Third POv
Zyran commanded the beta, who was driving ahead, "I want the palace to be completely cleared of everyone and everything. Ensure that the wolves at the airport keep their mouths shut." He could see the anxiety etched on his brothers' faces as they cast furtive glances at their mate whenever they could.
She was wearing a large coat that enveloped her, and the ride felt incredibly awkward as she seemed lost in thought about everything. He could tell her mind was racing, and he would give anything to understand what was going through her head.
The journey from the airport to the palace took about ten minutes since the airport was located on werewolf territory.
Eventually, the car parked in front of the castle, and Vlad opened the door. For the first time in his life, he felt anxious about how the meeting between his mother and mate would unfold.
Neria stepped out, awestruck by the breathtaking view before her. Everything was so lush and green; she had never encountered such an abundance of nature in one place. The expansive fields surrounding the castle were stunning, and the castle itself was unlike anything she had ever seen—massive and magnificent with its grand stone walls.
"It's beautiful," she exclaimed, standing there admiring the castle while the three brothers surrounded her. They knew she would be taken aback by the sight of such a castle. They had instructed their beta to keep everyone indoors to prevent her from feeling nervous, and they were not prepared to handle the rumors about them finding their mate.
"I'm glad you like it," Kravin replied. Just then, the door opened, and an older woman stepped out. As soon as she heard the news that her sons had returned, she knew she had to meet them, especially since she had been informed about their unusual female guest.
Sasha was the acting Luna Queen of the werewolf kingdom, as her sons had yet to find their mates.
As the alpha kings saw their mother, they froze, taking in her presence. She stood there in a well-tailored dress that ended just above her knees, her hair elegantly styled, exuding an air of sophistication.
Sasha was well aware that her sons would never bring home just any random person; it had to be that they had discovered their true mate. This realization filled her with immense joy, as the wolves were in need of a Luna. However, as she stood in front of the girl, an unsettling feeling washed over her, indicating that something was not quite right.
To begin with, the girl did not entirely smell like a human; there was an unfamiliar scent surrounding her that Sasha could not identify. Additionally, the girl appeared disheveled, wearing one of her son's oversized coats that engulfed her, and her hair resembled a bird's nest.
Nerina observed as the older woman scrutinized her. Before she could even extend a greeting, she instantly sensed that she did not like Sasha, and she was certain that they would not get along at all.
"Mother, you wouldn't have needed to bother; we would have come to meet you," Zyran said as he approached his mother, intending to usher her inside. However, she remained rooted in place, glaring at her sons.
"Who is she?" Sasha demanded sharply.
"Mother, that's not important; can we…" Kravin attempted to speak to his mother, but she cut him off before he could finish his sentence.
"You can't just show up with a random creature at our doorstep; you know the…" Sasha began, but was abruptly interrupted by Nerina.
"Watch how you speak to me, old lady! They kidnapped me and brought me here; it wasn't my choice to be anywhere, so don't insult me. I won't tolerate it," she snapped at Sasha, who stood frozen in shock.
In all her years, no one had ever spoken to Sasha in such a manner as Nerina had just done. She felt a wave of disgust at the girl's attitude; there was simply no way she could accept this.
The triplets were taken aback; they were aware that Nerina had a sharp tongue, but they had not anticipated her unleashing it on their mother, who typically did not tolerate such disrespect. They realized they were in deep trouble.
In a fleeting moment of anger, Sasha began to half-transform, but as she attempted to move toward Nerina in fury, Vlad was quick enough to restrain her.
"Mate," he growled, and just then, a scream pierced the air behind him. He turned to see his mate collapsing into the arms of his brother, overwhelmed by the sight of their half-transformed mother.
Kravin cradled his mate, who had fainted from shock. He despised how things had unfolded, yet he had anticipated this moment.
Sasha froze as she gazed at the girl in her son's embrace, shaking her head in disbelief. There was no way she could accept this: the girl who had spoken so rudely and carelessly was now her daughter-in-law, her son's mate, and the new Luna of the wolves.
It felt like a dream, and she nearly fainted. She wished it were a lie, but she could see how her sons reacted around the girl. Looking up, she saw Vlad, his wolf barely contained. Never had she witnessed him like this before. For years, they had searched for their mate, believing that Kings' mates were exclusively Alpha's daughters.
It had always been that way, and she was shocked when none of the Alpha daughters turned out to be her sons' mate. Now, she realized it was a girl of humble origins.
"I'm taking her inside before she catches a cold," Kravin declared, leaving his brothers to handle their frozen mother.
"No… she can't be Luna," Sasha snapped at Vlad, who struggled to maintain his composure. Throughout his life, his wolf had never dared to challenge his mother, but today was different. The power of the mate bond surged within him, demanding protection for their mate.
"She is our mate, Mother, ours. This is the will of the goddess," Vlad retorted sharply.
"How can she possibly rule over the wolves? She is weak, ignorant of our ways, and she isn't even human. I can't even determine what she truly is. If you declare her your mate, it will spark a war. A weak Luna will only weaken the kingdom," Sasha spat.
I will not abandon our mate, Mother. We have made a commitment to take her in and raise her. We will teach her our ways, and in time, she will improve. The goddess never makes mistakes, Vlad asserted, and his mother sighed in response.
Sasha realized there was no way to change her son's mind; after all, it was their mate, and such bonds cannot be severed. Instead, she devised a different plan.
"Give her to me. No one needs to know you've found your mate. Once I'm finished with her, I'll train her in our ways," Sasha suggested, her fists clenched as she spoke.
She had no intention of training Nerina; Sasha was convinced the goddess had erred. However, she could manipulate her son into rejecting Nerina as their mate, and that was her scheme.
"She is yours, Mother. Train her as you see fit," Vlad replied, and a smirk spread across Sasha's face.