Chapter 27. Customs and Traditions


    Avalyn


    "I''m sowy." Vanessa said sadly, her cute speech impediment showing. I''m sure she will grow out of


    soon.


    "It''s not your fault dear. I''m sorry, I should have talked to them first." I spoke softly. "I will talk to the next


    couple before anything happens. Yourfort is of utmost importance." I told them truthfully.


    "Thank you." Adrian said, deep gratitudecing his voice. Both of them were too mature for their age. I


    hated that they had to grow up so fast, they didn''t get to be children first.


    When we reached the house of the second couple, Niki decided to go in and talk to them first. He


    would inform me when he was done.


    I turned around and looked at both of them. They felt familiar. I knew I hadn''t seen or met them before


    but somehow, I felt connected to them.


    ''You can enter.'' Niki mink-linked me.


    ''Okay.'' I replied and got out of the car, the kids following suite. Both their hands grasped mine tightly


    before we entered though the door.


    The couple??Shawn and Lauren bowed. "Good evening Luna." They greeted.


    "Good evening, Shawn, Lauren." I greeted back. "I would like you both to meet the kids, Adrian and


    Vanessa." I said and kept my hands on both their shoulders.


    Lauren''s smile widened as she looked at them. "It is my absolute pleasure to meet both of you."


    "So is ours." Adrian replied and smiled slightly.


    We all sat down on the couch, the couple on one while Niki, Adrian, Vanessa and I on another. We


    were a bit squeezed but we didn''t mind. We talked and asked them questions, in the hopes that while


    the kids didn''t ask anything, they heard and learned more about them. Shawn was looking a bit worried


    at theck ofmunication with the he so he got up and smiled.


    "Do you both want a tour around the house? I have a gaming room as well." He offered. The kids


    automatically looked up at me and I nodded, nudging them to go ahead. They got off the couch and


    nervously followed Shawn down the hall.


    "In my opinion, they are doing fairly well." Iforted the nervous she-wolf.


    "Really? They barely spoke a word." She replied.


    "They just need some time." I smiled at her. Suddenly Niki got up and sped down the hall. I was hot


    on his heels.


    We were in the backyard and Shawn was showing the pool to the twins. Adrian seemed interested but


    Vanessa turned back and ran to us, her little heart pounding wildly. She collided with Niki''s body and


    curled her arms around his legs, holding on tight. Niki''s eyes were wide and hands in the air, unsure


    what to do. She had not touched a single male yet and now she was hugging him. Slowly, he brought


    his arms around her and held her.


    A smile lighted my lips when I saw them. I knew it bothered him greatly that the kids were not as close


    to him. He easily lifted Vanessa in arms, looking in her eyes.


    "Did something happen?" He asked her softly. It was clear that he felt something for them.


    She shook her head and leaned against his chest. I looked at Shawn to see him look at us with fear in


    eyes. More like he was looking at Niki. Lauren was by his side as she held her mate''s hand. Adrian


    was by our side in an instant.


    "Thank you for you time. We will tell you the final decision soon." Niki said softly but they could


    clearly hear it because of the enhanced hearing. I held Adrian''s hand and we walked out.


    Niki ced Vanessa in the backseat and Adrian climbed in besides her. We got in the car and


    Niki started driving.


    ''What happened?'' I asked Niki.


    ''I do not know. I just heard her heart beating rmingly fast and just knew something was wrong.''?He


    replied and his hands clenched around the steering wheel.


    ''Adrian would have acted differently if something must have happened to her.'' I told him.


    ''Very true. But fear isn''t caused only by our surroundings, Moya Lyubov. Our memories can do the


    same.''?He said. It looked like he had experienced it. There was so much I didn''t know about him. ''She


    must have seen or heard something to trigger it.''


    My heart went out for the little girl. I remember there being a time when I used to fear everything, and I


    havee a long way now. All because of one person, who loves me unconditionally. I looked at


    Niki who was focused on driving, sensing me look at him, he turned his gaze towards me. "I love


    you." I smiled back.


    "And I love you." He replied with a small smile on his face. He focused on his driving again as I went


    into a deep thought.


    There used to be a time when he hardly smiled. But he smiled much more frequently now. They made


    him look younger, more carefree. I realised that I smile much more often too. Did he notice that change


    too? I knew I had changed after the shift and the mating. I had be confident, stronger and


    assertive. If the little make out session in the parking lot was any indication, Niki loved this new me


    even more.


    He pulled over at a quaint restaurant and all of us filled out. I had requested him to take the kids with us


    for dinner and he dly epted. We were quickly ushered in by one of the staff members and we


    gave them our orders as well.


    "What would you two like to have?" I asked the kids. They just shrugged.


    "Please get the same for them as well." I told the waiter. We had ordered spaghetti Bolognese and a


    filet mignon.


    "Of course, thank you Alpha, Luna." The waiter bowed and left us alone.


    "Did you like this couple?" I asked them.


    "Yeah." They said in unison but Vanessa sounded unsure.


    "What happened Vanessa?" It was Niki who asked this question.


    "I saw someone." She whispered. A shudder ran through her little body.


    "Whom?" Growled Niki. Vanessa flinched back a little as his voice and I ced a hand over Niki''s


    bicep to calm him. He was already very protective about the kids.


    "I don''t know. But he was fa-Alpha''s fwiend. He came to the pack." Vanessa said in a small voice and


    her brother looked at her questioningly. She nced at him and it seemed like they were having an


    internal talk.


    "Maybe that was before he left your pack and joined us. I assure you that no harm wille to any of


    you while you are here." Niki assured them. They looked unsure but nodded anyways.


    The waiter arrived with our food and we talked with the kids about lighter topics. I did most of the


    talking and Niki threw in a few sentences here and there.


    To end the dinner, I again asked the kids if they liked the couple and would want to stay with them.


    They both looked at each other before Adrian looked at Niki in determination. "We like them but we


    like you both more."


    Shock coursed through my body at what he was trying to tell us. He really wanted us to be their


    parents? I loved them both wholeheartedly but I don''t think I could be a parent. Doubt slithered in


    my heart.


    ''Ava?''


    ''I''m not sure Nik.''


    "Its time for you both to return back to the pack house. There is some paperwork pending, we wille


    pick you both up in two days." Niki informed them as he got up. We all followed his actions and left


    the restaurant.


    The children''s saddened expression hurt me. But I knew Niki made the decision after some thought.


    I trusted him.


    We dropped off the kids at the pack house before we returned back to the estate.


    "What''s worrying you, Love?" Niki brought back my attention and ced his one hand on my thigh


    while his other was on the steering wheel.


    "They are good kids Niki. I -I feel connected to them." I whispered. "They don''t deserve this."


    His eyebrows rose an inch. "I thought it was just me. There is something about them familiar. Which


    pack are they from again?"


    "Mystic Lupus Pack." I recollected. "The Alpha is Adri??oh." I breathed.


    That was Niki''s old pack. The Alpha was Niki''s father. The pack which Niki left. The reason


    that was still a mystery to me. I don''t know why I hadn''t put two and two together.


    His told on my thigh tightened. "Yes. My?father." He snarled.


    His eyes were turning ck and he the car speed increased drastically. I ced my hand on his and


    called my wolf forward, urging her to soothe him. Slowly, his eyes turned back to the grey colour that I


    loved.


    "You never told me what happened." I said softly.


    "I don''t like to talk about it." He clenched his jaw. He parked the car in its ce and got out. He came


    over to my side and opened the door for me too. He held out his hand for me and I took it and jumped


    out.


    "Its a touchy subject." He said softly.


    I nodded. He would tell me at his own pace, I was not going to push him. We went up the stairs to see


    that everyone was gathered in the foyer.


    "Thank god you''re back." Natalia hugged me.


    "Why are you carrying your bag? Are you leaving?" I asked her as I hugged her back. There were two


    bags in her hand and Mikhail had a couple in his hands too.


    "Yup." She replied, not telling the exact details. "Don''t worry, I''ll be back before you know it." She


    grinned.


    "I doubt it. We''ll miss you around here." I smiled at her.


    "Of course you will." She winked and then hugged Niki too.?


    Mikhail came over to me and smiled. "Goodbye, Avalyn."


    I hugged him too. "Take care Mikhail." All of us hade close. We were a family now. All the men


    were like brothers to me. I would miss him.


    They left quickly after that. They were dying their departure just to bid goodbye to us.


    "How are the kids?" Sofiya asked me as we we walked towards our bedroom.


    "They are great. I''m not sure if they actually like the Lauren and Shawn though." I said worriedly.


    "I''m sure they will ovee their fears. Lauren is a good wolf, I''ve known her for a while." She smiled


    reassuringly. "They just need to open up, which they will with time."


    "I hope so." I replied before we parted ways. Or maybe we bring them here with us, they know us, they


    arefortable with us and are actually willing.


    Niki was in the shower when I entered our bedroom. I quickly stripped and and walking in. His back


    was to me as he stood under the shower. I smiled. I loved our shower time. I walked up to him and


    trailed my hand down his muscr back. His muscles bunched under my touch but he didn''t move


    otherwise. I hugged him from behind and ced my palm over his heart.


    My dear mate was troubled.


    "How many more kids did he fucking torture Ava?" He whispered. The weight of the words falling heavy


    on his shoulders.


    "What did he do to you?" I asked and ced my cheek against his back.


    His muscles tensed further. "He made me train all day, punishing me when I fall week in front of people


    who were more than twice my age."


    Punished.


    I closed my eyes. I remember the times I had asked him to punish me and I flinched. I had hurt him. I


    now understood why he loathed it when I said that. Why he wanted me to be normal. I was far better


    now than before but deep inside, I knew I still loved being dominated. I made a vow to never ask him


    that ever again. He would do as he deemed fit.


    "I''m sorry."


    Sorry you had to go through it. Sorry I asked you to punish me. Sorry to make you remember your past.


    "Its not your fault." He replied and spun around and held me in his arms. "The world we live in, Ava, is


    not as pretty as you think. Punishing people, having pets is?normal."


    My chest tightened at his words. "But- you were so angry when you heard what Emilio did." I


    whispered.


    "You are my mate, Love. I fell in love with you the moment I saw you. What hurts you, hurts me too."


    He reasoned. For the first time, I didn''t find it good enough.


    "The other?pets?have mate''s too." I hated saying that word.


    "They don''t. The pets are humans. Humans are not mated Ava, not unless they are special at least.


    Werewolves take human pets to entertain themselves before they meet their mates or to do their


    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    personal work. It is moremon in the Vampire world because they need to feed on blood. They can


    feed on normal humans too but its too big of a risk, too many humans will die and the secret of our


    world will get out." I hated that it made sense.


    "dimir is perfectly fine with Sofiya." There were no humans in our house...except the maids.


    Maids.


    Following every order, being scared of making a mistake...shit. How could have I been so naive?


    "The maids are our human pets." He said exactly what I was thinking. "I had them remove their cors


    when I met you. I-I didn''t want you to think ill of us, considering what you had been through."


    "Violet?? what happens when they make mistake?" I remembered what happened with me.


    "Depends." He replied evasively.


    "What happens Niki?" I pressed and escaped his hold, I wrapped my arms around my self, feeling


    cold all of a sudden.?


    "We have strict rules regarding to pets. All the supernaturals follow them, regardless of differences


    between races. They are a part of our?? culture." He was still evading my question.


    "Violet is dead. She was as good as dead the second she tripped you. She found this few found


    confidence after her cor was removed. I want you to know that since you know all of this now, I will


    have the pets wear their cors again."


    I turned back and wrapped a towel around myself before walking out. I didn''t want to be a part of all


    this. I couldn''t believe he talked about all of this like it didn''t bother him.


    "Avalyn." He followed me and gripped my arm. "Don''t pull away. You asked." He said forcefully.


    "Papa didn''t have pets! We had vampires in our pack too." I gritted, my eyes shing as I wore my


    clothes and walked out of the wardrobe.


    "Think again, Avalyn. Maybe he didn''t want his beloved daughter to think ill about him. How the hell did


    nobody in the entire pack house tell you the truth about his death? Werewolves are loyal. At least one


    wolf would have told the Alpha''s daughter how their Beta killed him." He snarled.


    I flinched back at his words. I saw his expression falter for a split second before anger was back again.


    "You can''t leave me! You bare my mark. You are bound to me forever now. You are born in this world.


    You cannot ridicule its culture."


    "I''m not leaving you." I said, all the fight leaving me when I realised the source of his anger. He wasn''t


    angry at me not liking it, not too much at least. He was angry because he thought I was leaving him.


    "I''m angry because I was kept in the dark. I am angry because no one deserves to be a pet."


    His eyes softened. "Not everyone is as cruel as Emilio. They face repercussions in the form of different


    punishment for their mistakes. It depends on the owner again. Not everyone punishes their pet just for


    fun." He cupped my cheek. I closed my eyes and controlled my tears. Not everyone meant that some


    still did.


    "Have you?? did you have ever have a pet?" I whispered.


    "I was required to have one back at home. My pet took care of me and my wounds more than my


    father." He closed his eyes tightly at the memory. That was fine, I could live with that.


    I tugged him to the bed. I lied down on the bed and he pulled me half on him. Iid my head on his


    broad chest and trailed random patters over his abs. They tightened at my every touch, every stroke. I


    ced a kiss over his heart.


    "I wish you would share your troubles with me Nik." I whispered before my eyes closed on their own


    ord and I fell asleep.