Chapter 64

Grace

"Grace?" It was the pack lawyer. He sounded urgent and a bit cautious. My heart started to pound as Charles shifted in bed behind me and I tried to get myself fully back on the bed. "I've been digging into Devin's actions, and I have some significant findings that might help us proceed legally against him."

A glimmer of hope flickered within me. Finally, it seemed like we might have a chance to bring Devin to justice for all the harm he had caused. Charles wrapped his arm around my waist and pressed up behind me, but his hands didn't roam.

"That's fantastic news," I replied, my voice filled with optimism. "What have you found?"

The lawyer cleared his throat, and his tone grew somber. "Before I continue, I should let you know that we have a problem: Devin has seemingly disappeared."

"What?" My heart leaped with fear. He was a terrible person but he was still the father of my children.

"No one, and I mean no one, has seen him anywhere."

My heart sank at the news.

"How is that possible?"

"I can only imagine that he got wind of our investigations and ran. He's managed to evade all attempts to track his whereabouts. It's as if he's vanished into thin air."

Frustration welled up within me. I bit my lip. It felt like I wasn't ever going to get justice. Then, I frowned and looked back at Charles to find his eyes open and still glowing. His expression was relaxed and he smiled slowly. I covered the receiver.

"Morning," he whispered. His voice was a gentle caress against my skin.

"Morning," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. Our eyes met, and for a moment, it felt like the weight of the world had lifted from my shoulders. But reality had a way of creeping back in, as I thought about what the lawyer told me. "This can't be a coincidence. Devin is missing."

"He's not," Charles said and pressed a his to my shoulder.

"You know where he is?"

"Of course," Charles said and smiled, licking his lips with an all too-pleased smile.

Then, he got up and slipped from bed. There was a strange humming sound. He bent down to pick up his pants and the humming got louder.

"What was that?"

"An alarm," he said and tossed his phone on the bed, stretching. "Telling me that there is work to be done, and I should shower."

He looked back at me with a sultry gaze and walked toward the bathroom.

The door closed behind him as the lawyer started talking.

"I'll keep digging and trying to trace his steps. There might still be clues that can lead us to him. In the meantime, I'll prepare the legal groundwork so that when we do find him, we can move swiftly."

I thanked the lawyer for his dedication and commitment to my case. Then, I ended the call, feeling a mixture of determination and unease. Devin's disappearance was troubling. Was he just hiding or had he been hurt? Charles said he knew where he was, but was that a good thing? There was a lot of tension between the States and the Lycan Clans. If Charles wasn't involved, I was sure that it would just be more of a problem, especially with WSU and LSU around.

I heard the sound of running water beyond the door. I was tempted to join him in the shower, but I remained in bed for a moment, lost in thought, and relishing the aches in my body that were familiar and hadn't been there in too long... If ever.

The shower turned off, and Charles emerged from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist. He headed to the closet. The scent of his shower gel or lotion, or all of it together filled the room and filled me with a deep sense of comfort. He pulled out a grey suit. I frowned.

"You're leaving? Now?"

He turned back, his back rippling with muscles. "Not forever, Grace. Just a few hours. Then, about a week the week after next."

My stomach plummeted. "A week?"

He tossed clothes on the bed beside me. I watched as he moved with the grace and strength that was uniquely his own, and bit my lip. What would it take to get him to stay in bed with me for just a little longer?

"I have to head back to the lycan territories today," he said. "Preparations still have to be finalized. I should be back in the evening."

"For what?" I asked.

"Our Winter Moon Festival."

I frowned. "It's already done."

He chuckled. "For werewolves. In the clans, the Winter Moon is the first full moon of the year."

I pulled my knees up to my chest. "What's it like?"

"No cookie decorations, unfortunately," Charles chuckled. "A lot of upper-tier lycans come to the castle, I have to give a speech, there's a gala. The throne is responsible for feeding every single person in the territories, young and old."

My jaw dropped. "That's insane."

"I'm a monarch," he said and slid into his boxers and pants. He let them hang open as he slipped on his shirt. It's supposed to be a time of unity and reflection for us, a time to look back at the previous year and think about what could have been done differently and make plans to do better in the new year."

"Like human New Year... and Thanksgiving?"

He nodded. "That's pretty accurate. We have a bonfire and seven days of a festival. Hence me being gone for a week."

He tucked in his shirt and buckled his belt.

I got up on my knees and reached out to him. He caught my hand with his and intertwined our fingers.

"And there's no way I can convince you to... stay a little longer?"

He chuckled. "No, but if I leave early and get there quickly, I can get back quicker."

I pouted. "I feel a bit nipped."

He cocked an eyebrow and cupped my face. "You think you could handle another round after last night?"

I huffed. "I'm not old."

He chuckled again and kissed my forehead. "No, you aren't. You are however fresh out of a divorce, and I can assume you and Devin weren't sleeping together often."

I huffed and shook my head. He tipped my head up and grazed our lips together.

"We have time, Grace," he whispered. "To take it slow. To make it last. To make you mindless with it."

He met my gaze. "I promise you will not want for anything I can give you so long as I can give it. There's no rush."

He pulled me into a tender embrace, and I rested my head against his chest, savoring the warmth and strength of his presence.

"You do not need to fear losing me," he whispered.

I closed my eyes, rubbing my face against his chest as I took deep comforting breaths.

"Okay." I looked up at him. "I trust that."

He smiled. "I adore you. I’ll be back soon."

With a final, lingering kiss, Charles gathered his things and headed out the door. I watched him go, feeling a sense of longing and determination wash over me. Our relationship might be complicated, but we were both willing to fight for it, no matter the challenges that lay ahead, including figuring out how I was going to find out where Devin was.

I sighed and gathered my clothes. The scent of his shower gel filled my nose. It made me weak and filled me with longing that was ridiculous, but still, I went into his bathroom, sat on the toilet, and closed the door, trying to breathe as much of it as I could and calm down.

It was an hour later before I headed downstairs. I found Margaret at the bar of the kitchen. I heard Cecil in the playroom. The TV was on Jackson's favorite channel in the living room.

"Morning," I said, trying to be cheery.

Margaret pursed her lips and gave me a plate of food.

"Eat it, sit down, and drink the tea," she shook her head. "Honestly..."

I huffed but I sat and ate and drank. I felt a little better, but not by much.

"I'm going to the lab," she announced. "You would be well-suited to resting." She dragged her gaze over me. "And calling if it's too much?"

"Calling?" I asked.

Margaret came around and wrapped her arms around me for the first time ever. She growled at me low and comforting, I sagged forward, so deeply comforted, so oddly assured and sleepy that I could barely hold myself up.

"Charles called Kelly. Cecil is set up to entertain herself until she gets here and Richard has already been fed and changed."

She pulled back and cupped my face. "You need a bit of time to... come down."

I blinked. My eyes felt wet. I felt so out of sorts.

"What's wrong with me?"

She grinned. "Nothing. You're just listening to your instincts and you aren't prepared."

She nodded to the kitchen. "I'll let you off today as a favor... and mostly because you'll be way more productive after you sleep. Charles left food for you. I'll see you later."

I headed back upstairs as I heard Kelly come in, but rather than going to my room, I went to Charles' room and I was sure that I had never slept better.