Chapter 42 Time to Act
forty-two
Time to Act
*FELIX*
Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought this is how the day would play out.
I didn’t know what to expect from Maddox, but when I saw him, he was surprisingly polite, and even more surprisingly quiet.
Liam is a composed man; he is an introvert, but he has a completely different aura in comparison to Maddox.
He pulls people in, and his presence is commanding, whereas Maddox, despite being an alpha’s heir, looks almost detached.
The only moment when he actually looked lively was when he met Charlie.
Now that the day comes to an end, we take a moment to discuss all the things that have happened today and Maddox in particular.
“I have no idea what to make of him,” Celine says. Our whole meeting went surprisingly smoothly, because Maddox was ready to do whatever needed to be done. He doesn’t know anything about Marina’s mate, but he is sure his father knows more, meaning he will snoop around the pack.
Now he is outside, talking to Charlie.
Liam taps his lips. “I don’t feel comfortable having him handle this on his own.”
“Me neither,” Dad agrees.
“Because you don’t trust him?” I ask.
“I am not sure.” Dad frowns. “I don’t think trust is the right word.”
“He looks tired,” Aurelia agrees. “In that state, he might make mistakes.”
“I always watch how young future alphas like him treat female wolves of high rank,” Liam says. “And how they handle a female alpha like Celine.”
“He didn’t seem to mind,” Celine says.
“He was also very polite to me,” Aurelia adds. “Actually, I think we clicked pretty well.”
“He seemed more comfortable with both of you than with Dad and me,” Liam adds. “Whatever that means.”
“Great,” Silas sighs. “So, we can assume his father is a problem, a real problem. Not that we thought he would be anything else.”
“Gwen said Maddox had never joined in any bullying, he just didn’t stand up for her,” I point out. “But she also said recently that she isn’t sure if he wholly registered what was going on around him. Seems like this Daniel even told her that Maddox is in his own head a lot.”
Dad shifts his glass between his hands, his expression thoughtful. “Our first bullies are our parents,” he says into the silence.
Liam looks at him thoughtfully. “You think so?”
“You said it yourself, he is more open with Celine and Aurelia. Even with Silas, although he is Charlie’s uncle.”
“Why is it that so many of these alphas are assholes?” Silas asks. “Not that I am one to talk. Coven leaders aren’t much better, but usually they don’t harass their own children.”
“Power,” Liam says.
“Control,” Aurelia adds.
Celine shrugs. “Money.”
“It’s not too different from humans,” Dad agrees. “The bottom line is that there are many bad apples.”
For a moment, we are all quiet until Liam raises his head, looking out of the window. “Oh, look at that,” he says. “Dante arrived quickly. I only just called him. ”
I blink, following his gaze. Indeed, I see a tall, strong man outside, next to Charlie. He is Liam’s beta and Charlie’s adoptive dad.
“He doesn’t look too happy,” Celine adds.
“Of course he isn’t,” Silas mutters. “I am not happy either. From what we know, it’s not a good pack, and Charlie is mated to their future heir. I don’t want to say anything against Maddox, he seems decent enough, but the pack is a different issue.”
“Really?” I ask, surprised. “I thought you’d hate him.”
Silas shrugs. “When you live long enough, you will realize how many mistakes you yourself made.”
Dad nods. “I agree.”
“The pack is the problem, not the guy,” Liam adds.
“So, what now?” Silas asks.
“I still think it’s not good to let him handle this on his own,” Liam says.
“We could send someone with him,” Aurelia offers. “None of us, obviously, we are all too high ranking, but someone young, someone his age, who wouldn’t alert anyone...“ She turns to me.
“Are you serious?” I ask, surprised.
“Fantastic,” Dad sighs, not looking too happy. Previously, I might have thought he didn’t trust my abilities, but now I realize he just looks worried.
“Felix is a good choice,” Liam agrees. “He is young, polite. People like him immediately. And no one would refuse him entrance to their pack.”
Silas nods tentatively. “Maddox could make up some sort of project. He is in college, isn’t he? For whatever reason, he could be working together with Felix.”
“I want to do it,” I agree. “I would like to investigate the pack that treated my mate so horribly.”
“Are you really up for the risk?” Dad asks me.
“Yes,” I reassure him. “Besides, I don’t think it’s a high-risk job for me. And I do have my gift to fall back upon. Now that I marked my mate, I have much better control over it.”
Liam smiles at me. “Is that so? Yeah, that makes sense.”
“I have complete faith in Felix,” Aurelia says. “It was my idea anyway, and I stand by it.”
Once again, they all look at me, making me grin. “I already told you; I‘m up for it. Gives me the chance to investigate that pack, and also to look out for Maddox, in case your worries are justified.”
“His father won’t try anything with a royal lycan around,” Dad agrees. “Let’s do it. It’s not the worst idea.”
My heart makes a leap of joy. This is the first job my family has given me, and it’s such an important one, not only for the pack but also for my mate. They are putting their trust and faith in me.
“We’ll discuss the details with Maddox tomorrow,” Dad says.
“Where is he staying the night?” Liam asks. “I guess he can’t stay here.”
“Too risky,” Aurelia agrees. “Obviously, he could stay if he wanted to, but it’s safer for him to sleep somewhere else. He said he has an uncle in the area and is currently pretending he is here for a college project. It means he needs to return at night so that his uncle won’t get suspicious.”
“Oh, that suits our plan well,” I point out.
Liam nods his agreement. Before we can continue our discussion, the door opens, and Dante and Charlie come in. “Maddox already left?” Aurelia asks.
Charlie nods. “Yes, he said his uncle already called him twice, and he doesn’t want him to get suspicious.” She is silent before turning towards Dante. “If you want to play the overprotective-dad card, this is the time for it.”
I can hear the anxiety in her voice.
“The pack isn’t a good one, is it? It’s terrible!” she adds.
“Don’t worry,” Dante says, putting his hand on her shoulder. “There is no way I will let anyone force you to leave for that pack. If Maddox wants to get past me, he will need to prove that they have changed.”
“Dante is right,” Liam assures her. “I won’t allow it to happen, either. Only if the pack is safe and you are willing to live there, will I let you leave.”
Charlie looks relieved for a brief moment before her gaze turns worried again. “He is my mate,” Charlie mutters. “It’s not like I have much choice.”
“But you do,” Silas says into the silence.
When everyone looks at him, he shrugs. “I would be a bad uncle to Charlie not to point it out, and I am saying this as someone who is a werewolf’s mate and very happy with it.
But it’s also a fact that you are half vampire.
You could always decide to take a beloved instead of a mate.
Suffice to say you can’t have both, but you do have a choice. ”
Charlie looks at him in surprise. “That’s true.
I completely forgot about that.” Before she can say any more, her phone lights up with an incoming message, a smile curling on her lips.
“Maddox!. He arrived at his uncle’s safely and told him they had an annoying group project to tackle.
” She types something on her phone, waiting, before smiling again.
“Wolves always talk big,” Silas sighs. “But when it’s about the mate bond, there is no helping it.”
“All the more reason to make sure we deal with the issue of his pack,” Dante says. “I need to be sure that Charlie is safe there!”
*GWENDOLYN*
“I am just baffled at how much can happen in only a few days,” I mutter.
Maddox has been here for three days now, spending his time plotting and planning with Felix and his family. Today marks the day of his return to the pack… together with my own mate.
Felix nods, steering his car over the forest road that will take us to Liam’s pack.
“For real. I can barely wrap my mind around everything.” He glances at Grumpy and Tiger, who have obviously decided to join me.
Tiger is sitting on my shoulder while Grumpy is nestled in my lap.
Even in his sleep, the Palla’s cat looks annoyed.
“Are you sure it’s okay that they come, too?
I am scared they will run away and get lost.”
He is worried for them? Somehow, this makes my heart do one of its familiar leaps when Felix says or does something cute or hot or both.
“It’s okay,” I reassure him. “It’s hard to explain, but I know they will not stray from me. It’s like I can understand them even though they don’t talk to me.”
“It’s such a cool-ass gift,” he says.
“You are going to be careful, aren’t you?” I ask.
“I promise,” he reassures me. “Officially, I am just with Maddox for a college project. They already know I am a lycan prince. Even your former alpha knows better than to fuck with my family.”
I nod. “Makes sense. I bet there are similar reasons for why he never outed Marina’s mate.” I pause, surprised at my own words. “Wait a moment… that has to be it! Her mate had to be someone of rank!”
Felix looks at me, surprised. “You are right… that has to be the reason! That or it’s someone connected to him.”
“Could be a relative,” I say.
“Yeah. Liam suggested the same, or that he could be someone who knows too much, who can blackmail him. But someone of rank is another option.”