Chapter Fifty-Three
Wes
Happiness coated me as I went up to the floor of Compass BioTek where the executive conference rooms were. It was on the same floor as Spencer’s office.
Spencer and his dad stood in the hall, speaking softly in Greek. Nick had spent the past couple of days at Compass BioTek, mostly asking Special Projects all the questions and hanging out with Grace.
“Your company is amazing. Perhaps I should convince your mother to move here so that I can work for you,” Nick added in English.
“I’d hire you in a moment, Baba, but you know Mama wants to travel the world with you. Enjoy your trip and I’ll see you soon.” Spencer hugged his father.
“I can’t wait.” He hugged him back and turned to me. “Goodbye, Wes.”
I waved, and Nick left. I looked at Spencer. “Is it just us so far?”
“Grace is with Katie in one of the small conference rooms. The hospital has offered her a generous settlement, and Katie thinks she should take it.” Spencer looked a little nervous.
I nodded. “Sounds good to me. I mean, it’s her decision, and considering how feral Katie has been about this, if she thinks it’s good, why not? Then Grace can buy ice cream for our scholarship kids.”
“Absolutely.” Spencer nodded.
“Your dad is heading off with your mom?” I asked.
“Yes. They’re going to visit some friends. My grandfather is calling in all the favors, and my father should have everything in order soon so that they can head back to Greece,” Spencer told me.
Riley came down the hall, holding an ice cream cone. “Fuck of the morning, to you.”
“Hi Riley, will you be okay waiting in my office until we’re ready for you?” Spencer asked her.
Her eyes rolled. “Yes. I don’t need to hear any arguments over whose room she sleeps in on what nights.”
Spencer put an arm around her. “Noted. We want to make sure you feel heard.”
“Thanks, you sap. Do you still have all the cool shit in your office?” she added.
“Only a few things that we’re going to keep but haven’t brought to the house yet. Everything else has been donated,” Spencer told her.
Right, all the mating gifts they got from random people. Grace had been handwriting thank-you notes to people Mrs. K said were important.
Riley went off to Spencer’s office.
“It’ll be fine. This is just a formality.” Spencer squeezed my shoulder.
While in some ways this was a formality, it was an important one. I remember when we did this for Evan back when we were forming the pack.
And now… now we were doing this for Grace. Once this was done, we’d submit the paperwork, and after it was accepted, Grace would officially be part of the pack.
Fuck. Grace was joining the pack. As she should be. My shoulders wiggled in happiness.
Brennan came up along with our pack lawyer, named Alison. She was an alpha who was about Spencer’s age, and an absolute shark of a lawyer. Brennan had known her for years and respected her.
Alison looked around. “Who are we waiting for?”
“Not me. I’m here.” Evan came over with Mrs. Beekman and Carly. Evan was dressed nicely. Mrs. Beekman wore pants and a blouse as usual. Carly had on her Omega Center polo.
Why was Carly here?
Brennan looked at his phone. “Jett is parking.”
“Riley’s in my office eating ice cream,” Spencer said. “Hello, Mrs. Beekman, you look well. Hi, Carly.”
Carly smiled. “Hi, Spencer. Hi everyone.”
“Boys.” Mrs. Beekman looked around. “Where’s Grace?”
“With Katie in the small conference room. Let’s see if they’re ready for you?” Spencer led her down the hall.
“Katie’s here?” Brennan’s eyebrows rose.
“Grace has the right to her own lawyer. Katie volunteered,” Evan told him. “I don’t need a lawyer, but Mrs. Beekman said she’d feel better if I had Carly.”
“This is always such an exciting part.” Carly practically bounced with excitement.
“I’m pretty excited,” I admitted.
Jett ran down the hall, also dressed nicely. “Sorry, it was a day.”
“It’s okay, Dear.” Brennan hugged Jett to him. “We’re all here.”
Alison turned to Evan. “Do you need to consult with your advocate before we start?”
“No, I’m ready to start when you are,” Evan replied.
Spencer came back out. “They only need a few minutes.”
“Bren, I saw the announcement your dad made about the new foundation. I love the omega scholar-athlete program they’re adding in addition to all the youth sports. I’m so happy he could take care of everything so quickly,” I said.
Things were not going well for the Queen Mum. Not only was her company and reputation in ruins, but Brennan’s dad had successfully taken over the family foundation, booted her, Troy, and Liam, and was making it into something new and amazing.
“Me, too. The new program aligns really well with the foundation’s mission and fills a need. I’m proud of him,” Brennan replied. Both he and Katie would be on the board along with some of Brennan’s dad’s contacts and former rugby teammates.
The past couple of days had been hard on Brennan, but hopefully everything would die down and go back to normal soon.
Brennan got close to me and Spencer. “I got a weird phone message from the Bureau of Investigation about them wanting to talk to Grace. Did you get any?”
“No. But Grace and Creed were upset because something happened at the university where the professor’s teaching summer school. They didn’t get many details other than that everyone was okay and there was a gun. They got worried,” I explained.
“What?” Brennan frowned. “Someone brought a gun to a university? Who does that? That’s awful. I’m so glad that everyone is okay.”
Mrs. Beekman came out and nodded to Brennan. “We’re ready when you are.”
“Let’s get started then.” Spencer led us to the big, fancy executive conference room. It had very nice leather chairs and a big, shiny table. Someone, probably Riley, had written Grace is the best on the whiteboard in green marker.
This room also made me nervous. It wasn’t where we held staff meetings, this was where important shit happened.
Of course, this could be classified as important shit.
Grace, Katie, and Mrs. Beekman sat on one side of the table.
My peaches wore a really pretty green floral dress.
Evan and Carly sat on the same side but a couple of seats down.
We all sat on the other side. Brennan was next to Alison.
Jett was next to Brennan, then me, then Spencer. No one sat at the ends.
This was so the omega could see that they were equal to the pack that wanted them. They could have their own lawyer and an advocate. It wasn’t uncommon for a parent or older alpha sibling to be part of it as well.
Evan had said that he would sit on the other side but separate because he, as the existing omega in the pack, got a say. Not just as tradition, we’d literally had it written into our charter after Caroline.
“Are we ready to begin?” Katie asked Alison.
Alison looked at Brennan. He was head alpha, so this was his meeting to preside over.
“We are.” Brennan shifted nervously in his seat.
“The Thanukos Pack would like to formally bring Dr. Grace Thanukos into the pack,” Alison stated. “Has the latest version been reviewed?”
“It has and meets all legal standards.” Katie nodded.
“It’s been reviewed by both Dr. Thanukos and myself. It meets all Center standards,” Mrs. Beekman stated. “The pack has found our changes to be acceptable?”
There were some minor wording changes Mrs. Beekman had asked for, mostly in clarifying that Grace had full control over her career.
Alison replied and focused on Grace. “Yes, the pack has. The asset is acceptable?”
“Yes, I accept the beach estate on my own island.” Grace laughed, her face lighting up.
“It is acceptable,” Mrs. Beekman replied.
“Has everything else been deemed suitable?” Alison inquired.
“The home has passed inspection, as have they.” The look Mrs. Beekman gave us clearly indicated that we should feel fortunate that she deemed us worthy.
I know I did.
“Are there any non-negotiables or requests to be added?” Alison added.
Sometimes there were multiple meetings like this, especially if an omega had specific requests that needed to be addressed.
Evan had one client who was raising a younger sister, so she needed to make sure the sister was provided for if anything happened to her. Another client had horses and wanted a certain type of stable for them.
Grace smirked, and I wondered what she was asking for.
“Ice cream?” I whispered to Spencer. It was all I could think of.
“Grace’s one non-negotiable is that there always be chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream in the freezer.” Mrs. Beekman tried not to laugh.
“Called it,” I murmured.
Alison looked at Brennan.
“Yes, we find that acceptable. We can make sure there are backups in the garage freezer,” Brennan assured, as the rest of us chuckled.
“I find that acceptable,” Grace replied, still smirking.
“Noted.” Alison nodded.
We went over some more things. Grace glanced at her phone and frowned. Finally, Alison looked over at Evan.
“Have you read the agreement and find it acceptable?” Alison inquired.
“We have, and the Center finds it acceptable.” Carly glanced at Evan, who nodded.
“Do you have anything to add, rebut, request, or reject, as is your right set forth in the charter?” Alison asked Evan.
“No. I’m really glad that Grace is joining our pack. I have no desire to veto, I have nothing to add, and there are no terms I want to reject or rebut,” Evan said.
Good. But then he’d been in love with her from the moment he brought her home.
“Is there anything else to add or anything anyone would like to address before we bring in the child?” Alison surveyed the table.
Spencer got on his phone, probably texting Riley that it was time to come in.
Katie looked at Mrs. Beekman and Grace, who shook their heads.
“No, we find everything acceptable and are ready to proceed,” Katie replied.
Carly looked at Evan, who nodded. “We’re ready to proceed as well.”
“I’d like to say something.” I focused on Grace, because this was just for her. “Grace, I’m so happy that we’re finally together, just like we used to talk about. I’ll love you until the end of the universe.”
After everything Grace and I had been through, we were literally sitting across the table finishing the negotiations for her to be part of her pack.
While it wasn’t something I’d really talked to her about, because she didn’t know what packs were and I wasn’t part of one, if we ever actually got to be together in real life, I knew it could happen.
Here we were.
“I’ll love you until the end of the universe, too.” Grace sniffed and made a heart with her hands.
Carly put her hand over her heart in an aww, so cute gesture.
“I’m happy you’re here, my good doctor,” Spencer whispered.
“Me, too,” Jett told her.
Brennan met her gaze. “Yes.”
“Um, yeah, my mate is sexy and amazing.” Evan smirked.
“I’m really happy to be joining the pack.” Grace beamed and did a happy little dance in her chair.
There was a knock on the door.
“Enter,” Alison called.
The door flew open. Riley strode in, followed by her friend Kilroy. He was a young alpha and a huge boy with red hair and green eyes.
“Why hello lawyers, Center people, doofuses, saps, fuckers, and Grace. I’m Riley, the best pack member, and this is my counsel, Kilroy.” Riley plopped down in the seat at the head of the table.
“Riley, when I said you could have a lawyer if you wanted, I meant an actual lawyer,” Brennan chuckled.
“Kilroy’s dad is The Lawyer, so he’s practically one.” Riley shrugged.
One of Kilroy’s dads was part of the Extreme Fighting Entertainment Network and was called The Lawyer because when you fought him, you got served. I’m pretty sure Kilroy and Riley met in detention.
Alison tried hard to keep her composure. “Welcome, Riley, Counsel. Have you read what you were given?”
“We have,” Kilroy nodded. “Hiro had to explain a bunch of shit, I mean, items, to us, but we’ve reviewed it, and my client finds it acceptable. Personally, I think this is cool as fuck.”
“Excellent, do you have anything to add, rebut, request, or reject?” Alison asked her.
“I mean, I’d like them to not be possessive assholes or saps, especially in public, but that’s not going to happen,” Riley replied. “So, no, I don’t.”
“My client is good,” Kilroy agreed
“Is there anything you’d like to say? This is your chance to be heard,” Alison added.
“I’m glad Grace is here,” Riley said. “No seriously, I feel like we’re more of a family now. We were a family. But now we're more of a family, if that makes any sense?”
Yeah, it did. We were truly a family now.
“Thanks, Ri.” Grace smiled at her.
“Great. Is there anything else to add or discuss?” Alison added.
Brennan shook his head. “Everything has been addressed to my expectations. Everyone?”
He looked at all of us.
“We’re good,” I assured.
“I believe everything has been addressed to my client’s satisfaction?” Katie looked at Grace and Mrs. Beekman.
“Yes.” Grace beamed and blew me a kiss.
“Us as well,” Carly replied.
“All good here,” Riley told us.
“Excellent. I’ll make the changes and send the document for you to submit,” Alison informed Katie. “I think we’re done here. Welcome to the Thanukos pack, Dr. Thanukos.”
Everyone stood, and we left the conference room.
“Thanks, Kilroy.” Riley gave him a hug.
“Anytime. And good timing. My dad’s downstairs. Smell you later. Congrats, Dr. Grace. Please bring those crackly cookies to the next book club so I can sneak in and eat them.” Kilroy waved and left.
“Um, what was that?” Brennan asked Riley.
“One of his dads had a meeting next door, so he came to hang out with me. We tried to be profesh.” Riley gazed up at him.
Katie hugged Grace. “Welcome to the family. Oh, and thanks for the cake. That bakery is my favorite. Baby and I loved it.”
“You’re welcome,” Grace replied.
Brennan hugged his sister. “Thanks, Katie.”
“You’re ours now. We aren’t letting you go.” Riley wrapped her arms around Grace.
Grace hugged her back. “Sounds good to me.”
Mrs. Beekman gave us a hard look. “Please behave, boys.”
“Of course, Mrs. Beekman. We’ve been taking your advice and staying close,” Spencer told her.
“I’ll be in touch, thank you and congrats,” Alison announced.
“Bye, Evan. Congrats, Grace.” Carly waved and left with Mrs. Beekman, Alison, and Katie.
“You’re ours for now and always.” I picked up Grace and held her tight. My peaches. My mate. My love from across the universe. Mine.
“Are we going to eat someplace nice now? I’m hungry, so feed me,” Riley said.
“We are,” Spencer replied. “Shall we?”
Still holding Grace, I walked toward the elevator. “Sounds good to me.”