Chapter 171 A Dangerous Loose End

Alpha Sebastian rushed after her, moving too fast to watch where he was going. His thigh slammed into the corner of a table, knocking over an open water bottle. Water spilled down the side and soaked his leather shoes.

A few people turned at the noise.

Alpha Sebastian gritted his teeth, humiliated as much as he was hurt.

"Alpha, you okay?"

"I’m fine."

He sent Jordan back to deal with the chair and kept going. By the time he reached the entrance, a black Maybach was already pulling out of the lot.

"Eira!"

Only the cold wind and passing headlights answered him.

When Jordan came outside, Alpha Sebastian stood by the curb with his jaw tight. He looked like a wolf that had just lost a scent.

"Order more burner phones," Alpha Sebastian said. "Shut down every number she blocked and keep replacing them."

"Right away, Alpha." Jordan hesitated. "She only blocked your numbers. She hasn’t changed her personal line. That has to mean something. Keep trying. She’ll come around."

Alpha Sebastian’s expression eased slightly. "You really think so?"

Jordan nodded. He had no intention of saying otherwise.

The auction staff loaded the antique armchair into the car. Alpha Sebastian reached for the door, then stopped.

"Alpha?"

"You said she never changed her number."

His silver-flecked eyes darkened as a memory surfaced.

Two years earlier, he and Eira had visited the Omega shelter where she grew up.

Eira had given her personal number to an autistic pup named Sam.

She kept her phone on around the clock and answered every call from that area, even if the number was blocked.

"Jordan, fly out tomorrow. Find the boy from that shelter. His name is Sam."

If Alpha Sebastian found Sam, Eira would come to him.

--

Dr. Shaw’s birthday dinner was held at a small farmhouse restaurant outside the city. It was the kind of place locals kept to themselves, with no sign out front and no online reservations.

Outside the Shaw family, the only people invited were Eira and Beatrice.

Beatrice had planned to attend, but something came up and she had to stay home. She sent her butler, Martin, to drop off her gift and check in on Eira before dinner.

When Martin saw Eira, his worried expression eased.

"You look better, Miss Eira," he said. "You’re eating properly, I hope."

"Mrs. Jones is making sure of it. Three meals a day, plenty of fruit, and enough soup to feed a small army. Last night, she spent an hour looking up recipes with medicinal herbs."

Martin smiled with relief. "Good. Beatrice has been worried about you. Let me send her a quick video so she can see you for herself."

Eira rarely appeared on social media. When she posted anything, it was usually a research update or a photo of the scenery, never her own face. Still, she stood beside Martin and let him record a short video for Beatrice.

"Give Beatrice my best," Eira said.

"I will. Take care, Miss Eira."

"You too, Martin."

Once Martin had left, Felix finally gathered the courage to approach her. He held out his hand, looking far more nervous than the situation required.

"Dr. Crawford, it’s a pleasure to meet you."

Eira shook his hand. "You can call me Eira. And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you who I was at the gala."

Felix quickly shook his head. "No, please. You don’t have to apologize. My grandfather would’ve kept your secret anyway."

His ears turned red. He was standing in front of the woman his grandfather admired most, and he had already forgotten what he wanted to say.

When he realized he was still holding her hand, he let go at once.

"Right," he said. "Eira. Welcome."

He guided her to the seat beside his grandfather.

Dr. Shaw watched him with open disapproval. "Useless."

Felix laughed. "I never claimed I could compete with Dr. Crawford."

"Sit down," Dr. Shaw ordered.

Everyone took their seats. Felix glanced at the empty chair near the end of the table.

"Grandpa, are we waiting for someone else?"

"Thomas Crawford’s nephew," Dr. Shaw said. "You met him back East."

As if summoned by the mention, Vincent Crawford appeared in the doorway with a gift in his hand.

His gaze lifted.

The moment he saw Eira, he stopped.

Eira went still too.The last person she’d expected at Dr. Shaw’s table was Serena’s admirer.

Felix noticed her confusion and leaned closer to explain.

"It’s a long story," he whispered. "Grandpa and I met Vincent’s uncle at a conference last spring. We were attending an event in his territory, and Grandpa needed a small favor. They stayed in touch afterward. Vincent happens to be in California now, so his uncle asked him to bring Grandpa’s birthday gift."

Eira glanced toward the gift in Vincent’s hand. "And Dr. Shaw invited him to dinner?"

Felix nodded. "Exactly. He couldn’t very well turn away someone who’d come all that way to deliver a birthday gift."

Eira nodded. "Got it. Thanks."

"Eira," Dr. Shaw called.

She stood at once.

"This is Vincent Crawford," Dr. Shaw said. "He’s an attorney. And yes, you two have the same last name. No, you’re not related. I checked before I invited him."

Vincent smiled. "I’m a little disappointed. I was hoping for a dramatic family secret."

"Give it time," Felix said. "This family has plenty of those."

"Nice to meet you, Vincent," Eira said politely.

"Nice to meet you, Eira."

They exchanged a few brief pleasantries before taking their seats.

Dr. Shaw usually banned business talk at the dinner table. Tonight, he made an exception. Once the plates had been cleared, he turned to Eira.

"Two companies are trying to get one of my patents. Hale Group is one of them. I haven’t made up my mind yet. What do you think?"

His expression sharpened.

"And how are things between you and Sebastian these days?"

If Eira still had feelings for Alpha Sebastian, Dr. Shaw was prepared to help her walk away.

At the mention of Hale Group, Vincent looked straight at Eira.

She ignored him.

"Sebastian and I are divorced."

Felix’s eyes widened. "Seriously? Congratulations on escaping, Dr. Crawford."

"Felix," Dr. Shaw warned.

Then he looked at Eira. "You’re not planning to go back to him, are you?"

"Never."

Her voice left no room for doubt.

Then, making sure Vincent understood exactly why, she added, "The woman Sebastian truly wants is pregnant."

Vincent’s fingers tightened around his glass.

[Serena’s pregnant? Since when? Why didn’t she tell me?]

Dr. Shaw had no interest in Alpha Sebastian’s messy love life. Eira’s answer was all he needed.

"Give the patent to the other company," he told Felix.

"Done. I’ll call them tomorrow."