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Leila knows what is about to come next and she desperately wants to avoid it, she tries to peel away from Carmela’s side to get back to her room and lock herself inside but Carmela hugs her.

“Mother, no one is bullying me, Leila and I have made up and she doesn’t have a problem with me being around Tatum, right Leila?”

Carmela squeezes Leila tight in a side hug, grinning from ear to ear at Adaline.

Leila scrunches her nose and gently shrugs Carmela off her, glancing at Tatum who doesn’t move his face away from the TV.

It breaks her heart when he does this, acting like she doesn’t exist when she needs him the most. His mother just called her a b**h and a bully but he acts like he doesn’t even hear it, like he’s not even in the

room.

Why else would that be but for the fact that he shares the same view as his mother?

Maybe just like her, what he lacks is the courage to tell her that her time is up, that he is done with her and that he no longer needs her.

“Yeah, sure,” Leila replies with a beautiful smile.

Adaline scoffs, scowling at Leila as she saunters towards the women.

She points her fingers in Leila’s face, almost poking her eyes and Leila steps back, stumbling and supporting herself with the railing of the stairs.

only

“Get used to seeing Carmela in this house, sooner or later, it is going to be hers anyway,” Adaline growls viciously, her eyes full of nothing but hatred as she stares at Leila.

Leila’s eyes brim with tears. How long is she going to put up with this? Being bullied everywhere and by everyone including her own husband for Carmela’s sake.

“Shouldn’t you at least first greet your son when you come to his house?” Tatum says, walking over to them, putting his hands on Adaline’s shoulder and leading her away.

“Carmela already lives with us, she’s not going anywhere.”

Leila heaves, fighting with everything to keep her tears from falling, her lips tightly pursed together.

Is that all he is going to say? Nothing in her defence?

‘Carmela is not going anywhere. Get used to seeing Carmela in this house, sooner or later, it is going to be hers anyway.”

Mother and Son’s words ring in Leila’s head and her heart pounds with pain. She glances at Carmela but Carmela quickly looks away but she sees it.

The little smile on Carmela’s face.

This is no longer her home, it is Carmela’s and the sooner she can summon the courage to end things with Tatum, the better for her.

She slowly makes her way up the stairs, totally forgetting why she even came down in the first place when

Adaline’s

voice makes her halt.

“I’m moving in with you for now Tatum, I don’t trust this woman not to hurt Carmela, she is the phoenix Luna, we have to protect her at all cost.”

Tatum lets out a dry chuckle.

“You worry too much mother, there is nothing but peace and harmony in this home,” he replies, locking suggestive eyes with Leila..This text is © NôvelDrama/.Org.

They both know what happened the last time they were living under the same roof with Adaline.

“Mother, Carmela and I are on good terms, I promise, you don’t have to trouble yourself by living with us,” Leila forces a smile.

“Good terms my foot! You may have them fooled with your sweet innocent look but not me. I see through this mask you are wearing.” Adaline replies curtly, scowling at Lella.

She turns to Tatum, displeasure written all over her face. “I have come to stay but if you want to throw your own mother out of your house for this woman, then fine, I will leave.”

She stands to her feet, glancing down at Tatum.

“Leila, have one of the omegas prepare a room for her,” Tatum replies in a monotonous tone. Leila nods, knowing her woes are only going to get worse living with Adaline in the same house. Is she really ready to bear such torture, everyday?

“Carmi darling, you go tell the omegas to get the room ready for me, you should get used to your authority, don’t see yourself any less than her in this house, being the Luna of this pack is your birthright, act like it,” Adaline says, giving Carmela a small smile.

“About that mother, you should know, Carmela may have that mark on her, but my wolf feels nothing for hers. Leila is my Luna and that won’t change anytime soon.”

Leila’s heart jumps in her chest when she hears Tatum’s cold voice, that dangerous hope that keeps her tethered to him going on a rise.