One month later:
The shrill ring of her mother's ringtone pierced the heavy silence blanketing Anastasia's private room.
With a resigned sigh, she accepted the call, steeling herself for yet another strained conversation.
"Hello, Mother," she greeted in a toneless murmur, lacking even a shred of her usual regal confidence.
"Anastasia," her mother's wizened voice crackled over the line, fraught with a surprising undercurrent of exasperation.
"This has gone on long enough. It has been over a month since you left the pack's affairs in my hands...to pursue this mission of yours to get mate back. But I'm an old woman now - I don't have the stamina or fortitude to lead any longer. I'm tired."
A lead weight settled in the pit of Anastasia's stomach at her mother's weary words.
Of course, her responsibilities to her pack would eventually come calling despite her singular focus on regaining Liam's trust and forgiveness.
