Chapter 21

**Elise**


Ezra leads me through the double doors of the building and I'm immediately hit with the contrast of cool air inside. My eyes move frantically over the huge space trying to take everything in. The main part of the building is so vast and tall. From the outside, you expect the building to have at least two floors, except, unlike most office buildings it isn't completely separate.

The main lobby and lower floor is open all the way up to the high ceiling and there are walkways along the walls leading to the doors and rooms on the second floor. Straight ahead there is a single staircase that breaks into two leading to the separate sides of the building. Right in front, there is a large round desk area where two women are seated.

As soon as the guys head their way they pop their heads up and smile brightly at them.

"Good morning!" One of them chirps sweetly.

She's pretty. Really pretty. Her long dark hair is so straight that it looks almost impossibly perfect. She has beautiful clear skin and a bright smile. Her lips are painted a deep red and she has a smooth line of eyeliner that makes her look professional and well put together.

I instantly feel out of place in front of such a beautiful woman. Here I am in combat boots and tactical wear and no make-up with her looking like a supermodel. I can't help but lower my head and try to keep myself somewhat hidden behind the guys.

"Good morning Tiffany. Any calls for me?" Ezra asks stepping forward and I release his hand just before he reaches the desk.

If there was a way to call for a hole to swallow me here and now I would greatly appreciate it.

I feel a hand rest on my lower back and I glance up to see Archer standing beside me. He isn't looking at me though, he's watching Ezra and the woman speaking to each other. He doesn't look happy about it either.

"No sir, but we did receive the order you were asking about last night." She says and I hate the way she says it makes my skin crawl.

She says it in a low seductive way that almost sounds like they spoke about more than shipments.

"Ah yes. Where did they put it?" He asks.

"I had them place it in your office." She says giving him a proud smile.

"Very good. Oh, this is..." Ezra turns and glances around for me but I have strategically placed myself behind Weston.

The traitor steps aside though and the gorgeous woman's eyes fall on me instantly. Her bright smile wavers as she looks me over and I wish more than ever that I could turn and run out of here.

I can tell by her scent that she is a Beta so she no doubt will feel threatened by me and by the hint of a sneer on those red-painted lips, I'm right.

"This is Elise," Ezra says waving me over but when Archer drops his hand away from me I reach down and drag him along with me. "She's new to our pack and we wanted to show her around."

When he turns back to the woman she smiles wide again. "Welcome sweetie." She says and now I'm the one who wants to sneer.

Sweetie?

"We're going to be giving her the tour so if anyone calls just take a message for now. I'll check in once were done. Also, I need you to prepare the reports the chief is sending over. We want to close this case as quickly as possible." He says quickly.

"Of course sir." She says tightly.

He taps his knuckles on the desk before turning those burning eyes to me and holding a hand out to me.

"Shall we?" He asks and I give him a weak nod.

I keep a tight hold on Archer's hand as I step forward and accept Ezra's outstretched hand. He looks down at me and gives me a small smile. As we turn to walk away I turn to look at the woman and this time she really does sneer and as her eyes lower I know she sees the mark. Her face drops and nearly goes pale at the sight of it, and I hate the small bit of satisfaction it gives me to see her look so disappointed.

She must have thought she would have a chance with Ezra, but his mark is on me.

Take that!

Okay, so maybe that's a bit immature and petty but the way she's looking at me like I'm crap under her foot is making me mad.

"So most of the offices are upstairs, but our conference rooms are all down here." Ezra starts to explain and I let him lead me around.

We also stop by a huge room full of computers and surveillance systems that makes Archer's eyes light up. He was so excited to tell me about everything he does in there and I enjoyed listening to everything he said. His passion is infectious, and I love it. I even got to sit in his chair and make a sign-in all my own that allows me access to the system. I don't have unlimited clearance yet, but he says I can earn it. The way he smirked at me makes me think I won't have to pass any intellectual tests to get more access.

Once we were done there Weston took over and lead us to a huge room full of gym equipment. Except it looks different from what I've seen other gyms look like. There is a huge black mat in the middle of the room with dummies on each corner. Along the sides are punching bags and other equipment I'm not too familiar with.

There are a few guys in there and I'm introduced to a few of them before the guys quickly heard me away. They didn't seem too happy for me to meet other Alphas even though they know them well and are their employers. They have nothing to worry about because the men look too afraid to even look at me too long.

Lastly, we arrive at a room with thick metal doors and when we step inside I'm handed a pair of ear muffs. I'm not sure why I have to wear them but we don't move until I slip them on so I guess they're important. We move past the wall of hanging ear muffs and step into a hallway with several guys wearing matching headphones but they also have...guns.

Guns of different sizes and the faint popping sound I hear through the ear muffs and the way their body jerks tells me they are using them not just holding them. We move further in and I glance to my right and see rows of paper with drawings of a human form on them.

I stop short and watch in awe as one of the men shoots the paper right in the center of the paper guy's head. Wow!

Someone tugs on my hand slightly and I turn back to see everyone removing the ear muffs and the men who had been shooting are turned to face our group. The guys walk over and greet them with hugs and smiles, so they seem to like these guys more than the others we've met. I follow suit and remove my ear muffs as well.

"Guys, this is Elise." I hear Ezra say just as I'm able to hear clearly again.

When four pairs of eyes land on me I feel the urge to hide again, but the guys seem to like these guys so I try to stay strong.

"Hey, Elise!" The one at the very end says and I tilt my head to take him in better. "I sort of met you when Lyla came to help you."

"He was there to help Lyla when she was checking on your injuries," Ezra explains and I nod my head in understanding.

"These are Lyla's other pack mates. Scott works with her at the clinic and the rest of the guys work with us here," He explains and I relax a little.

These guys are Lyla's mates, and no threat to me in the guy's eyes so it's safe to be around them.

"That one is Kyle. That one there is Tyler, they're twins in case you couldn't tell. That one there is Elijah and this guy here is Hudson." Ezra says pointing to each of the guys and I give them a small wave in greeting.

"I hear we are accompanying you guys on a shopping trip later." The first one, Hudson says giving the guys a knowing smile.

"Yeah, we have a bunch of things to pick up for our girl," Sawyer says moving next to me and wrapping an arm around my shoulder.

I look up at him and he winks at me making me smile.

"I see. Well, Liddy hasn't stopped talking about you Elise, so it's nice to finally meet you." The second guy says and I can't help but smile at the thought of Liddy telling them about me.

"So, you look dressed to kick some ass, Elise. Want to give it a go?" Kyle asks tilting his head in the direction of the paper men.

He wants me to shoot a gun?

That should scare me but I smile wide at the offer.

"Heck yeah!" I say making all the guys laugh.

How many girls can say they know how to shoot a gun?