~ Chapter 5 ~
Mac stomped toward the camp, cursing under his breath and wondering who’d put the snake in Cam’s bed that morning. “Feckin’ bad tempered old . . .”
“I assume that’s our illustrious Alpha you’re moaning about.” Jinx chuckled before appearing out of nowhere, causing Mac to scowl to hide the fact he’d been taken by surprise.
“What’re you doing sneaking around? You’re a sleekit wee git at times, Jinx.”
“I’m not sneaking around.” Jinx retorted, his face a mask of feigned innocence. “I assume you had a run-in with Cam before Chastity got to him first?”
“What? Do you know what’s got him all riled up?” Mac asked, sneaking a glance around in case Cam appeared.
“My lips are sealed.” Jinx drew a finger across his mouth. “But I saw them tearing back toward camp like a couple of love-sick teenagers so I’m guessing everything’s sorted, so you can relax.”
“Thank the Goddess for small mercies.” Mac relaxed. “He was like a man possessed by a demon and he almost snapped my head off for no reason. Then Chastity appeared all breathless and red-faced like she’d ran all the way and tore him away. I swear I had no clue what was going on. It was like being in the middle of the Twilight Zone.”
“Aye, I can imagine.” Jinx smirked, obviously knowing exactly what had gone on but unwilling to divulge anything.
“I’ve got to get on . . . Cam wanted me to double check security. As if that’s required. Hells bells, Jinx. The camp is locked up tighter than a nun’s knickers, but when I tried to tell him that he snarled like he was ready to go all Wolf on me.”
“He’ll be fine, trust me.” Jinx shrugged. “He’s got a lot on his mind right now.”
Mac sighed, running a hand through his hair before harrumphing loudly. “I know. If I ever thought for a moment that Emily was in danger . . . hell, I’d be a rampaging idiot with mush for a brain. And I don’t have a Pack to run, or a world-wide conglomerate business. I have no idea how he copes with it all.”
“He’s one of a kind, that’s for sure.” Jinx canted his head. “But we know that, don’t we? We’ve known it since we were naught but bairns with thoughts of our first shifts in our thick skulls. Cam . . . he always had bigger ideas inside his head.”
“Aye, that’s for sure.” Mac nodded for Jinx to join him. “Walk with me? I’m headed to pick up Emily and check that security is indeed as tight as Cam wants it on his little brood.”
“Sure.” Jinx fell in beside him. “How’re the rentals going for the new cabins?”
Mac couldn’t help but beam at the success of his little domain. “Brilliant. We’ve grown the business and the fact that Cam has all the right contacts means we’re full most of the time. But, as you know, he’s very strict on how often we’re allowed to rent them out. He won’t allow it to impact on the environment, or Pack life.”
“Shoot, with what they’re charged I don’t suppose they need to be let out all the time.” Jinx laughed.
“I know.” Mac shook his head. “I canny understand why they’d pay so much to stay in a cabin . . . a very nice cabin but it’s still not a five star hotel.”
“Nature . . . and the opportunity to catch a glimpse of Cam in his Wolf form. I’ll bet that’s what the draw is, Mac.” Jinx winked at his friend.
“Heck, I never thought of that.” Mac shrugged. “Damn, he’d never let them see that though. Stupid eejits.”
“Aye, but they’ll still come for the thrill of the chance of catching a glimpse of the mighty Cameron Sinclair as a beast.”
“He’d probably give those office types a damn coronary.” Mac laughed, imagining the scenario.
“Possibly, anyway, can I ask . . . do you prefer what you’re doing now? I know you had reservations about leaving your job working in the orphanage?”
“Aye,” Mac admitted. “I enjoyed working with the bairns but you know me . . . I like being outside, Jinx. I much prefer being in the wild and it suits me much better and with it being part-time it’s better with us having Emily. It means we can balance out her needs better. I was never meant to be stuck indoors.”
“That’s what I thought,” Jinx said, joining him in a laugh as they broke through the trees and onto the open grassland that led up to the orphanage. “How’s Tristan liking working here?”
“He’s loving it.” Mac grinned. “And it works great for us what with childcare and all. Now that they’ve incorporated a school as well, it’s a one-stop-shop for everything to do with the kids for everyone. They’ve got the orphanage part, obviously, but there’s kindergarten, pre-school, and anything else to do with bairns that either Pack needs. Fergie’s Pack has grown as well as ours so it was something we really needed.”
A bell rang and a moment later double doors were opened by two women and kids of all ages ran out to play. Mac’s face lit up when he saw Emily, her ponytails flying out behind her as she flew after her best friend who just happened to be Heather, Cam and Chastity’s adopted daughter. Although Heather was a little younger in age, she was the same size as Emily and wild as her heritage . . . half Lion, half Wolf.
“Wow,” Jinx exclaimed. “I honestly didn’t realize there were so many kids here.”
“Aye, there’s over fifty now, of all ages.” Mac pointed. “There’s Emily, chasing Heather, as usual. Those two are inseparable, and are always wanting to spend time together.”
“That’s so cute. She’s a beauty, Mac, you’ll have your hands full when she’s older.”
Mac felt the growl growing in his belly, rumbling up to his chest and flowing out his mouth unbidden. His friend clapping his back, laughing. “Oh dear. Did I hit a soft spot there, Daddy?”
“Don’t joke, Jinx. It’s not funny. I’m not sure what I’ll do when the time comes. I’ll probably have to lock her up or something, either that or I’m gonna be knocking some teeth out.”
“You’ll just have to listen to Tristan . . . the voice of reason.”
“Don’t you believe it?” Mac shook his head. “Aye, he’s the one that’s normally all calm and cool. But not when it comes to Emily. Nae. He’s like a bull in a china shop. He’ll be worse than me, you mark my words, my friend. He’ll be smashing heads together and I’ll be knocking teeth out . . . it’ll be fight night in our camp when she’s of age to go on dates. That’s for feckin’ sure.”
“Shit,” Jinx spluttered. “I can’t even imagine Tristan getting all hot and bothered. He’s just so laid back.”
“You’ll see.” Mac walked on, his eyes scanning for guards. “Where the hell are they?”
Jinx prodded his shoulder. “If you could see them then Cam would sack their asses so fast their heads would be spinning. He doesn’t want the kids knowing about them, or worrying. Hold on.”
Mac waited as Jinx pulled his phone out, texting quickly then waited.
A few moments later, as they watched the children being rounded up after their play, Mac jumped when a hand landed on his shoulder.
“You needed me?” Gunr asked, his voice clipped and cold.
“What the f—” He turned to see Cam’s Head of Security, his face the usual calm and inscrutable mask. “Hmm, aye, Cam asked me to double check . . . again, that everything is in order. He’s concerned, that’s his word, not mine.”
“Everything is in order. There’s nothing out of the ordinary to report. I’ll be emailing my usual update to the Alpha later. Is there anything else?”
Mac shook his head and watched as the man about turned and disappeared as silently as he’d arrived.
“Feck, how does he do that?”
“Easily,” Jinx guffawed. “That’s why Cam employs him with keeping his kids safe.”
“He gives me the creeps,” Mac admitted. “Nobody should be able to move like that . . . not even a Wolf.”
“Who says he’s only a Wolf?”
“What?” Mac’s eyebrows shot skywards. “You are kidding . . . aren’t you? I don’t scent anything else on him.”
“That’s the point.” Jinx smacked Mac’s shoulder. “Cam’s used him for years and he’s got more than Wolf inside that stark façade, my friend. I’d garner a guess he’s like Cam a little, if you get my meaning.”
“Witch?” Mac turned around full circle. “Now I get why he disappears so easily.”
“Anyway, I’ve got to go find Stracey, she was acting strange this morning . . . must be something in the air today. Everyone is acting weird.” Jinx ran his hand through his hair, making it stick up all over the place.
“Must be.” Mac grinned. “Tell her I was asking for her and we’ll need to have a catch up soon.”
“Will do.” Jinx waved as he strode off, muttering under his breath about women’s strange moods.
Mac shook his head as he wandered closer to the building that started off as the orphanage for abused and abandoned Shifter children but had morphed into so much more. He knew he was early, he always was. He was the first parent to arrive for pick-up every time it was his turn to get their daughter. And today was one of those days. Emily wasn’t in a full day today so it was his pleasure to get her and spend some quality time with her, and he’d already planned to take her for a ramble in the forest.
One of her favorite things to do. She loved nature just as much as he did. After a quick dinner, it was back to the orphanage for a movie marathon, complete with popcorn and snacks. Thank goodness it was Friday and they could have a lie-in tomorrow because she’d never make it out of bed in the morning otherwise.
Sitting down on a bench, he leaned back, allowing the sun to warm his face as he waited patiently for his daughter. His peace shattered moments later with raised voices and cursing.
“Get the fuck off me! I’m here to pick up my sister’s kid and you’re not gonna stop me!”