Renaissance

Episode 17

*Autry’s POV*

After my mother promised me to convince my father to let us go home once to introduce Cecelia to everyone, I have been busying myself, trying to incorporate the theoretical knowledge we gathered from the programme, into the pack business. So far, no luck. And it wasn’t possible to know for sure if your theories would work in the actual work. It was quite exasperating and I was fine with the feeling, as long as it kept my mind occupied.

I tried to look at the last decade’s balance sheets for the millionth time. I knew it by heart, by now, but nothing made sense. I was almost sure I had the answer right under my nose, but it was surely invisible.

I felt Cecelia’s warmth envelop me suddenly as she hugged me from behind, she kissed my cheek, softly. I welcomed the soothing feeling, savouring it for a while, I inhaled her scent.

“You should rest,” she said softly.

“I can’t even get myself to sleep,” I argued.

“Although, you need to rest if you want to be productive. I know what you’re trying to do. But it’s bad for your health.” she said. I knew that, but couldn’t help it. I was bad at managing uncertainty. I was bad at managing worry as well. “What’s that?” she asked suddenly, breaking my train of thought.

“What?” I asked.

“That!” she said, showing a figure which read ‘Management expenses’.

“Well, that’s what we pay for the management team and all their expenses in general,” I said. I was sure she knew that already.

“Yes, I know. But, isn’t it three times the initial sales budget?” she pointed out. “What, do you have a factory full of Officers, but just put your goods on the market for people to recognize them?” she said, “Also, your marketing expenses are almost non-existant.” I was shocked to recognize. “What is this? Has this company managed to its doom?”

“Wait for a second, what are you talking about? Surely we have marketing activities.”

“Not according to these figures you don’t,” she said. “Do you know how much a TV commercial costs? These figures are ridiculous. Obviously, someone was leeching off of your company,” she said with ease.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“I mean, you need to ditch the management team altogether,” she said.

“And?” I asked. Shocked by her boldness.

“And, you need to hire new ones! Obviously!” she said.

“You are aware that my father has been checking every single invoice, right?”

“Yes, but that doesn’t mean he has been able to see the feud. There are ways to convince people into thinking the way you want them to,” she said, her forehead all wrinkled.

“I know, Cece, but I can’t believe… Phillippe has been working for us for over three decades. I am having difficulties wrapping my head around this.”

“This Phillippe has to go.” she said softly.

“Oh, my father is going to very much dislike this!” she kissed my neck softly, sending jolts of joy through my body.

“I can imagine, but big boys need to stand tall, right? Besides, unpleasant solutions are still solutions. You won’t be visiting your dad empty-handed.”

“Yea, I guess so,” I said, dreamily.

“Come, let’s get you into bed. You are tired and we need you as a sane person,” she said, tugging my arm to force my ass off of the sofa.

“OK, but you owe me a cuddle.” I smiled, forcing myself up. She pouted.

“Only one? Autry Garrett, I am disappointed.”

“Yeah, I know.” I smiled at her and obeyed by getting my ass off the couch and into bed. Thanks to Cecelia’s warm embrace, I was able to drift off to the dream world in no time.

The next few days passed in a blur. We collected samples of the instances when Philippe stole from us discreetly. The sum was an extraordinary amount and I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to calm my dad down to spare his life, or if we’d be able to refund any portion of that money at all… But, as Cece said, he had to go, and he had to go quick. When all four of us dug deeper and deeper into this, we were able to find proof after proof of the betrayal of our most trusted human allies.

When my mother called a few days later, inviting us officially in two days, I was both excited, scared and uneasy. I knew for sure she was going to fuss all over Cecelia while my father would be- well, I had no idea how my father would behave.

*CECILIA'S POV*

My future mother-in-law did what she promised. Autry said we were expected to visit the pack in two days and I didn't have a clue about how I should be feeling about that. Sure, the guys have been educating me about etiquette and everything… my nerves were at a peak. I had no idea how to manage them. I wanted so badly to be approved by the pack and Autry's father, so that we can have a conflict-free future together.

"You need to calm down, goddess." Autry called, cupping my cheek, worry apparent in his eyes.

"I am trying but, even your touch seems insufficient in doing so!" I sighed. "What if he hates me, like the clueless lil wolf I am!"

“Well, then we'll go rule your pack together." He chuckled, jokingly kissing the back of my hand. "Relax, no matter what happens, we will have each other."

I playfully punched his arm, "The sorrow, knowing that I was the reason for you to lose the love and respect of your family would make me miserable for the rest of my life, you know… let's not even joke about such a possibility."

"But really" he said, his deep green eyes looking at me dead seriously, “I would rather have the whole world against me, than losing you! I almost lost my mind when I realized that you were fighting with rogues! I would NEVER let anything like that ever happen again. At least, I would do everything within my power to prevent that. So, we are together in heaven and hell." It amazed me how he was able to form such poetry on the spot, with a straight-as-hell face…

"I believed my share of divine luck would come eventually, all my life, whenever I felt miserable because of my misfortune, never in my wildest dreams would I have dreamed of someone half as perfect as you!" I said. I wondered what kind of good I did to even deserve such intense love, every day since I forgave him.

"Oh, my goddess… luck is not yours to brag about! That is pure me!" His signature smirk was creeping. "I think your heart was made of pure love, so that you could actually forgive my stupidity." Although he tried to hide it, his melancholy was apparent in his gorgeous eyes. My heart sank.

" Autry, I thought we were past this." I said, "I don't want you to live this misery of a single mistake throughout our lives! You must know, you are fully forgiven." I tried to clear the water but he was still uneasy. "What nonsense are you bothering yourself over? Tell me, so we can work it out."

"Well, you know…" he said, a genuine worry was not only apparent in his eyes but his heart also. "I will always be worried about all the time I wasted before coming after you." He sighed heavily. "I should have never let you go out that f**king door. No matter what excuse I had, no matter if you forgave me for what I have done, I don't think I will ever be able to fully forgive myself for abandoning you the way I did foolishly. The male is to protect and provide and my idiocy had no boundaries. If I were you, I would suspect I came only because I learnt your wolf! This pains me and will haunt me to the end of my time!" I was disappointed, really.

"Look, if you wish to drown in your sorrow forever, it's fine! But that'll be painful for both of us. So, why don't you come to your senses already? I know Godric stayed silent to punish you. How were you going to go after me, even? I disappeared from sight, after all. Did you have a clue where I could have gone? No!” she shifted her hair, apparently irritated. “You were both alarmed thanks to the rogues’ smell and taste. I understand Godric couldn't put me in any more danger by continuing to torture you, even if he wanted to, so he told you where I would be. It's okay. I know you didn't come after me solely because I had a pup." He sighed heavily.

"And mind tell me how, do you know that so sure?" With an exasperated gesture. I smiled at his child-like demeanor.

"Because I understand now, one wouldn't enter, as an alpha oh-so in love with his pack and duties only, to unknown territory, all alone and blind! You might have come with an army or something… but one only does those utterly foolish things when one's in love." I smiled. "I know you're foolishly in love with me and I have every intention of using it!" I said, climbing to his lap. I cupped his cheeks with both my hands. "And you should know that you are loved just as much."