The chef arrived, balancing a lavish tray laden with an assortment of sumptuous brunch items. My stomach growled when he set it down on the table, revealing delicate pastries filled with rich, melted cheese and ham, a colorful fruit salad accentuated by vibrant mint leaves, and stacks of fluffy pancakes drizzled with maple syrup. The scent of coffee mingled with the sweet aroma of warm cinnamon rolls, beckoning me to indulge. I didn’t hesitate.
“Wow.” My mouth watered at the sight of the feast before us. “This looks incredible.”
“Doesn’t it?” Persephone said, her eyes twinkling as we both filled our plates. “Now, while we enjoy this amazing spread, I thought I’d share some stories with you.”
I raised an eyebrow, my appetite momentarily forgotten as I braced myself for what was sure to be a series of fairytales. “I’m not sure I have the brainpower for that right now.”
Persephone smirked, her eyes dancing with delight. “Oh, I think you might find these particular tales quite enlightening. You see, I didn’t always have my ‘shit together’, as you so eloquently put it. In fact, there were more stressful moments than I can count during my time as lady of the pack... especially at the beginning.”
That piqued my curiosity. I was intrigued, despite my initial reluctance. “Please, do share,” I said, hoping to glean some insight from her experiences so I didn’t feel like such a damn loser. “Maybe I can learn something from your mistakes.”
“Very well.” A soft laugh escaped her lips as she picked up her fork. “One of the most difficult aspects I faced in my position was the sense of isolation.”
“Isolation?” I echoed, surprised. “But you were surrounded by pack members, weren’t you?”
There was no judgment in her smile. “A polite way of saying many of the women in the pack would freeze me out. Others were jealous fate had chosen me for Dominic, not unlike Cecily…”
She lowered her voice, as if we were at risk of being overheard. “I’ve come to realize she was a superficial piece of work. I’m embarrassed to admit she had me fooled. I hate to think of the damage she’d have caused the pack as the alpha’s mate. Still, nobody deserves to be used and killed in such a horrific way.” Cecily’s betrayal was a bitter pill to swallow, and as we ate the chef’s amazing spread, we sat in silence for a moment, lost in our own thoughts.
Persephone sipped her coffee, wiping her lips elegantly with her napkin, then resumed our conversation. “There’s a certain loneliness that comes with leadership, as I’m sure you’ve noticed. Although, I had many associates and fair-weather friends. Unlike you, I didn’t have a Sabrina in my life—an unwavering female support. Don’t take her for granted. It will be important for you to have people you trust. For me, the responsibility of making difficult decisions while projecting an unwavering exterior often led to times of quiet solitude.” As Persephone spoke, her voice softened, and I detected a hint of wistfulness in her expression. “I found solace in those rare times of reflection, as well as in Dominic’s unwavering support.”
“Really?” I asked. The idea of Dominic providing comfort was almost foreign to me, given his intimidating demeanor. Although, he had tried to cheer me up when his alpha trainingfailed the other day. Maybe he had a soft interior he only showed to those he cared for.
“Indeed.” Persephone waved her hand dismissively. “Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows between the two of us. Sometimes we fought viciously, but any bad feeling between us had to be put aside to show a united front to the pack.”
“Sounds familiar,” I muttered under my breath, recalling the heated arguments Ty and I had already engaged in during our short time together.
Persephone’s face turned serious. “Then there were all the times I missed out on birthday parties or Sunday family gatherings due to pack duties. It was a lot to adjust to. My marriage wasn’t just Dominic and me, the pack had to be taken into consideration in every decision, and how it would affect them.”
I never imagined I’d have anything in common with Persephone, never mind a relationship—at least not anything more than formal discussions and pack events. This strange connection bridged a gap between us, and I caught myself looking at her through a new set of eyes. She was much more than the bitch I’d deemed her long ago.
We ate in companionable silence for a few minutes, the delicious flavors of the meal melting away some of my lingering tension. What was Persephone’s purpose in sharing those stories with me? Was she simply trying to offer encouragement, or was there something more at play?
“Listen.” She set down her fork and fixed me with a serious gaze. “I know it’s been difficult for you, adjusting to this life and all it entails, but I also believe that you possess the strength and resilience necessary to not only survive but thrive in your new role.”
“Is that so?” I scoffed, my insecurities heavy on my chest. “Because right now, all I feel is overwhelmed and out of control.”
“Trust me, Liza.” Persephone took me by surprise by reaching for my hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze. “You are capable of more than you realize. And with time, patience, and the support of those who love you, I have no doubt that you’ll rise to meet every challenge that comes your way.”
The clouds hung low in the sky, casting a somber mood over the patio where I sat with my new mother-in-law. A soft breeze tickled the leaves of the surrounding trees, the gentle rustling providing a calming background noise while I struggled to hold my tongue to keep from sounding like a bitch.
Against my better judgment, I narrowed my eyes at Persephone, my voice laced with annoyance. “I doubt you ever had a group of underground traffickers trying to capture you.”
Persephone’s smile was kind, almost pitying. “No, and I can’t pretend to know what you’re going through.” She sat back in the chair and folded her hands in her lap. A flicker of sadness crossed her face as she continued. “It was hard for me to adjust during a time when everything was changing within the pack. Dominic was trying to steer the pack into what it is now, to rid the Keller pack of some of the unscrupulous business dealings. There were many things we disagreed on, and we fought viciously on how the pack should be run, but he was my mate, he was the alpha, and I had to trust he was doing the best thing for us and the pack.”
I studied her, taking in the vulnerability in her eyes. “It’s not an easy role to have, is it?”
Her gaze met mine, earnest and sincere. “I’ll be the first to admit that you don’t have any direct power over the pack but have to trust that your mate will confide in you and respect your opinions.” She looked at me, understanding in her gaze. “As the alpha’s mate, you always have eyes on you, so there is no roomto slip up. I know it’s a lot to take on, and you have more eyes on you than you probably ever imagined. So I can understand why you’re melting down.”
My cheeks burned with embarrassment, but Persephone waved me off. “I can’t imagine what it’s like being an omega. Especially an omega with your pack’s history. But I know enough about you to know that you can overcome anything if you put your mind to it. You overcame my hesitancy to accept you. You overcame Dominic’s betrayal and what he did to your family. You’re a fighter, Liza.”
Her words were a shock to my system. After all this time of feeling alone and unnoticed by Persephone, she’d been on the sidelines, watching and paying attention to it all. She recognized my pain and was willing to remind me of what I’d overcome. Few people could say that about their mother-in-law. I was surprisingly lucky.
She finished her coffee and winked at me. “Remember, you’re not alone. You have a team at your side, ready and willing to hold you up when you feel like crumbling.”
I nodded, some of the weight lifting from my chest. The patio suddenly seemed less oppressive, the clouds overhead less suffocating.
“Thank you, Persephone.” I smiled as one of the staff members cleared the table. “You’ve really helped me today. Just having someone to talk to who somewhat understands the pressure I’m under is a relief.”
