Chapter 124

Grace

I forced a laugh as someone else burst into full-on giggles. The crowd started to talk among themselves, lowering their signs in confusion.

"Or did I just reject you? I've already got a scorned werewolf man who thought the sun shined out of his ass to deal with. Maybe you know him? Why don't you become drinking buddies? Take his dad while you're at it, and stack that inferiority deck as high as you can."

Someone started laughing.

"Maybe you can circle jerk while you're at it, and you'll all feel a bit better about life."

Amira snickered behind me. My heart was beating in my chest painfully.

"You must think you have some way out of this to be talking to me like this," Alpha Shadow said. His voice was oddly calm, almost detached. It was eerie to realize that he really didn't care about any of the lives in Mooncrest. "I know about your efforts. The Enforcers you're having search the sewers. Even if they dismantle every pillar, it won't mean a thing. I can still blow Mooncrest sky high at any time."

Shit.

"Then what are you waiting for?" I growled. "You've got everything under

control, right? No escape for anyone? Then fucking do it."

Silence filled the air, thrumming with tension. For a moment, I thought maybe, just maybe, I had gone too far. He picked something up and set it in view of the camera. It looked like an hourglass with magical script on the glass, and he leaned forward, his eyes glowing softly.

"Timing is everything," he said slyly. "I wouldn't expect someone who thought having a baby out of wedlock in the middle of the doctorate program was a good idea to understand the concept of good timing, so I'll make it simple."

Cold sweat trickled down my back even as the jab landed a little too solidly.

"When the sand runs out, you'll all be dead, and I'll have everything I want."

My heart lurched. There was no way to tell how much time that was, but I hoped that Seraphina was listening and watching and could give me an answer.

"Another section cleared. No pillars." Someone said in my ear.

"If you have any pride as a werewolf... even as a half-breed, you'll step

down," Alpha Shadow said. "It's your choice, and time is running out."

"Is that what you want?" I asked. "That's all you want? For me to step down?"

"The things I want can't be reduced to something so simple. Don't flatter yourself."

People started to gasp as the realization settled over everyone. At least they were listening a little.

He'd all but said that my stepping down didn't guarantee the end of this nightmare.

I clenched my fists on the podium, staring at the hourglass, waiting and hoping that someone was trying to figure out what it was and how it worked.

Was it Eason's life force? Was he almost dead? I didn't dare look at Amira as the silence hung in the air.

"West unit advancing. Nothing yet."

"Another pillar found. This one's more complicated... I think we're working into the inner circle."

"I got your message, Amira," Seraphina said. "I'm looking into it. It's not a life force monitor."

"North Unit reporting in. There's a force coming our way from further north. Witch confirmation."

I watched the sand in the glass shifting around. It didn't seem to be running out or filling up. It looked just... to be sitting there, stuck in some limbo. Why? The sight of it was pricking at something in the back of my mind. Something from school ages ago when I was starting to learn about magical formulations.

"Cat got your tongue?" Alpha Shadow asked. "Where was that bravado from before?"

I smiled. "You said timing... What exactly are you waiting for?"

Alpha Shadow sat back, placing his hands behind his head. "Why not take your best shot at a guess? We have time."

I swallowed, narrowing my eyes before forcing myself to relax. He was playing with me, toying with us. It was a sadistic game for him, but based on what Charles said, this coven only cared about money.

"I guess whoever is paying you hasn't given you the rest of the money..." I tilted my head. "I don't have the time to guess what your rate is, so why don't you just tell me?"

He chuckled. "You think you could pay it?"

"I guess it depends," I asked. "Though something tells me, even if I could, you wouldn't consider the offer."

"I like to be paid promptly, and you have a history of not paying your bills on time." He let out a soft sigh.

"We still haven't found a way to the lower level."

"Grace," Charles said. "You're doing good. Keep him talking. Seraphina is watching the hourglass. We need more time."

I took a deep breath, searching my brain for something to say or do. I looked down at the podium and shook my head.

"You must have a pretty pathetic sex life if this is how you get your kicks," I said. "Though, I guess the market is pretty slim for psychos."

"I don't need relationship advice from a recent divorcee who doesn't even recognize why her marriage failed."

I scoffed. "Devin's a cheater."

"You knew that when you started dating him."

I blinked. "What?"

"The way I hear it," he chuckled. "You spent a lot of time in college chasing after him after you decided to go on a date with him."

"Do you know me personally?" I narrowed my eyes. "Or do you moonlight as a gossip when you're not terrorizing people? You don't know anything about my relationship with Devin."

"Former relationship," he chuckled. "Seems like you're not quite over that, hm?"

I clenched my jaw. "Are you taunting me because you're enjoying my sloppy seconds? I didn't take Devin to be bisexual and a cheater."

Alpha Shadow laughed. "Only someone as pathetically insecure as you would date something like Devin. You can tell at a glance what kind of person he is. It's written all over his face, the way he carries himself, that he has no interest in anyone else's happiness but his own. A sharper person would see that.... Eason saw that, didn't he?"

I flinched at that. The jab felt a little too close to home.

"I'll take your silence to be confirmation," Alpha Shadow said and chuckled. "Though you've always known that Eason was smarter than you, hm? He got into Northfall, after all, and you didn't... More talented... Is that why you let Jackson ruin him in high school?"

I went still. My eyes widened. "How... do you know anything about Eason in high school? Or better yet, why does it seem like you have an obsession with my brother."

I narrowed my eyes. "How long have you been creeping on my brother?"

Alpha Shadow laughed again. "Some of us aren't led by hormones, Grace, but I know that's a hard thing for you to understand. I recognize strong allies when I see them. You may be of some use within Wolfe Medical, but beyond that, you're just one of many."

"How much farther?" Someone panted in my ear.

"How ever far we need to go, come on."

"Back up has arrived. We're starting to clear the supports--Fuck!"

My heart lurched. Alpha Shadow chuckled.

"Ah... you're stalling. That's precious," Alpha Shadow said. "Thinking that you and those Enforcers can get in the way of my plans. I'll tell you again, Grace. You only have one way out: step down."

"Fuck off."

"Your choice," he shrugged, making a gesture. The sand slipped a little more, noticeably less, but not empty. Not even close. There was still time.

"You never answered me," I said. "How long have you been creeping on my little brother. You're older than my parents were, for sure."

"The Wolfe Family became... of interest to me when your mother married your father. It was once a very proud, pure werewolf family until then. If you have anyone to blame for the situation you have found yourself in, blame your parents for not knowing better than to mingle bloodlines."

I narrowed my eyes. "So, what? You had a thing for my mom? Or my dad? When exactly did this obsession start?"

"She's fucking crazy," someone chuckled in my ear. "But she's got style."

"She can hear you," someone else said, half laughing.

"If you're going to go out, you might as well go out telling him to kiss your ass."

A rallying cry came through, and I almost smiled.

"Did my mom tell you to kiss her ass before or after my dad told you to fuck off?"

"I've got it!" Seraphina said. "It's an area monitor. He's monitoring Mooncrest for the right balance of energy to power the ritual."

"Will evacuations help?"

"No, but there is something that could. You'll need to get under City Hall and dismantle the anchors of the protections on the building."

"How much time will that buy us?" Charles asked.

"I don't know, but some."

"Get the nearest unit there."

I felt queasy. Cecil and Richard were there. I wanted to tell them to not do it, but I held fast.

"Why are you so interested in my family's lineage?" I narrowed my eyes. "Are you even a full werewolf?"

"Unit Crown advancing, leaving markers. Send back up immediately," Charles said as I heard his panting and the sound of heavy boots on the ground and dripping water. "We found an entrance to the lower level!"