Chapter 255

Xavier's POV

Lady Shaw knew her son just as well as I knew my father.

When I saw Elder Shaw standing there, hands in his pockets, as if this was just some casual midday visit instead of a random, middle-of-the-night intrusion, I knew he was up to something. He looked calm, composed—and completely out of place. But that was just like him. He didn’t care how he looked. He was here with a purpose.

“Mother, step aside. Let’s have some late-night tea,” he said, his voice full of the authority he liked to pretend he still had—authority he didn’t hold over Lady Shaw, who, unlike him, had actually earned respect in the pack. She was still the acting Alpha in his absence, no matter what he thought.

“It’s late, son,” she replied with a frown. “Either say what you came to say or leave.”

“You don’t look like you just got out of bed to open the door, Mother,” he smirked.

“Neither do you,” Lady Shaw retorted smoothly.

“Well, I never said I was in bed.”

“Neither did I.”

“In that case, you wouldn’t m