Page 5 of Fated Moons
Her mother had easily entered royal life, as if she’d been born into it. Of course, she came from one of the wealthiest political families in the state of New York, so in a way, she understood tradition and respected it.
“I’m thrilled, really I am.” Amanda put on her best smile.
Her mother leaned across the table, resting her hand on Amanda’s forearm. “You were more excited when you didn’t get the lead in the school play your senior year. What’s going on?”
Amanda’s mother had always been considered soft-spoken but never meek, and she never minced words. When she walked into a room, with her long dark hair and hourglass figure, everyone was captivated by her beauty. But it was her poise and self-confidence that stopped everyone in their tracks.
“My co-star is going to be somewhat controversial.” Amanda bit down on the inside of her cheek, glancing between her parents. Jackson’s name had been mentioned a time or two over the years, especially since he’d returned to his hometown. Her parents had seen a couple of his films and while they didn’t blame Jackson, her father always got teary-eyed over the memory of his little brother’s senseless murder.
“How so?” her father asked.
“Let’s just say there is some history between me and the leading man,” she said softly.
Her mother narrowed her eyes. “Jackson Ledger?”
“He’s been cast opposite me.” She nodded.
“Good grief,” her mother said, shaking her head. “And you said yes?”
Under the table, Arianna grabbed her hand and held it tight. Her sisters understood she had to take the role and would support her, but she wasn’t sure if her parents would.
“Yes, Mother. I did. This kind of movie will put me at the top of the industry. It’s the chance of a lifetime. I couldn’t—wouldn’t—turn it down. No matter what.”
“That poor boy,” her mother said, letting out a long breath. “The media is going to crucify him once again if you star in a movie with him. They will focus on his father and what he did, not that young man or his acting abilities. Maybe not even yours.”
Amanda stared at her mother with her mouth gaping open. This wasn’t the response she’d expected. Their family had been through so much between the death of Uncle Armand and then the long-drawn-out trial before Reed Ledger was finally convicted of murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.
The Twilight Crossing Council even stripped him of his ability to shift into a wolf. It was amazing the man was still alive.
“That’s being kind, Mom,” Arianna said. “When he won the Oscar forReturning to Hitchcock Park, the press turned his life upside down and often didn’t paint him out to be a nice wolf, and his own pack turned on him, saying he was just like his old man. My entertainment reporter friends told me that he shifted his alliance from his birth pack to the Crescent Moon Pack when the wolfairies were conceived because of how his old pack treated him and his family.”
“What about the fact he was arrested twice after that film, and his career has been slowly tanking ever since,” Avery added.
“I can’t imagine what it’s been like for him living in his father’s shadow. It’s a shame the world wants to think the worst of Jackson,” her father said, lighting his pipe, the smoke fillingthe air above his head like big, puffy clouds. “Do you know how he feels about working with you?”
“I honestly have no idea.” Amanda blinked a few times, trying to wrap her brain around her parents’ reactions. “I’ve been too worried about how you will take the news so I neglected to ask my agent.”
“I can’t say I’m thrilled you will be working with him.” Her father blew a couple of smoke rings. “But he didn’t kill your uncle, and he shouldn’t be held responsible for his father’s sins. The boy deserves to live his life free of scrutiny. Free of the shame of what his father did.”
Amanda downed the rest of her wine in one gulp. “You don’t have a problem with me working with Jackson Ledger?”
“I didn’t say that,” her father said, resting his arm on the table. His eyes glassed over as they always did when this subject was broached. “His father murdered my brother in cold blood. Doesn’t matter that he was a small boy, Jackson will forever be known as Reed’s son before anyone puts Oscar-Winning actor to his name. You working with him will compound that issue, not to mention the pain it will stir up in our family.” Her father wiped a hand over his eyes, drawing his palm down over his nose and mouth. “I take it you’ve only verbally accepted the role.”
She nodded.
“I’ll support you no matter what you decide, but I think we should sit down with Jackson before we move forward,” her father said.
“Why?” She swallowed.
“You’re my little girl. All I’ve ever wanted is for you to be happy. I’ve pushed you girls to chase your dreams, whatever they might be, regardless of what I think. I’m not going to stand in your way now. That said, this is your career, and I don’t want it to be tainted by something that young man’s father did. All Iwant to do is have a conversation with him to make sure we’re on the same page about handling the press.”
“We should cast a protection spell,” Avery said.
“I plan on it, but that won’t change how the media, other witch covens, or even wolf packs respond to this pairing.” Her father leaned back and sighed.
“We could use our magic to muzzle the?—”
Her father interrupted Alicia. “That would be breaking more laws, besides being unethical.”
