First

Leila nudges Kelvin with a playful smile on her lips but he smiles wryly at her, a smile that barely reaches his eyes.

She doesn’t miss it and she knows it’s because he thinks she may still have feelings for Tatum.

Why can’t he understand that Tatum is as far from her heart as the sun is from the earth, if not more^

How can she get him to see and believe that?

She turns to her mom.

“Mom, I saw some men doing some work on the land dad was going to build his mall on, is that you?”

Liana scoffs, a nasty sneer covering her eyes. Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

“I wish it was,” she replies, taking a sip from her drink and her eyes turn sombre.

“About a month ago, I got a letter from the council of elders that the land hasn’t been developed in two decades and by law, they have the right to repossess it and give it to a new owner, of course after giving us due compensation. Trust your mother to refuse and provide proof that your father has only owned the land for nineteen years and eight months, making them halt on the matter and then three days ago, out of nowhere, I’m accused of killing my late husband,” Liana scoffs softly, a truly sad smile adorning her lips.

“Can you imagine it?” Her eyes coat with tears and she struggles to hold it from falling. “They are not even being subtle about it.”

Leila frowns. It is one thing for Tatum and his pack members to judge her wrongly and condemn her to her death but trying to usurp her family’s inheritance afterwards?

How did she ever fall in love with such a heartless man?

Did her love really mean nothing to him? Who is she even kidding with that question? She scoffs. internally. She is not even disappointed, a man that did not care about his own child.

“They’re not going to win mom, I promise you,” Leila says reassuringly.

“That’s quite comforting to hear, really, but I suspect it’s Trent who actually wants that land, he’s always had his eyes on it. I remember your father winning their dispute over that land before you were born. Trent is very powerful now, he’s remained head of the council for over a decade despite the fact that a tenure should only last four years, he’s the most powerful Beta wolf in the realm and he has backing from several powerful Alphas. If he is behind this, he can stall any construction we try to do, just so the four months pass and he can claim the land.”

“Gran gran, is Trent bullying you? Just take me to him and I’ll beat him up,” Amara interjects, folding both her fists into a punch and holding it up. “Ask mama, I beat up my bullies.”

Liana chuckles heartily and ruffles her hair. “I’m sure you do honey.”

Kelvin shakes his head with an adorable smile on his lips.

+15 BONUS

“Amara, why don’t you go to the room and call your aunt, tell her we arrived safely, the adults want to talk,” Leila’s tone is stern, her eyes curt, looking unimpressed.

“Sorry gran gran, mama doesn’t like it when I beat my bullies up, she’s a woman of peace,” Amara replies in a snarky tone, jumping down from Liana’s leg and bolting towards the corridor before Leila can reprimand her further.

“I swear she’s a handful,” Leila shakes her head.

“Reminds me of someone,” Liana smiles at Amara retreating behind before she turns back to Leila. ” She has your grandmother’s golden eyes and she looks much like your father. If what you say about her strength is true, then we must watch her carefully. You know who your grandmother was, the reason we are a renowned Beta family.”

“My child will lead a normal life,” Leila replies sharply as if countering her mother and Kelvin looks lost, glancing between them.

There is obviously a story he knows nothing about and he knows a lot about this family.

“Let’s just get back to-” Liana pauses as Theo, Tatum’s Beta, steps into the house.

“It is proper for returning pack members to first visit the Alpha before moving around in the pack. You know this Costner, don’t you?”

D