21. No Holding Back

Aria and Cecil sat inside a sleek, modern café nestled in the heart of Silver Moon Pack’s bustling business district. The place was lively, but a storm of nerves churned silently between the two women.

Cecil watched, half-amused and half-concerned, as Aria picked up her phone… only to put it down again… and then repeated the cycle, all while sipping her caramel frappuccino like it was her only lifeline.

“If I have to watch you touch that phone one more time, I’m going to lose my mind,” Cecil said with a long sigh. “Are we staying here until sunset, or do we have a plan before we become the furniture?”

Aria groaned and slapped her palm on the table. “Ugh! Fine! I’ll call him. Just once. I’m going to choke on my own pride at this point—but if it’ll get my parents out of that godforsaken prison, then so be it.” 

She hit the call button with dramatic flair. Her expression twisted with anxiety.

Her lips pressed into a thin line, eyebrows drawn together as the phone rang on and on. She took deep breaths as she waited, wishing and praying to the Goddess that Mason would pick up soon.

Aria finally drew one last sigh. “He’s not picking up,” she told Cecil, her shoulders dropped as she placed her phone back on the table.

Cecil raised a brow. “Maybe we should just book a formal appointment with his secretary. You know, like actual civilized people?”

“That’s the problem, Cecil,” Aria hissed, eyes sharp. “I don’t want to be seen begging at the Federation’s front desk like some desperate social climber. Everyone would think I’m crawling for favors. I have enough humiliation for a lifetime already, thanks.”

Cecil shrugged. “Well, what are we gonna do if he is not answering his phone? Send a pigeon?”

Aria rolled her eyes with a heavy sigh, slumped back against the chair, and stared blankly out the window. She took a long sip of her frappuccino, the defeat in her posture making it clear… She had completely given up.

Meanwhile, in the Silver Moon Estate…

Mason was seated in a metal garden chair under a shade tree, calmly watching his daughter Nina play with the servants’ children. 

Her arm still in a small cast, she giggled as she chased butterflies like they were dreams she hadn’t been forced to wake from yet.

His phone stopped buzzing. Mason glanced at the screen but didn’t react; no twitch, no urgency. He just stared at it, as if the call were nothing more than background noise, distant and meaningless.

Julian leaned over and squinted. “Aren’t you gonna get that? It says ‘Missed Call, Little M—’”

Before he could finish, Mason snatched the phone, turned it face-first on the table like it had offended him.

Julian blinked. “Whoa. Okay. Who was that?”

“You don’t give up, do you?” Mason muttered, visibly irritated.

Julian shrugged. “Just curious. Your phone never rings, and whoever that was is surely important to call you directly on your personal number.”

“It’s no one important,” Mason muttered, standing and walking toward the garden.

He joined Nina and the kids, letting himself be pulled into their innocent game. 

But in the café…

“GRR! Why didn’t he answer my call?! That arrogant ass!” Aria snapped, nearly launching her phone across the table after hesitating to try again.

Cecil chuckled under her breath. “I’ll go order some bread. We’re clearly setting up camp here.” She rose, but not before discreetly pulling out her phone and typing something quickly before heading to the counter.

Back at Silver Moon Estate, Julian’s phone buzzed with a new message. He checked it and froze.

He walked toward Mason with a mixture of hesitation and reckless bravery. “Uh, Mason? Aria and her assistant are literally outside the Federation building. 

Her assistant just messaged me. They’re asking for a private meeting. Apparently, they were denied visitation rights to see the Harper couple from Ravenhold.”

Mason, breathless from chasing Nina, placed his hands on his hips and frowned. He looked at Julian with a storm behind his eyes.

“I know what you’re thinking. We can’t get involved, Mason,” Julian said. “That’s your uncle’s domain. Ravenhold’s a political minefield. If we interfere, we’ll be lighting a flare for every snake in the Federation. Now is not the time to draw attention.”

Julian added with an exaggerated shake of his head, “Poor girl’s out there, getting scorched by everyone’s silence. But hey, what can we do? We’ve got our own fires to put out.”

He turned to walk off, but paused when Mason stopped him.

“…Wait.”

Julian turned. Mason was staring at Nina.

His daughter’s laugh rang through the garden. She looked like any other carefree child. No one would’ve guessed that every night, she woke up screaming from nightmares that left her shaking and breathless.

Then he remembered, Nina said, 'I want that Auntie!'

Mason then ran his hand over his face in hesitation and exasperation.

Julian said nothing, sensing something shift in Mason’s heart.

“If I’m holding back because of fears that may never happen,” Mason murmured, more to himself than anyone, “then what the hell am I even fighting for?”

He turned sharply to Julian. “Hand me my phone. Let’s see what I can do for Ms. Harper.”

Julian dropped his shoulders and sighed heavily. “Mason, no… Don’t do this.”

“I’m the Chairman. I’ll decide on what should be done. Besides, we don’t know yet if my ‘service’ would be of help to her. Let’s hear her out first.”

Julian grinned at the way Mason said it, then bit his lip to suppress it. But the smirk lingered.

“You surely could do a 'LOT of service' for her,” he whispered under his breath.

“I heard that, Julian,” Mason barked with a smirk. “I’m still an Alpha, you know.”

Julian burst out laughing, dashing toward the table to grab the phone while ducking as if expecting something to be hurled at his head.

He grabbed the phone and threw it back to Mason.

“Julian, what the hell!” Mason growled, catching it effortlessly.

“You're an alpha, right?" Julian teased. "I’m going to tell the maids to prepare for guests! Two very lovely ladies!” Julian yelled back as he bolted toward the mansion.

[Who are these guests, Julian? Care to enlighten me?] Mason asked through their mind-link.

[Ms. Harper and Ms. Lambert, obviously. I know you, Mason. You’re going to invite them in, if I know better, that's in your mind for days now. Am I wrong?]

Mason laughed quietly to himself. His beta really did know him better than he liked to admit.

[Make sure dinner’s spectacular… or I’ll demote you to stable boy.]

Julian’s laughter echoed in his mind. [Yes, Alpha! I’ll even wear the apron.]

Mason rolled his eyes, unlocked his phone, and dialed. Aria answered on the first ring.

“Hello? Chairman?” she said quickly, her voice a mix of nerves and cautious hope. Cecil leaned closer, visibly tense.

[My beta received your assistant’s message. I’ll send you an address. Let’s meet.]

He didn’t wait for a reply. He ended the call, sent his address via text message, and turned back to the garden, where his daughter was waiting, smiling brightly.

He didn't know that by ending the call so soon, he left two ladies with their jaws dropped, almost to the floor after seeing the address that he had sent.

"Oh. My. God!" Cecil said after realizing where the meeting place was.