Chapter 141 A Note in the Coat Pocket

Isabella was ready to keep fighting when Luna Margaret finally stirred.

Alpha Sebastian called out to his mother softly. No response.

He let out a breath, resigned. "Dad, I won’t stand here and stress her out. I’ll go."

He left without another word.

Luna Margaret lay in the hospital bed, staring at the ceiling, tears sliding down her cheeks.

"Mom, what’s wrong?" Isabella rarely saw her mother this shattered.

Luna Margaret was too choked with fury to speak. She just kept dabbing at her eyes.

Isabella looked to her father.

Alpha Roger heaved a heavy sigh and gestured. "Go get your mother some warm water."

"Fine." Isabella dragged her feet toward the door.

Alpha Roger sat beside the bed and handed his wife a tissue. "It’s done. Fuming here won’t undo it. You’ll only make yourself sicker."

"How am I supposed to stay calm?" Luna Margaret pressed the tissue to her eye.

"If Sebastian hadn’t wasted pack money on a woman who wasn’t even part of our family, he could have invested in new territory, funded border patrols, or strengthened our alliances. He could have done something useful with it instead of throwing it at an outsider who gave him nothing in return."

Isabella heard every word, and her own anger grew.

So it was true. Her mother was furious because Alpha Sebastian had spent so much money on Eira.

Eira had never done anything for the family. She had never bought them a single gift, yet Alpha Sebastian kept spending money on her.

Ungrateful witch.

"Mom, you’re right, Sebastian never should’ve spent it on—"

"Don’t you throw gasoline on this fire." Alpha Roger took the water cup from her hand and passed it to his wife.

Isabella clamped her mouth shut.

Luna Margaret took a sip—and nearly scalded her tongue off. "Ssss!"

Nothing was going right today. She glared at her daughter. "Isabella, are you trying to burn me alive?"

"I thought you’d let it cool first," Isabella muttered, pouting.

Luna Margaret set the cup aside, a bitter thought surfacing. If Eira were here, she’d never have been handed boiling water. Eira would’ve had her tucked in and cared for, everything just right.

What a mess they’d made.

Since she was awake and there was nothing seriously wrong, the doctor sent her home.

Isabella helped her mother into the car and climbed in beside her. Alpha Roger drove.

"Mom, put your coat on."

A slip of paper fluttered out of the coat pocket.

"What’s this?" Isabella picked it up and handed it over.

Luna Margaret didn’t remember tucking anything into her pocket. Weary, she unfolded it.

[If you want your son’s money back from Serena, call this number.]

Eira’s handwriting.

Luna Margaret’s eyes flew wide. Isabella leaned in, curious, but her mother had already stuffed the note away.

A gleam flickered in Luna Margaret’s eyes. Of course she wanted her son’s money back.

Still, she didn’t fully trust Eira.

There were only two ways to claw that money back: settle it quietly, or sue. And a lawsuit would drag her son’s name through the mud of the pack. Absolutely not.

But letting Serena keep every cent? She couldn’t stomach that either.

--

On the drive back to Southridge Estates, Mrs. Jones asked, "Miss Crawford, do you really think Sebastian’s mother will play along? He’s her own son."

Eira stared out the window. "That money is her son’s too. And Margaret hates Serena."

"Dealing with old hurt can be messy," Mrs. Jones said softly, sensing Eira’s thoughts. "Like a blocked pipe. The dirt has to come out before things are clear."

"Miss Crawford, tomorrow’s the weekend," Mrs. Jones said, changing the subject. " Alpha Killian’s having his party. Miss Lila said she’d pick you up herself. You two can actually have some fun!"

Right. The party. To the Sterlings, it was a celebration. To Eira, it was a chance for both project teams to meet early. That would make their work together smoother later on.

Mrs. Jones smiled. "Miss Lila really likes you. She even thought about moving in to keep you company."

"I won’t be living here long," Eira said.

Mrs. Jones started. "What? You’re moving out?"

Eira nodded.

"Where would you go, Miss Crawford?" Mrs. Jones thought. She needed to know. So she could tell Alpha Killian to buy a place there too. Be neighbors again.

Eira just said, "We’ll see."

"You’ll take me with you, won’t you?" Mrs. Jones asked. "I can’t be without you. Alpha Killian would kick me out of the pack."

Eira paused. "I’ll take you."

"Oh, thank Moon Goddess! Thank you, Miss Crawford!" Mrs. Jones beamed. Crisis over. She almost lost her job as Alpha Killian’s love matchmaker.

Back at Southridge, Eira saw a huge pile of groceries by the door. "Yours?"

Mrs. Jones nodded. "Starting today, you’re eating real meals. Three times a day, my way. We’re putting some meat on those bones."

Eira followed her into the kitchen and reached for a bag. Mrs. Jones swatted her hand away.

"Miss Crawford! Don’t you go trying to do my job!"

Eira didn’t believe her for a second. She grabbed another bag.

[What a good girl, ]Mrs. Jones thought, chuckling.

She walked behind Eira, gently pushing her hands away from things. The big, quiet house felt a little warmer.

That evening, Mrs. Jones cooked a huge meal. Then she hit her forehead. "Old habit. Forgot to make less food. Miss Crawford, so nothing goes to waste, maybe we should find someone to help us eat it?"

Her Alpha Killian, for example.

Eira nodded. "Mrs. Jones, why don’t you send a plate over to Mr. Sterling?"