Chapter 72

Grace

Life felt almost back to normal. Jackson had no room in the kitchen with all the ingredients already made, packed up, and ready to be eaten. I swear Charles must not sleep because there was always something ready to eat in the fridge. I frowned the one morning I came down and found George in the kitchen, not cooking, but making coffee.

"How..." I blinked. "How have I never run into you in all this time before?"

As I thought about it, he hadn't left any lingering scent either.

He grinned. "Part of my job is to be as close to invisible as possible."

"Charles doesn't seem to be that type of employer..."

"Oh, he's not," George said. "It's a habit that doesn't go away, but also a useful skill. And if you're wondering about the scent, witches make top-tier scent blockers."

I didn't know that was possible or why you would need such a thing, but I nodded.

He lifted up a coffee press. "Coffee?"

"Is it fancy lycan coffee?"

"The fanciest."

I pulled down a mug. "Yes, please. I've been spoiled, and I have no idea how to work that thing."

He laughed, and soon, I heard Margaret coming down with a deep sigh of relief. She pulled down her own mug and pouted.

"Please, George. Have mercy on me."

He poured her a mug. "Be glad I'm in a good mood, Maggie."

She stuck her tongue out at him and sighed as she took a sip of coffee. George pulled out food to warm up for breakfast, and we ate in companionable, peaceful quiet. I didn't feel the need to ask where Charles was since George was there. And soon, we were headed to the lab, leaving George there.

Weeks passed in this peaceful sort of haze. I had food and cuddled up to Charles every night. Some nights, there was a lot more than cuddling going on, and he never got upset when I practically passed out in the middle from exhaustion and from being overwhelmed. He only grinned at me in the morning.

"I'll collect later," he'd said with that sensual glint in his eyes.

Life seemed perfect.

Today, we were back at the lab working on the last bits of the supporting documentation for the patent. I kept looking for something to correct, something to make clearer, something that was off or missing, but I couldn't find it. Margaret couldn't find it, and Seraphina couldn't find it.

"I think that means it's ready," Margaret declared with a triumphant smile.

Seraphina nodded. "Looks like we scheduled that meeting at the right time."

Relief washed over me. I looked at the glass jar we were keeping the completed capsules in and smiled at the way they glimmered in the light.

"Great, I'll get this in--"

"There's one more thing," Seraphina said. "I'd like you to keep my name off of it."

My jaw dropped. "But without you--"

"Quote my papers, reference them, of course. I've worked all of that into the paper already, but keep my name off the byline."

I shook my head. "I don't... I don't think I could do that. If you hadn't been here, who knows how long... I mean--there's so much--"

I looked down at the papers. "Is there... a reason that you wouldn't..."

I swallowed as my eyes seemed to burn. Did she not believe in her work? In the project?

"Tell her before she bursts into tears," Margaret groaned. "We really don't have time for her to doubt this."

Seraphina smiled. "I'm just doing Charles a favor, as I said..."

"But you're not doing me a favor," I protested. "The amount of money--"

"I promise that Charles will work out a fair cut under the table," she said with a smile. "Besides, it is not in a witch's nature to hold debts, monetary or otherwise, between family members."

I blinked. My mind whirled as I considered her words. Then, it struck me like a bolt of lightning. She was family—Charles' family, to be precise, and Charles wouldn't consider my kids as anything less than family.

"You're going to be at Eclipse Gatherings and all that soon enough," she waved her hand. "We don't need anything getting complicated, Little G'."

I blinked. "Little... G'..."

My eyes widened. "Charles... is...your...?"

"Nephew." My jaw dropped, and she winked. "Though we grew up closer to siblings since Big C' was so much older than me."

She shook her head. "Clear enough, why you shouldn't put your in-law and in-law-to-be on the byline?"

I swallowed. "I... don't like it, but I understand."

"Good enough."

The intercom buzzed, and the receptionist let me know that the pack lawyer had arrived and would be waiting with the rest of the legal team in the conference room down the hall from my office. I took a deep breath, gathered up the paperwork, and headed up to meet them.

As I rode the elevator up, I tried not to think about the way she said in-law-to-be. I'd be bright red with embarrassment and grinning like a schoolgirl if I let myself think about it too much.

When I entered, my heart raced. The weight of the moment bore down on me as I presented the documents for our drug patent submission. The lawyers, some stern and unyielding, others more congenial, examined the pages. They asked questions, scrutinized every detail, and verified the legitimacy of the reports I'd submitted. It was a grueling process but one that was entirely necessary.

After what felt like an eternity, they seemed to have gotten everything they needed to fill out the patent application. With a sense of accomplishment, I left the room with the finished application and the pack lawyer. He tucked it into his briefcase with a grin.

"Your father would be over the moon," he said. "Just like the rest of us are."

I smiled. "Thank you. Really."

Downstairs, we met a group of Lycan Enforcers and a handful of Mooncrest Police Officers, all standing at attention and ready to escort the pack lawyer to the patent office. I waved him goodbye as they left, climbing into an escorted caravan that would drive from here to the capital several hours away.

As they departed, I couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. The first crucial step in the patent submission process was complete. Then, I headed back to the lab to find Seraphina packing up her things as if she were getting ready to leave.

"So soon? We just finished..."

She smiled. "I'm pretty hard to get a hold of for a few reasons, and I have another commitment starting soon."

"Could you at least stay for dinner? We're having a small celebration at the Pack House later to mark this milestone. I'd be honored if you could join us."

Her smile softened. "Alright, but I'd like to meet the tiny ones, too."

I laughed. "Of course!"

The celebration at the Pack House was a simple yet heartfelt affair. The warm glow of candles and the smell of all the food Charles had ordered filled the formal dining room with a sense of cheer that hadn't been here months ago.

Cecil had taken a shine to Seraphina, asking her about the golden tattoos on her hands, and Richard seemed delighted by her. Jackson had a tense smile on his face most of dinner, but he joined in the toast.

Later, when Seraphina was excusing herself to leave, I went after her.

"Thank you, again, for everything," I said. "I know that you said Charles would... do whatever he's going to do to compensate you for your time here, but I'd like to formally extend the invitation to join the production and development team."

She smiled softly. "You sure about that? I only barely managed to keep my feet on the ground while I've been here."

I chuckled. "I'll make sure to clear the airspace if you want it."

She smiled and took my hand. "When the time comes, Grace... Say yes."

My eyes widened. Her eyes glinted with knowing.

"My sister would have adored you and your open heart. His father would have, too. I know you know that Charles isn't a thing like Devin, but I need you to believe it, too."

She looked behind me. "I haven't seen him this happy, ever."

I bit my lip, but the words came before I could stop them. "Not even with her?"

She smirked. "Not even a fraction."

My face warmed. She gave me a warm hug.

"I'll let you know if I can come back sooner rather than later."

She stepped out and donned a long, thick cloak before pulling something out of her pocket and rocking back, hovering just outside my door.

"We'll see each other again soon."

Then, she was gone, flying off, and I was left hoping that what she said was true and more curious than ever.

That evening, Charles and I crawled into bed, exhausted and happy. He pulled me up against his warm, naked body and pressed a kiss to my head.

"I'm so proud of you," he whispered as I closed my eyes and leaned into his warmth.

"Thank you for believing in me." I smiled. "Celebration sex tomorrow?"

"Deal. I have a lot to collect on."