Chapter 9

• Garridan
• _______
• “How’s Ultima Vasile?” I mindlinked Alpha Kronid, after closing the door to my room, where Tezy had just occupied.
• Morning was coming, so I had decided to not sleep. Perhaps I would just take a nap later if I’d get sleepy. Besides, I needed to explain to my mother about everything that had been going on, especially that Tezy would be staying at the house in the meantime. It would be good if my mother could have a little help around the house, especially this season when harvesting was needed to be done.
• I carefully stepped on the wooden floor, as it creaked. The snake shifter goddess might be disturbed in her sleep. I knew she needed a rest, after all that skirmish she had undergone.
• “He’s well. Don’t worry. How’s your prisoner?” Alpha Kronid queried. “Or, should I say guest?” There was a teasing tone in his words.
• “Bah! Spare me such a jest. I’m not in the mood,” I groaned.
• I heard him laugh in my head, but he went serious. “I’m sorry for your losses, our losses, Delta Garro. I know you were not so close to your family, but there’s no doubt that you cared for them.”
• “I regret it, you know? I should’ve been more attentive… caring… Now, they won’t ever know how I truly feel.”
• “It was they who distanced themselves from you, Delta Garro. It wasn’t your fault being treated as an outsider by your own family. Does your mother know about their fate?”
• “Not yet. I’m on my way to her to the wine cellar.”
• “All right, just be alert. You know who you’re with. I don’t know why you’ve decided to bring her over to your mother’s place, of all places. She might be in danger.”
• “I just feel it’s the right place. Don’t judge me easily.”
• He chuckled. “Well, with someone as attractive as that snake shifter, I don’t blame you.”
• “There you go again.”
• “Delta Garro, it’s time for you to move on, don’t you think?”
• I scoffed at him. My alpha best friend truly knew me best.
• “Just bring over a couple of your oldest wine, will you?” my friend requested.
• “Just prepare your payment,” I joked and cut off our communication.
• ***
• “Ready to talk?” my fifty-year-old mother asked, placing a bottle on the top of a shelf.
• There were a few rows of them in the twenty-by-twenty feet cellar. She made these wines herself every year, like a tradition. At the back of the house was a vineyard of white, red, and black grapes. She would also sometimes make some apple and peach wines, depending on the harvest and if she felt like doing it. Anyway, there was more than a couple dozens of trees in the backyard. There were times she would sell these at the nearest farmer’s market or just bring them to the nearest church or monastery.
• “Can you feed me first, Mama?” I smiled at her.
• My petite mother walked up to me, and she touched my face. “I know something’s wrong. Come, let’s have breakfast as you asked.” She led me towards the stairs, leaving the dark and cool cellar.
• She immediately put a large amount of meat on the table⸺bacon, salami, sausage, and sunculita taraneasca (a fatty piece of meat that still has the pork’s skin on it; it was boiled and smoked). Homemade bread and sliced cucumber and tomatoes were also placed on the table.
• We ate, filling our stomachs. When she served coffee at the end, she let out a sigh.
• “Mama, you should know I always loved it here. Smelling the fruit scents always makes me feel at home. Remember I used to climb those apple trees at the back?”
• She smiled, eyes going soft as she looked at me. “I know. You fell from one of them, but you never stopped. You liked climbing trees and helped me a lot in harvesting the apples and peaches to make wines and sell them.”
• “You don’t really need the money, Mama. Still, you love selling your homemade wines.” I smiled at her.
• “Inheriting some money from my dead long-lost father has its perks, but yes, I do love selling my own wines. I like it when people tell me they love them.”
• I chuckled. My smile was wary, though. “You should know how lucky I am when you picked me up in the forest and took me in.”
• She reached for my hand on the table. “You’re my son. Always. Remember that, Garridan Codrin. You’re your grandfather’s grandson, although we both never met him, but his family lawyer,” she said, almost regretfully.
• “Why didn’t you marry him, by the way? The lawyer. I’ve always thought he liked you. He was not that old. He was just a decade older than you,” I teased her.
• She scoffed, rolling her eyes, and sipped her coffee. “I already have a little man in my life. Why would I need an older one?”
• “Mama, do you know how it sounds right now? Someone might say you’re an incest.”
• We laughed. After a few moments, it died down.
• “Now, tell me what happened last night, Garridan.”
• She was the only one who never called me Garro. My family and pack preferred to call me as the latter, making me feel that Garro was more like a wolfy name than my whole name. But I knew better. It was because I was adopted by a human, when my poor biological rogue mother was killed during a battle. She hid me away, and Smaranda found me the next day. She happened to gather some mushrooms when she discovered me hidden under a dead lying tree, covered with grasses and leaves.
• I told my human mother what transpired last night, leaving out some gruesome details, of course. Nonetheless, she was shocked upon learning I lost my remaining family in the pack.
• “That’s awful, Garridan! I’m so sorry to hear that,” she sympathized.
• I swallowed. Remembering I still have coffee in my cup, I downed it all.
• “Yes, it was an awful fate, indeed. Mama, about Tezy…”
• She patted my hand with understanding dark eyes. “I understand, Garridan. You don’t have to say it. She’s your new mate, isn’t she?”
• My jaw dropped. “What? No! Of course not. She’s a damn virgin!”
• “Garridan, watch your mouth!” Her eyes reflected curiosity, though. “But how is that possible? She’s a very attractive woman. How do you know, anyway? Did she tell you herself?”
• I explained Tezy’s identity. I had no choice but to tell my mother, knowing she could keep it as a secret from her neighbors, although they were far from here. Just in case, though, if someone visited my mother and they would find Tezy with us, Mama would know what to say.
• She learned to hide the truth, ever since I first shifted when I was sixteen. She was so afraid, but she did not turn me away. Instead, she protected me. It was good enough that I recognized her when I shifted, as I heard that others would get confused and attack anyone on sight. Because at the time, I had no idea what was happening to me, until my wolf informed me. I thought I was going crazy, but eventually, I got used to it. Later on, I found my real family.
• “All the same, she’s yours now, Garridan.” She grinned at me.
• Yes, she was stubborn as she could be. No wonder I could be at times. I got it from her.
• “What’s your plan about her?” She wanted to know.
• “You don’t mind looking out for her if I’m not around, do you?”
• “Of course not. She seems to be a good goddess. I might exploit her, Garridan.”
• “Mama,” I protested.
• “I’m just joking. Don’t you worry, son. She’ll be yours.” She winked. There she went again.
• I sighed and deadpanned. “Mama, she’s not interested in anything sexual, okay?”
• “Well, then… I know you’ll work on it.” She shrugged.
• I snorted, shaking my head. There was no winning her over. “She’s different, Mama, all right? So, don’t push it, please!”
• “You’re an idiot, Garridan. I’m telling you that right now.” She waved a finger in front of my face.
• “I’d rather be an idiot than to undergo another pain of losing someone, Mama. You already know this.”
• She looked at me gently. “It was three years ago, Garridan. It’s high time to move on. But… yes, I know how hurt you were when you lost your mate, and you still wish to avenge her. Luminita was an incredible woman, yes. But do you think if she were here and saw you longing for her like this, wasting away, she would be happy?” She shook her head. “No, I don’t think so. She would want you to find happiness again. You see, when we love someone, all we want is for that someone’s happiness. Because if it’s their happiness, it is also ours.”
• I shook my head, sighing. I recalled how aroused I was when I first saw the goddess in her see-through dress and G-string. I could not seem to get it off my mind. Showering together made it even more impossible to forget her luscious-looking body.
• I had no woman since Luminita was gone. Attraction to a woman seemed to be impossible for me after that. However, it was the first time today that my desire was reborn.
• Was Tezy the one that the Moon Goddess has prepared for me as my second-chance mate? I mentally shook my head.
• No, it’s impossible. We’re two of a kind, not to mention that we live in different realms. Besides, I still need to know whether she’s really a spy or not.
• I balled my fists tightly, as my thoughts strayed towards Ultima Danijel.
• I got up to see if the snake shifter already woke. I kept on pondering what she would do next while staying at my mother’s.