The Alpha and The Fool novel Chapter 25

“This is crazy,” Marquice demanded and if I doubted his words he gave me the look of bewildered horror. “Your father will never agree to this.”

“Then that’s his choice, but if he wants my help, he is going to have to agree to those terms. I will not save his ass, just to have it all fall apart at the next turn. What happened to Father’s dignity?” He scowled at me but took out his cell and tapped the screen.

“Alpha,” Marquice said with a much softer voice when the call connected. “She’s agreed to help, but with conditions. Yes, Sir, I told her the pack was at risk. Yes, she still insisted.” Marquice glared at me for good measure, and I replied with a grin. “The first condition is Brandon will never be allowed to become alpha, no matter what happens in the future and secondly—”

I took the phone from Marquice. “You either join the 21st century, join Harry Ford’s better pack project or keep your own bigoted mindset and forget you ever had a daughter. If you accept, I’ll want it in a written contract.” I tossed the phone back to him. “He’s all yours.”

Marquice put away his phone and shook his head. “He agreed to the first, but the second he wants to discuss with you in person. How soon can you leave?”

“I need to make arrangements, obviously, but I think I’ll be ready to leave in the morning.”

“Good, don’t be late,” he said and stalked out of the room.

“Whatever,” I said, shaking my head and left to tell the others. They took the news about as well as I expected. Jon was frustrated. He didn’t understand why I needed to go. Thankfully, he didn’t push me to explain, though that might have been Dean’s presence. Dean and I sat on the couch of the empty living room, our hands clasped and fingers laced. “I want you to go with me,” I told him after a moment. “I’m kind of nervous about going back.”

“Why? I thought you’d be excited,” he replied.

I took a breath and let it out. “I am, but...what if I get there and Father steam rolls me? What if I forget everything that’s happened here? I know if you’re there, none of that will happen.”

“I think you give me entirely too much credit,” he replied, laughing.

“No, I don’t. So will you go?”

Dean hummed, tapping his chin with his finger and I punched him in the shoulder. “Owe,” he cried out, rubbing his shoulder with a pout. “Well if you’re going to be mean about it…”

“Dean!”

He laughed and slung an arm around my shoulders. “Nic, seriously. Do you think I’d let you leave without me?”

“Wait, let me? Dean, just say yes, you’ll go and shut up,” I teased him.

“Oh Bossy, me likey,” he teased me right back.

I rolled my eyes. “I swear you are something else.”

“I know, right?” He hugged me to him.

Again, I shook my head and stood. “I wanted to leave tomorrow, but I’m still not entirely sure how we’re going to get there. I have exactly no money.”

“Eh, I’m sure Dad can help you out there,” Dean said, standing as well.