Jan cringed. “I’m so sorry. Why don’t you go home and rest while I make a couple of calls?” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a scrap of paper and a pen. Scribbling, she passed it to me. “This is my phone number. Call me if anything else happens, okay?”
“I will. Thank you.”
I accepted the paper and returned to the car that was waiting for me in the parking lot. With nothing better to do, I decided to return to the questionable comfort of my empty bed and try to rest.
Two days later, my time ran out. I arrived home from a walk in the park to find a courier waiting with a letter from Ahearn’s solicitor. I scanned it quickly and had to sit as I began to feel faint.
“Sire?” Galen was suddenly beside me, a cup of tea in his hand. “Is aught wrong?”
I swallowed hard and nodded. “I’m afraid so, my friend. My portion of our savings has been deposited into an account in my name, along with what this letter says is a fair price for my share of the property. I’m to vacate the premises in twenty-four hours time. If I do so without a fuss, Ahearn has agreed to allow me to take one delivery load of property from the estate, with his approval, of course.”
Galen gasped in outrage. “How dare he!”
I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter, Galen. It’s over.” I shook my head sadly. “I still remember back when he first cast his eyes on me, how I couldn’t believe that such an amazing Alpha could want me. Obviously, the strike to his head has brought him to his senses.”
I stood and dusted off my slacks. “Thank you, Galen, for all that you have done lo these many years. For your service and friendship, I would reward you. My Alpha has deemed that I am to be allowed to choose items from the house. Is there anything that you would care to possess?”
Galen shook his head sadly. “Nothing, sir. Where will you go?”
I managed a small smile, my heart oddly light now that the figurative ax had finally fallen. “I will leave that information on the morrow when I go,” I promised. “Can I trust that you will be willing to deliver a final, very important missive for me to a friend at the hospital?”
“Of course.”
“Thank you. You will find it on my bedside table in the morning.”
