Chapter 149

Grace

My anxiety was running rampant. I was still reeling from that ominous call with Alpha Shadow. The fear of knowing he was so close to my kids, not being able to get to them, even with the Lycan Enforcer there, was too much. All the clarity and tranquility I had cultivated while at Lake Town with Charles seemed gone.

Amira leaned in to tell me that we should head to City Hall, and I don't even remember getting in the car. I was bouncing in my seat, trying to shake the energy off, when we pulled up, and I hurried up the stairs and into the building. There were police officers and Enforcers around, but Charles hadn't arrived with Kelly and my kids yet.

So I paced back and forth, around in circles. The door opened, and Eason hobbled in, not on a crutch, but not stable either. He was carrying a large bag full of something along with a briefcase.

He stood in front of me.

"Sit down."

My jaw trembled as he hustled me into a seat and put a muffin in my hands. He sank down beside me with a sigh and opened a muffin of his own. I tried to eat or be calm enough, but the need to get up and worry was strong.

"You start pacing. I'm going to trip you."

I scowled at him as he ate the rest of his muffin. As I looked at him, I realized how thin his cheeks were.

"You... really are getting skinny."

"Yeah," he said, his eyes glinting. "Don't remind me. I'm too tall for most of my clothes and too thin. It's irritating as fuck, and pretty soon, I'm going to be slumming it all the time. What's worse, George thinks I'm not done growing."

He huffed. "Dad and Mom weren't that tall, so I wonder where I'm getting all this height from."

I smiled. "To be fair, you've always been on the tall side."

"Shame I hadn't been tall enough in high school. Would have taken some bulk. The healer swears I'm due to put on some muscles, but I'm struggling to keep weight on."

He looked down. "I'm wondering what the hell my body is trying to heal that I need to eat all of this."

He finished the muffin and reached in. "I can't even work out. Pretty soon, my ass is going to be as flat as yours."

"Eason!" I shoved him as he laughed. "Don't be an ass."

"I'm the little brother. It's my right... Feeling better?"

I sighed and took a bite. The surge of chocolate in my mouth made me smile.

"Sorry I couldn't get a cream-filled one. I'm sure Charles will help you out if you need it badly."

My face heated as I thought about the half-finished blowjob in the cabin. Then, the door opened with Amira coming back with tea for herself, coffee for me, and a jug of juice for Eason.

"Doctor's orders."

"Give me protein," Eason grumbled. "Not sugar."

"Oh, I forgot that. Hold on." She left again and came back with a plastic bag full of wax paper packages. Eason growled and grabbed it with a hasty thanks before opening it. The scent of dried meat filled the air as he opened it and started eating it.

"I am so over this whole awakening deal. I swear."

I nibbled through the muffin, wanting to enjoy it and focus on anything but my worry. I opened my phone, looking at the photo. Cecil grinned brightly and seemed absolutely ecstatic to be covered in splotches of paint.

I really hoped that it wouldn't stain the car. I fidgeted with the hem of my jacket as I finished the muffin.

Finally, the door opened, and Charles, Kelly, and my kids entered. I jumped to my feet, rushing towards them as Cecil launched herself at me.

"Mommy! There was a bubble slide and paint and..."

I drew her close, crushing her to my chest, letting her tell me all about what was at the museum. I barely heard anything other than the sound of her heart beating.

I stood to take Richard into my arms, who cooed and settled into my arms easily.

I looked up at Charles with pleading eyes. He nodded at me.

"Cecil may have had a bit too much fun, but everything is fine... You should have another muffin."

"Sorry," Eason chimed. "I only brought the one. I didn't want to be blamed."

I chuckled a little as I looked at Kelly.

"You okay?"

She nodded, offering a faint smile. "Perfectly. A little spooked, but good. Cecil noticed someone following us, but I didn't see him."

"He was wearing red, Mommy, and one of those masks..."

"Well, I'm very impressed that you noticed..." I said, kissing her cheek.

"Let's... get you cleaned up, hm?"

"Okay," she said and came with me to the bathroom. I left Charles with Kelly and Eason and headed to the bathroom with Richard and Cecil.

Cleaning up Cecil from her fun-filled day at the museum helps alleviate some of my anxiety. Her giggles and carefreeness almost made me forget the danger she'd been in. I gently scrubbed away the paint splatters and changed her clothes.

As I tended to Richard, swapping his tiny outfit for something fresh, I couldn't help but smile. This simplicity was so familiar, so comfortable. I missed it even as I knew what it had cost me and the entirety of the Mooncrest pack.

When we came back, Eason was still eating some sort of jerky. Cecil bounced over to him and looked up into his face.

"Uncle Eason, when are your eyes going to go back to normal?"

"I have no idea, munchkin," Eason said. "You don't think they suit me?"

She wrinkled her nose. "They're alright. Sometimes, they're like stars."

I smiled, listening to her chatter before I looked at Charles.

"Grace, how did you--" His phone rang. He frowned, pulled it out, and grimaced. "Give me a second. It's Isolde."

I bit my lip, wondering why he had to step out, but then I heard Richard cooing.

I didn't want him or Cecil to know anything was going on, even as my nerves were frayed. I rocked Richard, willing this nightmare to end so we could return to some semblance of normalcy.

As Charles stepped outside to take the call from Isolde, my mind whirled with a blend of frustration and fear. Alpha Shadow's audacity to infiltrate my territory has left me shaken and angry. All his talk about honor was bullshit.

"Call the police."

"Already done," Eason said. "They'll be around soon."

After a few moments, Charles re-entered the building, his face etched with confusion. I could tell that something significant was going on.

"Something wrong?" I asked.

He shook his head. "Not terribly."

I shuddered, not liking the response. I went to the couch to gather Cecil in my arms and hold them both. Their small bodies, the weight and smell of them, were grounding me even when I felt like I would fly apart or run. My blood was rushing in my ears, but I wasn't sure if it was anger or panic. The turbulent waters of my emotional state made me feel like I was drowning.

And I heard myself thinking of all the ways I could get out of the city with my kids, how fast and how far I could get, but it ended quickly because I had no plan for what to do when I got there.

I had no friends from college. Admittedly, I had been a pretty big asshole. Whoever showed up at my wedding would probably never talk to me again with everything that was going on.

"Hey." I looked up and met Eason's gaze, and in that fleeting connection, I remembered everything I said. Everything I'd promised.

The challenge circles felt like they were thrumming on my wrist.

I didn't want to run, even if it felt like the easy option.

I had done enough running, enough hiding. It was time to fight...

Hadn't I stood at that podium, knowing my life was in danger and fought anyway? Hadn't I proven to myself that there were alternatives, better alternatives to running?

Eason grinned at me. "Looks like you're actually using that brain. Good."

I nodded shakily, even as the sense of entrapment loomed over me. It was a weight that I couldn't ignore. Alpha Shadow was like a spider's web. All of my mistakes were just another line of silk, catching me up, closing in around me.

But what was there to do right now, in this moment.

"Chill," Eason said. "Just... breathe."

I nodded and sat back, clinging to Cecil and reminding myself that running wasn't an option, no matter what it looked like.

Gabriel had been clear: they would just come after me. If I ran now, I'd be running forever.

"Mommy?" Cecil asked. Cecil's innocent voice cut through my spiraling thoughts.

"Yes, honey?"

"When is Daddy coming home?"

I swear the air went cold, and my stomach plummeted.