Chasing A Runaway Mate

Chapter 6

Kat

"Do you think mom will put up a fight?"

Kat and Rose had been walking in silence for the last five minutes. Kat was glad they chose to walk to her mother's house as it helped to calm her nerves. Rose seemed content with it too, and Kat sensed there was something else on her sister-in-law's mind.

"I think your mother wants what is best for you and will see that you need to do this," Rose answered.

"Hmmm. That might be, but you don't know what our relationship has been like."

"True, but I also think your view of your mother is skewed. She's insightful and loves her family. The only thing I can think of that might deter her from giving her blessing, is her desire to keep you nearby."

"I've always been a pain in the ass, Rose. She's my mother and I know she loves me, but I think she'll be glad not to have to deal with my antics anymore."

"So which is it? Will she want to keep you here because of some obscure notion of controlling your future or send you away to be rid of you? Seems to me like you have already decided to find the negative in whatever decision she makes."

Rose's long brown hair swooshed from side to side as they walked. The sound mingled with that of their footsteps. Kat focused on it to try and reel in her temper. Rose had hit a nerve, but she needed the young Luna on her side.

"At the end of the day she can't force me to do anything. I've got my brother's permission, so she'll just have to fall in line."

"If you say so."

*****

The front garden of her parents' house was decidedly more bare as winter had set in, but Kat knew that come spring, the garden would be overflowing with blooms of every shape and color. The front door was closed and the curtains in the living room drawn shut. It was a stark contrast to the feeling of welcome the house usually carried.

Kat reached for the handle and found the door unlocked. This was still technically her home so she didn't feel the need to knock, and pushed her way through the door. Rose followed after and closed the door again. The click as the door latched sounded unnaturally loud in the quiet of the dimly lit room.

The house was more than just quiet. A shroud of darkness seemed to have settled. Kat still struggled to come to terms with the death of her father. She would often wake in the middle of the night, confused as to why she was not asleep in her bedroom at home. For a few blissful seconds she would forget why she had moved into the pack-house. When the confusion lifted, however, the sadness which followed threatened to carve a hole in her chest.

When she moved back home while Wren was still at the pack-house, she had hoped it would be better. Maybe, she thought, it would help her to deal with her grief if she was in the space she used to share with her father and mother. Kat had been wrong. Being constantly reminded of the absense of her father nearly drove her insane. The moment Wren left pack-grounds, Kat moved back to the pack-house.

It wasn't much better because now she had the added guilt of leaving her mother alone in the house she had built with her mate. Kat didn't know how her mother could deal with being there. The smell of her father's aftershave still lingered in some parts of the house. Kat was sure his scent would still be strong in her parents' bedroom. How could her mother want to be in a place which held fast to all their shared memories?

"Your mother's grief is not your responsibility, Kat."

Rose placed a gentle hand on Kat's arm, her face full of understanding. In the past, Kat would've shrugged her off, not wanting to show any emotion. Showing emotion was showing vulnerability and made you weak. However, now she couldn't help but feel love and support coming from Rose. Kat's vision became blurred as her eyes filled with tears.

"It's OK, you know. To feel whatever it is you're feeling," Rose added with a small smile. The Luna gave her sister-in-law's arms a squeeze before turning away and giving Kat a moment to compose herself.

"Where do you think your mother will be?"

"The back garden, most likely," Kat answered after clearing her throat.

The two women made their way through the living and dining room in silence. The kitchen door stood open and they could see Kat's mother sitting on a bench in the garden. They followed the path as it curved around flower beds and shrubs, and ended at the bench which stood between two trees.

Alina was seated with her back against one of the armrests and her knees pulled up to her chest, her head resting against the back of the bench and her gaze vacant. Kat rubbed her eyes. Her mother looked hazy and dull, like someone would if you looked through a dirty camera lens.

"Mum?" Kat's voice came out tentative.

"My daughter. How nice of you to come visit." Alina turned and placed her feet back on the ground. She smiled at the two women standing before her, but they could see the smile pained her.

"Can we go inside and talk?" Kat asked. Alina's eyes turned sharp all of a sudden and she looked between Rose and Kat.

"Rose, what's going on?"

"Nothing's going on, Mum!" Kat snapped before Rose could answer.

"You are indeed foolish if you think I'll believe that, Kat. All right, then. Rose can make us tea while you try to tell me the 'nothing' that is going on."

Kat was seated on one of the high stools by the kitchen island. Her mother stood with her hip resting against the counter. Their gazes were in a fierce battle as Rose busied herself with brewing tea.

"You know, this really needn't be so unpleasant. We are here with good intentions, Alina," Rose quipped.

Alina turned her gaze to Rose and the two Lunas seemed to be in a standoff as they glared at each other. Her mother finally sighed and turned to Kat again. Her expression softened considerably and she gace her daughter a tentative smile.

"I'm sorry, Kat. I've been so lost in my own feelings that I've lost touch of those around me. Please tell me what you came here to say."