The Wolf Came on Christmas (Johanna and Alexander) novel Chapter 79

Chapter 79-1

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Alexander slowly turned to look at his colleague, and when he fixed his eyes on him again, only then did I realize that he was no longer dressed like an FBI agent, but instead looked more like an ordinary guy, wearing casual clothes. He had tired eyes and a shadow of beard on his cheeks, which, although it didn’t make him look sloppy or anything like that, clashed abruptly with the first image I had of him in my mind. He seemed less threatening like that, in a shirt, jacket, and jeans, and at the same time more approachable. My idea of him as a proud, professional man I didn’t like was about to shatter into a thousand pieces.

At that moment, I still couldn’t imagine what subject was supposed to be discussed, but…

“Alright,” Alexander agreed, and moved to hand Sasha back to me.

I took the little one without letting go of Andre’s hand, and lowered my head slightly, with a bad feeling. I imagined breakfast would have to wait; it wasn’t even fully dawn yet. When I looked at Andre, I met his wary gaze, and the cautious way the boy was breathing confirmed that, in fact, the atmosphere was very tense and something important was about to happen. I couldn’t perceive it.

I didn’t want to leave, but assuming Agent Aguilera was still a werewolf of certain rank and authority (and that was obvious without anyone saying it), I thought it would be best not to get in his way. One thing was dealing with Alexander; I figured Rex was something completely different.、

“If you need to talk, I think it’s better if we go upstairs,” I announced, uncomfortable.

“No, stay, Mrs. Grant. It would be good for you to hear this too,” Rex stopped me, seriously.

The gesture surprised me so much that I blinked several times.

“…Me? Why?”

“The plan concerns you, actually. Please,” he said, pointing toward the living room exit so that I would go first.

Once again, I had the impression that I was interrupting.

Or acting as a mediator, in some strange sense.

I sat down on the big sofa, the baby still peacefully asleep on my lap. Andre immediately climbed up to my right, as if afraid someone might take his place, and to the boy’s right Nika sat down. Hans positioned himself to my left, with Christian behind him, sitting sideways on the backrest of the couch (I had the impression that that guy always used anything except a

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chair as a seat), and Richie stood behind Nika, firmly planted and with his massive arms tightly crossed over his chest.

I wondered why I occupied that place; technically, I had little to do with any of this. But I suppose Agent Aguilera’s special request and Alexander not objecting influenced things. It also seemed excessive to me that no one said anything about Andre.

Ishida took one of the individual armchairs, and the group’s leader took the other. They were facing each other, separated only by the coffee table, but… the matter to be discussed had nothing to do with the Hattai, but with his counterpart newly arrived from Alaska.

Rex paced slowly in front of the fireplace, also with his arms crossed. I was sure everyone’s eyes were following him, in fact, until Alexander snorted and spoke:

“You’re fine, Rex. Say it already,” he told him, understandingly. “It’s obvious you’ve been chewing on this all the way here.”

“Alright. I want you to hand over command,” the other one said.

I opened my eyes wide, stunned. That was fast and without anesthesia! For me it was like a bucket of cold water. I can’t imagine what Alexander must have felt hearing that, but he clearly didn’t like it. He frowned slightly and took a deep breath instead of replying impulsively. Was he expecting something like this? From where I stood, it was very possible. He looked too calm for an “alpha” about to be overthrown.

“Repeat that,” Alexander challenged him, sternly.

I don’t know how it sounded to the others, but to me it felt like a provocation.

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“Tell it to someone who cares,” Rex interrupted, now irritated. “For all intents and purposes, you’re dead. Why should I listen to a dead man who, on top of everything, isn’t in full control

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of himself? You’re not thinking clearly, and you’re not going to lead us straight into death not even if dying defending you was once our greatest purpose in life. Staying here and barricading ourselves in a house was a mistake. I should have taken you with me from the very first second I set foot on this property.”

The ferocity with which Rex spoke (even though not overt; his demeanor still seemed fairly calm) left me even colder. His attitude made me angry. How could he be so cruel, talk to him like that? Didn’t he feel even a gram of compassion? At that moment, it seemed to me he

didn’t.

Alexander was suffering so much, for his wife, for his children, for everything that was happening, and that man just…

Later I realized that taking away his ability to decide was the best thing. Maybe it wasn’t the most honorable thing between two “friends,” but it was advisable. Asking Alexander kindly to step down, or trying to convince him to do the right thing, wouldn’t work. He was too stubborn, using his leadership only in a futile attempt to solve a situation that clearly needed to be split in two: one part to go after some shameless cats, and the other to stay and protect his children.

Rex was taking the lead by his own means, counting on his experience as a federal agent and the support of his companions. Because obviously this had already been agreed upon by the group, and they were only waiting for Alexander’s consent. I imagined the agent was far better prepared than anyone else; and since (as he himself said) he was Alexander’s “beta,” he was qualified to replace him.

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