Chapter 127: We Can't Be Friends

Chapter 127: We Can't Be Friends Yet


Elena

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, Liam had gone to run some tests with my blood. I locked the door immediately and he left and allowed the first tear to fall from my eyes. It was the first time since the battle I had to get rid of my emotions. I felt like I was holding it all together for the sake of others because I knew I had to. They were all depending on me.

I still had a funeral ceremony to handle and that would be the hardest, it will be held tomorrow morning once they have been identified and claimed. I thought of all those poor children who would have to live through life without one or both of their parents. My heart broke for them, I wished I could take away their pain but I was only but one woman.

I braced my hands against the sink and splashed my face with some cold water. Bernard was going to be back any moment and he couldn't see me like this. I composed myself and once I was sure I had all the ugly and had bits hidden, I turned towards the door. I walked out of the lab not looking where I was going. I was so in my head that I rammed into a body. I stumbled back a few steps but luckily, I couldn't myself.

I was about to apologize but my mouth clamped shut when I came face to face with my soon-to-be mother-in-law. Elizabeth had made it absolutely clear that she did not like me and thought I was a terrible match for her son. Bernard had told me all the horrible things she had said about me to her husband. She viewed me like I was the scum beneath her feet.

"Elizabeth," I greeted her, straightening myself.

I was already in a bad mood and I didn't want her making it even worse for me. I just wanted peace and no more problems.

"Elena," she greeted, she looked at the sign on the door and then looked back at me confused.

"Are you unwell?"

Seriously, that was genuine concern in her voice, how possible? She was not a woman who showed anything other than disdain and hatred towards me.

"No, I just needed to get checked by Liam, it was just a precautionary check." She nodded.

"I understand."

As awkward silence fell on us, I shifted my weight from foot to foot, unsure of how to communicate with this woman.

"I am leaving, I need to go and meet with some of the families. They need as much support as they can get."

"Allow me to come with you, I was also thinking of doing some rounds."

"What?" She was joking, right?

"I thought it would be nice if we went together to visit the families."

"With all due respect, Elizabeth why? You have stated many times how you dislike me and how I am a disgrace to a mate. Why the sudden change now?" She looked away like she was ashamed.

"I heard what you did."

"Excuse me?"

"On the battlefield, I heard what you did. You were the one who killed Richard and saved everyone but most of all, you saved my son."

"Oh, hmmmm….well, it was not a big deal. I was doing what needed to be done, anyone in my position would have done the same." She shook her head.

"No, not everyone would have done what you did. You saved this Pack with your quick thinking and self-sacrifice. You saved my son with your bravery and I cannot thank you enough."

She did something so unexpected I thought maybe I had been pushed into some kind of alternative universe. She stepped up to me and enveloped me in her arms. I just stood still as a status unsure of how to react. Was she going to try and squeeze me to death as her last attempt to get rid of me? Or was this genuine? When she noticed that I was not returning her gesture, she stepped away from me.

"Well, I am leaving now. Take care, Elizabeth."

I was about to make my quick getaway but she reached her hand out and grabbed my arms. My eyes shot to her hand on my arm like it was a snake and could bite at any moment. Immediately, she let me go and took a step backwards.

"I need to tell you something." She looked a little nervous which was strange because a woman like her made people nervous, she was never nervous.

"Okay?"

"I realized now that I have been more than unfair to you since your arrival in this Pack. I made you feel unwelcome and I made you feel like the dirt beneath my shoes all because I could not look past duty. And from the bottom of my heart, I am deeply sorry for the pain I have caused you. It wasn't right of me to try and get rid of you, you are my son's mate and I should have accepted it and respected your union." I was too stunned to speak.

"I am so sorry for plotting against you and making your life more difficult. Will you ever find it inside your heart to forgive me?"

I licked my lips, unsure of what to say. This is the last thing I was expecting to come out of her mouth. I did my best to gather my emotions and feelings before speaking.

"I forgive you, Elizabeth. You are Bernard's mother and I am his mate. It would make his life a lot more difficult if we were constantly on opposing sides. My job is to make his life easier and bring him peace and the last thing I want is to be fighting with the mother that birthed him."

"I agree."

"But…." Here it comes, this was me finally standing my ground.

"We can't be friends and braid each other's hair. It will take a lot more than an apology to regain my trust. You were plotting a lot of horrible things and I can't get past that. Hopefully, one day, I will but as for now, I believe that being cordial with one another is okay."

"I understand," she looked a little deflated but not too much.

"Okay," I offered her a smile.

"I will see you around, Elizabeth."

"Wait?" I turned around.

"What?"

"As someone who has carried the Luna burden for over forty years, I just wanted to give you a little piece of advice. There will always be days like this when you feel like you could have done more and you could have saved more people but the truth of the matter is, you didn't because you couldn't. You may be Luna but your abilities are limited. Not every day will go your way and not every win will feel like one." I just listened to her.

"But that is all a part of the job. Take the good with the bad and take it all in stride. Don't bottle up your emotions and lean into your mate when you need to. You are not only there to support him but he is there to support you too. Be kind to yourself, Elena." She placed a loving hand on my shoulder and smiled.

"Thank you, Elizabeth."

"If you ever need any more advice on the job, I am here and ready to help you."

I started walking towards the hallway, as I was about to turn the corner, I looked over my shoulder to her who was staring at me.

"Welcome to the family," her eyes went to the engagement ring on my finger.

"The ring is beautiful." I looked at the ring and then at her.

"Thank you." She nodded and turned to go in the opposite direction I was heading. What a strange encounter.

I headed to the ICU, all things she had said to me, sorry was the only thing that registered. She had not been my biggest fan from the beginning so to have her looking at me differently was a miracle in itself.

Surprisingly, her words did something to me, she was one person who understood the kind of pressure I was in, and she knew what it took to be a Luna. She had handled the role for longer than I had been alive. I trusted her advice and this time I knew that it wasn't coming from a malicious place either. I saw hope in my and her relationship in the future, I would have loved for one day, Elizabeth and I to be actual friends but I knew we were a long way off to that. I saw Bernard walking towards me with an easy smile on his face.

"Hey," I walked into his arms.

"How did your test go?" I pulled away a little bit to look at his face.

"It went well, I should get my result in the next hour but Liam isn't worried so I am not worried."

"That's good."

"And how is Ivory?"

"She is good, a little loopy from the morphine but she will be just fine. I will go check in with her after we are done here." He looked over my face.

"You seem different."

"What do you mean?"

"You seem a little lighter like whatever burden you had been carrying is off your shoulders or something."

"Something like that." I reached up on my toes and kissed his lips gently.

"I had a little chat with your mother, I think she and I might just become friends one day." He looked understandably shocked.

"Really, now?"

"Yes, we still have a long way to go but I believe that your mother and I are going to get along soon."

At least, I hoped so. I didn't know if this was only a passing phase for Elizabeth or if this was legit. Only time would tell.