Chapter 14

FOURTEEN

L ena hesitated before dialing, knowing this conversation would be a blend of concern, outrage, and the unique brand of humor that only her mother could inject into such situations. She took a deep breath and pressed the call icon, the phone barely ringing twice before her mom's voice filled her ear, brimming with the usual vigor.

"Darling! How was your date? Did Romeo sweep you off your feet, or do I need to have a stern chat with him?"

"Mom, well, the date was... eventful," Lena began, choosing her words carefully. "We were attacked by some members of a rival pack. But don't worry, I'm okay."

There was a beat of silence, and Lena could practically hear her mother gearing up for battle. "Attacked? Oh, honey, I'm grabbing my bat. Just point me in the direction of these hooligans. Shifter or not, nobody messes with my baby girl!"

Lena couldn't help but laugh, the tension easing from her shoulders. "Mom, I love the enthusiasm, but it's not necessary. Alex was there, and he protected me. He was amazing."

Her mom's tone shifted from vigilante to investigative journalist in a heartbeat. "Alex, huh? So, he's a keeper? Fights off the baddies and makes sure my girl is safe?"

"Yeah, he's... he's something special," Lena admitted, her heart swelling with affection at the thought of Alex's bravery.

"Well, I always said I wanted a son-in-law who could throw a punch. Or, you know, shift into a wolf and scare the bejeezus out of anyone who looked at you funny," her mom joked, the warmth in her voice wrapping Lena in a virtual hug.

Lena chuckled, picturing her petite mother taking on a pack of shifters with nothing but her fierce love and a kitchen utensil. "I think between Alex and your flip-flop, I'm well-protected."

"Oh, you jest, but this flip-flop has seen things, Lena. It's not just for keeping my feet comfortable, you know. It's a multi-purpose mom weapon," her mother quipped, the laughter in her voice contagious.

As Lena and her mother continued their conversation, her mother's inventive ideas for beefing up personal security began to take a rather strange turn, all involving Alex in scenarios that would inevitably lead to Lena being less clothed than more.

"Well, honey, Alex could give you personal combat training," her mom suggested, the mischief clear in her voice. "Of course, for the sake of realism, you'd need to practice naked. It's all about freedom of movement, you know."

Lena laughed, shaking her head even though her mom couldn't see. "I'm not sure fighting naked is going to intimidate anyone, Mom."

"Oh, you'd be surprised," her mom retorted. "But, if that doesn't work, perhaps he could insist on checking all your clothes for tracking devices? A thorough inspection, naturally. Those Hillside wolves are sneaky; you can never be too careful. He'd have to take everything off."

"I'm sure Alex would be very thorough," Lena quipped, the blush creeping up her cheeks at the thought. "I'm getting the feeling you're looking to get Alex to keep me out of my clothes."

"Sweetie, whatever gets the man's attention," her mother said, her voice filled with melodic laughter. "I don't think I'll be getting many grandchildren with you dressed all the time."

"Mom!"

"And let's not forget swim lessons. It's crucial you know how to escape via water routes. Alex can be your instructor, ensuring you're adept at all forms of undress... I mean, underwater evasion techniques."

"Mom, that's ridiculous," Lena managed between giggles, thoroughly entertained by her mother's increasingly outrageous suggestions.

"Darling, in love and war, everything is fair game. And if it means Alex has to personally inspect every inch of you for... security purposes, then so be it. A mother can dream of having a son-in-law who's so dedicated to her daughter's safety."