Chapter Eleven: Mom vs. Reality
404 Words
The cafeteria smelled like pizza and teen sweat—a combination Asia wished she could burn away with a thought.
Kael leaned casually against the table across from hers, watching, observing, everything calculated. Gold eyes glimmered as he flicked a stray lock of dark hair from his face.
Asia’s blue eyes burned. Her wolf bristled. Every nerve screamed leave. now.
From across the hall, her mother appeared as if summoned by sheer drama. Luna Mara’s eyes widened the second she saw the scene.
“Ohhhh!” she gasped, hands clasped over her mouth. “She’s… talking to him! And he’s… so cute!”
Asia froze. Her wolf snarled. Did she just—did she just say that?
“What? Mom!” Asia hissed, cheeks flaming. “He’s the enemy! A vampire! Not… not… cute!”
Luna Mara ignored her. She leaned closer, whispering loud enough for nearby students to hear. “He’s very handsome. I can see why you’d… like him.”
Asia groaned so loudly it startled a passing student. Her wolf growled inside her mind. This is humiliation incarnate.
Kael raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained, but said nothing.
Asia’s mother smiled sweetly, completely oblivious to her daughter’s rage. “You know, a little color in the cheeks is always charming.”
Asia slammed her hand against the table. “MOM!”
Kael’s smirk widened just slightly, gold eyes gleaming. Finally, some reaction.
Asia leaned forward, voice icy as the Antarctic. “He is not my boyfriend. I hate him!”
Her mother laughed. “Oh, I know, sweetie! But it’s okay to… appreciate a cute face!”
“MOM!” Asia’s yell drew a few curious glances from nearby tables.
Kael chuckled low, a sound that made Asia’s wolf growl even louder. “Your mother has… interesting taste,” he said smoothly, leaning back.
“I HATE YOU!” Asia bellowed, her wolf flaring inside her like white-hot fire.
Luna Mara clapped her hands, grinning, utterly unbothered. “Oh, don’t be shy, dear! I just think he’s very handsome!”
Asia buried her face in her hands, muttering, “I’m going to kill him…”
Kael tilted his head, amused, unthreatened. “I think you’ll have to try.”
Her wolf snarled, but even it couldn’t hide the pure, mortified frustration radiating from Asia.
This city… it hissed in her mind. Her mother…
Humans.
And somehow… that made the situation infinitely worse.
- Writer
