Chapter 53

Chapter 53

An nalise

I was returning to my chambers, seething about my sons’ dismissal of my concerns, when someone grabbed my arm and pulled me aside. Irritated, I turned to face them, ready to give them a piece of my mind.

But when I saw the group of people gathered around me, their faces twisted with anger and sympathy, I felt a twinge of curiosity.

“Luna, could we speak with you? We’re in need of your assistance.” Protocol demanded I correct him-I was no longer the Luna–but I refrained, nodding slowly. Whoever these people were, they were clearly in desperate need of huy help if they had approached me in broad daylight instead of taking their concerns to my son or daughter-

in-law.

As I followed the group, I couldn’t help but take in my surroundings. We were heading down to a lesser-used portion of the castle, ducking into a seemingly random door in the dusty hallway.

The room was tiny and cramped, and the air felt thick and stale. The walls were bare; the only furniture was a rickety old table and a few chairs. It was a far cry from the luxurious chambers I was used to, with their plush carpets and ornate furnishings.

As we settled in, the man who had spoken earlier turned to me and said, “I’m sorry about the conditions here, but we had to meet somewhere discreet. It’s not safe for us to be seen together.”

I nodded in understanding, and he continued, “As I mentioned earlier, we need your help. Alpha Mason’s impulsive decisions are causing chaos and distress among the pack members. Many traditional people struggle to keep up with the changes and feel that their way of life is under threat. They have lost faith in their leader and are desperate for someone to speak up on their behalf.”

“I see,” I said, trying to hide the shock in my voice. I had no idea that things had gotten this bad despite my eyes and ears everywhere. “What can I do to help?”

The man looked relieved, and a hint of hope shone in his eyes. “We need you to talk to Alpha Mason, to reason with him. You’re his mother, and we believe you’re the only one who can help bring him back to his senses.”

I hesitated, unsure of how to proceed. “I don’t know if I can do that. Mason is headstrong and stubborn, and I don’t want to cause any more trouble than there already are.”

Another member of the group spoke up. “Please, we’re begging you, Luna. Our way of life is at stake here. Alpha Mason’s decisions are tearing us apart, and we need someone to stand up for us.”

I took a deep breath and nodded. “All right, I’ll talk to him. But I can’t make any promises. Mason is his own person and will make his own decisions.” There. That was a fair compromise.

The group looked grateful, and they thanked me adamantly when I tried to make a hasty exit. Was I really in a position to try and help my son anymore? He’d lost his mind when he found out he was mated to that girl, and then to pardon Oswald as if the man wasn’t why my mate was gone?

I had no idea who my child was anymore. He ignored all of my advice and wisdom, opting for foolishness at every turn. I sighed, returning to my room and deciding that the conversation could wait until tomorrow. Things had gotten too heated today; I’d made a scene in front of the pack, breaking the image of our united front.

The next day, I braced myself for a fight and headed to Mason’s office first thing.

As I approached the door, I heard mu ffled voices coming from inside. I hesitated momentarily before gathering my courage and pushing the door open.

Inside, I found Mason sitting at the table, surrounded by several of his closest advisors. They all looked up as I entered, their expressions wary.

“Alpha Mason,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “Can we talk?”

Mason looked surprised but nodded, gesturing for me to take a seat. I sat down across from him, my heart. pounding in my chest. He paused a moment, then glanced at the small gathering of people and asked them to step. outside. Several gave me lingering looks, obviously concerned, and I made a point to ignore them.

“What’s this about, Mother?” Mason asked when they’d cleared out, his tone guarded.

I took a deep breath and launched into what I had re hearsed in my head a hundred times the evening before. I told Mason about the concerns I had heard from the group about how his decisions were causing chaos and unrest among the pack members. I tried to speak calmly and rationally, avoiding any accusatory tones since he had become so sensitive to them.

Mason listened quietly as I spoke, his expression unreadable. When I finished, there was a long silence as he seemed to consider his response.

“I appreciate your concern, Mother,” Mason finally said, his voice cool, “but I think you’re overreacting. We’re making necessary changes to adapt to the changing world, and not everyone will be happy with that. But in the end, it’s for the good of our pack.”

I felt my frustration mounting. I had hoped that Mason would at least listen to my concerns, but it was clear that he wasn’t willing to consider any criticism.

“But what about the traditional ways?” I asked, trying to keep the desperation from my voice. “What about the pack members struggling to keep up with these changes? Don’t they deserve a voice?”

Mason’s expression hardened. “We’re not living in the past, Mother. We have to move forward, and sometimes that means leaving behind old ways of doing things. I won’t let sentimentality hold us back.”

I felt a surge of anger at his dismissive tone.

“You’re not listening to me. Mason,” I said firmly. “This isn’t about sentimentality. It’s about the well-being of our pack. I’m not asking you to abandon… progress, as you call it, but you need to consider the consequences of your decisions. You can’t just ignore the concerns of your own people.”

Mason’s eyes narrowed, and for a moment, I thought he would lash out at me. But then he seemed to deflate, his shoulders slumping.

“I hear what you’re saying, Mother,” he said quietly, “and I appreciate your input. I’ll consider your concerns and see what we can do to address them.”

I felt a sense of relief flood through me. It wasn’t a total victory, but at least Mason was listening to reason. Finally.

Now, if only I could get Kora out of his ear, we could get things back on track.

“Thank you, Mason,” I said, feeling a weight lift from my shoulders. “I just want what’s best for our pack.”

Mason nodded, his expression thoughtful. “I know you do, Mother. And I value your opinion. We’ll work together to find a solution that works for everyone.”

As I left the room, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. It wouldn’t be an easy road, but at least I had taken the first step toward making things right for our people.