Avery shakes her head at him, pointing to her phone, and he slowly looks away."Some of the pack members hanged up on me today at the pack meetings," she mumbles into the phone, and Avery furrows her brows."Over what?" Avery asks softly."Me going to your pack with the prisoner," she sighs sadly."What did they say, Lil?" Avery quickly asks, hearing the girl's tone waver."They said I'm not a proper Luna, so I shouldn't be going to any packs," she mumbles, and Avery grimaces."I suggested to Zeph he say you were coming for training. Don't you dare let them make you think you aren't a real Luna," she warns angrily.Lilith sniffles, and Avery pinches her nose."I'm guessing most of those people are women," she grumbles, and Lilith makes a noise of confirmation."Ignore them, I bet they're just jealous," Avery reassures her, her heart aching for her friend."I don't believe you at all," Lilith laughs shakily, and Avery can hear her sniffling."That's okay. But if you don't come with the
Avery startles herself awake and feels slightly trapped for some reason.Slowly, she starts being able to comprehend the world around her, and through her bleary eyes, she can see a massive tree trunk of an arm trapping her to the bed.She blinks in surprise and looks at the body the arm is attached to, squinting to see the face the body is attached to.She can't see the face; it's buried in her stomach.She recognises the curly hair, though, and sits up in irritation, flicking the face as she looks at her phone for the time.It's 10 am, and Avery raises her eyebrows - she slept for eleven hours.She usually maybe gets six on a good night; she just isn't a deep sleeper."Wake up, you prick," she grunts, wiggling her legs to try to get him off of her.Roman wakes up slowly, and once he makes eye contact with her, he shakes his head and puts it back down onto her stomach, closing his eyes again."Roman, get up," she groans, and he mumbles something under his breath.At least he's warm,
"Sorry, I didn't think," she shrugs, continuing to kiss along the base of his neck.He brings his hand up to her breast, and she slaps it away, shaking her head."You don't get to touch," she smirks.He stares at her in confusion, and then his eyes flash black and then gold.Avery rolls her eyes, knowing exactly what's going to happen."Don't you dare," she warns immediately and as she says the words, he plunges into her."What the fuck," she hisses, digging her nails into his shoulders as she glares at him."You can't fuck me on a bed like a normal person, no?" She asks sarcastically, and he gives her a grin."That would be boring," he shrugs, thrusting in and out of her.He adjusts his hold on her, and she suddenly shakes her head."Out, you're not wearing a condom," she announces, and he stares at her."I wasn't yesterday, either," he reminds her, and she glares at him."That was poor planning, I can fix that mistake," she mutters, and he clenches his jaw in frustration."Can I mov
He rolls his eyes at her dramatics and continues typing, glancing at her in mild concern every so often."I need to go visit York, and finish emails, and check in with Kali and Kathleen," she mutters to herself, dreading the thoughts of having to move even an inch."Then do it, lazy ass," Roman sighs, shaking his head at her."Fine, I will," she snaps, dragging herself off the floor reluctantly.Her legs vibrate as she moves, and she grimaces as her legs nearly give up."I do not like you for this," she grunts, staggering to her dressing table and leaning against it to regain her balance.He smirks in her direction, feeling pretty proud of himself.I'll fix this, Sonya snarls, putting all of her energy into strengthening Avery's posture.Almost instantly, Avery stands up straight, and Avery cocks her head to the side in mock confusion."Oh, you thought I meant for the screwing? Oh gosh, no, I meant for the situation you created by lying to me," she sighs dramatically, flashing the mid
Moderately satisfied with her outfit, she puts her earrings in and puts her glasses on.Today will be a long day; she can just tell."I have errands to run," Avery states, packing up her laptop while she occasionally glances at Roman."Cool, go do them," he responds, looking at her over the laptop screen with a raised eyebrow."I want you gone by the time I come back," she grimaces, and he pauses his incessant typing."Oh, you're kicking me out," he mutters, and she stops packing."Did you think I'd let you stay forever?" She asks, "you're not a puppy."He closes the laptop slowly, and nods at her."I'll leave now then, I suppose," he murmurs, pulling off her sweatshirt and leaving it on the bed."You don't have to leave this second, I'm just telling you that you should be out of here in the next six hours," she drawls, zipping up her bag."No, you don't want me here, and even a blind man could see that," he states calmly, standing up and stretching."Let your border patrol know that
She gets a little heart attack at the volume, and she turns it down quickly, bopping her head to the music as she scurries around the kitchen, making herself a smoothie."What will I use today?" She hums to herself, before Sonya suggests a mango smoothie.Avery goes with it, pulling her ingredients out of the fridge and freezer, and then throwing them all into a blender.She raises the music's volume while the blender is on, and she screams the words of the song as she dances around her kitchen.The best part of being an adult - if you can ignore the loneliness, which she absolutely can.Once her smoothie is done, she pours it into a travel mug and leaves the blender on the counter-top, quickly linking her maid that there's some slight mess.Once the lady responds, Avery leaves, locking her doors and setting her alarm system behind her.Walking down the steps of her house, she looks around intently, squinting in every direction.She won't lie; she would appreciate a companion in case
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
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