The Challenge Two Alphas, One Girl

Chapter 44: Maze’s Mom

Maze’s POV

I was a little unsteady. I took in the bandage on his right chest. Thaddeus made me sit down on the bed. My mate’s father had shot my father. Did Friday know? What were they going to do to him? The punishment for attempted murder of an alpha was death or banishment. Would Friday be devastated? They did not have a good relationship but she did seem as though she yearned for his approval. We had that in common when it came to our fathers.

“How are you feeling?” I asked tensely.

That man had shot my father. I remembered how crude her had been with Friday when he had heard her using my first name.

“That’s your Alpha whether or not another Alpha wants to f**k you!” He had said.

I had thought him insane and crass. Who would speak to their only daughter that way? I was seething. I wanted to rip him to shreds. I wanted the death penalty. I was the Marigold Alpha now and it was my call. My wolf whined. He was angry but he was worried about Friday rejecting us if we did something terrible to her father.

“How do you want him to be punished?” I asked my father in a serious tone. Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

He was the former alpha so his wishes in this particular case mattered a lot. My father looked shocked at my question, glancing surreptitiously at Felicity as if to say he could not answer that in front of her. I then noticed something sparkly and large on Felicity’s hand. I tore my eyes away from the engagement ring, feeling heartbroken on behalf of my Mom all of a sudden.

“What were those snarling noises we heard and the yelling?” Asked Thaddeus folding his arms.

Malachi hesitated again. He sighed deeply.

“ Your mother and Felicity fought,” said Dad softly. I could tell he was ashamed as this was probably mostly his doing, but he was not regretful. He seemed thoroughly pleased with the eventual result. Felicity and my Dad shared a lingering kiss.

“So love birds, when’s the wedding?” Joked Thaddeus, trying to lighten the mood. “I’ve always dreamt of a winter wonderland wedding,” said Felicity sheepishly. Maze tensed.

“So before the end of the year would be a nice time for our wedding,” added my father,

He was not going to get away with acting so causally about this. “So you’re leaving Mom then?” I asked dryly.

“Yes,” responded my father just as dryly. “Where is she?” I enquired.

“Who?” Asked my father.

“Mom,” I grumbled.

“Oh, uh, she said she would spend the night in a hotel. She was too scared to stay alone in our house, thinking Farris might return. He had brandished the gun and was going to shoot Elizabeth but I slashed at his leg,” My father said.

Felicity looked at him proudly and caressed his cheek. He leant forwards wanting more. She giggled. I

“I would never let harm like that come to Elizabeth. We’re not in love but she has been a dutiful wite,” said my father, explaining his thought process.

“She gave me you,” he added, looking up at me.

Istared at him, tears brimming in my eyes. I had thought since I found out that my mother was not his mate, that he automatically regretted having me. It was a relief to hear otherwise. I sniffled and my father in used his good arm to pull me into a warm bear hug.

“I love you, Son,” said my father softly. “Don’t ever scare me like that again, Dad, please,” I grumbled. Dad chuckled. He gave me a salute as if to say aye, aye, captain. Thaddeus, Felicity and I all smiled. Thaddeus’ POV

Maze was really going through it right now. His father had just been shot by the father of his mate because his father was sleeping with the mother of his mate. His father was also leaving his mother for the mother of his mate. That would mean Friday would be his little step-sister legally. I normally would roast the s**t out of him, chiding him about being Friday’s elder step-brother. I could ask him to walk her down the aisle for me because her father was on the lam but I decided to go easy on him. He was quiet as I drove him to the hotel. Maze also had to decide Friday’s Dad’s punishment for the attempted murder of the former alpha. The only suitable punishments for a crime of that gravity were death or banishment. He had to tip-toe around Friday but he also had to handle this debacle satisfactorily as the new alpha.

We arrived at the Marigold Hotel. I had been here once before with Friday to get massages. That had been our very first date. I smiled at the memory.

“What’s up? What’re you thinking about?” Maze asked me, glancing over at him as we pulled into the parking lot.

“Friday and I had our first date at this hotel,” I said cheerfully as we walked in and went to the main desk. There was a red-headed, freckled concierge there. He called Elizabeth’s room and then waved us up. We found the room easily. Maze knocked hesitantly on the door.I wondered if I should give him and his mother some time alone.

“Maze,” I said softly. “I better go and come back to pick you up later?” I suggested.

Maze shook his head quickly. “No, please stay…if you don’t mind,” he said, adding the last part sheepishly.

“I don’t mind,” I said smiling. Maze gave me a small smile of relief.

The door swung open to reveal a bleary-eyed Elizabeth with her usually sleek hair dishevelled and her normally pristine outfit crinkled. The room smelled strongly of alcohol. She was still clutching a bottle.

“Have a drink with me, boys,” she said, slurring her words a little and sauntering back into the room.

We followed her, shutting the door and siting on the hotel bed. She chuckled to herself as she climbed up onto the bed and sat crosslegged facing us. She took a swig from her wine bottle and then another sip from a flask of liquor she had on the bed.

“Twenty-five years,” she mumbled. “Twenty-five meaningless years.” He should have told her. Maze’s Dad had done her a huge disservice. “And he was f*****g that w***e the whole time,” she spat.

ibristled at the word w***e used against Friday’s mom like that. She was not a w***e for craving her mate who had slighted her and rejected her in the first pace. My heart was soft towards her. She was an ana ne was not too pleasea about it. I tuuy intended to noia ner while maze aaministerea ner much needea spanking in the near future. My mouth watered just th out it, picturing it. Her golden skin all flushed pink. A sheen of sweet coating her skin. Her doe eyes wide and eager to please. I licked my lips at the thought.

Suddenly Elizabeth began to wail loudly. Maze pulled her into a tight embrace, burying his nose in her hair. She quieted down a little, sniffling, hiding her face in his chest.

“After all these years, I will be stripped of my post as Luna,” she whispered.

“Mom,” said Maze said. “You would have to step down anyway to make room for my Luna, Mom,” said Maze gently. He stroked her hair. She regarded him reproachfully.

“That Fenestra girl? Felicity’s daughter?” Spat Elizabeth swaying a little, her eyes closing every few seconds. She trembled a little and used her hand to cover her mouth. The wave of nausea passed and she was fine.

Maze was silent, still holding her to him.

“You look just like him,” she cooed ruffling Maze’s hair. “But you’re not an asshole like him, Mazey. You’re my sweet boy!”

“Thanks, Mom,” responded Maze. “Time for bed, ok. You need some rest.” He helped to take off her shoes and he tucked her in. “That girl doesn’t love you, Maze. That Friday,” said Elizabeth snidely.

Maze flinched. I shook my head at him to let him know that that wasn’t true. I could tell Friday loved us both.

“She’ll screw you over after you give her your all,” Elizabeth said. “The Fenestra family is a family of snakes. Classless, conniving, clout chasers.”

Elizabeth sniffed. She gripped Maze’s shirt collar. “Promise me something if you love me?!” she asked him, drawing his face close to hers, locking eyes with him.

Maze nodded slowly.

“Pull out of the challenge,” demanded Elizabeth, “You can’t marry the daughter of the woman who destroyed your parents’ marriage. Forsake Friday if you really love me.

“Mom, but she’s my mate!” Maze said, his grey eyes fearful.

“She has another,” Elizabeth said matter-of-factly glancing at me. “She’ll pick him when it comes down to it.”

Maze spluttered unable to find the words he wanted to say to his mother.

“Do this one thing for me, if you love me!” She said, tears streaming down her face. “Reject her again if you have to! Just don’t be with her. I couldn’t bear it if my grandchildren were mothered by that girl!”

Maze’s pulse was steadily increasing. He was startled and upset by his mother’s manipulative requests. He looked at me for help.

“Miss Elizabeth, go to sleep please, you’ve had a lot to drink,” I said. “Talk to your son when you’re rejuvenated in the morning. We all tend to feel differently during the light of day.”

I stroked her hair as she sobbed into her pillow as though she were my own mother. We stayed with her until she fell asleep. Then we went to another suite we had asked the concierge to prepare. There were two bedrooms but we slept on the two couches in the living room so we could commiserate. I felt strange. I was sad, inexorably so. Maze’s sadness was my sadness. Was the mate-bond between each of us and Friday respectively powerful enough to let us feel the other mate’s distress or happiness. Or was this simply the beginning of a close friendship? Did it matter?

“Yeah?” I said.

“Timothy and Titus are really lucky,” he murmured sleepily. I smiled to myself, some of the heavy feeling dissipating at Maze’s words.