Avery went behind his guards as Sienna and a small Omega were both clasped in chains and brought down to the dungeons before facing their judgement. Avilene headed with Roxie up to her room. Roxie drew a bath and got herself cleaned up. The deep cut to her face from Sienna's claws had yet to heal. Roxie dabbed at her wond with some clean cloth and redressed in a dark mid length dress before the doctor could make her way up. The doctor's lips pursed into a fine line as she looked her over. "The bleeding has stopped which is good. My concern, however is that this might leave an ugly scar. If it doesn't heal properly." The woman said. Roxie closed her eyes as the doctor applied an ointment to the cuts. "I'll come back and check it in a couple of hours. You should stay here and rest during that time. It's an impressive victory regardless. No one of your stature has ever taken on someone as large as Sienna and came out victorious." The doctor said trying to reassure her. Roxie sighed and l
The following morning, Roxie was rustled out of bed by Avery. She quickly dressed herself in a black long sleeved top and a pair of dark leggings. She threw up her hair into a high pony and slipped on her flats as Avery led her downstairs. He was dressed similarly in his usual long sleeved dark dress shirt and a pair of dark denim jeans. He led her by the arm downstairs towards the dungeon. "What are we going?" Roxie asked groggily and Avery sighed. "It is part of the laws. If an Alpha sentences someone in the pack to be executed. The Alpha and if available, their Luna must be present along with anyone who wishes to attend in order to be present for the last rights." Avery commented in a low voice as he opened the door for her. He led her down to the basement level and through a door into a dimly lit hallway. There were several cells there and at the end was a large metal door. "What's that?" Roxie asked and Avery sighed. "It's the Execution chamber. There are seats for the viewing boo
Avery was going through the accounts on his computer, with Roxie sitting in the chair opposite to him in his office. The messy business with Sienna had been handled. It seemed to be over. Things were starting to relax a bit, though Roxie wasn't certain she'd ever get that look of pure hatred on Sienna's face out of her mind. "So, Typically there are a few choice members that are invited to these events. As a show of good faith, we typically invite other pack Alphas and Lunas to celebrate the Ascension with us. As of right now, Crimson Dusk's Alpha hasn't done anything horrible to us specifically. We could invite him, however if your mother ends up attending she will be arrested on the spot. We should invite Alpha James, his mate Maddison but keep close tabs on her at all times. Would you like your father to attend?" He asked absently. "We should invite my father, but does Maddison have to attend?" Roxie asked. Avery made a heavy sigh and nodded his head. "Unfortunately yes. Every gues
"You are quite the dark beauty aren't you?" Avilene asked as they were browsing the dresses for the upcoming ceremony. Roxie didn't want to admit it, but she wasn't really a fan of overly bright colors like the other girls that she grew up with. Pink and vibrant colors just weren't her thing. She clung to the understanding that she was an outcast and tried to pick things that made her stand out less in a crowd. "Are you talking about my hair color?" Roxie retorted quietly. Avilene laughed in response. "No, I mean, you typically wear things darker in color, or absent of color entirely. Blacks, greys.. white.. things of that nature. I think you look beautiful in those anyway, but I was wondering if you wanted to wear something.. brighter for the event?" Avilene asked. "I don't want to stand out too much, then again I'm not accustomed to these kinds of formal events. I never even attended my own prom, so how should I know what's proper attire?" Roxanna asked with a soft chuckle. Avilene
Avery sat in his office the following morning looking through the messages that he had previously received from Trevor. Things were a little rocky, he didn't know what was going on. He didn't trust this alpha of the Crimson Dusk, there was trouble ahead, but he didn't want to worry his mate before she took her first steps as his Luna. Roxie had enough to worry about without adding this to her plate. He hoped that she had fun with Avilene, he needed her away for a while so he could concentrate on finding the leak in his ranks. "Should we pospone the ceremony?" Trenton asked. Avery shot a glare in his direction. "No, but I do think we need to be prepared for anything. Inviting the local Alphas is protocol for situations like this, the unfortunate businesss with all of this is we don't always know who our friends are. Some might think that a young new Alpha like myself will be prime picking. No doubt they think me inexperienced with this role and that I can easily be moved, but there is n
Everything had been prepared for the big day. Roxie woke early from her slumber, but woke to discover that Avery had already left the room. His side of the bed was already cold, which made Roxie a little disappointed and underwhelmed. She moved to sit up in the bed and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. He was the light of her life and she appreciated him like another. She moved out of the bed to take her shower. She had just finished rinsing off and wrapping herself in a towel when she noticed Avery standing there with a tray of food. "Breakfast for our new Luna?" Avery mentioned with a cheeky grin. Roxie couldn't help but laugh at his corny behavior. She lifted onto the tips of her toes to lean up and kiss his cheek. Avery grinned happily. He didn't leave the room until Roxie was contently eating her breakfast. He made sure to grab a fresh omelet with her favorite fillings, as well as a side of hashbrowns and her favorite juice. He would be lying if he said that he wasn't a nervous wre
Mate! It was the first time since she discovered her wolf that Roxanna had actually really heard Vera stir inside of her like this. The unfortunate part of this situation was the fact that she was forced to look up at Alpha James as he stared down at her with disgust, rather than adoration or even acute interest. He looked angry. She had to think back at how she found herself in this situation. She had gone out to let her wolf out, and then she heard the call. The smell of everything she ever found appealing wrapped into one strong package. He smelled like a mixture of cinnamon spice, sandlewood and another natural earthy scent, and her heart lept in her chest, but her hopeful expression was soon to be crushed. James had barely noticed her existence in the pack. When he looked upon her at school, he simply avoided his gaze as if he saw nothing at all. She imagined that it was her size. The rumors were that her mother had been sickly during her pregnancy, Roxanna couldn't say for sur
Avery's POV He had been silent on his ride to the old pack of his birth. They had originally lived just outside of the Redwood Territory in adjacent shifter towns. He didn't really understand why he was coming back here, his parents had split when he was younger. His father had rejected his mother to follow some little she-wolf whore that had stolen his attention for the time being. He didn't understand those who would reject their fated mate, just to be with someone that would never truly make them whole. It was despicable, but it just showed to reason. Fated mates or not, there was no real loyalty in finding a mate. You could give someone the very best of your years, and they would still turn around and stab you in the back.His father was the Alpha of the Red Moon pack, had a fated mate, and beloved wife. Two children that adored him, and turned his back on them for some fling. It made Avery hate his dad with every breath he had in him. He didn't understand why it was important fo
Everything had been prepared for the big day. Roxie woke early from her slumber, but woke to discover that Avery had already left the room. His side of the bed was already cold, which made Roxie a little disappointed and underwhelmed. She moved to sit up in the bed and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. He was the light of her life and she appreciated him like another. She moved out of the bed to take her shower. She had just finished rinsing off and wrapping herself in a towel when she noticed Avery standing there with a tray of food. "Breakfast for our new Luna?" Avery mentioned with a cheeky grin. Roxie couldn't help but laugh at his corny behavior. She lifted onto the tips of her toes to lean up and kiss his cheek. Avery grinned happily. He didn't leave the room until Roxie was contently eating her breakfast. He made sure to grab a fresh omelet with her favorite fillings, as well as a side of hashbrowns and her favorite juice. He would be lying if he said that he wasn't a nervous wre
Avery sat in his office the following morning looking through the messages that he had previously received from Trevor. Things were a little rocky, he didn't know what was going on. He didn't trust this alpha of the Crimson Dusk, there was trouble ahead, but he didn't want to worry his mate before she took her first steps as his Luna. Roxie had enough to worry about without adding this to her plate. He hoped that she had fun with Avilene, he needed her away for a while so he could concentrate on finding the leak in his ranks. "Should we pospone the ceremony?" Trenton asked. Avery shot a glare in his direction. "No, but I do think we need to be prepared for anything. Inviting the local Alphas is protocol for situations like this, the unfortunate businesss with all of this is we don't always know who our friends are. Some might think that a young new Alpha like myself will be prime picking. No doubt they think me inexperienced with this role and that I can easily be moved, but there is n
"You are quite the dark beauty aren't you?" Avilene asked as they were browsing the dresses for the upcoming ceremony. Roxie didn't want to admit it, but she wasn't really a fan of overly bright colors like the other girls that she grew up with. Pink and vibrant colors just weren't her thing. She clung to the understanding that she was an outcast and tried to pick things that made her stand out less in a crowd. "Are you talking about my hair color?" Roxie retorted quietly. Avilene laughed in response. "No, I mean, you typically wear things darker in color, or absent of color entirely. Blacks, greys.. white.. things of that nature. I think you look beautiful in those anyway, but I was wondering if you wanted to wear something.. brighter for the event?" Avilene asked. "I don't want to stand out too much, then again I'm not accustomed to these kinds of formal events. I never even attended my own prom, so how should I know what's proper attire?" Roxanna asked with a soft chuckle. Avilene
Avery was going through the accounts on his computer, with Roxie sitting in the chair opposite to him in his office. The messy business with Sienna had been handled. It seemed to be over. Things were starting to relax a bit, though Roxie wasn't certain she'd ever get that look of pure hatred on Sienna's face out of her mind. "So, Typically there are a few choice members that are invited to these events. As a show of good faith, we typically invite other pack Alphas and Lunas to celebrate the Ascension with us. As of right now, Crimson Dusk's Alpha hasn't done anything horrible to us specifically. We could invite him, however if your mother ends up attending she will be arrested on the spot. We should invite Alpha James, his mate Maddison but keep close tabs on her at all times. Would you like your father to attend?" He asked absently. "We should invite my father, but does Maddison have to attend?" Roxie asked. Avery made a heavy sigh and nodded his head. "Unfortunately yes. Every gues
The following morning, Roxie was rustled out of bed by Avery. She quickly dressed herself in a black long sleeved top and a pair of dark leggings. She threw up her hair into a high pony and slipped on her flats as Avery led her downstairs. He was dressed similarly in his usual long sleeved dark dress shirt and a pair of dark denim jeans. He led her by the arm downstairs towards the dungeon. "What are we going?" Roxie asked groggily and Avery sighed. "It is part of the laws. If an Alpha sentences someone in the pack to be executed. The Alpha and if available, their Luna must be present along with anyone who wishes to attend in order to be present for the last rights." Avery commented in a low voice as he opened the door for her. He led her down to the basement level and through a door into a dimly lit hallway. There were several cells there and at the end was a large metal door. "What's that?" Roxie asked and Avery sighed. "It's the Execution chamber. There are seats for the viewing boo
Avery went behind his guards as Sienna and a small Omega were both clasped in chains and brought down to the dungeons before facing their judgement. Avilene headed with Roxie up to her room. Roxie drew a bath and got herself cleaned up. The deep cut to her face from Sienna's claws had yet to heal. Roxie dabbed at her wond with some clean cloth and redressed in a dark mid length dress before the doctor could make her way up. The doctor's lips pursed into a fine line as she looked her over. "The bleeding has stopped which is good. My concern, however is that this might leave an ugly scar. If it doesn't heal properly." The woman said. Roxie closed her eyes as the doctor applied an ointment to the cuts. "I'll come back and check it in a couple of hours. You should stay here and rest during that time. It's an impressive victory regardless. No one of your stature has ever taken on someone as large as Sienna and came out victorious." The doctor said trying to reassure her. Roxie sighed and l
Avery motioned for everyone to hold their silence. He cleared his throat to speak. "Today we are gathered here to bare witness to a challenge. Sienna of pack Red Moon has challenged our future Luna, and my mate. Roxanna on the grounds that she is not fit to be Luna in due to her belief that Roxie will not make a good Luna based on her small stature and her opinion of Roxie being weak. Roxanna, originally from pack Redwood has came here to answer that challenge and show you all that Sienna's opinion is invalid and despite her small size, has the ability to defend herself, and others under her care. I ask you to withold your judgement to the end. As the old laws dictate, the two challengers must face off in single combat until one party yields. As long as the fight is fair, we must accept the outcome." Avery nodded towards Roxie and took his seat between Avilene and his mother. "You don't look so good, Roxie. It's not too late to forefit and spare yourself some dignity. You don't look w
The next five days passed in a flash. Roxie spent every day training with Avilene until nearly dinner time. They did a variety of exercises, and each one was more advanced and more brutal than the previous session. Roxie was tired, her muscles ached, but she felt like her body was adapting to the intense training that Avilene had been putting her through. After she finished training for the day, she headed inside and ate dinner with Avery and Avilene. A couple of times, even Trenton and Allison would eat with them. She spent her nights in the throws of passion with her mate, only to wake the next morning and do it all again. That had been her pace for nearly a week now. Roxie woke to the sound of her alarm. Only this time, she wasn't the one to shut it off. Avery stood over her, his hair was still damp from his shower and smelling like a mixture of earth and spice scents. He kissed her forehead, and she slowly moved to sit up on the bed. The scent of something sweet caught her off gua
Roxie quickly showered and thew up her long hair in a messy bun. She got dressed rather quickly. She selected a black halter style dress. She slid into a pair of black tights with a spiderweb design and matched that with a pair of her black mary jane dress shoes. She put on her dark leather jacket, and applied a light layer of eyeshadow and some mascara. When she was pleased with the look, she headed downstairs. Avilene was leaning against the wall at the main landing. Avilene was dressed differently than what Roxie was used to. Avilene was sporting a midnight blue semi formal mini dress. It was rather flowy. She wore a dark cardigan over it, a dark pair of pantyhose covered her long legs, and a pair of calve high stiletto boots covered her feet. Avery came from the kitchen to meet them. He was dressed in a dark long sleeved dress shirt with a couple of the top buttons undone. A pair of tight fitting black slacks and dress shoes made up in ensemble. The sleeves of his shirt was rolled