48. Mom

Richard has his camera in his hand, smiling at me while he tries to position me. Since he helped get Charlie back, Alpha Liam has allowed him to roam the pack grounds with me. He isn't allowed to run around on his own, but at least he isn't under house arrest anymore. I'm relieved because the more I get to know him, the more I realize that he really did get taken advantage of and got caught in something he had no idea what it was.

I'm holding a cup of coffee in my hands while he tells me how to stand so that the light hits me perfectly. "I'm not photogenic," I say.

"That's not true." He smiles while he eyes me through his lens. "You are beautiful, Livia."

It's like when he was on the phone with the kidnappers… he is suddenly a completely different person. Confident and calm, and so handsome.

"I'm not beautiful," I say.

He shakes his head. "You are stunning. You have such an intense aura."

I hold the cup in front of my face. "Stop it," I huff.

"Are you embarrassed?" He chuckles.

"No," I put the cup aside. "I'm annoyed. You are just being silly."

"I'm sorry," he says with a smile. "It's just, you amaze me. You are so smart and kind, but also so powerful. I saw you training last time."

"Training really empowers me," I admit. "I didn't feel strong for a long while, then I started to train and learn how to fight. It gave me confidence."

"I believe that even back then you were incredibly strong," he says.

I shake my head. "I was bullied, Richie, so much that all I could do was run away from it. I wasn't able to stand up for myself."

"But you did something about it. You changed your life," he mutters. "Look at me instead. My mom did all these things to me, and the moment I was free, I allowed myself to get manipulated again."

"It's not your fault," I say quietly. "Your mom was all you knew, and then Imogen took advantage of that. But once you realized the kind of cruelty they were committing, you instantly acted on it. You didn't protect her or her cause; instead, you stood up for what's right."

"I was almost part of something horrible," he says. "And there is no excuse for it."

"But you made it right," I say with emphasis.

"I don't think I could have done that without you. You are superwoman… the super she-wolf."

I have to laugh at his silly comment.

He smiles. "Come and look," he tells me while waving with his camera. I've completely forgotten that we were about to have our photo shoot. Part of me is still feeling embarrassed, the other part just wants to see what kind of photos he took. I hurry to his side, leaning over his shoulder to look at the screen. I could easily stand next to him, but I want to feel close to him. Everyone around me believed I'd have issues with him being human, but I couldn't care less about that.

Jazz was the only one who didn't comment anything about him not being a wolf and how I might or might not have a problem with it. It just reminded me once more why she is my friend.

I was only worried about him being involved with Imogen.

That worry is getting old, my wolf mutters.

She isn't wrong. I trust him, and I'm confident he is a good person. His name was cleared, and walking into Imogen's trap after being raised by a narcissistic and abusive mother doesn't make him bad. I gaze down at the photos he took. There is one of me laughing. I look happy in most of them and vulnerable in others. Is this how I look while talking to him?

"They are good," I say. "I-I actually like them."

"Livia," Richie says, and I can hear the tension in his voice. "When I was brought here, Dave said something to me. He said that when a werewolf doesn't say the magical word, it doesn't mean anything."

"The magical word?" I ask.

"Mate," he mutters, my blood momentarily freezing in my veins. I can't say anything as he continues. "I thought I would like to be your friend," he admits. "But I feel drawn to you so much. It's different than it was with Imogen," he explains. "There is just something about you. You are strong and kind, funny, and so beautiful. I think you have the most beautiful laugh I've ever heard, and I just want to get to know you better."

I can't believe it. I was obsessing over how to court him and how to break it to him who he is to me, and he just beat me to it. Well, kind of. "You are my mate," I say. When he stares at me in shock, I shrug. "Well, why did you think the alpha allowed me to hang out with you? And why are you still allowed to stay here? Unmated humans aren't allowed on pack grounds."

"Wait.. you're not kidding!?" he blurts out, his eyes widening to a comical level. He looks so cute.

"No, of course not."

"But why didn't you tell me?" he exclaims.

"I thought you were heartbroken over Imogen," I admit. "And that you wouldn't trust the next-best she-wolf crossing your path."

"You are not just any she-wolf," he says. "Without you, I would have never been able to talk to that asshole Dylan. I wanted to prove myself to you so badly." He pauses. "So, does this mean we can date?"

"You are my mate," I say again. "There is no other person for me anymore. So yes, we can date."

He beams at me before taking my hand in his. He clearly doesn't know much about packs and wolves yet, but he knows the basics and wants to date me. I will show him everything gradually.

On our way to the packhouse we meet Jazz who is returning from her college class. "So, you finally told him?" she grins when she sees us holding hands.

"You knew too?" Richie asks.

"Everyone did." Jazz laughs. "Better treat her well, Richard. Livi has a lot of friends here."

"Oh, please don't scare him off," I say. "The first to say something weird to you, Richard, will get their ass kicked by me."

"I don't mind," he says. "It's the first time someone actually holds me to a higher expectation. I want to prove myself to everyone."

Jazz smiles at his words. "You will need to move your stuff to the pack," she says. "Or do you prefer to stay in your apartment in town?"

I'm glad she is so casually asking this question. I didn't dare ask, because I was dreading his answer. I hold my breath while waiting for him to make up his mind. It doesn't take long, though. "I didn't have many good experiences with wolves so far," he admits. "But I would like to try it once more. If I can stay here, I would prefer it here."

I squeeze my fingers around his hand, feeling relieved. "Let's go to the alpha," I suggest. "And talk to him. Then we can grab your things, and if you want… I will take you out on a date afterwards."

Richie looks happy at my words. "You are going to take me on a date?" He beams. "Then let's hurry."

I sit in front of my phone, unsure when and how to do what I need to do. I just seem to be caught in my own bubble. I look up when the door to my office opens slightly, and Ella peeks in. "Hey, D," she says. "It's late already. You are still in your office?"

I feel so much calmer whenever I see her. It's like all the things that keep bothering me, things that I can't let go, are suddenly put into perspective.

I jump up, striding towards her and grabbing her. She smirks, locking the door behind her and wrapping her legs around me. The blinds on my window leading to the corridor are already down as I didn't want to be disturbed. Best decision of the day.

I keep my arms around Ella while I carry her to my desk.

"Dirty, Beta Dante," Ella teases. "I didn't know you wanted to do me on your work desk."

"Are you kidding? That's one of my favorite fantasies," I say.

Ella chuckles but eagerly complies. There is not much lying on my desk, just a few pens that she pushes away before helping me tug off her pants.

"Next time you need to wear a dress," I say. "Would make this easier."

"Oh, I apologize. I didn't know you had these kinds of plans when I came looking for you," she says, kicking her pants and panties off her before she reaches out her hand to grab my neck. "I hope I didn't kill your fantasy."

"No, this is doing it too," I say, smiling against her lips before I kiss her.

I push her shirt up and tug her bra upwards to free her breasts.

Maybe this is silly. Such a scene shouldn't excite me as it does, but I can barely contain myself while I tug my pants down. Seeing Ella sprawled naked on my desk, here in my office, is like a dirty dream come true. I like my comfortable sex life and not the most adventurous, but this here is my little adventure.

The moment Ella is wet and ready for me, I plunge into her. Ella clasps one hand at my back, pulling me down towards her while wrapping her legs around me tighter, meeting my thrusts midway. My mind feels dizzy from all the sensations around me. I love this woman so much it hurts sometimes. It's scary, yet I wouldn't want to change my life.

"Dante," she moans, trying to keep her voice low. "Come inside me."

At that my lycan basically takes over, pushing me back, his eyes flashing possessively. "Mate," he growls.

"Sylvan," she says before she hands the rein to Nefeli.

At one point I don't know who is in control. I just let it happen. I don't even care if someone hears us. My primal side takes over until I come hard, unloading my seed into her.

Ella takes a moment to catch her breath before she jumps down from my desk and collects her clothes from the floor. We both dress in silence before glancing at each other and bursting into laughter.

"Like teens." Ella grins. "We were just like horny teens."

I pull her into my arms.

"I love you," she says. She isn't one to voice her feelings all the time. It's in the small gestures for her, but when she does, she always means it.

Her words make my heart jump, putting things into perspective for me once again. I have my family here. I have Ella and Charlie, and Liam and Annie, and Aryanna and Jazz. My friends became my family long ago, and then Ella and Charlie came along and made me whole.

Without thinking further, I grab my phone, calling Paris. Prince Eric answers almost immediately, happy to hear from me.

After exchanging some politeness, I get to the point. After my mother harassed Annie for a while, she and Eric told her that once I was ready, I would reach out to her, but to not harass me anymore. "Is my mother still at the Council?" I ask.

"No," he says. "She went back to her pack."

"I can't believe she involved you in this," I say.

He is silent for a moment, making me feel suspicious instantly. Eric is a laid-back and fun guy. He can be almost silly sometimes, albeit cunning. Being silent is not usual for him. "You are hiding something from me, aren't you?" I conclude.

"You are Liam's best friend," he says. "And Liam is my cousin. It's like you are extended family."

"You don't need to protect me from the truth," I say.

"I know what your mother did and said," he admits. "I wasn't too happy that she tried to involve me, but at least she didn't cross a line in reaching out to me." He pauses. "Dante, she even tried to reach Elden's father and have him contact Elden."

"WHAT!?" I exclaim. "Does Liam know that?"

"He does, and he isn't happy either," he says.

"Please tell me Alpha Elden's father didn't reach out to him," I say. Elden and I share a similar fate. While the reason for our fallout with our parents isn't the same, the outcome was pretty similar. I can't believe my mother would do that and play so dirty. She knew what the former alpha did! How could she?

"I prevented him from doing so," Eric says. "Fortunately, Caelum isn't an idiot. He knows he is allowed to stay in Paris and that his name and heritage are what protects him from any bigger repercussions, but that he holds no power anymore."

He is right. Caelum is an intelligent man, and he knows he is at the mercy of the Council. They value his son Elden highly, and want him as the next king, which is why they allow his father to stay, without any rank or meaning to his existence, though.

"Tell me what else you know," I say. I can feel Ella next to me, her scent calming me down. I pull her into my arms, feeling how she snuggles against me. "I am ready, Eric."

"It seems like she might have found a chosen mate," he says quietly.

Thanks to her werewolf senses, Ella hears what he says. I can feel her almost freeze in shock. I need a while to grasp what he said before I shake my head. "So, this is why?" I finally say.

I'm not sure how to feel about it. I don't mind if my mother takes a chosen mate. Losing my father broke her, and if someone finds the strength to move on after losing their mate, they should be supported. But I can't help but feel bitter about the way she treated me, and how it took her falling in love again to reach out to me.

"Do you want to talk to her?" Eric asks warily. "I can establish contact if you want to."

"No," I say. "Not yet. But if you would please deliver a message for me. I will write her a letter eventually, but I assume she is waiting for my response."

"Of course," he says.

The day I lost my mate, my baby, and my father destroyed me. And my mother blaming me for everything was the final nail in the coffin. I know she had her own trauma to deal with, but it's been ten years now. And for at least half of this time, I tried to reach out to her, tried to connect with her, only to be met with insults and more blame.

And every time, it would make me spiral into an endless pit of self-loathing until I genuinely felt that I was the one who killed them. If it weren't for Liam and Aryanna I would probably be dead by now.

"Tell her that it's not about forgiveness for me," I say. "That I understand she was broken when her mate died, but so was I. I'm not ready yet to move past the things she said and did. Seeing and hearing her still puts me back into that time. Please tell her that I will reach out to her when I'm ready. I don't know when that will be or if that will ever happen. For now, my focus is on my real family here, and they need my undivided attention."