Avery feels unstoppable.Her hair is all one colour again, she has the brightest red lipstick she owns on, and her brows are cooperating.With this all in perfect condition, she sets off to the bunker, holding all of her files and her laptop in her bag, her phone in her hand and a smirk on her lips.Her phone rings, and then stops, Sonya taking the message instead.Are we ready for this?, Sonya asks nervously, and Avery snorts inwardly.What are we not ready for?, Avery retorts, and Sonya doesn't respond.Unlocking the door, and scanning her eyes, ear, and fingerprints, Avery is finally allowed into the bunker after typing in four codes and giving a blood sample.She has everything locked down, and nobody goes in or out without her say so."Good morning, Freya," she beams, and the woman looks up at her from the table she's sitting at.There's sweat on her brow, and she jumps up in an anxious flurry."What did they say?" She asks, hurrying up to Avery and looking up at her.Avery pause
Sonya is trying to force as shift as the office door swings open.Avery turns around, her snout in place of her nose and mouth, and her claws out, ready to attack anybody who goes near her."As useless as ever," a red-headed woman sighs, shaking her head as her eyes land on Avery.Avery forces her shift to stop, and her face reverts back to normal."Louisa. I thought you were too busy to come to see your brother," she mutters, her rage still simmering."Well, I have to tell Mom and Dad about little junior here," her sister shrugs coldly, holding her stomach as if she's expecting somebody to attack it."Cool. Go do that, then," Avery responds, raising a brow."I heard about you shacking up with an Alpha. I'm surprised you're here, I expected you to be under him," her sister snipes, and Avery clenches her jaw a little."No, unlike you, I care about my family, and I'm where I'm needed," Avery retorts, opening her laptop and ignoring her sister.Louisa grits her teeth, and then hears foot
"We're going to go see York," Marie says after a moment of silence before she drags a gawking Louisa out of the hallway."I'll be in the main office," Richard scowls, slamming his shoulder into Roman's as he walks out of the house.Avery stares at Roman in silence, before she turns her back on him and storms into the kitchen."What the hell is wrong with you?" Avery snarls, slamming a glass down on the counter and pouring some iced coffee into it."Look, I'm here to explain," he protests, and she grits her teeth, spinning around with a can of whipped cream in her hand."No, you don't get to explain. Hanging up a phone generally means that the conversation is over. It doesn't mean you run here," Avery scowls, turning back around and putting some cream on top of her coffee."No," Roman sighs, grabbing Avery's shoulders and turning her around."I want to talk to you, properly," he firmly says, and Avery raises a brow."Yeah. I can't talk to you if you don't put some clothes on," she shru
They had just reached Avery's bedroom in her parent's house when they could hear the front door opening."Thank the Goddess you're quick," she mutters, and he looks at her, feigning hurt until she realises the possible double meaning of her words."Oh shit, we left the clothes downstairs," she whispers, and Roman tries to hide his smirk."It isn't funny, this is my parent's house," Avery hisses, flinging a pillow from her bed at him."Well, they'll be able to smell it anyway," Roman shrugs, "so just relax."Avery cringes a little, sniffing the air around them.Richard is soooo gonna know, Sonya chortles, and she grimaces a little."I don't know why I let that happen," she mutters as she walks into the bathroom, turning the hot water on.He comes up behind her and rests his hand on her hip, his erection pressing into her spine."Get that thing away from me before I chop it off," she commands primly, and he steps back with a chuckle."That isn't what you said ten minutes ago," he snicke
"Don't be too mean, please," Avery murmurs as she and Roman head back to her room."I'll say whatever I want. It was disrespect to you, but you can't do anything because Louisa is your family. I'll take the hit," he whispers to her, bringing her hand up to his lips and kissing it gently.Avery smiles slightly at his caring gesture, and she can't help the slight blush that her cheeks take on."Okay, but please don't be mean," she pleads, "because she is my sister. I'm the one who will have to deal with the consequences. You can go back to your pack at any time.""She'll get what she would if she was any other pack member," he promises, clenching his jaw, "although no other pack member would stare at us and mock you."His tone took on an irritated, almost angry note to it towards the end of his sentence, and she gently squeezes his hand, trying to force her independence down a little.Accept his help but don't depend on it, Sonya grumbles, slightly bothered by his need for dominance.Av
Avery stands up, her face going white.Her legs are numb, and her entire body is trembling as she moves.She feels like she's going to faint."What do you mean?" She asks, trying to keep her tone level, but she fails, her voice rising as she reaches the end of her question.What the fuck did he just say, Sonya snarls, and Avery is struggling to keep her in."Do you think this is all some sort of joke?" Avery snarls, her eyes flashing rapidly as she begins pacing the room.She's trying and failing to calm herself down, her canines descending and her bones beginning to crack as they prepare to shift.Roman stays silent, which is possibly the worst thing he could do."Has this all been a funny little play-pretend game to you?" She growls, her face slowly shifting, her bone structure changing quickly."It was never a joke," he murmurs, standing up and running both hands through his hair.If we're lucky, at this rate of running his hands through his hair, he'll go bald, Sonya grumbles.Bal
"Don't you dare touch me right now," she warns, and he grits his teeth."Feel my back again," he insists, lowering himself down a few inches for her convenience.She stares out of her window, one hand still on her glass and one clenched into a fist as she inhales slowly.After a moment of silence, bar their breathing, Avery turns around and runs her fingers over his shoulderblade, the movement making him shiver.She stares at his tattoo as she traces the outline of his bone, squinting at the dark ink of the wings.She feels a slightly raised patch of skin, and her eyebrows shoot up."How did you cover it?" She questions dubiously, pulling her hand back almost immediately and turning back to her glass, filling it up with water from her jug."I found a witch," he mutters."So did I, and she couldn't cover mine," she sharply responds, looking at him at of the corner of her eyes."She used a special ink, I don't know what it was," he grunts, spinning around to lean against the kitchen isl
He clears his throat, wondering if she heard him.As he's about to repeat himself, she sighs."Yeah, well I've only had this place a year, I've had my room for twenty-eight," she shrugs, finally reaching her bedroom and flinging open the door, sliding along the wood in her fluffy socks.Roman peers in cautiously as if he was expecting to be attacked by something.Avery rolls her eyes at his nervousness, folding her arms over her chest and scowling at him."Nobody is in here, just get in and close the door," she mutters, and he rolls his eyes."If you frown anymore, you'll get wrinkles," he grumbles, looking around the room and his eyes landing on her massive bed.His mouth opens and his eyebrows raise in surprise as he blinks at it, shaking his head.Avery rolls her eyes, used to this reaction from her family when they came individually to inspect her home.She likes working from her bed, which means she needs to be comfortable. She would also sleep for a year if she could, so she nee
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