Chapter 5.

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. Allowing my senses to take complete control.

I wanted to remember everything, every touch, every feeling, every scent, and every taste. Amber parted her lips and I took the opportunity to take taste her in every way possible. Ambers hand tangled in my hair, pressing us closer together.

Someone cleared their throat beside us and suddenly reality was back.

I pulled back and looked to my side, I could feel my cheeks burning and my nerves jumbling within me.

”Hi, Malia,” it was Avery. I looked awkwardly at her as she opened her arms.

I giggled and embraced her in my arms, holding on tight and relishing in the warmth she exuded.

”It’s nice to see you again, Avery,” I said.

”You too,” Amber cleared her throat behind me and I pulled back. She was looking at me with a raised brow and her arms crossed over her chest. I tilted my head to the side, before grabbing her hand and feeling the fireworks from her touch.

”Malia!” Someone yelled and before I could make out who it was, I was nearly knocked to the floor.

I looked up and saw Lydias amber-colored hair swaying behind her.

”Hi,” I said in a giggle.

”You’ve been missed,” Lydia said.

I felt the warmth from her words, and the eyes of everyone holding me still with love.

Such an unusual feeling but something I could get used to, I hoped.

”As have all of you,” I said.

”What are you doing here?” Amber asked me. I stiffened before noticing her worried look as she felt me through our hands.

”I’m uh, I'm here with another pack,”

”The Silver Moon pack?” Avery asked.

I nodded my head.

”Are you with them?”

”No, I’m,” what was I supposed to say? The truth?

I couldn’t, because you couldn't say one truth and leave all the others out.

”Malia,” I turned around and saw James standing on the top of the stairs, accompanied by Alex and the Alpha and Beta of the Silver Moon pack.

”Yes, Alpha,” i said and clasped my hands behind my back.

”Alpha Matthias would like to have a word.” I bowed my head and started walking up the stairs, not bothering to look back. If word got to my family that Amber Knight was my mate or that I was friends with wolves from the Red Moon pack, we were all dead.

”Alpha?” I said as we walked down the corridor to a more secluded area.

”I take it you are staying,” he said.

I gulped, not sure what to do with his words.

”Alpha-”

”It’s okay, Malia. Take your time here, be with your friends. If your family asks, you are with me and we will return once the job is over. You have nothing to worry about,” a warm feeling spread through me upon hearing his words and what he was prepared to do for a girl he didn't know.

”They cannot know,” I said. My voice sounded desperate and small.

”They won’t, you have my word. When you’re ready to go back, just give me a call and we’ll go there together,”

”Why are you doing this for me?” I asked him.

He took a step closer to me and placed a hand on my shoulder.

”Because you're one of us, and you remind me of a young man I used to know,”

”Who?”

”Me,” he said.

I smiled and bowed my head.

”Thank you so much,”

Matthias was about to leave but stopped and turned around.

”Who you were before, has no business in who you are today.” He bowed his head and met my gaze with a shining smile.

* * *

”Really, those colors?” I asked Avery as we were gathered in her room, looking at what they had planned for her Luna ceremony. She dropped the samples and let out a small growl as she threw them on the bed.

Everyone started laughing.

”Told ya!” Lisa said.

Avery stuck her tongue out and I leaned to the side, placing my head on Ambers shoulder.

”You guys are so cute together,” Trish cooed.

”Yeah, i can't believe none of us knew you like girls,” I frowned and found myself growling unknowingly.

”Not girls, me, she likes me.” I said.

I felt the rumble from Amber's shoulder as they bobbed up and down from a peal of quiet laughter.

”Yes, just you,” she said with sincerity and turned to me, placing a soft kiss on my lips. 

”Why don't we go for a run?” Lisa asked.

”Yeah and when we get back we can reconsider the color pallets,” Lydia said and scratched the back of her head.

I gulped and shifted uncomfortably in my seat.

”You guys suck,” Avery said and crossed her arms over her chest. She turned her head and her gaze met mine.

”What’s wrong?” She asked me.

My eyes widened slightly.

”Nothing,” I said and shook my head.

Everyone had gone silent and was watching me, making me squirm in my seat.

’You can tell them’

Delilah said quietly in my head. Her voice sounded weak and ashamed.

”Malia?” I looked at Amber and saw her awaiting gaze on me.

”I, um,”

”Hey, it’s okay, whatever it is,” she said and grabbed my hand.

”I don't have control over my wolf,” I blurted out. They all looked shocked, understandably so.

”How is that possible?” Because I've never had the chance to practice. I thought but didn't say. I couldn't let them know, not yet.

”It doesn't matter. Whenever you're ready, you will tell us. We won't pressure you,” Amber said and rubbed circles with her thumb on the back of my hand.

I smiled and leaned in, placing a soft kiss on her lips, desperately wanting more and to get closer but there were a lot of people here.

”If you guys want, you can go running,” I said. I didn't want to ruin anything for them.

”And risk you not being here when we get back? I don't think so,” Avery said.

I saw the eery look on her face as she looked around, there was something Avery wanted to talk about but she clearly didn't want everyone to know. 

”We’ll see you guys later,” Lisa and Trish said as they took their leave. I looked around in shock and saw Amber smiling at me.

When the door closed, Avery grabbed a chair and sat in front of the bed.

”What’s wrong?” I asked her.

”I hope you don’t take offense, but we need to know about your cousin,” I imagined they would.

”Raven,” I said, smiling as I mentioned her name.

”Yes,”

”What do you want to know?” I asked them.

Avery looked at Lydia before turning back to me.

”Everything,” she said.

”Raven is the only one who never saw me as an abomination or disgrace to the family name. She loved me, through everything. We have always been close, ever since we were children and that was a long time ago,” I said and saw the confused looks on their faces.

I laughed and licked my lips.

”Vampires age differently. They don’t count the years as others do. One year for you guys is five for a vampire. Raven is twenty-three human years, but 115 ’real’ years.” They gasped and their eyes grew wide.

”Holy shit,” Amber breathed.

”Yeah, so we’ve known each other a long time,” I said and nodded my head.

”But does that mean that you’re,” Avery started off and gestured with her hands while squeezing her mouth shut.

”No, or yes. The thing is, I was turned into a werewolf when I was five. So technically ever since then, I've aged like you. Technically I'm forty-eight years old,” I said and cringed a bit. But they weren't bothered, they didn't act shocked even if they were.

”Damn, I'm dating an older woman,” Amber said and smirked. My smile grew wide.

”A really hot older woman,” Lydia said and nodded her head.

”Watch it,” Amber warned her.

Lydia rolled her eyes and their attention was back on me.

”Me and Raven, as I said, were always close. When her mom passed away, she grew cold and distant from most people. Her mother was the only one who ever showed her warmth in our family, I loved her like my own. When I was turned, some things happened but every chance I got, I went to see her. When Raven went to live with the Whitlock boys, we lost contact for a while and when she came back, she killed her father and took the throne.”

”She killed her father?” The shock was now very much visibly on all three of them. I guess I said that a little too easily, but they didn't know him.

”He had it coming, he was a terrible man. How much do you know about the New Orleans Clan?” I asked them.

They all shook their heads and I proceeded to tell them what the Clan had done before Raven took over.

They were seething in anger, nearly baring their canines but luckily they could control their wolves.

”You’re right, he had it coming,” Amber said through seething teeth.

”Does Raven know about you and Amber?” Avery asked me.

”Yes, after the war, when I left, I went to see her. I needed her help because there is no way we can do this on our own.” Avery looked shocked, as did the others.

”And she agreed to help?” Amber asked me in disbelief.

”She did, but first she wanted to find out some more information. She wasn't thrilled that my mate was a Knight, but she also knew I wouldn't back down from being with you, and if a war was the only way then so be it,” I said softly.

”She would do anything for me,” I said.

”What if she gets hurt?” Amber asked me.

I laughed, thinking that she was joking but as I looked around at their confused faces I realized they didn't know. I wondered if anyone knew.

I drew down my brows and looked up at them through my lashes.

”Raven can't be killed,” I said softly.

None of them spoke, all in their own state of shock.

”Raven is a descendant of the first-ever vampire. With time, they have grown stronger and more powerful. Raven holds more power than any of those before her. A simple stake can't kill her, neither can fire nor the sun,” I said.

”What can?” Lydia asked me but her eyes widened and her hands flew out.

”Oh my goddess, I didn't mean-”

”That’s alright. I couldn't tell you even if I wanted to, I honestly have no idea.” I said with a smile.

”We need to tell James all of this, we thought that Raven would be against us,”

”She has been, for many years, but she’s coming around. I want you guys to know the truth,” I said and straightened my back.

”During the war with Crow, I was with the Celestial pack and my mission wasn't just to fight you, it was to kill you, they wanted all the Knights dead.” I said.

”The war with Crow may be over, but there is another one coming. And considering what has been happening, I don't think this war will be easily won. Not only does the Celestial pack want you dead, but we are starting a war with the vampires as well. This will be greater than anything any of us have ever faced and I need to know for certain that you are all willing to go through with it.”

I said and looked at all three of them.

They looked between each other, worry evident on them all. They needed to know.

”Why is the Celestial pack after us?” Amber asked me.

”For the same reason any pack fights another. Power. Your pack is the most powerful one in the country and to them, that’s a threat and a craving. They want you dead because without a Knight to rule this pack, it would fall apart and they would build it as they pleased,”

"Uhm," Avery looked at Lydia and Amber before fixating her gaze back at me, she was playing with her hands and was visibly uncomfortable.

"Is Chase with the Celestial Pack?" 

I slowly nodded my head and felt such pity for Avery. Chase's job had been to befriend Avery, make her trust him, and then if the plan didn't work on the battlefield, his job was to either incapacitate her or kill her. 

"Yes, I'm sorry, Avery, for everything he did to you. He is with them and will most likely fight next time too, and there is one other thing,"

Averys' head snapped up and her ears perked. 

"Your family is there too, apparently when Crow was done with them, they joined the Celestial Pack,"