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"Mom?!" Griffin choked out as he carefully lifted Violet off his body and got to his feet with her.

"M-mom?" Violet shouted, nearly suffering a whiplash in her haste to get a closer look at the woman.

Oh fuck her life.

There are a few things you really shouldn’t do the first time meeting your potential mother-in-law and this definitely topped that list. After all, first impressions matter and Violet was pretty sure this one just got scorched into the family history for all the wrong reasons.

In Violet’s defense, the plan wasn’t to be caught like this when meeting the woman who raised him but here we are. At least she was fully clothed — and full of regret.

Alpha Irene was tall. Really tall. And sturdily built like someone who could toss a grown man over her shoulder without breaking a sweat.

A mop of rich, red hair spilled down her back, thick and silky, and for the first time, Violet understood exactly where Griffin got his ridiculous, unfairly gorgeous mane from.

Some strands were braided and decorated with beads and cowries.

It was beautiful. She was beautiful. Regal, wild, and the kind of woman who didn’t need to say a word to command a room.

Although she wasn’t as tall as Griffin or as muscly, she was still a force to be reckoned with, feeling every bit as much an Alpha as any of the males Violet had ever met.

That suffocating, commanding Alpha aura rolled off her in waves, thick enough to choke on.

But then again, Violet had never been affected by it.

And when she spoke, her voice was just as sharp. "This is what you’re up to on a day like this? You couldn’t even give me the courtesy of knowing I’d be here?"

"I can explain!" Violet said hastily, putting her body in Griffin’s way as if trying to shield him from his mother’s wrath in case she decided to take off her shoe and hurl it at him.

Irene raised a brow. "In this situation, it’s usually the male who does the explaining, but go on. Say it, let’s hear it."

"Violet, are you sure you want to...?" Griffin wanted to handle it.

"I’m good. Don’t worry," Violet smiled at him, squeezing his hand just a little—an interaction Irene noticed but said nothing about. The woman gave no expression out at all.

Taking a deep breath, just as Violet was about to launch into the explanation, someone barged in saying, "...said it’s here.

Wonder what’s keeping her from finding our boy.

..?" An equally handsome-looking man stepped into the picture, looking hesitant at what he probably figured out was a tense scenario.

"Dad?" Griffin squeaked.

His dad? As in, one of the two fathers that birthed him?

Oh crap.

As if his mother was not enough, now she just met his father?

Kill her now.

Griffin’s father was as tall as his wife, and bulky. His thick beard did not diminish his handsomeness one bit, and he also had a mane of long, thick ebony hair. The East really did not joke with their hair. It was quite a sweet custom, especially considering she was into Griffin’s hair.

Unfortunately, Violet had bigger problems than her hair quirks. This was certainly not how she imagined this family meeting would go, and certainly not this early. She and Griffin hadn’t even gone on a date yet!

"What are you doing here, Dad?" Griffin asked in surprise, before he turned to his mother. "I thought you said you were visiting alone?"

"She was. But then, she and Aeron had a fun date at the Alpha King’s territory the last time, so now it’s my turn." Arion’s sleazy smile suggested there was more to those words than he was letting on.

"God, no." Griffin face-palmed.

Then Arion’s gaze rested on Violet. "Who’s the pretty damsel?" He looked at his wife. "Your mother looks like she’s about to obliterate someone on the spot?"

Violet lifted her chin and introduced herself. "I’m Violet Purple, the one your wife just caught moments ago making out with your son." She delivered the news like a bombshell.

Arion was left dumbfounded. However, he seemed to catch himself quickly and said, "I’m Arion, the father of the rascal you were caught making out with," he said playfully, winking at her.

It was quite a relief to know that Griffin’s other father was easygoing, but then, Irene was still waiting for an answer.

Violet was about to speak when Griffin spoke at the same time, hence it was a chorus of:

"I like Griffin."

"I like Violet."

Huh? Griffin and Violet turned to stare at each other in surprise. That was unexpected.

Meanwhile, Arion was won over instantly, and he fawned over them. "Gosh, aren’t they both adorable?"

But Irene grunted. It was obvious she was not easily bought over like her husband.

This time, she said to Griffin directly, "I allowed you fool around because I believed you had the end goal in mind, nonetheless, so what is this?" She demanded an answer.

"Elsie does not like me," Griffin confessed, stepping away from Violet’s body this time and standing beside her. "No matter what I do, it’s not good enough. She has her eyes on Asher."

Violet added immediately, "And she treats your boy like shit. I’m sure you don’t like anyone treating Griffin like that, because I won’t."

For the first time, Irene looked honestly impressed. However, she pushed down the emotion as soon as it came, her unreadable mask back on again.

"And what if you win the battle for the throne? The rule is for the winner to marry Elsie Lancaster. What would you do then?" she asked her son.

"I would still not marry her, come what may."

Irene frowned. "You would rebel against the Alpha King’s decree?"

"Yes, Mother. Isn’t that the way of the East? We don’t succumb to conventional rules," Griffin said fiercely.

For a moment there, there was tense silence until Irene’s face suddenly broke into a huge grin.

"My boy!" She closed the distance, pulling him into her arms with so much strength she lifted Griffin off his feet a few meters.

Violet was definitely impressed. That was so much strength.

Then Irene began to shower his face with kisses. "How much you’ve grown! You don’t know how much I’ve missed you, my baby boy."

"Mom!" Griffin was mortified by the childish treatment, especially as he saw Violet stifling a giggle. The gods help him. This was embarrassing.

Irene finally noticed Violet, who gulped as the woman approached her. She tensed when Irene placed a hand on her shoulder, but to her surprise, she began to turn her around and check her out like someone appraising goods.

"Hmmm," Irene said thoughtfully. "She’s tall. Good. Childbearing hips. More than enough. Now look at that ass. Perfect."

"I’ll rate her nine out of ten," Arion said.

Violet was left speechless. What in the name of the goddess was going on here? If Griffin wasn’t here, Violet was sure she’d be freaked out by now. She looked at Griffin, who gave her a look that said, Don’t worry, it will be over soon.

"I’ll say eight," Irene said, scrunching her nose. "She has no meat on her body, but I’m sure Griffin would take care of that, wouldn’t you?"

Griffin nodded without hesitation.

Violet was still speechless.

Arion added, "And she looks strong. I’d say our son made a good choice. Our people would like her. She’d make a powerful Luna."

"That is yet to be known, Arion. So don’t give her ideas. Graduation is still months away. Many things could happen in that space of time."

Well, she did make a point. Violet couldn’t agree more.

Suddenly, Irene asked her, "Do you know the way to the Luncheon? I’m in need of an escort."

Violet realized what this was. Irene was extending an olive branch to her. However, an idea hit Violet, and she said to Irene with a mischievous smile.

"If that’s the case, I hope you don’t mind being escorted by a pack of rogues?"

"Eeh?"