“You probably didn’t feel it because you are a royal lycan,” he tells me. “And my son-“ an ugly sneer curls his lips. “He doesn’t eat as much as a future alpha should.”
I didn’t know there was a rule of thumb for how much an alpha was supposed to eat. Total bullshit! But I am just glad he gives us an out, even if he yet again humiliates his son. He follows the maid to his office, before I hear him rummage through his desk’s drawers. Maddox and I exchange an anxious look, but when he returns, he looks as content as before. My eyes catch the small, black notebook in his hands and how he safely puts it into the bag he carries with him.
“Well, then, let’s call it a night,” he says.
“Thank you, Alpha Jacob. As I said, your generosity means a lot to me.” I beam at him. “Oh, I almost forgot something important! May I have another minute of your time?”
“Of course,” he says, faking a smile. “You can always talk to me.”
“I talked to my father earlier, and he is adamant about paying back the favor!” I rub my hands together like an overexcited pup. Aurelia sometimes calls it golden retriever energy. Until now, I didn’t know it could come in useful, but I guess my family was right all along; we all have our strengths. “He told me to extend an invitation to your son. Seriously, with all you and your pack did for me, it’s the least we can do. He asked for Maddox to take me back to my pack tomorrow and join us there for a couple of days.”
It was a spontaneous idea, and I hope it correlates with what Dad believes is the best course of action. But I can’t leave the guy here, all on his own. Besides, we might need him to explain the insides of the notebook to us.
Maddox looks surprised, which just helps the whole situation, because his dad basically mirrors his expression. “Well,” Alpha Jacob mutters.
“I know he is probably very valued and important here,” I blab. “We are a royal lycan pack, and we run differently. I am not sure if it’s going to be interesting for Maddox to-“
“Of course it is.” At the wordsroyalandlycan,Alpha Jacob’s eyes get an almost hungry look in them. Yeah, that bait worked. This guy is surprisingly easy to manipulate. “Maddox will come with you tomorrow.” He looks at his son with a dark expression, his eyes glossing over.
Maddox turns to me and smiles politely. “Thank you for that generous offer. I am truly humbled by your invitation. Of course, I will accept your invite.”
forty-six
One Part of the Truth
*FELIX*
Maddox takes a sip from his beer. He’s taken me out of the pack and to a bar in town. Again, I notice that he rebuffs any of the younger pack members’ attempts to get close to him. He honestly doesn’t trust anyone here, but I am starting to understand why.
“You seriously are something else,” he mutters. “That stunt you pulled at the end.”
“Good, huh?”
Maddox chuckles. The first time I actually see him so amused. “Thank you,” he says genuinely. “I know you didn’t have to do it. You have the pics, so you don’t need me anymore.”
“I felt like it,” I say. “Besides, I don’t know if we don’t need you anymore. And there is Charlie to consider, too.”
I don’t tell him that after a day with him, I just feel too much pity for his situation to leave him here. But it’s not the only reason. “Besides, I think you really can help,” I add.
“Can I see the pictures again?”
“Of course.” I hand him my phone, watching how he analyzes everything. Silence descends again, but by now, I have gotten used to it. Five minutes pass, ten minutes, thirty minutes, and then almost an hour. Maddox puts the phone aside. “Another drink, please,” he tells the waiter who just walked by. “Make it strong.”
“What did you find out?”
Maddox’s expression is devoid of any emotion, as if he has pulled the blinds down completely. “It’s transactions my father made to a certain TJ. I don’t know who that is,” he pauses, his lips pressed to a thin line. “Dad gambles with him. At least that’s how it looks. He also mentioned somewhere that TJ is dangerous.”
“Wh… what? But what does it have to do with Marina?”
“She is mentioned twice. Dad mostly used keywords, but he mentioned somewhere that TJ and Marina are mates.”
“And?” I push.
“He lost.”
Goddess, it REALLY is like pulling teeth!
“I understand this is difficult,” I say. “I know this is your father, and despite everything, it hurts to realize what he might be up to, but please tell me.”
