Maisie scrunched up her face . " Ugh , this is so annoying , " she complained . " I run into Mom everywhere I go . " Maximus looked away . He placed some food on Maisie's plate and said , " Just eat . " Maisie huffed , suddenly losing her appetite . " Running into Mom at the concert was bad enough , * she thought , " but at a restaurant too ? She must be following us around secretly . But maybe she couldn't help it ? Maybe she wants to say sorry ? * The thought lifted Maisie's spirits a little . Since the two groups were sitting back - to - back , it wasn't until Maisie snuck another glance over her shoulder that she realized Calista had already left . Maisie was stumped . She couldn't figure out what her mom was thinking . Maximus hadn't noticed when Calista left either - not that he cared much . Elias drove Calista back to Vance Manor . When they arrived , Lucy was waiting at the entrance , wrapped in a coat . Calista got out of the car , looking puzzled . " Lucy , what are you doing out here ? " she asked . Lucy glanced at Calista , then shifted her gaze toward the driver's seat . There sat a tall and handsome man . His clothes clearly spoke of affluence . The car he drove was understated but solid , radiating quality . Elias noticed Lucy sizing him up . He met her eyes naturally and introduced himself . " I'm Calista's college classmate , two years ahead of her . " Lucy smiled . " Nice to meet you . " Elias gave a slight nod . His good manners showed in the little things . Calista and Elias chatted for a bit longer . " Next time , dinner's on me , " she insisted . A warm , deep smile lit up Elias's eyes . He knew Calista too well . Letting her feel she owed him was the perfect way to guarantee countless more meet - ups . Back in college , they'd been close friends , but after Calista got married , everything naturally faded , After Elias left , Lucy looked at Calista with a thoughtful , curious expression . " Just a classmate ? " she pressed . Calista nodded , her reply quick and firm . " Yeah , just a classmate . But we were close friends . " Seeing Calista clearly wasn't in the mood for any talk about romance , Lucy dropped it . Instead , she suddenly turned serious . " Dad's waiting for you in the living room . Says it's something important . " The look on Lucy's face told Calista this wouldn't be easy for her . In the great hall , Harlan and Maggie sat stiffly on the sofa , the atmosphere heavy and tense . 11:29 Rejected by the Alpha , I Became the Pack's Queen 87.1 % Chapter 28 Coffee cups sat on the table . The water had long since boiled , but no one had touched it . When Calista walked in . Harlan straightened up a bit . " Calista , make us some coffee , will you ? " he said . " It's been ages since you've made coffee for us . " Before Calista got together with Maximus , Harlan had always preferred her hand - brewed coffee - he'd often sit there , sipping it slowly while chatting with her about business orders and potential partnerships . Back then , Calista hadn't paid much attention to the pack's business . She'd always brushed him off with vague comments and polite smiles . Now , thinking about it , Calista was filled with guilt . She'd bent over backward to please the Gray family , taking on all the responsibilities of Silvermoon Pack's Luna , yet the Grays had never done anything for her . Meanwhile , her own parents had given everything to raise her - and she'd turned around and become someone else's eager servant . The absurdity of it all stung . Calista murmured her acknowledgment and walked over to the coffee table . Harlan and Maggie watched her quietly , neither speaking . Calista could feel they had something to say but were holding back . She didn't rush them , just waited patiently . When the coffee was ready , she handed Harlan a cup . " Dad , your coffee , " she said . Maggie shook her head - she avoided caffeine at night to protect her sleep . Before Calista's pairing , the Vance household had been warm and comfortable . Jasper was blunt but kind - hearted . Back then , he used to say his little sister deserved someone better - not some bastard Alpha assigned by the Moon Goddess . Lucy was Jasper's destined mate and the future Luna of Shadowvale Pack . After becoming part of the Vance family , she treated Calista like her own little sister . Calista had gained one more person who loved her . Calista knew why Maggie didn't drink coffee at night - and to some extent , that was her fault . After Calista married into the Gray family , Maggie had cried herself to sleep countless nights . Back then , peaceful rest was nearly impossible for her . Harlan took the coffee but didn't drink it . He stared at Calista for a long time before finally speaking . " Your mother and I have talked it over . We're bringing Maisie back here . We'll raise her . " Then his tone turned firm . " You risked your life to bring that child into this world . There's no reason she should stay with the Grays . " Calista's heart clenched - of course she wanted her daughter to live with her . " Dad , it's not that I don't want custody , " she said , lowering her head heavily . " It's just ... Maisie doesn't want to be with me . " 11:29