Filthy rich werewolves by Taylor Caine

Chapter 88

I really don’t have the time for this shit.

My sister, Zoe, has hated Grace for a long time. At first, I’d appreciated her anger because I thought it

was in support of me. That she resented Grace for all the hardship she’d caused for me and our Pack.

But in recent years, I’ve come to see that her real trigger is her own pride.

She’d been unbearable in the aftermath of the accident. When other ruling packs were giving Pack

Stevens a wide berth until they saw how things would shake out with Alpha Reed. Being shunned and

looked down upon by other wolves and socialites, Zoe couldn’t handle it.

It was not until I began dating Lily that things had settled down and other packs began associating with

us again, that some of her vitriol had lessened.

But by that point, the damage had been done.

Both to our finances which had already been floundering and to our reputations. It took years for us to

claw back to the top, and our hold is precarious at best.

Zoe hates Grace for it.

"Fortunately, you broke up with her when he did,” she says. “Can you imagine what would have

befallen us if you’d stayed with that trash?”

I sigh.

“I hear she’s a sanitation worker now. Fitting. Although I still don’t know why we couldn’t turn her over

to Lily’s family. They deserve justice.”

Zoe keeps talking about Grace with a disgusted look, and my parents are familiar with this particular

diatribe, but with every harsh word out of her mouth, I recoil.

"That's enough! Zoe, don't talk about her anymore. When you see Grace, you'd better behave

yourself," I warn. “Better yet, stay away from her entirely.”

"Sean, what's wrong with you? I used to talk about her all the time, but you never said anything. Why

are you protecting her now?”

My mom glances nervously between me and Zoe.

"Sean, don't tell me that you still have feelings for her?"

When my father hears this, he growls, "Don't even think about it! Grace Cummins is a blight on our

name. She shouldn’t even think about stepping through the door of this house!”

"I have no feelings for Grace, but she's someone we can afford to offend! That's all I can say!"

I’m fighting a losing battle here, and I know it.

The hatred my family bears… it runs deep.

"Can't afford to offend?" Zoe scoffs. “Sean, what are you talking about? Grace is a sanitation worker.

She’s a low-life. Totally insignificant. Why can't we afford to offend her?"

"Just listen to me. Don't harm the entire Stevens Family later because you’re too stupid to listen to me

now!"

My father calms himself and glances at me pensively.

I hold his stare, letting him know that I’m acting this way for a reason.

My father is a highly intelligent leader. "Sean, what exactly is Grace—“

"Dad, there are some things that I can't say. You'd better all be a bit more careful. At least... at this

stage, you should give Grace Cummins more respect.”

I still can’t fathom who or why Grace inserted herself into Jason Reed’s life. And as the killer of Alpha

Reed’s former fiancee, it makes absolutely no sense. But, at least for the moment, Jason still seemed

to consider Grace to be of extraordinary importance.

Being dragged to Pack Reed by Terrence had proven that most adequately.

The threat still weighs heavily on him.

Mr. Stevens was deep in thought, and Sean’s mom wasn't saying anything. Only Zoe curled her lips as

if she didn't believe it.

“This is bullshit, brother. I don’t owe that heinous bitch an ounce of respect. She nearly destroyed this

family—and you. Do you have feelings for her still? Is that what this is about? Sean—”

“Zoe! That is enough!” My wolf pushes to the surface and I tackle my sister to the settee.

* * * * * * * * *

JASON

I’m sitting on the floor in the apartment not a hundred yards from Grace’s.

The guard who should’ve been watching her place is still in wolf form, whimpering and licking at his

injuries.

“Don’t even think about shifting,” I tell him. And I put the force of my powers into the command.NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

He whimpers some more than rests his head on floor.

Terrence tosses me a towel.

I’m naked.

There’s blood on the floor. On the walls. Even bits of fur littering the ground from where I mauled the

guy.

I wipe my arms, but they just turn pink.

“Sonofabitch.”

I pad naked to the kitchen sink. And start washing and scrubbing.

This studio apartment is the mirror image of Grace’s. Only facing the opposite direction.

“Terrence, what do you think Grace will do if she finds out about my true identity?"

Terrence freezes.

I grab more soap and keep scrubbing. I’m due in the office for a board meeting this afternoon and it

won’t do to have blood beneath my fingernails or the remnants of flesh in my teeth.

“I need a shower,” I mumble.

Terrence swings his head toward the bathroom.

“Get plumbers out to the complex. The hot water doesn’t work for shit.”

“Yes sir.”

“Did you hear me?” I ask.

Terrence nods. “I’ll have a team out here to review the water—“

“Not that. My first question.”

“Uhh…”

"Uuh? Is it very difficult to answer this question?"

Terrence straightens and squares his shoulders. "It's not difficult, Alpha. But I don't know if you would

be willing to accept my answer.” He let’s his attention traipse to the bleeding wolf across the room.

“I don’t need to accept or reject what you say. I simply asked you a question.”

“Very well. Then the answer is nothing.”

“What?”

“You asked what Grace will do… what can she do? She’s a rogue wolf, correction, she’s a rogue

human. There is no action or recourse that she can take against you or Pack Reed.”

“Hmm.”

“But,” Terrence continues. “If you’re asking how Miss Cummins will feel…I think she’ll feel everything.

Betrayed. Abandoned. Embarrassed. Hurt… Deceived.”

“Hmm.”

It’s like my beta wants to push me over the edge, because he just isn’t done yet. No. He takes it a step

further. “She has been subjected to much and is …vulnerable. She does not trust most people, and

such a betrayal—from you who she cares for so much—would cut her deeply.