When I opened the door, Bryce’s face broke into a grin. “Ty, my man.” He clapped me on the shoulder before he entered. Although he carried himself with his usual confidence, I detected his tenseness.
“Hey, Bryce.” I tried to smile despite the situation. “You’re here to discuss some business, I assume?”
“Of course.” He attempted a casual shrug. “But I also heard on the jungle drums about the recent events, and I just wanted to make sure everyone is okay.”
“Thanks.” There was no way I could hide my concern. Bryce had known me for too long. “We’re managing.” Something was up. I wasn’t sure exactly why Bryce was here, but I was absolutely certain it wasn’t just about business.
My stomach churned as he and I stood in my office and discussed our plans to expand the business. Liam’s presence in the house still hung heavily in the air, but I couldn’t let that distract me from the task at hand.
Bryce rubbed his hands together. “So, we’ve got a meeting with the investors next week. I think if we can present them with a solid plan for growth, they’ll be on board.”
“I like the sound of that.” My wolf paced restlessly inside me, fixated on Liza’s scent. He wanted to be by her side, to ensure she was getting the rest she needed. Honestly, that’s what I wanted to do, too, but I needed to take care of other pressing matters.
“Ty.” Bryce placed a hand on my shoulder, snapping me back to the present. “You need to focus. You’re worried about Liza, but we have to make this work.”
I took a deep breath to center myself. “You’re right. Let’s go over the numbers again.”
We spent the next half hour immersed in spreadsheets and projections, trying to iron out every detail before we presented our expansion plan to the investors.
When we were done, Bryce sank back in his chair and stretched his legs out in front of, crossing his feet at the ankles. “Ty… I appreciate we’ve got a lot on our plates right now, but I can’t help noticing the uneasy atmosphere in the house, and I’m guessing it has something to do with Liam.”
I glanced at the door, wondering if it was possible for Liam to hear us even though he’d gone for a run.
Bryce continued. “His presence is almost overwhelming.” I looked back at him and noticed the discomfort in his posture. “I’ve never experienced anything like it.”
“You’re not wrong.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “Liam’s strength is formidable. He’s a powerful alpha, and he has me beat by a country mile.”
“Is that why you’re letting him stay here? Are you worried about what he might do if you turn him away?”
“Partly.” I stared at the floor. “More than that, having him as an ally benefits us all. If things escalate, which they likely will, I’d rather have him with us than against us.”
Bryce nodded slowly. “It’s a good strategy. Just be cautious. Trusting another alpha, especially one that powerful? It can be dangerous.”
“For the sake of the pack, and especially for Liza, I need to give it a shot.” The situation settled heavily on my chest.
“Stay vigilant, Ty. Remember, you’ve got me and the rest of the pack behind you.”
“Thanks, Bryce.” I offered him a small smile. “Thanks a lot.”
Our conversation was interrupted by the front door opening and closing—Liam returning from his run—and when he entered the house, I noticed a slight shift in the atmosphere.
“Guess your guest is back,” Bryce said, his jaw set in determination.
“Let’s go find out what he’s up to,” I said before I led the way out of my office.
As we entered the foyer, I could tell there was a visible transformation in Liam’s demeanor. His earlier restlessness was gone, and he seemed calmer now.
“Hey, Liam. Good run?”
“Yes, thanks,” he said with a nod. “I needed that.”
I turned at the sound of footsteps on the stairs to see Sabrina and Rosalie were making their way down, concern etched on their faces. They must have gone up to our room to check on Liza, but it seemed she hadn’t woken up yet.
“Hey,” Sabrina said. “Liza’s still asleep. We figured we’d head home and let her rest, but can you please tell her we’ll be back soon to check on her?”
“God, I’m so sorry, Sabrina. I meant to come and tell you she was out for the count, but then Bryce dropped in, and I got caught up in a business meeting. I’ll make sure she knows to call you when she wakes up.”
I walked the ladies to the door, and as they stepped outside, Bryce followed closely behind, a smug grin plastered on his face. He’d always been drawn to beautiful women, and he and Sabrina had some history. Though it hadn’t ended well, it was obvious he still had an interest in her.
