Page 44 of Pack Rivals: Part Two
I want to turn around and run.
“Axel, it’s so good to see you.” She smiles, more widely than the woman on the screen. “Thank you so much for coming to visit. I know how busy you boys are.”
There’s not a trace of sarcasm or retribution in her tone. She’s genuinely pleased to see me. At least there’s one woman on the planet who isn’t mad with me today.
I lean over her and let her squeeze my hands, the pressure hardly noticeable, as I kiss her cheek. Her scent has faded too. I can barely smell it.
I remember how vivid it once was. The smell of home and warm hugs and safety. A scent I will always love most.
Oneof the scents I will always love most. There’s another that will haunt me now too. Burned fucking caramel.
My mom hangs onto my hands, soaking up my face.
“Always so handsome. So like your father.”
“You mean the wrinkles?” I chuckle.
“I can’t see any. But I’m sure they’d only add to the air of distinction.”
I sit on the footstool next to her, and she keeps clinging onto my hands.
My sister calls from the doorway, “Can I get you guys anything to drink? Are you thirsty, Mom?”
“I’m just fine, Molly. Stop fussing.”
Molly rolls her eyes and I shake my head.
“Thanks, I’m fine.”
“Get him a coffee, Molly.”
“I can go get myself one,” I say as my sister glares at me like she’s planning to throw a dagger at my face.
“No, you stay right here. I want to hear all your news. I haven’t seen you in ages,” my mom insists.
“Two months,” Molly calls from the door. “It’s been two months.”
“I’m sure it hasn’t been that long,” I mumble.
“It has!” Molly shouts back.
“Molly, coffee,” my mom says, and poking her tongue out at me, Molly slopes off. “That girl will never land a pack with manners like that.” My mom tuts.
“Molly’s manners are just fine.”
“And she’s very beautiful too, isn’t she?” My mom smiles fondly. “If only she’d get out more. Maybe you could take her out, Axel, you and Angel together.” I shift on my seat and my mom frowns. “Still with the silly fall out?”
I don’t know what to say. She always talks as if the fall out between us wasn’t so catastrophic, they had to corner off half the county.
“I’ll see if she wants to come out. I doubt she’ll say yes. She worries about leaving you.”
“Me?” my mom huffs. “I’m perfectly fine.”
We both know that’s not true.
“Anyway,” she says, “tell me.” She tugs on my hand. I glance upwards, noticing the care she’s taken to style her hair. Even though she’s going nowhere. Even though she’s seeing no one.
“Nothing much to tell.”
