CHAPTER 35: REMINDED ME OF MY MOTHER

"This really wasn’t necessary, but thank you," Leia said with a small smile, glancing at the fruit basket the mated hybrid she-wolves had gifted her as a token of appreciation for visiting the pack house.

Though she hadn’t been able to explore the entire estate, her time there had been genuinely pleasant. From the wise elders to the lively middle-aged women and playful children, she had felt a rare sense of warmth and belonging, which she always missed living in a human world.

As she made her way toward the car, Leia reached for the front passenger door. Just then, Ronan’s voice stopped her.

"Sit in the backseat."

She turned, only to find him already holding the rear door open for her.

Leia didn’t argue. With a soft nod, she slid into the backseat, clutching the fruit basket gently on her lap.

Kieran arrived just as she settled in. His eyes flicked toward her in the back, then shifted to Ronan, who had now taken the passenger seat beside the driver.

The situation didn’t sit right with Kieran. He told himself not to read too much into it, not to give weight to the thought that had been haunting him lately.

That Ronan was developing a soft spot for Leia.

Kieran slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine. He glanced into the rearview mirror, catching Leia’s reflection.

"Leia, I take it you had a good time today?" he asked with a warm smile.

"Yes," she responded without hesitation. "I’ve never been surrounded by so many people before. And being with the women around my mother’s age... the way they pampered me, it reminded me of my mother. It brought back a feeling I’ve missed for a long time."

Her voice softened toward the end, turning heavy. As memories of her mother resurfaced, Leia lifted her gaze to the front, blinking back the mist in her eyes. She managed a small, heartfelt smile.

"Thank you, Kieran. For bringing me here."

"I’m glad you enjoyed it," Kieran replied gently. "And you really don’t have to thank me."

But her words had stirred something in him. Hearing her speak about missing her mother brought back memories of his own parents’ faces.

Ronan, on the other hand, remained quiet in the passenger seat. Emotions like that were foreign territory for him. It had been years since he’d even allowed himself to think about his mother. As for his father, there was nothing to remember.

~~~~

Lucien stepped out of the car, his sharp gaze fixed on the towering hotel building ahead.

Caleb joined him at his side. "Delia is still inside," he informed him.

Lucien gave a nod. "I’ll handle it. Tell the others to stay on alert," he instructed, already striding toward the entrance with purpose.

Inside, the hotel manager, clearly briefed in advance, greeted Lucien with a respectful nod and silently led him to Delia’s room. At Lucien’s subtle gesture, the manager excused himself without a word, disappearing down the hallway.

Lucien stood before the door, and he knocked on the door twice.

He sensed the approaching footsteps toward the door and it creaked open.

Delia was shocked to see Lucien in front of her. She attempted to close the door when Lucien caught it, and flung it open with a loud thud.

Delia turned to run inside to take the stone, which could ward off werewolves easily but Lucien already caught her. His hand wrapped around her neck as he shoved her against the wall.

"Quit such attempts," Lucien growled when he felt a sharp pain in his eyes and his grip loosened from her neck.

Before he knew, Delia disappeared from his sight with the power of teleportation, making him clench his jaw.

Still, he rushed in to check and found no one. He immediately called Caleb, telling him that Delia had disappeared. Then, a strange thought came in his head and he quickly called Kieran.

But the call wasn’t answered.

"Dammit! Pick up your call," Lucien muttered under his breath.

~~~~

"Can we stop for ice cream?" Leia asked, glancing at Kieran with a hopeful smile.

"Sure," he replied without hesitation, pulling the car over near a small shop.

"I’ll come with you," Kieran added, stepping out of the car and joining her.

They entered the shop together. Leia moved toward the display, scanning the colorful rows of ice cream tubs, her fingers lightly tapping the glass as she debated her options.

Meanwhile, Kieran felt his phone buzz in his pocket. He pulled it out and glanced at the screen. It was Lucius.

He answered the call, raising the phone to his ear.

"Is Leia with you?" came Lucien’s voice which seemed slightly panicked.

Kieran’s brows drew together. "Yeah, she’s right here. Why?"

As he spoke, he glanced toward Leia, who had finally made her choice and was walking toward the counter with a satisfied look on her face.

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line.

"...No, it’s nothing," Lucien said quickly, masking the worry in his voice.

However, Kieran had picked up that something wasn’t right. He chose to remain silent, not asking his brother. Lucien hung up the call and Kieran slid his own into the pocket of his trousers.

After buying the icecream, Leia and Kieran returned to the car. As they sat comfortably inside, he once again started the engine, pulling it toward the road.

"Ronan, I got butterscotch for you. You like it, right?" Leia asked, her eyes lighting up with excitement as she held up the small tub, pulling it out from the bag.

Ronan glanced at her. "I don’t have a favorite when it comes to ice cream," he muttered.

"Really? Then I’ll make you try it once we get back to the mansion," Leia said with a grin, undeterred.

Ronan looked away, then remarked, "Weren’t you just missing your mother a while ago? How come you’re all cheerful again so suddenly?"

Leia’s smile faltered and the warmth in her eyes turned dim.

"Hey," Kieran cut in a sharp tone.

"What?" Ronan frowned, confused by the sudden tension. He hadn’t realized his words had crossed a line.