“What do you propose I do, Mother?” he murmured. It appeared he could not receive a reprieve, even if he tumbled down the steps.
“I am uncertain, to be candid; however, an alternative thought has arisen during my conversation with her this morning.”
“Yes.” He discerned from her tone that he would not find it agreeable.
You have been Marked and Mated for two days. I have yet to hear you declare her as your Luna or even as your Mate. Perhaps Luke, Bella is irritated and displeased with you for this reason.
She may be excluding you for this specific reason. You expressed uncertainty regarding her actions. Perhaps your Luna does not perceive herself as your Luna, or you desire her to fulfil that role. This stems from your failure to recognise her within the entire pack.” She shouted directly at him, “It is disrespectful to her, plain and simple.”
He sat gazing at her, a realisation dawning upon him that he had not previously done so. He groaned deeply and rubbed his temples. It was extremely probable that this was the reason for her irritation, as she distanced herself and walked away from him.
His mother continued to gaze at him, and he could distinctly see her irritation emanating from her. She was not finished, and he was certain that he was about to receive a lecture, perhaps the most significant one of his life. “Do you realise how long it took your father to introduce me…”
He did; he had learnt about it from his father.
“Less than one minute after Mark and Mate approached me, I could hardly contain my excitement at having accepted his proposal to mate. He resembled a child awakening on Christmas morning.”
He acknowledged her correctness; he ought to have executed it yesterday morning. He had informed his parents and his unit but had not communicated it to the full pack.
“That should have been your initial action: to awaken and announce her through a pack-wide mind link. It would have required merely ten to fifteen seconds. Could you not allocate fifteen seconds in your demanding schedule yesterday, last night, or this morning? Are you so occupied that your Luna is unworthy of even fifteen seconds of your attention?”
“Mater.”
“Do not address me in such a manner, boy. You ought to have introduced her with pride, welcoming that girl back into this pack after your actions towards her.”
You informed everyone of her return and expressed your happiness, however you did not.
Despite the considerable effort expended to get her, you failed to exhibit even a modicum of respect. You have yet to discover those fifteen seconds, have you?” she articulated with irritation.
“I apologise; I had urgent matters concerning Karis, if you remember.”
“I am indifferent to that; the child will eventually come to terms in his own time.”
You have years to develop it. However, your Mate and Luna can reject you at any moment. You are aware of that, correct?
“Indeed, mother, I certainly do.”
“Are you aware that she probably feels unloved by you at this very moment?”
You instructed your father to announce, from memory, Mia on the day you were Marked and Mated, did you not? From my observations as a Luna, Bella likely perceives her presence as solely due to the children. If they are all you have been managing, you should reflect on all your interactions with her since her arrival. Do not confuse a Mate Bond with love, especially when you have a troubled history to address.” She then turned and exited the room, pausing at the door to look directly at him. “I believed I raised you better than that,” she muttered before leaving his office and slamming the door shut.
He remained there in his chair, unable to contest his mother’s assertions. She was correct; Bella had been present when his father introduced Mia. “Damn,” he mumbled.
“Indeed.” Benzy groaned deeply, resting against the wall in his customary location. He stood silently, as the current Luna reprimand his Alpha, refraining from intervening as she effectively conveyed her message.
He understood that if he abruptly announced her, Bella would perceive that his mother had compelled him to do so. She would not feel that he genuinely desired to announce her as his Mate and Luna; rather, she would likely believe his mother had coerced him. The situation might have been more favourable had she attended training with him, allowing some pack members to witness their companionship.
He had consistently relished engaging in sparring with her.
Considered the observations of the pack regarding their Alpha and Luna. They would have witnessed her traversing independently while he was accompanied by the children. Indeed, they had shared a fleeting moment during lunch and subsequently in the games room. However, even those encounters revealed her antagonistic demeanour towards him.
The adolescents in the gaming room who had their wolf would have not only perceived their words but also the tone of their discourse, and saw her departure from him entirely.
He was unaware of her current whereabouts, just knowing that she had exited the pack-house following a contentious exchange with Abbey on the fourth level, which was rather unpleasant. She had also been sarcastic with Benzy.
He had punished Abbey, although he suddenly recognised that he had not told Bella of the repercussions for her transgressions against her mother and a pack member who would have been defenceless against an Alpha female. Sighing, he rose; he needed to talk with her.
First, I am proceeding to the accountant’s office, as I may require a justification to be in her vicinity given her current disposition; I will retrieve the documents for Robyn’s prenuptial agreement. Albert, his chief accountant, regarded him momentarily, as it was uncommon for him to enter this space; such actions were typically associated with Macky or Lanky. After understanding his request and rationale, the man simply nodded. “It may take me a minute or two. I can deliver it to Bella on your behalf, should you prefer to avoid waiting.”
