Chapter 82

Governor Kruck pasted a stiff smile on his face, twisted as if he didn’t use those muscles very often. “Oh yes, I know all about you, Elena,” he gritted from between the clenched teeth of his fake smile. “You are notorious around here. You managed to catch government corruption that we never could have imagined existed. It’s all thanks to you that we’re taking a very interested look at our own government here in Lupinton, as well as across the entire nation. Even our nation’s capital has taken notice of you.”

I swear I caught Charles flinching at this.

Governor Kruck fiddled with his tie like the silk choked him. “I’m sorry for the way I acted a moment ago. My aide in the back kindly presented me with the most updated materials we have on you. I took a moment to skim the information. I hope you don’t mind the interruption.” He laughed. “No, I don’t suppose you mind since you’re no longer in trouble.”

I glanced at Charles and shrugged at Governor Kruck, unsure what to do with such an abrupt swing from the way he’d been behaving moments ago. His previous anger had seemed over the top and self-righteous. But this cheerfulness seemed slimy in so many ways.Honestly, I couldn’t tell which was worse. Or which I rather directed at me. And there was no telling where in the middle the truth actually lay.

The sound of a throat clearing behind the curtain drew Governor Kruck’s attention again. “Pardon me,” he said. “Just one more moment. I’ll be right back. It seems the aide has something else for me.”

He scurried behind the curtain.

Charles leaned over and whispered, “What do you suppose that’s all about?”

“I have no idea,” I said in return. “But he’s creeping me out.”

“I fully agree,” Charles said.

“Is there any way we can politely leave?”

Charles shook his head. “Not from government offices under the nose of the governor. I might be an alpha, but even I can’t do anything about the amount of security in this building.”

I shuddered, and Charles drew me into his arms, holding me close and sniffing deeply in my hair.

“Do you suppose we should play along with this?” I murmured. “Or should we find a way to decline whatever he’s planning?”

“I’d guess more plotting than planning, but we have to be very careful. He might be reporting to an aide. But remember, the Alpha King is visiting Lupinton, too. And he said they’ve taken notice in the nation’s capital, Packhaven. Governor Kruck could be taking orders from much higher up in the government.”

“Why would the Alpha King care?” I asked in confusion. “Well, you’re one of his alphas, so I can see why he’d care about you. But my only connection is through you, so why me?

All the blood drained from my face. “Unless you think the chaos that I stirred up actually made the Alpha King mad? I mean, you’d hope the king would want to make things better for his people. But I guess government corruption would reflect badly on him.”

I squirmed. “Then again, maybe the Alpha King is actually pleased with what I started. What if he didn’t actually know what was going on? Then maybe I really would be an asset. Can you imagine me being important enough to draw the attention of the Alpha King?”

Charles hugged me tighter. “Shh. You’re babbling,” he soothed. “I’m familiar enough with the Alpha King to know he does what he likes, as any king would, I guess. But trying to guess what he would or would not do is pointless.”

“The one thing I do know is he won’t look favorably on weakness. You need to deal with the Alpha King assertively but without challenge. It’s an important balance. Which is why I try hard not to deal with the Alpha King unless absolutely necessary.”

I nodded against the firm muscle of his pectoral. His vetiver scent filled my senses, calming me. Funny, Charles’ scent had always affected me, but in the past, it had always stirred up butterflies in my stomach, exciting my crush and making me shy and nervous. When did he become a source of comfort for me like he said I was for him?

This must be further proof we were meant for one another. I took another whiff, and Charles laughed.

“I thought sniffing was my job.”

I giggled and drew back to see him better. “If it’s work, I can’t leave everything to you. I’ll have to do my part as well.”

He pushed me back into my own space, then smoothed a hand across my head, ruffling my hair a bit to get more of my scent. “I knew you’d make a perfect partner.”

He lowered his hand, leaning back in his chair to wait for Governor Kruck. “I’m glad to see you’ve relaxed.”

“Some,” I agreed. “I’m still deeply uncomfortable with all this. “I’m not sure what to do with the governor.”

Charles gripped my hand under the table, smoothing his fingers along mine. “You don’t have to do anything, not really. I’ll handle the talking. That’s my element. And if you want to pull your weight, all you need to do is stand firm.”

“How?” Charles made it sound so easy.

“It is easy,” he said as if reading my mind. “You’ve already stood up to me, and I’m an alpha. Meet his eye, and don’t back down. He’s trying to make you submissive, so don’t be. Silence can be very powerful.”

I drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly, drawing the feeling of his touch on my hand into my core. “Okay. I can do silent.”

“Silent and strong,” he clarified. “Think of it as a staring contest. Don’t give in, or you lose.”

I giggled again. “You make it sound like a game.”

“It kind of is. A bit like chess with real-world implication.”

“I’d just be a pawn,” I said glumly.

“Not a chance. Besides, in this real-world game, you have the upper hand already. Everyone underestimates you. Let them. As long as you know in your core what you’re capable of, let them assume you’re weak, then knock them down the first chance you get. They’ll never see it coming.”

He leaned in, pressing a warm, lingering kiss on my lips. “In my heart, you’re definitely the queen.”

Charles pulled away just in time for Governor Kruck to return from behind the curtain. In his hands, he held a stack of paperwork.

“Goodness gracious,” he said, wiping his forehead where sweat had beaded out into a grotesque dot-to-dot. He tucked the handkerchief back in his pocket.

“It seems like today has been all over the map,” Kruck continued. “I just can’t keep up with where things are going.”

He gave a nervous chuckle. “I don’t suppose you know the feeling?”

“We do indeed,” Charles said. I was so glad he answered because I still didn’t know how I ought to respond.

“What information exactly did the aide give you?” Charles demanded.

Governor Kruck let out another one of those odd laughs. It rolled around on the table like loose marbles before dropping onto the floor and shattering. “All the details about how if it wasn’t for Elena. None of the corruption would have been uncovered in the first place. And, in light of that monumental fuc—” he fumbled over words, “feat, er, uh, a fine accomplishment?” he finally supplied with a question mark.

He let out a sigh. “Evidently, we, here in Lupinton, are supposed to protect her as a national treasure.” He put the paperwork down on the table and slid it over towards Charles like it might bite him.

“This paperwork here is everything the pair of you need for your relocation to Lupinton,” Kruck explained.

“Relocate?” Charles asked. “Temporarily?”

“That depends on how long the threats against you last.”

“What?” Charles and I yelped at the same time. “Moving? To Lupinton? When?”

“Immediately,” Governor Kruck replied.