The piles of files are taller than Kali, and the three women look at each other."We only have two left," Avery mutters, wiggling on the floor to try to get herself comfortable."Two too many," Kali whimpers, and Kathleen rubs her eyes."If I ever have to read again, it'll be too soon," she groans dramatically, flinging herself backwards onto the ground in protest."Honestly Kali, you're going to be the most over-qualified Luna out there," Avery laughs, shaking her head."I should win an award for filing and organising," Kali chuckles, rolling her eyes, "I was on the phone with Scott last night, and he thought it was hilarious that we were still sorting through these files."Avery laughs again, grinning ear to ear."He would think it was hilarious, is his office still a bombsite?" Avery snorts, and Kali cringes."He can't find anything he needs, and he expects everyone else to know where it is," she groans good-humouredly."You poor, poor people," Avery grins, and Kathleen lets out a
"If you need me, call me, please," Kathleen whispers, kissing Avery's forehead before walking after Kali.Avery closes her eyes once the door shuts, and gets to work typing up her emails.Her alarm goes off after twenty minutes, and she stretches quickly, before she hurries to her car, laptop in hand.She takes a minute to decide on her location and settles on going to her own house, knowing she has a few suitable dresses.She spends the drive in silence, fully absorbed in her thoughts.Sonya forces the negative ones away and instead focuses on her plans.She's ecstatic at the prospect of seeing Lilith again, and she's glad to know she can offer the girl a safe haven.Once she arrives home, he goes straight up the stairs and slips into a hot pink wrap dress.She slips on some heels and quickly applies some makeup, not going too over the top for once.Avery is rudely disturbed by her phone ringing, and she hesitates before she answers."Avery, hurry up, the Addisons' arrived sooner tha
The dinner is relatively quick, and Avery's parents drink enough wine for the entire table.Avery decided to stick to water in solidarity with the pregnant she-wolf beside her.Zephyr stuck to water due to the fact he had to drive home after this little shindig.The party of five is in the dining room built for at least ten, and it's slightly awkward due to the vast unoccupied area.The conversation lulls a little after dessert is served, and the guests shift a little uncomfortably."So where is your sister, Avery?" Zephyr asks, sipping his drink as he looks over the rim of his glass, desperate to end the weird silence.Her mother butts in before Avery can open her mouth.The tension present for the entire dinner between the mother and daughter did not go unnoticed by anyone."Louisa walked in on her and Alpha Lancaster having sex, so he sent her to the cells," Marie slurs, and Lilith's eyes shoot open.Zephyr coughs, choking on his drink slightly as he gapes at Marie."Walked in on w
"Don't joke about that," Avery mutter, looking around quickly."Why? It's only a joke, chill out babes," Lilith rolls her eyes, jumping down from where she was sitting."Make yourself useful and grab one of your suitcases," Avery sighs, sliding out of the car and grabbing her laptop and phone from the back seat.She walks around to the trunk of her car, her ears perking up when she hears a noise nearby."Lilith, stop moving," she murmurs, her voice barely audible. Lilith stares at her blankly, raising an eyebrow until she can hear the rustling too.The two girls stare intensely at the bush nearby, both assuming the sound is coming from there.The noise stops, and Avery opens the trunk as fast as possible.She grabs the three suitcases out in a blur of movement, flinging them onto the ground and slamming the trunk shut as quick as she had opened it."Grab them," Avery mutters, hurrying over to the front door.She unlocks it and hurries in, grabbing the suitcases off Lilith and then dr
"Avery, slow down," Lilith pants, moving as fast as she can through the trees."No, we're going to be late," Avery shoots back irritably, grabbing Lilith's hand and pulling her along."They're rogues, they don't care much about time," Lilith groans, trying to take her hand back.She eventually shakes Avery off, just to promptly trip over a bramble."I thought you were supposed to be some badass rogue," Avery grumbles, picking Lilith up off the ground.Lilith stays quiet, pouting a little bit at her friends snub. "Are you okay?" Avery asks reluctantly, and Lilith rolls her eyes."I'm fine, let's hurry, they won't wait for you to show up for too long," Lilith sighs, resting a hand on her bump as they walk at a more manageable pace."I thought you said they didn't care about time?" Avery retorts, raising a brow. Lilith stays uncharacteristically quiet.Avery shoots concerned looks over her shoulder to Lilith every couple of seconds.This distracts her so much that she gets hit in the f
"What the fuck do you mean?" Avery finally asks after a pregnant pause."There are two she-wolfs who are carrying children," the girl repeats, and Avery rises from her seat."Oh, Avery, Louisa," Lilith exclaims, slapping the table as she puts the pieces together.Avery raises a brow, sitting back down and staring at the woman in the corner.She doesn't say anything else, retreating back to her knitting."She lost her mate to this," Byron murmurs, "I'd take everything she says with a pinch of salt.""I can hear you. Being mateless doesn't make me deaf," the woman scoffs, scowling over her half-formed scarf.Avery tries to cover her chuckle with a cough at this remark, and she quickly shakes her head, forcing herself to focus."What do you want us to do though, Wilcott?" The other man asks, and Avery frowns at him."Alpha," she simply says, staring at him intensely, and releasing some of her dominance.The woman with the knitting cringes at the influx of power, Byron blinks rapidly, and
Avery secures her hair into a tight braid and then laces up her boots."You look like you're going into a war," Lilith comments, sitting up slightly from the bed.Kali nods in agreement, eating some of the popcorn out of their shared bowl."I would rather go into war than walk into this interrogation," Avery admits truthfully, sighing ruefully as she smooths down some flyaway hairs."It won't be that bad; you're being dramatic!" Lilith exclaims, getting off the bed and walking over to her friend.Avery looks at her, and shakes her head, rolling her shoulders back and trying to relax a little."You're so tense," Kali observes, watching the two move around the room, Avery side-stepping away from Lilith, who appears to be trying to straighten the Alphas collar."You would be too, if Mama Bird was chasing you," Avery grumbles, eventually stopping and letting Lilith fidget with her clothes.Lilith rights the collar, and she brushes some fluff off the black jumper Avery has on, scowling whe
"We need to hurry; we're going to be later than I thought," she mutters, starting the engine before she entirely sits down."I told you we would be," he reminds her, rolling his eyes and sitting in silence."Are you nervous?" She asks, trying to make conversation while she tunes the radio."No," he responds, staring ahead of himself."Right," Avery mutters, stepping on the gas and willing her car to go faster.She takes on the corners with little caution, and more than once Hayden has to hold himself back from cursing as he grabs onto the handle above the window.When she nearly smashes into a tree, Hayden has had enough, and grabs the steering wheel."You crazy bitch, are you trying to get us both killed?" He glares at her, and she slaps his hands off the wheel."I don't want to be any later than we have to be," she comments, not looking over at him.Well, that got his attention, Sonya quips."Well, we'll be very late if we're dead," he fires back, "I happen to have something to live
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