Chapter 81

"I still think this is a terrible idea," Kent hisses to me when I meet him at the front door of the mansion. He looks around the rich, cavernous foyer with unease. "I'm so out of place here, N–Evelyn."

"It's going to be fine," I reassure him, putting one hand on his shoulder to nudge him toward the elevators.

"It's going to be a total disaster," Kent grumbles, but he trudges along anyway. We are the only two in the elevator, so Kent feels free to slump miserably against the mirrored interior and groan. "I can't believe I let you talk me into this."

"It's going to be fine," I repeat, scowling at him now. "The Alpha is one of the gentlest, kindest people I've ever met. He's not going to stab you in the back."

"Nick," Kent reverts back to my real name now that we're briefly alone. "He can't stab me in the back, because he doesn't owe me anything at all. That's why this is such a horrible idea. The Alpha owes me nothing."

I roll my eyes but otherwise don't respond. The door pings and opens on the familiar hallway on the floor that houses the Alpha's office and my own. I grab Kent by the arm and steer him out of the elevator and down the hall toward the Alpha's office.

He grumbles again, so low under his breath that I can't catch what he's saying, but he keeps up with me. Soon, we're standing outside the Alpha's door, and I raise a hand to knock.

"You know, I can hear you two hovering out there,” the Alpha says good-naturedly when we enter at his call. “You must be Kent, sir. Please, sit down. There’s no need to be so nervous. I promise my bark is worse than my bite.”

He chuckles, and Kent gives him a weak smile in return. I can feel the tension radiating off Kent’s body – he doesn’t want to be here. I wish I could reassure him, but I also understand his reluctance and worry.

He’ll see, I think confidently to myself. The Alpha isn’t anything like what he’s expecting – I went through the same process when I met Emmett for the first time. Everything really will be all right, I think to myself, and give Kent an encouraging smile.

Kent sits in one of the office chairs across from the Alpha’s desk, and I take the other. The Alpha gives me a little wink before turning his attention to Kent, who looks more nervous than ever and about ready to jump out of his skin.

“Please, sir,” the Alpha says gently. “I mean it; you have nothing to worry about it. We’re all friends here. I know how much you’ve helped our dear Nicole, and I’m prepared the repay the favor in any way possible.”

Kent marginally relaxes at that, but I can still feel how tense he is. The Alpha must be able to sense it, too, if I can. That’s probably why he holds up a finger and picks up the phone, calling to Claire to ask her to bring in tea.

“Tea?” Kent finally breaks his silence, only to blurt out his thoughts awkwardly. “You can’t possibly be serious.” I suppress a laugh, but the Alpha doesn’t even bother – he gives a full-throated chuckle.

“Claire is the only one allowed to prepare and bring my tea nowadays,” he says. “I admit I did go off it for a while there, but I’m an old man and need my comforts. I can assure you that Claire frisks every tea pot very thoroughly for hidden poisons these days.”

Kent looks incredulous but doesn’t protest further. We wait in silence until there’s a knock at the door, and Claire bustles in with the tea cart.

“The poison-free refreshments are here!” she says brightly, beaming at the three of us. I have to suppress another laugh at the look on Kent’s face.

“Coupla regular comedians you work with here, Nick,” he mutters, and the Alpha chuckles again.

“We try not to take ourselves too seriously,” he says, pouring the tea and passing Kent a cup. Kent takes it, more to have something to do with his hands than for any other reason, I suspect. “Life is very dull when one takes things too seriously.”

“I guess,” Kent says. He still looks uncomfortable, so I catch the Alpha’s eye. Maybe it’s time to get down to business?

The Alpha must correctly interpret my look, because he claps his hands and becomes a little brisker, but still very kind.

“Now!” he says, sipping his own tea for a moment before replacing the cup back in its saucer. “We have some things to sort out, yes? You’ve been running a drug trade in this city for some years now, and you’re the main supplier to my entire community, yes?”

Kent hesitates, shifting his eyes over to me and back again. He doesn’t answer.

“My dear boy, there’s no need to be so worried about it,” the Alpha says. “Werewolves are a hardy bunch – we work hard and play even harder. Our metabolism is so fast that it’s largely unaffected by the kinds of paltry party drugs that you sell – ones that are so damaging to human bodies.”

Kent relaxes a little more. The Alpha drinks from his teacup again, serene and unruffled, before going on.

“I know who you are, of course,” he tells Kent. Kent looks startled, and the Alpha shakes his head. “Come, come, Kent, surely you have anticipated that? Do you think I don’t know what goes on right under my own nose?”

“I –” Kent doesn’t seem to know what to say to that.

“I’ve known from the beginning, of course,” the Alpha says. “I’ve just always stayed out of your way, because it had nothing to do with me before. The law wasn’t involved, there was no risk to my own family, and my community hasn’t been harmed by your actions.”

“So, why meet with me now?” Kent croaks. He takes a glug of his tea, presumably to ease his dry throat, and winces at the heat of it. I pat his arm comfortingly, and he shoots me a look.

“Because of Nicole, of course,” the Alpha says. “And because of my shithead of a son-in-law.” Kent jumps slightly at the profanity, causing Emmett to snort with laughter again.

“Charles is the reason everything has gone so awry, as you’re very well aware,” the Alpha says. “And your business has been adversely affected by my family’s problems. Plus, you’ve been looking out for Nicole, for which I will always be grateful.”

Kent relaxes even more, a hopeful look dawning on his face.

“So, you can help us?” he asks.

“I can, indeed,” the Alpha responds. “You’ve suffered two major injuries because of my son-in-law, and I understand that your business has been affected in other ways, too. Is that correct?”

Kent nods.

“Very well. Firstly, you’ll receive compensation for all the medical expenses your, er, colleagues have accrued thanks to Charles’s actions. And I am prepared to offer you full protection, as well, especially since things seem to be heating up around here.”

He glances at me, his meaning plain.

“Protection?” Kent asks.

“Yes,” the Alpha says. “We can discuss details, but essentially, I’m offering you a safe house and guarded protection until all of this is resolved. And, of course, the freedom to continue to conduct your business unhindered in the future.”

“Wow,” Kent says. “I – thank you. I – I wasn’t expecting this.”

“Didn’t Nicole tell you that I was going to help you?”

“Well, yeah, but, um…” Kent looks sheepish.

“Don’t worry about it.” The Alpha smiles kindly. “Do we have a deal, then?”

“We do,” Kent says, standing up and extending his hand. The Alpha clasps it firmly, and they shake on it.