Chapter 24 Love Under Fire
Zayne's POV
The morning after telling Red about Nyra, I found myself in my office earlier than usual. The weight of the mysterious wolves at our borders pressed heavily on my mind, but with the clue from Tristan, I was sure to find them…and they'll be sorry I did.
My phone rang, disrupting my thoughts. Mother's name flashed on the screen. I'd been avoiding this call for days, knowing exactly what conversation awaited me.
"Zayne," her voice carried that particular tone she used when she was displeased. "Imagine my surprise when I heard from Aileen - your own sister, mind you - that you've found your second chance mate. Were you planning to tell me, or was I supposed to find out through pack gossip?"
I leaned back in my chair, already exhausted by the conversation. "I was going to tell you when things were more settled."
Even though I couldn't see her, I knew she was rolling her eyes. "What's her name? Where is she from? Aileen was frustratingly vague with the details, which tells me you've instructed her to be." Her voice carried a sharp edge now.
"Her name is Alyssa, and she's my mate. That's all that matters." I told her simply.
There was a long pause. I could practically hear her processing the information, calculating like she always did.
"Alyssa," she repeated slowly. "And her family? Her pack?"
"She's building her life here now. With me. With our pack."
"That's not an answer, Zayne."
"It's the only answer you're getting."
"I see." Her tone could have frozen water. "My son finds his second chance mate and doesn't think his mother deserves to know the details. I don't think I should meet her."
"Of course you should meet her—"
"Good. I'll be there Saturday morning."
"Mom, that's in three days—"
"Perfect. That gives you three days to prepare her for my visit.”
I could hear the challenge in her voice. If I protested, she'd assume I was hiding something. “Saturday's fine, and you'll love her.
"Wonderful. I'll arrive around ten. Make sure she's available. I'd hate to come all that way and not have a proper conversation with my son's new mate."
"Mom," I started, "When you meet Alyssa, I need you to remember that she's my mate. The Moon Goddess chose her for me. Whatever opinions you form, whatever questions you have, you will treat her with respect."
"I always treat people with respect, Zayne." Her voice was deceptively mild. "But I also believe in honesty. If I have concerns about the woman who will be Luna of our pack, who will potentially bear the future Alpha, don't I have the right to voice them?"
"Not if those concerns are based on superficial things like bloodlines or pack politics."
"Everything about being Luna involves pack politics. You know this better than anyone." She paused. "Or have you forgotten what happened the last time you let your heart rule over your head?"
The reference to Nyra hit like a physical blow. "That's enough."
"I'm simply reminding you that being Alpha means considering the pack's needs, not just your own desires."
"Alyssa is what the pack needs," I said firmly. "She's already proving herself, working with the pack members, helping where she can. She's nothing like what you're probably imagining."
"Then I look forward to being pleasantly surprised," she said, though her tone suggested she highly doubted that would happen. "Saturday, Zayne."
The line went dead before I could respond. I set the phone down carefully, resisting the urge to throw it across the room. I love my mom, but she has a talent for getting under my skin like no one else could.
Coming from a line of top ranked wolves, mom can sometimes be a lot.
The door opened and Xavier walked in, taking one look at my face and grimacing. "Your mother?"
"She's coming Saturday."
"Shit." Xavier sat down across from me. "Does Luna Alyssa know?"
"Not yet. I’ll tell her tonight." I ran a hand through my hair. "
The thought of my mom meeting Red when she wasn't ready didn't sit well with me.
A knock interrupted my thoughts. Tristan entered, his expression serious. "Alpha, we've found more tracks near the eastern border. Fresh ones, probably from last night."
"How many?" I asked, shifting into Alpha mode.
"At least six different scents, possibly more. They're not trying to hide their presence anymore."
"But they're still not crossing into our territory?"
"No, Alpha. They're staying just outside the boundary, like they're waiting for something."
I exchanged a look with Xavier. This was escalating, but I couldn't deal with it properly until after my mother's visit.
"Double the patrols for the weekend," I ordered. "But keep it quiet. I don't want to cause panic, especially with my mother visiting."
"Understood," Tristan nodded and left.
"You're juggling too many balls," Xavier observed. "The border situation, your mother, helping Alyssa adjust—"
"I don't have a choice," I cut him off. "I'll handle it."
That evening, I found Red in our room, brushing her hair at the vanity. She smiled when she saw me in the mirror, and that simple expression eased some of the tension I'd been carrying all day.
"Long day?" she asked, setting down the brush.
"You could say that." I moved behind her, my hands resting on her shoulders. "Red, there's something I need to tell you."
Her expression immediately grew worried. "What's wrong?"
"No, nothing like that." I met her eyes in the mirror. "My mother called today. "She's curious," I said carefully. "She wants to meet you…this Saturday."
The brush slipped from her hand, clattering on the vanity. "This Saturday? As in three days from now?"
"I tried to postpone, but my mother doesn't really take no for an answer." I turned her chair so she faced me directly, kneeling so we were eye level. "Listen to me. Whatever happens, whatever she says or does, nothing will change how I feel about you. You're my mate, my choice."
"But she's your mother," Red whispered. "Her opinion matters."
"Not more than yours," I said firmly. "Not more than ours."
She searched my face for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Okay. Saturday. I can do this."
I pulled her into my arms, hoping I wasn't throwing her to the wolves. “Once she meets you and gets to know you, trust me, she'll love you just as much as I do, so you have nothing to worry about.” I told her, placing a soft kiss on her forehead.
She smiled faintly against my chest, her fingers curling into my shirt like she was grounding herself. “You really think so?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I know so,” I murmured, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “You’re impossible not to love.”
Her laugh was soft but nervous, and I could feel her heart racing against mine. “I hope you’re right,” she said.
“I am,” I promised, tightening my hold on her.
“And even if she doesn’t, I’ll love you enough for both of us.”
That earned me a real smile—small, but real.