Five

AVENA

The room was dimly illuminated, the chandelier at the center supplying most of the light in the room. There was a long table with chairs where a total of eleven shifters at the Alpha pack meeting sat. Six of them sat facing each other at the table, four sitting opposite each other and two at each end of the table. Five except one, had the remaining five shifters sitting behind them and I was guessing that was their betas. This made me wonder who the last person without a beta was.

The Alpha who sat at one end of the table and had maintained an expressionless face spoke first, "To what do we owe this unusual honor, Alpha Slade? You haven't attended an Alpha pack meeting in the past six years."

"And he seems to have brought company," Another one with long unkempt beards uttered with a head nod in our direction.

Uncle Gray stepped forward, clasping both his hands behind him, "If most of you didn't have hidden grudges and were a bit well mannered, I would have considered it." He clapped back.

The Alphas shifted uncomfortably in their seat while shooting him some snarls and dirty looks.

It looked like he had hit a nerve.

I bit back a laugh. Uncle Gray was kind of cool and it gave me a sense of pride to be related to him.

"I have a special announcement to make today," He continued in an unbothered tone. "My niece and daughter of the late Alpha, the same Alpha who had been falsely accused of murder ten years ago, has returned. Together with her Aunt whom had kept her safe all these years."

Another Alpha banged a clenched fist on the table just as others stared at me, "We told you that is a forbidden topic to speak about." He thundered.

Uncle Gray remained calm, "Alpha of the shadowhaul pack, I bear the same rank with you and will not tolerate any disrespect even for as little as in your tone."

This was getting interesting.

The Alpha let out a huge breath and relaxed into his seat shooting glares at me. He seemed to be hotheaded.

"Her name is Avena Slade and her aunt, Mona Slade. My niece shall go to Crescent Claw High starting on Monday. I don't want the kids messing with her or saying absurb things that you must have told them. If anyone tries any funny stunt with my niece, I won't fail to retaliate." Uncle Gray concluded.

Some of them laughed and some others exchanged glances. Some didn't look like they cared at all. The one without a beta gave me a little smile and nodded.

"Are you threatening us and our children, Alpha Slade?" One of the Alphas who had a small stature compared to the others spoke up.

Sage grunted. Let's show these people what we're made of. I rolled my eyes at her. Didn't she feel the auras coming from them? They were freaking Alphas and Betas. How did she want to face this much people at the same time and win?

Uncle Gray shrugged. "It's just like I said. Discipline your kids, Pack and yourselves so I don't have to do all the work."

"Speaking of a forbidden topic is one thing. But insulting all of us here is something else." It was the Alpha whom sat at the edge of the table.

"I've only passed a little message Alpha Langston. Don't misinterpret me." Uncle Gray said to him.

An Alpha, with long silver hair that stood out among others locked eyes with me, "You," He said. His voice low and his gaze piercing. "Do you carry that Nyxian curse with you as well?"

My gaze was fixed upon him and he returned it with a sly smile. The only thing I knew was that I was taking a step forward before uncle Gray intervened.

He shook his head, "Your eyes are blue now Avena." It was only then I realized Sage had taken over in a swift. Faster than she had ever.

He turned to Aunt Mona. "Head to the car and give me a few minutes. I'll be right out. Let me take care of this."

With that Aunt Mona and I left the room feeling the weight of countless pair of eyes boring into our backs.

"They know how powerful Sir Gray is and they're being careful with their words. Well except for the Ironclaw pack Alpha who decided to be goofy," Aunt Mona told me referring to the one who had spoken last.

"Really?"

"Yeah," She replied. "He's the most powerful Alpha in the UPC."

"Then what's uncle Gray going to do to him?" I asked feeling Sage finally settling down meaning my eye colour had gone back to being brown.

She laughed. "Hopefully nothing that requires a pack war to happen before it gets resolved."

I nodded looking away. This feeling was kind of strange. Having someone that wasn't Aunt Mona stand up for me made me feel this way. But I guess I had to start getting used to it.

We then made a turn which led us away from the meeting building.

"Mona?!" A female voice called grasping our attention and aunt Mona shrilled diving into a deep hug with her. I guessed they knew themselves. As they chatted away, I kept on walking not bothering to socialize.

I had only walked for some seconds before the cedarwood scent flooded back and footsteps came from behind me.

I stopped in my track and spun around, coming face to face with the guy I'd been seeing around all day. He stepped closer and a familiar set of blue eyes stared back at me drowning me into them. Sage's excitement was through the roof flowing through me like an electric spark, my heart drumming in my ears and heat rushing over me.

He was towering over me, his broad shoulders and toned muscles quite obvious from under his t-shirt. He had thick black perfectly styled hair and his face was defined with the most attractive features that I couldn't help but get lost in them.

He looked awfully familiar and desperacy took over me as I tried to remember who he was.

Touch him to confirm the bond you!! We are not letting him go. Sage sang disrupting my thoughts.

"Avena Slade." He said, his voice attractive yet his tone devoid of emotion. It made me uncertain at what exactly he was conveying through it.

I shot up an eyebrow at him. "And you're?"

He gave a dismissive scoff, "Still dumb as always and forgetful."

That clicked and my eyes shot open as I recognized that sentence. The only boy who called me dumb each time he saw me when we were younger. The same one who somehow along the way I had developed the biggest crush on years back.

"Langston," I shot out. "You're Isaac Langston."