Blake’s POV~

I am blown away. “Mother. That isn’t like you! I have never known you to be so judgmental. What in the fuck were you thinking?” And she stuttered “I am reeling from Crystalline behaving that way.. then this Jo person making jokes and poking fun at you for it.. rubbed me the wrong way. She’ll get over it. My opinion could hardly matter” and my father asked her “Did you hear nothing that man said about that sweet girl? She has known more pain in her short time than you have felt in a lifetime! I am ashamed of you tonight, Helen!”

Odin is whimpering in my head. And I realize something.. “I am going to admit something. Meeting Jolene has probably been the most singularly monumental thing to happen to me in years. I have been torn about accepting my mate for months.. even my wolf hates her. But Odin doesn’t hate Jo! He cares deeply for Angel.. her wolf. I really wanted to get to know her. I have looked forward to seeing her all day! I had even been fantasizing that maybe… just maybe.. one day, I could ask her to be my chosen mate. To be my Luna. That will never happen now! Thanks to you, mother. Now.. hear me when I say this! I am asking the monarchy to break my mate bond! I will NEVER take a chosen mate! Our bloodline ends with me! You will never have grandchildren! And you have only yourself to blame!”

With that I leave the restaurant and shift in the parking lot… racing the wind! Jolene and I are finished before we even begun! Then.. I realize.. I can fix this! I have to fix this! And I turn back toward the restaurant… tomorrow is the day I find a way to undo what my mother did.

Making it home, I dress and go straight to my office. I send the email to the King. Dalton and my dad come in.. he pours us all a whiskey and sits “Your mother feels really bad, son. She would like to speak to you when you’re ready. “ I shrug. .. not having anything to say at the moment. I have no phone number… Wait! “Dalton! Do you have Trish’s number? Do you think you can get her to give you Jolene’s number? I have to try and fix this shit! I have never wanted anything more, in my life!” He grinned and starts scrolling his contacts.. he sends a text.

I look at my father “I will talk to mother, if I can get Jo to speak to me. Let her know that! What happened, Dad? When did she become such a judgmental snob? I was so excited to introduce Jolene to you! She makes me laugh. She gets me! Reminds me to not take life so seriously! She’s a breath of fresh air in a stagnant world and my heart feels like it needs her!”

He shakes his head.. “I don’t know, son. I wish I did! I certainly never expected what came out of her mouth. I have never been disappointed in your mother.. until tonight!” Dalton jumps up.. “She will give her number to you.. but only if you can convince her you deserve it! So chop chop! We are meeting her for drinks at the Lair”

Arriving at the Lair, Trish was waiting and I was fucking nervous! Four drinks in and I had told what had happened from my perspective! Then Dalton gave his version. And she whistled.. long and low! “Fuck! Y’all screwed the pooch! Jolene has a heart of gold. She forgives most everything. But y’all made her cry!! That’s huge! HUGE! She doesn’t cry. Ever! That piece of shit made her cry. Her brother made her cry! Telling her “to get over it” when her mate was fucking that whore.. literally beating Jo’s insides bloody. He didn’t care.. just get over it! And that was the last time she cried.. that anyone knows about anyway! She’s a white wolf.. a healer.. bet ya didn’t know that! She’s an empath… so she feels others’ pain.. Until she came here.. No one was in her corner. No one took her side! Her father loves her.. but his solution was to send her away.. to her Alpha Grandpa.. her mom’s dad.. and he wanted her to just give her baby away.. send it to that trash of a mate! She walked away from him.. from her entire family.. worked her way through school.. bought her house and the restaurant with her inheritance from her mother.. and never asks anyone for one single fucking thing! And your mom literally threw all her accomplishments back in her face! Good luck with that!”

She gave me Jolene’s number. And I composed eighty seven texts.. or at least, it felt that way. But didn’t send one! I don’t know if I should try and apologize.. if I should let it ride tonight and text something random tomorrow.. No. I can’t let those hateful words fester in her mind.. there’s only so many limoncello mojitos a body can stand!

Jolene. This is Blake. I talked Trish into giving me your number..not an easy task, mind you. I had to promise her my first born child. I wanted to tell you how very sorry I am for what my mother said. No.. that’s not it. I wanted to tell you that I have no idea who that woman at my table was. But that would have been a lie.. and I will never lie to you. Please. Don’t cut me out of your life because it’s illegal to kill a parent. I don’t expect you to respond.. just know, I really want to get to know you better.

As I hit send.. I have never been so nervous in my life! It’s too late now. I sent it and it’s out there. Can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube! If I keep checking my phone.. I’m going to go cross-eyed. It’s fine.. I’m fine.. She’s probably sleeping. She will answer when she’s ready. It’s okay. I can do this! What’s the worse that could happen? She just ignores the text? Forgets I exist? I can handle this! She will answer when she can. All good! It’s all good! I’m allll good!

*DING*

Did I wait long enough to have you questioning your very existence?

😂😂

Don’t apologize for what someone else says! Yes. It hurt me. Yes. I shed a few tears.. which is beyond fucking weird for me. But you didn’t say it. And you didn’t cause it. There’s nothing to forgive! Good night, Blake

😴

I laughed! Out loud.. at my phone! My heart feels lighter already!