18 - MATERNAL CRISIS
1477 Words
“THANK you for looking out for her, Matt,” Violet told the man on the other line.
She exhaled loudly after the phone call.
She has to do it, or the being inside her will run amok in worry and desperation.
Violet was about to stand when she saw the person by the door. She still stood up, nonetheless.
Her mother was standing beside the door.
She did not know how long she had been standing there. Violet did not notice since the call she had received was not very good.
She has been staying in the infirmary since she arrived in the Lunar Pack territory.
The pack doctor and she shared the same office, but Dr. Bryce had a cabin in the territory where he stayed with his mate.
Julian offered his house, but Violet declined. She could have stayed in the barracks with the rest of the warriors, but the pack doctor offered his office when he learned about it. The female doctor gladly accepted it.
“Everything alright?” When she did not respond, Luna Dina spoke again. “Can I come in?”
Violet nodded.
“We did not get a chance to talk.”
Her eyes remained on her mother until she occupied the seat in front of the table. Violet returned to the seat she had left a while ago.
When her mother visited her in the infirmary a few days ago, aside from the initial reaction of the older woman, they were not able to talk longer when the little boy’s father arrived.
Since the child needs immediate treatment, Violet has to leave her mother despite the older woman’s annoyance.
They never had a chance again until today.
“Everything alright? I mean, the call you received. Worries were all over your face.”
Violet cleared her throat.
“Someone I know is in danger.”
“What happened?”
“Someone broke into her house. It was a blessing that she was not there.”
Luna Dina peered into her eyes. She was viewing Violet with scrutiny.
“Your wolf is agitated. Is she someone special?”
“Yeah,” she admitted. “She’s my mate.”
It will never be an issue of she told her the truth.
A smile formed on her mother’s lips. However, her eyes were laced with sadness.
“A girl?” Violet nodded. “When did you meet her?’
“A few months ago.”
“You should have brought her here.”
She chuckled. “She’s not one of us.”
“She’s human?”
“Yes.”
“Does she know about you? About us?”
“She doesn’t.”
“Does she know you are here?”
“Yes. She knew that I would be visiting the family after a long time. She knew that I ran away.”
“You told her that? Did you also tell her that you ran away from your birthright?”
“In not so many words.”
“Does she have any idea what you ran away from?”
“No, but she knew that I accepted the consequences of my actions.”
Her statement halted her mother’s ranting. Violet continued.
“I knew what I ran away from, Mom.”
Her mother’s eyes became glassy.
Violet had to look away. She made her mother cry. Again.
“Did you ever regret anything?” The older woman’s voice was hoarse from the pent-up emotion. There was a hint of anger in her tone, too.
“No.”
“Why? Do you have any idea what you put us through? I was so worried that a rival pack might torture you. You are an alpha’s child! You are the next alpha of this pack. Anyone could have hurt you.”
“That was the only thing I was sorry about, Mom. That I put you through all the worries.”
“Then why? You should have told us. You should talk to me about what you want. Your father and I would have arrived at a compromise.”
Violet stared into her mother’s gray eyes.
“Father’s concern was over the pack’s future. I can’t blame him. It has been instilled in him since he was a kid. He did the same to me. I am not holding it against him.” She breathed out. “But I am not him, Mom. I may be an alpha’s daughter, but I am not cut out to be an alpha like him.”
“No, Lauren. You are meant to be one. The Moon Goddess will never give it to you if you can’t be one.”
“Oh, please, Mom. Julian has been sitting in that position for years. He was good at it.”
“Because you gave him no choice!”
“I gave him what he wants, mother. He has been my shadow since he started to walk. He has been with me and Father since I started training, but no one saw the fire in his eyes. He was born to lead. Even you cannot see that he has to prove himself over and over again.”
It was her turn to rant.
“Who are you to say that? You were not here.”
She laughed. It was pained.
“I grew up with him.” She exhaled. “He tried to stop me on the night that I left. He was worried not just for me, of what could have been waiting for me outside the pack. He was worried for Father.”
She blinked a few times. Hurt for what Julian has been through.
“Julian has always been the second best, Mom. Give him the benefit of the doubt this time. Because if it were pack matter, he has what it takes to lead. He has been leading the pack.”
“But it doesn’t answer why you have to leave your family and put us through hell in the last ten years.”
“I know. For once, I have been selfish. I took the path where I want to be. Being an alpha was not it.” She honestly answered. “I wanted to become a doctor. I became one. It was the reason why I never regretted leaving.”
“Is that why you are being high and mighty? That you achieve what you want without aid from your parents?”
“Of course not.”
“You have been parading in the territory like nothing happened. As if you did not abandon your pack.”
Violet exhaled. Her mom’s emotions interfered with her reasoning.
She thought not bringing up the past was better than trying to make up for it. She was foreseen as an ingrate and arrogant.
“Is that why you brought those people? That despite leaving, you are somebody? That you knew some high-ranking individuals in the Werewolf Union.”
“No.”
It was not part of her plan to be associated with influential individuals. It just happened that part of her work was to socialized with them. Eventually, friendship bloomed between them. However, there was no use explaining if her mother saw it differently.
“Your ambition was more important than your family.” Luna Dina continued.
“No, mom. Despite my ‘ambition’ as you call it, my concern for this family ran deeper than my desire to become a doctor.” She paused to regain composure. She wanted to be as calm as possible she can. She retorted by disclosing part of the truth she has been hiding. “I can’t have kids of my own. That alone forfeits my ability to produce a biological heir for this pack.”
“What?”
The older woman’s eyes widen. The news absolutely shocked her.
“We all made sacrifices, Mom. It just happened that my ambitions were aligned with my disability and inability to lead. Don’t worry, I made peace with it a long time ago.”
“Is that why you chose a woman?”
“No!” She immediately responded.
Of everything that she said, her sexuality was the one her mother questioned.
Their conversation came to a rest when the mobile phone on the table rang.
“I have to take this.” She said when she saw Mia’s name.
Violet grabbed the phone before she stood up.
Her long legs allowed her to be by the door in a few strides.
She was startled when she saw her brother leaning on the wall beside the door. His face was laden with uncontrolled emotions when their eyes met.
“You heard.”
It was not a question.
He nodded.
The phone kept on ringing.
“It must be important. Our talk can wait.”
Violet watched her brother’s back as he walked away.
- Writer
