In the Alpha's Possession

Chapter Ten- Mother Dearest

“Blood is thicker than water...unless you are a werewolf…”

As morning peeked its head through the window in Lavender’s room, she waited a moment before accepting consciousness as she knew the events of the night before had been anything but a dream. She could still taste his kiss upon her lips and feel the pressure of his hands pulling her leg up around his hip, but knowing he would not feel the same way in the morning had ruined those perfect moments for her. For all of the things that made her who she was, the secrets she held against Drew and Astrid would be either her downfall or salvation-but it had also been the reason he had been so captured by her that night-even if she wasn’t sure of it herself. Knowing she would eventually have to greet the day, she pulled herself from the sheets and quickly folded them until they were made in a perfect award-winning sight, and moved to the armoire. Trying to decide what outfit would work best for feeling rejected, she came upon a pair of overalls, cut off before the knees, and a simple white shirt tucked in the very back-as if left and forgotten. It was a rather welcoming sight against the otherwise revealing options she had, and so she left the bedroom that morning while feeling confident. 

Taking her time down the corridor and to the steps, she was unaware the company being kept by Drew, and continued down the steps of the mansion, moving into the kitchen, and ignoring the two that had been in deep conversation. Drew and his guest both looked onto Lavender as she made her way around the kitchen, pulling out a sugary cereal from a box and pouring its contents into a large bowl. Still unaware of the gazes upon her, she began to rock her hips to the tune she was humming in her head, forgetting of the rejection for just a moment, and continuing to pour the milk into the bowl in front of her. Finally placing a spoon in its half spherical shape, Lavender moved towards the foyer to seek out Deacon-only to hear him clear his throat. 

The noise startled her, forcing the bowl of cereal to come up into an upright direction and falling back upon her shirt-drenching her completely. Drew recognized the person with him to be that of his mother, and the fact she was meeting her while drenched in milk and sugary corn flakes was not exactly ideal. She winced before Astrid pulled her from sight to help her. Lavender was weary of Astrid as she had only known her to be cold to her before this moment, she was curious to why it was that her attitude towards her had changed-but refusing to ask outright as she saw it to be too forward. 

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Astrid finally asked as she rummaged through her closet while Lavender stood in the center of her room. Lavender was thrown back for the sole fact that Astrid haven’t even turned to look at her once, and could still feel the gaze set upon her in a quizzical fashion.

“I-” Astrid interrupted before Lavender could even answer. 

“Don’t worry about being polite, just tell me.” She spoke with one hand on her hip and a gaze focused on Lavender. 

“I didn’t think you liked me-”

“I don’t.”

“Oh…” Lavender looked to the ground, embarrassed. 

“But I’m not an evil person, and even though I think that my oldest and longest friend deserves someone a bit more...demure...what happened to you in there...I felt your embarrassment-and that is something I don’t experience. Besides, Drew has made up his mind about you...and I know better than to try and change it.” A flicker of excitement rose in Lavender’s chest-forcing her heart to race, and her cheeks to become rosy from raised blood pressure. 

“He still feels that way?”

“Unfortunately.” Astrid commented beneath her breath. Lavender now knew that Drew’s feelings for her had gone past whatever unknown abilities her secrets forced him to endure, or that which harbored the effects of being in heat; he still felt strongly for her, still wanting her to be his mate, and that was enough for her to no longer question. About that at least. 

“This should work for you...I mean, it’ll be a bit tight, but better that then having your boobs shown through a milk stained shirt.” Astrid advised as Lavender spoke her gratitude and returned to the scene of her embarrassment-watching Drew rise and offer her a smile. It was clear in the gaze they exchanged to the other person, that there was a passion present even without words. This was something also seen by his mother, who was deadpanned when looking to Lavender-not allowing her an inkling on what it was she thought of her. Instead the elder of them all had simply extended her hand to Lavender while taking in her reaction to everything from handling the embarrassment to the handshake itself. 

“Mother, this is Lavender, the one I have chosen as my mate.” He looked to Lavender while speaking these words, making sure she was still in agreement of the arrangement as she offered him a nervous smile. To make her even more nervous, she stood in a dress too tight for her, appearing as though she was trying to show off her impressive curves, while Drew came beside her and wrapped his fingers between her own. She was able to feel his pulse via his wrist pressed against hers and rather grateful that his heartbeat was just as erratic and anxious as her own. Lavender pulled her hand back from introducing herself to Drew’s mother, before she looked to the young girl, as if trying to peer directly through her. 

“Allow me some time to get to know your betrothed.” Lavender looked to Drew with a forced confidence that was hiding her desire to run away. There was nothing she knew more about this woman, aside from her having been the woman who birthed the man that would be her mate-and also the fact she was a hardcore traditionalist. It was only due to Lavender’s gaze that read off as “I’ve got this” that allowed Drew to release her to the mercy of his mother. Lavender was handed tea via Drew’s mother and she sipped it religiously, hopeful that it would give her an excuse to not speak-or at least not start the conversation. 

“Drew tells me that you are the famed vixen who abandoned her responsibilities as a wife.” Her words began immediately as Drew left the room, unable to hear much due to the cleaning being done via the butler. 

“Um…” Lavender struggled with a response. “It’s a bit more complicated than that.”

“Oh, I know. The entire lycan community is speaking of the potential outcomes of what became of Maximus. I met him a few times, and he was a charming young man-which makes me wonder what it is that you could not have found favorable.”

Lavender became increasingly nervous. “He was cruel and forceful.” Lavender spoke honestly, finding the words to leave her lips before she had a chance to think them through. “He tried to force himself on me that night and I ran away before Drew saved me. Drew brought me back here and made me acknowledge the fact that he was killed from your son’s hand.” Lavender paused, trying to stop herself from the verbal vomit that seemed to just pour out of her  mouth. 

“Do you love my son?” The question would have usually caught her off guard, but yet again, she was unable to stop herself before the words had been spoken. 

“I am falling in love with him.” She clutched her hands over her mouth. 

“Don’t be so alarmed, just have some more tea.” It was due to this comment that Lavender came to understand that her tea had been drugged with some sort of truth serum-a serum that made her speak truths even she was unaware of. 

“My son believes he can keep things from me, and he forgets to realize that I am the only one looking out for his best interest-which is why I cannot give you my approval to be beside him.”

Lavender felt her entire self esteem squander at these words. 

“I would tell you to not take it personally dear, but frankly, it is. You simply aren’t headstrong enough for my son...and there is something else about you I can’t quite put my finger on, but rest assured if you continue with this farce of being his mate-I will find it. And it will be soon.” Lavender grew nervous to what she would uncover, as she herself, had tried to lock away the memories of her truth her entire life. “Good day, Lavender.” The woman cast a side glance to her son which told him her reaction without a word spoken as he sought out Lavender the moment she was gone. 

“I didn’t mean to tell her-” Lavender spoke quickly, before he had a chance to speak. “She gave me something that made me talk-she knows about everything…” Lavender fought back tears from forming in her eyes. 

“She would have discovered it eventually…” He paused for a moment. “Do not take what she says to heart, she is a wicked woman who has not known love in a long time...but she is my mother, which is why I allow her past that threshold.”

“But she is an elder, her opinions-”

“Damn her opinions. I want you...I don’t care what anyone else has to say about it.” His aggressive nature of how much he wanted her at his side was enough to make her at ease to the uptight moment that had just happened. It turned sweet as his hand brushed upon her cheek, but before he kissed her, just before their lips came together into a perfect kiss, he pulled back, and politely excused himself from before her.