Page 36 of The Price They Paid

“I have a better idea. You promised me a meal. I’d like for that to be today.”

“Today!” I exclaimed.

“Yes.”

I sighed and looked back at the Alpha House. I really didn’t want to spend another day in there. “Can’t this wait until a different day?”

“I’m sure that if you leave, you won’t be back. May as well settle this today. Don’t worry, you can use my kitchen,” Augusto smiled knowingly.

I huffed and tried to think of a way out. I’d expressed that to him at the meeting but never expected him to cash it in. This was not happening. Plus, I didn’t trust him. His threat to Seuss wasn’t forgotten.

“One meal and we’re even. You’ll be free to go,” Augusto said.

“One meal?” I asked for confirmation.

“One meal.” But why did it feel like I was signing a deal with the devil?

Augusto smiled. I snatched the vial of hair from him, and he laughed. “Feisty. I like you.”

He turned, and I followed him off the property to the smaller estate. If he was up to something, there was only one way to find out what it was.

***

Next time, I’ll ask better questions. The meal he wanted me to prepare was dinner. We spent the day getting to know one another. He showed me into a room that he called The Family Room. There were so many pictures of his beautiful wife. Something about her seemed so familiar. I looked around at more photos before I saw a picture of three teenaged boys sitting around the happy Alpha couple. There was one intense gaze that I couldn’t ignore. One that pulled at me so intensely that my heartbeat accelerated.

“Seuss.”

“Yes, my strong-willed son.” Augusto looked over my shoulder at the picture with proudness beaming from him.

“I—I feel idiotic for not realizing the resemblance.” I turned toward him feeling horrible for not knowing.

In the picture, without the facial hair, I could see how striking the kindship was. Seuss was the perfect blend of his mother and father, but this photo put things into perspective. Seuss was the younger version of his father, but I could see the man that he would grow into. A seasoned Seuss would be no fret.

“No one told you?” Augusto seemed hurt by the neglected information.

“Wait, you’re trying to challenge your son for the throne!” I exclaimed.

“No.” Augusto laughed. “There’s talk of a rebellion. Making myself known means that they’d have to fight me, too. I’m no spring chicken, but I’d flatten anyone that tried to harm my son.”

Could I trust him? I sighed, torn. “Most of the conversation directed to me has been about making Seuss better. I haven’t heard anything about any of his family.” I hoped that the information would soothe his concerns and the frown lines in his forehead.

“But he shifted?” The concern was evident in his tone.

“Yes.”

“Then all will be alright.” Augusto physically relaxed.

“Pop!” The deep baritone startled me and held my chest trying to relax. I turned toward the voice to see a man that towered over me. Fuck if he didn’t make me feel small. The room seemed to shrink with both men crowding in.

“Auggie, meet Justice. She’s Seuss’ mate.”

“The growler finally found somebody to handle all of that brooding that he does?” Auggie hugged me but then his body stiffened, and he backed away. He combed his hand through his hair and took another step back.

“Did I do something?” I inquired. I didn’t like the look on his face.

Auggie shook his head quickly and then exited the room. I turned toward Augusto and a clouded expression passed over his face before he could school his features. “Auggie has special abilities. Don’t worry about it. He just needs a minute.”

I nodded afraid to ask what he felt or saw. Did I do something? What was going on? What vibe was he getting? Thoughts passed rapidly through my mind and Augusto stood in front of me slamming the door shut on my thoughts. His abrupt movement made me focus on him instead of the other things.

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