Chapter 26

Cammy POV

Kai’s grip on my hand was firm yet reassuring as he led me toward the woman who had called his name. My heart pounded in my chest as I took in the striking woman before me. Luna Melissa was breathtaking—high cheekbones, full lips painted in a deep red, and long, silky brown hair cascading down her back. She stood tall and poised, exuding the kind of elegance only an Alpha’s mate could possess. But there was something else—something unreadable in her sharp brown eyes as they locked onto me.

Kai released my hand momentarily and stepped forward to greet her with a kiss on the cheek. “Mother,” he greeted her softly, his tone almost... cautious?

Melissa’s gaze flickered back to me, scanning me with an intensity that made my wolf bristle. She took in every detail—my hair, my posture, my unmarked neck—before a cool, almost forced smile graced her lips.

“So, you’re Cameron,” she said, her voice smooth but lacking warmth. “The mate my son has chosen.”

The way she phrased it made my stomach twist uncomfortably. I met her gaze head-on and nodded. “Yes, Luna. It’s an honor to meet you.”

Melissa tilted her head slightly, studying me like a puzzle she couldn’t quite solve. “I’m sure it is,” she murmured. Then, turning to Kai, she arched a perfectly sculpted brow. “You certainly didn’t waste any time putting Angelique out.”

Kai stiffened beside me. “The bond chose us, Mother,” he said, his tone flat, almost defensive. “You know how it works.”

Melissa hummed, her eyes never leaving mine. “Of course,” she said, though something about the way she said it made me uneasy. “Well then, Cameron, shall we walk?”

I nodded, following her as she turned gracefully, leading me toward the garden just outside the hall. Kai hesitated but released my hand, his gaze warning as he watched us go. He wasn’t entirely comfortable leaving me alone with her, and truthfully, neither was I.

The air outside was crisp, the scent of freshly cut grass mingling with the faint aroma of roses from the flower beds. Melissa walked ahead before finally stopping near a stone bench, gesturing for me to sit. I did, keeping my posture straight, refusing to shrink under the weight of her scrutiny.

“I won’t pretend to be thrilled about this,” she finally said, her voice softer but no less cutting. “You’re... different from what I expected.”

I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry. “Different how?”

Melissa exhaled, her gaze distant for a moment before returning to me. “Kai has always been strong. Fierce. He’s destined for greatness. I just didn’t expect his mate to be...” she paused, choosing her words carefully, “so soft.”

I clenched my fists in my lap, keeping my expression neutral. “With all due respect, Luna, strength comes in many forms.”

Her lips twitched as if amused by my response. “Indeed,” she mused. "We have all just witnessed a fair display of strength. But the mate of the future Alpha King must be more than just strong. She must be ruthless when needed. This world is not kind, Cameron, and being soft-hearted—being sweet—won’t earn you respect. You do realize that neither Angelique or Melody would have left you able to walk if they had one. No one else would have missed such an opportunity to assert themselves.”

I met her gaze steadily. “I am not looking for respect through cruelty, Luna. I earn it in my own way. And with all due respect, neither Angelique or Melody won. And it was clear that neither stood a chance at beating me. Everyone could see that.”

Her brown eyes darkened slightly, and I wondered if I had pushed too far. But then, to my surprise, she let out a quiet chuckle, though there was no real humor in it. “You remind me of someone,” she murmured, almost to herself.

I frowned. “Who?”

Melissa’s expression shifted, becoming unreadable. “It doesn’t matter,” she said briskly, standing up. “What matters is that you are here now. And whether or not I approve, my son has chosen you.”

I stood as well, leveling my gaze with hers. “The bond chose us, Luna,” I corrected her, echoing Kai’s earlier words.

For the first time, something flickered in her eyes—something almost like pain. It was gone in an instant, replaced with that same cool exterior she had maintained from the start.

“You may believe that,” she said, voice tight, “but not all bonds are honored. Some... are broken before they ever have a chance to flourish.”

A shiver ran down my spine at the weight of her words. There was something deeper here, something she wasn't saying. But before I could ask, Kai’s voice cut through the air.

“Everything okay?”

Melissa turned smoothly, her smile in place once more. “Of course, darling. Cameron and I were just... getting to know each other.”

Kai’s sharp eyes darted between us before landing on me, silently asking if I was alright. I nodded, though my mind was still spinning.

Melissa stepped past him, brushing a hand over his arm. “Don’t be a stranger, my son,” she said softly, before walking away, disappearing back into the clubhouse.

Kai turned to me immediately. “What did she say?”

I hesitated, glancing toward the door she had vanished through. “She’s... complicated,” I admitted.

Kai let out a humorless laugh. “That’s one way to put it.” He took my hand again, his grip grounding me. “I know she’s not easy, Cammy. She hasn’t been since—” He cut himself off, jaw tightening. “Just don’t take anything she says to heart.”

I wanted to ask him what he had been about to say, but the look in his eyes told me now wasn’t the time. So, I never told him that she did not approve of me either. Perhaps he already knew and that's why he seemed anxious about the private conversation I'd just shared with his mother. My new Luna.

So instead, I squeezed his hand and smiled reassuringly. “I can handle myself, Kai.”

His eyes softened, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. “I know you can.”

And as much as I wanted to believe that meeting his mother was just another formality, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was far more to Luna Melissa than met the eye and that being her daughter in-law wasn't going to do me any favors.