I felt the soft, sticky burst of juice against my white shirt as the grapes smashed against me. The liquid ran down, seeping into the fabric and disappearing beneath the belt at my waist.
I shut my eyes.
I should never have come.
If I hadn’t taken off my jacket in the car earlier and given it to Jeffery, my shirt wouldn’t have suffered the damage.
When I opened my eyes, my mother yanked her wrist free from my grasp, her right hand retreating from my chest.
She pointed a trembling finger at me, her voice thick with accusation. “You’ve taken his side.”
I exhaled sharply. “What?”
“I can smell his scent on you.” Her voice wavered, shifting between anger and something close to betrayal. “You’ve been with him before heading here, haven’t you?”
I ran a hand through my hair, my patience wearing dangerously thin. Things had escalated far too quickly. “You’re wrong, Mother,” I tried to explain.
She lifted a finger to her lips and shushed me. “No more lies,” she whispered.
I let out a tired sigh, rubbing my temples.
Then, almost immediately, she shot to her feet, pointing at the door. “Get out!”
I hesitated, but only for a second. This always happened. Every visit ended like this-me getting hit, insulted, and thrown out.
I pushed back my chair and stood, walking toward the door without another word.
The moment I shut it behind me, a loud bang echoed through the room. I didn’t need to turn around to know what had happened.
She had thrown the plate at the door.
I shook my head. It wasn’t even surprising anymore.
Lifting my gaze, I met Jeffery’s amused stare. Beside him, Cordelia, my mother’s caretaker, wrung her fingers nervously.
Jeffery’s eyes flickered down to my chest, where the purple stain from the grapes had spread. Then he looked back up at me, barely suppressing his smirk.
“It looks like you need a bath, Alpha,” he said, his voice laced with unspoken laughter.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Do you really think so?”
A flash of amusement crossed his face, but before he could respond, another bang sounded from behind me, followed by the sharp crash of glass shattering against the floor.
Cordelia flinched, her gaze darting from me to the door, her lips parting as if to say something but thinking better of it.
I sighed and nodded at her. “Go check on her. Jeffery and I will see ourselves out.”
She gave a quick bow before hurrying past me, disappearing into the room.
I turned on my heel and walked toward the exit, Jeffery following a step behind.
In the elevator, he finally broke the silence. “So,” he said, his tone casual, “why was Mrs. Oatrun so furious?”
I rolled my shoulders. “Something I said about Meredith.”
Jeffery hummed, a knowing glint in his eyes.
Then, with his gaze straight ahead, he muttered, “Oh, it looks like someone is already talking about his new wife.”
I shot him a sharp glare. “If you don’t wipe that smirk off your face, we’re having a duel tonight.”
Jeffery chuckled but made a show of zipping his lips. “Understood, Alpha.”
I gave him one more glare for good measure, but the amusement in his eyes didn’t fade.
I exhaled through my nose, pushing thoughts of my mother aside. “Tell the matron I will be coming for dinner.”
Jeffery nodded, his lips twitching. “Your wife will be happy to see you.”
I scoffed. “I doubt it,” I smirked. “And that’s why I’m going.” I can’t be the only one whose mood is ruined.
Jeffery chuckled, shaking his head.
The elevator doors slid open at the second floor, and we stepped out.
I glanced down at my ruined shirt, my mind replaying the moment my mother had lashed out. She had moved so fast. Too fast.
Faster than she should have.
Could her illness be masking something else?
I shook the thought away. I had been distracted. That was all.
Or at least, that’s what I told myself.
Meredith.
I was exhausted.
The so-called tour of the estate had dragged on longer than necessary, covering endless halls, courtyards, and rooms I had no real interest in.
By the time I returned to my chamber, my body felt like it had been wrung dry. The moment my head hit the pillow, I sank into sleep, not caring about anything else.
When I finally woke up nearly two hours later, the sky had dimmed slightly, and my stomach grumbled in protest. Lunch was waiting for me on the dining table, but the presence of Madame Beatrice ruined any appetite I might have had.
Her eyes, always sharp and assessing, followed my every movement as I ate. A cold weight sat in my chest. No matter what I did, I could never relax around her.
She was a silent force pressing down on me, like a chain I couldn’t shake off. So, when she finally stood and left, a breath of relief escaped my lips.
Madame Beatrice left me in the company of Azul, Deidra, and Kira.
At first, I was skeptical-Deidra and Kira were practically strangers to me. But as a few hours passed, I realized they weren’t as rigid as I thought.
Away from Madame Beatrice’s presence, they were easy to talk to, lighthearted even.
Eventually, Deidra and Kira excused themselves to fetch some mid-afternoon snacks, leaving me alone with Azul.
I took the chance.
I turned to her, studying her face, searching for any signs of resentment. “How did you fare after my father drove you away?”
Azul blinked at the question, then smiled softly. “I went back to my maternal home. My uncle took me in. I picked up crocheting.” A small chuckle escaped her. “So, I was fine.”
I exhaled, relieved. I was worried Azul wouldn’t have any place to go to after being unjustly sent away. It had been a guilt I carried for years. Now, I could let it go.
Still, there was one more thing that unsettled me. “Did my mother really send for you?”
Azul’s smile deepened. “She did.”
I frowned. “You are sure?”
She nodded. “She sent me a letter, asking me to come take care of you now that you were marrying Alpha Draven from the Mystic Furs Pack.”
I stared at her, disbelief clawing at my thoughts. It didn’t make sense. My mother had never been the type to offer kindness to me, so I still doubted her actions.
Before I could press further, Deidra and Kira returned, carrying a stainless tray. The scent of fresh fruit filled the room.
“We brought guava and watermelon,” Kira announced with a grin.
Deidra set the tray on the dining table and pulled out a chair for me.
I hesitated, then took a seat, picking up a slice of guava. The pink flesh looked soft and juicy. I took a bite, chewing slowly, nodding in approval. “It’s good.”
Kira exchanged a look with Deidra, then said, “They came straight from the tree.”
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