Chapter 53 Can We Talk?
Jason quickly clarified, "I apologize, I was concerned about the possibility of the pack being invaded by that black wolf."
Tobias grunted, his arrogance evident as he replied, "I have no interest in invading your pack. Moreover, your bullets loaded with wolfsbane won't harm me."
Alicia cleared her throat awkwardly and suggested, "I recall you left your shirt and suit jacket in your car. Go ahead and get dressed. I'll accompany my father back home. Oh, and don't forget to grab your gift." With that, Alicia retrieved her car key from her pocket and handed it to Tobias. With her father and other pack members present, it was impossible for her to continue the conversation with Damian regarding the rejection.
"Tobias, can we talk?" Jason inquired, passing the gun to his Beta.
Alicia bit her lip, sensing that her father might be about to ask Tobias for a loan. However, Damian wasn't truly Tobias, and she was about to intervene to prevent her father from speaking to him when Tobias responded, "Certainly." Then, he planted a kiss on her lips.
Alicia gazed into his deep, captivating eyes, her heart pounding irregularly.
Tobias leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Just wait for me at your father's house, my sweet. I have something important to share with you."
Alicia hesitated for a moment, then turned to her father, who smiled warmly and assured her, "Don't worry, Allie. I won't let you down again. I promise. Oh yes, pay no mind to Mary and Jenny when you get home, simply find Eric. That kid has been worried sick about you."
Alicia nodded and joined the other pack members as they departed.
"How much do you want?" Tobias inquired as they made their way toward the forest.
Jason shook his head and replied, "Initially, I wanted you to come because I needed to borrow money from you. But now, I no longer require it."
"Why?" Tobias questioned, oblivious to the fact that Jason was planning to ask for another $10 million and make it contingent on ending his relationship with Alicia for good. Little did he know that Jason had changed his mind about borrowing.
"I gave up the idea of borrowing money from you when I learned that Allie was pregnant. It reminded me of Olivia—Allie's mother," Jason said, gazing up at the fading evening sun.
He continued, "When I heard the news of Olivia's pregnancy, I was overjoyed. Allie was a sweet and kind girl, like an angel. After Olivia passed away from a heart attack, she tried to uplift my spirits and comfort me. She even cooked meals for me, following the recipes Olivia had left behind."
"She was truly kind-hearted," Tobias agreed, opening the car door to retrieve his clothes. With a sarcastic smile, he added, "So, you found a stepmother for her to showcase to the world that your daughter is kind and skilled in cooking?"
Jason looked down, his cheeks reddening with embarrassment. He sighed and said, "I love Mary, but I know she may not be the best mother. It's a complicated situation."
"Do you believe you're a good father, then?" Tobias frowned, his tone skeptical. With a sneer, he added, "If I had a daughter, I would treat her like a princess." Truthfully, he didn't like this father-in-law. This Alpha was not only a failed businessman but also a failed father.
Jason let out a heavy sigh and explained, "I know I've been a terrible father. In the past, I dedicated myself to pack affairs and my business, which gradually created a gap in communication between Allie and me."
"She understood that I worked hard, so she never spoke to me about the troubles Mary caused her. Thankfully, Mary was only easily jealous and not overly abusive to Allie, and I knew Eric was doing his best to protect her. So, I chose to stay silent. I was afraid that if I intervened, Mary would perceive it as favoritism and treat Allie even worse when I wasn't around."
"That's not the kind of story an Alpha of a pack should be sharing about his past. So, you have your Mary replacing you as the Alpha of this small pack?" Tobias questioned, starting the car after getting dressed.
"It seems you have a sharp tongue, much like Eric," Jason sensed the underlying sarcasm in Tobias' question. Getting into Tobias' Maybach, he couldn't help but feel like an ordinary rural Alpha wasn't deserving of such a luxurious car.
Jason sighed and confessed, "I'm a foolish and incompetent failure. A year ago, I was deceived by another pack's Alpha and became his guarantor. He disappeared, leaving me with a significant debt. At that time, Mary borrowed money from her family to help me, and it touched me deeply. Those debts plunged the entire clan into an economic crisis. That's when I received a confidential solicitation email from the Golden Moon Pack."
"I thought I could buy your daughter's loyalty by paying a mere $10 million, as agreed in our contract. But..." Tobias narrowed his eyes, focusing on the road ahead, showing little concern for Jason's nervous expression.
He continued, "This time, you invited your daughter back for your birthday party, and it appears you haven't entirely adhered to the terms of our contract. You've maintained contact with your daughter over the past year."
Jason's cheeks flushed red as he stammered to explain, "I-I only call her once a month to check on how she's doing. But she never mentioned anything about you, only that you were treating her well."
After a brief silence, Tobias pulled up next to Alicia's sports car, got out, and opened the trunk, retrieving the expensive wine and champagne he had prepared for Jason.
He added, "So, are you borrowing money to purchase another villa or to acquire another luxury car for your wife?"
Jason immediately shook his head and clarified, "No, it's not what you think. Mary's car is second-hand. The house is the one I promised Mary I would buy for Eric. I just wanted to borrow money to expand my pack and company and promote the pack's craft beer."
"For the sake of Allie and the baby, I will transfer three million dollars to your pack's account strictly for business purposes. I will have someone monitor your pack's account. If I find out that this money is being used for personal matters by you, even if it's just one dollar, I have more than one way to ensure that your pack, all of its members, including you and Mary, cannot survive in North America."
Tobias concluded and handed his gift to a surprised Jason, who stood with his mouth agape. He then smiled and presented the birthday gifts he had prepared, saying, "Happy Birthday, Alpha Jason."
Upon arriving home, Alicia found Mary sitting on the couch in the living room, sobbing, while Aunt Jenny attempted to console her. The dining table and kitchen were in disarray as if they if they had been burglarized. Pizza boxes littered the floor, with a few pizzas dangling from the faucet and the microwave. Shards of salad bowls remained on the table and floor, and salad and French fries had stained the once-clean surface.
Jenny caught sight of Alicia's return, glared at her, and asked spitefully, "Why did you come back? How can this rustic, remote pack accommodate you, the esteemed Mrs. Wilton?"