Chapter 7: Love or Duty?

After Imelda returned to the kitchen to prepare dinner, John came to his father's house. As John was eighteen already, he had his own house, separated from Ryan's house. He saw Jamie leave Ryan's house.

John knocked on his father's room. "Father?"

"Yes, Son. Come in." 

"Father, I don't know that you know Jamie."

"He is my pack member. Of course, I know him."

John sat on the chair in front of his father's table. "Well?"

"Well, what?"

"Why do you want to meet me?"

"Selina Sea," Ryan said. 

"What about her?"

"What's your intention toward her?"

John crossed his arms over his chest. "It's not your business."

"You are still my son and my Beta. Therefore, I have all the rights to ask you this."

"Why?"

"If you want to make her a future Luna for the pack, erase it from your plan."

John laughed so hard until his tears were out of his eyes. 

"Did I say something funny?" Ryan raised his eyebrows.

"Father, please! I was not born yesterday. Who told you I wanted Selina as my Luna?"

"No one."

"But you assumed I wanted her as my Luna." John laughed again and shook his head. "I'm not stupid, Father. I can see she isn't fit as the future Luna."

Ryan let out a relieved sigh. "Good! Then why did you visit her?"

"It's not your business where I go, Father. As we are aware, I'm not a teenager anymore. I am an adult."

"Son, you may have been eighteen, but you haven't reached the adult mentality yet."

That was when the door was knocked. So, the argument between John and Ryan was stopped for a while. 

"Yes?"

"Alpha, Beta, I have cooked dinner. Shall we eat now?" Imelda asked.

Ryan stared at Imelda for a few seconds. His lips twitched as he gazed at her. Then he opened the mind link. 'Are you deliberately entering my working room to stop the argument between John and me?'

Imelda only smiled, not answering anything. 

"Ma, it's been a while since I saw you." John stood and pulled Imelda into his embrace. 

Imelda hugged John too and kissed his cheeks. "Naughty boy! Do you know how much I miss you?"

"I'm sorry! You know how busy I am."

"Yes, too busy to make a problem outside with our enemy," Ryan said. 

Imelda shook her head and patted John's back. "My dear Beta, your father is getting older. So don't keep fighting with him, okay?"

"I wouldn't fight with him if he didn't start it," John grumbled, but he grinned at Imelda. "So, what do you cook, Ma?"

"Your favorite dishes."

"Oh! Roasted fish, deer with sauce, and berry tart." Then John kissed Imelda's cheeks. "I love you, Ma!"

"Because I cook you your favorite meals?" Imelda grinned, knowing John too well.

They laughed together. But then, both turned their bodies simultaneously as they heard a sigh. 

"I wish your mother were still alive. She would be so happy to see you grow so well."

"Father …." John stared at the floor and didn't know what he should say. As he didn't want to let the melancholic atmosphere ruin his mood, John circled his arm around Imelda's shoulder. "Ma, let's go to the dining room."

"Why don't you go first? I have something I need to talk about with our Alpha first. Alpha and I will go there later."

John nodded. Later, he turned his body to stare at Ryan and Imelda as he was at the door. "Father, mother passed away almost two decades ago. Why don't you find a new mate? Ma Imelda is always good to us, to our pack. Though we are the rogues, she has cared for us well since the day I was born."

Ryan said nothing at first, but then he tilted his head toward the door. "Go to the dining room first. I'll catch you later."

"Yes, Father." John left the room. After closing the door, he didn't walk to the dining room but stood there. 'Mother, I have never forgotten you. But Ma Imelda is always there for us. Father may need her. I hope you ain't mad at me for suggesting Father to choose her as a new Luna.' When he wanted to walk to the dining room, suddenly he heard something inside his father's working room. 

"My dear, do you think John knows something about us?" Ryan asked.

"No, I don't think so. But I feel so guilty as if I betrayed Luna Vivian."

Ryan pulled Imelda and hugged her. "Don't think like that. I am single now, and so are you. We betray no one."

"But you heard what John said. So, I think we should end our relationship."

"Why?" Ryan shook his head. "I haven't marked nor mated you. So, you are free to go. I have been so selfish to bind you with the duty and myself all these years."

"What is duty?" Imelda touched Ryan's cheek. "Even if you don't mark nor mate me for the rest of my life, I'll feel it's an honor to serve you, John, and the pack. I have no regrets."

"Imelda …. I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"I should insist on having you as mine. I shouldn't accept your sacrifice for years like this."

But Imelda shook her head and smiled, though her eyes shone with tears. "What is a sacrifice? I have spent my best years with people I love. So, it's not a sacrifice since I'm happy."

"But—"

Imelda stopped Ryan's words by placing her pointer finger on his lips. "I will give you two options."

"Okay."

"First, let's stay like this. Nothing's changed. It's the best for everyone."

"Unless for you."

Imelda ignored Ryan's reply. "Second, I'll leave and choose another pack."

"What?! No! I need you!" Ryan protested. "The rogues need you!"

Imelda smiled and kissed Ryan's lips. "Then, let's stop talking about taking me as your Luna. There will be a new Luna: John's Luna."

Ryan said nothing for a while, but then he asked. "If I chose another she-wolf as a new Luna, what would you do?"

Imelda closed her eyes and bit her lips. She tried so hard not to cry since Ryan's question hurt her deeply. Finally, she opened her eyes and stared at Ryan's eyes after a minute. "If it's your choice, I will support you."

"Have you ever loved me?" Ryan's tone was rising.

"I do until the day I die."

"Then why did you allow me to be with someone else? Do you only stay because of duty?"