Chapter 42

Marcus had come down to his father's office to ask for advice before meeting with his mother. He knew that Dr. Prism examined his father regularly at this time, and he wanted to ask both the Alpha and the doctor for the most up-to-date information on his father's health before he took his concerns to the Luna.

He had expected a fight from Jeanette, but what he didn't expect was to hear her screaming like a fishwife so loudly that half the third floor could hear her. People's heads were poking out of offices and bedrooms, looking astonished and trying to eavesdrop without looking like they were eavesdropping.

"Back to business!" Marcus had snapped repeatedly at them as he hurried along to his father's office. "I'll sort this out."

Now, standing in the doorway to his father's office, he takes in the scene before him. His father looks tireder than ever, gray-faced and a little worn as he listens to his mother shriek her fury. He sits straight-backed behind his desk, though, and still has that imposing air that Marcus will always associate with him.

His mother is breathing hard and curling her fingers into her palms so tightly that Marcus imagines she'll leave indents there. And Evelyn is standing upright and unruffled in between them both, angling toward his mother as she stands up for his father.

Marcus can't help but notice how elegant and poised Evelyn looks. How…beautiful. It's not just the way her fiery hair pairs so prettily with her flushed cheeks, or how her green eyes glitter with determination as she advocates for her patient.

It's the way she holds herself, all upright and still but coiled tightly, like a bow ready to twang and release an arrow into the heart of her opposition. She looks like…

She looks like a warrior, Marcus thinks. Like a wolf.

She looks like Nicole.

Marcus shoves the thought away as he refocuses on the trio standing before him. He enters the office and shuts the door firmly behind him, then looks between all three of them again before speaking.

"The entire goddamn household could hear you screaming, Mother," he bites off. "I've never known you to lose your composure so badly, making a scene in front of everyone like that. Have you no shame?"

"Don't you dare lecture me, Marcus," Jeanette snaps, clearly gearing up for another outburst. Marcus holds up a hand to cut her off.

"No," he says. "I'm not a child anymore, Mother; I'm an adult and a contender for Alpha Heir. This is my business, too, and it's partly my business that you're shrieking at the top of your lungs. It's ridiculous. Calm down. You're embarrassing yourself, and Father, and me."

Jeanette closes her mouth tightly at that, then gestures for Marcus to come join the conversation taking place.

"Now, what is this all about?" Marcus asks in a more measured tone. He holds up his hand again as Jeanette starts to speak. "No, I want Father to tell me, please." He looks to the Alpha.

His father folds his hands on top of his desk and lets out a weary sigh.

"Your mother wants me to join the Wild Hunt again this year," he says. "I'm trying to explain to her why that's simply impossible, and Dr. Prism was kind enough to step in and try to outline the seriousness of the situation."

"Mother," Marcus says. "Please. You have to realize that Father's health won't allow that kind of activity this year – maybe not ever again. He's past 70 and has heart problems – you know this."

"Then what do we have this 'doctor' for?" Jeanette asks with acid. "I thought she was brought here to cure your father. If she can't do her job, perhaps we should find someone who can."

Before Evelyn can respond, Marcus cuts in. "Don't be ridiculous," he says. "Mother, you know perfectly well that Father's condition can only be managed. There are no magic cures for everything; there never have been.

"Dr. Prism is here to make sure that Father stays stable and alive, not to restore him to his physical shape of 30 years ago. Your expectations are unrealistic, and blaming Dr. Prism for that is absurd and uncalled for."

"I will not be spoken to like this in my own home," Jeanette begins, but this time the Alpha intervenes.

"Jeanette, that is enough," he says. "I mean it. This has gone on for too long. Your refusal to face the reality of my health has gone beyond a sympathetic point and has turned into an insult. I'm beginning to wonder if you care about my well-being at all, or if you only care for appearances."

Jeanette looks like she's been slapped. "Emmett, don't be ridiculous. I want this for you, for–"

"No, you don't," Emmett says, looking both fed up and sad. "You've always been so focused on what others will think of you, how they'll judge this family and, by extension, you. You've lost sight of what really matters, carina. And it pains me deeply to see it."

There's a stunned silence.

"Now, if you'll excuse me," the Alpha says. "I have a physical examination scheduled, and Dr. Prism has suffered enough insult to last a lifetime.

"I never thought I'd live to see the day that an esteemed member of this household would be treated in such an uncourteous manner, by my own wife no less, and I'm not happy to see it now. Marcus, please escort your mother out."

Jeanette looks aghast, speechless for the moment. Marcus gently takes her elbow at the same time he opens the office door. He steers her from the room, giving a grateful nod at Evelyn as he does so.

The nod is not lost on Jeanette, who looks angry again, but she says nothing and follows Marcus out of the Alpha's office. He shuts the door behind them and says, "No more talk until we get to your private quarters."

Jeanette nods once with controlled anger and stalks off down the corridor. Marcus follows her, rubbing a hand across his face and not looking forward to the conversation to come. This wasn't how he wanted to approach the subject, but he has little choice now.

When they reach Jeanette's quarters, she motions Marcus into her private office, rather than her living quarters. Marcus resists the urge to roll his eyes; this is a show of displeasure on his mother's part, a way of stating that she considers Marcus an upstart business associate to be dressed down, rather than a son discussing family matters.

Marcus takes the seat across from his mother's desk in her light, airy office. Delicate glass sculptures line the wall, dozens of plants trail from hanging pots overhead, and natural light from the bay window brightens the pale pink walls.

He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees, waiting for Jeanette to speak. She settles behind her desk and stares at him for a long moment before she does.

"Marcus, what the hell is going on with you?" Jeanette asks. Her tone is more baffled than angry, but there's an undercurrent of disapproval running through it.

"What do you mean?" Marcus asks, genuinely confused. "I think I made my position quite clear just now–"

"I don't mean all that," Jeanette says. "We can argue about your father's health later. His mind is made up, anyway." She shakes her head. "No, what is this absurd business with you leaping to defend the honor of that little doctor of his?"

Marcus is more confused than ever.

"You were treating her with deep unprofessionalism, Mother," he says. "I think I made that quite clear, too. You were nasty, belittling, and offensive. You still are being such, if I'm honest. You're taking your anger at Father out on Dr. Prism, which is outrageous behavior.

"She's done so much for his health – sometimes I think she's the only one around here who has no ulterior motive, in fact, and is the only one who cares only for Father's health…not his wealth or power."

Jeanette looks angry again at that, but dismisses it for the moment with a shake of her head.

"Are you in love with her?" she asks. "I think you are. The way you speak up for her – it's not a man speaking up on behalf of a staff member. It's a Wolf speaking up on behalf of his mate."

Marcus is shocked.

"Don't be ridiculous," he says.

"I'm not," Jeanette says. "I spoke to Lydia's mother last night, and she seems convinced that your engagement to her daughter needs only to be formalized. But I see none of that in you.

"You're rejecting a fine, upstanding young lady from one of our best families in favor of some nobody doctor from Australia. She's not even a wolf, Marcus. Please make this make sense to me."

"Lydia is a boring, rude, snobby young woman with whom I have nothing in common," Marcus says. "You're right, however, that it's time to end the charade. I'll do so shortly."

"That's not what I said!" Jeanette exclaims. "Marcus, you need to pull your head out of your ass." Marcus startles at that – his mother never swears.

"Your father needs to name an heir soon, and we both know it should be you. Yet you're actively undermining yourself at every turn," she continues. "Do you truly think your father – or anyone else in this community – is going to accept some human doctor as their Luna? A career woman? A non-wolf? It's insane."

"I think Father is at a point in his life where he would very much value a Luna like Evelyn over a silly society chit like Lydia," Marcus snaps without thinking.

Jeanette's eyes widen in shock. "So, it is true. You admit that you're in love with her."

"No!" Marcus takes a deep breath, wondering how they got so off track. "No, I'm not in love with her. But I can only fall in love with someone like her. Someone upright and kind, someone with principles, someone who is a warrior in the true sense, in the sense of the heart.

"Not someone who was raised only to throw parties and natter about the catering staff and picking fault with everyone who waits on them hand and foot. I can't marry someone like that, Mother. I can't, and I won't."

"Someone like me, you mean," Jeanette says. She looks quietly hurt instead of angry.

"No," Marcus says firmly. "Mother, you were never like that. You were a true Luna, a princess with a warrior's heart. You're still that person, deep down. I just think you've forgotten it lately."

Jeanette sighs, lowering her head into her hands.

"Leave me, Marcus," she says.

"Mother–"

"Leave. We'll talk about this another time."

Marcus hesitates, but then gets up and leaves the room, gently closing the door behind him.