{~~Avery Sterling~~}The shower I took was a blur to me, I was already feeling like I wasn’t enough, and I couldn’t give him the hundred percent of myself. I leaned my head up against the shower wall, letting my brain calm down. I want Logan to see the girl I’ve become. But just like Darren, I feel like whether Ava is here or not people will always compare us. It doesn’t matter what I say, or do, these people knew Ava. They loved Ava, I’m going to need to let time change Logan’s mind.I finally turned off the shower and stepped out. I contemplated toweling off but didn’t have the emotional strength to make my body do anything other than to walk. So I walked, leaving a trail of wet spots as I made my way to Logan’s room. He was on his bed, tapping something on his phone.He wore black boxers, and nothing else. I stood by the door, hoping he would change his mind when he saw the state I was in. He turned his head upwards, finally glancing at me. His eyes locked with my own. The stormy g
{~~Avery Sterling~~}It started to rain. At some point, I can’t really tell you when. Or what time it was when the rain started to pour. But the sun had finally risen fully. From the cliff edge, the view would have been delightful, but I paid no attention to the heavy drizzle. The water pelted my face, getting my hair mixed in with the mud. I blinked only once before shutting my eyes.That was about two hours ago, then footsteps could be heard approaching my area. I didn’t bother moving, changing my position, or even giving evidence that I was alive. It was the scent that got into my nose that alerted me to finally shift my body.I rolled onto my knees and lifted my lashes. I glanced at the figure as he approached. Logan. What is he doing here in the middle of the rain?He could get sick.“Do I have to tell you not to lay out in the fucking rain? Especially without your watch. How would I have reached you? Imagine if you were seriously hurt.”I tilted my head to the right side. His wo
{~~Avery Sterling~~}Yuiko was grateful to see me, but she could barely talk. Having used up all her energy to scream in the storm. I brought my bag forward, carefully working the piece of wood off her body. I cut my palm in the process but at least the log is now resting beside her as opposed to it previously being on her. I quickly wrapped my hand and worked on checking her body.Broken ribs, and hip. Shit, I can’t treat this. She’ll need the medic alpha. Which means I have to carry her out of this place back to her house. Oh dear goddess, save me. I got to my feet a second time, but I wobbled. The dizziness returned in full force. I pulled out the emergency pills from the side of the first aid bag.“Here, take two.” she swallowed quickly. The pills would offer her some reprieve from the bone, and it would prevent her body from further injuries. I pressed a button on the side of my watch, sending an emergency beacon to Logan because there was no way I could get us out of here during
{~~Logan Grey~~}Some would accuse me of being incredibly mean to Avery, but I'd say I'm being fair. The girl needs to stay in her lane. She can't keep throwing out orders, forgetting her place in my work and personal life. She seemed to have shrunk since she saved her friend. I was so annoyed by her gloomy mood I decided I'd spend the night out. She pleaded then. Saying she'd be better, that she'd smile more but I did not give a fuck anymore. I just wanted space from her. I went to my friend's place. Ryan is like a brother to me, better than my own brothers some times. I loved him like he was family. He's the only one I can talk to about this. Even though he never liked Ava. He kept telling me she was a shitty person, but I gave him an ultimatum. Either he learns to accept the woman I love, or we stop being friends. Thankfully, he chose wisely. And we're still best friends. I explained my situation to him, even though I know what he's going to say. I saw it in his eyes. The pun
{~~Avery Sterling~~}I was focused on just getting things done. I was on the couch, trying to make notes on my work for tomorrow. Although my hand hurts like a bitch, I knew Logan would be upset with me if I didn't get out of this funk. I know I have a fever. My body hurts, it feels hot when I touch my own skin but I feel cold. I'm hungry but I can't force myself to move. I have to focus. Logan wants me to make a list of the right diseases that young werewolves get affected by. So I've been working on that. It took me a while, but eventually I got things straightened out. My eyes were begging to be slammed shut. They just wanted a break from the work, but I wanted to push past that. When the doorbell rang, I was hoping it was Logan. I'd never met this man in my life. Ryan, I mean. He was tall, dark skinned, black locks, and sharp silver eyes that under a different light can blend into his whites like there were no separation. He was kind, and I think that upset Logan. I tried to
{~~Logan Sterling~~}The night didn't end as I had expected it to. This was supposed to be a good day for me, but Ryan had ruined those plans by showing up at my house and acting nice towards Avery. My own best friend. What is his deal? One minute, he was hating on Ava the next he likes Avery. He should fucking marry her if she's so fucking great. He doesn't even know her. I trust Ava's word. I trust that if she hated Avery, she had a good reason. Ava is nice, she's such a sweet fucking girl and every hater needs to sit their ass down.She's fucking perfect. I must have done something. I must have treated her wrongly for her to not want me anymore. That night, I stayed up to drink. I was so fucking pissed off, and hurt. I checked my phone, not even sure what I was looking for. My fingers moved almost on autopilot, and I found myself drawn to Ava's social media account.There were several photos there, each one a stab to the gut. One of her and the boyfriend she left me for. Once aga
{~~Logan Grey~~}I got dressed slowly, nursing my hangover and making sure I didn't fuck up and mistakenly wear something weird. My head throbbed with every movement, and the light streaming through the window felt like daggers piercing my skull. I stumbled into the kitchen and made myself some coffee, the strong, bitter taste helping to cut through the haze of the hangover. As the warm liquid slid down my throat, I hoped it would wipe away the remnants of the previous night.I was in the process of letting the bitter taste wipe away the nasty hangover when Avery entered. She looked so much better than she had been yesterday. Her eyes were bright, and she was smiling. There was a certain lightness in her step that I hadn’t seen in a while. She wore long black pants, and a tight white shirt that seemed to show off a curve of her hips. She was pretty… almost. Not as pretty as woman who stabbed me in the heart, but I guess she's not bag. And her heeled shoes were even better. They added
{~~Avery Sterling~~}Today was not our day, it definitely didn't start with positive signs. Logan wasn't doing so well, and it made me tiptoe around him. The tension in the house was palpable, like a heavy fog that clouded every interaction and made every word a potential minefield. I didn't want to get myself hurt emotionally by either doing something crazy stupid that upsets him, or something none stupid that still upsets him. Logan's temper had become unpredictable, a storm that could break at any moment, and I found myself constantly on edge, trying to navigate the turbulent waters of his emotions. I should have gone to work without him, but the hurt in his eyes wouldn't let me. Hearing that my sister had remarried did not shock me that much, but it seemed to have gotten to Logan. He was heartbroken all over again, his wounds reopened and bleeding fresh pain. It was as if the news had ripped away any progress he had made in moving on, leaving him raw and vulnerable. I just don't
{~~Avery Sterling~~}The waterfall is majestic and stunning. Logan suggested we go in naked since we’re the only ones here. I’ll admit, trusting a radically vegan hippie to plan my honeymoon was a bold and disturbing choice. Third year in college she lugged me off to the rain forest where we camped for six weeks so we could connect with the gods who brought us here.It was my worst summer vacation. Six long weeks. But I got so much work done that I felt like I came back even smarter. I love Agatha, but my goodness, her ideas of fun are always nature-like. The lack of wifi is going to kill me, but thank god I got another honeymoon present from Logan’s parents as an apology for the way they acted at the start of my marriage to their son.And that one is for two months on a cruise. We’ll be leaving for that after a week of getting eaten alive by mosquitoes.The water is cold, and the view is even better. I talk alot of crap about Agatha but the woman is far more connected to this world t
{~~Logan Grey~~}My honeymoon is not at all what I expected. It’s one of those situations where you step back and think, How did I not see this coming? But I guess that’s what happens when you go with the flow and don’t plan out every last detail, just trusting that things will fall into place. We decided not to bring Hope with us, even though part of me wanted her to be here. She’s spending the week with my parents—her grandparents—which feels like a huge milestone, not just for her, but for me too. Avery and I wanted this time to ourselves, to really celebrate our marriage without any distractions, to focus on us for a change.We’re an odd pair to most people, and I know some didn’t expect us to last, but we’ve made it work in ways that surprise even me sometimes. Over the last year, we’ve settled into this rhythm that’s become second nature. It’s a good rhythm, one that’s brought us closer, and made us stronger. It’s funny—when you think about it, but it feels like so much longer.
\One Year Later/{~~Avery Sterling~~}So, you know how little girls always dream about their wedding day? It’s supposed to be this big, magical event, where everything falls perfectly into place, and for some, it’s the pinnacle of their dreams, right? But not me. I never had those kinds of dreams. You know how my life was, how crappy my sister and parents treated me. There was never much room in my head for fantasies like that. Growing up, I couldn’t even imagine what marriage would feel like because I was too busy surviving and getting through the mess of my family. But, okay, maybe deep down, I had some dreams. Everyone does, right? I just never thought they’d come true.And marrying Logan Grey—that’s a whole different thing altogether. I mean, when we started planning the wedding, I was so overwhelmed. There were just so many details, and so many decisions, and with everything I’ve been through, I just didn’t have the energy to care about floral arrangements or seating charts. So, I
{~~Avery Sterling~~}The almost-car accident shakes me up more than I expected, but Logan is fine, and I’m fine. It all happened so fast, and yet I can still feel the pulse of my heartbeat in my throat when I think about it. That truck had come out of nowhere. The driver didn’t even slow down. Had I not tripped over that stone while I was looking for a signal on my phone and he’d come to check on me... logan would have died a painful death before my eyes.So of course I was a fucking mess. That driver is crazy. Did he not see the car? Why did the car even stop? What was wrong with the engine? I have like six million questions!He called Ryan to come get us. I was in his arms on the side of the road, watching as other cars drove around the wreckage. They don’t stop but look on surprised at the mess. Whoever that driver was I hope to god his truck breaks down and he’s fired. Because what the hell?He should have at least stopped. Panic fills me but so does anger. The panic wins though.
{~~Avery Sterling~~}Logan and I had left Hope in the hospital. The tiny bundle of life—so fragile, yet resilient—was resting safely in the nursery, surrounded by the quiet hum of machines and the gentle presence of nurses. We’d return tomorrow, once we were sure they’d had time to scan her brain and ensure she was truly safe for release. My heart ached to leave her, but it was necessary. Thank goodness she was a baby, still too young to understand fear in the way that we did. She wouldn’t know the anxiety, the sleepless nights, the never-ending worry. All she knew was warmth and the safety of sleep, cocooned in blankets too big for her tiny form.The snow had started falling again, soft and silent, covering the world in a layer of purity that felt both soothing and unsettling. Logan drove carefully through the winding streets, the heater on low, warming our chilled fingers. We didn’t speak much, but the silence wasn’t uncomfortable. It was the kind of silence that sat between two peo
{~~Avery Sterling~~}I’m back in this beautiful pack, surrounded by familiar faces, and yet it feels so foreign after everything we’ve been through. the rain stopped while I was away and now we have a new season. The landscape is stunning, especially now, with the first snowfall of the season transforming the dense forest and the lake into a quiet, white wonderland. The snow blankets the ground in thick, untouched layers, making the whole world seem calm and serene, but cold—bitingly cold. It's as if the snow carries the weight of my worries. The weather has shifted dramatically over the past few days, moving from endless, gloomy rain to this sudden onset of winter. So, congratulations on freezing my butt off, even with all the layers I'm bundled in.Logan and I had spent last night at the lake house, a place of solace for us, trying to reconnect after everything that’s been thrown at us. It was bittersweet, those quiet moments by the fire, the crackling logs filling the air with warm
{~~Logan Grey~~}Avery is coming home today. Avery is coming home today. I’ve been repeating that sentence in my head for the past 48 hours, counting down the seconds like a kid waiting for Christmas morning. The excitement, the anticipation—it’s all bubbling up inside me, and I can barely sit still. I glance at the clock on my phone for what feels like the hundredth time, knowing it hasn't moved much since the last time I looked but somehow hoping the hands of time have sped up. It's been far too long since I’ve seen her.The air in the terminal is thick with the usual airport chaos—people rushing by, announcements echoing through the speakers, kids whining in the background—but it all fades into the background noise. I’m laser-focused, my heart pounding in sync with the roaring engines of planes outside. She’s been gone for weeks, and though it wasn’t that long, it feels like an eternity. We’ve been working tirelessly on the cure—sleepless nights, constant research, trial and error.
{~~Avery Sterling~~}Agatha and I had been at it for hours, possibly days, though the passage of time had become something of a blur in the dim, candlelit room. The air was thick with the scent of dried herbs and burning incense, their heady aromas mixing in a way that both calmed and invigorated me. I had never spent so much time in the presence of a witch doctor before—not like this, not in such an intimate setting where every movement, every word, every breath was part of a delicate and complex dance of life and death.I’d seen witchcraft before. In university, we had a professor who dabbled in the ancient arts, using it to enhance her knowledge of medicinal plants and natural remedies. It’s why i wished I’d been chosen to be a doctor, it would be so nice to be able to do so much than what a nurse can. But even she had never worked with the sheer precision and raw power that Agatha wielded. It was... mesmerizing. I couldn’t help but be drawn in, watching her every move, the way her
{~~Logan Grey~~}Two days without Avery isn't an eternity, but it sure feels like a long time. I’m surviving, or at least I think I am. Tonight, I’m having dinner at my parents' place, and the whole family is here to celebrate the newborns. Felix’s child, Marley, and my daughter, Hope. It feels good to be around everyone, even if my mind keeps drifting to Avery. The house is buzzing with laughter and chatter. The babies are in their playpen, tapping at toys, oblivious to the joyful chaos around them. My parents are practically glowing as they fawn over their grandkids, doting on every little coo and babbling like they’re treasures.I sit back in a rocking chair, watching the scene play out before me. My brothers are in the kitchen, joking around while they cook, and their wives are on the couch, chatting and laughing. And Ronan’s children are lying on the floor coloring something. It’s one of those moments that feels picture-perfect, like a scene out of some old family movie. Even Rya