CHAPTER 163: I HAVE MAXOPHOBIA.

"I don’t understand. You said Angel stole from you?" Renn’s eyes widened in shock. From all the time he had spent with her, he would swear Angela could never do such a thing. Maybe this was a misunderstanding between mother and daughter.

"You are shocked, right?" Grace’s eyes moved from one face to another. Deep down she knew what she was doing, but her mind was fixed on the money. If she collected that huge amount from them before they returned to the academy to hear Angela’s side, it would be too late. Her daughter would be furious, but right now money seemed more important.

"What are you saying?" Kaito asked, his voice heavy with anger as he stepped forward, towering over her. His presence alone was enough to make her uneasy. "Angela would never do something like that. Do you hear me? He is not a thief."

"I am with my brother on this," Renn added firmly, nodding in agreement.

Grace was taken aback by the way they defended Angela. She wondered how close they were to her daughter. How could they be so sure she would never do such a thing?

"Are you trying to call me a liar?" Grace’s voice shook as she looked around. People were already watching her, whispering, judging her the way they always did. "Do you even know I am hia mother? Who are you to think you know him better than me?"

"It doesn’t matter who I am," Kaito shot back. "Angel would never do something like that. I know it for a fact." His heart burned with anger as he looked at her. What kind of mother spoke this way about her own child? Had greed blinded her so much that she forgot the love, respect, and peace she owed the daughter she brought into this world?

"You are defending the wrong person," Grace said with bitterness. "You don’t know Angel like I do. He is stubborn, rude, selfish and..."

"I don’t think he is selfish," Renn interrupted with a shrug, though his voice carried disbelief. He could not believe he was even standing here, arguing with her over something so obvious.

"I know your daughter can be many things, but not a thief," Kaito said with effort, trying to keep his tone from sounding disrespectful. "You are her mother. Maybe you should think carefully before saying things like this."

Grace flinched when she heard him call Angela her daughter. The truth was out. They knew. She bit her finger, her mind racing. She had endured so much from her brother to keep Angela’s identity hidden, and yet the foolish girl had gone and told them herself.

"If you think I am lying about the money, then call Angela," Grace said sharply. "If you can reach her, ask her. Ask if I am lying or not."

Renn turned to his brother, uncertainty flashing in his eyes. "What should we do? Just leave her here and go?"

Renn turned to his brother and asked quietly, "What should we do? Just leave her here and go?"

"No. I’m coming," Kaito said firmly. He walked to the car and pulled out his phone. After checking in with Kael and making sure he was fine, he went back to Grace and asked for her cash app.

She quickly gave it to him, eager and nervous. She had foolishly left her phone at home, so she stood there waiting, desperate to see the proof of the payment.

"Look, I have transferred the money," Kaito said as he showed her the receipt before slipping the phone back into his pocket. Grace almost screamed with excitement, her face glowing with greed, but his voice cut her short. "Now listen to me very carefully. You will leave Angela alone. You and your brother both. Do you understand me?"

"I won’t ask her for the money again. I promise," Grace replied quickly, smiling as if she had just won a prize. "I am her mother after all..."

"Then act like one. And if you cannot, then stay away from her," Kaito warned coldly, his eyes fixed on her trembling figure. "Make sure your brother stays away from her as well. Because if either of you hurts her again, you will regret it."

"I am her mother, but who are you to speak to me like this?" Grace asked, shocked by the fire in his voice and the way he stood up for her daughter.

"I am her mate," Kaito said, his eyes glowing red as the power of his Alpha broke through. He turned his back on her and walked toward the car, leaving her frozen in fear.

"Actually, we are her mates," Renn added, his tone calm but sharp. "There are four of us. So for your own good, do not upset Angela again." Without another glance, he followed his brother into the car.

They drove off, leaving Grace standing in disbelief. Her heart raced as their words echoed in her head. She could not believe what she had just heard. Angela had not one but four mates, and one of them was clearly an Alpha. Her lips trembled as she whispered to herself, wondering if it could really be true. If it was, then this was far worse than she ever imagined.

*****

Slade sent a message to Taros, praying he would see it on time and do what was needed. If anything went wrong, they would all be in serious trouble, and he knew it too well.

He sat beside the principal, keeping his eyes away from her. She slipped on her glasses and began to reverse the car. Slade almost asked if her sight was failing. Every werewolf had sharp vision, so if she needed glasses, something was definitely wrong with her.

"You said the boys threw a party for Angela in town," Miss Valois asked as she took the same road she had driven earlier.

"Yes, ma," Slade replied quickly. It was the best excuse he could come up with, though he knew it was risky. The alphas were not together, and Kaito and Renn were most likely out of town.

"Let us hope that is exactly what happened," Principal Valois said as she pressed harder on the accelerator. She wanted to see for herself if Slade was telling the truth or if the boys were out there making mistakes.

"Can you slow down a little?" Slade asked suddenly. His chest tightened with worry. If they reached too soon, there would not be enough time for the others to arrange things and make them believable.

"Why?" she asked, looking at him with confusion.

"I have a maxophobia," he blurted out.

"Is this some kind of joke?" Miss Valois demanded, slamming her foot on the brake. The car came to a halt, throwing them forward. She turned to him, her eyes narrowing. "Have you been lying to me?"

"No, Principal Valois," Slade said quickly. "I know it is hard to believe me because I am a werewolf and people think we have no fears. But we do. I am sure you have yours too. Look at you...you are driving with medical glasses on."

Her mouth parted in surprise. His words struck deeper than she wanted to admit. For a moment she wanted to silence him, but she could not. The boy had caught her off guard.

Without another word, she started the car again and this time drove quietly, keeping to the slower pace he had asked for.