Juno’s POV
I saw Augustin’s hands begin to tremble. The pressure of his anger led the room, making it hard to breathe. This wasn’t going to end well.
“Augustin, calm down,” Amelia pleaded, but it was too late. Evanth’s words had struck a nerve.
“Apologize to Juno,” she demanded of Evanth.
“I will not,” he spat. “Someone needs to speak the truth around here,
We hadn’t even started eating, and everything was already falling apart. Augustin stood and strode toward his brother. Amelia begged him not to hurt Evanth, but he wasn’t listening. He grabbed Evanth by the collar and slammed him against the wall.
Augustin growled, pinning him there before landing a punch that split Evanth’s lip. Blood trickled down his chin.
“Please, don’t kill my baby!” Amelia sobbed.
The word “baby” confused me. Both men were her children. Why did she seem to favor Evanth over Augustin? She knew the brothers didn’t get along. She knew Evanth struggled to respect his brother. When he’d started insulting me, she should have silenced him immediately. Instead, she’d let him finish his hateful, degrading comments before warning him.
“Don’t just stand there! Stop him!” Amelia shouted at me, tears streaming down her face.
Augustin was pummeling Evanth now, and it looked like his brother would soon lose consciousness. Part of me wanted Augustin to teach him a lesson, to show him his place. He wasn’t Alpha King. He wasn’t even an Alpha. He needed to learn respect.
Despite Evanth’s hurtful words, I reluctantly intervened, only because Amelia was crying. “Augustin, stop,” I pleaded, touching his shoulder. “His words didn’t hurt me.” It was a lie, but a necessary one.
Augustin paused and looked at me. His eyes had turned to Fenris’s silver wolf gaze. It was the wolf doing the beating.
“Please, Fenris,” I said softly. “Let him go.”
Fenris released Evanth, who slumped to the floor, his face already swelling from the assault.
“We won’t be eating with you,” Augustin told his mother coldly, his voice still rough with Fenris’s growl.
She shook her head and approached him, desperation in her eyes. “Please stay. I haven’t seen you in so long.” She grabbed his arm. “I’ve missed you terribly, son. Evanth will behave from now on, I promise you. He won’t question your decisions or say anything to you or Juno.”
“No,” Augustin replied flatly.
I touched his arm gently. “I should leave,” I offered. “This is a family lunch. You should spend time with your mother.”
“No,” Augustin said firmly, taking my hand and interlacing our fingers. “Juno is my family now. My chosen family. And Evanth will accept that whether he likes it or not. I won’t have her feeling unwelcome in her own home.”
He turned back to his mother, his stance protective as he partially shielded me with his body. “I will not eat breakfast, lunch, or dinner with you as long as he’s present.” His voice was unyielding. “Juno is my Luna. I’ve claimed her with my scent, and anyone who disrespects, insults, or tries to harm her will answer to me. Brother or not.”
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Chapter 87
You should wait until your wedding night to claim her, Amelia protested, wringing her hands. That’s our tradition, Augustin.”
Augustin smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “There’s no difference between now and our wedding night. I won’t change my mind His eyes narrowed. “I’m sure Evith was repeating what you two discussed. Your conversations behind closed doors. And I suspect you paid something to hurt Juno when she took you to your room, didn’t you, Mother?”
Amelia looked at me with surprise, color draining from her face. ‘You told him? After I specifically asked you not to?”
I shook my head. ‘I didn’t say anything.”
“As your mother, I have every right to be concerned, she defended. Ive seen you hurt before. I don’t want to watch it happen again. I simply asked her to prove she loves you and isn’t just with you to survive. Is that so wrong?”
“That’s a manipulative statement, Augustin countered. “Juno didn’t tell me anything, but I saw how you only stopped Evanth after he’d said everything, which means you share his views but didn’t want to hurt my feelings. I deduced you must have taken the opportunity when you were alone with her to say something.”
‘I was just-
“Interring He stepped closer to his mother. “I don’t care what either of you think or feel about my choices. I’m a grown man, not a child playing at being Alpha. I make my own decisions. Juno doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone–not to you, not to Evanth, not even to me. I know her heart. If you can’t respect her, then you and I will have problems.”
She flinched at his tone, reaching for him. “Augustin, please, I only want what’s best for you.”
He softened slightly, allowing her to touch his arm. “You’re my mother. You gave birth to me, protected me, and raised me through difficult times. I will always love and respect you for that.” His expression grew serious again, eyes hardening. “But you will never be my Luna, my mate, or my lover. You have your place in my life, and Juno has hers. Don’t try to diminish her importance or undermine what we have. She alone commands my complete devotion. That won’t change, no matter what tests or trials you devise.
He glanced at Evanth, who was being helped to his feet by Elowen, blood still dripping from his face. “And this is the last time anyone mentions Cassandra or Juno’s former husband in my presence. The next person who does will find themselves leaving Clifflands permanently. Family or not. That’s all for today, excuse mer
With that, he took my hand and led me from the room.
In the hallway, Augustin’s grip on my hand remained firm as we walked away from the dining room.
“You should have told me what my mother said to you,” he scolded lightly, pulling me closer to his side. “I don’t want you suffering
in silence. Not ever. Your burdens are mine to share, Berry.”
“I didn’t want to cause problems between you two,” I explained, looking up at him. “She’s still your mother.”
“And you’re my future,” he replied without hesitation. “My choice. My heart.” His expression softened as he brushed his thumb across my cheek. “Nothing and no one comes before you. Remember that.”
His tone lightened as a mischievous glint returned to his eyes. “I’ll have to punish you for that after we eat.”
“Is that a threat or a promise?” I asked, feeling heat rise in my cheeks.
“Both,” he growled softly, nipping at my ear.
I smiled at him, relieved we’d be dining in our room instead. Still, I couldn’t help worrying about the tension between him and his mother. If we had children someday, I wanted them to have a good relationship with both grandparents. I’d have to talk to him about making peace with Amelia once his temper cooled.
2/3
Chapter 87
For now, though, I was just gisteful to be leaving the disaster of lung behind us.
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