#Chapter 173 – Sneaky Squirrel

John Walsh storms into breakfast the next morning, making everyone at the table freeze.

“What is the meaning of this,” he growls at Evelyn, who stares at him with a piece of toast half in her mouth.

Evelyn removes her toast and clears her throat. “What are you talking about, dad?” she asks.

Ian, seated next to her, stares at his grandfather, his hands still wrapped around his teacup filled with hot cocoa.

“Joyce,” Walsh says, glaring at them as he comes to the head of the table. He doesn’t sit down, but instead places his palms flat on the table, leaning forward to glare at his wife, his daughter, and his grandson, all seated there.

All three blink at him and Evelyn’s mother glances at the door.

“Is he not coming down for breakfast?” she asks.

“Oh shoot,” Evelyn says, her eyes narrowing sarcastically. “And I was so looking forward to seeing him.”

“He has not reported for duty,” Walsh says, glaring around at them. “He didn’t even check in last night, after he went out.”

“Well, what was he doing out?” Ian asks, his eyebrows raised.

Walsh glares at him.

“If he missed his bedtime,” Ian says, all innocence, “then it sounds like it’s his fault.”

Evelyn works hard to keep her face straight, sending Ian a little glance of appreciation. God, she loves her kid.

“I know that you’re behind this, Evelyn,” Walsh says, ignoring Ian and turning his wrath on Evelyn. But Evelyn cut her teeth on that wrath – she knows how to handle it.

“I’m sorry, dad,” she says, reaching calmly for a bowl of cut fruit that a servant set in front of her. “But I really don’t know anything about what you’re talking about. You know that Joyce and I haven’t had any contact for years – why would I know anything now?”

the bowl of fruit and daintily gives herself a scoop before returning it to the

say something else but he’s interrupted when James Willard

coming close to Walsh and not looking to see who else is in the room. “The Beta encampment is in chaos

him a stern look and then nods his head towards the rest of the room, asking Willard, silently, to consider his

he glances at the family, doing a double-take when he realizes that it’s Evelyn sitting there, and

says, his demeanor changing to one of cool composure. “Evelyn. So lovely to see you

picking up her cup of tea. “Truly a pleasure to see you as well. I never got a chance to thank you, by the way – it’s by your grace that I’m here today, back under my

eyebrow at her

much for breaking your word to Victor and secretly keeping my allegiance to my father’s pack. If you’d kept your word, I’d have been stuck in a terribly abusive situation. In so many ways,”

course, Evelyn,” he says, giving her a cursory

a little nod and sips from

turns his attention back to Walsh. “We need to talk,” he says, gritting his teeth. “In

and indicates the door, through which both men pass. As soon as

he says. “Can I

that had been left on the table

scampers towards the door. Evelyn’s mother opens her mouth to protest but Evelyn

to learn how to entertain

watching the door swing shut again after Ian’s little form passes through it.

Her mother hesitates a moment and then picks up the Arts pages. The two read together in

trying to follow the freshest of his grandfather’s scents to determine where he had gone. Adults walk too fast, he thinks, frustrated as he tries to find a balance

is at the end of the hall and, in their hurry, Walsh and Willard left the door open

mistake, Ian thinks, sitting down in the hallway outside, daddy wouldn’t have forgotten to close the door. Then, he takes a set of jacks out of his pocket and settles in to listen, bouncing the ball and collecting the jacks as he

into the hands of someone so young,”

as my grandsons’ ward, when I am finished,” Walsh replies, his tone harsh. “He needs the experience and he has the training

bang in the room – maybe someone hitting a wall, or a desk? “Don’t you see what his happening? Your daughter disappears,

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255