Page 27 of Clashing With The Grumpy Wolf

"Silverine and I have been friends for decades. It’s only normal that I join in some of the festivities of her granddaughter’s wedding." Her gaze shifts to Julia, assessing her with the cold calculation of a predator. "And you must be the woman my son has been hiding."

“Julia Schroeder.” Julia extends her free hand, her smile professional and warm. “It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Wolfsbane.”

"Please, call me Meredith." My mother takes Julia's hand, holding it a beat too long. Her nostrils flare subtly as she scents the air between us. "I must say, this is unexpected. I’ve been trying to convince Adrian to take a mate for years now."

Meredith’s smile is cold enough to chill the sun. “And here you are.”

"It happened rather suddenly," Julia says, her voice steady despite the tension radiating from her. "Sometimes the right person just… appears."

“Indeed.” My mother's smile doesn't reach her eyes. “How fortunate for all of us.”

Julia doesn't flinch under my mother's implied accusation.

"I've found timing is everything in both love and business."

“Sheriff Wolfsbane, Julia.” Silverine approaches, her violet eyes gleaming with curiosity. “Please, join us.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t want to impose—” Julia starts.

“We insist.” Meredith cuts in, her steely gaze firmly on me.

And I know better than to argue against two old matriarchs. We follow them to a seating area near the windows. I keep Julia close, my hand at the small of her back. The weight of eyes on us is palpable.

"So," my mother begins as we sit, "how exactly did this sudden relationship blossom?"

"We met only a couple days ago," Julia replies smoothly. "And it was just love at first sight."

My mother's eyebrow arches and I know I need to take control of the situation.

"Just like that." Meredith’s voice is sweet as honey and deadly as a rattlesnake’s venom.

"Mother," I warn, my voice low. “I met Julia and my wolf rose to claim her. She accepted that claim. End of story.”

She ignores me, focusing on Julia.

"Do you even understand what it means to be bound to an alpha? The responsibilities, the sacrifices?"

The room has gone quiet, everyone sipping their tea while hanging on every word. Julia sits straighter, her chin lifting slightly.

"With all due respect, Mrs. Wolfsbane, I don't believe that's anyone's business but ours."

A current of fitful excitement weaves through the people sitting at the table. Even Silverine Draak seems to be shocked that someone, anyone, would dare to answer my mother like that, especially a human woman.

"It's the business of the entire pack when the future alpha chooses a mate," my mother counters, all semblance of a smile gone from her face. "Especially a human mate with no ties to our community. A stranger."

“Adrian knows you planned for him to take a wolf for a mate.” Julia's pulse jumps, but her expression remains composed. "But plans can change."

I can smell Julia's anxiety spiking, mingling with indignation and determination. My wolf bristles at my mother's challenge, urging me to defend our claim. Before I can speak, Julia sets down her teacup with a decisive click.

"Mrs. Wolfsbane, I understand your concern. Your son is important to you, as he should be." Her voice is calm, but there's steel beneath it. "But questioning the authenticity of our relationship in public is both inappropriate and unnecessary."

My mother's eyes narrow and her eyes flash a wolfish golden yellow, betraying the she-wolf she is, just under the surface. The she-wolf who just had the rug pulled right out from under her feet.

"Mother, that's enough," I growl, my patience snapping.

I make a decision in that moment, driven by a need to protect Julia that goes beyond our arrangement. I pull her closer, one arm sliding around her waist. She stiffens momentarily, then relaxes against me.

“Julia is my mate and I will not allow anyone to challenge this,” I say, my voice low and rough. "Not from the pack and not from you."