Midnight

Byron took Malcolm back to the office once they finally tore themselves from the bedroom. He had phone calls to return and it was back to business. He left the office door open.

Malcolm was content to sit in a chair and watched Byron work. He pulled a knife from his boot and played with it quietly. Byron watched.

Byron watched Malcolm flip the knife in the air, it twirled end over end three times and Malcolm caught and repeated this a few times. He wasn't getting anything done and he didn't want Malcolm to stop because somehow this was a turn on. What was his problem?

"Should I leave?" Malcolm noticed that Byron wasn't doing anything.

Byron chuckled. "Nope. Please don't. Sorry, the knives are just sexy and I...got sidetracked."

"I'm very good with knives, Byron." Malcolm smiled.

Byron's wolf growled. "Oh, Malcolm." He took a breath to calm the wolf. "I have to call the Alpha from the Central Plains Pack." Byron watched Malcolm.

Malcolm nodded. "I met him once. His name is Kim. Uh, something Kim." He forgot his first name. "Should I put the knife away?"

"Nope. Please don't." Byron smiled and Malcolm blushed. "Otis. Otis Kim. I have been hearing rumors and wanted to talk to him. I will be a minute but I wanted you here."

"I'm here, Byron, with my knife." He chuckled. "How did you make knives dirty!" Byron shook his head and shrugged. "I'm fine, Sir. Make the call." Malcolm smiled and flipped the knife in the air and caught it on the hilt.

Byron raised an eyebrow and dialed the number. It rang just once. Byron kind of wished people would let it ring or go to voicemail. They were scared of him.

"Sir. This is Otis." He knew who this was. He was showing respect to Byron.

"Hello, Mr. Kim. This is Byron McIntyre." He was stupid. Otis knew who it was. Byron rolled his eyes and Malcolm smiled. He put the call on speaker.

Otis nodded. "I know, Sir. How can I help you?"

Malcolm flipped his knife and Byron shook his head. "I just heard some rumors and wanted to see how much you knew. I'm worried. I have a new vampire trying to take over my territory and I don't appreciate it."

"I understand. I can't blame you. I have heard some things. Is this York?" Otis knew it was.

"Yes. I wanted to know if you heard about any hunters going missing or vampires or humans or wolves for that matter. I don't want to underestimate my enemy." Byron sounded powerful. Malcolm almost dropped his knife.

"I have heard...I was just talking to Uriah Carr, the Alpha from The Eastern Seaboard Pack. He said some of his hunters have gone missing. Haven't found bodies yet though. It's not like a hunter to just disappear so we know something is happening. I had no idea that York was in your territory. That makes him an idiot." Otis would put money on Byron.

"I was afraid of that, Otis. Damn it. I'm searching for him but he's hiding from me right now. I was trying to hunt for him and be subtle but I was attacked at my home on the last full moon." Byron sighed.

Otis was standing. "Sir! Are you okay?" He was worried that Byron was injured. He never met him but he knew that Byron was powerful. The most powerful of the Alphas.

"I'm fine. Uninjured. My mate jumped in and helped me. He's wonderful but that leaves me with trying to find this York character. I was hoping you heard of something." Byron was grasping at straws. He wasn't sure if they would be relieved if he died. They all feared him.

"I haven't. I didn't even know you found your mate, Sir. Congratulations! I must send a gift." Otis was pleased to hear that this Alpha found someone.

"Thank you, Otis." Byron realized Malcolm knew Otis. "Sir, you met him actually."

"Really?" He had no idea.

"Malcolm Hawkins. I believe you met him and his family." Byron watched Malcolm nod.

"Holy wolves! I did meet him. Uh, which one was he? Sorry, he's a twin, I believe and I couldn't tell them apart." Otis hoped not to offend anyone.

"Oh, I had long hair then! I cut it recently. I had the knives." Malcolm smiled.

Byron watched Malcolm 'Long hair?' He mouthed the words. He would look hot with long hair.

Malcolm nodded.

Otis remembered. "Oh. I remember. One loves knives and one loves his sword. No, he had a gun or something too. I think Tucker made the gun for him....Cash. I believe. They are both very formidable vampire hunters."

"Yes, they are. I'm happy to have them in my pack and one as my mate. Thanks, Otis." Byron smiled.

"I'm worried for you, Sir." He would be honored to help Byron McIntyre. "I haven't heard more about this enemy but I don't like what I have heard. If there is anything I can do, just call."

"I will definitely call. I hope to end this war without a lot of bloodshed but it doesn't look good. York likes to kill humans or turn them. I'm worried. Just keep an ear out for me. I would appreciate it, Otis. Watch your people and stay safe." Byron waited.

"Sorry I couldn't be of more help to you. Watch yourself also. None of us like what we're hearing. Be careful, Sir." Otis was gone as Byron hung up.

"Well, shit!" Byron cursed everything.

He hung up and dialed another number. It answered in the middle of the first ring. "This is Uriah Carr."

"Sir, this is Byron McIntyre." Byron sighed. He heard shuffling and the sound of someone dropping the phone on the floor.

"Holy shit! So sorry, Sir!' Uriah was terrified. "Yes. Sir."

Malcolm chuckled and Byron glared at him. "Hello. Sorry to startle you. I just spoke with Mr. Kim and thought I would call you. I heard some things that were disturbing. I heard you were missing some hunters?" He got to the point. This Alpha was young.

"Oh, yes. Sir. I am searching for them right now. I found this out yesterday. Was I supposed to inform you, Sir?" He was scared that he messed up and Byron would show up and eat him.

Byron smiled. "No. Not at all. I just...I'm asking because I have a problem with a vampire in my territory. York. I wanted to ask you if you heard anything."

Uriah gasled. "I have. I heard he is bad news. Once you're on his radar, he will kill you, your immediate family, your pack, anyone in town that talked to you or looked at you in a newspaper."

"He is relentless and very dangerous. He holds people captive and turns those he wants to keep. He's a serious threat. Sir. Maybe not for you, but for us." Uriah sounded worried that he offended Byron. "I'm glad you don't have a mate or he would go after them first."

Byron glared at Malcolm, who was laughing. "Uh, I do have a mate."

Uriah cursed again. "Sorry, Sir! I had no idea." They could hear his panic. "I should have known that! I am so sorry. I usually stay on top of news like that. I should have known that you had a mate, Sir! Of course you have a mate, I mean you are you!" Byron was the most important Alpha there was and he didn't know Byron found a mate. Stupid!

"Uriah. Calm down. This is new and there was no way you could have heard about it yet. I just found him. It's okay. It's been like two days so no worries. I was attacked by three vampires at the last moon...I'm fine. My mate helped me." Byron sighed.

"Oh, Sir, I'm happy to hear that your wolf mate is just as strong as you are!" Uriah sighed. He was hoping he got this one right. It was an easy guess because most wolves are mated to wolves.

Byron chuckled. "Well, I hate to do this but my mate is a vampire hunter." He corrected the young Alpha.

"Well, Damn it!" Uriah cursed again. "Sorry, Sir."

Byron chuckled. "No offense taken, Uriah. Really. Sorry for laughing. I just found him and he helped with my attack. We're both uninjured but I'm worried about my people and I have heard basically the same things that you just said. I have worries for my people."

"It proves that he's a fool for being in your territory, Sir. And congratulations on finding a mate! I hear it's unnerving. Probably not for you though." Uriah was curious. He hadn't found his mate yet.

"It is very unnerving, Uriah. I never thought I would have one and then he's a man. A male vampire hunter. I was surprised." Byron smiled at Malcolm.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I...how is that working out? I heard about your father and I heard he didn't approve of mixed relationships." Uriah stopped talking. "I'm stupid, sorry!"

Byron stared at Malcolm. "Right. I'm not my father." Byron sounded stern. He hated being compared to his father. "I love Malcolm. He's my life, Uriah, and I put you on speaker." He chuckled.

"Shit! Sirs! I am so sorry and mean no..."

Malcolm interrupted the Alpha. "Sir. It's fine. We're not offended. I hope we can meet someday. Byron and I were both very surprised and now we are very happy. We're planning on getting married."

"Oh, that's wonderful. Just watch out because York will come after you and your mate, Sir. Just be careful. I hate what I'm hearing and if you need help just call me. I have a lot to make up for!" Uriah cursed himself.

Malcolm chuckled. "I hope we can meet someday, Sir." He liked Uriah.

"We will call back when we hear something. Stay safe, Uriah." Byron hung up and laughed with Malcolm.

"They are so afraid of you!" Malcolm smiled.

"You see why I figured I would never have a mate!" Byron watched Malcolm.

"Well, you are screwed now." Malcolm smiled.

"Indeed." Byron was happy about that. He sat down and finished paperwork and sighed. "This York is a pain in the ass!" That was random.

Malcolm followed Byron into the kitchen and behind a door. This was where the cooking was done. It had restaurant grade appliances in here. The kitchen where they ate had the regular kitchen appliances but this place looked professional. Malcolm was impressed.

She was a pretty woman kneading dough on a stainless steel island. She had flour on her cheek and her dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail.

"Ruth." Byron tried for a soft voice.

The woman, Ruth, Malcolm was guessing, gasped as she looked up. "Sir!" She was scared. Malcolm could see the fear in her pretty green eyes.

"Sorry to interrupt but I just thought I would let you know that I'm holding a meeting tonight to make some announcements." Byron tried to be gentle. He hated that she was so afraid of him but she had good reasons. His father left a lot of scars in his wake.

"Oh, yes sir." Ruth nodded. Malcolm could almost see tears.

"Hi. I'm Malcolm." He thought he would try to ease her fear.

"Hello." Ruth looked at Malcolm.

"Malcolm's my mate. It's part of the announcement tonight so we will need food for everyone, if you can. I hope this is okay."

Ruth stared at Malcolm. "Sir. Congratulations. This is fine."

"I will try to give you more notice next time. It's been a while since we had a meeting and I'm sorry for the short notice, Ruth. I really appreciate you and all you do here." Byron tried.

Ruth just nodded and looked at the floor. "Yes. Sirs."

"And thanks for the late night snacks." Byron tried again. She always left midnight snacks outside his door when he worked late. She was so thoughtful.

"Always, Sir." Ruth half smiled but didn't look up.

Byron sighed and gave up. He left the kitchen and Malcolm followed. Malcolm wondered what happened to her that made her so afraid of Byron but he wasn't asking Byron. He already shared a lot today.