Page 66 of Crimson Heart

His words indicated that he wasn’t aware that Charlotte had fled, and her parents had come here to look for her.

“Is there a problem?” Bruno added. “We had to delay the mating ceremony, and I’m sure you can understand that my son is a tad displeased about that.”

James made a dismissive hand movement. “Young people. They’re fickle. Charlotte simply got cold feet. But not to worry, we spoke to her, and she now sees the positives of such a union and is ready to mate with Steve. In fact, we’re planning to leave here tomorrow morning and return to San Bernardino so the ceremony can proceed without a hitch.”

With every word his father uttered, Jude felt more enraged.

“Dad, there’s really no rush,” Jude interrupted. “Let Charlotte spend a few days with us. After all, she’ll live so far away once mated to Steve, I’d barely get to see my sister.”

He forced himself not to growl and, instead, made his voice sound pleasant. He wasn’t sure whether he succeeded.

“She’s already spent several days here,” James protested. “It’s time for her to start her new life.”

“I’m pleased you agree, James,” Bruno said with a sly grin. “How about we travel back to San Bernardino together?”

Over my fucking dead body, Jude wanted to scream, but he clenched his jaw. Openly opposing the Leon alpha wouldn’t get him anywhere. What he needed was time to follow the leads they’d uncovered to find evidence that showed that Steve Leon was a cruel, violent psychopath. Only then would his father break the agreement that had been reached between the Werewolf Alliance and the Leon pack.

“Why rush?” Jude asked. “I’d love to get to know my sister’s future family a little more. It would be a shame if we didn’t take this opportunity since you’re already here. Maybe we can show you the estate tomorrow?”

As much as he hated having the Leons around, which meant Danielle had to hide while they were here, it was the only thing he could come up with to stall them. He caught his father’s displeased look on him, but he knew not even his father would undermine him in his position as alpha of the Gallagher pack.

“Which hotel are you staying at?”

Bruno raised an eyebrow, but Jude could tell that not to answer this question would be considered an affront.

“The AC Hotel in downtown San Rafael.”

“A great place,” Jude replied, though he didn’t know anything about the hotels in San Rafael.

He would have one of his team members check it out later and keep an eye on Bruno and Hector Leon.

“The Gallagher vineyard isn’t too far from San Rafael either,” Austin chimed in. “If you enjoy good wine, a visit is an absolute must.”

He appreciated his brother’s support in his effort to buy them more time. Together, they would somehow prevent Charlotte from having to leave with the Leon pack.