I can't get Thor and our silly bathroom issue out of my mind. I was angry with him before but being alone with my thoughts gradually changed my perception about the whole thing.
From being angry, I found myself regretting locking him out of the bathroom even though I did it to save us time.
I later blamed myself for everything.
'I shouldn't have locked him out of the bathroom.' I kept thinking to myself
'Maybe if I hadn't put up the wall between us then things wouldn't have gotten this worse.
I should have handled the situation differently. I should have apologized and made sure we settled before he left for Night Howlers Pack.
After some time, I told myself I needed to get busy. I need to find something to occupy myself with instead of self-blaming.
But what?
Ella is busy taking care of her duties. You might find it hard to believe but I've covered the High school and SAT exam syllabus and I've solved every past question Eric sent to me with the books. Now there's nothing left for me to do.
Then it occurred to me. I still haven't decided on which course I would want to take in college and which university to choose. I don't know where Thor and Eric went to college but I know Ella's was in Denmark. I think I'll need Victoria's help on this one
"Ash! Thank God you called!" I hear relief in Victoria's voice as she talks.
I laugh
"Why? Are you that excited to hear my voice?"
"Yes, I am! I'm bored to tears right now! School is on holiday and since I'm now mated, I've been relieved of all my duties in the pack. Because of what my dad did, I no longer have friends here. People have been avoiding us, you know."
"Awww...."
"Yeah. The only person I have for company is my mom and all she's been doing since yesterday when we arrived back home was move around goo-goo-eyed and talk about your uncle inlaw.
'Oh, Elias is so Alpha... And so big... And so good looking... Elias this. Elias that!' She mimics her mom's voice and we both laugh
"I'm very happy for her though. I'm most especially happy that she won't have to live in Silver Moon's pack for long. Not after what my dad did and the manner with which we're shunned by our friends, even my cousins..." Her voice cracks then and she pauses from talking.
"Your cousins too!?" I angrily say. "This isn't yours and your mother's fault, how can they shun both of you? Didn't they hear the law has been changed? If I'd been properly Inaugurated as the Luna I would make sure they apologize to you and your mom for being irrational."
She chuckles
"I know you would. I can't wait for your inauguration."
I grin
"Me too. I'm sorry about what you went through."
"Don't be. They're not real friends and I'm glad we're finally able to see their true colors. It's good riddance..." She says and exhales
"You know, I badly want to tell my mom I've been mated. I need to confide in her about my mate now that her moving out of the pack is certain but seeing her so happy, I just couldn't."
"She didn't know all these while?" I ask with surprise
"No, she didn't! I wanted to tell her but I couldn't find the right time to do it. Ever since my dad's disappearance and the former Luna told us he died. She wasn't herself all through that period, especially when we couldn't find his body. She became more protective of me. More unbearably controlling. Telling her would only make her worry more.
I couldn't tell her then and I'm certainly not telling her now. Even though I so much want to confide in her, I know I won't. She's so happy right now, it will be unfair to spoil her happiness with my bad news. She's only forty-one years old and has been given another shot at happiness. I'm nineteen. An adult. I don't want her to worry about me anymore."
"Aww... I totally understand. You also deserve to be happy, girl. Why don't you come over, let's keep each other company?"
She chuckles
"The Alpha won't be happy if he sees me..."
"The Alpha no longer holds any grudge against you. He already accepted that we're friends and we won't stop being friends because of a situation caused by circumstances beyond our control. Besides, we're in-laws now, right?"
She laughs
"Yeah, we're..."
"So I'll be waiting for you. I want to hear in detail how the two of them smell each other's essence before they meet. I love romantic moments. Why did their own have to happen when I wasn't home?" I complain good-naturedly and we both laugh.
.
.
I told the maids to bring Victoria to the gazebo when she arrived and I immediately pulled her in for a hug.
"You're right about your mom..." I whisper over her shoulder as we hug
When we pull apart, I hold her hand and bring her to a chair
"I also don't think you should tell her about your mate. Not right now anyway. Maybe after she moves to her new pack then you can."
"My thoughts exactly. Knowing my mom and how possessive she is, she might not want to leave with her mate if I tell her. Or she might insist that I come with her to her new pack, she worries too much."
"All mothers worry too much, not just her. Whatever the situation, you know I'm here for you, right?"
Her lips widen to form another big smile as she holds my hand, squeezing it.
"Yes, I know. Thank you."
"Don't thank me. That's what friends are for. Now tell me how Uncle Elias and your mom met."
She chuckles
"Well, it's a funny story. When we left Council Yard, she insisted we visit Alpha's mansion first to thank the Alpha for saving our lives..."
She suddenly stops talking and her expression turns serious
"You know... A lot of us in this pack said a lot of shit about the Alpha. That was because of all the lies the former Luna, Evelyn, and her son Justin led us to believe about him.
But despite all we said. Despite the drama that went down at the court. How my dad lied and was determined to see the Alpha die for the crime he didn't commit. I was surprised he fought for the law to be changed because of us, the family of the man that wanted him dead for a crime he didn't commit.
Yeah, I know I went on and on about my Alpha coming for me while we were in Council Yard. That was just me putting up a front and being optimistic even in the face of death. The truth is, I was scared shitless deep within me.
He would have been justified if he had chosen not to fight for us. But he fought for us anyway and we're grateful. My mother and I owe him for our lives and I will thank him properly if given the opportunity.
You've got a good man, Ash. A good leader. Citizens of Silver Moon's pack now realize that fact and count themselves lucky for having him as their leader."
I nod my head. I heard how my mate fought for a certain law to be changed but hearing it from Victoria makes me very proud of him. A grouchy but caring leader he is.
"Thank you for telling me this. I'll sure let him know how grateful you are."
"Please do..." She replies and brightens up, returning to the previous topic.
"Now, as I was saying before, when we arrived at Alpha's mansion, we were told by the guards stationed at the entrance that you guys weren't home. That was the moment my mom suddenly grabbed and clutched my arm. Her eyes were wild and darting all around us
'Do you smell that?' She asked me.
'No, I didn't smell anything.' I looked at her as she was looking around the place like she lost something.
The guards became more alert then. It doesn't matter if they've seen us here before. They wanted us to leave. I guess the way my mom was looking around like she had other missions apart from seeing the Alpha got them concerned and suspicious.
They were about to throw us out when she suddenly growled 'mate' in her wolf's voice. I was surprised.
'I smell mate, Victoria! I smell mate!' She nearly yanked my hand out of its socket as she said in excitement.
I ignored the guards asking us to leave and started helping her to look around the place myself. Apparently, he had also smelled her. He came from the direction of the pool, followed by the old Alpha and some other people and the rest is history."
"Just like that? They didn't kiss?" I ask in disappointment.
"Of course, they kissed. She's my mom, Ash, I can't be telling you about that part!" She sounded appalled, making me laugh
Our conversation shifted and we got talking about universities, sororities, and fraternities.
"Even though humans and shifters go to the same universities to encourage socialization between our two beings, we have different fraternities and sororities." She says
"Why?..." I ask
"Why, because even though society wants our two different beings to socialize and get familiarized with each other at the university level so we can learn to live together in peace in the future, the truth is we have little in common. Our interests and way of life are different."
She sighs deeply.
"You know, right now, I don't even know how to show my face in school when school resumes."
"Because of what your dad did?"
"Yes. It's not fun being called the daughter of a traitor you know."
"I know and we'll figure it out when the time comes. For now, let's go out and have fun. What do you say?"