Chapter 186

Grace

My mind reeled. I hadn’t expected a call, let alone so soon. I swallowed, searching for something to say. Was it fear? Apprehension? It felt like I was completely caught off guard and already tumbling over the edge of panic.

Shit. Shit. Shit. This wasn’t the time for panic! I sucked in a series of short quiet breaths, trying to focus. What would Charles say if someone he sent supplies to called him? Eason?

What should I say?

“Alpha Wolfe?” Magnus' voice, gruff yet strangely gentle, jolted me back to reality. “Are you still there?”

I cleared my throat. “Yes, yes. I’m still here. I… Your wife said you were in critical condition… I was just… shocked.”

A moment passed. “Shocked that your supplies helped?”

I blinked. “No, why would I be shocked about that?”

“Then, what exactly are you shocked about?” His tone turned suspicious.

I winced. “That… sounded really suspicious. I… I just figured you’d be recovering. Focused—I just didn’t expect you to call me so quickly, it’s only been a few days and…”

I shut my mouth. I could have smacked myself in the face for sounding so clueless. If Eason were here, he’d probably give me a solid D-minus for it.

I cleared my throat. “I was under the impression that Duncan was… basically in chaos.”

Am I making it worse?

“I figured—”

“You sound too young for me to truly be offended,” Magnus said, though his tone said something else. “I’m not a man who believes in owing anyone, especially at the rate of compounded interest. My wife made the decision to use the supplies, but you never gave a price.”

I blinked.

“Price?”

"How much are you charging us for the supplies?"

My brows furrowed. “Charging?”

I tried to think back to my conversation with his wife, but I couldn’t remember saying anything about charging them. I thought I was pretty sure that it was… more of a gift than anything.

"Charging?" I stammered, confusion clouding my thoughts. "Alpha Magnus, I didn’t—Well, I wasn’t--"

He scoffed, the sound echoing harsh in my ear. "Alpha Wolfe, as you understand, I’m strapped for time, so let’s not play games. The Duncan Pack isn't exactly on your Wolf Moon List." His words, blunt and laced with suspicion, stung, yet I understood. I bit my lip, listening to him. “My people needed those supplies. They saved lives. But Duncan doesn't take charity.”

The Duncan Pack, based on Eason’s research, was fiercely independent. They staddled the world of the States and the rest of the world. They had lycan connections in their family, more obvious than Mooncrest did. I was almost certain that they would have just trudged through the situation or tried to work out the deal on their own prior to, if possible.

His wife… must have been desperate to just use it. How close had she been to losing her husband?

“Especially ill-afforded charity.”

I winced. “Ill-afforded?”

“Given Wolfe Medical and Mooncrest’s state, you don’t have the supplies to spare from operations unless you were planning to mark it up quite a bit.” I blinked. Was that true? I hadn’t thought about that. I thought I’d reserved enough for Wolfe Medical’s sales. My gut sank. How… How did he seem to know so much more about my pack’s state? “You wouldn’t be the first to pull it, though you’re uniquely positioned to actually succeed.” He huffed. “So, how much are you charging me?”

I blinked. “Nothing.”

A moment passed. “Nothing?”

“Nothing,” I said. “Do you…typically try to repay… gifts?”

“What reason would you have to give my pack a gift?”

Magnus’ voice was rough and suspicious. It almost made me smile. I thought of my father. My father wasn’t as hard-edged, but the protectiveness I heard in Magnus’ voice was enough that I could relax. There was no animosity in his voice, it was… strength and protectiveness.

I took a deep breath.

"If you’re insistent, Alpha Bach,” I said slowly. “Payment plans can wait until after Duncan is back on its feet.”

“That sounds like more interest.”

“Can I be frank?”

“I’d prefer it.”

“I don’t want anything from you, and you’re not in a position to offer me anything for sure either, are you?”

“What do you mean by that?” He asked.

“The aftermath of the attacks, the wounds both physical and emotional… those are your priorities, and I’m not in the business of adding to that burden.” I hesitated thinking of the attack and how much I wished I’d been able to come back from that attack, come back from that trip with Charles, to real, lasting peace. “And I think it serves me better not to. Just like Mooncrest, you're not in the Inter-Pack Police's good graces. You're not on the Alpha President's Wolf Moon List either… We have to care about each other. That’s why I sent it. That’s why I’m planning to send more. No strings attached.”

“At the expense of your pack?”

“We can tighten our belts a bit if it means you’ll at least have one…” I hesitated. “I don’t know what your wife told you… but I meant it. I want to help.”

Silence crackled over the line, thick with something that I hoped was good. Did he think I was lying or just plotting to surprise him later with a bill he couldn’t possibly pay?

“Do you… want it in writing or—”

"You sound just like him, you know.” Magnus' gruff voice broke through. He chuckled a bit. His voice was tight with emotion. “Your father."

The words hit me like a physical blow. It twisted a knife in my heart to hear it. Guilt and a little bittersweet pride filled me.

"You knew him?" I breathed, stunned.

"Knew him well," Magnus chuckled. The sound was rusty yet tinged with warmth. "Went to school together. Hated each other for a long time, but it was childish, honestly. Stubborn man, your father. Always had a heart bigger than himself. But I'm the elder, Alpha Wolfe. It wouldn’t feel right just taking your charity."

"I could always… use a knowledgeable uncle? A mentor?" I offered a playful edge to my voice.

"And that brother of yours?”

My lips twitched. “What about Eason?”

“I don’t suppose he has an interest in taking a trip up here. He’ll be returning to Northfall soon, won’t he?”

I swallowed. “That’s… up to him… You’ve met Eason?”

He chuckled. “He stayed in Duncan for a summer while he was at Northfall. Your father called too often to count on him. I told him to just bring him home if he didn’t trust him…”

“And he said?”

“… he was more worried about Eason never coming back… and any wayward men that might have an interest in him.”

My lips twitched. “If I sent Eason there… I would probably be just a worrisome.”

“And I’ll tell you like I told your father: you call him.”

I laughed. “I’ll… try to keep that in mind.”

He sighed, his tone turning serious. "All jokes aside. I’ll help you in whatever way I can. Not simply to keep you from getting any ideas about reneging, but… because your father would have asked me to do for you what your mother did for me.”

“My mom?”

“Hell of a woman,” he said, chuckling. “This Esme you’ve sent up here reminds me of her a bit… Well, a bit more magical, I guess.”

A wave of gratitude washed over me. Had my parents paved the way for me? Maybe if I’d not run and hid so quickly, I would have… Well, I suppose I would have been having a very different conversation with him right now.

“Did you… I mean, while Eason was running Mooncrest…”

“If you’re asking if Eason called me for advice, then yes. I helped him get those jerks of police commanders in line.” He chuckled. “Though he didn’t need much help being a menacing, malicious, high-handed dictator. Your mom would have been proud.”

I let out a soft breath, grateful a bit that Eason hadn’t been… so completely alone while I was off doing everything I shouldn’t have.

“And… Devin?”

“Who?” Magnus asked.

I frowned. “Devin… My ex-husband.”’

He huffed. “Never heard from him or of him really… Though, is he that same Devin that was on the television with that young woman?”

I winced. “Yeah.”

He tutted. “Seemed like an asshole. Shame. Your mother would have kicked him in the nuts before letting him anywhere near him, but I guess you inherited the tastes of someone else in the family.”

He sighed, and his voice drifted away for a second. “We can reminisce some other time. Just let me know what you need, Alpha Wolfe. If I can get it, it’s yours.”

"I want to make Alpha President Caldwell’s life a living hell," I said. "For sending a psycho to my pack.”

“… it sounds like we have a lot more to talk about than I first thought. When’s the best time to call you back?”