Chapter 254

Grace

A few hours later, a knock on the door of my office startled me out of my self-imposed stupor. Pushing aside the lingering unease about Sean, I forced a welcoming smile and welcomed him into the office. Magnus entered. His face was bandaged, but he looked find, but he wasn't alone. Beside him was Alpha Gareth Fox of the Ironfang Ridge Pack.

Surprise momentarily stole my breath. We hadn't planned on a joint visit, but the seriousness etched on their faces hinted at something more.

"Alpha Wolfe," Magnus greeted me with a respectful bow. "I apologize for the unannounced extra, but Alpha Fox and I felt it was best to discuss matters in person."

I nodded them in.

I settled them both in and wasted no time getting to the point. I looked at the two of them.

"What brings you both here today?" I asked, my voice laced with a hint of curiosity. "I was expecting you, but not Gareth."

Magnus cleared his throat. "The news of Project Phoenix has reached far and wide, Alpha Wolfe. It offers a beacon of hope, not just for Mooncrest, but for all werewolves."

A surge of gratitude warmed my chest.

"Yes, and...?"

He nodded toward Gareth. "I was told that you and Alpha Fox have met before and got off to a bad start. I don't have a formal alliance with Ironfang Ridge Pack, but I think we're all in a position to work together."

My eyes widened. This was an unexpected but welcome development. With their combined influence, a victory in the Senate race seemed much more attainable.

We spent the next hour dissecting the finer points of the alliance. We discussed strategies for dealing with Sean and his likely interference, along with ways to ensure a smooth path for my Senate run. Gareth said little other than saying that he would help in exchange for a trade agreement for trade.

After we'd ironed out a joint public announcement of our alliance, Duncan and Gareth signed the paperwork for our alliance. Eason took it and scanned the documents. I heard him working to submit them. Amira came in a few seconds later with more documents.

Then, Gareth leaned forward.

"Word on the street," he rumbled, "is that Fenris' business ventures are teetering on the brink of collapse. Lunar Remedies, their biggest moneymaker, is facing financial destruction."

"Yes."

"It's going up for auction," Gareth said. "He and the president approached me for... a donation to keep it afloat a little longer."

"They blackmailed you," Eason said.

Gareth nodded stiffly. "Not a new experience, except this time... I couldn't deliver."

"What do they have over you?"

Gareth set his jaw, glancing at Magnus. He nodded at him and Gareth let out a loud sigh.

"My wife."

My jaw dropped. "You... hit on me and you have a wife."

"Who is being held hostage and may be killed if I don't go along with it." He dropped his gaze. The sorrow on his face struck me. "My Olivia... she..." He closed his eyes. "She's hurt. M-Magnus thinks that the Enforcers could help find her... Save her."

"That's... why you're here," I said. "You--"

"I could smell him," Magnus said. "Your... lycan boyfriend's scent was all over you."

He smiled. "You found a good one to protect you like that... is that something you could do?"

I glanced at Eason. He picked up his phone and called someone. Then, he was speaking a language I didn't understand.

It struck me then. Did Lycans have a different language?

"Lunar Remedies is, as you know, closer to both the Duncan Pack and the Silver Eclipse pack than Mooncrest. The alliance would make it easier to take it all sooner rather than later."

I nodded. A plan began to form in my mind.

"Do you think…" I began, my voice cautious. "There would be any way for a… different company to acquire Lunar Remedies?"

Eason got off the phone. "The Enforcers are looking for her. I think it would be best not to move against Lunar Remedies until your wife is recovered."

Magnus nodded. "What does Sean and Fenris want from you?"

"Money still. A lot of it." He shook his head. "Olivia and I have no kids, but at this point, we won't have any money if we ever do... The resorts do well, but not that well."

I called Charles. "How would I put in an offer to assume someone else's debt?"

"Lunar Remedies? You'll start a bidding war. Never mind the bidding war, acquiring a failing company comes with its own set of problems."

"I know," I admitted, "but think about the potential. We can gain a foothold in a key location and disrupt Fenris' operations. Sean already threatened me... I'm pissed." I glanced at Gareth. "And apparently, they're holding Gareth Fox's wife, Olivia hostage."

"... Gareth Fox?" He asked. "Descended of Blueriver?"

I blinked and looked at Gareth. "You're a Lycan."

Gareth went still and he nodded. "Not half?"

He shook his head.

"How are you... How are you running a pack?"

"Olivia is the daughter of the former alpha."

"That makes her under my protection," Charles said in my ear. "Give me a day... and get ready to kick Fenris off his high horse."

I grinned as he hung up. I looked at Gareth then I frowned. "You knew... You knew since then."

Gareth nodded. "I might be under blackmail, but I've always been loyal."

"So," I announced, a determined glint in my eyes, "are you both in?"

They nodded. "Good. Who else is in the same area looking to take Lunar Remedies down?"

Magnus picked up the phone and started to dial. "Just one."

Soon, a woman answered. Her voice was crisp and professional. "Are you looking for CEO Oliver or Alpha Oliver?"

"Amelia," Magnus said. "It's Magnus. I'm in the office with Gareth Fox and Grace Wolfe."

"Over Wolfe Medical?"

"The very same." Magnus nodded to the phone. "Amelia Oliver is CEO of Redwood Laboratories."

Redwood Labs? The name rang a faint bell, but I couldn't place it immediately.

"We're talking about Lunar Remedies."

"As I understand it, you'd be interested in acquiring the company," I said.

"I don't have the funds for it, but it was on my list. The son of a bitch has been a pain in the ass ever since I took over. I don't want Lunar Remedies itself.... I was hoping to get a piece and have a bit of leverage to bargain with you actually... about Moonlight Phoenix."

However, we are deeply impressed by the work being done at Wolfe Medical, particularly Project Phoenix and a few of your other projects."

My heart skipped a beat. This was unexpected, to say the least. "What… exactly are you proposing, Ms. Oliver?"

Amelia chuckled, a warm sound that disarmed some of my initial suspicion.

"I don't know what the hell I'm doing. I'm not a scientist or a business person. Redwood Labs has always had an vested interest in the future of werewolf health. We possess some connections that might be useful for you. Let's say we trade a stake in Redwood for a business connection. I could help get Lunar off the market. We have the capital for at least ten percent of the assets."

The gears in my mind were turning. "What about the debts?"

She scoffed. "If we hold out long enough, Lunar Remedies will be dismantled at a firesale. And if not, Redwood has the credit for extensive loans."

Just not the cash, and that was more than I could say. I looked at Gareth.

"What say you to entering the medical field?"

He blinked. "What?"

"You have contacts in the Inter-Species Bank system, right? You'd have the best chance of getting the cash fast and out of the States."

His eyes widened. "Less suspicious than a Lycan Clan loan."

"Take it out for how much ever he asked you for, make it seem like you're agreeing, and when Olivia is safe, we'll go for it."

"Instead of a stake in Redwood, let's work out the distribution of ownership of the new company formed with the assets from Lunar Remedies."

"I'm for it," Amelia said.

Gareth nodded and pulled out his phone. "I'll make a call."

As I hung up the phone, a wave of exhaustion hit me. Was the potion wearing off or was I just more stressed than I thought?

Gareth walked away on his call and Magnus leaned close.

"Thank you," he said. "The medicine and supplies were just what we needed... and Esme's a hell of a defender."

My lips twitched. "Glad things are working out."

I sat back and looked through my public profile. With the addition of my alliance paperwork, and the fact that Amelia had faxed over a copy of a contract for me to sign. I scrolled through the list of requirements and a satisfied smile spread across my face. If I could acquire Lunar Remedies with Redwood and Gareth, I would meet a significant portion of the eligibility criteria for Senate.

The road would still be long and arduous, but for the first time, victory seemed within reach.