(POV: Lina)


    I pace back and forth in the room, feeling nervous and worried about Nicos. He went to the human world with Albert and hasn’t returned yet. I’m extremely upset with him for acting this way because of prejudice. I thought we had ovee this issue. I won’t allow Nicos to hurt our child with this unfounded behavior.


    Frustration bubbling up, I sit on the couch, bury my head in my hands, and try to calm myself down. We’re mates, and it’s my duty to knock some sense into that stubborn wolf.


    It’s already night, and I hadn’t even noticed. The day passed incredibly quickly. Suddenly, I sense the wind carrying a familiar scent to my nose. I quickly get up from the couch, anger welling up inside me. I suspected he went out to drink, buting home smelling like cheap alcohol is uneptable.


    Nicos enters through the door, stumbling, and gazes at me for a moment. My look is pure disgust. He tries to touch my arm, but I step away with determined steps and my chin held high.


    “Still awake, darling?” he asks, stumbling over his own feet and falling on his butt. I try not tough at this gratuitous humiliation. “Wh… where are the kids?” he continues with slurred speech.


    I walk to the door and m it shut in anger, causing a loud noise.


    “What a disappointment, Nicos,” I say, ignoring his question. I’m not going to waste my breath on something he probably won’t remember tomorrow.


    “I ju… just needed to clear my head,” he sobs, his voice slurred, and tries to get up. “It’s not so easy for me to ept that my lineage will be corrupted because an o… mega joined the family.”


    “For a drunk, you’re speaking very long sentences,” I remark, crossing my arms. “I was worried about you, Nic,” my voice falters, but I push the lump in my throat down. I won’t show vulnerability in front of him.


    “I’m sorry, my little wolf,” he howls, and I feel immense secondhand embarrassment, even though we’re alone in the room. I’m sure the kids and the neighbors heard it too.


    “Stop making a scene,” I request.


    “Come here,” he calls me. “Come give your mate a kiss.” I grimace at his request.


    “Only if I had no self-respect,” I reply, and he flops onto the couch.


    “My head is pounding,” he says with difficulty, running his hands through his hair.


    “I’ll get you some medicine,” I inform him, turning away.


    I walk to the kitchen, open the cab, and grab arge pitcher. I go to the refrigerator, fill the pitcher with cold water, and take some ice cubes as well. I smile maliciously as I feel the cold water’s temperature and return to the living room.


    Nicos is sitting on the couch in the same way I left him. I walk up to him with silent steps and pour the pitcher of ice-cold water over him. He jumps up quickly, teeth chattering from the cold.


    “Are you crazy, damn it!” he says, taking off his soaked shirt.


    I don’t care about the wet living room floor and couch. He seems more awake now, so I shrug.


    “Watch your mouth! You asked for it,” I say through clenched teeth. “Go take a shower now,” I demand. “We need to have a talk,” I assert firmly.


    He takes a deep breath and does as I asked, but he doesn’t even take five steps before stumbling, almost falling face-first on the floor. It looks like I’ll have to help him in the shower. What a humiliating situation, for him, of course.


    (POV: Renata)


    I overhear Nicos and Lina’s entire conversation from the top of the stairs. Lina is very angry, and I smile when she throws a pitcher of ice-cold water on him.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    When I see Lina helping him up the stairs, I quickly run back to my room. I can’t let them know that I was eavesdropping on their conversation, even though it wasn’t very helpful; at least it provided me with someughs.


    I flop onto the bed and stare at the white ceiling. The boys aren’t home because they left early for the Full Moon Pack, for a lupine tournament. I couldn’t go, obviously, being just a human, and I didn’t even care to. I didn’t feel like going anyway. Sunday passed silently and boring without them here. I confess I’ve grown very attached to Luan and La, and I’ll miss them a lot.


    Nicos left yesterday morning and only returned now in the evening, still drunk on top of that. I thought wolves had a higher alcohol tolerance; it’s a weakness to be considered, I ponder.


    I realize there’s no better time to finally call my mother. I didn’t want the boys to suffer, and since they’re far away and Nicos is weak and vulnerable due to drinking, I decide to put the n into action. This tournament came at the right time, I smile.


    Quietly, I get up from the bed and go to the bedroom door. I open it and stick my head out, assessing the corridor. I don’t see any sign of anyone, so I hasten down the stairs toward the back of the house.


    I grip the ne my mother gave me for my camouge. In addition to hiding my scent, it contains a potion that, when thrown on the ground, emits a strong odor that will attract my mother. I know she’ll be happy because the time for her long-awaited revenge hase, and it came earlier than expected. I know I shouldn’t, but I’ve grown attached to this family. I wish things could be different.


    I feel a strong ache in my chest as I hold the ne, ready to carry out my mission. I crouch down, trying to control that strange pain, and take a few deep breaths. Scenes of all the moments I’ve lived here sh through my mind like a movie.


    I can’t help but smile, remembering the boys training, Luan teasing La and me teasing Luan… the trip to theke, meeting the girls… Isabe and Lucia, not to mention Jonathan, the coolest and most carefree omega I’ve ever seen. The first time I went shopping with Lina, every morning receiving a kiss on the cheek from the boys… it was all so good…


    When I feel better, I pour the liquid on the floor as instructed, at the same time a solitary tear rolls down my eye. I wish I could have made even more memories with all of them.


    “Please, don’t be angry with me,” I ask, remembering the good times I had here, while looking at the moon. I know they’re bad and hurt my mother a lot, but still, I feel my heart bleeding with remorse.


    The time I spent here confused my mind, but I won’t let my mother down for people who, whether they like it or not, just arrived. Unlike my mother, who has been by my side since forever.


    I watch the lc smoke rise toward the sky and cover my nose because it gives off a very strong odor. I


    walk to the nearest tree, sit down leaning against its trunk, and wait.