Chapter 209

Grace

The car ride was a cacophony of chatter. Richard cooed in his baby seat, oblivious to the world around him. Cecil, bless her heart, gabbed excitedly about her new colors and the pictures she planned to color with them. Occasionally, she peppered Eason with questions, which he answered gladly.

And I...

I felt wholly out of place. Out of sync. Out of tune. Something in me felt like I should be somewhere else. I looked out the window as though trees continued to rush by.

“Where did you say we were going?” I asked.

“I didn't,” Eason said. I looked over at him as he grinned. “It's a surprise.” He looked at Cecil. “Cecil, don't you think your mom deserves a surprise?”

Her eyes lit up. “Yeah, Mommy deserves a surprise! Don’t you want a surprise, Mommy?”

I smiled lightly. “Surprises are nice.”

Just not right now. Ever since Eason pulled me out of the basement and out, I felt at once on edge and relaxed. The anger was still there, but it was softer, more distant, almost settling beneath this strange cocktail of anticipation and apprehension. Maybe, just maybe, that was a good sign, but I wasn’t sure. My mind turned to Alpha Shadow and The truth that Charles was keeping from me. The thought made me angry again. It made me wonder where he’d run off to in a hurry. It made me worry that he wouldn’t be coming back. That he wouldn’t see reason. He hadn't called me yet. He’d been gone all this time. How long had he been gone? When would he be coming back? When he came back, what should I even say to him?

If he came back…

I shuddered at the thought. Maybe he was with her right now, laughing at how ridiculous I seemed to them. My head started to pound. My thoughts were spiraling. The dream kept playing over and over again in my mind. I could see them and back together; I could see them walking off together.

Mine.

He was mine.

I'd kill her.

Just as soon as I got my hands on her, I'd kill her. My hands twitched.

“Hey,” Eason said, offering me another vial. “Take this.”

I glared at it. He covered Cecil's ears with a pointed look as it hovered between us in the air.

“Take it, or I'm going to spell it into your stomach. Trust me, it's not a fun experience to be awake for.”

I snatched it out of the air, opened the vial, and drank it before tossing the vial back to him and slumping against the window, barely keeping myself from growling. How did I get him to see that he had to tell me the truth? That I deserved to know? I glanced over at Eason and hesitated before thinking I could ask him for advice. He gave me that knowing look, like he knew I was just waiting to ask like he knew I was sulking even if he felt that I shouldn't be. Part of me wondered if I was in the wrong, but so much more of me knew I was right. That woman tried to kill me and my entire pack! She hated us enough to try and kill me without even meeting me. I had the right to know who she was and go after her. I had the right to kill her because as soon as this was all over, she was going to try and kill me again. There was no way around it.

I scoffed at the thought, at what Charles told me. How could he even trust that she would hold up her end of the bargain? I looked down at the challenge circles again and felt dumber by the second.

I should have just stayed a housewife.

I gasped as the thought hit me. I looked over at Eason. He was still watching me closely. My jaw trembled. The thought took root and spread through me, chilling my blood and making me sick. He narrowed his eyes at me.

Then, my phone vibrated – Charles' name flashing on the screen. An awkwardness cut through the panic, and confusion washed through me. I wanted to answer, but I hesitated. Should I answer? Ignore it? Pretend he didn't call?

With a sigh, I tapped the green button, pressing the phone to my ear.

I said nothing. My chest felt tight, and I kept hearing Devin's voice in my ear, mockingly laughing at me. I heard Alpha Shadow's voice swirling around in my head. Was it always going to be this way? Then I saw Jackson sneering at me and grit my teeth.

That wasn't something I was going to even entertain.

Jackson was a fraud, a thief, and a liar. He was also a raging lunatic who was siding with Alpha Shadow and didn't know how to take no for an answer.

"Hello?" Charles asked. “Are you there?”

“... yes.” my voice sounded flat, almost hollow.

"Great, I'm glad you can hear me. I thought the reception was bad." His voice cut through the noise in my head, smooth and calm. "I just wanted to let you know I'll be a bit longer than expected."

"Oh," I mumbled, feeling the heat creep up my neck. "Anything in particular?"

"A few… unexpected developments," he replied. "Nothing to worry about. Just need to tie up some loose ends. Put somebody in jail planning to put some other people in jail. It's a good time." He laughed a little. “Though I am making some Headway I didn't expect to make, I'm hoping that means good things for the future. Where you are headed. You're in a car, aren't you? I can hear the engine.”

I hesitated, not sure if I should answer him. Cecil looked up at me.

“ is that Uncle Charles?”

“.... yes.”

“Hi, Uncle Charles! Uncle Eason is taking Mommy to a surprise!”

Charles chuckled in my ear. “ I hope you enjoy it wherever he's taking you.”

This was completely different than what I expected. The last time I dated a guy, and we got into a fight, the call right after it, or even just meeting up in person, was always awkward. The tension in the air never quite dissipated until he apologized to me for whatever happened. When I was with Devin, it always felt like I was apologizing to him, and I never felt quite at ease. He always brought up past fights every time we argued. But Charles didn't seem awkward. There wasn’t even a hint of hesitation in his voice. I envied that.

“You aren’t… acting the way I expected you to.”

“Let me guess, you expected me to be awkward? Maybe shuffle around our argument? Maybe even yell at you until you gave in?”

I went quiet at that because it was exactly what I thought. It's what I expected. It's even maybe what I was prepared for, so I didn't know what to say in response other than to agree.

"...you're absolutely stunned,” he let out a huff of surprise. “Grace, I'm a bit too old to act like some immature and awkward teenager. Refreshing, hm? I dare say charming, yeah?”

“Something like that, I guess.”

He chuckled. "I’ll take it. Just take care of yourself, alright? We'll talk when I get back. I–”

“Charles?”

“Yes, Grace?” His voice was softer, almost gentle.

My heart raced as I mulled the words over before speaking.

“Are you… Are you avoiding me?”

“No, love,” Charles said gently. “I’m not avoiding you.”

“Really?”

“Really,” he said. “I have a hell of a story to tell you when I get back. I’m not sure if it’ll be funny or not, but I’m hoping to wrap everything up soon.”

My eyes burned. I wasn’t sure what to say or why his words felt like a balm on my fried and defensive mind.

“Take care of yourself. Heed doctor’s–medical doctor’s–orders, yeah? I should be back soon.”

"Actually," I began, then faltered. "I won't be at Mooncrest."

A beat of silence passed. "Right. The case…. I definitely won’t be back in Mooncrest before you have to leave.” He sighed. “Don't worry. I’ll coordinate with Eason and Esme. You’ll be just fine.”

“What if… What if I’m not?” I asked, my heart suddenly pounding in my chest. “What if…”

“And what if you are?” He asked.

My jaw trembled. “I…”

I swallowed, steadying my voice. I didn’t want to ruin Cecil’s good time. Eason was staring at me.

"Grace, listen to me,” Charles whispered softly. “I know that you’re going through a hell of a roller coaster… Feeling a bit overwhelmed, and I know part of that is my fault. I won’t ask you to trust me. The wounds are too fresh but trust Esme. Trust Eason. Trust yourself. You’re prepared for whatever Sean will throw your way. I have complete faith in you, Alpha Wolfe.”

My jaw trembled, but I nodded. “Okay.”

“I’ll call again as soon as I can. For now, just try and enjoy your surprise, yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“I love you,” he said. I shuddered as the words washed over me, and he disconnected as if he hadn’t expected me to say it back.

My heart clenched at the thought, but I couldn’t bring myself to call him back and tell him.