Keith sat perched on the edge of his desk in his study room, it had been three hours since Laura stormed out of the house and he was now with Mark and the rest of the boys. He had called them to come over only after a lot of thought.
He crossed his arms and legs, lowered his head and shut his eyes, still thinking. He didn't know why he had let what Laura said to bother him, but he knew her all too well to know that she wasn't just all bark, she could bite as well.
This deal with James Donovan was a big one, not the biggest his company had ever taken on, but big none the less. He couldn't afford to allow any room for slip ups, he had to take Laura's threat with some level of seriousness.
"James Donovan is new to the city but he is very much well known," he heard Mark say to the others, "He's a mafia boss and he is known for his ruthlessness and weakness for women. Fine women."
"How did Laura get to know him again?" Shelby asked, directing his question to no one in particular but he looked at Keith.
Keith let out a breath, stood up and walked to the window, arms crossed as he paced around a bit before coming to a stop in front of the windows.
"She's a woman," Sebastian replied to him, "A fine woman."
"A fine cunning woman," Mark added, "How did she know to go after Mr. Donovan?"
"She must have done her research on him to know that he was in need of something, and she found that something was relatable to Keith and the company," Sebastian pointed. He too paced the room, just behind the chair Mark sat in, "The question really should be how did she get to find him, James Donovan is not known to be just anywhere given how much of a target he could be."
"I must say," Mark started with a chuckle and faced Keith who had his attention outside as he stood in front of the window, "I commend Laura, she does know how to push your buttons Alpha."
Keith hissed and turned briefly to face Mark, "I didn't call you boys here so you could commend Laura."
"Sorry Alpha," Shelby was quick to apologize.
Keith gritted his teeth and turned back to face the window. Somehow what Mark had said held some truth to it, Laura did know how to push his buttons with her actions and words, and maybe that was his fault.
She had come to know him all too well, he had allowed her to, or she had seduced him to. Of all the women he had fooled around with, she had been his favourite, so he had allowed her a great deal of freedom into his life. Plus it helped matters that she was a werewolf and sister to a once close friend.
"She gave you a direct threat, Alpha, she would be unwise to go after you, she's seen where it had led her brother and Hunter." Sebastian said to him.
Keith nodded, "I know Laura well enough to know that she doesn't make empty threats, in that aspect , she is better than both Hunter and Maxwell."
"Still, a threat is a threat," Mark said, "You've let her have her way for too long that she doesn't know anymore when she's crossing the line."
"Are you suggesting I punish her or something Mark?" Keith asked him. He turned away from the window to face Mark, his arms still crossed.
"I'm saying, you should remind her of where the line is and what it is," Mark said to Keith, "She is being too daring."
Keith sighed and faced the window. He knew what Mark was saying was right, Laura was being too daring, no wolf in their right frame of mind would dare to threaten him. He had given Laura way too much room and way too much freedom.
"What do you think would be her manner of approach if she was really going to go through with her threat?" Sebastian asked.
Keith paced, "I called for you so you could help me figure that out. You all know her just as I do."
"Not as much as you do, Alpha," Mark said with all manner of seriousness. He kept his attention down to the floor and stroked his chin, deep in thoughts.
Keith nodded unconsciously. That was true, they didn't know her quite as deeply as he did. He groaned, why was he allowing Laura's threat get to him so? Was it because of the fact that she already knew James Donovan and she had let him witness the fact that she had him wrapped around her finger?
Somehow she had managed to make herself both James Donovan's weakness and strength, probably without the man even knowing. She was a cunning one, that Laura Jones, and given that she was angry at him, he was sure she would make good her threat.
"But if this bothers you so, can you not drop the contract?" Sebastian asked Keith.
"I absolutely cannot," Keith stood with both hands shoved into his pants pocket, he faced the window and looked out and far, allowing his thoughts swim in his head.
"Why can't you?"
"I've already accepted it, I'm not one to go back once I've started something," He sighed, "Besides, the only other company qualified to handle this would be The Aviary. Ortho Speare would drop in rank against The Aviary and we'll be left to accept scrapings. That can never be Keith Preston."
Sebastian hummed. He didn't exactly know Laura that well, but if her words could trouble their Alpha so, then maybe she wasn't so ordinary. But then again, "But will she be able to pull off anything?"
"Don't forget her brother is now a rogue, any opportunity to attack the Alpha would be welcomed by him."