Alpha's Hidden Precious Luna-Chapter 197

Kai POV

The door to my office opened again, and I looked up to see my mother entering with her characteristic purposeful stride. Her sharp eyes swept the room with obvious suspicion, as if she could detect the lingering traces of my phone conversation with Lily through some maternal sixth sense.

Behind her followed Healer Odin, his weathered face bearing the same concerned expression he’d worn since this whole curse situation had begun. He carried his familiar medical bag, which could only mean one thing—more blood samples for whatever experimental treatments he was developing.

"Are you finished here, Beta Liam?" my mother asked, her tone polite but carrying the unmistakable tone of dismissal.

Liam nodded quickly, gathering his papers. "Yes, Luna Helen. I was just leaving."

As soon as the door closed behind him, my mother’s demeanor shifted from formal pack leader to concerned parent. She crossed the room and enveloped me in one of her overwhelming maternal hugs, the kind that had comforted me as a child but now felt slightly suffocating.

"Come," she said, guiding me toward the leather couch that occupied one corner of my office. "Sit with me for a moment."

I allowed myself to be led to the couch, where she settled at one end and pulled me close so that my head was practically nestled against her chest. The position was a reminder of childhood comfort sessions after nightmares or scraped knees, when her presence had been enough to chase away any monster.

I rolled my eyes at the way she was treating me. "Mom, I’m not a baby anymore," I protested, pulling away after a few seconds. "Do you know how embarrassing it would look if someone entered here and saw you doing this to the pack’s Alpha?"

She released me with reluctance, though her hand remained on my shoulder. "You’re still my baby," she said with a wistful sigh. "No matter how big and powerful you become, you’ll always be my little boy."

I nodded, fighting the way my heart clenched with longing at the statement. I settled back against the couch cushions, leaning my head on the rest as I closed my eyes. I needed a moment to myself to fight the nostalgia.

"Healer Odin is here to collect more blood samples," my mother explained, gesturing toward the elderly healer who had been waiting patiently for our mother-son moment to conclude.

I nodded and extended my arm without complaint. The weekly blood draws had become routine since the curse had manifested more strongly. Odin was monitoring my blood chemistry for changes that might indicate the curse’s progression or potential weakening.

The needle slid into my vein with practiced ease, and I closed my eyes again, letting my mind drift as the familiar sensation of blood being drawn filled my awareness.

"I’ve been thinking about this year’s gala," my mother said conversationally as Odin worked. "I was considering inviting Alpha Richardson’s daughter from Blue Moon Pack to be your date."

My eyes opened immediately. "Absolutely not."

"Kai, be reasonable—"

"No," I said firmly, my voice taking on the authoritative tone I used for pack business. "I won’t be going with any woman who isn’t my mate."

My mother sighed heavily, "I know you want desperately to be with Lily, but I cannot allow that. Look what happened when we left both of you alone for even a second? Things spiraled completely out of control."

The reminder of my loss of control by the lake sent a familiar stab of guilt through my chest, but I held firm to my position. "I won’t be with another woman," I repeated. "If I must go with a female companion to the gala, then I’d rather go with Celeste."

"Your sister?" My mother scoffed, clearly finding the suggestion absurd. "Since when did you two start acting like actual siblings? Celeste will never agree to such an arrangement."

"Ask her first," I challenged. "I think you might be surprised by her answer."

My mother looked skeptical but seemed to consider the possibility. "Even if she agrees, what about her future? Your sister needs to find her mate too. She needs to mingle and participate in normal social activities like other women her age."

Here we go, I thought, recognizing the beginning of one of my mother’s favorite lectures about our family’s romantic shortcomings.

"When she’s not talking to those damn birds of hers, she has absolutely no romantic life," she continued. "Do you know how difficult it is for me to watch other pack Lunas showing off pictures of their grandchildren while I have nothing to contribute to those conversations?"

"Mother—"

"No, let me finish," she interrupted, determined to air her grievances fully. "Luna Patricia from Silver Ridge has four grandchildren. Four! And Luna Margaret from Crystal Falls just welcomed her sixth grandchild last month. Even Luna Sandra from Iron Peak, who’s younger than I am, has twin grandsons who just started walking."

I could see where this was heading, and I braced myself for the emotional manipulation that was sure to follow.

"Do you have any idea what it’s like to be the only Luna in the entire western pack alliance who doesn’t have grandchildren?" she asked, her voice taking on that tone that was designed to make you feel guilty. "Every gathering, every social event, every casual conversation inevitably turns to grandchildren and family growth, and I have to sit there with nothing to contribute."

"I’m sure it’s difficult—" I began, but she was just getting started.

"Difficult?" she repeated, her voice rising with emotion. "It’s humiliating! Last week, Luna Patricia asked me if I was planning to expand the nursery wing of our pack house anytime soon, and I had to pretend I didn’t hear her because what was I supposed to say? That my son is cursed and can’t safely be around his mate? That my daughter prefers the company of birds to eligible males?"

The guilt trip was working exactly as intended, and I felt my resolve beginning to weaken and if I didn’t agree to whatever she wanted, she would start crying soon.