Chapter 11 #2
One of the people next to Marshal clears their throat.
“Mr. McCrae, I understand you’re upset, but the reality is that Miss James knew the terms of her contract when she signed it.
The video clearly documents the violation of those terms. In addition, Mr. McCrae, it also documents a violation of your contract as well—”
At that, Willa shoots up. “Then fire me.”
Everyone turns to look at her. She’s still not meeting any of our eyes, but she stares Marshal Lane and his legal team down with fire burning in her gaze.
“I violated the contract. You need someone to take the fall. Fine. Fire me. But leave them out of it.” The resignation in her eyes makes my Alpha instincts surge with pride and an almost overwhelming urge to wrap her in my arms and give all of APbrA the finger. “This is my fault.”
“Miss James—” Marshal starts, but I’m already standing.
“No.” My voice comes out harder than I intend, but I don’t care. “There has to be another solution here. It isn’t her fault. This should be about whatever asshole decided that creeping on them was okay and then intentionally stirring up trouble. Since when are relationships regulated?”
Willa’s head snaps toward me, her eyes wide. “Charlie—“
It’s then that I realize the implications of what I said. “Relationships.” That implies a lot more. We have no idea if Willa is even interested in more.
Marshal takes a long look at me, our pack, and Willa.
“Can you guys excuse us, please?” he says to the legal team. They grumble but make their way out of the conference room. When it’s just us, he sighs and rubs a large hand over his face.
“I’m too old for this shit,” he says. “Willa, I’ve known you for as long as Josie has been dragging you after her. And I knew your father even longer.” That last bit is said with weight. He reaches out and pats the table in front of her. “Please take a seat.”
Willa visibly relaxes and slowly sinks into her chair.
“There’s another option,” Marshal says. He looks between us and Willa, his expression considering. “The contract allows for Omegas and Alphas to fraternize if they are part of an established pack or are officially recognized as being in a courtship agreement.”
The words hang in the air, heavy.
“What are you saying?” Jake asks slowly.
“I’m saying,” Marshal continues, his gaze steady, “that if Pack McCrae formally states that you have been courting Miss James, this becomes a non-issue. The contract has provisions for pack bonds and courtship. As Charlie said, it’s designed to protect Omegas, not punish them for finding compatible partners. ”
My heart is pounding so hard I can barely hear over it. This is it. The moment where we either step up or watch her walk away.
I look at Willa, trying to read her expression, a myriad of emotions flickering across it too fast to name. Fear. Hope. Panic. Longing. Resignation.
A sudden realization born of all the years we’ve shared hits me hard. She thinks we’re going to say no. Thinks we’re going to let her take the fall to protect ourselves. It’s what her father would have done.
“We’ve been courting her,” I say, my voice clear and certain. “Pack McCrae has been courting Willa James.”
Beau and Jake are nodding before I even finish speaking, standing to flank me like the pack we are.
“It’s true,” Beau adds. “We’ve been courting her since she started working with us.”
I see her small frame shoot out of her chair for the second time. Willa makes a sound—I know she’s going to protest. She’s never liked people taking her licks, as she’d call it. But I don’t look away from Marshal.
Josie stands and whispers something in her friend’s ear. And the stiff, rigid tension in Willa’s frame deflates. Her shoulders sink a little, and her expression looks defeated.
“Willa?” Marshal says with a long, quiet look at her. The only affirmation is a small nod as she lowers her eyes.
“Then we have no problem,” Marshal says, and I swear there’s relief in his voice. “Pack courtship is protected under the contract. Miss James is free to continue her employment without penalty, and McCrae is in no danger of losing out at the end of his season. This matter is closed.”
He calls the legal team back in and briefs them.
They look a little skeptical but nod. “Agreed. If it’s an official courtship, there’s no violation.”
Marshal stands, signaling the end of the meeting. “I’ll make a statement to the board. Gentlemen, Miss James—you’ll need to sign a Pack Disclosure document in HR, then you’re free to go.”
“What happens to the person who sent the video?” Beau asks, his voice low, eyes burning with retribution.
Marshal holds his gaze for a long, steady moment. Something unspoken passes between the two Alphas—something I make a mental note to ask Beau about later. Finally, Marshal’s lips curve into something that isn’t quite a smile.
“Oh, rest assured,” he says, his tone cool and final. “APbrA doesn’t take kindly to blackmail.”
I watch him walk out. And then I’m looking at Willa as she stands and stiffly walks out of the room without so much as a glance in our direction.