson chuckled at my stunned expression. Then, after I asked about the other smaller houses around his, he explained people from his pack lived in them. I loved how shifters operated. It was like one big family. The only niggling issue I had was that Jackson worked too darn much. He had a lot of stress on his shoulders. Alton helped with some, since he was the beta, and I hoped I helped as well. Still, I worried he would work himself down to the bone and not enjoy life like he should.

“What are you thinking so hard about?” Kathy asked from where she sat on the other side of my desk. She looked up from her magazine and cocked a brow.

“Do you think Jackson works too much? I worry he doesn’t get to enjoy life because he’s so busy.”

She gave me a smile. “I think he’s loving life more since you came into it.”

Blushing, I shook my head. “I doubt that.”

“You shouldn’t. Everyone has noticed a change in our alpha, and we know it’s for the better. He’ll slow down when he wants. Maybe a hint from you might help, though. You could ask him to spend some alone time with you.” She wiggled her brows up and down.

I snorted out a laugh. “You’re shocking.”

Kathy winked. “You know it.”

I bit my bottom lip, wondering if Kathy had some information I needed. “Do you… um, know anything about Brea? She seems in love with Jackson.”

Kathy’s upper lip rose. “That money-grabbing whore. She’s been dealt with. Havoc and Alton made sure the message was clear. She won’t be a problem again. Her parents will also make sure of it.”

She’d been on my mind every now and then. I’d worried she would pop back up at some point. It was good to know she wouldn’t.

“But