Harry had never felt as helpless in his life as he did at this moment. He didn’t know whether he should call Nicola. He hoped that Nicola would appear immediately to rescue him from this predicament, instead of leaving him standing between Jennifer and Patrick, caught in their crossfire.
“Why are you with that little wench, Emma, again?” Jennifer’s expression was grim.
Patrick coldly retorted, “Mother, I won’t allow you to speak of Emma in that way. She is Nelson’s daughter and now a member of our Silver Moon Pack. You can’t use such malicious words to describe her.”
Jennifer let out a sharp, cold laugh, “She will never be a part of our Silver Moon Pack! I will never accept her!”
Patrick’s expression became grim. “You have not stopped targeting her since she arrived here,” he growled softly. “I warned you that you cannot treat her like this!”
His defense of Emma further enraged Jennifer, “You are my son! Even if you are the Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack, you must always remember that you are my son! You should respect me as your mother!”
They stood in opposition, their guards standing at a distance, no one wanting to interfere. There was a young man who had initially tried to intervene, but he was pulled back.
“Why do you always want to control my life?” Patrick questioned her. “Since father’s death, your focus has shifted. You have become aloof and difficult to approach. You try to make everyone around you accept your peculiar ideas, trying to make them tolerate your pain. But you never consider our feelings!”
Jennifer screamed, “I’m doing this for your own good! Patrick, you just don’t understand!”
“Is tormenting an underage girl considered doing me good?”
“I am simply teaching her to follow the rules!”
For Harry, these twenty minutes felt like the longest and most agonizing of his life. If he could, twenty minutes ago, when he saw Jennifer, he would have stayed in the car, let the other three get out, and driven away himself. Then he wouldn’t be in this current agony and distress. He didn’t know which side to support. Both reason and emotion told him that his Alpha needed him now. He should stand by Patrick. But he knew that eventually, Patrick would soften because Jennifer was his mother. So he had to continue enduring this difficult time with his Alpha. Right now, he hoped that anyone, no matter who, could liberate everyone from this awkward situation, and he would be grateful to that person for the rest of his life.
Emma and Rory stood at a distance. Emma’s face was still red from the cold, wrapped in a scarf. She sniffled, “See, I told you we shouldn’t make a scene.”
“You always do this. Softness and kindness won’t elicit kindness from enemies, only encourage their malice towards you. If Jennifer truly realized that you didn’t want to be her enemy, then you should have given up the hardship the first few times she targeted you without telling anyone,” Rory remarked.
“But it doesn’t seem to make my situation any better now. It only worsened the relationship between her and her son. If things continue like this, Jennifer will only dislike me more.”
“Goddess!” Rory exclaimed softly, “Are you still concerned about whether Jennifer dislikes you? Don’t be so naive, girl.”
“I don’t care,” Emma said, feeling grateful for Patrick’s defense, but realizing it wouldn’t change anything, only make her situation more embarrassing. Being an outsider, ruining the relationship between the Alpha and his mother, didn’t seem worthy of blessings. Estranging your only relative must be a painful thing. “But I think Patrick might become estranged from Jennifer.”
Rory rolled his eyes, “First figure out your situation. You are a guest here, not Patrick. If Jennifer targets you and you don’t tell Patrick, who will you tell? You must ensure your own survival first, then consider others’ emotional needs.”
Emma glared at him, “He is my brother now.”
Rory shrugged, “Believe me, there are a lot of people willing to die for Patrick. The one standing between the two of them right now is Harry. I think you know him, he’s Patrick’s Beta, one of those willing to die for Patrick.”
Emma fell silent.
“Without Jennifer, Patrick will still have Harry, and countless others proud to sacrifice themselves for him. You and he are not on the same level. You think you’re hurt, being driven out by Jennifer, but besides me, who else will shed tears for you?”
Emma lowered her head. Even if Patrick truly depended on her, liked her, she had to realize that Patrick was an Alpha. A true Alpha wouldn’t abandon the tribe and power for a woman, because that responsibility was the armor they couldn’t take off after becoming Alpha.
“You’re right,” she muttered softly. “I shouldfocus on surviving first.”
Only by focusing on survival here could she leave smoothly after coming of age and start living the life she wanted. Rory was very satisfied with her response.
“Even foolish students need guidance from wise teachers.”
“I’m smart, you’re foolish.”
“If you call me foolish again, I’ll deduct your salary.”
“You can try, and then I’ll tell Patrick to shut down your bakery for a year and fine you for the past year’s revenue.”
“You learn fast.”
“Thanks to my good teacher.”
“You’re welcome. Come again.”