***


    "Alpha, I have some pressing news for you." The Elder visited Lnd in his study room and soon encountered the Alpha, still busy strategizing his next steps on attacking the royal family.


    Lnd growled and looked up at the older lycan. "The news had better be urgent or else you have disturbed me from actual important matters."


    "It is about your mother." the Elder said.


    The Alpha froze uncertainly at the mention of Isolde Szar but he then narrowed his eyes at the Elder. "Speak and inform me briefly about what she wants. I am certain that you''ve been reporting everything I''ve been doing, right?"


    "Y-Yes Alpha." the Elder blinked and realized that the Alpha had eyes and ears everywhere. Even when the Elder tried to talk to Isolde in private, it still reached the ears of Lnd.


    Lnd looked at the Elder nkly.


    "Ahem." the Elder cleared his throat and straightened his back. "The rest of the Blood River Pack will slowly be making its way here in Riga and your mother will be here in two weeks. She is expecting you to meet with her halfway."


    "What?" Lnd''s eyes widened for a fraction and then he gritted his teeth. "We came here with only a select number among the pack to mobilize fast. Now isn''t the time for the rest of the pack toe."


    "Your mother has insisted, Alpha." the Elder said. "We cannot stop her, but perhaps you can meet with her and attempt to stall her from gaining too much attraction?"


    Lnd stood up from his chair and sighed inwardly. He narrowed his eyes at the Elder but spoke bluntly. "I will meet with my mother but do not attempt to do anything, Elder. You will follow your brother if you try toy a hand on my mate."


    "I will not touch a single hair on her head or her puppies, Alpha," the Elder assured him with a dark look on his face. Among those who tried to challenge Lnd for the title of the Alpha was his brother and numerous others. None of them lived after they challenged him.


    However, the Alpha was already gone.


    ***


    Lnd immediately visited his and Sophie''s chambers. There was a bothered look on the Alpha''s face as he stepped inside of the room and saw his mate still asleep and slumberingfortably.


    He was filled with a certain hesitation to disturb her, but he wished to say goodbye before he left. Lnd knew how vital it was for him to stop his mother from marching in here with the rest of the pack.


    Isolde Szar truly did everything just to make hime see her.


    Lnd''s expression darkened at the thought but there was nothing that he could do. Sophie eventually woke up when she felt her husband''s presence and she looked up to him.


    The Alpha''s shadow cut darkly inside of the room and he looked tense, rigid and even cold all of a sudden.


    It didn''t deter Sophie from speaking to him though. She knew how gentle and loving her husband could be and he would never hurt her or her children. "Lnd, what''s wrong?"


    "I have to go." Lnd exined with a soft sigh and sat at the edge of their bed. He held his mate''s hand and gently gave it a squeeze as he looked into her eyes and somehow all he could see was the reflection of a monster.


    Him.


    The Alpha still couldn''t believe that he was now with Sophie and actually experiencing what it was like to be happy. However, it seemed like life decided to just remind him that his days weren''t supposed to be as wonderful as this.


    "Huh? Where are you going, Lnd?" Sophie looked at him worriedly. "Please do not tell me that you''re going to try and attack the royal pce. Everyone is on high alert and they will be more prepared if you attempt to attack them."


    The Alpha shook his head. "No, I have not decided to go and attack them. Instead, I''m actually about to meet and reunite with the rest of Blood River Pack and meet with my mother."


    "Wait. What?" Sophie''s eyes widened and she looked at Lnd at a loss for words.


    "The Blood River Pack is farrger than what you''ve already seen." the Alpha chuckled and softly kissed his mate''s hand. "It was unwise of them toe here, but it seems my mother insisted so I have to stop them."


    Sophie paused uncertainly but then said, "It is the first time that I have heard about your mother, Lnd."


    "Yes." Lnd nodded slowly.


    A silence came between the two of them and Sophie realized that Lnd seemed to be pointedly not wanting to talk about his mother. Neither did he want to talk about his witch friend.


    There were a lot of things that Lnd chose not to mention.


    They had been married for almost one year but this was the first time he talked more about his mother and the rest of the pack.


    At first, Sophie chalked it up to simply the man being intriguing but now the situation was different. As husband and wife, they needed to be transparent with one another.


    "Lnd… I do not wish to pry into anything that you''re ufortable with," Sophie said to him gently as she clutched both of his hands and looked at him seriously. "However, I am still your wife. I would like it if you could tell me what''s on your mind."


    The Alpha let out a long sigh and then nodded slowly. "You have the right to ask, Sophia. Forgive me for not wanting to talk about these topics though, I have been happy with you."


    Sophie felt guilty because it seemed like Lnd didn''t have a good rtionship with his mother. "I''m sorry for pushing you, Lnd. I have also been more than overjoyed to be with you… but now you''re leaving to meet with your mother."


    "Anne Hansley has been more of a mother to me than my own mother." Lndughed a little. "Jack Hansley has been a better father to me than my own father. I do not think I have much to say beyond that."