Bookstore princess

Chapter 4

James

I usually enjoy my meetings to a point, but today they all seem to be dragging by. Steve is a champ and takes point on them while I gaze down at my phone looking at my little mate, Nadia. What I need is access to her security feed in the store. I noticed the camera's earlier. It would satisfy my curiosity and need to see her constantly if I could see what she's doing on my phone at a moment's notice. Then, I'll just need to find a way into her private quarters and put cameras there too for when she's done work. Yes, it's a bit over the top, but I just can't wait to see her again. A thought occurs to me that I can go in as a wolf, she doesn't seem like the type to turn an animal in need away. My wolf Fang is large and black. Most of my pack finds me intimidating in my wolf form, and I'd like it to stay that way. I don't want my mate to find me intimidating though.
"James" Steve's voice breaks through my thoughts.
"Yes?" I ask him expectantly.
"Are you in agreement?" he asks, sounding a little exasperated. "To the alliance with the neighboring packs?" he added, giving me a pleading look.
"It seems Alpha James is a bit preoccupied," Alpha Tony says with a hint of amusement.
"I met my mate, but she's human," I admit, looking down at her picture again.
"My mate was human as well," he sighs. "I remember the early days vividly. I'm sure she will accept you. Modern women seem to be more open to it" he shrugs. "Is she on one of our pack lands?" he asks.
"No, on the land we are claiming" Steve says for me. Alpha Tony and Alpha Nick seem like trustworthy men, and are protective of their lands, but have never expanded outside of their original pack lands. Us moving our entire pack halfway across the country is something that's hardly known of, but I don't want a war with the neighboring packs, and we have a lot of issues with rogues. Our own pack has been peaceful for a long time, and we haven't had any issues with them, but the neighboring packs are bickering between themselves and that never ends well for the impartial party. Especially if they are smack dab in the middle of two warring packs.
"I see our treaty between our three packs as beneficial, the only problem you are going to have with moving your whole pack with you besides the financial aspect is the rogues that live on the lands. Some of them have been around a long time, and won't take kindly to losing their claim on the lands" Alpha Tony said with his hands clasped in front of him. "You have a sound business proposal here, and the treaty is standard" he added.
"We are telling the humans that work for us that we are expanding our business on the east coast" I give a small smile. "They will continue to work for us, and we will go and check on them periodically as a friendly visit."
"More like you're sending me or Sam" Steve chuckled.
"I don't want to be far from my mate until I've claimed her properly" I shake my head.
"You won't want to be far from her at all, even once you've claimed her" Tony says with a bit of a chuckle. "Even now, I can't wait to go home to my mate."
"I'm in agreement with this treaty, and the land is free to be claimed. We will discuss maybe more of the business aspect of your job opportunities once you've settled in" Nick suggests as he signs the paperwork in front of him. Tony quickly joins in and signs before handing it to me and I sign it as well. Steve gets up and makes four photo copies, one for each pack, and one for the lycan king that oversees all packs. It's a formality to send it to him, but one we honor just the same.
"Where does this mate live?" Nick asked curiously. Fang reared his jealous head, but I quieted him down.
"She's one of the owners of the bookstore in town" I say softly, the warning hasn't left my voice.
"My wife and children love that bookstore" Tony smiles wanly. "They always give us a flower with our purchase, and their coffee is to die for!"
"Too bad for the rogues that run the bar across the street" Nick frowns. "If you need help with them, let me know. I know they've been giving the bookstore a little bit of trouble since they opened up. They tried buying the property under the three owners, and once in a while there's some graffiti outside with front windows. The male, Jacob, goes out and cleans it before they open for the day."
"I didn't know they were having troubles" I frown, not liking that my mate is so close to rogues. I smelled some when we visited the bar, but didn't realize they were that prominent in the community. I'll give them the option to join the pack, or else I'll buy the bar out from under them and give it to Nadia as a wedding present.
"They don't talk about it," Nick shrugs. "I have eyes and ears everywhere" he admits. "I'll pull them of course now that you are moving in."
"Much obliged, but until we are completely moved in I would appreciate it if you could share some of the intel" I say, but Fang is now pacing inside of my head that our mate could be in danger from the rogues.
"Of course!" Nick nods.
"Which one of the bookstore owners is your mate? Is it Nadia, the timid one that stays behind the counter?" Tony asks with a smirk.
"How did you know?" I ask in surprise.
"Jenny is a lesbian, and I don't see that changing" he chuckles. "Jacob is protective of the two girls, although he teases them relentlessly" he tells me and I lean in, desperate for more information. "Nadia is the one that insisted on the flowers with each purchase. I heard him teasing her for it once, but it really is a big hit in the community. They buy flowers from one of the florists in town that buys from our greenhouse."
"Is the florist run by rogues?" Steve asks as he sits back down again and gives everyone their copy of the treaty.
"No, they don't know about our kind" Tony shakes his head. "Peter and Mary bring the flowers once a week into town" he explains. "They've never been to our pack lands."
"It seems you both have business in town here" I frown.
"With the treaty you just signed, we still will. Just a bit more limited" Tony taps the paper in front of him, and I realize I didn't read it as closely as I should have. Both he and Nick stand up and I shake their hands before they leave and I'm left in my small office with Steve who's filing away our paperwork.
"Are you headed out to see your mate again?" Steve asks me curiously.
"Actually, I have a proposition for you" I say, looking at him fully. He cocks an eyebrow and nods.
"Go on" he says, already knowing he's probably not going to like what I have to say.
"I want access to their security footage in the store, and put up cameras in her apartment above the store" I tell him without hesitation.
"The security feed I can get you, but how do you think we will get in unnoticed to put up the camera's in her apartment?" Steve asks, a little confused.
"Well, I have a plan" I grin and Steve watches me with expectation.