Alisson's Escape

Love in Pain.

"Your cooking has improved, though it isn't anything to shout about."

Alisson simply laughed in response and busied her mouth with taking sips from her tea. Any time spent with her mother-in-law was valuable time wasted.

She could not tolerate the blonde-haired woman for longer than necessary, she was a self-righteous, pretentious hypocrite who tricked herself into believing the world revolved around her and her 'perfect' family. There was a time when Alisson looked up to her and saw her as the embodiment of perfection and grace, but over the years she had become wise to all her lies.

She pretended to be an innocent rabbit who could do no harm and cared about the good of the pack and everyone in it when really, she was a rat who did whatever she could to ensure a social hierarchy remained firmly in place with her at the top.

Tuning Penelope out had come to her so naturally, she barely let Alisson get a word in so keeping silent and pretending to listen was easy.

".... could not bring herself to apologize, so I had to teach her a lesson."

"Of course, mother."

"You will find it easier to take control of people as you get older." She eyed Alisson with a judgemental gaze and hummed.

"It Is the way you carry yourself," Penelope concluded, mostly to herself.

Alisson was snapped out of her daze by the statement. "What?"

"Like you are drifting through the clouds, it makes it easy for people to glance over you," she made a gentle swiping motion with her hand when she said 'glance'.

"I'll try my best to come back down to earth," it was always easier agreeing with her than otherwise.

"Do that."

After much hesitation, she asked, "do you know anything about the visiting pack? "

"Blue Moon, yes I do. If you were closer to your mate you would know that they should be arriving in three days, if all goes well."

She nodded and reigned in her excitement, showing emotion around Penelope was like spilling blood in front of a shark. She had a way of lowering people's guard and using their secrets and weaknesses to crush them.

"Any particular reason for their visit?"

Penelope gave her a condescending look, "I am sure your Alpha will have a better understanding than I do, why don't you ask or talk to him?"

"He's been busy these days," she steeled herself for the verbal attack that was to come when the older woman placed her teacup on its saucer. The kitchen island was wide and they were sitting opposite each other but when the woman turned to her fully it seemed a lot smaller.

"Would you like to know what I think?"

She was tempted to say 'No' but didn't get the chance to respond as Penelope continued.

"I think, no, I know my son is being deprived by you. Yes," she nodded her head as if it made her statement truer. "He is deprived of comfort," she began, counting each point with a finger, "attention, the companionship of a mate and worse of all love."

"Yes," she nodded again looking so sure of herself. If Alisson listed everything she was deprived of, they would be stuck here for a very long time, instead, she sank her teeth into her tongue and agreed politely.

"You have to do better, be better." She got up from her seat and walked around the island, she paused beside Alisson and wrapped her arm delicately around her shoulder, "I like you as his mate, you ate perfect for him; calm, obedient and respectful, but you need to work harder to make him happier."

She took her arm off the younger woman and glanced at the clock hanging on the wall, "well would you look at that, it is noon already. Time flies when you are having fun," she laughed at her joke and started walking away.

"This was lovely, I look forward to next time. Goodbye." She said over her shoulder like Alisson was not worth the effort of saying it face to face.

"Good riddance," the brunette muttered.

She stood up and gathered the plates, with a distracted mind. She washed and put away the dishes while cursing her departed guest in her head.

"Is my mother gone?" came her mate's question.

"Yes," she forced out through clenched teeth. "You should spend more time with her," so she can spend less time with me, she thought.

"You two get along so well, I wouldn't want to deprive you of quality time together." He walked into the kitchen and picked up a half eaten piece of cake; what most people don't know is that Henry had a sweet tooth.

"I saved a slice for you," she gestured with a dripping wet hand and watched with fondness as he speed-walked to it and devoured it messily. It was one of the things that endeared him to her, he was sweet sometimes, and made her laugh too, usually when he was in a good mood.

Her relationship was not all bad, there was good in it and they had beautiful moments, it's just that the bad times were a lot more defining and vivid than the good.

He wiped his hands on a towel and glanced at her, "ignore that thing my mother said about depriving me, she doesn't know what she's talking about." He was cute when he tried to reassure her. Henry made it a point to always defend her against people and it was such a shame that he could not protect her from himself.

"It's fine, compared to yours my mother is worse." She joked.

He laughed and nodded in agreement, his mother-in-law was a nightmare who didn't understand boundaries.

"The Blue Moon pack isn't coming for anything important, it's just standard procedure."

"Hmm, and will they stay in the guest house or your parent's house?"

"Guesthouse, there's going to be a lot of wolves coming so it's better this way. Though mother wants Alpha Kayden and his daughter to stay with them."

"Really? Why," Alisson set the last dish down and turned to give him her full attention.

"Alpha Kayden lost his mate some years back, rogues they say. She was a member of our pack and my mom's best friend so she's hoping the presence of someone close would soothe him and his wolf."

"That's sweet of her."

"You sound surprised."

"It's not something I ever imagined her doing, I guess she really loved her."

He nodded his head with a far-off look in his eyes.

"How are things with Hunter," she laughed and tried to stifle it at his pout.

"He still won't talk to me, I tried everything," he complained in a whiny tone and a frown on his face.

"You did slam him into a tree, I would be pretty upset if I were him," she had an amused look on her face.

"But I admitted it, what more does he want," he slammed his foot on the floor.

"Admitted what?"

He flushed pink and responded in a subdued tone, "that I was jealous. He spends so much time with you it's not fair."

Alisson laughed and shook her head at her bratty mate. She walked over and kissed him. "I don't kiss him like that, do I?"

"I hope not," he responded as he wrapped his arms around her waist and showered her face with kisses. She giggled and basked in the warmth of her mate and love. There was pain but there was also love and she would not have it any other way.