The Wannabe Warrior
Chapter 56

Zane POV

The meeting was productive, with all the Alpha’s on board not waiting for the rogues to attack us. We are going to attack them. Finally, some action. It has been hard just investigating. Since Madison had arrived, everything took a large turnabout and now I feel we are heading in the right direction.

We just need to work out the groups of warriors and what Alpha wants to go and fight and those that will be supporting and who will coordinate from the monitor room. I think the best people in the monitor room should be Gerome and Madison. They know that room best, but will have to wait for dad to decide. He has been giving a list of suggested fighters. We are going to set up a base camp that is mid-way point between the cave and mine. That way, we can send warriors to the most needed areas. As directed from the monitor room.

With the meeting adjourned for dinner, we all left to go change. dinner in half an hour or so. Dad looked relieved when the meeting finished. He looked tired. I felt that with an end in sight, one way or another, this would be over soon.

Madison was in the shower when I arrived in our bedroom, so I went to join her. Madison shivered when I touched her, and then pulled herself away. I frowned in confusion, and looked at her with concern.

‘I have finished.’ She said, and left the shower. I was disappointed when she left, but then we only had half an hour. I guess I had better be quick.

When I have towel dried myself, I leave the bathroom and replace she is already dressed and ready to leave for dinner.

‘Are you okay?’ I asked, she was brushing her hair with her back at me.

‘Can’t wait for all this to be behind me.’ She replies, but I still feel something else is wrong, but I know if Madison does not feel like talking about it, she won’t tell me. Hopefully, she will confide in me when she is ready.

We walked together down to the dining hall. Many are already there, seated and waiting for dad to arrive. I took Madison to our seat and pulled the chair out for her to sit down. She thanks me softly, and for some reason I feel saddened at the sound of her voice.

The table seemed to be the usual chatting, no real tension that I could sense, I still had no idea what was going on.

Dad and Mum arrived and came and sat at the table. Mum greets me as she sits down and completely ignores Madison, and I frown. Dad greets us both and Madison greets dad back, and I don’t miss the fact that neither mum or Madison greeted each other. I looked around the table and noticed that the table was watching and they would have seen that too.

‘Dad, what is going on with mum?’ I mind-link dad.

‘What do you mean, Son?’

‘Mum, did not greet Madison, and she seemed to be shunning her. The table would have seen her be rude to Madison.’ I am frustrated. My mother has her sister here and other ladies, because Madison advocated it, she pushed dad to get the ladies here, partly to calm my mother and partly to protect them from the threats of the Advisor. I cannot fathom what Madison had done to be on the receiving end of my mother’s bad side.

‘I have no idea. I did notice that she did not greet Madison, but have no idea what was going on.’

‘Even some of the ladies at the table seem to be sneering at Madison. What has Mum done now?’

Dad looks around the table, then looks at me and gives me a slight nod.

Madison was quieter than normal, she hardly ate anything, and only responded by being polite. She did not get involved with any conversation at the table. If my mother was part of the conversation, it was very obvious something was amiss.

‘If you will excuse me, I think I will have an early night.’ Madison said to me, and I nodded.

I watched as she left the room, and felt concerned. It was hard to stay and continue eating, when I wanted to follow her and replace out what was going on.

‘Zane, I hear that girl is your latest bed partner. When are you going to stop taking girls to bed and replace your mate?’ a woman sitting a few chairs over, and spoke, loud enough for others at the table to hear.

Maidson’s dad roared loudly and everyone at the table stopped eating and stared at him.

He got up from the table and followed Madison out the door, his meal not finished.

‘Matilda, I believe you are going to have to apologise to Madison and Zane and her father. When he calms down, Madison IS Zanes’ mate and if I replace out who is spreading lies about Madison, they will need to apologise too. I will not accept anyone bad mouthing that girl.’ Dad spoke to Matilda, and the table in general.

‘Why is that Alpha, are you bedding her too?’ another woman at the table asked.

Dad’s growl was so loud and angry that the whole table bared their necks to him.

‘What part of being my son’s mate, did you not understand?’ dad growled.

‘Sorry Alpha, but your mate said she was just his latest bed partner. What do you expect us to believe?’ Matilda said.

Alpha turned to look at his mate and it was not a pleasant look.

‘You are the reason Madison did not eat her dinner and left her upset?’

‘I only said the truth, she is Zane’s latest bed partner.’

‘Mum, Madison and I share a bed to sleep, I need to feel my mate or I will lose control of my wolf. We have not yet mated, only marked each other. I respect her need to wait until the rogue issue is over, and then we were going to arrange a ceremony. Now I have to hope my mate won’t reject me, because you have made everyone think she is a whore.’ I growled at her and stood up and left the room. I was so angry with my mum at the moment, and worried my mother had pushed my mate away.

The table is silent, watching me leave the room with wide eyes and gapping mouths.