Of Beasts and Heartbreak

Tori’s POV

I stared up at the unlit neon sign which indicated ‘Remus’ wasn’t yet open for business. My hand trembled as I pressed the buzzer. What I was about to do was daring in the extreme, given my past experience with this kind of establishment. Yet I felt good in my business suit even though I was way too early for my appointment.

The middle-aged female who came to the nightclub door looked unfriendly, adding to my nerves.

“Yes?”

“Victoria Culpepper. I have an interview with Mr Phillips.”

She didn’t even smile, just stood there with a hand on her hip.

“Media, eh? No doubt you’ll be bad mouthing us in your article. BDSM always gets a poor press.”

“There must be some mistake,” I said. “I’ve come about the job.”

She slapped her forehead with the heel of her hand.

“Silly me, I got the days mixed up. The reporter for the Werewolf Times has weaselled her way in because – no, you don’t need to know why or when.” She cleared her throat. “Alpha Calvin is running late unfortunately. Pack business. I’m his Gamma, Naomi Fisher. It will be good to have an extra pair of hands on a weekend.”

I hesitated, not wanting to contradict a possible future colleague. In the end I just went for it. No point being indecisive around members of the North Shore pack, one of the largest in the territory.

“I’m here about the full time position of accountant.”

Naomi waved a hand, dismissively. Her whole demeanour was different now.

“Don’t believe what the agency may have told you. The boss likes everyone to be willing to cover each position.” He did, did he? That was news to me. “With a few exceptions, of course.” She winked. “Can I get you a coffee while you wait?”

“Yes, please,” I said, my stomach churning.

We were inside the building now. Funnily enough, it reminded me of a bank with high ceilings and wood panelling. I couldn’t believe someone like her was working at a club mainly devoted to kink.

She led the way to a small office on the right but didn’t bother to close the door behind me. There was a potted cactus on the desk and a seascape on the wall.

I sank onto the couch, pleased I’d gone for the larger size. I knew turquoise suited me and hadn’t wanted to come across as boring.

“Not mated?” she queried, as she poured me a cup from the percolator.

“No.”

“Same here. Mine got killed before we had the ceremony. That was close to two decades ago.”

She didn’t look a day over thirty. Except for the silver-grey hair which I’d assumed was a wig.

“Sorry to hear that,” I said.

I thought about Alex then. I knew he was still alive because we’d been together when the packhouse went up in flames. And now Fran was missing. I was determined to find my younger sister, who had been crushing on our stepbrother from the day he came to live with us.

“Have you much experience?”

“What?”

I looked up to find her offering me a cookie. I picked one from the plate just to be polite.

“With finances. Calvin finds it tedious in the extreme.”

“What’s he like, the Alpha?

“Well, he’s an equal opportunity employer or you wouldn’t be sitting here right now.”

“I’m not a rogue,” I said, defending myself.

“You didn’t name your pack on the form.”

She smiled sweetly enough, though I sensed the shark lurking beneath the surface.

“There’s a reason behind that, Ms Fisher.”

“Call me Naomi, dear.”

I looked down. The sudden friendliness was too much to bear and my gut twisted with unexpected guilt. I was here to take her boss’s life apart.

A long moment passed. When I finally spoke, it was from the heart.

“They don’t exist any more. Waning Moon took me in but I’ll always be proud to hail from Black Gold.”

I raised my chin and looked her in the eyes when I named my original pack but she didn’t react or show any outward sign she knew of our fate.

“That’s cleared that up.”

The atmosphere changed abruptly but it wasn’t down to her. The Alpha I loathed so much was standing in the open doorway. How much had he heard?

He was blond haired, muscular and wearing an expensive grey suit but no tie. I caught a glimpse of chest hair and was shocked to find him attractive; my wolf, Bethany, hadn’t stirred in months.

This was a complication I didn’t need.

“Miss Culpepper?”

“That’s me,” I said, flashing him a smile.

My heart was beating as fast as if I’d just run for a bus.

“Ready when you are.”

For a split second I didn’t understand. Then I shot to my feet in response to his outstretched palm which I presumed meant I was to follow him.

This was it, my chance to get close to the murderer of my beloved father and stepmom.

I couldn’t be distracted by a pair of ice blue eyes and a dominant aura.

As we passed through a set of double doors to the main room with its public display areas, prominent St Andrew’s cross, hot pink walls and suspension rings, I pretended not to notice. In my opinion this whole concept was demeaning to women. It was so typical of an Alpha to own and run a place like this and I felt only contempt for him.

I’d seen enough to know the bar was well-stocked yet unstaffed. Would I be asked to bottle up in future, maybe even to serve? I could only imagine what kind of outfit I would be wearing if that were the case.

There was a part of me wanted to run. He was much more powerful than I had anticipated with those impressive biceps and that chilling stare. Being an Alpha’s daughter I was used to indulgence for the most part. Yet, if I found the proof I needed, I would kill this murderous beast. I owed it to my father and Moira, the stepmom who hadn’t lived up to the stereotype. Instead I continued to follow my prospective employer all the way to the second floor.

His office was much larger but he didn’t at any point offer me refreshment. Because the interview didn’t last more than five minutes. I guessed he was the kind of man who could tell at a glance if you were suitable or not. He told me he’d had one other applicant but I was by far the best in a way which had me hoping my foundation was masking my blush.

The only other daunting thing was when I had to lie to him for the first time. I told him I had never visited a BDSM establishment.

“I find it intriguing, though,” I admitted.

I didn’t want him thinking I was that rarest of she-wolves, a prude.

“Good. We’ll make a kinkster of you yet, Victoria,” he said.

Not if I could help it.

“Please, call me Tori.”

“And you can call me ‘Alpha’.” His laugh rang out, a deep chuckle which affected my very core. I shifted uneasily on my seat, hoping Bethany wouldn’t need muzzling. “Just kidding,” he said. “It’s Calvin. Welcome to the team.”

I shook his hand, relieved to feel no aftershock.

If he was guilty of ordering the arson attack which virtually demolished our packhouse and took away my loved ones, then he’d better watch out.

I wasn’t a karate champion for nothing.

“Did my Gamma explain how we do things around here?”

“She said something about covering other roles,” I mumbled.

Not my finest hour.

“And you’re okay with that?”

“Sure.” Lying was becoming second nature these days. All in a good cause. “When would you like me to start?”

“Monday morning.”

“Next week?”

My voice sounded shrill even to my own ears.

“Is there a problem, Tori? I wasn’t under the impression you had to give notice.”

And there it was, the cold and dangerous tone. Don’t mess with me, it said.

“No, Alpha Phillips,” I said.

“Let’s discuss your starting salary.” He named a sum which was reasonable given my lack of experience. “Stick around,” he said, a glint of amusement in those hypnotic eyes. “Things get quite wild on Fridays.”

“I’d love to,” I lied. There was no way I wanted to hang out with this monster. “But my flatmate is cooking.”

“You must bring her some time. I’ll arrange discounted drinks. Can you find your way back to reception? Naomi will let you out.” He checked his watch. “Better hurry if you don’t want to be surrounded by leather and latex.”

As I made my way downstairs, I tried not to think about what went on here. It was a licence to torture women and I should know. No wonder they called the rooms ‘dungeons’.

I shivered. Underneath it all I was beyond excited to be getting closer to the murderer of my parents, even if it meant working in such a sleazy place and for a man like him.