Page 90 of Villainous Fate

“It’s our place. He built it so we could have a place to be together—away from his sister, my dad, and, well, the rest of the pack, too, I guess. Luca helped him,” she trails off.

“They did a great job. I’ve seen Luca’s designs, he’s really talented. I’m sorry for taking us over here. We can head back now if you want,” I respond, turning away from the beautifully made structure. My goal for this run was to get Grace into a better mood, and here I am, making it worse.

She stares at the treehouse, lost in memories to the point I don’t think she’s heard me. A smile pulls at one side of her mouth before she speaks again.

“A year ago, we came up here after I got off work, and one of the bridge planks had rotted. Seeing D dangling from the bridge and trying to swing to the other side made me laugh until my side hurt. He ended up falling before he ever got there, swearing the whole way down,” she says before falling into a spot-on impression of him. “Tails, don’t you even think about crossing! Get down here! Use the ladder.” She laughs and finishes the story.

“I took it as a challenge. He was so mad. I don’t think he took a single breath until I reached the other side.” Her smile is full by the time she stops. She finally looks over at me.

“We should go,” she says, turning and shifting back into her wolf.

She leads us back to our clothes, and we both take a minute to get ready before she speaks again.

“I’m sorry I overreacted. It’s been hard to go there since he left. I tried a few times while y’all were at the retreat, but everything smells like him. Everything reminds me he isn’t here, so I just stopped going.” She shrugs at the end of the explanation, and I don’t understand the guilt I hear in her voice.

“He wouldn’t want you to be unhappy. Even if that means staying away for a little while until he gets back. I’m sure he would understand,” I say, meaning every word.

Deacon talked about Grace all the time when we were at the trials. He never mentioned a treehouse, and now that I see her reaction, I understand why.

It’s their special place.

And I overstepped by trying to explore it.

“I know he would, but I hate feeling weak. He’s always the strong one. I’m the one whose life is a mess,” she says, defeated. I wait to see if she will continue. When she doesn’t, I speak again.

“Deacon never mentioned anything about your family while we were there. Is the situation with your dad new?” I ask tentatively, not wanting her to go on the defensive.

“Yes and no,” she sighs, exhaustion entering her tone. “He used to try. He’d look for work and hold a job for a while. He got laid off at the end of summer, and something just snapped. He hasn’t been the same. He sleeps constantly, barely runs his wolf, and just lets the bills pile up. I thought my mom leaving would have been the thing to push him over the edge, but he held on even after that.” She gets the faraway look in her eyes again before continuing.

“I know he is hurting, but he’s still in there, you know? I still see my dad, and I just want him back. So, I pay what I can to keep us from losing the house or the electricity, and I wait. I wait for him to remember who he is: a Beta wolf who used to run a pack as the Second and a father to a daughter who’s still here. He’s supposed to be taking care of me and himself. Not that I need it now. Deacon and I have been planning to leave for a long time,” she says before catching herself.

Her eyes fly to mine, and her jaw slams shut.

“He told me,” I say, trying to alleviate her growing concern over spilling their secret. “And I know it isn’t common knowledge. Luca keeps talking about the changes that will happen once Deacon comes back. I haven’t said anything, and I won’t. I promise you,” I say, sincerity filling my tone.

I would never do anything to hurt either one of them.

“Thank you,” she says, her voice low.

“It’s what friends do, and as far as your dad,” I say, nodding back toward the house. “He’s just lost his way. Maybe he needs something to remind him of the man and the wolf he used to be. It sounds like he just needs a chance to matter again,” I offer, hoping it will make her feel better.

When I leave to head back for my shift with the Bravo team, my brain is spinning on how I can lighten her stress. I only have two more weeks until we are supposed to go to California for her birthday trip from Deacon. I know she will struggle to leave if it means missing more shifts at work, and her dad is still like this.

Operation ‘Help Grace and her Dad’ is in full effect, and I think I know where to start.

Chapter 44

Grace

March 27, 1983

Tails,

I know this letter should arrive a few days before your trip to Los Angeles, and I can’t tell you how excited I am to hear all about it. Marcus said Luca found a way to give him the time off work to be able to drive you there and back. I also ensured Luca gave him money from my account for food, gas, and some books for you while you’re there, so don’t worry about paying for anything. This is my gift since I can’t be there for your big birthday.

(Before you say it, yes, I know your birthday isn’t until April 18th, but there are only so many author signings happening in the world, and this was the closest I could find for you)

Can you believe we have almost reached the halfway point of the internship? I swear time is moving slower than before. I wish I could say my time out here has been full of helpful knowledge, alliances, and friends, but it hasn’t. I’ve had to do some pretty terrible things to stay in the Alpha’s good graces (ha, see what I did there?). When we talk about them, I hope you will find it in your heart to forgive me with the understanding that I am only doing this so we can have our forever.

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