Chapter 12
DAMIEN’S POV
The front door slammed and I felt my wolf jerk awake under my skin. His ears pricked.
Stonewall Villa was always filled with the energy of wolves. I could see the servants shifting, guards moving, pack warriors passing through but the bitter scent of anger was too obvious. And I knew exactly whose anger it belonged to.
My mother.
I walked into the hallway and found her pacing.
Her claws were halfway out even though she tried to keep them hidden. Her hair was wild and her skin looked pale. The moment she saw me, she pointed toward the foyer as if throwing a dagger.
“Damien. Your wife has gone too far p>
I let out a deep breath. “What happened now p>
“She went back to her parents’ house today of all days!” My mother’s voice rose as she spoke, “On your father’s birthday! Do you have any idea how that makes our family look? How it makes the pack look p>
My wolf growled inside me, not out of anger toward her, but from irritation at unnecessary drama. Helen Stone was respected by the pack. She was feared by some, worshipped by others, but she was exhausting when she let her emotions take over.
“Mother,” I said calmly, “maybe Sophia didn’t know it was Dad’s birthday. She barely knows our schedule p>
“That’s the problem!” she snapped. “A Luna – if she even deserves that title – should know these things p>
I folded my arms. “She’s not the Luna p>
Helen blinked, stunned. “What do you mean she’s not the Luna? She’s your wife p>
“Wife by circumstance,” I corrected. My voice was flat. I felt my wolf shift under my skin. “Mother, I barely know her. We got married because of the pregnancy. Because I needed an heir she had failed to provide. Nothing more p>
She stared at me as if I’d grown two heads.
“Damien, how can you speak like this so carelessly p>
“Because it’s the truth.” I didn’t raise my voice; I didn’t need to. My calm irritated her more than any rage could. “There was never a relationship to protect. There was no bond, no courtship, no pack connection. We did what was required when unexpected situations… happened p>
Her jaw clenched. “You should have brought her back home today. What will people say when they hear the Stone wife abandoned her husband on his father-in-law’s birthday p>
“It’s her father’s birthday as well p>
My mother froze.
And the realization hit her. She had been raging blindly without even considering that Sophia had gone home to honor her own family.
She sighed but refused to admit she was wrong.
She never did.
“She still should’ve been here p>
“I don’t think so. In fact I don’t care p>
“So that’s it? You don’t care where she goes? What she does p>
“No.” I shrugged. “I don’t p>
My mother let out a long, annoyed sigh. “You men are all the same p>
“Then maybe stop expecting me to be different,” I said, walking past her.
Behind me, my mother’s voice followed. “Damien, this will come back to bite you p>
I didn’t turn around. “Maybe. But today is not that day p>