Ever Cynical

Chapter 8- We Can Totally Win Cressida Over

Kieran POV

When I awoke, I dressed as fast as my werewolf speed would allow. I'd missed my alarm, and it was imperative I either get to Anais before she got to the dining room, or intercepted my mother from her entirely. With our future in a delicate position, I knew I had to get my mom in a positive place. Her doomsayer histrionics were going to set me further back than my own stiff behavior.

I reached Anais just as she exited her room. Damn she was always so sexy! Today she wore low-slung, fitted and faded boot cut jeans with a studded black belt, a cropped burgundy cowl neck cashmere sweater, and her black Docs. Her hair was loose and parted down the middle. It was like a satiny black curtain that I was dying to dive my fingers into.

I sighed in relief, but she gave me an odd look, then shook her head.

"Listen, you have not met my mother yet, but I need to let you know she's a little... kooky." I said to her, looking around to make sure I wasn't overheard. My mom might be odd but I wasn't about to disrespect her in front of people, unless I had to. It was important that I head my mom off before she really scared my mate off.

"Kooky?" She just stared at me. "Be glad you have a mother." She murmured stiffly. Dammit, I wasn't trying to upset her. I huffed. Now was not the time for her to fight with me over every little thing. Actually... I never wanted that, but this was all still new and very much up in the air.

"Look, she has these feelings, alright, and she is always convinced it's a catastrophe waiting to happen. Before you got here, she had one and- " I was cut off by the very woman I was trying to explain calling my name from the bottom of the stairs. Anais patted my arm and made a sympathetic face. No, she just doesn't get it. My mom is a lot for me to deal with, and I both know and love her. Most avoid her after five minutes of conversation. I'm still not sure how she managed to be Luna for years when people didn't like talking to her much.

"Don't worry tough guy, she can't hurt me more than my past already has." With this cryptic statement, she descended to where my mother waited for us both. She stuck out her hand towards my mother, tossing a brief smile over her shoulder at me. I rolled my eyes. No matter what she said, my mom was a mood. I hurried after her, worried about both what my mom would say, and what kind of past she was referring to? Had someone hurt her? Who was I going to have to take out to fix it?

Whoa buddy. I know we're primal, but she didn't say she was in danger. Ri'dubh laughed in my head. He was way too relaxed when it was clear our mate had been hurt. When, how, and by whom was unknown, but the pain was obvious. I was not one of those alphas that did not pay attention to my people, and definitely not when it was my mate.

Seriously, Ri'dubh, if anyone has hurt her and they are still living, I will personally change their status to not living, I insisted. It was a promise. I may be a pretty chill guy most of the time, but I didn't respond well to threats to those I cared for.

I get it, okay? He soothed. I'm with you if it's necessary, but we are getting ahead of ourselves, and first we need to stop our mother from saying something that will add her to your list. She's already ignoring the hand our mate has extended to her and I don't like it.

"Moooom, good morningggg." I sing-songed, forcing her eyes away from the hand Anais had offered, only for it to remain suspended midair while my mom simply looked at her. Goddess damn it. "How are you?" Her eyes darted from me to Anais and back at least four times before she responded, narrowing her eyes. I totally need her to be on her most socially acceptable behavior.

"Good morning, son. Who is this?" She nudged her chin towards Anais with suspicion, and more than a little disdain. Just freaking great.

"Ah, this is the visitor I was telling you about, the one helping us with security." My mom crossed her arms. No, no, please. Just keep a lid on it till I get my mate in a good place. I could see this wreck happening in slow motion right in front of me, and could seem to do nothing to stop it.

"Oh, the one we don't really need?" Oh. My. Goddess. I have had moments in life when, as much as I love my mom, she makes me want to strangle her. Right now is one of those times. I can't even guarantee that if I revealed her as my mate my mom would back off. I cleared my throat, desperate to defuse and deflect her away from Anais.

"Anais, this is my mother, Cressida Blake." My tone was polite but full of warning. I gritted my teeth hoping she could recall the manners she spent so much time teaching me. As my eyes bore into hers, I could see her give in and finally grasp the hand that Anais was still holding out, if unenthusiastically.

"Pleasure, Anais." She said with a sour expression and equally sour tone. "Sorry if I seem inhospitable, I just think things are fine as is, and so I've told my son. I'm not one to enjoy strangers around our home either." My shock knew no bounds. She might as well have said I don't like you, you're worthless, so get out. Anais' mouth quirked up. I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing at this point.

"Your son mentioned that you get special feelings. Can you tell me more about them?" I shook my head slightly at Anais' ill-advised question. She really did not want to open this can of worms.

When my mind envisioned those fake fabric worms you see in those joke peanut cans springing out of my mom's mouth as she spoke, a small giggle bubbled out of me. Dammit. Anais looked at me, squinting slightly, and I shook my head again, sighing.

"Let's go to breakfast, shall we?" I pointed in the direction of the dining room. My mom, forgetting her declared dislike of visitors, latched onto Anais' arm as she waxed poetic about all of her feelings and what had happened. Anais kept darting looks my way, and I could only hope they weren't because my mother was somehow alienating her.

Anais POV

Kieran's mother was a kick. She clearly loved her son, even if her personality was a bit strange. When we reached the dining room and I sat in my usual spot, Cressida lifted a brow at her son. They had some kind of silent conversation, probably linking each other, before Cressida hesitantly sat next to me, examining me quite closely from head to foot. I felt like prized cattle being appraised for quality.

We are beyond prized cattle, ma Cherie. There is no way she could find fault with us, Claire murmured.

Well, since it's fairly certain one of these men are my mate, I guess she has a right to look. She's the former Luna, right?

Yes, but I think she is most concerned with people's happiness. I doubt she will care about our age, ma Cherie.

I only hope you are right, Claire.

This morning, Helga had prepared a huge country breakfast including biscuits and sausage gravy, golden and crispy hash browns, and fluffy scrambled eggs with cheese. There was even a beautiful chicken fried steak added to the plate. It was so delicious I could cry. Kieran had gone to get some coffee, and I was pleasantly surprised when he came back with one for me that had french vanilla creamer. How he knew I wanted it that way was a mystery. I heard my wolf giggle and purr at him in my mind.

Should you really be admiring the alpha when your... our mate is around? I questioned her. She just hummed in response. Kieran turned to me. For a moment, I was lost in the emerald depths of his eyes until he glanced away and cleared his throat, shifting in his seat uncomfortably.

"Did you want to get started on the house today since my men are laying the wire for the rest of the system outside?" His question jarred me from being lost in how damn hot he was. It was distracting as hell.

"Yeah, but I was still wondering about the training area?" I reminded him. He shifted a little in his seat again. I had no idea why he was always doing that around me. Did I make him that uncomfortable? Claire giggled again. Ugh, I was beginning to wonder just how much she knew and was not sharing.

You'll know eventually, ma cherie, she said coquettishly, flitting off to the corner of my mind.

"Ah, yeah, I can take you there after breakfast. Do you need to change first?" He still seemed a bit distracted.

"I do, but with this much food on board it may be pointless. Show me for today, I'll get started tomorrow morning before Helga works her magic." He laughed and nodded. I couldn't help but admire his lethal smile yet again. Cressida was watching us both like a hawk, but I could sense no malice. A man that looked like Kieran but with dark brown hair, entered the room and sat next to Cressida. Kieran had gotten his mom's hair color, obviously.

"Ah, my dear husband, let me introduce you to our... guest, Anais. Anais, this is my husband and Kieran's father, Declan Blake." He smiled pleasantly.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Blake." I said respectfully.

"Oh, just call me Declan. Anyone asking for Mr. Blake will mean Kieran, these days." He laughed deeply. I wondered why such a jovial man and seemingly bitter woman somehow made a perfect pair. I knew they were mates, but that doesn't fix everything. Plenty of mates rejected their fated when they were dissatisfied with their personality, or even rank. I had always thought it was a mistake, and having met the moon goddess, I was certain every action she took had a purpose.

"Declan, then." I nodded to him and went back to my food. I could feel Kieran's eyes on me, again. I was a little concerned about my apparent attraction to a wolf that might not be my mate.

Or he miiiight. Claire sang in my head.

We won't know for sure until the full moon though, right? I asked her.

Well, you won't. I already do. With that, she flitted to the back of my mind and said nothing more.