Chapter 61: A Mother’s Call
Chapter 61: A Mother’s Call
(Freya’s POV)
Aaron’s grip on my wrist felt unrelenting, his pace brisk as he pulled me further away from Elder Katherine’s ward. The hallway lights overhead cast long shadows across his face, accentuating the hardened set of his
jaw.
I tugged at his hold, my frustration bubbling to the surface. “Aaron, what are you doing?” I snapped, glaring at his back. He refused to look at me, his steps unwavering.
“Freya, we’re going back for today,” he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument. His golden eyes flickered briefly as he glanced at me, warning me not to push him further.
But I couldn’t just leave things like this. “You’re not listening to me. We can’t just leave her!” I exclaimed, my voice rising slightly. Bella growled faintly in agreement, uneasy with the situation. “Aaron, she doesn’t want to be here anymore. Can’t you see that? Her words–she’s holding back because she doesn’t want to be a
burden!”
Aaron came to a sudden stop, his fingers loosening around my wrist. For a brief moment, I thought I’d gotten through to him, but then he shook his head and exhaled sharply.
“We’ve listened to her,” he said lowly, his voice steady but carrying his Alpha weight. “And she needs the night to calm down before we do anything. Pushing her now will only make things worse. Let her wolf rest tonight,
Freya.”
I crossed my arms, glaring at him. “You think leaving her there, alone and feeling abandoned, will help her calm down? She just fainted, Aaron!” My voice cracked with emotion, and I hated how vulnerable I sounded. His body tensed at my argument, and for the first time since we’d left the ward, he faced me fully. His eyes locked with mine, a storm brewing within them. “Freya, do you think you’re the only one worried? Do you think I don’t care about my own grandmother?”
The sheer intensity of his voice sent a shiver down my spine, and for a moment, I couldn’t speak.
But I refused to back down. “Then why aren’t you doing something? Why are you acting so cold? She needs
us!”
Aaron closed his eyes briefly, pinching the bridge of his nose. When he opened them again, his expression was softer but still guarded. “Do you think I don’t see it? Her resentment toward me? The way she lights up when you’re around but barely looks at me? I know she’s unhappy.”
His words startled me. I hadn’t expected him to admit that so openly.
Before I could respond, he took a step closer, lowering his tone. “Freya, she’s exhausted. Her wolf needs rest, and rushing her now could push her further. Let’s give her one night. We’ll take her home tomorrow.”
My resolve wavered for an instant, but Bella whined stubbornly in the back of my mind. “Tomorrow might be too late. What if she spends the entire night worrying? What if she doesn’t feel safe there?” I countered, gripping the folds of my coat tightly.
Aaron’s expression shifted, uncertainty flickering in his eyes as he stared at me. I could tell he was weighing
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my words.
Then, an idea struck me. “What if we pick her up tonight?” I asked, my voice rising with newfound
determination.
Aaron raised an eyebrow, clearly caught off guard by my suggestion.
I pressed on before he could refuse. “We can go back to the pack house now and prepare everything for her Then, once it’s ready, we’ll return to get her. She could sleep in her own bed tonight, it would mean the world
to her, Aaron.”
For a long moment, he didn’t respond. Logan stirred within him, and I swore I saw a flicker of approval in his
golden eyes.
“Two hours.” His agreement was curt but decisive. “We’ll pick her up in two hours
Relief flooded through me, and without thinking, I reached out to grip his arm. “Thank you, Aaron. Truly
He watched me for a moment, remaining silent, before turning and walking toward the car
(Freya’s POV)
I returned to Elder Katherine’s room with renewed energy. Seeing her resting peacefully only strengthened my resolve to bring her home tonight.
I leaned down and softly called her name. “Elder Katherine, we’re going home tonight. We’re going to prepare the pack house for you now and bring you back in a couple of hours.”
Her eyes fluttered open, and though her smile was faint, her relief was unmistakable. There’s no need to rush for an old she–wolf like me,” she murmured gently.
I squeezed her hand firmly, my smile determined. “You’ll sleep better in your own bed. We’ll see you soon.”
I hurried back to the car, climbing in with a renewed sense of purpose. As Aaron started driving, I couldn’t stop myself from talking.
“The east wing room will be perfect for her,” I began, excitement creeping into my voice. “The lighting is beautiful in the morning, and it’s close to the stairs. Martha should prepare the bedding with that soft wool Elder Katherine likes, and we should have her favorite herbal tea ready too.”
Aaron stayed focused on the road, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. But I caught the faintest hint of a smile pulling at his lips as he glanced at me out of the corner of his eye.
“You’ve thought this through,” he said casually, though there was an odd warmth in his tone.
“Of course I have,” I replied instantly. “We owe it to her.”
His gaze lingered on me for another second before he nodded. “Call Martha. Make sure she knows.”
I grabbed my phone, dialing Martha’s number immediately. She answered on the first ring, her voice t professional as always.
and
“Martha, we’re bringing Elder Katherine home tonight,” I informed her. “Can you prepare the east wing room? The bedding, the tea, everything she might need.”
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“Consider it done, Luna.” Martha’s confidence was reassuring, and I hung up feeling lighter. But then Aaron’s phone rang, jolting me out of my thoughts. The sudden noise felt intrusive, and Bella
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immediately tensed within me.
The change in atmosphere was palpable. My earlier enthusiasm drained away, replaced by a sudden
heaviness.
Aaron glanced at the screen before returning his focus to the road. “Can you grab that for me?”
I stiffened. “No,” I said shortly. “Pull over if you need to take it.”
His frustration was evident in the way his fingers tightened briefly around the wheel. Muttering under his breath, he guided the car to the side of the road and parked.
“It’s my mother,” he revealed, his voice stiff.
My chest tightened instinctively. Sarah Steel. The woman who had orchestrated the political mate bond between Aaron and me.
“You should answer it,” I said quietly, fighting to keep my tone neutral.
Aaron didn’t reply. He simply pressed the speaker button on his phone.
“Mother,” he greeted curtly.
“Aaron, darling,” Sarah Steel’s rich, commanding voice filled the car. It carried the tone of a matriarch who expected her words to be heeded. “Your father and I just landed. We’re heading to the medical facility now. How is my mother’s surgery recovering going?”
Aaron’s jaw tightened immediately, and I could sense the sharp edge to his wolf’s energy.
“There was no surgery,” he said shortly. “Grandmother fainted in preparation. The surgery has been postponed for at least two weeks. Freya and I are bringing her back to pack territory tonight so she can rest
at home.”
There was a heavy pause on the other end of the line.
“Oh no,” Sarah finally said, her tone filled with genuine concern. “Aaron, I’m so sorry we weren’t there. Your father has been tied up in negotiations, and I…”
“You could’ve come on your own,” Aaron interrupted bluntly.
“I should have,” Sarah admitted without hesitation. Her voice softened in a way that seemed almost apologetic. “We trusted you and Freya to handle things, darling. You always do. But you’re right, I could have been there. I’m sorry for that.”
Her sincerity caught me off guard. Sarah Steel, the formidable Alpha female, was not one to often apologize. She continued, her voice steady. “From now on, I’ll make sure I’m there when I’m needed. That’s my promise.” Aaron’s knuckles whitened slightly against the steering wheel, but he didn’t reply.
I sat in silence, absorbing her words. For all her fierceness, Sarah could be disarmingly gentle when it came to her family. It was a quality I both admired and resented.
Admired because it reflected the balance of power and diplomacy I struggled to achieve. Resented because it highlighted how far I still had to go.
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