Chapter 28
Jude poured himself a glass of whiskey from the bar in the living room, where he, Austin, and Mason were trying to influence his father, James, to take their side when it came to Charlotte’s future.
Maggie, his mother, had gone upstairs with the excuse that she had a headache.
In his thirty-seven years, he’d never once seen his mother complain about a headache.
He could only assume that she needed to be alone to contemplate the story Danielle had shared with them, and that she was beginning to doubt that Steve Leon was a good match for Charlotte. It was a start.
He turned back to face his father. “I know you haven’t forgiven me yet that I mated with Danielle and didn’t follow the Werewolf Alliance’s order to take Eve.
And that you got flak from the other elders for not being able to control your oldest son.
I get that. But please don’t punish Charlotte for my actions.
It’s not fair to her. This is about her future. ”
James grunted in displeasure. “Last time I checked, you’re not her father. I am. Which means I decide what’s best for Charlotte.”
“And you think mating her to a violent psychopath is best for her? I looked up to you, Dad, because you always had the right answers and I could rely on you. But what you’re trying to do here isn’t just wrong, it’s evil.”
“You have no idea what’s at stake here,” James replied.
His father’s raised voice surely reverberated in the entire mansion, reminding him of Charlotte’s words that nothing would ever stay secret in this house, because the walls had ears.
“And I don’t need to know, because you can’t just use Charlotte as if she were a pawn in a game of chess.
She’s more than that. She’s your daughter.
She’s mine and Austin’s sister. She’s Mason’s cousin.
She’s our blood. We have to protect our blood.
And sending her to shore up an alliance with the Leon pack is no different than throwing her into a shark tank.
The outcome will be the same: she won’t survive it.
Do you want to have your daughter’s blood on your hands? Because I don’t.”
“Neither do I,” Austin added.
“Nor I,” Mason agreed.
James glared at all three of them in turn, narrowing his eyes. “All three of you are hotheads. Just because Danielle didn’t like the Leon pack for whatever reason doesn’t mean that they will hurt Charlotte. You’re all over-dramatizing the situation!”
A deep growl built inside Jude’s chest. “Over-dramatizing? Danielle is your daughter-in-law. Are you accusing her of lying about the Leons?”
“Well—”
A loud knock at the door, followed immediately by Francisco entering the living room, interrupted whatever James was about to say.
“We have visitors.” Francisco looked at Jude. “The alpha of the Leon pack and another man. I opened the gate for them. They’ll be at the door in a few seconds.”
“Fuck!” Jude cursed and lashed a glare at his father. “Did you call them to let them know that Charlotte is here?”
James shook his head, looking almost hurt by the accusation. “Of course not. Why would I? We’re leaving first thing tomorrow anyway.”
Jude didn’t even give a nod. Instead, he turned to Mason. “Find Danielle and make sure she keeps out of sight while the Leons are here. Hurry!”
Mason was already charging out of the room.
“Nobody is to mention my mate’s name under any circumstances.
Is that clear?” Because if the Leons heard Danielle’s name, they might put two and two together and realize that Danielle was the same person who’d fled their pack six years earlier.
And heaven knew what they would do with that information.
It was best that they never found out where Danielle was now.
“Dad! I said, is that clear?” Jude repeated.
James narrowed his eyes. “I heard you the first time. I have no reason to mention her name. Satisfied now?”
He decided not to answer, and instead prepared himself emotionally for meeting the Leon pack’s alpha and—presumably—his son Steve.
He exchanged a quick glance with Austin, who gave him a reassuring look.
His brother would be there to have his back.
He could always trust in him, whereas right now, he wasn’t sure he could say the same for his father.
His father had other motives that didn’t seem to align with his fatherly duty to protect his daughter.
Moments later, Francisco led two men into the living room, then retreated, leaving the door ajar, presumably to make sure he could hear if any help was needed. The two Latino men looked about the same age and had similar facial features, dark hair, olive skin, and brown eyes.
James took a few steps forward and extended his hand. “Bruno, it’s a pleasure. I see you brought your brother Hector.” Then he pointed to Austin and Jude. “These are my sons, Austin and Jude.”
Bruno, the alpha, nodded and briefly shook James’s hand, while Hector only gave a short nod as a greeting.
Jude pulled his shoulders back and looked down on the two men who were at least three inches shorter than he. “We weren’t expecting your visit. What brings you to us?”
He kept his voice cool, holding back his real feelings about the Leons.
Bruno gave a half-smile that looked like somebody had pasted it onto his face against his will, and instead of replying to him, he addressed James.
“As we discussed a few days ago, we have an agreement,” Bruno said. “We were a little surprised that you left with Charlotte.”
His words indicated that he wasn’t aware that Charlotte had fled, and her parents had come here to look for her.
“Is there a problem?” Bruno added. “We had to delay the mating ceremony, and I’m sure you can understand that my son is a tad displeased about that.”
James made a dismissive hand movement. “Young people. They’re fickle.
Charlotte simply got cold feet. But not to worry, we spoke to her, and she now sees the positives of such a union and is ready to mate with Steve.
In fact, we’re planning to leave here tomorrow morning and return to San Bernardino so the ceremony can proceed without a hitch. ”
With every word his father uttered, Jude felt more enraged.
“Dad, there’s really no rush,” Jude interrupted. “Let Charlotte spend a few days with us. After all, she’ll live so far away once mated to Steve, I’d barely get to see my sister.”
He forced himself not to growl and, instead, made his voice sound pleasant. He wasn’t sure whether he succeeded.
“She’s already spent several days here,” James protested. “It’s time for her to start her new life.”
“I’m pleased you agree, James,” Bruno said with a sly grin. “How about we travel back to San Bernardino together?”
Over my fucking dead body, Jude wanted to scream, but he clenched his jaw.
Openly opposing the Leon alpha wouldn’t get him anywhere.
What he needed was time to follow the leads they’d uncovered to find evidence that showed that Steve Leon was a cruel, violent psychopath.
Only then would his father break the agreement that had been reached between the Werewolf Alliance and the Leon pack.
“Why rush?” Jude asked. “I’d love to get to know my sister’s future family a little more. It would be a shame if we didn’t take this opportunity since you’re already here. Maybe we can show you the estate tomorrow?”
As much as he hated having the Leons around, which meant Danielle had to hide while they were here, it was the only thing he could come up with to stall them.
He caught his father’s displeased look on him, but he knew not even his father would undermine him in his position as alpha of the Gallagher pack.
“Which hotel are you staying at?”
Bruno raised an eyebrow, but Jude could tell that not to answer this question would be considered an affront.
“The AC Hotel in downtown San Rafael.”
“A great place,” Jude replied, though he didn’t know anything about the hotels in San Rafael.
He would have one of his team members check it out later and keep an eye on Bruno and Hector Leon.
“The Gallagher vineyard isn’t too far from San Rafael either,” Austin chimed in. “If you enjoy good wine, a visit is an absolute must.”
He appreciated his brother’s support in his effort to buy them more time. Together, they would somehow prevent Charlotte from having to leave with the Leon pack.