“Well, what we have to do is clear. We have to get it back. How we’re going to do it is another thing.” Nina stood and stretched her hands above her head.

“We aren’t going to do anything,” Lex growled.

Nina looked at him and then to Cade. “Listen, I have skills here. I’m not some helpless bimbo.”

“I’m not saying you’re helpless. I’m saying you aren’t going to get involved in crossfire between us, the mob and these Rogues. They’re brutal, Nina. Snotty or not, I happen to like you in one piece,” Lex said with strained calm.

“May I speak with you outside, please?” Nina asked, sugary sweet.

Lex looked at her and knew she’d say whatever it was on her mind in front of everyone if he didn’t go with her, so he sighed. “I’ll be back in a few minutes,” he told Cade and waved toward the door where Nina preceded him.

Nina was waiting in their bedroom, arms crossed, tapping a foot. “Shut the door.”

He narrowed his eyes and did it. “I’m not going to argue with you about this, Nina. I’m the Enforcer for this Pack and I say who is involved in anything like this.”

“Oh I couldn’t possibly care less, Lex. I’m going to be involved whether you like it or not. Now, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. It’s all the same to me. My brother was killed over this. I was almost killed and now I’m a werewolf because of Carter and your stupid f**king werewolf rules. I will have my day here and if you think you can pull rank and swing your dick around and play the big macho wolf to shut me up, you’re out of your mind.”

“You think you can tell me how to do my job?” he growled through clenched teeth.

She rolled her eyes but took a deep breath for calm. “Alexander Warden, I am not telling you how to do your job. Believe it or not, I respect your job very much. I respect that you do it so well that people fall over themselves in fear and reverence every time you enter a room. But, babe, I am telling you that I have skills here that can help. Have your people gone to Carter’s and taken his computer? Have you taken his computer from his workspace? I can get in and see what he’s been up to. I can help. Please, let me help.”

How is it that she always knew just how to disarm him? He was touched and flattered and utterly frustrated by this woman. “Why are you so damned difficult? I just want to keep you safe!” he thundered.

“Look, Mister Shouty, don’t get all testosterone wild on me! I didn’t say I would go in guns a blazin’. But you need to separate your feelings for me as your mate and your understanding that I have the ability to help you here. If you wanted some sweet, easygoing woman you barked up the wrong tree. Heh, barked! Anyway, suck it up, you have me and I’m not sweet but if you play your cards right, I am easy.”

That pulled a smile from him and he sighed deeply. “Okay, so if I get you the computer stuff you’ll let me do the other stuff without interfering?”

“By stuff you mean what?”

“God, you should have been a lawyer. I mean, I handle the physical stuff. I plan whatever plan to storm the Rogues or the mafia and you stay here or wherever I say, safe.”

“For now, I agree. Since I no longer have a store to run, I have the time to crack some computers.”

“Why do I have the feeling I’ve just given you the keys to the castle?”

She got a sour look. “Keys to the castle? Dude, work on your metaphors.” She crossed the room and walked out and down the stairs toward the office where the other wolves were and Lex couldn’t help but admire her, even as she took ten years off his life with her antics.

* * * * *

True to his word, Lex had Carter’s laptop and home computer brought to the house for Nina to examine. His books and work computer were also delivered. An office was set up for her in the room that had served as the guestroom when she first came to the house.

Lex put Megan on Nina permanently so he could investigate the situation without worry. He extracted a promise from Nina that she wouldn’t leave the grounds without his knowledge.

Tracy stayed over at the house and helped out with some of the records investigation and other tasks that Nina set her on. Both Lex and Cade were impressed by their baby sister’s competence and intelligence. They saw her through new eyes as she worked with Nina.

As the full moon approached, Nina’s restlessness increased. She found that she needed to be outside more often, even if it was just to walk on the decks outside the main rooms of the house.

She was afraid to admit to herself just how terrified she was of the first transformation. She’d endured a lot in her life but this change into something totally different freaked her out more than she could wrap her head around. She didn’t want to make Lex feel any guiltier than he already did. She was angry, yes, but she’d come to her own peace over the way she’d been transformed. It was that or hate Lex and what she’d become, and that way was the destruction of her entire future. No, she had to accept it, it was done. But it still freaked her right out.

The work was fairly easy for Nina. Carter thought he was clever but he wasn’t really. His passwords were stupid and easily gotten around. The firewall and other security he had was not very complicated.

The day before the full moon Nina headed into Lex’s office, dropped a sheaf of papers on his desk and flopped into a chair until he finished his phone call.

Lex turned to her and smiled. She was so damned beautiful that he still marveled at the sight of her. His once prim schoolmarm was a goddess and he caught fire in her presence.