"Are you finished?" Akita asked as Eloise tossed the last log of wood onto the ground.
"Yes," she replied, clapping her palms together to brush off the dirt. "I'm so exhausted," she confessed.
Akita smiled warmly at her son. "I know, dear. Go get cleaned up, and I'll prepare your meal."
Akita was a lovely mother to Eloise, and her kind nature only deepened Eloise's love for her. With her short brown hair framing her face and warm brown eyes, Akita exuded an elegant charm that hadn't diminished with age. Her first daughter, Alberta, shared her features, looking like a younger, prettier version of Akita.
"Okay, Mom," Eloise said, pecking her mother's cheek before hurrying into the house.
Akita watched her go, a soft smile on her face as she gazed at the old house. She let out a gentle sigh before heading to get the meal she had promised.
As she was serving the food onto a plate, Akita heard a loud voice calling out from the kitchen.
"Mother! Mother!" She recognized the tone immediately—it was unmistakably Alberta.
Akita chose to ignore the urgency in the voice, focusing instead on her task. Holding the spoon, she continued transferring the food from the pot to the plate, wondering what could be troubling her daughter this time.
"Mother, didn't you hear me calling you?" Alberta nagged, appearing at the kitchen doorway.
"What is it, Alberta?" Akita asked, covering the pot.
"Mother, I need some money."
Akita furrowed her brow. "For what?" she asked, closing the kitchen's wooden door as she entered the house through the back door.
"For my ball gown. I just came from Edison's shop, and the price is more than I have," Alberta whined, following her mother.
Akita placed the covered plate of pottage on the wooden table in the sitting room.
"Alberta, I thought you and Edison were good friends. Why doesn't he give you the gown, and you can complete the payment later when you have the money?"
"Mother, we had a little disagreement, long story. Can I just have ten silver coins?" She rolled her eyes tiredly.
"No, Alberta. Money is hard to earn, and I can't waste it on a dress," Akita replied firmly.
Alberta pouted, making puppy eyes. "It's not just any dress; it's for the ball next week," she said, plopping down onto a chair.
Akita remained unmoved. "Alberta, you have so many nice dresses, just wear one of them, or buy a cheaper dress. That gown isn't a necessity."
Alberta's expression shifted from pleading to frustration as she quickly rose from the chair. "Mother, really?"
"Yes, the only money I have now was earned by your brother, Eloise, and it's going toward more important things than ball gowns," Akita said, her tone firm.
Alberta's face fell, but Akita didn't budge. She disliked Alberta's constant demands.
"Fine, then I guess I won't attend the ball," Alberta bluffed, before turning and walking away.
*
Eloise was dressing after finishing her bath when the closed door suddenly swung open, revealing Alberta.
She flinched, quickly grabbing a cloth to cover herself, which made Alberta's expression falter for a moment before she regained her composure.
"Brother, lend me ten silvers," Alberta said directly, without hesitation.
Eloise shook her head. "Wow, I don't have that much. I gave my last week's earnings to Mother," he replied sincerely.
Alberta's face twisted in annoyance. "Oh, I forgot, Mother's obedient son," she sneered, before storming out of the room.
**
Yutani's brow furrowed as she listened to the man, her piercing green eyes narrowing in disdain.
"So, you think I'll help you convince the Alpha to set your criminal son free?" she asked, her voice laced with sarcasm.
"Please, he's not a criminal, Your Grace," the man begged, falling to the ground and grasping her feet, a forbidden act that only seemed to irritate her further.
"How dare you!" Yutani yelled, jerking her feet out of his grip. "Guards!" she called out. "Take this man to the dungeon. He and his son should be beheaded before sunrise tomorrow," she ordered, her voice cold and unforgiving.
The guards seized the old man, dragging him away as he continued to plead for mercy. "Your Grace, please show mercy!"
"Pigs," she spat, rolling her eyes in disgust.
Just then, a soldier approached, kneeling before her. "Your Grace," he said, "the Alpha has returned."
A smile flickered across Yutani's face at the news, though it was tinged with a hint of apprehension.
She had been planning to share a certain decision with him, but deep down, she dreaded his reaction. Her son could be volatile and unpredictable at times.
With her head held high, she rose from her seat, her elegant gown sweeping across the floor as she moved with poised steps.
*
Atlas stepped quietly into his chamber, nearly a month since he left the country.
His eyes scanned the room through his black mask, taking in the familiar darkness. The candles remained unlit, and the curtains were still drawn, just as he preferred.
A knock at the door broke the silence, and he paused the action of taking off his mask, his hand hovering over the mask. "
Alpha Atlas," a voice called out.
The door opened, and the one person who could enter his private space without consequence walked in.
"Mother," Atlas acknowledged, his voice low and even.
Yutani smiled, taking a seat without invitation. "Welcome," she said, her tone laced with a hint of amusement. "Are you displeased by my presence?" she asked, her eyes locked on his masked face.
Atlas turned to face the window, peering through the closed curtains at the pack members below. His chamber on the fourth floor of the Packhouse offered a commanding view. "Speak, you have limited time," he said, his deep voice a gentle warning that could scare anyone but never Yutani.
Yutani's expression turned serious. "I'll get straight to the point. I've come to discuss marriage," she began, her voice steady.
Atlas's response was immediate, though he continued to gaze out the window. "What about marriage?" he asked, his tone firm.
Yutani's eyes narrowed slightly. "Son, I want you to get married. It's time you had an heir, and the pack members are growing impatient, they need a Luna."
Atlas turned to face her, his eyes hidden behind the mask.
After a moment of silence, he spoke. "No, I don't buy the idea."
Yutani's face darkened. "Atlas, it's not an idea; it's an obligation. You must do this as the Alpha. The pack needs stability, and you need an heir." Her voice rose, a hint of desperation creeping in.
"And what if I don't?" Atlas asked, his tone challenging.
Yutani's eyes flashed with anger. "Atlas, people are complaining to me because they're too afraid to approach you directly. They come to me instead," she said, her voice tight with frustration.
"Anyone who has a problem with my reign can leave," Atlas retorted, his voice cold.
Yutani took a deep breath, her eyes closing briefly as she struggled to calm herself.
"Listen, Atlas, I know more about rulership than you'll ever learn. I won't stand by and watch you ravage my hard work. I've organized a ball for next week, and at that ball, you'll choose your Luna from the she-wolves present. Mate or not, it doesn't matter. You will do as I say, or you'll lose your precious pet."
The mention of his pet sent Atlas's temper flaring. "How dare you touch my stuff," he snarled, taking menacing steps toward her.
Yutani stood her ground, her eyes locked on his. "You have to respect me, Atlas. I brought you into this world, and I'll always be one step ahead of you. Don't think I'm joking when I say I'll kill that beast if you don't comply."
With a final glare, Yutani turned and exited the room, her heels clicking on the floor.
Atlas's gaze lingered on the door as his mother departed, his anger burning like embers.
"You witch," he muttered, the words escaping his lips like a curse.
His eyes blazed red in the dim light, and his fangs pressed against his gums, straining to break free beneath the confines of his mask.