Marcus jumps up and grabs onto the ceiling too, his long frame making it easy for him.He aims a kick at her midriff, which she blocks quickly. While she blocks that kick, he projects himself at her like a missile, using his weight to knock her to the ground."Bastard," she hisses as he kicks her in the side while she's on the ground.Grabbing one of his feet, she rolls and pulls him down, too, before leaping off of the ground, and giving him a hard kick to the side also.Well, one became four, but she stops after six, not wanting to be too unfair.Marcus struggles to get up, and Avery makes a note of this information.She quickly puts him into a chokehold, sitting down behind him as he hits and claws at her arms.She loosens her hold enough for him to be able to breathe a little easier, but she maintains her control on him.The whistle blows again, and Kate looks mildly baffled."The score remains One-Zero. There is no clear winner of this round," she declares, waiting for the pair t
"Go," Avery shouts, turning on some upbeat pop music.She walks along the lines of sparring teenagers, her eyes watching sharply for any mistakes, with Kate beside her."What should she have done there instead of punch?" Avery murmurs to her, pointing at a pair of girls."Kick, and then get out of the arm-span area of the opponent?" Kate suggests, and Avery nods in approval.Once they get to the end, they stop and turn to overlook the hall."Get two knives," Avery orders, then pauses, "actually, get four."Kate doesn't question it, quickly hurrying off the collect the four knives from the rack. She gets four hunting knives, long and light to carry.Once Kate comes back, Avery takes two knives and stares at her."Try to attack me. I won't harm you, but try to attack me," she says to the shy girl, and Kate takes a step back, shaking her head."If you're gonna be a tracker, your best defence is weaponry," Avery quickly adds, seeing the girl twitch - she knew that would be the teenager's
She doesn't remember most of the walk up to her room, because she was doing her best to contain her temper.She wishes she hadn't given out about the kids, in front of the kids - but she can't go back and stop herself now.They all seemed to brighten up when she complimented all of them, which is a thing she likes to do in her training sessions. Kids don't achieve their potential if they get shouted at all the time with no positive reinforcement.Stripping off her workout gear, she remembers she left her sweatshirt in the gym.Cursing herself, she writes it down on a post-it note - she'll get it after her shower.Snatching a towel from the wardrobe, and her shower products, she stomps into her bathroom, letting a screech of frustration out while the water heats up.She really couldn't believe how under-trained those kids were. Every pack does things differently, but she could beat the future Chief Warrior with minimal effort, and mild bruising.Closing the bathroom door, and locking i
Once the main course is finished, there's a short break between dinner and dessert.A number of mothers approach Avery, one or two concerned about her training tactics, another few asking her to keep an eye on their children.One even tells her her son's allergy, which confuses her - they're training, not eating nuts. Avery is polite throughout all of the encounters, even with the one where an entitled mother says her son should get extra training."Excuse me miss," Avery begins calmly, "your son is clearly embarrassed by you showing him up like this. I am giving up my personal time to train all of these children, and I owe you none of it."The mother tries to find something to scream about, but Avery sits in silence, staring at her. After two minutes of the lady staring at her, her mouth opening and closing like a fish, she walks back to her seat in silence. "My Chief Warrior would like to book an hour of your time tomorrow to organise a schedule for the week you're here, if you w
By the time she gets through some of her files and sends them on to York, two hours have flown by, and it's almost half eight.With a start and slight horror, Avery jumps up, remembering she was supposed to meet Roman half an hour ago.Slipping her feet into trainers, she hurries down the stairs, only realising when she's almost at the gym that she forgot to put on her sweatshirt or pyjama top.The tank top will have to do until she gets her sweatshirt.Knocking on the door of the gym, she quickly walks in, being greeted with the sound of fists hitting a punching bag with a significant amount of ferocity and anger.She raises a brow, skirting around to the cage to see if she can find her sweatshirt without being noticed.She wants to have a serious conversation, and that won't happen if this alpha is staring at her chest the entire time.A throat clears as she bends over to pick up her sweatshirt."You're late. And can you give me that?" Roman calls across the room, making Avery look
Avery finds herself back in her room with no recollection of walking back to it.Sonya is baffled, sitting silently while Avery's mind is blank."It was a good kiss for me not kissing back," she mutters out loud, laying on her bed.She puts Roman's sweatshirt down beside her, not sure what to do with it - she took it because she didn't know where to put it if she didn't.Sniffing at the hoodie, she still can't find a scent on it; it's as though Roman uses a scent-blocker.Laying there for a few minutes, Sonya starts getting restless, forcing Avery to get up.Can we go for a run?, Sonya pleads, and Avery silently consents, walking down the stairs to the main door."Hey, Avery," a voice shouts, and she spins around to see Carolyn floating out of a room she hasn't been in yet, a glass of wine in her hand."Do you want to come drink with us? Please say yes!" The coffee-skinned woman beams, bouncing over to her with surprisingly steady feet."I was gonna go on a run-" Avery starts, but Car
Breakfast is silent the next morning.The hall is emptier than the previous night, only residents or workers of the house eating and chatting.All of the women are smiling and smirking, nudging each other and looking up at Avery, who sits at the front of the room with scarlet-coloured cheeks.She looks around nervously, her eyes landing on Roman, before they quickly flit away, acting like she never looked in his direction.Carolyn nudges her with a smirk, winking at her in between shovelling oatmeal into Michelle's mouth.Avery scowls at her, feeling the nervous tension around her.She doesn't care who knows about their kiss; she isn't shy about stuff like that. She doesn't give a second glance to rumours and mutters in the corners of the halls.Her fear stems from his reaction. Because Goddess knows in this pack who would tell him, and he might think she's been telling everybody.And she hasn't! She told the ladies last night, and that's it.Yeah, so everybody knows, Sonya snorts, ro
Avery ends her phone call with her brother in a huff.He scolded her for training teenagers without his approval, to which she responded by questioning his authority over her. He told her to watch her temper, and it was safe to say she nearly lost it with him.It's almost time for lunch, so Avery slams her laptop closed, wincing with regret as soon as she does.Adjusting her bun as she walks down the stairs, she notes how quiet it is in the house - it's eerie compared to usual.She had been locked in her room with her music blaring before her call, so the silence is startling.Wandering to the dining hall, she finds it empty, so she walks towards the kitchen area where she keeps seeing people vanish into."Hello," she nods to a lady who looks at her a little strangely.Strolling into the bustling kitchen, she sticks to the wall, out of the way of everyone."Are you here to work or to watch, dear?" A man calls over to her, glancing over his shoulder while he shakes something into a pan
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