My Fated Mate Can Have Her

Chapter 273: Mother Elise

Violet

Her voice was warm and clear, nothing like the confused murmurs I had heard that night.

Her silver-streaked dark hair was brushed and pinned back neatly, framing a face that was open and kind. Her eyes were a deep brown, unlike Rowan’s, but he looked a lot like her.

She had a pleasant, beautiful smile.

"Yes," I managed, my voice coming out smaller than I intended. "It’s nice to meet you. I apologise I couldn’t come... sooner."

I instantly regretted saying that. I quickly spoke up to correct myself. "I apologise—"

She chuckled. "It is fine."

She studied me for a moment, her head tilting slightly.

"You have pretty eyes," she said softly. "I remember noticing that."

My heart stuttered.

"I am aware of my predicament. It is fine." She glanced at Rowan, lowering her cup of steaming hot liquid. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Violet. I never thought there would be a day I would actually get to see or meet a Lycan."

"Mother," Rowan said quietly, a note of warning in his voice.

She waved a hand dismissively towards him, addressing me. "Forgive me, I do not mean to make you uncomfortable."

I faintly smiled, not knowing what else to say. "Thank you."

Rowan sighed beside me, but when I glanced at him, he was staring at his mother before shifting his attention to briefly take a bite of his food.

I turned to find her staring at me with a knowing look that rooted me in place. Her eyes briefly flitted from Rowan to me and my face felt hot.

She knew.

I was acutely aware of Rowan sitting beside me, his scent faintly clinging to my skin, and mine on his. It would be impossible for her not to have known.

Her smile remained warm, but I still tore my gaze from hers to focus on my food. I wasn’t sure I could properly eat anymore at that moment.

It absolutely did not help that Rowan’s hand had drifted to rest near mine on the table.

Why couldn’t Rowan have just pushed this to later in the day?

No, no. That would be unfair for his mother.

"I’m glad you could join us." She reached for her cup again. "Tell me, Violet," she said, lifting her cup to her lips. "How are you finding Silverwood? I don’t necessarily need the details, and you can stay here for as long as you’d like. However, I hope my son has been a good host."

"He has," I said, finding my voice. "Everyone has been very welcoming. Thank you."

"Good." She nodded, satisfied. "And you’re comfortable here? You have everything you need?"

"Yes. More than enough."

She hummed, her brown eyes studying me over the rim of her cup.

For a moment, I thought she was going to bring up that night of me crying, but she didn’t.

"I wonder what they would look like," she said suddenly.

I blinked. "Who?"

Rowan made a strangled sound beside me. "Mother, please—"

"What?" She looked at him with feigned innocence. "I’m simply making an observation. Is that not allowed?"

"No." He groaned, briefly closing his eyes.

They both looked at me.

I was a little confused.

"Please, do not mind her," Rowan whispered.

"He is right," she added with a small laugh.

Rowan opened his mouth to speak but she gently raised her hand, her attention shifting to me. "You can call me Elise. I like you. You may stay as long as you wish."

[ - ]

Rowan closed the door to his chambers behind us, and I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.

"I’m sorry about my mother," he said, turning to face me. "She can be... a lot."

I shook my head. "It was fine. She was lovely, actually."

He raised an eyebrow, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Lovely?"

"She was different from what I was expecting."

"And what were you expecting?" He moved closer, genuine curiosity in his voice.

I hesitated, searching for the right words. My fingers fidgeted with the fabric of my dress.

"I’m not entirely sure," I admitted. "But not that... open."

I quickly looked down, embarrassed.

"She knows," I added quietly, my cheeks warming. "About us. She definitely knows."

Rowan was silent for a moment.

"I’m sorry," he finally said. "I had wanted to push the it to later in the day, but she insisted."

He moved to stand in front of me, and when I looked up, something vulnerable flickered in his eyes.

"It made me happy," he said softly. "Seeing her aware this morning. Her condition has greatly improved, but these moments don’t always come as often as I would like, and I didn’t want to waste a single one of it."

My chest tightened.

"I understand," I said quietly. "I really don’t mind, Rowan."

Rowan’s expression eased.

"She was also curious to meet you. Don’t worry too much about her," Rowan said gently, reading the uncertainty on my face. "She liked you. That’s all that matters."

Before I could respond, his hands found my waist.

He lifted me easily, and set me on the edge of the bed. My breath caught at the sudden movement, my hands instinctively gripping his shoulders for balance.

Then his lips were on mine.

The kiss was deep and slow, unhurried. His hands cradled my face and his thumbs brushed softly against my cheeks. I melted into him, my fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt.

When he finally pulled back, there was a gentle look in his eyes that made my chest swell.

I couldn’t hold his gaze.

I shifted my eyes away, flustered, staring at the buttons of his shirt instead.

"I need to go see her again soon," he said quietly, his thumb still tracing idle patterns on my cheek. "She asked me to join her for a walk later."

I nodded, trying to steady my racing heart.

She had asked Rowan to join her for a walk later, even extending the information to me, but I had politely refused. I had felt nervous.

He pressed one last kiss to my hair, and then he was pulling away. His hand trailed down my arm as he stepped back, fingers brushing mine before letting go entirely.

The door clicked shut behind him.

I sat there on the edge of his bed, my heart still racing, the ghost of his kiss lingering on my lips.