"What is this bitc-, I mean this witch doing here?" Tib whispers to Christopher who stood in the doorway of the guest room, on the first floor, with a frown sitting on his forehead. He just shrugged and glared at the woman he once called his mate. Cora was lying in the bed, unconscious ever since she collapsed in Blake's arms. The son of the woman refused to leave her side in the terror that she would disappear into thin air just like that day. Easton stood not so far from Blake who was kneeling beside the bed with Cora's hand in his.

"Mom" he whispers kissing on the back of her hand. He looked delusional and yearning as to believe that his dream for all these years had actually come true, his mother was back. She came back to him. He stroked her hand to his cheek, wetting it with the unstoppable tears.

Easton on the other hand looked pleadingly at the half-vampire and Chris for some help, which both replied with another shrug. Rolling his eyes, Easton kneeled beside his mate and pulled him closer to his chest by the shoulder. "Shh, don't cry" he cooed which only made Blake cry harder. He looked in his mate's brown orbs through his blurry and shaky ones.

"E-Easton, m-mom" he shuttered gesturing a trembling finger towards the sleeping figure which broke the older alpha's heart. The older alpha grabbed the gesturing hand and put it down. He stroked his mate cheek holding lots of strength and assurance in his eyes. Blake's hand tremblingly reached up, overlapping Easton's as he a smile appeared on his face. "M-my mom is h-here, Easton" he added making the alpha feel guiltier than ever. "S-she came back for me" he glowed through the tears resulting in the alpha pulling him into a warm hug.

Easton was jabbed. Right through his chest, he knew very well that he couldn't possibly tell Blake the truth about his mother without breaking his heart. His own heart shattered into millions of pieces to look at his mate who was crying just 'cause of happiness. What would he conceivably do if the reason behind the cry would be him?

But, he can't just watch his mate walking into a threat. He had to tell him but at the right time and away from the woman who was doing Oscar-winning acting of being lifeless, almost corpse. He knew exactly how to wake her up. "Blake, I got to tell you some-" his words were cut with a groan from the person lying in the bed. Blake pulled away from the hug in an instant and strolled over to his mother. Easton scoffed standing from the kneeling position.

"This woman is full of crap" he commented standing next to Tiberius.

"Tell me about it" surprisingly Christopher was the one to comment back. He had not spoken a word since he got the news that his "so-called" mate was back. He knew there was no use in grinning like a Cheshire cat when his wolf was already dead. After the betrayal, he received in exchange for his unconditional love it became impossible for him to even withstand a breath.

"Mom?" Blake stroked the woman on her forehead who keep grunting in her sleep. After few more seconds, she opens her eyes slowly. Her blue eyes stood out in the evening light which was shining bright after the heavy rain. Easton actually thought that the weather was indicating the arrival of a storm in their lives which made him feel very uneasy. "Mom, are you okay?" the young alpha worried over his mother.

She tries to nod a bit and sit straight with the help of her son. "Blake" she calls with her voice all hoarse making the young alpha's heart cut through. Like the obedient son he was, Blake grabs the glass of water from the nightstand and gives it to the woman. Cora gulps down the water her eyes secretly runs around the room, from Easton to Christopher. Her heart drops at the presence of her mate as she shakingly removes the glass away from her lips.

She turns her head away from her the former alpha who had a knowing look in his eyes, and gives back the glass to Blake. Chris watch her every move carefully before his eyes shift to Blake who was innocently so close to trouble. Tiberius on the other hand was giving a judging look, with his hands folded, legs crossed and eyes boring in her head. "She is exceptional, my director friend could love to cast her if she comes out alive from all this shit" he states, making Easton and Chris glare at him. "What? Woman empowerment!" he remarks making the other two groan.

"Mom, where have you been?" Blake questions setting the glass down and pulling her into a hug. Cora pats her son on the back with a weak smile and pulls back. She knew this question would pop up as soon as she reaches the house and she did come prepared.

"I-" she stops to look at Christopher with a trembling figure. Making sure to hold the shivering gaze until Blake follows her eyes in the direction, she bows her head down in fear. "I-I-I-" she struggles to put her words out. Blake follows her line of sight from before which obviously stopped at his father who looked tired enough, emotionless, and wearied. He looked at his father confusingly and then turned his gaze to Cora who was shaking and closing in towards Blake in order to hide from the former alpha.

An understanding crosses everyone's face as Blake's jaw ticked in anger. He looked at his father with rage as held Cora securely. "Father, please leave the room" he let out with gritted teeth and so much emotion. Christopher knew where this was going and his child has already hated him enough to give him a chance to talk.

The former alpha sighs and gives a final look at Easton who nods before Chris steps out. Cora was now looking at Tib, to which the half-vampire made himself teleport even before asking. Easton lets out a sigh and plops down on the couch and just gazes at the woman. "I am not leaving even if you beg me to, so don't even try" the older alpha comments with all seriousness and Blake knew not to cross him. Blake just nods and turns to his mother.

"Mom, this is my mate, Easton Knight" Blake introduces the older alpha with a small smile. Cora nods her head towards the alpha which Easton returns with respect. What so ever, she was the one who gave him his Blake. So respect it is. "There is no one here to be afraid of mom, you can tell me" he reassures the woman.

Cora looks at Easton who held a stubborn look on his face which literally said, "Don't even think about it". She weakly smiles at her son now and shakes her head. "I-I got lost" she manages.

"Why are you lyi-?"

"Blake, let her sleep. She must've been tired and broke from all the journey from the North" the older alpha says pressing on to the word "North" which exactly where she was from. It made her skeptical and she started fidgeting in her place.

"North?" Blake asks looking between the witch and the alpha. He covered her mother with a duvet, thinking that she might be cold.

"Yeah, our guards on the North gate watched a car passing through. Maybe she was the one in it" he continues with his eyes challenging the blue ones across the room. Cora felt her nails into the palms.

"No. I-it wasn't me" she shutters. It was indeed her, but she had no idea that the guards will witness such a thing on the road far from the forest area.

"Oh, then my bad. But, we do have good vision" he smiles innocently when Blake looks at him with Cora, as soon as the younger alpha turns his back for some water, the smile change to a threatening glare. Cora gulps in terror and lays down on the bed.

Cora was furious and most intently horrified. Of course, she heard enough about the ruthless alpha, Easton Knight from Christian a million times, but to know that he was this stubborn and challenging annoyed her. Her powers were imploring to let out through her nails and pin the older alpha against the wall to death but she should act it out because she needed Blake.

"Sleep, mom" Blake says with a gentle smile tucking the woman in the bed. Both the alphas exit the room, shutting the door close.

--------------------------

"Mind to spare me a minute, Christopher Jensen?" Blake roars walking towards his father who as always was seated in his chair in the backyard.

"Blake, that's not the way-" Easton tries to interrupt and ask his mate to talk with respect, as Chris was a former alpha and his of course his father. But, Blake had no time paying attention to his mate's words, he went right towards his father withholding so much resentment.

"Do not stop me, Easton. I have questions to ask" Blake states turning to his father. "So, Mr. Jensen, how do you feel that your "mate" is back?" he spits challenging his father through his eyes. Chris, on the other hand, lazily stared at his son and sighed. "Oh, do you even know she is your mate?" he continues.

"I know..." Chris answers throwing his head back on the chair and looking upwards to the sky. His eyes stop at the window of Blake's room where Cora stood gawking at the people from far. Her eyes glowed green through the lens making Christopher's anger rise.

What is she doing there?

"Thank goddess you do. But, you don't look pleased that she came back" Blake comments.

"Yes, because I'm not" the former alpha straightforwardly admits. He knew she had an ulterior motive to come back here after these many years. And the way she behaved upstairs was very convincing. The answer Chris gave back to Blake shocked him. He remembered his father's love for Cora. But, the man now held nothing in his soul but disgust.

"Why would you say that?" Blake's heart broke to look at his family split like this. He always thought of his father being the happiest person when Cora comes back someday. But, this was quite the opposite. He despised her presence.

"Because I meant it, Blake" Chris's voice dropped as he gently looked at his son. "She isn't right this time, son. And this isn't the "Bad Villains" game we used to play, where I was always the villain. This is life and I swear your mother is on the bad side" he pleads his son through his eyes. Blake's eyes dance with confusion wrapping his mind around the things his father just said.

He laughed bitterly laughed at his father's face and then looked at Easton with a smirk. "You see, how he is covering up for his mistakes" he shakes his head. "You know father, this won't work on me" he states.

"I'm not lying, Blake" Chris shouts glaring at the window where Cora stood in the beginning. She was now gone which made things worse in his mind.

"That is what you are doing!" Blake fights back. "Why would you deny your mate? The one who you vowed to love lifelong? Doesn't your wolf cry for her presence, doesn't he yell at you?" Blake fires back-to-back questions while the former alpha chooses to stay silent.

A knife floats in the air, hanging right in front of Blake's throat with blue flame emitting from it. Chris's heart drop at the view, which only he was able to see 'cause Easton showed no movement to protect his mate. The former alpha's eyes snapped to the window where the woman was back, which a finger controlling the knife.

Tiberius was gone to his house to get something which said was very important and needed at a time like this. So, it made it impossible for Chris to not worry about the knife.

"I need answers, father!" Blake yells making a move to step forward but his father holds out his hand.

"Stop!" he shouts louder than he ever had which makes Blake go halt immediately. Christopher was a very calm wolf. He never raised his voice towards anyone all his life. His training session was usually controlled by his beta, Zander's father. Even his music preference went from soft rock to ballad. But, his family mattered to him than anything else. "I don't see a need to answer you, Blake. Go back to your room. Now!" he pretends to be angry at his son whereas he was fierce at his mate.

How could he even call her his mate? It made snakes crawling all over his body thinking of that woman who once made butterflies dance in his stomach. Blake was taken aback at the outroar. His father never once yelled at him, whether it was him bringing girls home or spilling milk all over the floor, he never once shout. So, this feeling made him nervous.

He sprinted upstairs, while Chris bored holes in the glass window. Cora smiled towards the man and vanish into thin air. Holding his head into the hands, Christopher feels tears threatening to fall.

Blake was everything to him. After Brianna's wedding, Cora's betrayal, and his wolf's death, Blake became the only person he could live for. His son became the reason for him to breathe. And his physically hurt him not to stop the threats entering his son's life. It made him feel like he failed as a father, failed to protect Blake which probably will result be an end to his meaningless life.

----------------------

"Blake! Blake, listen to me" Easton ran after his mate who had decided not to stop anytime soon. Easton knew quite well that Blake was hurt. But, he was also confused as to why didn't Christopher state the truth. Maybe, with a little more effort, he might have convinced Blake but he didn't. "Blake!" Easton grabs the man by the elbow and pulls him into their room.

"Leave me alone, Easton" the young alpha fought back against the hold which was too much for him to remove. "E-easton, let go" he struggled.

"No, I'm not letting you go anywhere" the older alpha argues. His mate was abstaining from his tears with which he disheveling looked at Easton. "Why you crying?" the older alpha strokes his baby's face and holds him close.

"I did not think it will go like this, Easton" Blake opens up about his feelings. "I thought if only my mom's still alive, she would run in my father's arms and fight with him for not saving her, and then they would makeup and I can get my family back" he continues. "But, this is exactly opposite to my thoughts. My mother is scared of the man she used to love the most. While my father holds a grudge and hate for the poor woman" he struggles.

"This is mad!" he cries out.

"Blake, maybe your father has reasons" the older alpha tries to explain. Blake pulls back from the hug and pushes Easton by the chest. "I-"

"What do you mean by reasons, Easton? Reason to hate the woman he could never found? OR REASON THAT HE MIGHT'VE EVEN TORTURED HER FOR ALL THESE YEARS!!!"

His voice made Easton stun. Not only he did shout at him making Aziel whine but also he said something really offensive towards his father with so much confidence. Easton moved forward to explain but the younger alpha backed away.

"She is dangerous, Blake" the alpha tried to explain.

"She is my mother, Easton!" the other alpha fought back.

Cora was standing against the door of the room with her scent masked as she enjoyed the screams of frustration from inside. She stood there polishing her real nails from the tool she grabbed from the air. She was glad that her acting paid off and Blake finally said it aloud.

--------------------------

"You will dismantle my arm, honey," Cora says lazily as the former alpha pulled her downstairs. He caught her by the mates' room and he needed answers while they were busy.

"Don't. Call. Me. Honey." he said with gritted teeth. "And you actually reattach your arm, witch" he spats dragging her into the study. He throws her in and shuts the door behind.

"What are you here for?" Straight to the point.

"Oh, Chris. At least greet with properly with a kiss. You met your mate after so long" she chimes in. Christopher holds out his hand to maintain the distance between them. Breathing the same air as her was already taking a toll on his mental health.

His eyes land on her neck which her finger marks that were already bruising. "What is wrong with your neck?" he curses himself as soon as the words leave his mouth. He was still worried and concerned about someone so worthless.

Silent states in the room before she turns back to him with a sickening smile. "This?" she points at her neck as the smile gets wider. "I'm into choking these days and Christian is such a good-"

"Why. You. Here?" he repeats. Cora boos the alpha and stride through the study which had hundreds of good books.

"I came here for my son," she says with a cheering voice which turns into a grunt when he finds herself held against the wall by the neck and two feet above the floor. It takes her by surprise while she blinks in the new high view.

"I will make your every cell pay if you even think of touching my son" the alpha growls. Even with his wolf gone, Christopher was still the alpha make with lots of strength. He knew easily how to take someone down.

Or not.

Cora tch with a disappointed look removing each of his fingers around her neck forcefully and with a lot of pain. Her hands stay on her side, while her face holds a bored expression. Blue flame starts burning around Chris's hand making him stumble back in pain. "Still got nothing against me, honey" she chuckles. "And I take what I want" with that she leaves the room.

----------------------

After dinner, which Chris and Easton skipped while Cora and Blake had it in the room. The mother-son pair were all smiles with a few giggles and lots of talking. Blake forgot all his worries just as he shared everything his mother missed. From Zander to his last girlfriend and then about Easton.

He was still mad at his mate but he also understood that Easton was just worried about him. But, that didn't hurt less not talking to him. "And... I think I'm going to fail my math exam" he admits.

"Now, that is not a good thing, Blake" Cora scolds him which makes him scratch his head with a grin feeling embarrassed. "Look at you blushing like a twelve year old" Cora laughs which Blake replies with a whine.

"Mom" he whines making the woman laugh louder.

"You are still the same" a small smile stays on her lips while she ruffled her son's hair.

"And so are you" Blake smiles back. A huge lump goes down her throat at the words. She kept battling with herself not to get too attached to this son of hers. She was supposed to take him as bait to her master and she had to do that to survive.

"And so, mom........" the talks continued.

------------------------

The room was empty with lights going on and off. Duncan was sitting in his room, in the packhouse, and playing with the bed light. His mind was preoccupied with so many things which gave him a hard time prioritizing one.

*on*

*off*

*on*

Leaving the lights on, he grabs the old journal from the study table. He flipped the page to the day when he first time met Ezra and sat back on his bed to read it. It was one of his favorite things to do. He found peace in those pages.

"Dear, diary

I am very happy. Today, a miacle happened. Today, I met the mysty angel. Mom and dad took me to the alpha house where I met Easton and his alphas. But I also met her. She was so pretty with zig-zag hair and red lips. But, she kept crying. Her voice was very lovely. Mom took her but she cried hard. I asked mom, so she gave her to me. She stopped crying immedialy. Mom said she like me but big round teardrops kept falling from her eyes. Her face was so red. But, she was so cute. I said mom, I will marry her.

Ok by. "

[The spelling mistakes are intentional. Though English is my fourth language, I can still do the spellings right 💅]