Note:
Thank you, dear Kelly Goodwin, for gifting this book a spacecraft today. I hope you are having a wonderful week. ^^
.
.
_________________________
"I will deal with you later," Leland spoke coldly to his mother. "If I discovered that you have ANYTHING TO DO with my mate's condition, I will make you regret you were even born."
"Leland…!" Isolde's eyes bulged at her son's words. She was shaken and offended that, for the first time in her life, her eldest son talked back to her so ruthlessly.
All this time, Leland preferred to avoid any confrontations with his mother, or even any interaction if he could help it. Isolde didn't mind it because she knew he hated her but couldn't do anything to her.
It showed that she still had her grip over him. He would do what she asked, albeit reluctantly. She knew he craved her approval even though he tried to act tough in front of everyone.
Ha. She was HIS MOTHER. She knew him like the back of her hands. She knew how to push his buttons.
The fact that he didn't send news home about his marriage was a clear indication that Leland wanted to avoid being confronted directly by his mother.
He knew she wouldn't approve and he wouldn't be able to act tough and mighty before her as he did in front of the pack members. He would have to do as she said.
Isolde came here to make sure of that.
However, from the first time this stupid wench appeared by the door and welcomed Leland home, the Alpha was like a different man. He was so sweet and gentle and he ignored his mother in favor of Sophie. This made Isolde feel furious and fuming inside.
Leland even chose to listen to his mate regarding the plan to attack the royal family during the coronation, and not his mother. Leland only decided to proceed with the attack because he thought that's what SOPHIE WANTED.
Hmmph!
Good thing Isolde had one card that she could use to get rid of Sophie. She could threaten Dinah to mix the poison on her daughter-in-law's tea. Now, Isolde just needed to wait. Sophie would meet her demise and—
Suddenly, Isolde was moved from her reverie when Leland's voice thundered and shocked her to the core.
"SCRAM!"
She looked at her son with gritted teeth. Isolde clenched her fists to the sides and spoke with such coldness that Leland was so familiar with.
Her pretense as a doting mother was gone. It was now replaced by that distinct aloof and ruthless expression that was very similar to the one Leland had on him now.
"You are truly good-for-nothing. You chose that traitor's daughter over our pack. Everyone is ready and we just need to strike the royal family, but just one sign of your weak wife getting sick and you will throw everything away?" Isolde snapped at him. "Very nice. You are an embarrassment to our family. I am ashamed to meet your father in the afterlife because I have failed to raise you."
"GET OUT!"
If it wasn't for Sophie's hand still on his hand, Leland would have already attacked his mother and tossed her out of the room. He didn't want to move so suddenly and startle Sophie. Even though she was unconscious, he thought she might be able to feel him.
His beloved mate was in great pain. The last thing he wanted to do was add his anger into her heart.
Lucas quickly took initiative and gently pulled Isolde to leave the room. The man was very respectful of his Alpha and the Salazar family, including Isolde. So, he treated the former Luna with respect.
"Please, Mam, let The Alpha calm himself down," he said gently to Isolde. "This is a very delicate situation. We can talk about the plan at a later time."
"Hmmph!" Isolde looked away and snorted in displeasure. She brushed Lucas' hand and turned around to leave the room. She didn't say anything much to Leland's relief. He didn't want Isolde to agitate him further because his fuse had become really short.
He needed to keep his cool for Sophie. Right now, she was his priority.
Everyone understood that the Alpha was in a very bad mood, but he tried to keep calm for his mate's sake. They didn't want to be around him and test his patience at a moment like this.
So, almost immediately, all the pack members who were outside the room dispersed. All the lycans inside the room also left, leaving behind only Leland, Sophie, and the healer.
"So, you don't know what happened to her?" Leland asked the older man with a hoarse voice. "Is there anything you can do? At all?"
The healer was scared shirtless for not being able to provide any answers to the Alpha. He only shook his head weakly.
Leland let out a long sigh. He had placed Sophie's head on his lap and rubbed her hair lovingly, trying to understand how on earth his mate could be attacked under his watch, with him around, only several dozen meters away from her…
He felt like such a failure all over again.
Leland had not been able to avenge her parents' deaths and now Sophie became a victim too?
He didn't need Isolde to claim that she was ashamed of him. He was ashamed of himself too. He was strong and powerful, but he couldn't protect all the people dear to his heart. What kind of man was he really?
"Get other people here. You seem to be really incompetent," Leland gritted his teeth. "Find someone who knows what he's doing!"
"Yes, Alpha. I will be back shortly." The healer bowed down and immediately left the room. His body trembled when he stepped out and cold sweat ran on his back.
The old man felt relieved that the Alpha didn't kill him on the spot for his failure to diagnose his mate. Leland looked like he was filled with killing intent.
In this case, the healer was grateful that the Luna was there. She might be the reason why Leland didn't kill anyone… yet.
.
.
_________________________
From Missrealitybites:
Uff... I don't think Isolde can feel safe ever again if something bad really happened to Sophie. Leland obviously suspected her.
PS: When the time gets tough, please remember that all my stories have happy endings. I personally HATE sad endings.
I honestly believe that a sad ending is a cheap way to make readers feel the roller coaster of emotion. Lifting them with some happy times only to toss them down with tragedy to close the story... ugh!
I believe that the experience of a roller coaster of emotions should be achieved by happy - sad - happy - happy - sad - happy, etc times. And the ending should ALWAYS be happy, otherwise, why would we even read in the first place? Our real-world is frustrating enough.
If you have read "The Cursed Prince", believe me when I said the conflict in this book is not as tough as TCP. So, you can rest assured.
I think, if you survived TCP, this one is like a walk in the park ;).
PS: I know Jurassic Park is also a park, but I hope you know which park I was referring to. XD
Updat𝓮d fr𝙤m fre𝒆webnov(e)l.com