The next morning is busy.Avery has induction ceremonies to organise, transfers to sort out, and the problem of the Council to try and untangle.And Scott Petty was supposed to come and stay for a few days.She had forgotten about that fact with all of the excitement around York and the others.She was woken up at 7 am by an excited Toby who was curious about where he was.Hayden appeared not long after his son, looking disgruntled and confused.He walks into Avery's room to see his son passed out on the bed beside Avery, her arm around his shoulders and his hands around her arm holding onto her.He smiles at the sight, and then he clears his throat, looking at the time.Both of them open their eyes and stare at him in worry."It's time to get ready to go," Hayden rolls his eyes, holding his arms out for Toby to clamber into.The boy is a little slower in movement than he should be, but Avery knows that some physiotherapy will help with that over time."Are you excited to see the doct
The first thing York did when he could stand up and move was buy a plane ticket.He didn't say where he was going, but he said he was definitely going.Avery is baffled.Her parents were furious, the elders were horrified, the Council was outraged, and Avery was screwed.The news was unexpected.Shock waves had gone through the pack, and Mitchell and Hayden had been dealing with tonnes of calls from the other Alphas.York signed off on the documents passing the title to Avery, unofficially - her hearing needed to be completed before she could be declared as the proper, permanent Alpha.Scott arrives two hours after York's shock announcement.He finds Avery sitting in her kitchen, zoned out and eating her way through a pint of cookie dough ice cream.His eyebrows slowly raise as he hones in on the bundled up figure in the corner."Are you okay?" He asks, kneeling down beside her curiously."York renounced his title," she splutters out, turning and staring at her friend, her eyes wide a
The wait was more agonising than the entrance.Avery tapped her heeled foot against the tiled floor as she sat on the stone bench outside of the arena.Mitch scowls over at her, and Hayden puts his hand on her leg, forcing her to stop tapping.The silence is too much, and Avery abruptly stands up and begins pacing up and down the hall."Ave, sit down, you'll wear yourself out," Mitch orders, and Avery glares at him, rubbing her neck."I'm too warm, I feel dizzy," she complains, unbuttoning the final two buttons of her shirt.Both men stay focused on her face, shaking their heads at her.Avery's phone buzzes and she pulls it out anxiously.It's a good luck text from her sister, rife with emoticons and thumbs-up.A small, wary smile makes its way onto her lips, and she sends back some heart emojis.Louisa was on the other side of the door.She had to appear because she was the only Wilcott left to hold the position temporarily if Avery was penalised.She didn't want that; in fact, Louis
That statement causes an uproar.Marie grabs onto Richard's arm and pales, her nails digging into his skin."Richard, what's going on?" She whispers faintly, and Richard glances at his wife distractedly."I have no idea," he mutters to his mate, kissing her temple and rising from his seat."Order," the man at the head of the Council table roars, banging the gavel against the table as hard as he can.The table cracks and one of the legs breaks in half, the rest of the Council looking hugely uneasy.The crowd doesn't stop; the chattering only gets louder.Hayden sits calmly, clasping his hands."What child are you adopting?" The man doing the questioning asks with a curled lip.His disgust is apparent, and Sonya is snarling at it."Tobias Nakamura," she says evenly, and Kathleen releases a little gasp.Louisa's coughing fit can be heard from where Avery sits.When she looks in her sister's direction, she spots Xavier patting her pack, trying to calm her down."How do you know Tobias?" T
"Thank you to everyone who assisted Alpha Addison," a Council member announces, nodding to Avery.She raises an eyebrow and slowly lowers herself into her wooden seat, squirming a little as she tries to get comfortable.She's far too warm, and Kathleen notices her tugging at her collar a little.You okay?, she asks her friend, furrowing her brows in concern.Just too warm, she grimaces, and Kathleen stands up quickly.The Council are still filing in, so Kathleen hurries over to her friend, clutching a bottle of water from her satchel."Drink this, I'll tie your hair up," she whispers, pressing the bottle into her hand while hurrying behind her.Kathleen scoops up the mass of blonde and scrapes it into a high ponytail, smoothing any lumps or bumps with her fingers and securing it with a hair tie.Avery is gulping down water like there's no tomorrow, unbuttoning her top button and sitting back a little in her seat."Do you want to take your shirt off?" Kathleen asks in a hushed tone, an
Zephyr has half-shifted, his teeth pointed and sharp, his entire face morphing into that of his wolf.He looks terrifying, his eyes flashing from black to red and his shoulders hunching forward as his wolf tries to force a shift.Avery is barely holding back a shift, her claws digging into her palms as she tries to ground herself. She's counting backwards from twenty-four, and praying to the Moon Goddess as quickly as she can, crossing her fingers that her words are heard before anything bad can begin.Alphas who have scented Lilith before have stood up, looking outraged by the appearance by the rogue in their court."Lilith Addison, thank you for presenting yourself to the court," one of the Councilmen booms and the growling almost drowns him out.The atmosphere is tense, and everyone who isn't growling or holding back growls are looking at each other in confusion.Katya, Scott, Mike, and another Alpha who Avery only barely recognises are restraining him, holding on as tight as they
"Lilith Addison, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?" The head of the Council roars, and Lilith sits up straight.Avery's blood is boiling, and Zephyr is sitting near the door in case he needs to be removed from the room quickly."Of course," Lilith announces, her eyes scanning the courtroom blankly.Her demeanour is detached, and she has no emotion in her face at all.She doesn't look at Zephyr or Avery.Just because she's here doesn't mean she's going to say anything bad about us, Sonya reminds her.If the Council have their way, they'll get her to blame us for her kidnapping and injuries, Avery responds to her wolf, her eyes flashing as she watches the woman on the stand twirl her hair.What kind of mother could abandon their pup?, Sonya ponders sadly, miserable at the mere thought of abandoning a child.We don't know what's happening in her life; it could be for his own protection, Avery warns her wolf.She might be annoyed at Lilith, but sh
The room is silent as Avery gapes at the Mating Panel in shock."You have to be kidding," Roman interjects after neither of them speaks for a few minutes."No, we wouldn't kid about this sort of thing," one of the men on the panel interrupts, his face a picture of horror."Having a mate is a good thing," the panel's head declares, scowling at Avery and Roman.Avery is pale in the face, and her eyes seem wider than usual as she stares around the room."What the fuck," she whispers to herself.Sonya is yipping, confused between being thrilled over the concept that she does have a mate, and also being miserable that it's Roman."I don't want a mate," Avery clears her throat, looking at the woman in charge sternly."You don't get to refuse what the Goddess has given you, please don't be so disrespectful of her divine wishes and decisions," the woman snaps, clearly on the verge of losing her temper at the two Alpha's unusual reactions."She is the one who had us declared mateless," Avery g
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