Avery finds herself back in her room with no recollection of walking back to it.Sonya is baffled, sitting silently while Avery's mind is blank."It was a good kiss for me not kissing back," she mutters out loud, laying on her bed.She puts Roman's sweatshirt down beside her, not sure what to do with it - she took it because she didn't know where to put it if she didn't.Sniffing at the hoodie, she still can't find a scent on it; it's as though Roman uses a scent-blocker.Laying there for a few minutes, Sonya starts getting restless, forcing Avery to get up.Can we go for a run?, Sonya pleads, and Avery silently consents, walking down the stairs to the main door."Hey, Avery," a voice shouts, and she spins around to see Carolyn floating out of a room she hasn't been in yet, a glass of wine in her hand."Do you want to come drink with us? Please say yes!" The coffee-skinned woman beams, bouncing over to her with surprisingly steady feet."I was gonna go on a run-" Avery starts, but Car
Breakfast is silent the next morning.The hall is emptier than the previous night, only residents or workers of the house eating and chatting.All of the women are smiling and smirking, nudging each other and looking up at Avery, who sits at the front of the room with scarlet-coloured cheeks.She looks around nervously, her eyes landing on Roman, before they quickly flit away, acting like she never looked in his direction.Carolyn nudges her with a smirk, winking at her in between shovelling oatmeal into Michelle's mouth.Avery scowls at her, feeling the nervous tension around her.She doesn't care who knows about their kiss; she isn't shy about stuff like that. She doesn't give a second glance to rumours and mutters in the corners of the halls.Her fear stems from his reaction. Because Goddess knows in this pack who would tell him, and he might think she's been telling everybody.And she hasn't! She told the ladies last night, and that's it.Yeah, so everybody knows, Sonya snorts, ro
Avery ends her phone call with her brother in a huff.He scolded her for training teenagers without his approval, to which she responded by questioning his authority over her. He told her to watch her temper, and it was safe to say she nearly lost it with him.It's almost time for lunch, so Avery slams her laptop closed, wincing with regret as soon as she does.Adjusting her bun as she walks down the stairs, she notes how quiet it is in the house - it's eerie compared to usual.She had been locked in her room with her music blaring before her call, so the silence is startling.Wandering to the dining hall, she finds it empty, so she walks towards the kitchen area where she keeps seeing people vanish into."Hello," she nods to a lady who looks at her a little strangely.Strolling into the bustling kitchen, she sticks to the wall, out of the way of everyone."Are you here to work or to watch, dear?" A man calls over to her, glancing over his shoulder while he shakes something into a pan
The pair arrive just as a group of teenagers laughing and pushing each other do.Avery looks at them with mild disdain, while Roman nods at them.Avery continually scans the faces of everyone who arrives, keeping an eye out for the two girls she spoke to in the kitchen.It ticks slowly closer to three, and there's still no sign of them arriving, and she furrows her brows in concern and slight irritation."Who are you looking for?" Roman asks, bending down to speak into her ear.Slight shivers run down Avery's back, and she forces herself to swallow her spit."Two of your Omegas," she responds with a bite to her words, stepping away from him, not being unaware of the curious stares and the watching eyes of the teenagers."Oh," he mutters, looking uncomfortable as soon as she mentions Omegas.Avery clears her throat as it hits three, standing up in front of the group."Okay, I want you all to get into a line," she shouts before she sees two small figures hurrying through the trees, look
"Whereabouts did they get stuck?" Avery asks, pulling the map out of her bag.Roman stabs at a point on it which is a reasonable distance away from them, and she sighs."It'll be faster to go in wolf form, won't it?" She asks softly, glancing at the two girls behind her who are sitting silently and watching the two speak."Much faster," he responds quietly, "we need to get going. The others couldn't get him out."With an agitated sigh, Avery walks behind a tree and shifts into her black wolf after stripping off quickly.She emerges and hears Roman telling the two girls to wait there for them before he takes off behind a tree and appears seconds later as his bright white wolf."How are we doing this?" Roman barks and Avery rolls her brow."Quickly," she responds, picking up her clothes bag in her mouth, and taking off in the direction of where the teenager is stuck.The two run in relative silence, both speedy and agile.Sonya is silent, and she isn't trying to attack Roman's wolf, whi
A slightly uncomfortable silence follows his comment.Our life has never been as uncomfortable as it has been since we came here, Sonya comments irritably, scowling.Shut up, drama queen, is Avery's response, as she scowls as well."Are you gonna have them train after that?" Roman asks quietly, rubbing the back of his neck.The back of his neck and his cheeks are slightly red, which makes Avery smirk - was he embarrassed, or did she make him nervous?"I don't think so. When they get back from this round, I think I might just sit them down and talk to them about ethics or their futures or something," she mutters back, rubbing her temples gently.She couldn't wait to get back to her room and have a bath, and she felt that longing with every fibre of her being."Yeah, you could talk to them about your position and how you got it," Roman chirps up, and Avery shoots him a look."Most Alphas don't know that information, so I'm not going to tell your teenagers," she responds with a slightly
"The best trackers are people who can move quietly and use their senses for a long period of time without tiring. Endurance is key for this profession, as is patience," Avery nods, and Roman nods with her."Trackers are essential. They're often seen as softer than the warriors, and they are, but they have to be able to fight. They can fight for longer than most warriors can, which is a huge advantage to them when they're hunting someone," Roman continues, looking to Avery to continue."A rogue expects brute force and doesn't expect weapons from trackers. We equip ours with handguns - easy to use, and easy to hide. I don't know what you guys here do," Avery glances at Roman, and he holds eye contact with her for a moment."We usually carry knives, and a lot of them at that. Handguns is a good idea, but the noise can attract more unwanted attention," Roman shrugs."A bigger reach is a bigger advantage," Avery responds quickly, and there's a pregnant pause before anyone speaks."Warriors
What the fuck, Avery groans, Sonya taking full control and scampering through the trees.Don't blame me; you didn't fight him off either, Sonya responds in a snooty tone, flicking her tail as she slows her run to a slow walk, sailing through the trees with ease.I wouldn't have let it go much further, Avery cries out in indignation, and Sonya rolls her eyes.Oh yes, you would have, you were just afraid of the consequences that you'd have to deal with after, her wolf bites back before the two simultaneously put up mental blocks and go about their own business.Avery makes sure that she knows where they are, while Sonya sniffs at everything, enjoying her time shifted.She doesn't like being cooped up, and Avery admittedly feels guilty for keeping her locked up for almost two days.Her run earlier helped a little to release some tension. Still, she decides it's probably best to allow Sonya to run free for an hour or two, just playing and wandering around her new surroundings, figuring ou
In the years that follow, Avery and Roman's love story continues to unfold with its share of ups and downs, but their unwavering commitment to each other remains unchanged. They face new challenges as their children grow older and navigate their own paths in life.Hallie, now a teenager, inherits her parents' strong leadership qualities and shows a natural inclination towards diplomacy and problem-solving. She becomes actively involved in pack affairs, working alongside Avery and Roman to create a more inclusive and harmonious community. Hallie's compassion and sense of justice inspire those around her, earning her the respect and admiration of both pack members and neighboring packs.Parker, on the other hand, discovers a deep love for music and art. His creative spirit flourishes as he explores various forms of artistic expression, capturing the hearts of many with his talent. Avery and Roman wholeheartedly support his passion, enrolling him in music lessons and art classes to nurtu
As the years pass, the family's story weaves itself into the fabric of their community. They become known not just for their individual accomplishments but for their collective impact on the world around them.Milo's veterinary clinic grows into a sanctuary for animals in need, providing care and rehabilitation for injured and abandoned creatures. His dedication to their well-being inspires others to foster empathy and compassion for all living beings.Hallie's art transcends the boundaries of galleries, adorning public spaces with colorful murals that uplift and unite communities. Her work becomes a catalyst for conversations about social justice and environmental stewardship, reminding people of the interconnectedness of all living things.Parker's research and advocacy work on marine conservation gain global recognition. He becomes a leading voice in the fight against pollution and habitat destruction, working tirelessly to protect fragile ecosystems and raise awareness about the i
Roman stammers, caught off guard by Milo's question. "Well, uh... I suppose it could be," he mumbles, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.Avery's laughter fills the room, and she walks over to Roman, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "Milo, sweetheart, your dad and I have already made a commitment to each other. But finding this ring again just reminds us of the importance of our bond," she explains, giving Roman an affectionate smile.Milo rolls his eyes playfully. "I know you guys are already together, but still, proposing with a ring that got thrown into a lake? That's pretty cool," he says, grinning mischievously.Roman chuckles, relieved that Milo isn't disappointed by his response. "Well, I can't argue with that," he says, pulling Milo into a playful headlock. "You're a smart kid, you know that?"As they engage in their playful banter, Hallie tugs at Avery's hand, looking up at her with wide eyes. "Mommy, does that mean you and Daddy are gonna get married again?"Avery's hea
"Mom, what's this?" Milo asks, his hands flying through Avery's old wooden jewellery box.The nine-year-old is excitable and energetic, and Avery is half asleep still."What's what?" She asks, covering her yawn with her hand while she leans in the doorway.Roman can hear the two of them from the bed and inwardly groans.If Milo is awake, that means four-year-old Hallie and one-year-old Parker are going to follow soon."This circle," he says innocently, pulling a small metal ring out of the box."That's a ring, sweetheart," Avery explains, walking over to where he stands.She wraps an arm around him, pulling him to her and kissing his temple."You don't wear rings," Milo frowns, his nose scrunching up when Avery kisses his head."I found that when I stayed at dad's pack, literally years ago," Avery realises, gently prying the old ring out of Milo's hand and examining it.Some of the original chain is still attached, but it's mostly broken off, which she understands is almost definitely
"I can't do all of the work," Avery snaps, snatching the boiling pot off the stove and switching it off."Hallie, honey, hands away from the hot stuff," Avery strains to sound sweet, giving her daughter a small smile."Sorry, mommy," Hallie mumbles, the tiny child wandering back over to the kitchen table."I'm not asking you to do all of the work," Roman retorts, manoeuvring around their child to get over to Avery."I came home from a weekend-long Council meeting to the house looking like a junkyard. Which had been set on fire," she reminds him, her eyes flashing irritably as she mixes her homemade vegetable sauce."What did you expect to come home to? We have a three-year-old," he reminds her, equally annoyed and snappy.Hallie watches the two of them with wide eyes, swinging her legs from the high stool she managed to clamber onto."I am three months pregnant, working two full-time jobs, and raising our daughter basically by myself. I cannot do this," Avery snarls, slamming the pot
Her left hand rests on her bump as she brushes through her hair with her right, exhaustion apparent on her face as she fixes herself for her meetings.Putting the brush down onto the dressing table, she slowly hauls herself up from her stool, wincing as her back aches at the sudden movement.Roman can hear movement from where he is in the bathroom, and he quickly hurries out, his eyes widening as he spots his very pregnant mate moving around."Ave, I told you to call me!" He scolds, and she scowls at him, slapping his hand off her arm."I'm not an invalid, I'm just pregnant," she scoffs, waddling around the room to find a hat."Yes, very pregnant," he reminds her with a frown, grabbing a tan wool hat for her.It matches the only coat she wants to wear nowadays, so he figures that she can't be too upset at his pairing of the two.She stares at it for a moment, taking it off him gently and cramming it onto her head roughly, glancing at the time."I can drive you if you give me two minut
It feels like everyone Avery has ever known is staring up at her intently.She can feel sweat building up on the back of her neck, and she tugs gently at the silk scarf hanging around her neck as she glances up at Roman."You're probably wondering why we called this pack meeting," Roman begins, and looks down at Avery.He raises an eyebrow at her.Are you going to continue, or do I have to keep talking?, he asks urgently, and Avery has to hold back a smile.She likes knowing that he's just as nervous as she is, because he doesn't usually express much emotion, especially in front of either of their packs.Both packs together?Forget it.I might faint if I try to talk, she responds, and she isn't lying.Sonya has gone radio silent out of absolute fear, and Avery herself feels ridiculously light-headed.You can face down packs of rogues and vampires, but a speech makes you crap yourself? Really?, Avery grumbles to a slightly miffed Sonya.Those rogues aren't expecting me to make a speech
She lays the white plastic down on the counter, brushing the strand of hair that fell into her face away from her eyes."They're all positive," she murmurs, looking over her shoulder to a very pale Roman."I think I'm going to be sick," he whispers, sinking down against the cupboards."Don't lean against the wood, you'll get blood on it," she snaps, washing her hands in the kitchen sink.He absentmindedly reaches around to his back and begins unclipping his chest plate, staring at the pregnancy tests on the kitchen island.Avery slaps his hands away and unclips his armour for him, gritting her teeth."Stupid," she growls, and he looks up in alarm, raising his eyebrows in confusion."What did I do?" He asks, slowly hauling himself up from the ground."Not you, me," she sighs, shaking her head miserably."What are you talking about, you crazy girl?" He furrows his brows, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, pulling her towards him gently."I've constantly been shifting, and I just foug
"Yeah, I did, I'm not being responsible for getting them all back to their rooms later," she chuckles, glancing out the window."Do you know how many people are going home tonight?" Roman calls from the bathroom, turning the water back on."I think a few Alphas are, but I'm not sure," she responds, laying the makeup she's using for the dinner dance out on the dresser."Oh, I thought everyone would stay for the dinner," he shouts, and she nods to herself."Some of the Alphas are really annoyed that they didn't rank too well, I'd say they're running home with their tails tucked between their legs," she sighs, and she reaches into her suitcase to find her hair products.Do you want to join me in here?, Roman links her, and Avery raises her eyebrows, trying not to laugh.No thanks, I don't want to get my hair wet, she snorts, quickly replying to some of the emails while she waits for him to get out of the shower.As soon as he opens the bathroom door, she breezes by him, clutching towels