Sweeping into her office, Avery makes sure her dress doesn't get caught in the door as it closes.Hayden playfully wolf whistles, and Mitchell shouts for her to do a twirl.Avery bashfully obeys, doing a little spin and a mock curtsy."What time is Roman landing at?" Hayden asks with a wide grin on his face, putting the file in his hands down."I think we have half an hour until he gets here," she beams, taking a seat behind her desk and gently pushing her curled hair behind her shoulders."What are your plans today? You were supposed to be going to Moonstone Mountain today, but I'm guessing that's been changed?" Mitchell asks, and Avery shakes her head."No, he has business there too, so while he deals with his business, I'm going to spend time with baby Emmett," she grins, and Hayden lets out a low whistle."You shouldn't wear that dress for taking care of a baby, they're grubby little creatures," he warns, and she grins wider."I have a pair of jeans and a t-shirt in my bag, don't
....on her face, glancing up at Roman.She winks at him, and he feels his lips tug upwards automatically, his face being forced into a smile as he gazes over his shoulder at her."Do you love our Alpha?" One of the kids asks curiously, his bookbag falling off his shoulders as he trails along behind Roman.Avery doesn't hear the question, and Roman is sure of it as he glances around and spots her a few meters behind, bent down and conversing with a few of the younger kids."Why do you ask? Aren't you a little young to be asking about love?" Roman retorts, a grin on his lips as they enter the dining hall.He nods to some of the Generals who are scattered around the room, and they grudgingly nod in his direction, moving out of his way.It isn't out of respect though, and he knows it - it's to try and avoid being sucked into the large gaggle of children surrounding him."Well, my mom always tells me about how she loves my dad, and then whenever she lets me watch the Disney movies, they're
The car ride to Zephyr's is mostly quiet.Avery's day has been turned upside down, and she has a lot of paperwork to deal with before they even get to Moonstone Mountain.Her heart aches for Mitchell, but a selfish part of her can't believe Kathleen revealed herself on one of the only days Avery isn't on packlands."He'll be okay, Ave, don't worry," Roman mutters, glancing up from his own laptop to take a look at Avery.Her face is screwed up in a mixture of stress and disgust, and he gets out of his seat."Do you want to talk right now, or do you want some silence?" He asks softly, and Avery sighs."I want a hug," she mutters, and he engulfs her in his arms, patting her back lightly."Is there anything that I can do?" He asks, and she shrugs."I don't think so. Filling in these approval forms is literally killing me," she mumbles, pushing her hair back."Okay, then I'll do it," he suggests, gently prying the forms and the necessary file away from her."I need to do it, I'm the Alpha,
"If you had been killed, I would have dragged you back to life and then murdered you myself," he hisses, speeding up to walk past her.He sends Zephyr a text to tell him they're going to run the rest of the way to his territory, and as he sends it, Avery clears her throat behind him.He pockets his phone and turns around, his eyebrows rising and his jaw dropping slightly as his eyes land on a very naked Avery.She grins, and then immediately shifts, nudging the bag of her clothes on the forest floor with his nose.He stoops down to pick up the back, and she shakes her head, a wolfish grin on her face.He puts the bag down and unbuttons his shirt, folding it and then putting it into the bag.He slowly strips off, Avery sitting in front of him with her legs crossed, her ears perked up to listen for any invaders.Once he finishes packing the bag, he bends down over her, securely fastening their clothes to her back.She stands up and waits for him to shift, Sonya impatiently waiting for h
"Can you imagine if we had a baby?" Roman asks dreamily, speaking more to himself than her.We? Excuse me? It would be us having the baby, Sonya argues irritably."Sonya doesn't like your phrasing," Avery comments lazily, glancing over at him with a hand shading her eyes."Fine. Can you imagine a child we created?" He rephrases with a grin, his whole body turned sideways and facing her.His tan is going to be so uneven, Sonya comments."It would be so dominant it would be ridiculous," Avery responds, and Roman releases a puff of air.His grin has turned to a bit of a frown, and Avery quickly sits up on her chair, furrowing her brows."I'm not saying I don't want a kid," she explains hurriedly, "I just tend to think on the negative end of things, you know that.""I still think a child is a good thing, so I don't appreciate you trashing our metaphorical demon spawn," he retorts, his tone half teasing and half hurt.Aw, we fucked up, Sonya groans."You haven't even marked me yet, why are
"I don't tell you how much I appreciate you," she murmurs, gazing up at him."I don't mind that," he shrugs, and she shakes her head."No, you deserve to know how great you are. I value you so much as a person, and I appreciate your loyalty and care much more than you'll ever know," she begins nervously, "when something happens, you're the first person I want to tell. I can't seem to spend enough time with you, and even when I'm with you, I miss you, because I know you'll be going soon."Her confession is made in a small voice, and she looks over his shoulder at a tree to avoid his eyes.Before he can open his mouth, she continues."I love you," she blurts out, clapping a hand over her mouth.What the fuck did you just say, Sonya screams.It just came out, Avery roars back, panicking immediately.Take it back! Hit him on the head, make him forget!, Sonya screeches, her eyes as wide as possible."Shit," Avery mutters under her breath, staring at Roman, who looks ready to faint.His fac
The rest of the weekend had been a little awkward.The sparks had begun, and Avery jolted every time Roman touched her, even if it was just a brush off as he walked by.Roman was falling hard and fast, and the four days together only solidified that.Nobody had caught on yet, and Avery had no idea how.The lie they had created was that their wolves had imprinted on each other. Although it caused some raised eyebrows, since imprinting wasn't really done in modern times, her parents had simply accepted it, nodding along with the excuse if anyone questioned it in front of them.Light, silky scarves had been Avery's go-to accessory to hide her mark.It was the middle of summer, so she couldn't exactly start wearing polo-neck jumpers.Roman had it easy - he just wore collared shirts whenever they had to go and be around people."That was fun," Avery grumbles, yanking her scarf from around her neck and flinging it onto the bed as she itches."Stop scratching, you'll make it worse," Roman re
The evening was disastrous.It seemed like every fighter Avery had trained had stage-fright for a while, and some of them had even refused to fight the next day.Avery had ordered a tonne of pizza and ice cream to calm them down, even though the Generals didn't exactly approve of her methods, one of them going as far as to call it a 'bribe'.Sure enough, after they all had some carbs, they calmed down, and Avery had gotten them to talk about why they were afraid of fighting the following day.Some were afraid of disappointing their parents, and for those kids, Avery organised phone calls home to the families, with the parents under strict instructions to only be encouraging about the event taking place.Some were terrified they'd just do terribly, and Avery told them there was no shame in not winning. Her words did nothing to help, so Avery enlisted the help of some of the counsellors who were supplied by the Council, who organised the Trials with the help of some of the Senior Alphas
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