“Don’t. Is it your man who’s being threatened here? No. No. Not your man, not yours either.” She turned to Nina. “No it’s mine. And so don’t try to pooh pooh it and talk to me about duty because I. Will. Not. Have. It.”

“Grace, settle down.” Cade moved toward her. “Honey, I know you’re scared but I’m going to win. There’s no question of that.”

“There’s no question because it’s not happening.”

“I don’t want to fight about this but this is my duty.”

“You made your choice.” She turned and left the room, slamming it so hard pictures fell off the wall.

“Dave, be sure she’s all right but give her some space,” Cade said before sitting back down.

“Wow. Who’d have thought she had all that in her?” Tracy looked toward him, one eyebrow raised.

He exhaled hard, scrubbing hands over his face. “Lex, you’ll need to take over for me so be sure we get all the procedure done correctly. Let’s set up a meeting with Dad tomorrow and get Melissa here as well. You’ll need to tap someone for Enforcer in your stead.”

“Are you sure about this? She seems pretty opposed.” Lex had a look on his face and Cade knew what his brother was feeling. Relief it wasn’t his wife who’d flipped out and also understanding of what she must be feeling.

“Doesn’t matter what she feels about it, Lex. I’m Alpha. Wardens have led Cascadia for generations. You’re a fine choice and my choice is to step up and take the challenge given to me by my Alpha, just as you will. What should I do? Not accept because my wife is afraid for me? Let this monster kill our people and endanger us with the humans because I turned away from my responsibility? I don’t want her to be unhappy but I will do this.”

And he sat at his desk, booted his computer and began.

“Grace, wait up!” Dave called after her as she practically ran down the hall to their room.

Exasperated, she turned. “What?”

“Why don’t we take a run? You’ll feel better after a run. Come on. He’s going to be busy for the next several hours. Don’t sit in there and stew.”

“I’m not sitting here. I’m going to the lab to work. I have work to do as well and since our special day is apparently not inviolate, I may as well go in. You have five minutes, after which I’m leaving and you will not stop me. You can go with me and bring Hiroshi, or you can hang out here. I don’t care which. I’m grabbing a sweater and I’ll meet you in the garage. Or not.” She shrugged and walked into her room, picked up her beautiful dress and carefully placed it in the box and grabbed a sweater.

Dave had gone, most likely to tattle on her but she would leave in three minutes. She had a set of keys to one of the Mercedes and the little decoder that allowed the engine to engage too.

“Hey, Tiny, hang on a second.”

Grace prayed for strength as she tossed her stuff into the front seat of the car and turned. “Nina, just…don’t.”

“I’m sorry. I just wanted to say I’m sorry and I wish things were different.” Nina actually looked at a loss for words and for a moment Grace waited for space/time to fold in on itself.

“Well, that’s up to Cade. I’m leaving now. Go to sleep, you’re going to be facing a lot of stress over the next weeks.”

“Not, leaving leaving though, right?” Nina asked.

“No, not leaving. Just going to work. I need some space just now, to think and process. Go on.” She shooed Nina.

Dave hustled down the steps with Hiroshi and frowned until she handed him the keys.

“We’re not taking the Mercedes, Grace. Cade, or rather Lex says you take the Hummer every time you leave the property.”

“Fine.” She grabbed her stuff but Nina stopped her.

“Don’t let this get between you and Cade. He loves you but he has a duty.”

“And God knows I’m used to being second best.” She would not cry.

“I know what you’re feeling, Grace. You know how I was changed right? That I was attacked and challenged at a Pack dinner and the entire Pack stood by and watched as their Third tried to kill me? You don’t know how much I hated Lex and Cade both for that. Over the years I’ve come to know a lot about Cade Warden. He’s a man of intense honor and he believes in the rule of law that’s kept the wolves safe for centuries. I’m not making excuses for him, just explaining from another perspective. I know what you’re feeling. You’re afraid for him. Afraid he’ll die and you’ll be alone. Afraid he’s choosing responsibility over you. But he cannot do anything else and hold his head up. You know that. He loves you, Grace. Help him here.” Nina kissed her cheek and stepped back to allow her to get into the huge vehicle. Dave and Hiroshi knew better than to pick her up.

“Go, damn it. I’m your Alpha too. If you can’t obey me, let me drive and leave me alone.” She sounded sullen and she knew it. It wasn’t something she did usually but she’d had enough. Everyone had their limits.

They left her alone the trip over to the lab and once they got inside, they made themselves comfortable in the staff lounge area while she worked. If her stupid mate was going to risk his life by fighting her worthless brother, she had to get that vaccine working beforehand.

Cade looked up at the clock and saw it was nearly three in the morning. “Go to bed, Lex. Your pregnant wife is all alone. There’s not much else we can do at this point anyway. We’ll take it up again when we meet tomorrow. Or rather, later today.”