{~~Ava Sterling~~}When I left this dump, I fully expected it to crash and burn without me. I pictured the chaos, the people falling to the ground in despair, sobbing, begging for me to come back and restore order. Rex was supposed to be my sure thing—my lover, my partner, my everything. We were happy at the start, a whole nine months of bliss, but it didn't take long for things to start shifting. I was just trying to chase happiness, and for a while, I thought I’d found it with him. Don’t I deserve that much? To be happy?But of course, life had other plans. My fucking twin, who’s never had anything good happen to her, is suddenly swimming in all this attention—and it’s all because of me. All because I couldn’t just settle with Logan. He was steady, reliable, and probably the best choice, but no—I had to go after Rex, thinking he was my true love, the one who’d complete me. How fucking naive. The only thing true about what Rex feels for me is how he uses me. The women around us—they
{~~Avery Sterling~~}After lunch with Logan, I headed up to the room where Ava was being held, so I could get this conversation out of the way. I was nervous when I first opened the door until I saw her. Pitiful. This girl used to bully me? How? I have two degrees, and I can work under any medic alpha in the world. Why in the name of god did I let that bully me?"Go away. I don’t wanna see you."She raised an eyebrow and took me in- i was doing the exact same thing to her but while I’m sure she could see me being my best self... she didn’t look just as good as I remember her. Her gaze sharp and assessing, lingering on me with an intensity would have made me squirm if she wasn’t as pale as a ghost. I mirrored her, my eyes raking over her in return. Has she really changed this much in the last six years? She used to be so confident, so striking. But now… Now, she’s a shadow of what she once was. Her hair, once thick and lustrous, now hangs limp, as if life has drained out of it. Her onc
{~~Avery Sterling~~}After Gareth applied some ice to his genital area, I took him to my office so he could sit.“I’m so sorry for that. I get scared easily these days.”“I get it. I would be the same way if something that bad had happened to me.”I nodded, sitting behind my desk. “um, may I ask why you’re here? I think logan is in surgery.” Gareth shook his head, then he lifted the brown back he had on his shoulder and placed it on the table.“Ryan and the tech team did a deep dive on the locations you sent for some factory. It’s not a factory anymore. That place has been turned into a homeless shelter, which Ryan says the owner of the factory said he didn’t sell it. We haven’t gone to ask or interrogate the person who runs this shelter. Ryan doesn’t want to spook them. But he has people watching them. And the wolf king’s guards are arriving tonight. So after meeting with them, he’ll decide on what to do. But every pregnant woman that has been admitted to this hospital is under hot w
{~~Logan Grey~~}Work ended at seven pm for me. I addressed the staff and told everyone to take protection in the form of anything but a gun. So if they’re attacked they’d be able to defend themselves. We’ve upped the cameras. Now all I need is for Avery to come with me. We’re not going home this time. I mean, we are. But I’m taking her out to dinner. A nice place, so I can woo her.I dug my fingers into my pockets, calming the feelings roaring within me. The deal with our world is our lack of reliance on our wolves. But that is different for the people are the north, and the wolf king. Guns? No, why would they use any of those when they can shift and use their animals?I feel like that plays a role in why he’s still king, and his people are strong. We have built a dynamic, placed everyone into a particular box and just told ourselves that this is the only way to go.I’m saying this due to Darren’s situation, and the lack of mating rituals in our lives. To be fair, not all werewolves
{~~Logan Grey~~}I waited for her to speak but she was quiet until we got into the car."Love is tricky," she began, her voice soft yet weighted with the complexities of the subject. The very mention of love sent a pang through my chest, a sensation that only deepened as she continued. "Holding a person, or even two people, down to a mating bond... it's a concept that dances on the edge of what some might consider twisted." I could feel my heart sink as she spoke, a heaviness settling in my gut that was impossible to ignore."Mates," she said, the word hanging in the air like a delicate thread, "means two people the gods themselves have deemed to be perfect for one another, two souls intertwined in a way that transcends mortal understanding. It's a connection that is said to be forged in the heavens, an unbreakable bond that pulls these two individuals together across time and space, across lifetimes. It’s a love that is supposed to be pure, untainted by the world's harsh realities. B
{~~Avery Sterling~~}I drank some coffee and dressed in long black tights, a fitted long shirt, and some high-heeled sneakers. Logan said we were connecting with nature, it’s dark but a full moon is out and I’m eager to be under it. Shifting into my wolf, and hunting. Not animals, oh god no. Hunting.... okay, so maybe animals like deer. But since we don’t live in an area where they migrate then perhaps we’ll hunt whatever we see.I don’t know how this works, but I’m super excited. We’re driving to the park where the event is being held and spending the night in one of the cabins. We’ll return tomorrow morning. We packed clothes for the next day, pajamas and more. Have I mentioned I’m excited? Can you believe what we’ll be doing?Incredible.A couple’s event. Once we arrived I took in the view of the campsite. Gosh, only twenty couples are allowed each night. They don’t allow you to stay for more than two days unless you pay the premium. How did Logan get us in on short notice?He prob
{~~Avery Sterling~~}The cave was an exhilarating experience, unlike anything I had ever imagined. Swimming around, having a blast together even though there were others and we were naked. I haven’t stopped smiling since i started.But as much as the cave intrigued me, the highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the time spent around the enormous bonfire. The flames leaped high into the night sky, their crackling sounds like a chorus of whispers sharing tales of the past. The firelight bathed everything in a warm, golden glow, creating an atmosphere of camaraderie and comfort. It was here, under the vast expanse of the night sky, that we truly connected with the other couples. We shared stories, laughed at each other's jokes, and indulged in the simple pleasure of roasting marshmallows over the open flames. The sticky sweetness of the marshmallows melting into gooey perfection as they browned in the fire's embrace was a joy that never grew old. There was something magical about this
{~~Logan Grey~~}We made the slow, silent walk back to our cabins, the crisp air of the forest cool against our fur. As the trees thinned out, we shifted back into our human forms, the transformation leaving us both nude under the moonlight. I couldn't tear my eyes away from her, the way her skin seemed to glow softly in the dim light, her hair a wild cascade down her back. She looked like she belonged out here, away from the suffocating confines of the town, even if just for a night. I knew she needed this. A break. An escape."Go get in the shower," I told her, my voice gentle but firm. "I'll order us something decent for lunch." As fun, as sitting around a campfire, talking, and eating s'mores might be, it wasn't real food. We needed our energy, and more importantly, she needed her energy. She nodded, her eyes flicking up to meet mine before she walked into the cabin.I picked up the phone, my fingers dialing the number for the kitchen. The chef answered promptly, his voice deep an