CALLUMI was left standing there dumbfounded when Ava left. The looks on Oscar, Noah and Theo’s faces said they had exactly the same thoughts.“Dad,” I asked. “What is Ava? How… Why can she…”“That’s a question for Ava, son. But as she tried to tell you, she doesn’t need to go to the hospital, wolfsbane doesn’t affect her.” He sighed, turning back to Alpha Jacob. “You and I should probably go and apologise to her, Alpha.”Alpha Jacob nodded, sighing too. “We fucked up, she’s going to be pissed, and rightly so. Her power when she commanded you was something else… I know I would have had trouble resisting if it had been focused on me.” He groaned.“Yeah, I had no chance of resisting that command, Alpha,” dad replied.“If she doesn’t forgive us, we’re going to have to come up with a plan to back her up because she’ll tackle this on her own.”“Wait, Ava commanded you, dad?”He nodded, a scowl on his face.“Boys, why don’t you go down for lunch and make sure Ava is okay? Beta Alexander and
AVAJacob and Alex never did really calm down enough to talk about the rogue problem like grownups. I tried, but Alex and I just had an argument again.Now, I just wanted to drown my sorrows in alcohol, and there were six lovely people I wanted to do that with.The Super SevenAva: I feel like dancing. Who wants to come to the club with me tonight?Izzie: I’ll be there! I miss you, sweetcheeks.Callum: Of course we’ll be there, little one.Theo: Dinner at the pack house first?Ava: I’d rather not, I’ll be honest.Oscar: We can help keep dad and Alpha Jacob away from you if you want us to, Ava.Ava: Oscar, I’m not asking any of you to join the side of an argument against Alpha Jacob and Beta Alexander. If you do that, you’re declaring for me, and there’s no going back from that.That would give them something to think about. At this point, the Alpha and Beta of this pack had acknowledged me as an Alpha in my own right, and therefore our wolves really would see this as taking sides. Sin
AVAThe relief I felt at having made up with Beta Alexander was enormous. Having your second in command fighting with someone that is your equal and like your daughter can’t be easy. As much as Alpha Jacob did need to apologise too, my biggest problem was definitely Beta Alexander.“Ava,” Callum called out from behind me. I turned to see the entire group on the front steps of the pack house. “Are you ready to go?”I nodded, turning back to Alpha Jacob and Beta Alexander. “I’ll catch up with you two tomorrow,” I said, voice low enough that the twins, Leo and Izzie couldn’t hear. “We need to work out how to deal with those rogues before someone gets hurt in the crossfire.”They both nodded. “I agree, Alpha,” Alpha Jacob replied. “Have fun tonight, tomorrow, we’ll crack on with this.”I gave them both a small smile before turning to walk towards the group.Callum and Oscar immediately threw their arms around my shoulders, wedging me in between them. Of course Noah and Theo were jealous,
CALLUMI couldn’t believe that not only was I dancing with Ava on my own and that she had specifically asked for just me, but that she’d trusted me enough to bite her mating spot.When she whimpered as my teeth sunk into her neck, the scent of her arousal suddenly hit me, leaving me harder than I’ve ever been, my cock now pressing against her ass. Her breathing was heavy as she let her head fall back on my shoulder, her neck still exposed beautifully to me. I ran my tongue over the bite mark that was already healing, enjoying how much she squirmed against me as I teased the sensitive flesh.I moved my hands back to her hips, encouraging her to start dancing in front of me again. OSCARNothing had ever driven me crazy like the sight of my brother biting Ava’s mating spot; Theo and Noah were definitely in the same position.I stalked towards them where they danced, enjoying the blissed out look on Ava’s face and the smug smirk on Callum’s.Ava’s eyes widened when I appeared in front o
AVAAlex was sitting in the living room when Oscar, Callum and I got back to theirs. “You better be up for training tomorrow morning, Ava!” he shouted after me as we walked past.“Of course, Alex. Knocking you on your ass is the highlight of my day.”He snorted with laughter.He swapped to the mindlink before replying. “Please shut the door this time, I don’t need to see that again.”As soon as we were in the twins bedroom, Callum had me pressed against the wall, his mouth teasing its way down my neck with teeth, tongue and lips. I groaned when he licked over his bite mark from earlier, and cried out in pleasure when he pinched my nipples through my dress.“You’re going to have to be quieter than that, little one,” Callum whispered. “I’d hate for someone to hear when we make you scream.”“If you can make me scream,” I whispered, my voice breathy.“Is that a challenge, Alpha?” he growled in my ear. “Like you, I don’t back down from a challenge.”“Well then,” I replied. “Make me scream
AVAI was still sore the next morning when I got up for my run with Alex. At least this time he knew I was there from the beginning, so he even had a cup of coffee waiting for me.I took it gladly. “This is why you’re my favourite, Alex,” I sighed contently as I sipped the coffee.“I’m gonna pretend I didn’t hear that, Princess,” Callum had suddenly appeared behind me, Oscar just behind him.I turned and smirked in their direction. “Are you two joining us for training this morning?”They both nodded. “Theo and Noah are meeting us at the training ground too, and Izzie and Leo might be, depending on what time Leo wakes up.”I rolled my eyes, before turning back to Alex. “Shall we run to the training grounds, Alex?”He raised one eyebrow. “All fours or by foot?”“Mmmm…” I pretended to think about it. “All fours.”“That’s not fair!” Callum shouted.“All’s fair in love and war.” I stood, pressing a chaste kiss to his lips before turning to leave the room, winking at Oscar on my way past.A
THEOSeeing Ava like that broke my heart. It made the Alpha in me want to wrap her up and protect her, despite the fact I knew she was more than capable of defending herself, and that she was already a much stronger Alpha than I’d ever be.I could see the same pained expression on everyone else’s faces as we waited for the doctor to finish cleaning out the bite on Ava’s arm and discharge her. By the time it was done, every other bruise and cut on her body had healed. Even her ribs were well on the way to being healed; according to the doctor, they probably would be within 24 hours.Once Ava was discharged and dressed, we all headed off to Beta Alex’s room. He was in worse shape than Ava, he didn’t heal as well.“Fuck, Alex,” Ava whispered, sitting on his bed next to him. “I heal better than you, why did you jump into that?! You could have just picked them off from the outside, you didn’t need to jump right into the middle of the bundle.”“I couldn’t leave you to do it on your own, Ava
AVAI winced at Callum’s voice. I knew the situation couldn’t be avoided, we had to talk about it sooner or later. But that didn’t mean I wanted to.I let my eyes fall closed as I sat back in my chair.“You’ve now all seen the scars on my back and my legs,” I started, voice low. “Since I’ve had my wolf since I was thirteen, I assume you’ve all put two and two together to say that the scars are from before I had Artemis.”They all nodded.“I came here as an orphan when I was nine, as you all know. Even then, Artemis was protecting us by hiding her scent. Even before you shift for the first time, all werewolves smell like werewolves, it’s just less distinctive. Because Artemis can shield our scent, it was like I didn’t have one. That led to people assuming that actually my adoptive parents had taken in a human or a cursed child. I was bullied incessantly for that, and it’s not like Artemis or I could do anything about it because I couldn’t talk to her until I was thirteen.”I stood, wal
AVAI sank into the plush armchair, my body feeling like lead. The room was dimly lit, shadows dancing on the walls as the fireplace crackles softly. Oscar lay on the chaise lounge nearby, his chest rising and falling steadily. Relief washed over me, but it was tinged with a lingering anxiety that refused to dissipate."How are you feeling, love?" Theo's voice broke through my thoughts.I met his concerned gaze, and I knew my eyes were full of pain. "Like I've been hit by a truck, then run over by a train for good measure."A weak chuckle escaped Oscar's lips. "That's my girl, always with the colourful descriptions."My heart clenched. He nearly died saving me, and there he was, still trying to make me smile. I reached out, grasping his hand tightly. "We need to talk about what happened," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.Callum leaned against the mantle, his jaw clenched. "Agreed. We can't let something like this happen again."I could feel the weight of their worry, their lov
AVAI couldn't bear it anymore. The pain of feeling Oscar slipping away was too much. With a surge of desperate strength, I pushed against Theo's chest. "Let me go," I choked out, my voice barely above a whisper.Theo's arms loosened, surprise flashing across his face. I took advantage of his momentary hesitation and scrambled away, my legs giving out as I reached Oscar's side. I collapsed to my knees, my hand finding his."Oscar," I whispered, squeezing his fingers. They felt so cold. Too cold. "Don't you dare leave me."I could feel our bond stretching, thinning like a gossamer thread about to snap. Panic clawed at my throat. This couldn't be happening. Not after everything we'd been through."Ava," Callum's deep voice c
CALLUMI could feel Theo's anger radiating off him in waves as we strode down the dimly lit corridor toward Sera's cell. My own fury simmered just beneath the surface, barely contained."Remember, we need information," I said, my voice low and tight. "Don't let her provoke you."Theo's jaw clenched. "I'll try."As we approached the heavy iron door, I took a deep breath, steeling myself. The guard unlocked it with a harsh clang that echoed off the stone walls.Sera sat on a narrow cot, her raven hair tumbling over her shoulders. Those unnerving violet eyes locked onto us as we entered."Well, well," she purred. "To what do I owe the pleasure of a royal visit?"
OSCARI couldn’t tear my eyes away from Ava's lifeless gaze as the healers swarmed around us like agitated bees. The scent of herbs and magic hung thick in the air, mingling with the acrid tang of fear emanating from my brothers and me. My fingers tightened around Ava's limp hand, desperately seeking some flicker of response."Damn it, why isn't anything working?" I growled, frustration boiling over as another potion fails to elicit even a twitch from our mate.Noah placed a steadying hand on my shoulder. "They're doing everything they can, Oscar. We have to be patient."Patient? How could I be patient when the love of my life is lying there like an empty shell? The urge to lash out, to find that witch and tear her apart with my bare hands, was nearly overwhelming.
AVAThe moon's absence cast an eerie darkness over the ritual circle, the air thick with anticipation and the scent of herbs. I took a deep breath, steadying myself as I stepped into the silver-etched boundary of the circle, my heart pounding against my ribs like a caged bird. Sera's violet eyes gleamed in the flickering candlelight, her raven hair seeming to absorb the shadows around us. I could feel the tension radiating from my Kings through our bond, their worry and love intertwining with my own determination."Are you ready to begin, Your Majesty?" Sera's melodic voice carried an undercurrent of excitement that set my nerves on edge.I swallowed hard, casting a glance at my mates. Callum's jaw was clenched, his blue eyes stormy with concern. Theo's hands were balled into fists at his sides, while Noah's gaze was fix
AVAI bolted upright, a scream tearing from my throat. The room spun, shadows dancing in the dim light of dawn. My heart pounded, sweat plastering my nightgown to my skin."Ava!" Noah's voice, thick with sleep, cut through my panic. His strong arms encircled me, pulling me against his chest. "It's okay, love. You're safe."I couldn’t stop shaking, the nightmare's grip still tight around my mind. The empty crib, the hollow ache in my arms - it felt so real."The nightmare again?" Theo asked softly, his hand finding mine in the tangle of blankets.I nodded, unable to speak past the lump in my throat. Oscar shifted closer, his warmth a comforting presence at my back. Callum's fingers brushed my cheek, wiping away tears I hadn't realised I'd shed."Talk to us, Ava," Callum urged gently.I took a shuddering breath. "It was... worse this time. I could hear a baby crying, but no matter
AVAThe library door crept open, and Theo stepped in, his blue eyes immediately finding mine. My heart rate picked up as he approached, his muscular frame taut with tension."Ava," he breathed, sinking into the chair beside me. His large hand engulfed mine, calloused fingers tracing soothing circles on my skin.I swallowed hard, bracing myself. "Theo, I—""Wait," he interrupted gently. "Let me speak first, please."I nodded, biting my lip.Theo took a deep breath. "I understand how much you want this. Truly, I do. The thought of having a child with you... it's something I've dreamed about." His voice broke slightly. "But Ava, the risks..."
AVADays passed, and the tension in the castle grew as thick as the snow piling outside. I could feel it in every glance, every touch from my Kings. They were worried, and I couldn’t blame them. But I couldn’t let this go, either.I was poring over ancient tomes in the library when Sera glided in, her presence as ethereal as ever. "Any luck, Your Majesty?" she asked.I shook my head, frustration bubbling up inside me. "Nothing. Not a single mention of the Fertility Invocation outside of what you've told us."Sera's lips curved into a sympathetic smile. "It's an ancient and rare ritual, My Queen. Few have the knowledge or power to attempt it."Her words sent a chill down my spine, both thrilling and terrifying. I closed the book before me, dust motes dancing in the air. "Tell me more," I whispered, my heart racing.Sera leaned in, her voice low and intense. "Think of it, Avelina. A chi
AVAThe howling wind outside the castle walls mirrored the turmoil in my mind as I stared out the frost-covered window. Days have passed, and the relentless snowstorm showed no signs of abating. I pressed my palm against the icy glass, feeling the chill seep into my bones."My Queen," a guard's voice cut through my thoughts. "There's someone at the gates seeking refuge."I turned, eyebrows raised. "In this weather? Who would be mad enough to travel?"As if in answer, the doors to the great hall burst open, a gust of snow and a cloaked figure blowing straight into the castle. The hood fell back, revealing a woman with raven-black hair and piercing violet eyes."Greetings, Your Majesty," she said, her voice as smooth as silk