Chapter 34

Charles

The drive to the office of the investment company was quiet. Grace was hiding something. She was worried, anxious, and trying to hide it from me. It had taken everything in me to back off, and it made no fucking sense. The desire I felt for her was overwhelming, a force that surged through my veins and clouded my thoughts. It was a fire I struggled to control, threatening to consume all reason and restraint.

It reminded me uncomfortably of what it felt like when I first found my mate.

I sighed again.

“Still upset about your hair?”

“I’m never going to not be upset about my hair.”

George laughed as he pulled up. “At least the werewolves won’t be so skittish.”

“True.”

I got out and headed inside, greeting people warmly. I was amused by how easy it was to get them to relax when I looked more werewolf than a lycan. The meetings went smoother than ever. My employees actually talked rather than having me drag answers out of them. It was productive, so productive I considered keeping the look whenever I planned to spend a lot of time in the werewolf states.

I grimaced. I’d shave, at least, maybe. Pushing aside my distractions, I refocused on the task at hand. The investment company was doing fine, but there was likely a bit of a pile-up of kingly work to be done.

In my private office in the building, there was a direct link to my servers in the Palace. I checked in with the Elders, who still hated to use email and preferred writing to the office like we were still shitting in holes in the forest. Luckily, the administrative staff I hired were all equipped with high-quality scanners and scanned all of my correspondence into my email.

There were a few territorial disputes to deal with and a trade agreement between two neighboring clans to sign off on, but there was nothing dire. My calendar flashed with a reminder the Winter Moon Festival and New Year’s plans were still being finalized. As I looked over the budget for the events, I could almost forget the woman who had come to consume my thoughts.

I opened the budget for the events. The budget before was comprehensive, accounting for various expenses and allocations that sustained the celebration properly. I scrutinized each category, seeking ways to optimize our resources and ensure that every aspect of our clan’s needs was met. There wasn’t much to change other than an increase to account for welfare gifts.

Then, my mind jumped to the line about the Blackwoods Clans’ gift exchange budget. Amy’s child wouldn’t be here until the new year, but she would need things before then. Cecil had likely never gotten a lycan gift, and Richard would need things sooner rather than later.

Then, there was Grace, who had likely never even known how lycans celebrated the Winter Moon Festival or New Year.

This would likely be their first year taking part in it.

I smiled and opened the budget to change it. Devin’s line was removed, but the funds that were usually allocated to him were redistributed, and I added four new lines: Amy’s unborn child, Cecil, Richard, and Grace. I kept an empty slot for Amy in case George’s investigation continued to prove that she was innocent.

The sight of the names there warmed and troubled me.

The responsibility I felt towards Grace and her children extended beyond mere numbers; it was a pledge to safeguard their well-being, to ensure their futures were secure within the clan’s embrace. But would she welcome it?

She was the alpha of her pack, thriving. It could be trouble for her among her peers, let alone within the lycan community. My enemies would jump on the chance to use her against me if they figured out how important she was to me. Any romantic involvement could jeopardize the fragile alliance we had formed and the cooperation between the Clans and the States.

And yet, no matter how I tried to reason with myself, I couldn’t suppress the surge of longing that coursed through me whenever I thought about her.

Later, as the sun dipped below the horizon and the world outside was cast in hues of amber and gold, I found myself engaged in a virtual meeting with some of the other Lycan chiefs. The topic at hand was a matter of increasing frustration – Devin’s mounting debts with various clans.

I wasn’t surprised to hear that he was looking for some reprieve from going to get work, and I was pleased that no one was looking to give him any.

When the virtual meeting finally concluded, I closed my laptop with a sense of relief and anticipation. My thoughts were drawn to the cozy atmosphere of Grace’s home, to the laughter of her children, and the warmth that seemed to emanate from within the walls.

As I made my way to Grace’s home, the image of her and the children filled my mind, their easy camaraderie a stark reminder of the life I had been denied for too many reasons to count.

When I got back, Eason was still there. It had to have been on my face that I was struggling, or maybe he was just curious. He raised an eyebrow in silent questioning.

“Something on your mind, Eason?”

His lips twitched. “Something on your mind, Charles?”

I chuckled. “Somehow, I am not surprised.”

He nodded. “I’m headed out, but if you’re interested in joining Cecil for a building session, I’m sure she’ll love it.”

I grinned. “I’d be happy to.”

Eason stepped aside and let me pass. I dropped my briefcase off in my office before going to find Cecil.

The floor was covered in a sea of colorful Lego bricks. Cecil was fiddling with a few green ones.

“Would you like some help?”

Her face brightened. “Uncle Charles! Would you really?”

I nodded, nudging Legos aside with my foot before joining her. “What’s the project?”

“A castle!” She grinned. “A really nice one. Uncle Eason bought me a new set.”

I looked at the box and hummed. “The one on the box?”

She nodded.

“Looks like a great castle, Cecil,” I said, looking at the directions. I took them in a glance and started to help her.

“Yeah! It’s going to be the biggest castle in the world!”

I laughed. Her tiny face screwed up in concentration as she added another brick to the structure.

“Is that so?” I chuckled. “Did you know I live in a castle?”

Cecil’s eyes went wide with awe. “Really, Uncle Charles? Like, a real castle with towers and everything?”

“Exactly like that,” I said, grinning. “It’s called Lycan Castle. It’s very old and has a lot of history. It’s got towers, secret passages, everything a real castle should have.”

“Wow,” Cecil breathed out, completely captivated. “Can I visit it someday? Can I, Uncle Charles?”

I smiled at her, “Absolutely, sweetheart. You and your mom are always welcome to visit.”

I heard Grace gasp from nearby. She looked stunned, standing in the middle of the doorway.

“Mommy, did you hear? Can we go for my birthday?”

My eyes widened. “When is your birthday?”

She smiled up at me. “It’s in March.”

“The 13(th),” Grace said. “The best Heart Moon gift a woman could ask for.”

I nodded, stroking Cecil’s head. “Well, I’ll have to get you a proper gift then… Maybe throw a party.”

“A party?”

“You could be the princess of the day,” I said, glancing at Grace. Cecil looked at her mother.

“Could we have matching tiaras?”

Grace flushed. “Oh, well…”

“Why not?” I asked. “Dresses, too.”

“Will Daddy be there?” Cecil asked, tilting her head.

I swallowed and looked at Grace. She looked panicked, like she hadn’t thought about what to say. I smiled at her.

“Would you want him to be?”

She fiddled with a set of blocks. “No…”

My eyes widened. Grace went pale.

“Do you want to talk about why not?”

She pouted. “Daddy… Daddy isn’t fun.”

She looked up at me. “He never played with me… Is he coming back?”

Her eyes went wide and glossy. “Are you going to go away if he does?”

I opened my arms to her and scooped her up, pressing her close to my chest.

“You don’t have to worry about that. Even if your father comes back, you won’t lose me, okay?” I wiped her tears gently. “You remember how I said I’m technically your grandfather?”

She nodded. “But you weren’t… here before.”

“Your father never told me about you.”

She gasped. “What about Richard?”

I shook my head. “Him either.”

I tucked a curl behind her ear. “It wasn’t very nice of him, but that’s okay because I’m here now, and I’m not going anywhere.”

Cecil smiled and nodded, throwing her arms around me. “You’ll be around to make yummy food too?”

I chuckled. “Yeah.”

“That’s good. Mommy doesn’t know how to cook.”

Grace turned bright red as I laughed.