Third Person’s POV
Over at Madison’s ce, Adide wasn’t worried. Lance and Caldwell were on the case.
She was more concerned about Melinda.
Georgina had visited, mentioning that Melinda had broached the topic of dissolving her mating bond <b>with </b>Luna Skye, only to be firmly rejected.
Since then, Melinda had been dispirited.
Even though she’d been disappointed in Dwight and the Soulrend Pack before, she’d never been this desperate.
Adide feared Melinda might do something rash, <b>so </b>she asked Georgina and Paige to keep a close eye on
her.
As Georgina left, she said, “Luna Skye might pay you a visit. The other night, I overheard Melinda suggesting dissolving the mating bond, and Luna Skye thought you put her up to it.”
Adide wasn’t afraid of Luna Skye.
She was extremely disappointed in her and had little to say, but if Skye wanted toe, so be it.
Sure enough, as the scandal involving Dwight’s usations against government officials raged on in the capital, Luna Skye arrived.
Prisci had intended to go out andgive her a piece of her mind but was persuaded by Paisley, “You already scolded her the other night. Today, hear her out. If she’s here for Melinda’s sake, forgive her. <i>If </i>she’s here to cause trouble for Adide, you can step in then.”
Prisci was persuaded but still muttered indignantly, “Never seen such a mother. She’s utterly unfit for the role.”
In the packhouse, the aroma of coffee filled the room.
Beata served some cookies. Outside, it was raining, and her shoes were soaked, leaving clear footprints on the marble floor.
Adide didn’t speak first. She sat in her chair, slowly sipping her coffee. The two cousins were separated by a tall coffee table.
The cookies were on the table. Beata left with the tray and stood guard outside the door.
Adide picked up a cookie and ate it slowly, chewing quietly.
Luna Skye also took a piece with a fork, eating daintily, biting small pieces, and using a small porcin dish to catch any crumbs, lest they soil her purple dress.
The purple made herplexion appear even more dull. Her eyescked luster, with dark circles <b>beneath </b>them, indicating several sleepless nights.
<b>Perhaps</b><b>, </b>after waiting in vain for Adide to speak, she finally put down her porcin <b>dish </b><b>and </b>fork <b>wiped </b>the corners of her mouth with a napkin, and said, “Adide, have we be <b>so </b>estranged.
Adide’s voice was t. “I thought the distance was on your end.”
Luna Skye let out a soft sigh. “Still about the gifts for Melinda? I apologize. Let’s put this <b>behind </b>us, <b>shall </b>we? We’re family. Your mother would be heartbroken to see us like this.”
<b>“</b>If my mother were heartbroken, it wouldn’t be because of me,” Adide said, lifting her head.
“Besides, I didn’t take offense to you returning the gifts for Melinda. So, state your business. No <b>need </b><b>to </b>mention my mother.”
Luna Skye’s expression wasplicated. “You im you didn’t take offense, but do you know <b>that </b><b>because </b>of you, the Silverlight Pack was restricted from traveling by Lycan Erasmus for a month? We couldn’t even enter the pce for Christmast Eve that year.”
Adide found this amusing. “So, should I me myself for that?”
“No, I don’t mean that,” she paused, though she actually felt otherwise.
The Silverlight Pack had always been low–key in the capital, avoiding trouble. Being restricted by Lycan Erasmus was unprecedented.
“Let’s get to the point about Melinda,” Adide said, growing impatient.
Luna Skye turned fully toward Adide.
“Adide, Melinda is not like you. She’s timid and fragile, with little tolerance for hardship. She can’t handle the gossip that would follow a dissolved mating bond. And with that nightclub call girl forcing her to break the bond, people would mock her mercilessly. She’s too weak to bear it.”
Her tone softened further. “So, I beg you, don’t encourage her to dissolve the bond. She’s pregnant and. vulnerable. Besides, even if Willow is beautiful, the novelty will wear off. In three to five years, her mate will return. Then life will improve.”
Adide’s eyes turned cold. “You think I encouraged her to dissolve the bond?”
“If not for you, why would she suggest such a preposterous idea? How long have they been mated? Why would she seek trouble now?”
Adide’s gaze was filled with sarcasm. “You’re mistaken. I never urged her to dissolve the bond. Did it ever ur to you that her fragile nature and pregnancy might stem from feeling extremely wronged?”
Luna Skye said, “What woman doesn’t feel wronged?”
Adide said, “She’s Melinda. Her parents are part of the royalty. She has support and doesn’t need to endure so much.”
Luna Skye’s voice sharpened. “Did you tell her that too? Did you make her believe the Silverlight Pack would back her, encouraging her to recklessly demand a bond dissolution?”
<b>2/2 </b>
<b>09:00 </b>Fri, <b>18 </b>Jul
<b>1,18 </b>Jul