Chapter 46: Chapter 46

JASON 99 lives…and they finally found each other.

My, but Sean and Lily had a great PR company.

He could see the angle for highlighting this merger. And, surely, that is why they had invited him to meet them for the dinner at the club.

But that meal was interrupted when Greg tried to drown Grace.

Yet…it seems they thought it acceptable to shout about their packs merging all around this city.

MY city.

I feel my wolf growling and pacing beneath my skin.

This is a bold move by Pack Stevens and Pack Atkinson.

I find myself both annoyed and angered by it.

And part of that is due to seeing how sad they make Grace. But from a position as the Alpha ruling this entire region, such a bold display is an insult.

One that will not be tolerated.

When we arrive in town, we exit the bus—one that I’d had Terrence charter exclusively for us—and make the walk back to her apartment building.

Grace doesn’t even notice that the bus didn’t make any other stops aside from the one a few blocks from where she lives.

When we get to the door, she claps her hands excitedly and retrieves a package.

I’m surprised it’s still here.

Well, I’m not entirely surprised. We’ve had surveillance on this building since I started spending my nights here. If someone attempted to steal the package, a member of my pack would have intercepted them.

“It’s here!” Grace proclaims cheerfully.

Once we’re inside, she tears open the package at the top and then hands it to me. “Go on. Open it.”

It’s a sweater.

The fabric is very soft and its decent quality.

On her salary, it was probably more expensive than the phone she bought for me.

“Isn’t it nice?” she says.

Not really.

But dutifully, I pull it over my head and model it for her.

At times, i feel this brother/sister relationship a little smothering. She means well, and these efforts and sacrifices amuse me, but I’m a grown man and don’t actually need someone to feed or dress me.

But then, in all fairness, I have presented myself as aloof and homeless and with a complicated pack relationship.

Grace is only treating me in deference to the details I have presented.

“This is nice,” I say.

She beams.

Suddenly, as if she has thought of something, she says, "Jay, bend down a little."

I lean down. Grace pulls my hair back.

"My brother is really attractive."

I laugh.

She sighs. "If you were to tie your hair back like this when you’re handing out flyers, you’ll have scores of girls chasing to snatch them from you.”

I shake my head. Yes, my purported job as a sign holder and distributor of flyers on the roadside.

"How about we go to the hair salon to tidy up your hair later? It's a pity that your beautiful eyes are always covered by it.”

I’m the most powerful Alpha on this coast. I could give a shit about my hair or clothes.

"You can wear this sweater tomorrow. Get changed and I'll wash it for you."

"Alright," I say.

Grace snaps a quick photo of me on her phone. “I’ve got to show this to Lina.”

Lina who threatened me with bodily harm.

I sigh.

Grace’s phone dings a few seconds later.

“What did she say?” I ask.

Grace grins. “She says: Nice sweater. Send me the link, I’ll buy one for my dad.” Then: ”By the way, your new younger brother is just like a clothes rack. He should try to be a model. There aren’t any real requirements besides being hot. And he checks that box.”

I shake my head bemusedly.

"What do you think about being a clothes model, Jay?”

"Not much," he said.

“Models make a good living.”

"Sister, do you think I make too little money?"

"Ah, no!" she says quickly. "I just want you to have a better life.”

"I will have a better life. When the time comes, I can give you whatever kind of life you want too.”

I pause as it hits me, what I’ve just said.

It’s true.

It would take nothing more than a snap of my fingers. My pack is powerful and wealthy.

“Grace, I must go to work. Will you be okay?”

She looks a little surprised by my abrupt change of mood. But she masks it quickly. “Yes, I’m fine.”

The Argenti serum doesn’t appear to have caused her any ill side effects. The worst of it wracked her body last night.

Am I disappointed that her wolf is dead… yes.

Not for myself, but for how it weakens her.

Wolves are not so plentiful that we should damage our species.

“Have a good day,” I tell her as I walk out of the apartment wearing the sweater she bought for me.

* * * * * * * * * * *

TERRENCE I can hear the whisperings running through the open office space.

Humans… I expect them to gossip.

But on the floor. We staff only wolves.

And our pack knows better than to talk about their Alpha.

I don’t catch any negative things, only “have you seen him?” “he looks so different?” and “what’s going on with our Alpha?”

The rumblings are enough to make me wonder what Jason is up to today.

"Have you seen Mr. Reed today?” another wolf asks.

"No, what's wrong?"

"It seems to be one of Amazon’s items."

"Are you sure? How is it possible for Boss Reed to be wearing such mainstream clothes?"

"I don't think it's possible either. Could it be some branded clothes that were imitated? “Nonetheless, it looks different when it's worn by Mr. Reed. Seems like I should buy it for my husband too."

The females leave the coffee area and return to their desks.

I growl and it’s sufficient to silence the entire floor.

Then I stalk into my Alpha’s office and gently close the door behind me.

I look at him silently for several seconds then say: “Did you eat a lumberjack on your way in today?”

His lips twitch.

The knit sweater looks like something you’d wear if you were living in a log cabin.

“You look nice,” I say blandly.

Jason arches a brow at me.

I gesture to his hair, which is tied back as he normally wears it, but paired with the sweater and jeans—

a far cry from his suits and ties, I’m compelled to ask, “Is this going to be a new look for you?”

Jason ignores me.

This piece of clothing was most likely bought by Grace. Normally, before Alpha Jason arrived to the company, he would change out from the clothes he had been wearing at the apartment. Those clothes were dry-cleaned and prepared for him so he could change back into them when he left for the day.

Today, however, he had not taken off his sweater.

What does this mean?

Also, how much longer would Jason continue going back and forth to this woman’s home?

However, naturally, I don’t dare to ask these questions. it is not my place.

"Alpha, this is the purchase proposal you wanted." I set the file I’m holding on the desk.

"Do you know that Sean has commissioned a publicity campaign with engagement photos throughout the city?

“Yes, sir. I know. I’ve seen them.”

"How many of those ads are running in the city?" Jason asks.