Fiona
The next day, my family anxiously waited by the phone, hoping to hear back from Alexander. But I did not. I continued my day as always. Breakfast in the kitchen with eggs and toast, then off to work out. Liam had decided to come with me, having grown tired of waiting with my father and mother.
Liam had grown into a good fighter, yet I knew if he were ever called upon to fight against the vampires, he would not likely see it through his first battle. I didn’t know how the pack felt toward Liam becoming Alpha. I feared the pack would not respect him.
After a good workout against Liam, he returned to his easygoing self, having burned off his frustration about the situation due to our father. When we returned to the house, I found Alexander still hadn’t called. I started to believe he wouldn’t.
Father held his phone up to me. “You must call him.”
Not wanting to fight, I did as he asked. Unfortunately, the call didn’t go through. I handed it back to him.
“No answer.”
Father began to curse. “This is your fault. You should have just asked for the money. I don’t know why you gave him a business plan to invest in the pack. We need the money, not the pack.”
My brows pinched. This situation had nothing to do with me and everything to do with my father and greed. I could hardly look at him. Making my way up the stairs, the front door was violently knocked on. I stopped to see who it was.
My father answered the door, expression hopeful. Seth stood, arms folded over his chest. The new Alpha of the Blue Moon pack had come to collect their debt. I marched down the stairs to stand next to my father. They brought not only a lawyer’s letter but also the werewolf police.
The police immediately pushed past Seth, grabbed Father, and placed him in cuffs. Liam reached out for him, trying to stop them. Seth shoved him back so hard that he fell to the floor.
“That’s enough. Keep your hands off of my brother.”
My mother began to cry as the wolf police walked Father to the cars waiting beyond the gates.
“This is your fault. If you had married Baron, everything would be fine.”
I knew that if my family went to wolf court, not only would my father go to jail, but all their property would be liquidated, and the Pack would be affected. So I stepped forward and asked Seth for some more time.
“I promise I can pay off the debt and double the interest.”
Seth laughed, flared his suit jacket, and walked to the police. I followed.
“Please, Seth,” I asked as calmly as possible. Even though all I wanted to do was throw him over my shoulder and punch him in the face. “All I need is one more day.”
Seth shrugged and said, “Sorry.” He stood by the police car, looking very pleased with himself.
As they opened the car door to shove Father in, my mother screamed and threw herself at the police. “No, you can’t do this.”
I grabbed her and pulled her back. The last thing I needed was my mother getting hauled off to jail.
The police were polite to her and me, understanding the difficulty of the situation, but they couldn’t do anything. Unfortunately, this was in Seth’s hands, and he didn’t appear to be forgiving.
The commotion caused by the werewolf police and my mother attracted the attention of other noble families in the community. Many started to come out of their homes to see what was happening.
I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. Nobles loved gossip and pried into other people’s affairs daily. So many gathered at the ends of their driveways and pointed. Whispers broke out, and then they pointed at Father. All of King Pack would know what was happening by the end of the day.
I caught bits and pieces of murmurs.
“Didn’t she marry into the Blue Moon pack? So why are they here taking the father?”
“How could such a strong pack end up like this?’
“I heard the daughter got pregnant out of wedlock.”
“I heard the father is Alpha Alexander.”
“I heard he won’t have anything to do with their family. So this must be why?”
One of the women from across the street looked at my pregnant belly with disdain. “You’re dirty for getting pregnant before marriage just to climb the ranks of power.”
My mother began to cry louder, and I squeezed her shoulders to send her some of my strength. But, it seemed over the last few days, I had very little to give.
The crowd began to chant. “Take him away.”
I clenched my fists. Stupid people.
Just as the atmosphere became tense, and my wolf wanted to be released, a loud horn sounded. Silence fell. No one ever honked here. It was against the rules. Everyone turned to see who was making the noise. As did I.
A black luxury car with tinted windows pulled to a stop with the Alpha King’s crest on the side of the door.
I couldn’t breathe. It was Alexander. Hope and fear fought for control over me, neither won nor lost. Alexander stepped out of the car and stood firm and powerful. His golden shaggy hair was pulled back tight, and sunglasses covered his eyes. He took me in, and I shivered, realizing for the first time I was standing in the driveway surrounded by the wolf police wearing tennis shoes, yoga pants, and a sports bra, hands still taped from sparring with Liam. Crap. I was a mess. I ran a hand over my hair and fussed with my messy hair in a bun. It was pointless.
Alexander buttoned his suit jacket and gave a small wave to all the onlookers looking uncomfortable with the attention.
He held out the paperwork I had given him the day before, placed it on the top of the police car, pulled out a pen, and signed it. Seth rushed over.
“What are you doing?”
With a cutting half-smile, Alexander pulled his glasses down his nose and said, “Investing in Fiona’s new company she proposed yesterday. You should have a look. It is a sound investment.”
I was stunned. He wanted to invest in my company. I had given him the business plan I had been working on for over a year. I had suspicions about my father and his spending and became fearful for my pack. I worked out the best plan to help keep my pack safe. I had shown Baron, but he wasn’t interested, and now I knew why. The gratitude I felt for Alexander was overwhelming. I didn’t let it touch my expression with Seth there.
Seth growled. “What about your investment into my pack?”
“It is not a good investment. So I pulled my support this morning.”
Seth blinked, jaw dropping.
I couldn’t hold back a slight grin, and neither could Alexander.
Alexander pulled out his checkbook. Holding it up.
“Who do I make the check out to?”
