Chapter 56: Chapter 0056

•SEBASTIAN•

"Please postpone my meeting with Tank Hale," I informed Maverick as I tied my tie in front of the mirror in my room. "Push the meeting date to next Monday."

"Are you sure, sir? It's only Thursday. I am sure Mr. Hale will question why you keep postponing your meeting with him."

"Just do what I have told you, Rick," I answered, turning to him. "I won't be available to see him today or tomorrow."

He looked down at his iPad before lifting his eyes to look at me. "Yes, sir. I will send Mr. Hale a meeting and inform him that you will be able to see him on Monday."

"Good." I grabbed my cell phone from the bed and walked out of the room. I had one mission in mind. To see Raven.

I had been unable to sleep the entire night, tossing and turning, thinking about her. I thought about what it meant when I touched her hand and saw something strange.

I still couldn't wrap my head around the entire thing that happened. My mind went blank because I was certain for a moment when I met her that she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.

Maverick and I hopped into the car in the driveway and before the car got far, my cell phone rang in my hand.

I accepted the call and put it to my ear when I saw Dario's name. "You're calling early."

"You didn't come back last night," he answered. "I thought you were only staying in Blackwood for the meeting proposal."

"Well, something came up."

"I was at your house now, but I hope you will call me when you've returned. We have much to discuss. So, is everything going well for you over there?"

I leaned back on the chair and exhaled. "I found the answer to my problem."

"You have?" He asked, instantly realizing what I was talking about.

Dario was more of a brother than a friend and business associate. He and I had grown close over the decades.

"Yes," I answered. "Once I have what I came here for, I'll be back. Don't rearrange anything on my behalf before the end of next week."

"Got it."

"I'll call you later." I hung up the call and placed the phone face down on my knee. I hoped that I was right about what I told Dario.

I had been searching for a solution to my problem for years, but nothing had come up. But now, finally, there was hope.

From the front passenger seat, Maverick half-turned, his iPad balanced on his thigh. "If I may ask, sir, what exactly did you mean by that? The answer to your problem?"

I looked at him.

He straightened slightly under the look. "I only ask because if it affects the schedule, I should probably know in advance so I can plan accordingly."

"It doesn't affect the schedule," I answered, sighing. "Mind your business, Rick."

He turned back around without another word. He was used to this by now and had long ago stopped taking it personally. It was one of the things that made him good at his job.

•••

The car came to a stop when we reached the Blackwood pack house.

Maverick hopped out of the car first and went to speak with the guard who was standing outside the front porch.

He disappeared for a few minutes, and when he returned, he told Maverick that we should follow him to the council hall where we would be waiting for the Alpha and Luna.

I did as instructed and went with the guard to the council hall. There was no one when we arrived. But that was a good thing because I was still contemplating what I was going to say to Tristan.

"I hope we won't be waiting for long, sir," Maverick muttered after the guard had left. We went to the table and sat down. "Should I ask the guard when the Alpha would be here?"

"No, it's—"

The doors opened as I was about to speak. Tristan walked in with Raven, and my chest tightened.

I immediately stood up when they approached. I tried so hard again not to take my eyes off her, but I couldn't.

"We apologize for the delay, Mr. Krane," Tristan said when they reached my side and offered his hand for a handshake. "We are happy to see you again."

"Of course," I answered, smiling. I shook his hand and leaned back. "It wasn't my intention to show up unexpectedly, but I wanted things to be clarified before I returned."

"Yes, of course," he answered. "I will speak with the head elder and get back to you in a few minutes about our decision. You can wait for us with the Luna."

I nodded as Tristan walked to the door and left. And when I looked at Raven and the locket around her neck, my body stiffened.

My lips parted because I had seen it before.

She cleared her throat and sat down in the chair across from me. And I sat there and wondered if she knew that the necklace was my family heirloom.

One that was connected to my non-ending existence.