Chapter 3: Birthday Blues

Malcom paced his office. His wolf was feeling restless. Hell, he was feeling restless.

His dreams were getting more vivid. Last night he had been between the thighs of the most beautiful woman he had ever seen; or at least that’s the impression he got, even though he couldn’t really see her face. The rest of her was amazing, though. He could still taste her sweet release when he woke up. Her unrestrained moans still rang in his year. Her “yes daddy” had him waking with a raging hard on.

It didn’t take long for him to deal with that in the shower as he relived his dream.

God he needed to find this woman. If she even existed.

He was turning 30 in less than a week and still hadn’t found his mate. The elder council was on his back and an agreement had been reached, but he hadn’t been a part of making it. No, the elders and another pack had reached the agreement: if Malcom did not have a mate by his 30th birthday, then he would mate with the eldest daughter of the Forest Run Clan. He bristled at the thought that his future had been decided by everyone but him. However, the elder council was not to be trifled with; he could challenge the decision, but it would end poorly for him and worse for his clan.

Malcom had met his intended fiancée, and her father a few times. He disliked both of them. Alpha Henry Reacher was one of those who felt the Lycan community was above any other being. Especially humans. Henry had often pushed for the elder council to allow his pack to take more territory from the humans around them, sometimes through hostile business take overs, and sometimes through other means. Some of which, Malcom strongly suspected, involved murder.

His daughter, Natalia, was not much better. In fact, in some ways, she was worse. She had been hounding Malcom for years, despite knowing they were not fated mates. She cared little about romance or love, she just wanted power and wealth. With her father, she had both; mated to Malcom, she would have more. And her alpha tendencies didn’t allow her to accept rejection with grace; no, she was going to be his wife and partner if she had any say.

Malcom was a realist. Finding your fated mate was a long shot, these days. But he used the excuse that he was looking for his to avoid the gold diggers like Natalia. It had worked for almost ten years.

But Henry and Natalia would not be ignored forever. Malcom was the alpha of the largest, wealthiest, strongest pack. Natalia was an only child and thus her father’s heir. Their union would unite both the Forest Run Clan and the Gealach Ùr Clan into one pack that would span most of North America and Scotland and a good chunk of Northern Europe.

On paper it was a good match. At least for their businesses and territories. It would mean a death knell for some of the smaller packs in Europe, though.

Malcom could objectively admit that his mating Natalia would be good for his clan and his businesses. He just couldn’t stand her as a person. She was a narcissistic, spoiled brat who fancied herself an untouchable princess. If they were mated he’d have to spend time with her… to share her bed, at least until there was one pup. Though the expectation would be for more than one pup. While he wanted a family someday, he definitely did not one with her. He would rather be celibate for the rest of his life than start a family with her.

It was too much. The thought of spending more than two hours in her company, a day, made him shudder. He would do just about anything to avoid the match.

He needed to get out of the office and go for a run, to figure out his next steps. Malcom was a realist who knew that, statistically speaking, if he hadn’t found his mate yet, he would not find her in the next week.

Which meant he needed a plan for how to deal with the Reachers at his birthday celebration that Friday. He had some options, though none of them great.

If he found a bride, one he could tolerate at any rate, that might work. However, if she wasn’t his fated, he risked angering the Forest Run Clan… and the elders. Which meant he might end up with a war and lives on both sides would be lost. Or, worse, the council could decide that he wasn’t a fit alpha which would forcibly remove him from the leadership of his clan, and then what would become of his pack? They were loyal to him, but the thought of going against the council of elders would be too much for any of them and more than he would ever ask.

Or he could suck it up and mate Natalia. Do the bare minimum as far as his mately duties. And spend as much time away from her as possible. But the he ran the risk of her putting her fingers into his clan and businesses and trying to run them. Or just taking his money and spending it on whatever spoiled heiresses spent their time and money on. He really did not want to give her a dime, or any control over anything at all. He would happily never be on the same continent as her again.

There was always the hope that she would take the offer of some of the human billionaires and join them in space. It was unlikely, as it might ruin her manicure and perfect hair to be in zero gravity for any amount of time.

One could hope, though.

None of the options looked good, or even feasible. But he was up against a wall. Either he mated a female he actively loathed or he risked his pack and status to avoid that fate.

Malcom had never dreaded a birthday so much as he had this one.

“Mr. Murray,” his assistant’s voice crackled over the intercom, her tone soft and accent polished to try and hide her Scottish brogue, “Your one o’clock is here.”

Malcom glanced at his desk planner. He preferred writing things by hand, though he did have a shared calendar with his assistants. When you have three personal assistants, shared digital calendars was a must.

His one o’clock was Alastair. One of his up and coming clan members. Alastair had recently graduated from law school and was interning with his company. This was the final review session before Alastair’s internship was done.

Malcom had been impressed with the male’s work ethic and intelligence. He was the kind of employee that made Intercorp work well: dedicated to making life sustainable and working with the environment instead of against it. He was a male with a sense of integrity and justice. Both things that Malcom and Intercopr stood for.

“Send him in.” Malcom told the assistant and then moved to grab Alastair’s file, which included a job offer packet.

A sharp knock at his door alerted him that Alastair was here.

“Come in.” He called.

The door opened and a very flustered Alastair entered, followed closely by Natalia, who was actively trying to push past him.

“Ms. Reacher, please wait. Mr. Murray has…” Malcom’s assistant came bustling in behind them.

“Mr. Murray will make time for me.” Natalia tossed her perfectly straight platinum blonde hair, which was cut into a stylish lob that just brushed her shoulders. Her blood red nails matched her shoes while her white suit was tailored to fit her like a glove. Her jewelry sparkled, even in the minimal light of his office. She was the epitome of elegance and sophistication and self-importance. Malcom loathed her.

“Mr. Murray can speak for himself.” Malcom growled at her.

“Malcom, darling!” Natalia turned a bright white smile on him, “I’m just here to discuss plans for our mating ceremony…”

“Ms. Reacher,” Malcom’s tone was firm and cold. “Ye can schedule an appointment with my assistant if ye need to speak with me. As of right now, I have an important meeting with Alastair.”

Natalia snorted, “Is this seriously how you’re going to treat your fiancée? When we are mated…”

“If ye have anything to say, please schedule an appointment with my assistant. Or, better yet, send it in an email.”

Natalia looked at him, speechless. Her mouth opening and closing a few times as her porcelain skin turned redder and redder, either in anger or embarrassment, Malcom couldn’t quite tell. Probably both.

“My father will hear of this.” She hissed as she spun on her heal and stormed out.

“I’m sorry for the interruption, Mr. Murray, I tried to keep her out…” the assistant, a young female with mouse brown hair and eyes was wringing her hands.

“It’s not your fault, Michelle.” Malcom patted her on the back, “Ms. Reacher is determined to stick her nose where it doesn’t belong. She needs to hear it from me that she is not welcome here.”

The assistant bobbed her head and scurried out the door.

“With all due respect, Mr. Murray, is it wise to antagonize the Reachers?” Alastair cleared his throat, “They could cause problems with the council if they wanted. Especially if Ms. Reacher is to be yer mate…”

“I’m working on that problem.” Malcom all but growled, “ in the meantime, let’s get on with yer review.”

Over the next half hour, Malcom and Alastair talked about Alastair’s performance, his goals for the future, and his thoughts on the company. In the end, Malcom handed Alastair the contract with a job offer. This was the part of the job he liked best, being able to support his clan and reward hard workers.

The younger male beamed, “Thank ye, Mr. Murray!” He vigorously shook his alpha’s hand, “I’m glad to be officially joining the team!”

“We’re glad to have ye.” Malcom walked Alastair to the door. “Melissa, please set Alastair up with HR so he can get started on the new hire paperwork.”

“Right away, Mr.Murray,” Melissa ducked her head, but Malcom saw her blush. Did his assistant have a crush on their newest member? While some companies frowned on inter office dating, Malcom allowed it as long as certain protocols were followed; and neither of them would technically work in the same department. He hid a smile, they would be good together.

Mulling over this and other things, Malcom sauntered back into his office. He had a lot to deal with, including plans for his party. Usually he let his assistants deal with planning, but this was his coming of age party. He had been running the Gaelach Ùr Clan for nearly ten years, since his parents had died, but now he was being recognized as the official alpha of the clan by the elder council. It was a big night, and he had to make sure everything went the way he wanted it. Part of him knew that Henry and Natalia were going to try to hijack the evening for their own purposes. Turn it into an engagement party of sorts.

For now, though, Malcom focused on making sure that the party focused on the actual reason: the Gaelach Ùr clan and their achievements over the last ten years.

And, apparently getting engaged to a female he abhorred.