”What are you saying, child?” Carlos asked her as he rose from his seat.
Amber sighed.
”Malia and I are mated. I don't care what history our families have or what happened in the past. If she can be okay with it then so can I. I love her, uncle.” She said.
Carlos walked around the study and stopped in front of a book shelf.
He brought out a smaller journal-looking one with a black leather coverage.
”Here, this will come in handy,” he said and held it out to Amber.
”Uncle-”
”No. I'm sorry, I know what this must be like for you but I cannot dive into history. Some things are meant to be left unspoken.” He said.
”But she’s my mate,” Amber defended, sounding frustrated.
”You’d do well to reject her, Amber. Some things leave unspeakable marks on a person and sometimes on many. Things that cannot be undone. Some fight are not worth fighting.”
I could feel Ambers body shaking and her wolf begging to come out. Carlos was telling her to reject her mate.
No wolf would accept that.
”Is it because she’s a girl?” Amber growled.
Carlos smiled softly and looked down on his feet before meeting Ambers gaze.
”I have known you like girls ever since you were a child. I saw the way you looked at some of the pack members. I hoped that you would find you mate one day and finally be your true self. But this, her,” he said and shook his head.
”You two can never be.”
Amber took a step towards him.
”I guess we’ll see about that,” she seethed before storming out.
***
”Hey, wait up!” I shouted after her as Amber ran across the pack border, Lydia was behind me and I guessed we were leaving my car behind. I looked behind me and saw my silver colored convertible standing in its spot. I groaned as I forced my body to run faster.
As i was closing in on Amber, she upped the anti and shifted the moment her feet stepped over the border.
”Seriously?” I groaned and turned my head to Lydia who was watching me with exasperation.
We both shifted and ran after Amber, sig-sacking amongst the trees and pushing our paws of the ground as we approached a steep end.
’Where the hell is she going?’
Home, Xena
We darted off with Lydia hot on our tail. Apparently Xena was faster, stronger and a lot bigger than most wolves, but Amber was an alfas daughter, meaning her wolf was nearly as powerful as mine.
’Avery, we’re nearing the Sliver Moon border’
Shit
I watched as Amber wolf ran in despair, releasing her frustration and anger with every move and every turn. She dug her claws into the ground and she got closer and closer to the border.
We were alias with the Silver Moon pack, but that doesn't mean they will appreciate our unauthorized visit.
we’re shifting
I said and we stopped.
I shifted back and rose my hands, harsh blows of wind encircling us. I looked to my side and saw Lydias Amber wolf hunched down, submitting.
I looked at her in confusion but knew I needed to stop Amber.
I moved my hands so that the wind kept her wolf unable from moving further.
We were merely meters away from the border and guards wouldn’t be far away.
”You’re not thinking straight!”
Ambers wolf turned and her eyes held mine in a challenging glare. Her teeth were bared and her head slightly lowered.
What the hell? I thought as I narrowed my eyes.
Was she questioning me?
My face softened as I looked into her wolf's enraged eyes.
She rose to her full height, pushing her chest out before finally bowing down and shifting back.
”Would you?” She asked me softly.
”Would you think straight if someone told you that you and James can never be together?” I dropped my hands to my sides, allowing the winds to subside. Her words hit my chest with a harsh sting.
”No, nor would I believe them.” I said as I walked over to Amber.
I sat down beside her and grabbed her hand.
”You and Malia have every chance of being together. We just need to find out the truth and I promise you, we will,” I said.
I tried squeezing her hand but my strength had run out. I hadn't practiced my magic much since the war and the lightest bit I did, drained me.
”Are you okay?” She asked me and squeezed my hand. I let out a small laugh as I looked down on our hands.
”I tried to do that,” I said and looked up at her through weighing lids.
Lydia cleared her throat beside us and both me and Amber turned to her.
”Sorry to ruin your little moment but um, we’re all naked and have no car,” she pointed out. Both mine and Ambers eyes grew wide at the realization.
Amber looked at me with a forgiving expression and I shook my head.
”No, nope-no way. I don't want to die today,” I said quickly.
”Who else can we call? He can come here and get us without making a fuss with the other packs.”
Lydia said.
”I don’t want my brother to see me naked but she’s right. We don't really have any other choice,”
Amber said.
”We could go back to your dad,” Lydia shook her head.
”No freaking way, there will be questions and people will see us naked. They want to keep my identity secret, remember?” I blew out a breath and hung my head.
”Damn it,”
Lydia had shifted and ran back to where we had all torn our clothes to shreds. She came back with our bags containing our cell phones.
She handed me my phone and I groaned as I saw the awaiting looks on their faces.
I dialed James’s number and cursed myself while I waited for an answer.
”Hello, love,” he said. His voice sounded weird.
”Hey, babe. So um, I was calling to check on what you were doing,” I said sweetly.
”Oh, so you didn't call about the fact that you left Carlos pack and abandoned your car?” I gulped.
”Yeah that too,” I blurted out.
”I’ll be right there. You guys need anything? Are you hungry?”
I closed my eyes and prayed for a fast death as I answered him.
”Some clothes maybe,” I said quietly.
The line went silent. Dead silent.
”What?” He growled and I winced.
”Are you naked?”
”Avery, answer me.” His voice was demanding.
”Yes,” I squeaked out.
I removed the phone from my ear and looked at the two girls beside me.
”He hung up,” I said as I placed my phone in my bag and pressed the bag against my bare chest.
”Was he mad?” Amber asked me.
”Oh no he wasn't mad, he said that it was no problem at all and that we should do this more often.” I answered her sarcastically.
”He’s pissed.” I shouted.
We sat in silence, awaiting James who would be here any second. There hadn't gone more than thirty minutes but something told me he was in a rush to get here.
”How come your wolf submitted earlier?” I asked Lydia.
”Because you’re powerful, both you and your wolf. You have this natural ’leader’ aura and it’s much more prominent when you shift.” She said.
”That’s why you need the Luna ceremony,” Amber pitched in. I looked at her, confused.
”My wolf was about to challenge you, Avery. That’s not okay. Regardless of my bloodline, our Luna is to be respected. But seeing as you haven't had your ceremonial initiation to the pack, you're not the Luna. I may be able to restrain my wolf, who loves you by the way, but not everyone can.” She said and that’s when it dawned on me, how important the Luna ceremony really is.
Thirty minutes later, a black SUV pulled up beside us. Lydia and Amber were both shaking, indicating that it wasn't just my mate that was present, it was our Alpha.
James stepped out and harshly slammed the door behind him. His chest was heaving, his body was rigid and he had grown to his fullest height. We all flew to our feet, covering ourselves up as two others jumped out. It was Alex and Jason. James growled and the guys looked away. I could see the rumbling of Alex’s shoulders from the hidden laughter. James came up to me, his stance was predatory and intimidating as he handed me the clothes. ”Put them on. Now.” I did as instructed and I don't believe I've ever gotten dressed so quickly before. I turned around and saw that Lydia and Amber were dressed too. I gave James a cheeky smile and an innocent glare as I stood there, rooted to my spot. He didn't look amused, if anything, he was about to shift and wreak havoc upon the woods. I placed my hand gently on his chest. James gripped my wrist the second it touched him and pulled me to him, making me slam into his front. ”Did anyone see you?” He asked me in a low growl. I shook my head s
As the men walked into the office, James turned around and faced me, stopping me from entering. ”If you don't mind, please, wait outside. I appreciate privacy in such meetings as these,” he said and raised his brows. I surpassed the urge to thank him and simply gave him a stiff nod, ignoring the glances from the Alpha I arrived with. The door closed and as I heard the lock being turned I quickly turned around and went for the stairs. As soon as I got there, the vision of the woman waiting downstairs was unbelievable. It was as though I was seeing her for the first time, mesmerized by her beauty all over again and I wondered if it would ever be different. I hoped not. Amber stood there, her eyes wide as saucers and before I could think, I ran down and wrapped my arms around her. ”You’re here,” she breathed and hugged me as tightly as I did her. If I could, I would spend the rest of my life in her arms. I pulled back and without a second thought, I slammed my lips on hers. Allo
"Your family is there too, apparently when Crow was done with them, they joined the Celestial Pack," "Jassmine," She breathed. "No, your sister is with your brother, they sent her away," I saw how Averys shoulders slumped and she relaxed knowing her little sister was safe. "That's good," The girls were in James’s office, talking to him and the Beta. I said that I'd rather stay in Averys room as I needed the rest. Being away from my home and close to Amber had brought on a sense of relief and wholeness I didn't know I needed. It also made me exhausted and wanting to catch up on the sleep I had been deprived of. As i laid in Averys bed, I quickly drifted of to sleep, much faster than I ever had before. I had taken a shower and gotten dressed in some clothes that my cousin had given me. I brushed my hair and took a long look in the mirror, barely recognizing the girl staring back at me. I sighed heavily before walking out of the room and down to the dining hall. ”Cousin, pl
~Avery~ I was sitting on the edge of the bed, thinking about the newcomers. James was in the shower and however hard I tried to keep my thoughts un-blurred, images of him standing naked as the water falls over him invaded my mind. The door opened up and my head turned to the God I call mate, standing with only a towel around his glorious hidden parts. I felt my breath hitch in my throat and licked my lips as they grew dry. The need was a savage. The urge to have him in me. He had been toying with me all day, making me wet and begging for more before leaving me to my own fantasies. It was his way of a punishment and it sure was painful.
It was unlike anything I had ever seen before. Whereas most werewolves' eyes turn yellow upon turning or when their wolves are in control, Malias were neon green. Xena braced herself, parting her legs and bowing slightly. She was standing in a fighting stance to make sure nothing happened. Malia shifted, she turned into a beautiful dark-grey wolf with white paws. She wasn't much smaller than me. Her wolf started tossing its head back and forth, it looked like they were fighting for control. I looked at Lydia and she walked up to Malias wolf. ”Malia, you need to stop fighting your wolf, you must trust her,” Lydia said. Soon enough her wolf relaxed
”Come one!” ”Harder, faster, better!” ”You fight like my nana, do it again!” I stood by the sidelines, watching the warriors prepare for battle and listening to my brothers' motivational words. I pinched the bridge of my nose and closed my eyes. I had a migraine growing fast and wanted to go find my mate. Avery had been busy with the preparations for the Luna ceremony. I knew she wasn't too stoked about that which was another reason why I had kept my distance. I didn’t want to look at her forced smiles and fake happiness. I wanted her to be genuinely happy about this. I wanted her to want this and not be forced into it.
~Malia~ James, Alex, Lydia, and I were sitting in the common area. Nobody else was there and we weren't doing anything particular. In fact, everyone sat in silence. The air around us was heavy, thick, and tense. I wanted to speak up but I knew that James was pissed about the events that occurred out in the woods. Both with the rogues but also my impromptu shifting and almost killing his mate. I waited. I sat there, completely still in my spot. The air grew thicker and I knew it was only a matter of time before I opened my mouth. I wanted him to go first. I didn't want to disrespect him. ”You can speak, you know,” my rampage of thoughts broke as James spoke. I shifted my gaze, looking at everyone else. I let out a heavy sigh and straightened my back. ”I’
She fell to the ground, a cloud of dust rising around us as she did. Her eyes were closing but before they did, five wolves were raised into the air and their necks were snapped. Two others flew onto the trees before falling down unconscious. Another four were backing away, whining with their heads down. The noises got lesser and lesser and Stella fought to keep her eyes open. The wolves that were backing away were whining loudly as every bone in their body broke. They were shifting back, slowly, painfully.They were being tortured. Several others had escaped but those that were left were in agony. They shifted back, screaming in their human forms as they turned and