Chapter 29

Grace

“Go,” Charles said. “I’ll get Cecil and Richard fed. And I’ll call George to drive you.”

I hesitated but nodded. I couldn’t send him in my place, after all. Leaving Charles to look after the kids, I went to change. By the time I was ready, George was pulling up to take me to the company's warehouse to meet with the security team. The break-in at one of our warehouses couldn’t have come at the worst time.

Was it Devin? Someone else?

Upon arrival, I found myself face to face with a group of officers from the Mooncrest Police and a group of Lycan Enforcers. My stomach churned. What were they doing here? Maybe I should have brought Charles. I took a deep breath and got out. I was cautious about the potential complications that would come from both of the groups being here.

The officers appeared somewhat defensive, their expressions hinting at a sense of offense.

One of them turned to me.

“Alpha Wolfe,” he said tersely.

“Can you give me an update?”

All eyes turned to me, assessing e. A couple of the officers exchanged glances, and I sensed a hint of skepticism in their gazes. It was as if they were wondering whether I had any business being here.

A burly officer, his badge displaying the Mooncrest emblem, stepped forward. "Ms. Grace, I'm Officer Reynolds. We've been investigating the break-in, and I can assure you that we're doing our best to gather evidence and get to the bottom of this."

I appreciated his professionalism, but I detected an undertone of defensiveness. It was clear that they were somewhat wary.

He glanced over at the group of Lycan Enforcers who were speaking among themselves.

“I didn’t think this break-in required lycan help,” he said stiffly. “The culprits were apprehended. It appears to have been an attempted theft, but they were caught before they could escape with anything valuable.”

I exhaled a sigh of relief, grateful for their swift action. "That's good to hear. Were there any damages?"

Officer Reynolds shook his head. "Minimal damage, mostly to the entrance. We're in the process of collecting evidence and statements."

"Thank you, Officer Reynolds," I replied, maintaining a composed demeanor. "I have the utmost respect for the Mooncrest Police Department. My concern is simply to ensure that our company and pack are secure."

“And the lycans?” He asked gruffly, narrowing his eyes.

I shook my head. “Merely a coincidence. They’re investigating something else in the area.”

His eyes narrowed. “Something that Mooncrest couldn’t handle?”

I smiled thinly. “Something out of Mooncrest jurisdiction, a lycan matter. If it becomes a joint issue, I would expect Mooncrest’s Police to be as professional and efficient as always. We’ve always trusted our officers unconditionally. There’s no need to worry.”

He didn’t look completely convinced, but he didn’t look so hostile either.

“While you’re here….”

“Yes?” I asked, looking at him with a smile.

“There have been a lot of layoffs in the department. Why’s that?”

I frowned as another officer stepped forward. “Yeah, the fire department too. My wife was laid off at Wolfe Medical…”

As I engaged with the officers and listened to their questions about the recent layoffs in the company, I realized the implications of Devin's actions went far deeper than I had initially thought. It seemed that he had been siphoning off funds from the company's endowment whenever he made cuts to the police force. The revelation left me both stunned and incensed, realizing the extent of his manipulations.

I could almost hear Charles’ voice from when he warned me about the possibility the first time.

I took a deep breath.

“I want to be honest with you,” I said, swallowed. My stomach churned with nerves. “The pack is going was undergoing significant changes.”

“What sort of changes?” Someone asked.

“During my ex-husband’s time as acting alpha, he made several changes that I wouldn’t agree with. That I don’t agree with.” I took another deep breath. "I understand that these changes might raise questions," I met the officers' eyes with sincerity. "But I want to assure you that my goal is to bring the pack back to the principles my father instilled – unity, integrity, and the safety of our community.”

“That sounds a lot like you weren’t keeping an eye on it and let a lycan run us for how many ever years…”

My lips twitched. It stung, but it wasn’t inaccurate.

“I admit that when my father died, I was ill-prepared to take over,” I said. “I made decisions I thought were for the best at the time. I trusted, but things are different now. I don’t know much about what I’ve taken up, but I am trying my best. Between taking care of my children and making sure the pack is alright, my time is spent.”

I looked at the rest of them. “Mooncrest is my home too. It always has been, and I’ll fix the things that have been broken. I simply need time and understanding.”

I let out a soft chuckle. “Even if your father was a police officer, that doesn’t mean you come on to the job knowing how to do it, right?”

Someone chuckled. “That’s true… Thanks for… being honest, Alpha Wolfe.”

“Thank you for being honest with me as well. I’ll take note of your concerns about the departments and straighten things out.”

Officer Reynolds and his colleagues seemed soothed by my words.

As the conversation continued, I sensed that my words were having an impact. The officers seemed more at ease, and I believed that they were beginning to see my dedication to the pack's welfare. It was a small victory but an important one. Even if I had no idea what I was doing most of the time, I was glad they believed I was trying.

Just as I was starting to feel a sense of relief, my attention was diverted by a sudden flash of light. Turning toward the source of the disturbance, I was met with the sight of a reporter snapping photos of the scene. Dread washed over me as I realized that our private conversation might have just become a headline.

My heart raced as I approached the reporter, my voice determined but firm. "Excuse me, but this is not a public event. I would appreciate it if you refrained from taking pictures here."

The reporter lowered the camera, a somewhat sheepish expression on their face. "I apologize, Alpha Wolfe. I didn't mean to intrude. I'll respect your wishes."

I nodded, grateful that they seemed willing to comply. As the reporter walked away, I couldn't shake the unease that lingered. The challenges of rebuilding the pack and the company were complex enough without the added scrutiny of the media just yet. It might make the plans I had more complicated.

I remained a little longer to speak with the Enforcers, who all smiled at me, nodded, and gave me their versions of the reports before leaving. I didn’t know what they were investigating, but I had a feeling that I would be able to ask Charles.

I got back in the car. George drove me back to pack house, my mind raced with the potential consequences of the reporter's presence. As I entered the house, Charles looked up, sensing my unease.

In his eyes, I found solace and understanding. With a nod, I gestured for him to join me in private for a moment while Cecil and Richard were eating.

“There were Enforcers there,” I said. “I spoke with the police… and I think you were right about the endowment.”

He nodded. “We’ll go over those financials next.”

I looked up at him, waiting and he smiled.

“The black market for medicine has routes through my territory, and I have Enforcers keeping tabs of Devin. It was completely coincidental, but I’ve instructed them to defer to the Mooncrest Police if they find themselves involved.”

My lips twitched. “It would have been nice to have a heads up.”

“I hadn’t thought they’d be here… though I suspect it was lucky to have them.”

I groaned and slumped onto a seat. “They thought I don’t trust them, and they called me out for not watching Devin….”

He chuckled. “Welcome to the troubles of being a ruler.”

“What do I do about the reporter?”

“Reporter?”

I let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through my hair. "There was a reporter there. They took a photo, but I have no idea what they may have heard while I was talking to the officers. I told them it wasn’t a public place… They seemed like they were going to cooperate.”

Charles' expression softened. “I see.”

I groaned. "I know, Charles. I should have been more careful. I didn't anticipate the reporter being there, and I certainly didn't intend for this to become a spectacle."

“Did you get the photo from them? The film or make them delete it.”

I let out a helpless sound. “I didn’t even think about it! What do I do?”

He reached over and placed a reassuring hand on my arm. "It's a learning process, Grace. You're under a lot of pressure, and mistakes will happen. The key is to learn from them and keep moving forward."

“Don’t worry. The worst that could happen is that it goes against your smear campaign.”