<h4>Chapter 234: _ Dump Rosa</h4>


    The door creaked open, and Mother stepped inside, wearing her silk robe and her patented; I-Know-You’re-About-To-Lie-To-Me face.


    She took one look at me and sighed like she was preparing to deal with a stubborn toddler. She sat on the edge of my bed, smoothing her robe over her knees.


    The mattress dipped under her weight, sending a puff of María José’s scent into the air again.


    Torture. Absolute torture.


    "So," she said briskly. "What’s wrong?"


    "Nothing," I said automatically.


    She arched one sculpted eyebrow. "Right," she said dryly. "And I’m the Easter Bunny."


    I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling five years old under her gaze.


    "It’splicated," I muttered.


    "Try me," she said, folding her hands in herp.


    I stared at the ceiling. How much could I even tell her without blowing the entire operation?


    But then she asked, voice gentling, "Were you serious? About what you said Rosa did to María José?"


    I stiffened.


    "Yeah," I said grimly. "I wasn’t lying. Rosa is horrible, Mom. She’s worse than that even."


    My mother gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. Her rings glinted in themplight.


    "That’s... that’s <i>horrible,</i> Axel," she whispered. "Absolutely monstrous."


    Like hell it was. However, María José was all healed now, but I didn’t see any reason to tell Mom that. Having someone else who hated Rosa was enough for me.


    For a second, we just sat there with a heavy silence between us. Then she leaned closer, her perfume swirling around me in a sweet and familiar splendor.


    "You need to call off the wedding," she said quietly. "Immediately."


    Oh, Mom... you really have no idea. ns were already in motion to call the darn wedding off.


    The mattress creaked again as Mom shifted closer, her robe rustling like silk whispers in the stillness. She was giving me that look... you know the one. The <i>I’ll sit here all night until you spill</i> look.


    I scratched the back of my neck, feeling a prickle of sweat starting despite the cool air.


    "I want to call it off," I blurted before my brain could m the brakes. "I do. I really, really want to. But..."


    I sagged back against the headboard, dragging a hand down my face. "Dad wouldn’t let me. Not without a damn good reason. And even if I somehow convinced him, I’d be risking half the pack turning on me."


    I blew out a frustrated breath. "They <i>adore</i> her, Mom. She’s the poster child for Perfect Luna 101."


    Mother nodded slowly, her fingers absently smoothing a crease from her robe. "You’re right. They do adore her," she said. "And respect her. There’s no other female in the pack as strong and dedicated as Rosa."


    I barked a short, humorlessugh. "Yeah. That’s because they don’t know who she is <i>deep down</i>."


    My voice sharpened without permission. "They don’t see the temper. The obsession with control. The way she hurts people she thinks are weaker than her."


    María José’s bruised, swollen face shed in my mind like a lightning strike, and I had to grit my teeth against the sudden surge of rage.


    "They don’t <i>see</i> it," I said lowly. "But I will make them see."


    Mother’s eyebrows rose slightly, but her voice stayed calm. "That’s good, Axel. Very good. But... how?" She tilted her head, her earrings capturing themplight. "There’s never been a single scandal about Rosa. Ever."


    I gave her a slow, wolfish grin. "Trust me," I said. "I have a n."


    Of course, I didn’t mention that the n involved a witch, two psychos, a baited trap, and a whole lot of reckless improvisation.


    <i>Minor details.</i>


    Mother considered me for a long moment. Then she smiled. It was not a wide, beaming smile, but a small, proud one, like a queen watching her idiot son finally figure out how to ride a horse without breaking his neck.


    "Good. But please, Axel... be careful." She said softly and reached out her warm and solid hand that closed over mine. "Don’t do anything that would jeopardize your chance at the Alpha position. You’ve been working too hard for it."


    I squeezed her hand back. Her rings dug into my fingers a little, grounding me. But still, a bitterugh slipped out of me.


    I raised a surprised brow. "Funny. Thought you were rooting for álvaro to get it. Not me."


    Mother’s lips twitched. "I support both my sons. Whoever proves himself worthy will have my blessing."


    It should’ve sounded political. Cold. But somehow,ing from her, it didn’t. Maybe because she meant it. Maybe because, for all her silk and pearls and diplomacy, my mother loved us both in her own ferociously even way.


    "Thanks, Mom," I muttered, feeling like a kid again.


    She patted my hand once, twice, then let go.


    For a second, I thought she was going to finally leave and let me drown in my own self-pity in peace.


    But no. Of course not. Mother had onest grenade to toss into the room.


    She tilted her head in that deceptively casual way, smiling sweetly. Too sweetly. And then she asked, perfectly serious:


    "Would it be possible to marry the junior sister after dumping the older one?"


    Huh?


    I stared at her but she smiled wider. My soul momentarily left my body. Mother was in support of that?!


    I thought she’d find it morally derailing. I never knew she could even suggest it herself. Oh, what have I done to deserve such a sweet mother?


    Mother’s eyes twinkled with pure, unholy amusement. "I’m just asking, querido. Hypothetically."


    "<i>Hypothetically?!</i>" I sputtered, iling like a beached fish.


    I was rather too stunned by her support than opposed to it. Because why would I oppose it when that was my n all along?


    However, Mother misinterpreted my expressions.


    "I didn’t <i>say</i> it was a bad idea," Mother said cheerfully. "You seem fond of her. And she’s quite pretty, once you get past the constant look of impending doom."


    Damn right, she is.