Chapter 77

A cheer went up around the room as the various departments reported good talks.

"This is a victory for our city and our species," Charles said to the room. "I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. I'd love to publish a statement from the group, and if you're all willing, a signature showing your solidarity and intent to move forward strengthening Lustrum. It will go a long way to instill confidence with the people."

Charles projected a picture of the document as it would appear in the paper. "A front page spread, and your names here at the bottom."

"Where's the pen?" someone said, and people laughed. They all got up to sign, and after everyone filed through Charles beamed and looked around the table again.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is monumental. Congratulations on saving your city."

Rafe Media ran the document almost immediately online and texted it to the leaders of the protests. We watched from a fourth-floor window to the front and side of City Hall as the news began to spread through the crowd below.

Cheers began to replace the chanted slogans. People began to blast music and dance.

Then city workers and leaders came out the front and were cheered like heroes. They mingled in with the crowd and began to celebrate.

"This is good," Charles said, beaming down at the people, pulling me toward him and squeezing me tightly. "This is the best possible outcome we could hope for."

"Minus Culpepper," Amy said from where she stood in front of the next window over.

"True," Charles said. "But he's in the public eye now, and he'll have to do some serious good work to freshen up his image, if he recovers from this at all.

"I feel like he won't if Sally has anything to do with it," I speculated.

"True. I wouldn't want her on my trail, that's for sure."

There was a knock on the door and Charles smiled even wider. "Here so quickly?"

I followed him, puzzled, and watched in awe as he opened the door to a food delivery service bringing in bottles of champagne and appetizers.

"I thought we could celebrate a little before going back to the office. The editors are handling all this, and I think we have earned some relaxation time."

"You and Amy for sure," I said, setting the glasses up on the table and beginning to arrange the food as Charles wrapped up the bill with the delivery driver.

He grabbed the closest bottle and carefully unwrapped and eased out the cork before it gave a celebratory Pop!

"Yay!" Amy smiled and held out a glass. "Here's to saving the city. Here's to Jessica."

We all smiled a little sadly and raised our glasses, but as we sipped, the bubbles lightened the mood and we began to grin and watch the crowd again.

The music from below filtered up and soon Charles was spinning me around the room, elegant and graceful while I tried to follow his cues. Amy bopped along, waving her glass.

"I think this is going to go on all night," Amy said after about an hour. We had drunk the champagne and eaten the food and were feeling warm and elated. "Let's go down into the crowd."

Charles looked doubtful, but Amy began to move toward the door. "Please? Just for a bit!"

Charles grabbed my hand and we went after Amy who was singing with the crowd as we went toward the elevator.

"Okay, Amy, but we go out the back and sneak in. I'm not walking out the front door," Charles said.

"You deserve the attention," Amy objected.

"I don't think it's a good look for me to be seen trying to get any attention right now. But feel free to go out the front if you want."

"Oh no," she said, a little unsteadily. "Not me. I'll fall down those steps and make a scene."

We went around the back and down an alley, the music and singing already echoing around us as we went. The crowd was just ahead at the mouth of the alley and we stepped in seamlessly. No one noticed Amy or myself, but people immediately noticed Charles.

"Hey! Mr. Rafe! Well done!"

"Congratulations, Mr. Rafe!"

Everywhere we went people shook his hand or shyly thanked him. We danced and sang along to familiar songs that people were blasting through the megaphone.

I could see in his eyes that Charles was having a good time. They were shining a bright blue, and his face a healthy glow. His height seeming to tower as he stood tall and proud in the crowd.

I watched him look around and could almost hear him thinking that they were his people, that he had taken care of them when they needed him and that he had done his job as an Alpha.

My eyes fell on Amy. There was one more person we needed to take care of before the night was over. I nudged Charles and pointed.

Amy was sagging more than she was dancing at this point. She looked exhausted but was still trying to have a good time.

"Hey," Charles said, tapping her shoulder. "Elena and I are getting tired. Can we drop you at home?"

"Oh, you don't need to do that," she said.

Charles nodded. "Let's go!"

The command made her suddenly stand straighter, but it only lasted a moment. Soon I was supporting her as we moved through the crowd, Charles parting the people with his width and presence, but still shaking hands and chatting briefly with individuals as we went.

Almost as soon as we sat in the back of the car, Amy's head drooped onto my shoulder. She was snoring by the time we reached her apartment.

"Amy," I nudged her. "Wake up, sleeping beauty."

"Amy," Charles said, and her head snapped up.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! Was I asleep?"

We got her up and moving, and we followed her into her apartment. When I was satisfied that she was in her bed with her shoes off and her phone near her hand, we quietly left, locking the door behind us.

"I've been waiting to get you alone all day," Charles said gruffly, stopping me in the empty apartment hallway. He pulled me to him and kissed me hard and passionately.

I returned his kiss, pulling at his body, pressing against him as hard as I could.

"Let's get the hell home," he murmured.

"Yes, please," I said, and we went to the car as quickly as we could. We sat close to each other, and Charles' hand found it's way around my torso and up the side of my shirt, slowly stroking the side of my breast as we drove in silence.

It sent waves of heat between my legs and up my body to meet his hand and I sighed, leaning into him.

"What a day," I said, adjusting my arm so he could reach my breast better. He pushed up under my bra and cupped my entire breast with his hot hand. My breathing grew ragged and I felt alive all the way to my toes as he stroked me and then pinched my nipple.

"Hey," I said, trying not to jerk away and attract the attention of the driver.

"Sorry, must have slipped," he said, giving me a wicked grin and squeezing my breast even more tightly.

It was all I could do to hold myself back from jumping on him there in the back of the car, but finally we pulled into his driveway.

As Charles got out of the car I noticed him look at his phone. By the time we were to the front door and I looked back, I could see something had happened. He hadn't moved up the walkway and was frowning at his phone.

"Charles, what is it? Bad news?"

"It's the state governor," he said, looking up at me with wary, worried eyes. "I'm being summoned to a meeting."