Chapter 16

Gryph

I hadn’t expected to like Joey or any of the werewolves he’d brought with him, but I did. They were honest and as sane as any dominant wolf could claim to be. After we’d discussed what I wanted as far as surveillance, they’d all headed out to their van to grab the supplies they needed for the job.

Getting the management of the building to allow them to install security cameras in the lobby areas and elevator had been a real issue. Only one of the six elevators opened into the Bliss lobby. I’d found that strange until Julia had explained that the one elevator not only had extra protection spells, it could also be used as a portal for certain types of preternatural creatures.

The only issue I’d had with Joey came when I insisted on watching them install the cameras. He didn’t like me looking over his shoulder. I didn’t know him well enough to trust him, so we’d compromised. I watched, and he called me an asshole. We were currently sitting in the conference room with Oliver, going over how to look up the video feeds. Cash and John were out double-checking the wiring and connection for the cameras.

“You can access it from any computer, but I recommend only using the laptop I leave here,” Joey began.

“Why’s that?” I asked. While I’d adapted to technology in many ways, I was still a very old wolf. That meant I’d only adapted to things I deemed necessary. Computers weren’t new technology, but I’d never found much use for them. It had been tempting to get one when another werewolf had mentioned the wide selection of porn one could find with a computer, but by that point, I already had a phone I could watch porn on.

“This computer is more secure than most you’ll find,” Joey explained. “I’m also going to show you how to access the feed from your phone just in case you need to check it while you’re away from the computer. Do you have any questions so far?”

“Why is the computer pink with rainbows and unicorns on it?” I asked. That had been driving me up a wall since Joey had removed it from the princess themed laptop bag.

Joey grinned as he gestured to the laptop. “All our important laptops look like something a twelve-year-old would use. The sleek, modern looking computers have nothing of real importance on them since we figure those are the ones thieves will most likely go after.”

I gave him a nod of approval. Joey and his team were proving to be a real asset. “I wasn’t sure about bringing you in,” I admitted.

“I don’t blame you,” Joey replied. “You’re looking at that witch like she’s your mate, so I can see why you wouldn’t want other werewolves sniffing around her.”

“She is my mate,” I told him.

Joey stopped typing and leaned back in his chair as he studied me. “You aren’t fucking with me, are you?”

“It came as a shock to me, too,” I admitted.

“And now, some asshole is threatening her,” Joey muttered. “That must really piss you off.”

“That’s an understatement,” I told him.

“Why haven’t you marked her?” he asked. “I know my wolf would be going crazy if I found my mate and didn’t mark her.”

I shrugged. “It’s complicated.”

“Because she’s a witch?” he asked.

I nodded. “Witches do things differently,” I reminded him. “I can’t just go in there and claim her.”

“You are definitely more enlightened than I am,” Joey said.

I decided not to mention how unenlightened I’d been when I’d first met Julia. Hell, even now I wouldn’t call myself enlightened so much as practical. “Why don’t you finish showing me how this works?”

Joey chuckled. “I get it. You don’t want to talk about your mate. I guess I wouldn’t in your position either. Before we get back to the computer lesson, I want to assure you all my people will be told Julia is yours. If you need us back in here to help out, you won’t have to worry about one of them trying to talk her out of her panties.”

“Wouldn’t that be considered unprofessional, anyway?” I asked.

Joey shrugged. “It would, but you know how young wolves act around an attractive woman. They don’t always use common sense. I get the feeling your witch would turn us all down, but you’d still be pissed if one of us tried.”

“You’re right about that,” I agreed. “So, you have a lot of young werewolves?”

“We’re all young,” he replied as he returned his attention to the computer screen. “I’m the oldest at twenty-five.”

“Twenty-five?” I asked with genuine shock.

Joey nodded. “Yep. It’s kind of scary imagining what we’ll all be like in fifty years, isn’t it?”

“I’m beginning to wonder why your pack leader isn’t worried you’ll kill him and take over,” I mused.

“What makes you think he’s not worried about that?” Joey asked.

“You’re still alive,” was my response.

“He’s really got nothing to worry about,” Joey insisted. “We like our leader, and we’re happy with the way things are.”

I definitely didn’t miss this type of pack stress and drama.