NovelBarChapter 53
A month later.
“Elena dear, your mother is on the phone,” Sondra sings out from the front of the bakery. I set the boys down in the crib they
shared when I worked at the bakery for Sondra. I came in three days a week with her to help her with orders. With Axton’s
money we managed to get the ranch up and functioning, built extra cabins on the property for the Rogue women, as the main
house only had six bedrooms. Everyone pitched in around the ranch.
And for the past month our lives have been pretty care free, yet I loved the days I worked in town because it was the only time I
really got to speak to my mother. There wasn’t much cell service out on the ranch, and even if there was, I didn’t want to run the
risk of Axton catching odd calls from the middle of nowhere to my mother’s phone.
Hearing the bell above the door of the bakery, Sondra sets the phone down on one of the dessert display cases. Picking it up, I
can’t help the smile that slips onto my face, knowing I am about to hear my mother’s voice.
“Hey, Ma.” | answer, taking the phone, and walking back out to the small office where the boys are sleeping. She falls silent, and
I peer at the small LCD on the phone screen, not recognizing the number she is calling from.
“Alpha Axton has amped up his search for you and the boys, all packs were forced to open their borders to let his men pass
through.” my mother tells me and I sigh.
“That doesn’t surprise me,” I tell her. “I’m assuming that is the reason you are using another phone.”
“Yes, I think he bugged my other one. I am not sure how long I will keep this number for, but I think it is best if I call you only,” I
“That’s not all, though,” my mother tells me.
“We have had numerous vampire attacks on the city, three people have been killed, I wanted to give you guys a heads-up. I’m
not sure where you are staying, but keep an eye out. Maybe get the women to start doing patrols,” my mother suggests. Yet that
was something we were already doing. Have since we moved out to the ranch.
“We’ll manage,” I assure her, and she sighs heavily. “How is dad and Luke?” | ask, chewing my lip, wanting to move away from
the conversation about the vamp’s situation. I could tell she was already on edge and I didn’t want her worrying about us. We
were more than equipped to handle a few nomad vamps. .
“Luke is good, he misses you. But-” I hear a bang in the distance. “Luke, is that you?” My mother calls out. I don’t hear a reply,
but I hear her moving to see who it is before she yelps. My heart sputters in my chest at the sound.
“Grap sorry mom.” I hear Luke’s voice, making me relax. “Geez, son, you scared the living daylights out of me, I thought you
were your father,” she chuckles, nervously. Yet her words made me nervous. Were things really that bad at home that she was
still frightened of him.
2013 Before finding out Axton was my mate, their marriage
was solid, loving and something I wanted yet now my mother hardly speaks about my father, mostly she talks about pack
business but never their relationship.
“Go make some afternoon tea, I will be out soon,” I hear her tell Luke. He replies quickly, wandering off, and I hear more
movement before finally she speaks. “It was just Luke,” she chuckles.
“Mom, what’s going on with you and dad?” I ask her.
“Mom! What is going on?” | demand. She falls quiet for a second.
“Nothing, things have just been rough since the leaked video, I can’t forgive him for what he did, and he sees no wrong in his
action-So, I filed for divorce,” she finally states, and I fall back into my chair.
er
“You filed for divorce?” I ask shocked. The mere thought of what she was telling me was near impossible to fathom. Mates rarely
got divorced. Usually, the only way out of a mate bond is if one is dead.
“Does he know?” | ask her. Once again, my mother falls silent.
“No, not yet. That’s why I freaked out. He was being served with the papers today, I...thought.”
“Mom, you need to get out of there, I don’t like the idea of him coming home with this information,”
“And go where? Luke has school, I can’t abandon the pack. He will cut us off. I am hoping that by serving him the papers, he
might see, might finally agree to listen.”
I shake my head incredulously. How does she not see the danger she is in? Dad lately has been unhinged, and with the growing
tension between him and Axton I now feared con stantly for her safety. “Come here, come to the ranch.”
“I can’t Luke has school, the pack. I’m scared he’ll take Luke from me if I try to leave, or if I go stay in a motel. What if he
banishes me.”
“Mom! Do you hear yourself? Everything you just said is a reason to leave, not stay!” | snap at her when once again I hear a loud
bang.
“Shit, that is your father, I will try to call you on Friday. I must go,” she says, hanging up the phone and leaving me staring down
at the flashing screen. Seconds later, Sondra walks in, and I glance up at her.
“Everything okay?” she asks as I blink back tears, worried about my mother and brother.
“I don’t know.” | answer, feeling useless that I am unable to help her.
“Whatever it is, we will figure it out later. For now, I have someone I want you to meet,” she says, nodding toward the front of the
store.
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