Chapter 292 A Father’s Apology

Chapter 292: Chapter 292 A Father’s Apology

Eira and Lila had barely stepped into The Eden Garden when a black Lincoln pulled up outside.

Alpha Henry and Yale climbed out and headed inside.

"Lila and Eira have been joined at the hip lately," Yale said as the elevator doors closed. "Lila made the reservation for tonight."

Alpha Henry nodded, though an unexpected tightness settled in his chest.

Upstairs, the hostess checked the reservation list and offered him an apologetic smile.

"I’m sorry, Mr. Crawford. We’re completely booked tonight. I can put you on the waitlist, but it may be a while."

Yale glanced across the candlelit dining room. "Isn’t that Lila Sterling over there?"

The hostess followed his gaze. "It is. Let me see what I can do."

She crossed the room.

Lila looked up first. Monica, the restaurant’s owner, turned with her.

Beside Monica sat a young woman with fair features, rimless glasses, and a quiet, polished elegance.

She wore a cream sweater beneath a camel-colored coat, her dark hair tucked behind one ear as she listened to Monica talk.

Even in profile, Alpha Henry recognized her.

"That’s Eira," he said under his breath.

Lila stood as Alpha Henry and Yale approached.

"Uncle Henry? What are you doing here?"

"Trying to get a table." Alpha Henry glanced toward the packed dining room. "Would it be all right if Yale and I joined you?"

"Of course," Monica said before Lila could answer. She gathered her clutch from the booth. "Take this table. I need to check on the kitchen anyway."

"You don’t have to give up your booth," Lila said.

"Please. I’ve been looking for an excuse to escape my own restaurant." Monica kissed her cheek, then turned to Eira. "Enjoy dinner, sweetheart. And try not to let these two turn it into a board meeting."

"No promises," Yale said.

Monica laughed and headed toward the stairs.

Lila looked at Eira. "You okay if they crash dinner?"

Alpha Henry waited quietly. He didn’t assume that his family name, money, or connection to Monica entitled him to a seat. That restraint caught Eira’s attention.

She glanced at Lila, then at him. Alpha Henry’s manner was warm, but measured.

There was no obvious curiosity in his eyes, no quick assessment of her clothes, her face, or her value.

"Sure," Eira said. "There’s room."

"Thanks," Alpha Henry replied. "We’ll try not to hijack the evening."

"You say that now," Lila said. "Yale, keep him from asking about business before we order."

"I’ll do my best."

"That’s not reassuring."

They settled into the private booth. A server brought fresh sparkling water and placed menus in front of everyone.

"Eira, you’ve met Yale before," Lila said. "This is Henry Crawford. Henry, Yale, this is my best friend, Eira."

"Eira," Yale said. "Good to see you again."

Eira gave him a polite nod. Then she looked at Alpha Henry.

"Lila calls you Henry. If that works for you, I’m happy to skip the formal version."

"Henry is fine." His smile was easy, but his attention stayed on her a moment longer than necessary.

Before anyone could open a menu, he added, "There’s something I should say first."

Eira’s fingers paused against the edge of hers.

Alpha Henry leaned back slightly, giving her space. "I’m sorry for the way Vincent treated you. I can’t speak for his choices, but I know enough to understand that you were put through more than you should have been."

Eira went still.

Lila’s expression softened. She leaned closer to Eira and lowered her voice. "He’s nothing like Vincent or Lainey. My mom wouldn’t have stayed close to him for twenty years if he were."

Eira kept her eyes on Alpha Henry. His apology sounded sincere, but sincerity and innocence were not the same thing. In families like his, people often knew more than they admitted.

"You don’t owe me an apology for someone else’s behavior," she said.

"Maybe not." Alpha Henry’s gaze didn’t waver. "But I wanted you to hear it from me."

The server brought over a bottle of Sonoma Cabernet and several dishes: wild mushroom risotto, cedar-plank salmon, herb-roasted chicken, and grilled asparagus.

Alpha Henry passed the salmon to Eira before serving himself.

"I read an article about your research," he said. "You grew up in Northern California?"

"I did."

"Near the coast?"

"Not far from it."

"Small world." He lifted his glass but didn’t drink. "I worked near the Klamath region when I was younger. The work took me east, and then one year became ten."

"You stayed in D.C.?"

"Longer than I planned." A faint smile touched his mouth. "I missed the coast more than I expected."

Eira studied him over her wineglass. He spoke like a professor, not the Alpha of a powerful Pack. That made him easy to listen to, but difficult to read.

Lila and Yale kept the conversation light, joking about Bay Area traffic, new restaurants, and Alpha Killian’s habit of offering unsolicited opinions.

To anyone watching, it was an ordinary dinner among family friends.

But Alpha Henry barely touched his food. His attention kept returning to Eira, as if meeting her had confirmed something he couldn’t yet explain.

--

Outside, cool evening air greeted them as they stepped onto the sidewalk.

"Did you two drive?" Alpha Henry asked. "Yale and I can drop you home."

"We’re fine," Lila said. "Go get some sleep, Uncle Henry."

Alpha Henry nodded and took two steps toward the Lincoln. Then he paused and turned back.

He pulled a business card from his wallet and handed it to Eira. The card carried only his name and personal cell number.

"If Vincent gives you trouble again, call me directly," he said. "I’ll deal with it."

Eira looked down at the card. Alpha Henry Crawford had spent his early years serving on the Pack Council before building Crawford Group into a major biotech company. Men like him did not usually offer personal access without a reason.

Still, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse.

"Drive safe, Henry."

"You two do the same."

He gave her a brief nod, then joined Yale. The black Lincoln pulled away from the curb and disappeared into the fog.

By the time Alpha Henry returned to the hotel, Lainey was waiting in the lobby.

"Dad, where were you? I called."

"I was out."

"Doing what?"

"Something personal."

Lainey studied his face. "Mom’s been trying to reach you."

"I’ll call her."

Alpha Henry pressed the elevator button.

They passed Vincent’s suite. The keycard light was dark.

"Your brother’s not here," Alpha Henry said.

"He probably went out."

"Tell him I want to see him when he gets back."

"Tonight?"

"Tonight."

"Dad, it’s almost eleven."

"Then he can stay up."