SIX

Julius POV

I watched Cassa ascend the stairs, her light footsteps echoing until she reached her room, marked by the click of the lock.

Silence enveloped the house, an unexpected occurrence at this hour, signaling my mother’s visit. It must mean something important. Yesterday, I’d spoken with Paps about my cousin Theodore’s predicament. He needed help with a case he’d gotten caught up in. Paps said Theodore acted in self-defense; the problem was that the victim wasn’t a werewolf but a human—the son of a senator.

I knew Theodore—a decent kid, loyal to family and pack. His involvement in something so serious was shocking. At twelve, he was still in his human form, without the strength of his wolf until he turned fourteen. With the senator’s powerful connections, Theodore was likely looking at serious jail time. The Ganther family reaching out for help through Paps made sense, given our Montalvo ties to politics.

Maybe my mom's arrival had something to do with the Ganthers’ situation. As the sound of the Mercedes Benz engine faded, her cheerful voice called out to me, pulling me toward the door.

"Dear, your momma is here," she chimed, her voice accompanied by the jingle of her bracelets and the rhythmic click of her heels on the patio, getting closer.

With a wide smile, I swung the door open. "Good evening, Momma! What brings you here? Is Dad with you?"

Mom wore crimson pants and a white blouse beneath a stylish crimson jacket. Her emerald eyes—a trait I’d inherited from Eloisa—contrasted beautifully with her outfit. Her sandy brown hair curled at the edges, and she had a shoulder bag draped over her arm. At five feet eight inches tall, she was often praised for her beauty. Hannah Davilla Montalvo, once a journalist, had married my father, Davilla, who served as a beta in the Paviro pack up north.

Their love story, while not extraordinary, had brought me and my two sisters into the world. I couldn’t help but notice that Mom had tanned her fair skin, likely from the week-long vacation she and Eloisa just took in the Maldives. Regrettably, my busy schedule kept me from visiting my parents this week.

"I just wanted to see you. There’s nothing wrong. You’re still my son, my only son," Hannah emphasized, her words resonating deeply. It felt like she feared I’d forgotten our bond. She brushed past me, leaving a trail of sugary perfume that tickled my nose—a scent I wasn't fond of.

"Well, mother..." I shut the door behind me and followed her. "What’s the reason for your visit?"

Hannah chuckled, but there was a strained quality to it. "You really are my son. Anyway, dear, Erish told me about the note from the Blood Moon pack—it’s addressed to you." She paused, her back to me before turning to face me, her narrowed gaze locking onto mine.

Typical Erish, always reporting to our mother whenever I was involved.

"What trouble are you in, Julius?" she asked, using my name, a clear sign she wanted answers.

I sighed, my thoughts drifting to the conversation ahead. I was grateful that Mom hadn’t involved Dad; he had a knack for seeing through my lies.

"Momma, it’s nothing. Just Kyle teasing me," I reasoned, reaching out to touch her shoulder and meeting her eyes. "Trust me, it’s nothing to worry about. You know Kyle."

Ignoring my wolf’s warnings, I pushed aside my anger. He wasn’t helping; he was just teasing me more.

Mom scrutinized me for a moment, her expression furrowed. "If you say so, fine," she relented, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me.

Releasing my grip on her shoulder, I watched as she settled onto the soft divan facing the window.

"Would you like some tea, Momma?" I asked, heading toward the kitchen.

"Yes, please. I’ve missed your tea; no one makes it quite like you do," she complimented.

It took me ten minutes to return to the living room with a tray carrying a teapot and two cups.

A genuine smile lit up my mother’s face as I carefully set the teacup in front of her and poured the tea. Hannah hovered her hand over the cup, inhaling its calming aroma.

After savoring the tea, she smiled even wider. "I've missed this! You haven't visited the house, dear. Even after picking me up from the airport, you disappeared. What’s been keeping you so busy?" She carefully placed her cup back on the table.

Taking a seat on the divan opposite her, I accepted my cup. "I had appointments and some issues to handle. Sorry, Momma."

Hannah crossed her left leg over her right thigh, setting her bag beside her. "I need to know what’s going on. Your father was always busy in this town. Have you heard about poor Theodore?"

Sipping my tea, I met her gaze. Setting the cup down, I replied, "Yeah, Paps called me yesterday to come to the ranch house. Theodore killed a senator's son."

A heavy sigh escaped her. "I can’t believe he’d do something like that. You know Senator Ramos will stop at nothing to ensure my nephew gets a life sentence. What are you going to do, dear?"

"I'll do everything I can to help him. I won’t let a family member be wrongly imprisoned," I declared, determined that Theodore could get through this.

"I hope it’s that simple," she said, her tone laced with worry. Silence fell as we both found comfort in our tea.

"Are you going to tell me about Cassa Hansen?" Hannah suddenly asked. I nearly choked on my drink, coughing. Damn! How did Mom know about her? Who spilled the beans?

"You can’t keep secrets from me, Julius. Someone told me you have a mortal here. Don’t tell me you’re involved with a Sullivan granddaughter?"

I coughed again, struggling to get myself together, wiping tears from my eyes.

"Momma, who told you that? And why would I have her here?" I chuckled nervously. "A relationship with her? That’s absurd! She’s a mortal, and that goes against pack law."

Hannah clasped her hands between her knees, fixing me with a serious look. "Astallia wouldn’t lie to me, Julius. She told me everything when I asked."

"So it was you who ordered Astallia to poison the soup," I remarked, taken aback by the revelation. Why would I trust a Were capable of such deceit, no matter the reason?

"You’re not denying her presence in your house. What’s going on, dear? Don’t lie to me; I’ll find out," Hannah warned, her narrowed eyes matching the raised curve of her eyebrow.

Most of my secrets always seem to reach my mother’s ears, which is frustrating. It’s been this way since I was a kid; she always knows everything, a protective instinct that sometimes bruises my ego. My pride takes a hit whenever she gets involved, as if I can’t stand on my own without her.

“Julius, dear. I won’t tell your father if that’s what you’re worried about. You know me." Her soft voice sent a shiver down my spine. I knew my mother; she could be scarier than my father when she was angry. Even he treads carefully to avoid her wrath, a testament to her influence and respect among the councils and packs.

My lips pressed together, seeking support from the backrest as I braced myself for her sermon. "It’s between us, Momma," I whispered, though forcing a smile was tough. Hannah’s triumphant grin lit up her beautiful face, reminiscent of my sister Erish. Her slender fingers intertwined and rested on her lap.

"Okay."

Exhaling heavily, I drained my teacup. 'Your mother is so good at this; she always made you kiss and tell,' my wolf’s banter echoed in my mind.

I explained the deal I struck with the Blood Moon alpha and the reasons behind it to my mother. Her smile lingered after I finished, leaving me anxiously waiting for her response.

"Julius..." Her voice dropped, sending a shiver down my spine. The intensity of her gaze felt like a hammer against my heart. Here it comes...

"Why didn't you tell me about it first? You handled it like a pro? No, my son. You messed up just like your father. Don’t you remember what he did last Monday?" She yelled, and I winced, my wolf howling in agreement inside. My father's mistake with a business deal that turned out to be a scam.

"So naive, falling for a scammer. How many times have I warned him not to trust that young businessman Were? But did he listen? No! Never!"

"And you, Julius, following in your father's footsteps! Why would you make such a foolish decision? Did you forget the responsibilities you’re about to inherit? Did you?"

"Mom, I know. It's just—"

Her finger silenced me before I could finish. Damn, those were the words I should have kept to myself. "The only? The only! Options, my son. There’s always an option. Your mother knows everything, and you didn’t even ask for my help?" she continued to rant.

I felt deafened by her loud voice, enduring her tirade for what seemed like hours until she finally began to calm down.

Massaging my temple, I operated the coffee machine, filling a mug with the hot brew—the one thing I needed right now.

"Where is she?" My mother’s demand caught me off guard. I hadn’t expected her to be right behind me. I thought she was on the phone with my father.

Earlier, I’d been saved by Dad's call. Had he sensed I needed his intervention? But even with his past mistakes, it felt like my mother’s sermon would have gone on forever.

"Momma, it’s late. I have a meeting tomorrow," I replied wearily. I was headed to Maine the next day; Senator Ramos would be there.

"I don’t care about your plans for tomorrow. Where is she?"

I groaned, my head pounding, longing for rest. "Sleeping. You can see her tomorrow morning, as early as you like."

"Did Daniel know about this?"

I shook my head and took a sip of coffee.

"Good, he didn’t know we’re Were." Her fingers tapped on the wooden surface of the table, her forehead furrowed as she exhaled deeply. Something was troubling her—likely the call from my father. "The council would be the best option for you to take, dear. Why make such an oath?"

She looked at me, a glint of fear in her eyes. "That oath now holds your life. What if you can’t keep it? Our pack needs an Alpha, but you’re risking it all for this town. Have you considered the consequences?"

Had I thought about it? Constantly. But what would the council do? Their actions weren’t always fair.

“Is it all because of Evelyn…"

I gripped my cup tightly, her name echoing in my mind, a name I hadn’t heard in almost eight years. Just hearing it reopened the wound in my heart. Was she the reason I was doing this? Did this woman remind me of her?