CHAPTER 30 – Luna

Pacific Northwest, Oregon, the High Keep mansion.

Brynn and Luke were heading out of the mansion to a business meeting, and just then, Theodore walked into the mansion, heading towards the father.

"Son," Brynn said, "Seems like you won't be accompanying me to the meeting like I asked earlier."

"It's called a board meeting for a reason, and I'm not up for being bored to death." Theodore said, looking away from his father, "Besides, I am going out with Ingrid today."

"That woman isn't good for you, Theodore. She should be lifting you, not leashing you," Brynn said. "She practically has you wrapped around her fingers. I never trained you this way."

"You have no right to decide for me, Dad." Theodore looked at Brynn. "And the point of correction is, you didn't train me. You stopped showing up after Azalea died, and the only person who stayed with me all these years was Ingrid. The last time I recalled, you now have another daughter, so why not take her with you and leave me alone as usual?"

 He took a few steps, wanting to walk away.

"How can I be there for you if you don't let me?" Brynn asked.

"It's too late to try now, Dad. I have grown, and I am no longer that small kid you grounded for disobeying your command." Theodore said and continued his journey.

Brynn turned to look at Luke. "Do you think I could have taken another approach instead?" He asked, "I mean, he used to love following me to board meetings. Am I missing something?"

"I never said it was going to be easy, master," Luke said as he bowed.

Brynn sighed and continued walking. Not up to five steps later, he met Ingrid, seemingly going to Theodore's room.

"Master Brynn," She beamed and bowed, "What a pleasure to see you."

"I wish I could say the same for you," Brynn answered coldly.

"Master," Ingrid said, her expression quickly fading away. "Have I done anything wrong?"

"I wonder why only I can smell your façade, the deceit that lives in you. I only entertain you here because I love my son. Don't take my generosity for weakness." He said, "Just so you know, it would take more than your acts to fool me." Brynn coldly walked out on her without giving her an avenue to speak further.

Ingrid glared at Brynn as he walked away. She clenched her fists in anger and consoled herself with the thought that Theodore would be the next Alpha, while she, the Luna.

She couldn't do real harm to Brynn right this instant, even if she wanted to.

"Seems like your father doesn't like me," Ingrid said, barging into Theodore's room.

"Who cares?" Theodore asked from his bathroom.

"Well, I do," She answered. "If I am going to become the next Luna, do you not think I should have a good relationship with my soon-to-be father-in-law?"

"You are getting married to me, Ingrid," He said. "Whatever anyone else says except me shouldn't matter to you. He doesn't matter to me, so it should be the same for you."

Ingrid sat on the edge of Theodore's bed.

"I don't want to be the reason for the rift between you two. What would that make of me as your Luna? What would people think?"

"Rift?" He asked, "There's been a rift ever since my sister died."

He paused,

"On a second, I think the rift started when I was grounded for showing off to my sister. Man didn't visit me throughout the grounding period, only my mum, who spoke to me from the other side of the door, and my sister," He smiled. "She always knew her way around with my dad; she actually did come into my room."

"You must miss her a lot."

"Sure, if she were here," He said, "Maybe things would be different. With me, my father, and maybe my wolf."

"Speaking of that," Ingrid said, "Isn't the marking taking too long? If I had your mark, it would earn me a form of recognition from everyone, including your father."

"I'm trying, love, I don't know what's going on myself," He said. "I'm suspecting it was severed when Azalea died."

"I'm worried, Theo."

"Worried about me? That's sweet of you."

"Not you, I'm worried about the delay." Ingrid said, "Sometimes, I wonder if we're truly fated. This waiting makes me feel uncertain. You could force it; you know?"

"I totally disagree with forcing it." He said, stepping out of the bathroom, with a towel around his waist, "I want to prove to everyone and myself that we were meant to be, plus my father has sternly warned about forcing a marking on someone."

"But…"

"There are no buts." He walked close to her and lifted her to himself. "We just need to be patient. I believe my wolf would come around with time."

'But I don't have that patience with me.' She thought to herself.

"Fine then." She gave a fake grin.

"Rest your little head." He kissed her forehead. "You know I don't like you working yourself up."

"We'd better start hitting the road now, Theo. We don't want to be late."

"Yeah, right." He said, then let her go and headed towards his wardrobe.

"Your father's birthday is in three months," She said.

"So?"

"So, are you looking forward to it?"

"It's still going to be the same old boring ceremony," Theodore said, putting on a shirt. "I'll get a present soon enough, if it so bothers you."

Ingrid forced a smile.

Brynn already dislikes her. If Theodore doesn't involve himself in his father's birthday ceremony, the dislike is definitely going to grow, to turn into hate towards her, and she doesn't want that.

Years Ago….

Little Theodore was in his bed, and he was so bored and had run out of things to do.

It's been three days, and he already misses his freedom. He stood up and went to his window, looking out of it and staring at the dark view of the mansion's compound.

It was raining heavily, and both thunder and lightning didn't give the sky a breathing space.

He flinched a bit at the ones that came unexpectedly. In order to while away time, he started to count the number of times thunder struck.

Just then, his ears caught a sound, just outside his door. He snapped his eyes to the door, not knowing who it might be.

He thought to himself not to be scared; his father hadn't taught him to be scared.

After all, he was in his father's house, and nothing could go wrong, right?

While his eyes were still fixed on the door, the doorknob twisted.

Although he didn't know what to expect, he still had to be prepared himself.

He took a fighting stance, his claws came out, and just as the door creaked open, a familiar scent came to him.