When Selene returned to the house, Alpha Astra was waiting on the couch, clearly expecting a debrief.
Understanding her mother's intent, Selene sat down beside her, linking arms and leaning against her affectionately.
"Thank you, Mom," she said softly.
Alpha Astra smiled warmly. "You're my daughter. Of course I don't want to marry you off prematurely. Besides, Hugo's desperation was way too obvious."
"Who knows what the Gray Pack is really scheming?"
Selene looked up in surprise. "Mom, you saw through it from the beginning?"
Alpha Astra playfully tapped Selene's nose. "Little one, your mother has been around the block more times than you can imagine."
"Their amateur-hour manipulation tactics aren't nearly enough to fool me."
"Actually, I was planning to discuss wh
