“I’m calling the cops,” Margo says.
“I’m twenty-one, Mom. I’m an adult, and I want to be here. I want to be in their pack.”
“We will be the laughing stock of the community. I know you were having a hard time finding a pack that wanted you, Luna. But this is just deplorable.”
I’m on my feet, and my finger is in Margo’s face. “Listen, I can understand that this is a lot to take in. But the last thing you’re going to do is come into my fucking house and disrespect Luna, do you understand?”
“Margo, maybe we should just go?” my dad says.
“Stewart, grow a fucking spine. Your son has been grooming my daughter.”
My dad’s eyebrows furrow, and he shakes his head. “Ian is a good boy, he wouldn’t do that. They said it just happened. Maybe we need to go home and have some time to cool down.”
“No, Luna, go pack your things now. This is horrifying. I’ll find you a decent pack. I know you don’t have much to offer a pack right now, but we can work on that.”
“Get the fuck out. Don’t contact us, don’t reach out to Luna, and sure as fuck don’t bring your nasty fucking ass back in my house.” I’m yelling at Margo, and she literally clutches her pearls as I grip her by the shoulder and basically shove her out of our house.
“Son,” my dad says.
“Listen, I love you, Dad. But if you can’t accept this, then you’re not going to be in my life anymore. I can’t have a relationship with you if your wife continues to disrespect me and my pack.” He looks at me softly and gives me a gentle smile and nods his head.
“I’ll speak to her.” I nod and turn back toward the kitchen where I find only Ezra still sitting at the island.
“Fuck,” I groan and sit down next to him. “Where did she go?”
“James took her to the greenhouse.”
I nod and take a deep breath to calm myself down.
“I fucking hate that woman so much.”
Ezra nods. “Poor Luna.”
“Are you sure James can handle this?”
“I think he’s the only one who can,” Ezra says. I stand up and grab the bourbon, then pour it in my coffee. Ezra nods to his cup, and I pour some into his.
This was the perfect morning, and that bitch just ruined everything.
Chapter 19
James
Iunlockthegreenhousewith my hand in Luna’s. She sniffles, but I can tell that she’s holding back full fledged tears. Her mom basically said that she understood that no one else wanted her, but she didn’t need to settle for us. Luna could have any pack that she wanted, she just chooses not to care about the superficial shit her mom does. It’s one of the things I like about her. I mean, it’s clear that she likes being spoiled by Ian, but it’s not about the things he gives her. It’s the meaning behind it. Luna wants to be cared for based on who she is, and if anyone gets that, it’s me.
We walk to the back, and I can tell she’s taking everything in while holding herself together. Without asking, I grip her by the hips and lift her to sit on the table.
“You know not to listen to anything she said, right?”
She nods and rubs her eye with the back of her hand. “It doesn’t make it hurt any less.”
“My parents were horrible people too,” I confess to her, and she looks up.
“I’m sorry,” she says softly, and I shake my head.
“It’s in the past, but it’s still something I’m working through. Having a mother who talks to you like yours does isn’t something you just magically get over. But I just wanted you to know that I want you here. And you know that Ezra and Ian do. You’re not a consolation prize, you’re fucking everything, Luna.”
She sniffles, and her watery blue eyes look into mine. “You really mean that?”
