Chapter 249

Grace

Sunlight streamed through the windows of my bedroom, painting golden stripes across the rumpled bedsheets. I stretched languidly. The memory of last night, the warmth of his hands all over me, sent shivers down my spine. It was a welcome respite, from all the stress, and left me feeling strangely revitalized. He was still sleeping.

I flexed my hands and frowned. The aches that had been keeping me in bed were gone. I felt like I could actually get up and do things today.

I grinned as a knock sounded on the door.

"Are you decent?" Eason asked through the door. "Is he?"

I looked over at Charles. He blinked up at me with a grin and sat up. The sheets pooled around his waist.

"No." I snickered.

Eason scoffed. "Get a move on, yeah? George is taking Cecil and Richard for the day. Kelly's dealing with family stuff."

I slipped out of bed and went to the door, opening it. He cocked his eyebrow at me.

"What about Ethan?" I asked.

"Getting put through his paces by the grands and the uncle," Eason said and grinned. "Apparently, he's bearing the brunt of all the significant other tests because yours is a king, and my other one is a king's vassal."

I smirked. "I would apologize... "

"Don't. He'll be fine." He placed a cup in my hand. "Latte. Drink it. Wear the green."

He glanced behind me. "Matches his eyes, you know?"

I snorted. "Thanks."

I closed the door and turned bac. Today was the day I'd address the pack, the entire country maybe about the project. Moonlight Phoenix...

A nervous flutter filled my stomach. I took a sip and hummed.

"Chai?" Charles asked.

"It's really good," I said. I frowned. "You can smell it from over there?"

He sat up, resting his arms on his knees and smiling. "I can... And the energy potion he's slipped you."

I pouted. "Really?"

He nodded. "It's a good one. Think about it as a... safer, better version of coffee."

He tilted his head. "He had a cup of coffee in is hand..."

I frowned. Why'd he give me spiked tea, then? I guess I'd ask him later.

I crossed the room to the closet, searching for what he was talkng about, but I found the blue suit he mentioned.

"Another power suit," I shook my head and pulled it out. "Honestly, when did he buy this and..."

How much did it cost?"

"I gave him my card to fix your wardrobe," Charles said, getting out of bed. He stretched. I bit my lip, watching the muscles shift in his back. He smirked.

Wait a second.

"Fix?" I asked. "What's wrong with my closet?

"Nothing, now," Charles said, crossing the room and pulling his own suit out.

My heart skipped a beat.

"What?"

I looked down. "Devin and I... never shared a closet."

I glanced at him. He was watching me and I bit my lip.

"I really... Well, it was just...My parents shared a closet. It was just one of those things..." I smiled, chuckling to myself. "I remember once, Mom wore one of Dad's ties to the office. Started a whole fashion trend around it."

He smiled. "Lycans don't have gendered clothing the way werewolves do."

I cocked an eyebrow. "Are you offering me the chance to wear your tie?"

He hummed, searching for something. He pulled out a rich grey jacket from one of his suits and offered it to me along with a brilliant blue tie. I blinked and looked at the suit I was supposed to be wearing.

The top of it was made like a collared suit.

"Are you serious?"

"You want a tie pin?" He grinned. "I think you underestimate how... appealing the thought of you in my clothes is."

He drifted off to the bathroom. I heard the water running as I stared at the tie and tried to figure out if he was serious. Yes, the thought was... appealing. Like having him on stage with me.

Like marking me.

My face heated at the thought. He came out dressed and shrugging into his suit jacket. He opened the door and threw me a smirk.

"Thinking about it?"

"... I don't know how to tie a tie."

He smiled. "Get dressed, and I'll tie it for you."

I bit my lip and hurried off, excited for what felt like a silly reason, but excited nonetheless."

I came out and found him standing just beyond the door with a mischievous smile gracing his lips. He looked utterly captivating, leaning against the doorway.

A blush crept up my neck. "We-Well?"

He took the tie from me and turned me to the mirror. The heat of his body warmed my back as he slipped the tie through my collar and started to tie it.

"This is..." he hummed. "Doing quite a bit for me right now."

His gaze trailed down my body in a way that made her heart skip a beat.

"We may have to do this more often... I'll have to lend you some armor or something."

I snorted. "No way."

"Fair. It would be too big. A sash would work."

He finished a knot that looked way more pretentious than I had ever imagined a tie could look, but the look on his face made me smile.

"Something special?"

"It's a take on a lycan knot used for mating ceremonies."

My eyes widened. Our eyes met in the mirror. He kissed the side of my head.

"I'll get you a pin."

I huffed, turning around as Eason came in and Charles went to the dresser.

"You can't just..."

Eason smirked and tilted his head. His eyes narrowed. He looked between the two of us, and a bit of the darkness that had been in his eyes faded. His eyes started to glow and he turned around without saying a thing.

Charles led me to my vanity seat and crouched down to put my heels one, a pair of black pumps that made my legs seem infinitely longer. Eason had definitely picked them out. Charles set the tie pin and grabbed his jacket before draping it on my shoulders.

"Won't it fall?"

"Not with a staying charm. Come on."

I stood and he looked over me. "I like it. Eason will, too."

"I never took you to be a fashion forward kind of guy."

He smirked. "This has nothing to do with fashion and everything to do with knowing you'll be up there wearing my things like you're mine."

My stomach fluttered again and he kissed my forehead.

"Deep breath," he said. "Have a little faith in yourself."

"I'm learning to."

He raised an eyebrow playfully. "Learn a little faster, love."

Before I could respond, he leaned in and brushed a soft kiss against my cheek. The electricity of his touch sent a jolt through me.

"Come on."

I followed him out, grabbing my clutch as we left and headed downstairs. Cecil was getting put into a miniature version of my new red coat and a beanie. She looked up, and her eyes went wide and sparkly.

"Mommy, you look great! Like those ladies Kelly likes to watch."

I smiled, crouching down to hug her tight. "Thank you, sweetheart. Be good, okay?"

"Uncle George is taking us to play at the fair."

I nodded and kissed her cheek. "Play fair, okay?"

"I will!" She waved me goodbye before leaving with George. Richard was dozing in the baby backpack strapped to his chest.

I turned to look at Eason. He offered me a headset and a notecard.

"To review your talking points on the way. I'll be upstairs. Amira is getting the podium set up and the Enforcers are on their way."

I nodded. "Let's do this."

Charles put me in the car alone and he got into Eason's car. I glanced over the notecard on the way. When the car pulled up, I saw the podium on the steps in front of Wolfe Medical. The courtyard was already filling with people and reporters. I didn't recognize any of them, but I didn't need to. I recognized the pack videographer and nodded at him.

I entered the building and headed up to where I was supposed to be meeting Amira at her desk.

Eason had set up in my office with Charles. Amria grinned at me.

"I love this look," she said. "It's giving Alpha Bitch vibes, and we should all be here for it."

Edgar came sauntering down the corridor from the waiting area, furious-looking.

"I didn't authorize a press conference."

"Good, since you probably don't have anything to say."

Amira snickered and Edgar turned a vile shade of purple.

"You fucking--"

"Any time you want to quit," I said. "Or give me a good case to get you kicked, be my guest."

He narrowed his eyes. "You think you're doing the smart thing? You think you have a chance to get rid of me?"