***
The moon was hidden behind the clouds when the Alpha reunited with his mother in the outskirts of a village about one week away from Livstad.
He managed to cut the travel time short and arrived there in only three days because he rode day and night until they were far enough from the capital, and then continued running in his wolf form, together with his men.
He winced his forehead when he saw the number of people who joined his mother. How his mother actually got here with that many pack members without attracting attention was surprising.
However, Leland was far from happy and only narrowed his eyes on the older woman.
"Leland, my son… you've truly outdone yourself this time." Isolde Salazar greeted the Alpha of the Blood River Pack with nothing but a curled smile on her lips. She was followed by an entourage of a hundred lycans behind her.
All of the lycans were quick to greet Leland by kneeling to him, but the Alpha's eyes were on no other person but his mother alone. Her voice was sickly sweet and doting, but it did not fool him.
Leland didn't give her the respect of giving a greeting beyond a grunt, but then Isolde's eyes sharpened on him and the man felt a wave of struggle overcome him. He was uneasy around this woman.
This was his birth mother and… there was always still a sense of hurt that washed over the Alpha when he saw the look of disappointment on her face. It was almost instinctual at this point.
If there was a bond between lycan mates who chose to be with one another, there was something a bit similar to that between a mother and her children. Compared to a lycan choosing his or her partner, however, your birth mother was not your choice.
"Leland, is that how you greet your mother after such a long time of not meeting with one another?" Isolde's voice rang clearly out into the night. She looked down at her son unfavorably and said. "Come and greet me properly."
The Alpha clenched his teeth but then felt the pull within him to do just that. Always yearning for acceptance from his mother and his father, it wasn't only lycan society but their genetics that forced him to do just that.
He bowed his head low and placed a hand on his chest. "Mother, you've finally arrived into the lands of Riga. I was not aware that you would risk yourself with these members and come here by yourself."
There was a certain way that Leland and Isolde acted around each other. The strong and powerful Alpha was nearly subservient and always accommodating of his mother's desires.
Things had always been like that ever since Leland was a young child. Somehow, even though he knew that he was physically stronger than his mother… he didn't and couldn't do anything when he was in her presence.
"Leland I have to personally come here and intervene because you're putting the alliance between our pack and the witches at risk." Isolde smiled sharply at her son. "It is best that you listen to your mother and rectify the situation immediately."
The Alpha froze for a moment but then looked at his mother with both confusion and annoyance. In the eyes of the Blood River Pack, they must have assumed that his mother was the more experienced one between him and her.
Even if that was the truth, Isolde shouldn't have tried to make him look bad. Everyone also knew that he was a capable leader with or without her. The way that Isolde acted like Leland was incompetent without her was frustrating.
"What do you mean?" Leland asked with a frown on his face. "Eloise and I are on good terms as to how you and Grand Witch Elaine are good friends. I cannot see what I did to anger them."
Isolde laughed mockingly and clapped her hands. "Exactly my son, you cannot see what I can see or understand what I have gone through when I visited the witches."
Leland stayed silent, but at the look of Isolde was forced to ask. "What happened to you, mother? What occurred while you were visiting the witches? I recall that they have a gathering, do they not?"
"Yes, it was supposed to be a time of merriment, of celebration because we are one step closer to achieving our goals and aspirations."
"I am aware of that," Leland said.
Isolde reached out and grabbed Leland's cheeks roughly. Her fingernails scraped against his face as she smiled warningly. "But it wasn't. And do you know why, Leland?"
Leland didn't say a thing and neither did he lift a hand or shove his mother away. Whether or not he was physically capable or not, tied by a bond between a mother and child, the final nail was the fact that it was done in the presence of other lycans.
Alpha Leon's personality was wicked and domineering, but it garnered respect from the Blood River Pack. Isolde was still the previous Luna of the pack so they actually also held her in esteem.
Right now, Leland couldn't find it within him to do anything so he shook his head. "I don't know, mother."
"Exactly! You know nothing."
"I am still the Alpha, mother."
"And you're doing a wonderful job!" Isolde rolled her eyes."Not."
Leland ground his teeth. "I am. Haven't I been listening to you all these years?"
"Hmph. Except for one thing. It is naive of you to fall for the wicked charms of another woman who just happens to be the daughter of that outcast Anne." Isolde snapped at Leland.
The rest of the Blood River Pack suddenly started to murmur underneath their breaths. They were all shocked and a bit scandalized to hear the sudden news because they weren't with Leland all these months.
"I do not know how this concerns the witches, mother." Leland smiled tightly at her. "It seems like the problem lies more with you and not them. What seems to be the problem if she's Anne's daughter? She does not know anything."
At the Alpha's words, the atmosphere shifted slightly and the lycans started to look at Isolde and whisper among themselves about the situation.
A lot of the older lycans recalled how Isolde was immensely jealous of Anne.
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