《Beastly》


 Chapter 1

    Chapter 1


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    This work is unedited and will contain grammatical errors. It also contains scenes of violence, abuse


    and other things that may be triggers for emotional and mental trauma or anxiety. Viewers discretion is


    advised.


    ...........


    "Get up and go clear the dining table Ava. Everyone''s done with breakfast." I jumped at the sound of


    the voice and looked at the cook through my long dead-looking red hair. It acted as a curtain but it did


    nothing to protect me from the harsh re and eyes filled with disgust staring straight at me.


    "Y-Yes Ma''am."


    I hurriedly scrambled up from the floor that I was scrubbing, thanking God that I didn''t fall back on my


    face. I turned and ced the sponge in the sink, rinsing in record time. I turned back to face her and


    bowed my head.


    I walked out or more like ran out of the kitchen and towards the dining. The ce as always was a


    mess since the people who upied the house were a pack of animals, specifically werewolves. The


    pack had just had breakfast in the packhouse and I was as always left to clean up alone. I began to


    pick up tes and snuck some leftovers in my mouth since that was all I ever got to eat during the


    span of 24 hours. Pathetic, wasn''t I? But hey, this was my life and as much as I loathed it and as pitiful


    as it was, I still wanted to continue breathing air and living and hoping that one day I would just be free.


    That''s what my brother would have wanted.


    Before my life got worse; sadly my life had always been bad, all I had was my big brother who I stayed


    in a foster home with. He died suddenly at the age of 13 when I was only 8 years old. But this


    happened 10 years ago and no matter how much I cried for someone to bring him back to me every


    night, I knew it was never going to happen. I would be turning 18 in two days and being excited is the


    least way to describe how I was feeling. I was practically ecstatic because I would find my mate and


    shift. I wouldn''t be alone anymore and I would finally have someone who would hold onto me no matter


    what.


    I hade into this pack as a foster kid. The foster home I was in was shutting down and I didn''t have


    anywhere else to go, so my caretaker decided to bring me here. I can''t exactly say I was weed


    with open arms. Everyone looked down on me, the dirty looking girl with ginger red hair and forest


    green eyes. I was malnourished, still am malnourished, skinny and the only thing I saw when they


    looked at me was disgust and as the years went by, they all began to have a reason to hate me. Not


    like I knew why they did. I was treated like a ve but I still went to school. However, the Alpha of the


    pack; Alpha Richard Harrison pulled me out when I was 14 and I officially became the pack''s female


    dog. I became the female dog of the Blue Moon pack.


    They treated me like trash, taunted me. Kept their children away from me. I had to sleep in the attic at


    the top of the packhouse. They pulled at my hair. Never could I or would I really call this ce my


    home. Never. Because it wasn''t. I had to wear run down clothes that were not-so-white anymore and I


    had a few other clothes that I had picked from the trash can.


    But all these weren''t the main reasons why I hated this ce so much. There was one reason why I


    had ugly scars all over my body that did nothing but make my skin even more horrible than it was. One


    reason why I cried myself to sleep every night. One reason why I looked at myself in the mirror every


    morning and considered ending my pathetic life and that reason went by the name...


    "What the hell are you doing?" I froze with the numerous tes in my hands and bowed my head in


    submission. The small bacon bit I chewed slowly went down my throat and I hoped and prayed and


    begged that he hadn''t noticed.


    "G-Good morning. A-Alpha Ha-Harrison." I squeaked


    Well, he wasn''t exactly the alpha yet. His father was but in two days'' time, that would change.


    This.....man was going to be the next alpha right on my birthday.


    I didn''t dare look up at my nightmare and had to keep myself from crying there on the spot.


    "I asked you a question." He said and I heard his voice even closer, indicating that he had moved


    towards me.


    I whimpered.


    "I''m c-clearing up A-Alpha." I said


    "Then why might I ask was your mouth moving?" his voice was eerily calm and my breath got caught in


    my throat


    I didn''t know how to answer him. I couldn''t say the truth and I couldn''t tell a lie. My pulse quickened and


    I know he noticed, he never missed a thing.


    "I-I-I..." I was suddenly caught off as he grabbed a fist full of my hair and pulled it. A yelp escaped me


    and caught off guard, my grip on the tes went loose and they crashed to the floor.


    Tears sprang up in my eyes and my hands went up to clutch my head. It hurt so much. I felt as though


    he would rip it right from my head. My knees buckled together and the only sound that I could hear was


    my small whimpers and my erratic heartbeat. I waited for his next move as I could feel him watching


    me, his grey eyes staring into my very soul. He did nothing for a whole minute and I actually began to


    think he would have mercy on me, maybe he would let me off with a warning. But no, he wasn''t


    merciful...


    Because the next minute, he pushed me to the ground and my knees came in contact with the floor


    that was covered with broken pieces of tes. An ear-piercing scream filled the room and it took a


    while for me to realize that it was my own. Therge pieces cut into the skin of my knees and I tried so


    desperately to stand up but he just put more pressure on me as he pressed me down from my head.


    I felt the pieces go through my muscles. I felt the blood start to gush out and pool at my feet. He pulled


    my hair back and I gasped as I saw his face over mine, calm, yet his eyes held a wicked promise and


    an emotion I was so familiar with; hatred.


    The door that led to the kitchen burst open and I looked up to see the cook.


    "What is going on in...!" she stopped short when she caught sight of Alpha Harrison and me


    I thought that she would at least show a little sympathy but her big brown eyes lit up and a smile graced


    her face.


    "Oh, it''s just you Alpha Harrison." Her voice sounded as if she wanted to tempt him. She acted like I


    wasn''t her bleeding in the hands of this monster.


    He grunted and I nced at him only to find his intense gaze on me. He wasn''t even giving her a single


    nce. My breath caught in my throat and I gulped. I looked back at Peyton and saw her ring at me.


    I knew why.


    Peyton Day had been trying to get Alpha Harrison''s attention since like forever. She even went as far


    as bing the cook for the packhouse so she could be closer to him and serve him meals by herself.


    Peyton was convinced that Alpha Harrison was the one for her and he was her real mate. She warned


    off all the pack females that were old enough to be recognized by the Alpha as a potential mate and


    that means all females 18 and over. All his attention was currently on me and here she was trying to


    get him to spare her a look. And she hated it that way.


    Well, I wished she got the attention. That way I wouldn''t have to be suffering this way. I wanted to wish


    so badly that she was the one in this position but even I couldn''t wish what was happening to me upon


    my worst enemy. I could never bring myself to do that. Ever.


    I groaned and whimpered as he pulled my hair again. I felt like dying, so much. Anything to take me


    away from what I felt at this moment.


    "You''ll learn a lesson today Ava." He spat, my name dripping off his tongue in an acidic bitterness.


    My heart hammered even faster if that was even possible and I watched as a cruel smirk found its way


    on Peyton''s face. I wasn''t ready for what happened next though. I don''t think I would be even if they


    told me it was going to happen.


    He began to drag me swiftly with me still on my knees and screamed. I screamed so much that all the


    werewolves for the next 20 miles would probably hear me. I screamed and cried as I saw my blood


    following me and by the time he had stopped dragging, I was a heap of sobs, clutching my thighs and


    groaning from the pain.


    I looked up and I cried even more as I recognized the room to the door he had opened.


    "Start crawling." He said monotonously


    He let go of my hair and through my tears and pain, I crawled into the room that offered me only one


    thing: my possible death. I heard the door shut behind and I gulped.


    The whips and canes lined the walls, some looking like works of art but nothing more than an epitome


    of destruction. Chains were everywhere, the firece burned and iron rods were there, over them,


    already heated to be used. The torture room.


    I was surely going to die today, wasn''t I?


    He pulled my hair and forced head to look up but I closed my eyes to avoid meeting his gaze.


    "I-I''m sorry, p-please d-don''t hurt m-me." I cried weakly and a hand connected with my cheek.


    I didn''t dare say anything else, I just cried more.


    "Don''t you dare ask for forgiveness you pitiful weakling." He said.


    I sniffed and raised my hands to my head when he gave a powerful pull. An Alpha had the power of ten


    normal werewolves put together. He could kill me now if he wanted but then he wouldn''t have anyone


    to torture. No, he wouldn''t satisfy himself by killing me. He wanted me to live and suffer.


    "Now Ava, me and you are going to have a little fun."


    I heard the evil smirk, I didn''t need to see it. I didn''t want to see it. Because I knew that for every shaky


    breath I took; for everysh that came down on my back; for every scar that was left on my cheek; for


    every single scream and for every single tear I shed, I would always remember what he sounded like


    and remember him for what he truly was...


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    The Beast...


    The Beast that would haunt me forever.

 Chapter 44

    Chapter 44


    The meeting hadsted for the next 30 minutes, but true to her word, Ava had left 10 minutes in and


    wandered off. It wasn''t until she stepped out of the office that she recognised the walls of the


    packhouse. The whole ce didn''t seem as haunting as thest time she had been there and she was


    d she didn''t flinch when she walked past numerous teenagers, greeting her from left and right. Her


    feet had taken her to her attic and that was where Cole found her minutester.


    When they entered, she didn''t turn back and only gazed outside at the window, observing the


    whiteness of the trees and the snow that fell little by little.


    "Enjoying the view?" he asked, moving and standing next to her


    "Yes. I like snow, always have." Ava replied, "It''s just odd to get it at this time of the year."


    "It''s the end of October. November is only a few skips away."


    "Still strange, don''t you think?"


    "Seasons can change when they want to. What will really tick me off is if winter continues till March."


    She nced at him from the corner of her eye, finding a sour expression on his face


    "Hate the cold that much? I don''t."


    "Last I checked, I wasn''t a walking human atomic bomb like you. I''m normal."


    "So am I." He snorted at her and turned to give her a disbelieving look


    "Did you see the hole in that man''s chest? Normal is very very far from what you are."


    "How did you know that was me?"


    "Simple." she turned, waiting for him to give an exnation and he gave her a boyish grin "There were


    no weapons on the scene, number one. Two, it looked more like lightning had been shot through him,


    rather than an actual weapon and three, hello, it''s you. I''ve seen you do enough crazy shit these past


    two weeks for you to not be the obvious culprit."


    Instead of arguing with him, she shrugged her shoulders and turned back to watch the snow. "Do you


    remember anything of how I came here?"


    "How you came here?"


    "Yes. How I got into the Blue Moon Pack and started living here."


    "If anyone is going to be able to answer that, it''ll probably be my dad or Xander''s. I was too young and


    even if I tried, I doubt I''d be urate in any information I''m giving."


    It was true. He was young and so was she. Maybe she had totally forgotten what her brother had


    looked like and although she had a lot of memories of his behaviour, his gestures and their time


    together, there was no actual way to be sure of how he looked anymore. There was a chance she


    would see him and not be able to remember him. It was a high probability, but she had seen that man


    and had called out the name of the brother she had known and he had responded kindly, despite the


    pain he was going through.


    Was it really him? The thought of him being alive was too far fetched, but there were many things


    happening in her life that were so outrageous that if they told her she was the next queen of Ennd,


    she wouldn''t bat an eyelid.


    "Where is he?" she asked Cole


    "Dealing with Sterling and Violet. He felt like he had to clear things up with Violet once and for all." Cole


    answered "Do you mind it? Violet being attracted to him?"


    She thought hard before she answered. Frankly, she didn''t really care who was attracted to Xander.


    She only cared if it affected everything around her. What was the point of letting your attraction to


    someone be so toxic it defied allmon sense?


    "Not really." she answered, truthful


    Cole smiled at her sheepishly, cocking his head to the side "Will you ever feel anything towards him?"


    "I do feel something, but it''s not love, not jealousy and certainly not-" she paused as she sensed


    Xander and turned. He walked through the open door, a nk expression on his face


    "Ready?" he asked


    "Ready? Ready for what?" Ava asked him, stepping closer to him


    "You still have an exnation to give and if I''m not mistaken, you were concerned about this man that


    had the audacity toe into mynd unannounced." His eyes were dark as he looked down at her,


    dark and brooding "Let''s go find answers. Together."


    The finality in hisst word made her heart thud sharply against her rib cage and her eyes widened in


    mild surprise before she nodded her head in understanding. He didn''t ask her before he made a move


    to grab her hand and swiftly turned the other way when protests began to dance on her lips. As soon


    as he moved, so did she and she tried as much as possible to ignore the sweet warmth that emitted


    from Xander''s palm.


    "Is this really necessary?" She asked him, watching his back. He turned slightly to look at her, an


    incredulous look on his features like he couldn''t believe she would even bother asking


    "Yes." He answered simply, turning back.


    Ava didn''t have the strength to argue with him, neither did she feel the need to. Although she was


    heavily against how he made her feel, she wouldn''t deny herself the little moments and give in to her


    stubbornness all the time. Even that, took a great deal of strength out of her. As she looked up at him,


    she wondered if it would be more difficult to resist him as time passed. She didn''t want to not


    have control over what happened between them, no matter how much pull they felt towards each other.


    Still, she had gotten so used to the little sparks of electricity that showed out every time he touched her.


    Together with Cole and Xander, they made their way on foot to the pack hospital. The same hospital


    that she was alwaysing back to. It seemed like no matter how much she tried, she would always


    find a way here. They didn''t have to stop at the reception desk and she noticed how hefty warriors were


    stationed all over. Logically, Xander and Cole probably already knew where the man was and if their


    deliberate steps didn''t speak of that fact enough, then the manner in which Xander squeezed her hand


    tighter was proof enough.


    When they stopped in front of a door on an isted floor, only littered with guards, the thump of her


    heart got louder in her ears. The door was pushed in front of her but she hesitated as Xander walked


    through the door. His eyes met hers and she shivered at how empty they were. At her pause, her


    motionless body was pulled forward. Looking away, she turned her head to the bed, seeing that the


    man was not asleep and was looking at her with a warm smile.


    Before she could speak, the warmth in her hand was gone and within the blink of an eye, hisrge


    hand was wrapped around the man''s neck. Her eyes widened, watching as his body was lifted off the


    hospital bed.


    "Stop!" she eximed, her body moving to stop him "Alexander put him down!"


    He didn''t even turn to look at her. His eyes were narrowed on the person that was turning blue in his


    grasp. She couldn''t get the image of her brother struggling to breathe out of her head and tugged


    aggressively on Xander''s arm. Desperately, she looked around for Cole and realised he hadn''t walked


    into the room with them. Her abdomen began to tingle, her pulse quickening. There was no way to


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    know what would happen if she let out her powers. She didn''t want to hurt this mystery man by


    ident and cursed Xander''s barbaric nature to the deepest points of hell.


    "Tell me why I shouldn''t snap your neck into two." That gruff tone of voice was devoid of anything but


    hostility,pletely ignoring Ava''s attempts at pulling his arm away. It was easier to against other men.


    Xander was the only one she had never been able to use brute strength on and it would probably not


    get her anywhere


    Opening her mouth to berate him, her attention suddenly drew to the man in Xander''s grasp. Ava


    couldn''t decide if it was her imagination or her emotions were getting the better of her, but he seemed


    to be shrinking. Xander too, stopped his attack and together they stood back as a small frame dropped


    to the ground. The man looked up and grinned at them, his face ringing bells of recognition in Ava''s


    memories.


    He had shrunk from a full-grown man to a child that looked no more than 8 years old.


    "I see you two still don''t see eye to eye." he said, his voice now child-like


    Horrified? Baffled? She didn''t know what exact emotion she could pick but as he grinned up at her, his


    voice yed back in her head and she knew she couldn''t deny it anymore. It was him. The brother she


    had lost. The brother that had left her to grow up alone. Now, he was back and was not only acting like


    everything was okay, but was also shrinking down in size.


    The universe really didn''t want to cut her some ck. At this point, everything was aimed at full-on


    throwing her sanity off the cliff it clung to for dear life.


    The question was; just how much more of this could she take?

 Chapter 45

    Chapter 45


    I watched him silently as he ate the food on hisp, his small hands cutting up the pieces of meat into


    small bites. His face asionally lifted to smile at me and then went back down to focus on his food.


    After he had shrunk down in size, I had managed to get a shocked Xander out of the room and used


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    food as an excuse. He had ordered Cole to get it and just then got a call that he was needed at the


    border for something important. In irritation, he had ordered me not to go back in without him and


    stalked away with horns sticking out of his forehead. Literally. All that was left was for him to destroy


    and kill everything in his path for him to officially earn the title of the devil.


    One to not listen, I had taken time to calm myself and when Cole returned with some food, I entered


    back into the room with it and served it to Marcus. Now, we sat in silence as he ate and I tried not to let


    the anxiety eat me up as I waited. Finally, he finished and dropped the te on the bedside cab


    before turning his full attention to me. A beautiful smile stretched on his face and for some reason, it


    gave mefort. My eyes nced at his neck and I took note of how it had the imprint of Xander''s


    hand.


    "Your hair is even wilder now." he said and subconsciously, my finger lifted to the scattered tendrils that


    had been let loose when Xander pulled my hair tie "I remember how difficult it was to brush that out for


    you."


    "I can''t imagine." I murmured, not knowing if I should tell him I didn''t really remember it being wild. Most


    of my memories of my hair were of it being dead and t "So it''s true then. You really are..."


    "I am." he said simply as I trailed off. I pursed my lips together and instead of freaking out not, folded


    my arms across my chest and gave him a heated look


    "Where have you been?"


    "Around. Mostly travelling and fulfilling duties that I have." Duties? What about me? I was so


    unimportant he left me to fulfil duties only Lord knows who gave to him


    "Why are you here?"


    "Because..." he started "...it''s time for you to begin your training."


    "Wait, what..?" I paused, staring at his childish form "Could you please change back? I feel really


    awkward speaking to you when you look this way." In less than 10 seconds, he reverted to his size, the


    hospital gown no longer looking bogus on him "Thank you. Now, about this training?"


    I spoke to him like I hadn''t spent most of my childhood with him. It was like all those years I spent


    mourning his supposed death and the fact that I was alone, were all falsehoods. What was the truth?


    They usually say the truth sets you free, but it felt like the more I learnt, the more I would be tainted. It


    would be difficult for me to believe anything people said, no matter how ring the evidence was.


    I just hoped whatever the truth was, wouldn''t break my heart.


    "I know you have a lot of things to say to me. A lot of things you want to ask me. I''m not going to beat


    around the bush and I''ve tried to prepare myself for this moment for years. Before we begin, I just want


    you to know that I never wanted to hurt you and I did my very best to protect you. You can hate me all


    you want, but please don''t turn me away."


    It was funny how his words were almost like Xander''s. Unlike Xander however, he wanted toy


    everything out in the open at once. Hopefully, he didn''t want to hide anything from me.


    "Why?" I asked quietly, my voice strong "Why did you leave me? I thought you were dead." His face


    grew serious and his brows furrowed, something akin to regret swimming in his eyes


    "I''ll only be able to answer that if I start from the very top." he replied "You and I are special people


    Avaline." It hit me like a ton of bricks as I sucked in a breath. Nobody had called me that name for


    years. I had forgotten how the name was fondly used by my brother when I was a child


    "I haven''t heard that name in a while."


    "Probably, but it is who you are still, isn''t it?" Was I? I didn''t believe so "I was born into this world to


    protect you."


    "You haven''t actually done a good job of that, have you?" Although my voice was light, I''m sure he


    could deduce that I was making a deliberate jab at him


    "I tried my best, but ultimately, my best wasn''t good enough. I''ll regret it, yes, but I believe if fate didn''t


    deal us these cards, you''d have ended up in a more uncontroble situation. Now, are you going to


    keep attacking me or will you hear what I have to say?" My silence was all the confirmation he needed


    and he nodded "Good. Let me begin..."


    He proceeded to tell me how as a child, he had been tasked with taking care of me and that I was


    meant to be kept safe until the day I would fulfil my destiny. He told me of how he acquired powers and


    had used those powers to manipte my memories into believing that he had gotten sick and died,


    meanwhile he had just walked away from me when it got too dangerous to be together. He told me of


    how, in detail, he was hunted down by an ultic group that sought to im me and how he had spent


    years in captivity before finally breaking free again. He told me of how he had let me go to fight life


    alone simply because he wanted me to be kept alive and that when he had finally tracked me down, I


    was already gone from the blue moon pack and had left a chaotic new Alpha madly searching for me.


    He described how he had found out information about my unhealthy situation in the pack and how he


    had spent thest few years in regret that he couldn''t protect me the way he should have been doing.


    When he found me again, I was in the process of getting my life back on track in Lansing and


    described how beautiful he always found my dancing. I would have deemed him a liar if he didn''t


    correctly give ounts of things I had done and the people I had spent most of my time with.


    "Why didn''t you evere out and say anything? Reach out to me?" I asked


    He smiled ruefully "If I did, with everything that had happened and was happening then, you would


    have cursed me to hell. I doubt you''d ever want to have anything to do with me. I was more content


    watching you find yourself from the shadows, with people that loved you regardless, knowing what and


    who you were. That''s something I didn''t want to spoil."


    His legs swung over the bed and I saw his knuckles whiten at how tightly he gripped the edge. His face


    didn''t betray him, but his bodynguage did.


    "I had no right toe back into your life knowing what I had done. Knowing I wasn''t able to live up to


    my purpose. Just the thought of you hating me killed me inside. I''ll admit, nothing scared me more than


    watching you lose all the light in your eyes at the thought of me. It''s better to have you love me in a lie,


    than have you hate me."


    The sincerity in his eyes shun so bright and I felt something twist in my chest. My vision suddenly got


    blurry, my heart aching.


    "Please don''t cry." he said. I was crying? I was so into my thoughts that I hadn''t noticed. My hand


    raised to swipe at my face and sure enough, a glistening tear stared back at me "Come here"


    The gentle coax and open arms were a weing enough reason to allow myself close to him. We


    stood, our arms around each other as one of his hands stroked my hair gently.


    "I can never bring myself to hate you." I said, squeezing him tighter "You should have been with me.


    Why didn''t you at least try?"


    "I did." he replied, his hand pausing in my hair and continuing a momentter "On the night of your big


    debut, I made sure to leave you flowers. It took me all the strength in my entire being to do that."


    My mind shed back to the bouquet of flowers that had been left in my dressing room on the night of


    the show. The card...


    Oh my, the card had the initial ''M''. My eyes lifted to his face and I met his eyes, the kind smile fixed on


    his face.


    "That was you?" I asked quietly, disbelieving


    "You had always loved irises. I couldn''t think of a more fitting gift for my princess." His finger lifted to


    touch my forehead and it was like a jolt of energy surged through


    The memories came crashing one after another, without hesitance and without giving me a moment to


    rx. The childhood memories that seemed to be forgotten showed the both of us,ughing, crying


    and everything siblings did. I clung harder unto him and began to sob. I sobbed so hard my head


    began to ache and the fire in my belly throbbed hard, but I didn''t feel the powers urge to explode. I


    didn''t know why I cried. I wasn''t quite sure if I was relieved or I was finally letting all my sadness go.


    He held me quietly and ran his fingers through my hair. Not saying a word.


    I don''t know why I cried so hard.


    But I felt it then, that a missing part of me had returned and I was beginning to feel moreplete.

 Chapter 46

    Chapter 46


    Marcus and I had spent the next few hours catching up, his arm firmly wrapped around me as we


    were undeniable. Iid next to him on the bed now, quietly staring at the ceiling and allowing myself to


    bask in his warmth.


    "How does your chest feel?" I asked him, wondering how he was able to move and talk this much


    despite the damage that he had taken from me


    "Oh, it''s fine. It''ll be healed before the end of tomorrow, I''m sure. I feel a sharp pain there once in a


    while but nothing I can''t handle." He responded. I winced, looking up at him


    "I''m really sorry about that. I still have no idea why I did that. It was like I-"


    "Like you weren''t yourself." hepleted and smiled at me "You were. Just not one you''re familiar


    with. It was probably my fault foring close to you the way I did."


    "What does that even mean? It seems like you know much more about this than I do."


    "About what?"


    I raised my hand, bending it into a gun form "Yknow zap zap, boom boom." He began tough, the


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    vibrations of his body passing to me and out of embarrassment, I sat up and sulked. "Don''tugh at


    me. That was the only way I could describe it!"


    "Zap zap, boom boom? How intelligent," he said jokingly


    "I should have put that spear deeper inside you, shouldn''t I?"


    "You''ve be so violent over the years. Is it because of your mate?"


    "I''m not violent. Just very expressive." I tried to keep the heat from rising to my cheeks


    "Sure." His eyes were shining as they gazed at me, a grin on his face "Your powers got activated for


    one reason alone; your mate."


    Wait, what?


    "What do you mean? What does Alexander have to do with anything?"


    "Once in a while, werewolves are born with powers that they say, were gifted to them from heavenly


    beings and the orders of fate." He started "These werewolves are always female and as a safety


    precaution, their powers do not activate until they''ve met their mate. Think of it like a time bomb, when


    the timees for it to explode, there''s really no stopping it. Unless of course, a wire were to be cut,


    meaning unless you died. Also, the more time spent near them, the more your powers mature."


    Heavenly beings? Orders of fate? If he didn''t have a serious expression on his face, I''d have burst out


    "I''m not understanding any of this." I said, genuinely confused


    "There are many things I need to teach you. That''s why I decided I couldn''t keep away any longer. If I


    hadn''t sneaked in the period your mate wasn''t around, I probably wouldn''t have gotten a chance to


    meet you again. To answer your question from before simply, you attacked me because you detected


    me as a threat because, in a way, we have the same wavelength of energy."


    Marcus had exined to me how on the night of the ident, he had not been able to interfere


    because of Xander''s arrival. He had gone off to investigate the people that had attacked us and found


    that they had connections to this cult group that was obsessed with me. They and the ones that had


    gone around cutting down girls that looked like me. Xander would have to take some time out to listen


    to Marcus and the scary things he had found out. He hadn''t been able to enter the pack easily due to


    Xander''s presence, for some reason.


    Now that he exined, did this mean that my powers hade out that night because of Xander''s


    presence? Thinking about it irritated me because that meant he really was like a knight in shining


    armour. If he hadn''t found me that day, everyone in the car might have...


    "There''s nothing wrong with it." I looked back at him as he grabbed my hand, his fingers prying my


    hand open


    "What?" I asked


    His finger began to draw a random pattern on my palm, so slowly that it almost tickled "This connection


    between your mate and your powers. There''s nothing wrong with it. I believe it''s what the very first


    woman to gain these powers wanted as well."


    "How do you know that?"


    "I just do."


    I stared at him, hoping that he would borate further but he continued to draw patterns on my palm


    and remained silent. It urred to me suddenly that around the same time I had gained these powers


    and met Xander, I had begun to have the most vivid dreams of a life that was not my home. It wasn''t so


    important to mention to Marcus but my memories of a man I didn''t know swam through my mind time


    and time again.


    The most powerful memory; how he whispered my name.


    "Is it possible for someone to be alive more than once? To have lived more than one life?" I asked


    instead, quietly. His finger paused its movement on my palm and when I lifted my eyes, I found his


    gaze on me. His eyes that looked nothing like mine were wide and surprised "Um sorry, that was


    probably a stupid question."


    I tried tough it off. Maybe I was paranoid. Despite thinking that I was, I kept having the nagging


    feeling that I was holding on to precious memories and thoughts that didn''t belong to me. In a way they


    did, but they were so detached from me that it felt so wrong to be in possession of them.


    "Stop beating yourself up." he said, his grip on my hand tighter and reassuring "Your mate is almost


    here. Although I''ve enjoyed yourpany, I think it''s time I got some rest."


    He let go of my hand and rxed further into the bed, smiling at me again. His smiles were not yful


    nor arrogant, just so genuinely kind that it would make you gravitate towards him. I stood up from the


    bed and for a quick moment, hesitated. What if he wouldn''t be here when I returned?


    "I will be." he said, "When you return, I''ll be right here."


    "Are you reading my mind?" I answered, sounding like I was slightly freaked out. He chuckled lowly as I


    lifted the covers over him


    "I can only alter memories Avaline. Not my fault you wear your heart on your sleeve." He grabbed my


    hand one more time and gave it onest squeeze "Go to him."


    At that point, I couldn''t describe what those words did to me. They tugged at my heartstrings and finally,


    I was able to push myself out of the room. The halls were very quiet when I stepped out, only with two


    guards who greeted me as I came out. The air felt heavy and chilly, making me wrap my arms around


    my torso. What was the time?


    ''Keira?'' I called out as I began to walk. There was no answer but I knew whenever she came to, she''d


    hear everything ''I wish you didn''t have to leave and I''vee to realise that it''s because of who I am. I


    promise I''ll find a way...''


    My ears tuned out the numerous conversations around me as I walked. My feet carrying on ording


    to memory.


    "I''ll find a way for us to never be apart."


    Now that Marcus was here, there was a chance I''d get to learn more of how to control my powers, how


    to control them and how to keep them from suppressing my wolf. Now I knew, there was a


    way.

 Chapter 47

    Chapter 47


    The rain wasing down hard. My feet were nted in front of the hospital with my arms wrapped


    around me. It was supposed to be a full moon tonight but the dark clouds that hung heavy obscured it


    and brought down an unexpected downpour. There was no one else in sight outside. Everyone was


    inside, in the light of warmth, yet here I was, basking in the cold of the night as my thoughts ravaged


    me.


    I could run through it. Maybe if I concentrated hard enough, I would be able to heat myself up without


    blowing something up. The risk was high though and I didn''t want to have another fiasco after all the


    events of the day.


    "Where the hell is he anyway?" I asked out loud, suddenly feeling irritated. Marcus had said Xander


    was almost here and after so many minutes, he still hadn''t shown up


    Go to him.


    If I had known he would be so unreliable, I''d have stayed with Marcus for the rest of the night. Then


    again, I would have probably been a bother to him. He''d want to stay awake with me instead of resting.


    "This is thest time I ever go meet that bastard willingly." I took a deep breath and steeled my resolve


    to get back to the house by myself


    Just when I had taken two steps forwards, I was pulled back. My body turned suddenly and I found


    myself glued to a naked chest. My widened eyes gazed up and I''m sure my mouth fell so wide open


    that it was almostical. The warmth came off immediately and engulfed me, all the cold vanishing


    from my body. His arm was wrapped firmly around my waist and right under my palm, I felt the wetness


    of his chest and the heart that beat underneath it. So quickly that it was like it would jump into my hand.


    "Were you nning to go home under this?" he asked, his voice deep yet softBelonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    "I-I waited for you..." curse my stuttering, "I thought you were still busy."


    His head tilted to the side cutely and I found myself cursing inside that I found it cute. The rain wasn''t


    so loud anymore as I felt that familiar pull between us.


    "Reckless." he stated


    "Huh?" I responded, not expecting that word


    "You''re reckless. I''d stay stupid, but I know for a fact that you have a good head on your shoulders." A


    vein popped on my forehead and my forgotten irritation came out again in full force


    "Shut up! Besides, why would I sit still and wait for you when I know I can get there by myself?! The


    one time I rely on you and you screw up. Like honestly, I should have never-!"


    "Ava."


    "What?! Don''t interrupt me when I''m giving you a piece of my mind you ba-!" My back quickly made


    contact with the wall beside the doors as he caged me in. What was with this man and getting me in


    dangerous positions? The wetness from his hair dripped to touch my face as his chest and I were on


    the same eye level. Staring up at him, I was now hyper-aware of the many emotions that swam in his


    eyes.


    I could gaze into his eyes forever and I''m sure I''d never get bored.


    "Have dinner with me tonight?" he said, his hand wiping the water off my face gradually


    "Are you asking me or demanding?"


    "I''d say begging is a more suitable word. I believe we both know by now that I''m shameless when it


    "This is how you beg? I''m not seeing you on your knees. Neither did I hear the word ''Please''."


    He groaned slightly, muttering something on the lines of ''stubborn woman'' under his breath before


    responding "Please have dinner with me tonight."


    I remained silent for a moment, thinking about his request. His cool gaze didn''t ever leave my face,


    dancing across and then returning back to look at my eyes.


    "I don''t think that''s a good idea." I finally answered


    "Why?"


    "Thest time we spent time together, you disappeared without a word for more than a day. If that''s not


    a red g, I don''t know what is."


    Instead of a guilt expression, this man began to smirk at me. It caught me by surprise as his hand


    cupped my face.


    "You missed me."


    "What? No! I''m only saying I don''t want to....it was awkward, okay? How else am I supposed to exin


    this to you? No normal person can do what you did. Then again, you''re not-"


    "Ava."


    "Jeez, Alexander. Didn''t I just say not to interrupt me when I''m giving you a piece of my..." I trailed off


    as I saw the hunger in his eyes. Clear and raw. Like he would swallow me whole "Why are you looking


    at me like that?"


    "Because."


    "Because?"


    "I want to kiss you."


    His face was closer. So close that our breaths mixed. I didn''t know if I was the one who had leaned up


    or if he was the one that had leaned forward. The only thing that I focused on was the electricity in the


    air and the tension that weighed on my shoulders. When he was this close, it was harder to resist him.


    Knowing who he was, still knowing what he had done, it seemed like my being called out to him with


    everything I had in me. What would happen if I just let myself this once? Would it quench the fire in me


    that came alive whenever he touched me?


    Maybe.


    With that, I said words that I never thought I would say to him


    "Then what are you waiting for?"


    It shouldn''t have felt so good when his lips touched mine. The fireworks shouldn''t have been this many.


    I shouldn''t have melted like heated butter against him or raised my arms over his shoulders to bring


    him impossibly closer.


    But I did and it was the most amazing yet guilt-tripping feeling that I had ever felt in my whole life. The


    kiss was slow, sensual, filled with so much emotion that I couldn''t detect where it came from. It was


    nothing like the first kiss he had stolen from me that day and I only pulled away when I felt like I


    couldn''t breathe. I was the only one heavily panting, but I felt his shoulders had tightened so much, I


    wondered how he would ever get them loose.


    Looking up at him again, my heartbeat loudly in my ears. His eyes were even more heated up than


    they were a second ago. I couldn''t even begin to imagine what I looked like. As his face lowered to


    mine to im my lips again; this time more hungrily, I didn''t resist. Itched onto him, wrapping my


    arms and legs around him as he hoisted me up and pressed me against the wall.


    I knew it the moment he had kissed me; I was a goner.

 Chapter 48

    Chapter 48


    We never had dinner that night.


    My little adventurous decision left me almost guilt-ridden and dwelling in maximum shame. I was alone


    now, in bed, wearing the most random shirt I had ever seen. I had pulled it off the clothes hanger after


    drying my hair off and hopped into my bed. Closing my eyes for a split second, my mind yed back


    the events ofst night. He had kissed me. I had let him. One moment, we were making out


    passionately in front of the hospital and the next, we were walking back awkwardly to the house under


    the pouring rain. On my request. I had hoped the rain would cool us both down and by the time we


    would reach home, all traces of my arousal would be washed off.


    I still remember the feeling of his fingers brushing against my skin as he peeled off my wet clothes. It


    was like we had both been on a high; one that drove me off the edge and had left me wanting for


    something I couldn''t quite understand. Despite the heavy tension, Xander hadn''t pushed for more and


    had let me go. I couldn''t imagine if it was hard for him as it was for me. The only thing that had stopped


    me from going past the point of no-return was the shes of horrible memories that were triggered.


    As I got up, I allowed my senses to have full control and realised Xander wasn''t in the house. It was a


    plus for me because that meant I would be able to steel my spine before facing him today. Hurriedly


    taking a shower, I got dressed in warmer clothes and went downstairs. dys was in the kitchen, as


    usual, making breakfast. She turned to give me the brightest smile she saw me and I couldn''t even


    ignore the gleam she had in her eyes.


    "Good morning Luna Ava." she chirped. Her usual behaviour would make me feel better, but all I


    wanted was to allow my emotions to roll over till they were purged out of my system.


    "Good morning." I said, taking a seat at the counter. I ced my head into my hands as I listened to her


    move around. Today was a new day, I needed to go see Marcus in the hospital and possibly get


    Xander and Cole to have a conversation with him. I wouldn''t be able to avoid Xander for long. I wasn''t


    nning to either


    I just needed time to ept what had happened and ept that I had indeed gone crazy at this point.


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    This was the only solution to not letting myself give in to what I was feeling. Pretending it never


    happened was definitely out of the question.


    "You wanna talk about it?" my head lifted to look at dys as she ced a te of piping hot food in


    front of me


    "Talk?" I asked, ncing at the food on the te for a second


    "You''re not exactly in a good mood. You''ve been sighing so much since you sat there, I''m sure


    something is eating you up." she responded, leaning on the counter on the other side "Is this about the


    Alpha?"


    My eyebrows rose in question and I averted my eyes, pulling the food closer to me "Why would you


    think so?"


    "Well, for one, he was in the most wonderful mood this morning. I''d never seen him as happy as he


    was this morning and here you are, theplete opposite." I met her eyes again and found them


    watching me softly "You''re the only one capable of making him that happy and I thought you''d be the


    same. I guess I was wrong."


    Why wouldn''t he be happy? After all my big talk of never giving in to him, I had practically offered


    myself to him on a silver tter. I shouldn''t even be mad at him. He had asked me before doing


    anything and I had given him the green light.


    "I doubt that. He has everything he could ever want. Maybe it was just a rare day for him." She


    hummed as I stuffed my face with macaroni and cheese


    "If it''s like that, then let''s forget about him. Why are you upset?"


    "I''m not upset."


    "I don''t know if you''ve noticed dear, but I''ve spent a long time on this earth and I can tell when a woman


    is having boy trouble." A giggle escaped my lips. Xander was definitely not a boy. What I had felt


    pressing into every part of mest night was definitely a man.


    I groaned again as my mind took me back tost night and I red at her a little.


    "Can we not do this right now?" I literally begged


    "If you talk to me, then we won''t. But..." she trailed off, giving me a pointed look that showed that she


    would definitely not let this go. I chewed on my bottom lip, contemting before releasing a sigh of


    resignation


    "We kissed." I mumbled lowly


    "What was that?"


    "We kissed. I let him kiss me."


    The response was a gasp followed by silence. My head lifted to see if she was still there and I found


    her staring back with wide eyes and a mouth that was fully ajar. She was frozen in ce but a moment


    winced but they didn''t stay up for long as she rounded the counter and pulled my hands into hers.


    "Why are you so excited?" I asked, genuinely confused


    "The question is, why aren''t you?!" I had never seen dys act like such a schoolgirl "So you let him?


    Does that mean he made the first move? This means Beta Cole owes me money."


    "Owes you money? What?" she didn''t even show any form of guilt, only giggling at me "You two were


    betting on us?"


    "Of course we were. Beta Cole instigated it of course and I was pretty hesitant, but I got so invested


    "Do you know the problem with all this? It''s this ce and the people."


    "What do you mean?" Seeing as she had calmed down, I gently pulled my hands out of her grasp,


    trying my best not to be irritated


    "This environment isn''t good for me. I want to stay away from him. I don''t want to be with him, but


    everything around us is gradually pushing us together. You guys really want me to be with the man that


    tried to murder me on countless asions? It''s too chaotic to even think about."


    "So you''re saying it''s because of us that you did what you did?"


    "Of course not."


    "Then what is it then?"


    "I don''t know!"

 Chapter 49

    Chapter 49


    Fuck it.


    I didn''t know. I was just so tired of everyone having such a swell time and getting happy in such


    situations when I felt like I was suffering. Of course, I didn''t me anyone. I had no one to me but


    myself. Still, the fact that it seemed like no one was on my side when it came to Xander and I was not


    good for my mental health. When my body screamed for me to go to him and mymon sense gave


    way, I needed someone to pull on that little string of hesitancy and drag me back. Not push me further.


    Was I being immature about this? Maybe. Could I do anything to stop this feeling of betrayal from


    everyone around me? Maybe. I really didn''t know.


    "You can''t expect someone to stop or encourage you dear. Every decision you''ve made concerning


    Alpha Xander has been all on you. Granted, I have no idea what you have been through with him and I


    can''t say I haven''t thought of you falling in love with him and deciding to stay, but I want nothing more


    than for you both to be happy." she said, as she gradually wrapped her arms around my shoulders "If


    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    you''re happy together, fine. If you''re happy apart, fine. I''m actually pretty d that you give him such a


    tough time most of the time and that he''s working to get you despite this."


    "You are?" I asked, looking up at her. dys smiled down at me, the warmth of it making me feel much


    better


    "Yes. It''s needed for character development." I chuckled at her words "Do you hate him?"


    "I..." Would I let someone I hate hold me the way Xander did? "I don''t think so."


    "Do you like him?"


    "I think he can be a good person when he wants to be. He cares about this pack and has a slightly


    good head on his shoulders. As an Alpha, he''s good for this ce."


    "What about for you?"


    "I can hardly stand him. He''s hot one moment, cold the next. Sometimes I want to understand him,


    other times, I wish he would just leave me alone. He''s not healthy for me but I can''t help feeling


    connected to him in more ways than one. It confuses me. Makes me anxious too. Yet, it excites me."


    "Then if you can''t help it, why do you allow your little moments of weakness to pull you down?" I stayed


    silent, gazing up at her as she stroked my back "These little moments do not define the entirety of who


    you are Luna Ava. Neither do they have to make you hesitant to do what you believe must be done.


    You have the power to do anything and everything."


    "You don''t think I''m crazy?"


    "Crazy? I have yet to meet any other pair of mates that have held-on on to the mating process like you


    two have in all of my life. It''spletely normal for things like this to happen, no matter what history


    you may have between you." She let go of me, cing her hands on her hips "The way I see it, if you


    don''t want it, it''ll never be reality. On the other hand, if a little part of you wants it, I believe there''s


    no stopping. It''s all on you. Now the question is...."


    She turned on her heel and began to walk away, but let me hear her final words.


    "Do you not want this or you''re too afraid to want this?"


    ...................


    "What''s with that distant look in your eyes?" Marcus asked. Ava jumped slightly where she sat and his


    eyebrows scrunched up as a frown became noticeable on his face


    "Nothing. I was just thinking about something." she smiled, but he could see it wasn''t that genuine. She


    was always expressive and couldn''t hide how she was feeling in front of anyone. He found it quite


    endearing "Do you want to eat now?"


    He nodded his head in response and quietly watched as she began to unpack the food she had


    brought with her.


    "I''m d to know you''re eating well while you''re here." he said, wanting to start up a conversation. Her


    softughter filled the room as she turned to walk towards his bed


    "Although I can handle myself in the kitchen, dys makes sure I don''t allow myself to give in to my


    urges of not wanting to eat on some days. It''s nice having her around. I''m sure you''ll love it."


    He closed the book she had brought for him and ced it on the bedside cab. Ava pulled the tray


    and ced the food on it so he would eat. He had made it very clear to her that he was in good shape.


    The IV was gone and now, he was only resting. Marcus knew it probably shocked the doctors how well


    and how quickly he had been able to heal of an injury of that degree. Not that he''d ever tell what he


    was. It was better to keep them guessing.


    "So when will I be getting out of here?" he asked her


    "The doctors say they just need to put you under observation. Besides, you''re still a threat if you''ve


    forgotten and no one wants you prancing around, especially since they don''t know who you are."


    "I thought your mate would have cleared up all of this by now. I''d like to start your training as soon as


    possible."


    Ava hummed as a response, sitting down on the chair beside his bed. Marcus was now sure that she


    was spacing out because of her mate. He had deliberately mentioned him just to see how she would


    react and if the slight grimace she made when he mentioned him was any indication, that meant that


    something had definitely happened between them.


    "Does he treat you well?" Marcus asked


    "What?" Ava responded, not paying attention


    "Does your mate treat you well?"


    "Well, he tries his best. Too touchy and possessive if you ask me."


    Marcus chuckled. Ava''s character and that of Xander''s were bound to sh all the time, which did


    nothing but amuse him.


    "I can whack his head if you''d like."


    "And risk having you get kicked out? No, thank you."


    "He''s aware that will upset you so he wouldn''t even think of getting rid of me."


    "How wonderful that I''ve be your immunity card." He grinned at her then began to eat the food


    slowly. The symphony of vours was a blessing to his tongue and he hummed in satisfaction "I want


    you to talk to him."


    "About what exactly?"


    "I''m sort of a liability to everyone around me, especially this pack. I don''t think it''s alright to keep the


    information you know between us alone. He''s been dealing with cases that revolve around me too."


    "You trust him." He didn''t have to ask her. He could tell from the way she spoke that she trusted Xander


    more than she thought she did. "Are you sure about this?"


    "Too many people have died for me to not be sure. We could all have a meeting when you''re


    discharged. I''ll speak to him about it beforehand."


    "A meeting?" he thought about it for a moment and then nodded, "As long as that''s what you want. It''s


    better this way."


    Neither of them said anything more. Marcus knew there wasn''t really anything he could do to help her.


    He could only hope when the time came, she wouldn''t regret her final decision.


    Then again, regret was already deeply rooted in her life. She just didn''t know it yet.

 Chapter 50

    Chapter 50


    She paced in front of his office, rubbing her hands together as she practised what she would say when


    she saw him. It had taken a long time for her to convince herself to even go look for him and now that


    she was here, she was very hesitant about going in. At moments like these, she wished her


    rtionship with Xander was normal like the others. If they both had been born somewhere else, in


    another time, maybe they''d have escaped having this turbulent rtionship.


    Ava took a final deep breath before raising her hand to knock on the door. It came as a surprise to her


    when the smooth wooden surface of the oak door was suddenly reced by a face. The face of the


    man that had her insides in ruins.


    "You''ve been pacing for almost an hour. I thought you''d never knock." he said to her, opening the door


    wider as she lowered her hand to her side "Are you okay?"


    "Yes." she responded lowly, her voice cracking. She cleared her throat before speaking again "I needed


    to talk to you about something. Are you busy?"


    Ava wasn''t so scatterbrained at the moment that she didn''t sense Cole''s presence as well as Sterling''s


    behind the door. They didn''t surprise her. The one that did was the scent of the woman that hated her


    more than anything. As he stood back to let here in, her eyes zeroed in on the woman sitting


    cross-legged on one of the sofas. She rose and bowed mockingly, before directing a wicked grin Ava''s


    way. Ava heard Xander close the door behind her before he moved to take a seat right across from


    where Peyton was.


    "Good morning Luna Ava. It''s quite a surprise seeing you here. I was just telling Alpha Xander to


    extend my greetings." her tone of voice was high and filled with enthusiasm. So much that it made Ava


    want to throw up on her shoes


    "Peyton." Ava replied simply, not really having the strength nor the patience to deal with her so early


    "Good morning."


    "You look absolutely beautiful this morning. Is that a new shampoo I smell? Your hair looks gorgeous."


    Peyton came forward, her hips moving sensuously and raised her hand, but Ava shifted back, totally


    not wanting her hands on her


    ''Touch me and you die.'' Keira''s voice rang loudly through her head, unexpectedly and with so much


    promise, it would take a miracle not to let her have her go at the woman''s face


    "Peyton." she began, "I''m not under the impression that you like me very much. Neither am I under the


    impression that you being nice to me isn''t a ploy for you to get closer with the man you''re so obsessed


    with." Her face showed that she was obviously taken aback and her eyes quickly scanned around the


    room before settling back on Ava''s face


    "Let us, by all means, cut the bullshit. You hate me. This pretence isn''t necessary so I would really


    appreciate it if you would excuse me and these gentlemen for the time being. I have something urgent


    to discuss." The finality in her tone left Ava''s temple throbbing. Her body felt warmer now.


    She had to take time to calm down, but if Peyton kept throwing her fake love in her face, she wouldn''t


    be able to stop what would happen. She wouldn''t even try to. Not today.


    "Um, I guess I''ll let myself out." Peyton said, her voice low and her cheeks bright pink. She turned to


    bow and excuse herself but when her eyes met Ava''s again, they burned with scorn "Have a good day


    Luna Ava."


    Peyton walked past her and Ava didn''t bother to turn back, even when the door was shut a little louder


    than usual. Her eyes closed for a moment and she took a deep breath.


    ''Keira?'' she called out softly


    ''Yes, honey. I''m here. I know. We''ll talk when you''re out of here.'' she responded. Ava smiled slightly


    and opened her eyes. She was grateful to her wolf for always being the one who would understand


    when others would not


    Xander stayed rxed on the chair, leaning back and staring like he was waiting for her. Cole was with


    a stupid grin on his face while Sterling was looking through some papers in his hands.


    "Good morning." she said, moving to take a seat next to Sterling


    "Good morning Luna." Sterling said, looking up and offering her a small smile


    "Good morning Power Puff! That was some show. Top-tier early morning entertainment." Cole said,


    chuckling


    "It''s not my fault you guys don''t know how to put a leash on some of your pack members."


    "Ohhhh, burn!" Cole''s loudughter filled the room and her lips tugged upwards


    "How is your family doing?" I asked Sterling


    "Very good. Jamie can''t wait for when next you''de around. He''s piled up a lot of stuff to show to


    you." Sterling said, obviously happy to talk about it "Alvin asks about you too. You''re basically a part of


    the family now."


    "I''m ttered." And she was. There was no greater joy than knowing they liked her for who she was and


    that she didn''t have to hold back on behaving as she wanted with them. It was probably a good thing


    that Sterling also now had a soft spot for her.


    Her eyes finally settled on Xander again. He stared back at her patiently, his chin cradled in his palm.


    His face didn''t have any ounce of emotion but his eyes were shining so brightly today. She couldn''t


    think of any time when she had seen them so alive. Then again, now that she thought about it, it was


    probably only when he was looking at her.


    "So, what did you want to talk about?" he asked slowly, not bothering to shift from his position "Do you


    need them to leave?"


    "Well..." she started, "It''s about Marcus. I think they should stay since they''d get to find out anyway and


    it has to involve everyone."


    "The man that got into the pack undetected yesterday?" Cole asked


    "Yes. Well, how do I put this?" she thought of how to exin that wouldn''t sound outrageous or


    strange. Although, her existence was already outrageous and strange so would they really be surprised


    if she told them some of the things she already knew "Before I came into this pack as a child, I used to


    live in a foster home with my brother."


    Why did it feel like she was about to pour out her whole sob story to these three men? Well, it didn''t


    really matter. Ava began to tell them of how she had grown up with her brother, how they had gotten


    separated and how he had spent his time during the time they were apart. She chose to leave out that


    he wasn''t normal and had powerspletely different from hers. These details, she felt, would have to


    contemtion on their faces.


    "So basically, I think it would be of the interest to listen to what he was to say. He has more knowledge


    of these guys than anyone else. It''s the only link we have right now and I want you to speak with him."


    She gave Xander a pointed look and was taken aback slightly when he seemed to roll his eyes


    "I don''t like him." Xander said, straight to the point


    "Why?" she was exasperated "What reason could you possibly have? If it''s about him getting into the


    pack, then you have to understand he did it because of me. There was no other reason. So, if you want


    to punish anyone, it''s me."


    "No need Power Puff. Xandie just has his panties in a twist because now he has to share your attention


    with even more people." Cole provided, smirking Xander''s way.


    From Xander''sck of response and the re he directed Cole''s way, she was convinced that was it.


    How childish.


    "Stop letting your personal feelings block yourmon sense." she said and when his eyes met hers,


    she berated herself. Here she was saying this, but didn''t she allow her feelings to ovee her


    "I''m not too fond of conversing with a man like that Luna Ava, but given that you trust him and you''re


    vouching for him, I will say let''s give him an inch. If he tries to overstep his boundaries, my warriors and


    I will be ready to end him." Sterling said.


    She wasn''t surprised by the seriousness of his words or his face. A side of her wanted to remind him


    that it was his same warriors that had been unable to catch him before but she kept silent. She was the


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    one asking here. This was not the time to be smug.


    "Cole?" she asked


    "I''m down." he responded, "I''ve been itching to catch these guys more than anything."


    "We will." she said and faced Xander again "Well?"


    "What do I gain if I do this?" Xander asked


    "What do you mean? For one, you''d be saving much more people and-"


    "No." he sat straighter and crossed his arms against his chest, the movement momentarily distracting


    her "I decided to speak to him before you even finished. I''m asking, after everything, what do I gain


    from letting him stay here, with you? What do I gain from trusting him fully to the point of integrating him


    into this pack, when I barely know him?"


    Ava knew where this was heading. Of all the most childish, proud, annoying...


    "Are you ckmailing me?"


    "No mate. I''m simply asking you a question."


    Were they really doing this? In front of Cole and Sterling? She wanted to die from embarrassment.


    "My word should be enough for you." Her teeth grit together as she struggled to contain her annoyance


    "It is, but I still want something more."


    "Do you have to be such an asshole?"


    "Yes."


    Ava wished her re was enough to bury him 20 feet under the ground. So far deep anyone that


    searched would never find him.


    "What do you want?" she asked


    "Dinner. Tomorrow night. With me."


    Biting her tongue, she swallowed the urge to raise hell and tried to calm down. The tension was thick in


    the air. The other two probably felt it.


    "Fine." she answered


    "Wonderful." a small smile lit up his face as he tilted his head to the side "You promise?"


    "I promise."


    He nodded and stood up. "I''ll hold you to that. Excuse me for a moment." She watched his smug


    expression and steam still came out of her ears even after he was gone. There was possibly nothing in


    this world that could piss her off the way he did.


    "Luna Ava." She turned to Sterling and tried her best to smile "I''m not sure if I should tell you this, but


    he was never nning to kick your brother out. He decided to let him stay before you even came to


    ask, even without us knowing he was your brother."


    "What?" she asked,pletely dumbfounded


    Cole chuckled before chiming in "Have fun on your date."


    Alexander Harrison...


    He was indeed the devil.

 Chapter 51

    Chapter 51


    "He should be here soon." Ava said, ncing at the clock above the door


    "How wonderful." She turned abruptly as she heard his childish voice and scowled at Marcus "What?"


    "You know you can''t look like that! Change back." she scolded, annoyed at the boyish grin that


    stretched across his face "Please Marcus. This meeting is going to steer how the rest of the things


    around us will pan out."


    Seeing the serious expression on her face, he reverted to his normal size but continued to grin at her.


    The sun was setting outside and the reflection of the rays bounced off her face radiantly. There was no


    way she could hide that she was worried about how everything would go. The unruly Alpha was the


    only thing that was the only person that would be able to move her training forward and the quicker she


    started, the more effective it would be on the day of battle.


    Battle huh? It had been a very long time since he had thought about it. Now, it wasing and he


    knew there wasn''t much time to get ready. Getting Xander''s cooperation was at the top of his list.


    The door was suddenly pulled open and his imposing scent filled the room. Ava turned to the door and


    watched Xander stride in, the power oozing off of him more than usual. If she could guess, it was


    probably because he was trying to intimidate Marcus, but from the smile on her brother''s face, she


    could tell that he wasn''t moved. Then again, she couldn''t be too sure because although Marcus was


    kind and honest, she didn''t doubt that his life experiences had equipped him with the ability to


    manipte people and hide some things he actually felt.


    Unexpectedly, Xander walked over to where she stood and it wasn''t until he was in her personal bubble


    that she thought of backing away, but there was already limited space behind. It took her as a surprise


    and knocked the air out of her when he hugged her. His arms circled her and his head buried itself into


    the crook of her neck as she stayed still. Her eyes met Cole and Sterling who waved at her as they


    came into the room as well.


    "Although I respect that my sister is your mate Alpha Xander, I''m not totallyfortable with PDA."


    Marcus stated, watching them with narrowed eyes, but Ava could tell that he was amused from the


    tone of his voice. That was exactly how Freddie would have reacted. Donovan would have been much


    more violent about it


    She resisted the urge to giggle at the memory of her adoptive brothers. It would be wonderful for them


    to meet Marcus. Heck, she wanted to see them too, but she wondered if the Alpha wrapped around her


    would be open to the idea.


    Xander stood at his full height and looked down at her. "And I wonder how that''s supposed to be my


    business, outsider? Understand that the only reason I''m not going to cut you down where you stand is


    because of her."


    It was a scary thing when Xander allowed his aura out. Everything was determined by how he was


    feeling and if it got too heated, chaos would ensue. Ava felt it in her bones that this meeting would have


    to go smoothly as nned or else.


    Xander on the other hand, contemting, took in the look of his mate as he hadn''t seen her since


    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    yesterday. Work had been very hectic and there was no way he could make it homest night and by


    the time he had gotten home that morning, she was already gone. Her scent was like a warm glove,


    calming him down. He had missed her and the way her eyes were looking up at him now, with so many


    feelings swimming in them that he never wanted to pull away. This meeting would have to be over and


    done with quickly so he could start preparing for their date tonight. Turning to face Marcus, he eyed him


    from head to toe.


    "Shall we get started?"


    The atmosphere was surprisingly not filled with tension, but anyone watching would be able to realise


    that Marcus and Xander were sizing each other up properly. Ava knew how it looked when men did


    that. Marcus was now fully recovered, despite the serious injury and he wasn''t cowering in Xander''s


    presence. They sat together, at various ces in the hospital room and once she sensed that Xander


    would try to drag her to sit with him, she swiftly moved to sit next to Cole.


    "Why are you here?" Xander asked, ignoring the sharp ache in his chest at Ava''s move. Instead, he


    directed his attention to the man before him


    "I came back for my sister, Alpha. I''m sure she''s told you that much." Marcus answered, smiling


    "You''re an interesting person Marcus."


    "If this ttery is a way to get on my good side so I can give you and Ava my blessings, it''s not going to


    work." Xander leaned forward and rested his arms on his knees


    "Bullshit. I''ve been hesitant about you from the moment you stepped foot into this fucking pack and


    there''s no way you can take me for a fool." His eyes darkened slightly and the air began to chill "I''d


    appreciate it if you''d go straight to the point and just talk."


    Marcus'' eyes stayed levelled as he leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest "As expected of


    the strongest Alpha in North America."


    "Does she know?" Looking at Ava, there was no indication of surprise on her face and she sighed as


    she folded her arms too


    "Yes, I suspected. I just didn''t want to say anything until I was very sure." she answered. Xander had to


    hand it to her. She was able to sense something that only a selected number of Alphas could sense.


    "What exactly is this thing?" Cole asked, his face full of curiosity


    "It''s-" Ava began


    "No." Xander interrupted, fixing his hard gaze on Marcus "I want him to exin it to everyone here."

 Chapter 52

    Chapter 52


    Marcus was no fool. Xander had intentionally put him on the spot to raise the level of caution in the


    meeting. It seems that he didn''t fully trust him enough to allow the atmosphere to bex. He didn''t


    me him though. A lot was being put on the line for Xander. The same went for Marcus. The only


    thing that was allowing them to have apromise was the woman staring intently between them.


    Heaving a sigh, he looked back at Xander, dropping his smile "I''m a hybrid."


    "A hybrid?" Sterling asked then chuckled, "What does that even mean?"


    "Simply put Commander, it means although I am a werewolf, I have no wolf. I cannot fit into the order of


    any pack because of this. I feel no connection to ranks and I do not easily submit to Alphas."


    "That means you''re exactly like-!" Sterling''s hostility rose and disyed in his stance


    "That maniac we have down in the prison." Xander finished, "Which brings me back to the question I


    first asked; why are you here? I don''t take it as a coincidence that you suddenly showed up here, after


    the attack and want to rekindle a rtionship with my mate."


    "Your mate who happens to be my long lost sister."


    "Your sister only by blood."


    "At least it''s better than only being a mate by wishful thinking, Alpha Xander."


    Xander''s wicked grin stretched out across his face and Ava swore she saw the wheels turning in his


    head. This wasn''t the time to rile anyone up. Marcus was the only one who understood just what the


    hell he was trying to achieve, but then again, she liked that he didn''t back down from Xander''s dreadful


    aura and words.


    "I should kill you right now, don''t you think?" Xander asked, his tone emotionless


    "Alexander!" Ava shouted, getting annoyed by how they were going at each other''s throats now "If you


    try anything, I won''t go out to dinner with you. Ever. And Marcus..." her brother looked like he had a


    triumphant smile on his face but she red at him making his smile to drop "Stop trying to rile him up."


    Both men looked back at each other and Marcus raised his hands in surrender.


    "The man you have in your prison is a product of what they call ''The Induction''." Marcus started "Before


    I go into detail of that. I want you to understand something about Ava and I." At hisst sentence, he


    directed a gentle smile at her, then took a deep breath


    "I am a natural-born hybrid, a guardian of the gifted. Although we were born to the same parents, we


    have no simr characteristics and could be mistaken to be utter strangers. This is because I was born


    to protect her and she was born to fulfil a destiny assigned to her by the heavenly beings and the


    orders of fate. Inyman''s terms, your mate is a superhero and I''m the one who has to help her get


    there." he said


    Cole was usually yful about these kinds of topics but Ava noticed that he was very attentive. The


    room was dead silent as Marcus ryed what she knew to the rest of them. He spoke about ''The


    Induction'' and of how the people that had captured him had run multiple tests on him and had extracted


    his DNA, using it on their followers to get rid of their wolves.


    Most died in the process. Some had survived and had developed few powers that could be likened to


    his, although everything came at a price and the price of his DNA infused with their normal werewolf


    DNA wasplete and utter insanity. The cult glorified themselves as people who could stand next to


    The gifted in the aftermath of the war and were dying to get their hands on her as soon as possible.


    The reason for the death of the many women across the country was not because Ava was Xander''s


    mate. It was because after she had suddenly vanished, no one had been able to trace her at all. The


    cult had caught wind of it and had suspicions of her being the one they had been waiting for. They had


    started to search for women with the description Xander had given out and when they were not


    satisfied, they killed them off. Most times, they subjected them to torture before they died. It was really


    sickening and only increased the anger of the men in the room. It was even more aggravating that


    others would take advantage of what this cult was doing and try to raid the pack in the absence of their


    leader.


    "My God." Sterling said lowly "Just what the hell is happening?"


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    "I need to start her training at once." Marcus said, concluding


    Xander stared back at him, not believing what he was hearing. Heavenly beings? Things that controlled


    fate? A war? Everything sounded so grave that he imagined the world crashing and burning in its wake.


    "What exactly..." he started, organising his thoughts "What exactly does this war mean?"


    Marcus'' stance became rigid as his eyes narrowed even further "I''m not sure, but I can tell you one


    thing, nobody will be able to stop it. This cult has been gathering up arge number of followers. They


    know she exists and they''ll keep trying to get to her because she''ll be the turning point for everything."


    "Isn''t this too much responsibility for one person to bear?" Cole asked "She''s barely trying to deal with


    these cult guys and now you''re here, running your mouth about a war!"


    "I agree with Beta Cole. This is too much for her to burden on her own. What kind of training does this


    even entail? Is it something we the warriors of the pack can''t handle?" Sterling chipped in, agitated as


    well


    "She''s not on her own. Although this pack is linked to a lot of trauma for her, you all are here for her. I


    am here for her. This cult has been digging for information, sending off spies and eventually triggered a


    "I''m not childish enough to believe they fear here just because of what happenedst time. They are


    also aware that she can barely control her powers."


    "But if what you''re saying is true then why are we still having murder cases of red-heads being


    reported? It doesn''t make any sense." Sterling said


    "Diversion." they all turned to look at Xander. His eyes were cold and his facial expression was filled


    with silent rage "They are trying to pull us away from the pack with these deaths because they know


    we''ll want to take responsibility. During that time, they''ll strike." He released a deep chuckle "Are you


    fucking kidding me?"


    "Exactly. The only reason they didn''te here during the time you were absent was that Beta Cole


    was still here." Marcus said "Although it was fortunate that I was able to sneak in during the time you


    were gone, it''s dangerous for you to leave her Alpha Xander. You are, the only capable person that can


    be able to handle keeping her out of their hands. There''s no one else I can entrust this to."


    "So I was right when I put her under fucking protection then and where did she go?! Into that maniac''s


    den." Xander growled, looking her way


    It was then that they all fully paid attention to her. Xander was the first to notice and instinctively


    reached out to her when he saw the nk look in her eyes and on her face. She was staring straight


    forward but it was very obvious that she wasn''t here physically. Her mind had travelled but there was


    no trace of her wolf being at the forefront of her mind.


    "Shit. What the hell is happening?" Xander asked, pulling her into his arms and looking down at her.


    Her eyes remained open but there seemed to be no life in them.


    "Stay that way." Marcus suddenly said as he sensed that Xander''s wolf would push him over the edge


    of reason, "She''s fine. She''s just somewhere else right now. She''ll return soon."


    "What do you mean she''ll return soon?" Cole asked, "Isn''t this another panic attack?"


    "Beta Cole, I assure you and swear on my life." Marcus'' expression was serious as he looked down


    "Give her a few minutes."


    Xander''s jaw ticked. He hated this. Why was he always so helpless when it came to this woman? His


    hand raised to wave them all away. Cole and Sterling hesitated, but once they sensed the growing aura


    of their Alpha, they bowed and left without another word, choosing to stay at the door. Marcus stayed


    behind and sat down on a chair with a big sigh.


    Marcus wasn''t expecting this to happen so soon. It was probably linked to having her real memories


    returned to her. Now that everything wasplete, she would be able to enter that ne. The ne


    that only she could go.


    "Avaline is like a flower that opens up with the sun." Marcus started "Delicate, but powerful. I can tell


    you this Alpha Xander..." he leaned forward as Xander looked up at him "Put some faith in her."


    Faith? What the hell could faith do? It was the most obvious thing ever that she was probably much


    more powerful than him, but he''d rather die than not try not to protect her. Even though he could feel


    her heart beating at a normal pace in her chest, he wanted nothing more than for her eyes to be filled


    with life and for her face to squeeze up at him. His arms held her closer, tighter as he took in her scent.


    She was alive.


    He had to be patient.


    She would return. And she would get ready in time for their date tonight.


    ............


    Blue skies above. Clear tranquil waters below.


    "Just how long am I going to be here?" Ava asked out loud, as she kept walking on the water


    One moment, she was in a room with the guys and the next, she was here in this weird ce. Instead


    of getting panicked, she was hit with a sense of deja vu and had the lead to start walking. There had


    been no one else and she had been walking for some time. At some point, she had even called out but


    there was no response. It was like an endless space.


    "I wish I could at least talk to Keira." she sighed and looked back "Just what is this ce anyway?


    Marcus has a lot of exining to do." She took a deep breath again and stopped walking. Her eyes


    closed as she took a deep breath. Home. She wanted to go home now.


    When she opened her eyes again, blue eyes were staring back at her in what seemed to be relief and


    a voice echoed in her head, softly yet so clear.


    ''Xim''


    "You scared me." he said, his voice steady and soft "Don''t do that again."


    Xander was holding her tight and before she knew it, he wasying soft kisses on her temple. It was


    warm. It gave her deja vu again. Why did it feel like she had felt all these before? Somehow she


    understood just what the voice has said to her.


    ''Home.''

 Chapter 53

    Chapter 53


    "I like this blue one. The sleeves are long enough and it''ll keep you warm since it''s nighttime." dys


    said as she showed me the long sequin gown that had a plunging neckline and long sleeves. My eyes


    widened as she shoved it into my hands in excitement


    ''You could wear that.'' Keira chipped in ''If you want to look like a disco ball.''


    It was true. I hated it. It was too ring and it looked like I was putting in too much effort for something I


    wasn''t really interested in going for. Given that my hair was already eye-catching, it would be too much


    for me to throw on a dress that looked like they had poured all the worlds glitter on it.


    "You really don''t have to do this dys." I said, hoping that she would leave me be


    We were currently in the wardrobe, with heaps of clothes scattered all around us. I hade home to


    find her rummaging through to find what she called ''the perfect dinner date dress''. It was a pain and a


    hassle for me. After I had woken up from my little trance, I was just about ready to go into my bed and


    take a nap. Xander had held onto me longer than I wanted as Marcus exined that this weird ne I


    had entered was a means for me tomunicate with heavenly beings and that although he didn''t


    expect me to drift off so soon, it wasn''t a cause for rm.


    Surprisingly, I was taking all these things well and showed no signs of being overwhelmed. It didn''t


    change the fact that I couldn''t catch a break though. I had been stressing about the meeting between


    Xander and Marcus and hadn''t gotten proper sleep yet, but here I was, standing in a room with


    numerous clothes, dreading the hours that passed till I had to step out to have dinner with him.


    "Oh, I want to dear. This is your first official date." she said


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    "That I was tricked into going for." I replied, a scowl on my face as I sat on one of the chairs "Now that I


    think about it, why don''t we call this a business deal instead?"


    "You''ll have to discuss that with Alpha Xander, my dear Luna. Now,e over here and help me pick


    out a pair of shoes for that dress."


    "Isn''t there something else I could wear? No offence, but this dress is an eyesore. I wouldn''t be caught


    dead wearing it."


    She pouted and turned back to the stack of clothes "Well, there''s literally nothing else here! It also


    doesn''t help that he didn''t say where you were going."


    "I already told you what I wanted." My hands picked up the red silk slip dress that she had thrown


    nearby and I watched her frown


    "That''s too simple!" One look at my face was all it took for her to sigh in resignation "Fine, but you''re


    going to put on enough jewellery to make up for how simple it is."


    "Why, thank you dys but I think it doesn''t really matter what I wear."


    ''Because we''d look gorgeous in anything we''d put on!'' There was that and also the fact that...


    "I don''t want to look like I''m trying too hard."


    She giggled and ced a pair of silver strappy heels at my feet. "You haven''t been trying at all, but that


    hasn''t stopped him, has it?"


    Honestly, it didn''t. Xander was pushier and demanding than I thought he was. He was also clingy and


    liked to get his way. His jealousy was childish and so was his possessiveness. Despite being this way,


    he seemed distant enough to not let me see things he thought I shouldn''t be seeing and also had the


    uncanny ability to bring out feelings that should stay buried till the day I die.


    "I''ll be downstairs if you need anything." dys said and then left me to my business


    ''We have about an hour and a half. Want to start getting ready?'' Keira asked. I sighed heavily in


    response, standing up from the chair


    "I might as well."


    Keira and I had been talking continuously again. It was almost like she was never gone. It was


    have to change. As I took a shower and got dressed, we spoke back and forth about different things. It


    didn''t take long before I was standing in front of the mirror wearing the dress. It was simple enough, but


    what I really loved was the fact that it was just the right amount of sexy. I loved being a bum, but having


    sexy clothes made me happy too.


    Even if the one who paid for the sexy clothes was my murderous mate''s, almost equally murderous


    father. I would have to talk to Xander about changing everything. Possibly giving the clothes out to


    charity.


    Despite dys'' warnings, I put on the simplest pair of earrings I could find, pairing it with a simple


    pendant, two bracelets and a few rings. There was no need to carry a purse and to be honest, I didn''t


    really want to. I curled my hair slightly and parted it from the side, also making sure to put on makeup.


    I noted that I had no idea how to makeup myself and could only do basic things like foundation,


    powder, lipgloss and mascara. My eyeliner game was also shit. I had never had to bother about these


    sort of things as I had never gone out on a date and I never considered I''d ever go out on one. The


    stuff I knew, I had learnt from observing Smith and also from watching Maria.


    By the time I was done, I nodded my head in approval and walked out with a coat on my arm. My heels


    clicked on the floor as I walked and I took my time as it had been a while that I had worn heels.


    ''He''s downstairs.''


    I could sense him too. His scent got stronger as I walked downstairs, my hand clutching the railing for


    support. The closer I got, the harder my heartbeat against my chest. It was almost deafening and I felt


    myself holding my breath. He was at the very bottom, one hand in his pocket and the other holding his


    phone against his ear. He was wearing a dress shirt and pants, the muscles of his back flexing


    obviously under the fabric.


    Like those damn romance movies, everything began to slow down as he turned gradually to face me.


    Our eyes locked once I got to the final step and I watched him stare at me, his face not giving anything


    away but his eyes telling me something different. From the way his jaw tightened and his hand


    clenched tighter on his phone, I knew...


    It was going to be a long-ass night.

 Chapter 54

    Chapter 54


    The car ride was slow. Way too slow.


    At intervals, I nced at Xander who sat at the driver''s seat. His focus was fully on where we were


    going, his two hands firmly on the steering wheel. We drove through the forest and into the town and I


    took my time to observe just how lively and beautiful everywhere was. I had never been to the town at


    night and even during the day, I hardly had enough time to look at it all. Everywhere was thriving.


    I had learnt a whole lot from the short time I had been here. Xander had found ways to generate jobs


    and ie for the pack members in various ways. This pack was one of the few in the world that had


    trade ties with human habitations. They grew cotton and sold it off to manufacturers. Each person was


    encouraged to get a degree and had the opportunity to further their education through schrships that


    Xander also managed to secure through his connection with the Canadian government. In exchange,


    the pack would have skilled manpower that could solve problems and was sometimes sent to other


    parts of the country. It was all purely choice though. Most decided to stay and opened up their own


    businesses but did business with humans still.


    The pack had a history of great leaders, maybe except Richard, but honestly, I believed Xander had


    done much more in the short time he was alpha than anyone else had. He picked up every broken


    piece that he came across and made it excellent once again. Apart from that, he had eradicated


    ''omega stands'' in the pack. Everyone was on equal standing and got equal opportunities, regardless of


    how they had been born and what pack they had migrated from.


    Now that I thought about it, Xander, despite his reputation as heartless and cold was outstanding. He


    was multitalented, ready to put his life on the line for the ones he swore to protect and a force to be


    reckoned with. He genuinely cared.


    My eyes turned to look at his expressionless face, the passing lights illuminating his features. You


    could never know just what he was thinking and he was somewhat of a brute when dealing with some


    things. If I had stayed and rejected him instead, what would have be of this ce? What would


    have be of him? The people he had saved, what would have be of them?


    His eyes suddenly met mine and warmed up as I stared into them but his face remained the same. I


    tore my eyes away, embarrassed that I had been caught looking at him.


    "You''ve been avoiding me." he said and from the corner of my eye, I could swear I saw a quick smirk


    appear on his face


    "I haven''t." I responded


    "So why won''t you look at me?"


    "Because your face isn''t as attractive as you think it is." I was no good at lying and I''m sure he knew


    that. His small chuckle was evidence enough.


    "I''m not going to bite little mate." I felt his hand brush lightly on my thigh, the move jolting me so much I


    had to look at him "At least not yet."


    "You''re annoying."


    One of his hands reached up to brush my hair and his lips lifted in a small smile.


    That''s right. There would be no chance to think of these things if I had the courage to stay and reject


    him, this pack would have no longer existed and I would have spent thest years of my life without


    knowing those I knew now. They would be gone and maybe, so would I.


    I''d have spent thest few years of my life not knowing how Xander could look at me.


    "We''re here." he said simply. I looked out and saw that we had driven to the front of a cabin, nestled in


    between trees but not totally away from the rest of the town. It was private and essible. The front


    was lit up properly, but there were no other cars parked in the driveway.


    "Oh, okay." I said and made a move to open the door


    "Wait." he said


    I watched him as he got out and walked to the door. My eyes widened gradually as he pulled my door


    open and held out a hand for me.


    "Are you trying to be romantic?" I asked him, taking his hand


    "I am. I was told I might get brownie points for this." he said and I scoffed "Do I?"


    I bet it was either Cole or Sterling that had given him that sort of advice.


    "Not on your life." I responded, but smiled anyways "What is this ce?"


    I let go of his hand and together, we walked side by side to the entrance. He opened the door for me


    again and I thanked him as I stepped in, taking in the environment.


    Everything waspletely different from what I expected. It was a simple restaurant with booth chairs,


    a bar and low lighting. The ce, however, was empty and the only thing I could hear was the sound of


    soft music ying in the background. A smiling woman with peppered hair suddenly stepped out of a


    door and she bowed in front of us.


    "Good evening Alpha Xander, Luna Ava." she said "It''s a pleasure to have you dine with us. Shall I take


    your coat ma''am?"


    "Um, thank you." I replied, smiling and taking off my coat. The heat of the cabin warmed my skin as we


    waited for her to hang my coat and return to where we stood


    "Lead the way Mauve." Xander said


    "Yes sir."


    I nced at him, only to see him already looking at me.


    "After you."


    Nodding, I began to walk behind her slowly, tightening the coat around my body. When we finally got to


    a back door, she bowed again and opened the door.


    Content provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Enjoy your evening Luna Ava."


    The first thing I noticed was therge body of water that was ahead. The dim moonlight reflected on it


    and it looked so peaceful. The second was the setting of the room. Right next to therge window, was


    a round table with two chairs. There were flower decorations, candles lit in various ces with cute


    light bulbs illuminating the room as well.


    ''It''s so pretty.'' Keira was as astounded as I was and I''m sure the reaction was painted across my face


    so vividly. My eyes caught the flowers arranged on the table in a bouquet.


    "Are those...?" I asked, stepping forward and picking it up "Shit, they are. How did you know?"


    He pulled one chair for me to take a seat and I looked up at him in disbelief. He, on the other hand,


    shrugged his shoulders like it was nothing and sat down opposite me.


    "I didn''t know. I just thought that you might like them." he said, his head tilting to the side "Do you?"


    "Yes. These are my favourite flowers." how coincidental was this? "Are you sure you didn''t ask


    Marcus?"


    He scowled slightly, before answering "Why would I ask him anything about you?"


    "I get the feeling you don''t like him very much."


    "I don''t like any stranger that sets foot in mynd."


    "He''s my brother."


    "And?"


    "You''re so difficult sometimes." My eyes rolled, but a smile tugged at my lips as I turned my attention to


    look at the water. Now that I was closer, I could see it all clearly. It was so surreal "I never knew this


    ce had ake."


    He grunted lowly, not responding and from the corner of my eye, I watched him lean forward and fold


    his arms on the table. Obviously, he was watching me. We were here now, on this supposed ''date''. So


    far, despite his teasing, he hadn''t done anything to make me regreting out here tonight. I wasn''t


    excited but rather relieved at the fact that this wasn''t as ufortable as I thought it would be.

 Chapter 55

    Chapter 55


    "Good evening Alpha Xander. Good evening Luna Ava." the waiter near the table bowed, his sudden


    appearance attracting my attention "Shall I bring in your appetizers?"


    "Yes please." I said with a smile, seeing as how Xander wasn''t giving him a speck of recognition "And


    could you please have this put in water? I''ll have it back before we leave."


    "Yes ma''am."


    "Thank you."


    Was it weird that I had gotten used to being treated this way? I had given up on pushing everyone to


    call me by my name. It didn''t really matter to me, as long as those close to me respected my wishes.


    During the week that Xander had been gone, it had gotten much worse for some reason. There were


    still rumours about me, but they did nothing to stifle the choking sense of respect the pack members


    had.


    "What''s your favourite colour?" Xander''s odd question made my face squeeze up into a frown


    "What?" I asked in confusion, "That''s random."


    "Can I be honest with you?"


    "I doubt I''d be able to stop you, Alexander." Although I was half-serious and half-joking, his facial


    expression showed that he was focused and wasn''t ying around "What is it?"


    He leaned back again, his eyes looking sharper than before as they regarded me "I''m nervous."


    "What?"


    "I want to talk to you, but this is the first time I''ve ever been on a date and although I''m interested in


    knowing more and making sure you enjoy this night, I''m afraid that I''ll do nothing but make things


    worse."


    Leave to Xander to say this kind of thing with such an expression. It was not a new thing for Xander to


    be honest to a fault about how he felt. It seemed that the years he had spent unable to truly express


    himself were fading away and he was vocal about just what he was feeling, especially when it came to


    me. It was overwhelming because if he didn''t open up on his own, it was difficult to know what was


    going on with him. His eyes were the only way, even though sometimes they were so nk. Yet, when


    he opened, I would be unable to handle the amount of emotion he was giving me.


    He hadn''t given up any indication of being nervous. Cool,posed and collected and only making me


    the jittery one tonight. It must have been something he had mastered at a young age. Knowing just how


    his father had raised him, it was probably not by choice he had turned out this way. There was


    absolutely nothing wrong. Maybe it just annoyed me how much I couldn''t read him when I desperately


    wanted to.


    The door opened and the waiter walked in, pushing a cart. Once he got to the table, he ced different


    tes on the table, with two sses.


    "To start you off; sweet bread with salted butter, pickled shrimp with creamy spinach dip, oven-baked


    chicken bites with caramelized onion dip and our finest white wine." he said, his tone ted. He was


    obviously happy to be here and the smile didn''t wipe off his face as he poured us our wine. It was


    almostical.


    "Thank you." I said to him, staring at all the meals. Everything looked delicious and honestly I was


    excited to taste it all.


    Xander nodded at him and he bowed again before leaving the room. I started to pick different pieces of


    everything onto my te, sneaking some into my mouth and doing a little happy dance in my head as


    the vours danced across my tongue. Xander let me pick till I was content and then when he noticed I


    was finished, began to fill his te as well. I picked up a pickled shrimp and thered it with dip.


    "White." I said, as I brought it up to my lips and looked at him "White has always been my favourite


    colour somehow to me, it''s the purest colour. What''s yours?"


    My insides were a jumble of nerves as I ate the shrimp and watched his eyebrows rise. I took it as a


    sign that he was somewhat d.


    "Green."


    I swallowed before giggling a little "Green? That''s unexpected. I thought you would say ck or


    something."


    "Why?"


    Because that was probably the colour of his soul, but I knew I couldn''t say that so I just shrugged my


    shoulders nonchntly.


    "How long have you liked green?"


    "For about 13 years."


    13 years? That was a long time tomit to something like a favourite colour. Too many years had


    passed to not be influenced enough to want to change that simple thing about someone. That meant


    that when Xander made his mind up about something, there was really no changing it. That was


    something I already knew though. It was pretty cool. He probably liked the colour so much because he


    liked nts.


    "Alexander..."? I asked, watching as his head tilted to the side "When and why did you start


    gardening?"


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    He seemed to contemte a little before answering "It''s another coping mechanism I have. I''ve liked


    flowers and nts since I was a child. I guess you could say I got my green thumb from my mother. I


    guess you could say instead of acting on the urge to kill, I grew a garden."


    His mother? It shocked me how he mentioned her. Her name and the fact that she existed was


    something that was ignored by every single person in the pack. If I didn''t know the rtionship between


    Alphas and their mates, I''d have assumed she was dead. Now that he mentioned her, my curiosity


    couldn''t help but be quipped.


    "You''ve never spoken about her before." I said, hoping I wasn''t entering dangerous waters "How


    "My mother? There''s not much to say." he answered, resting his chin on his hand "You seem


    interested. What do you want to know?"


    Everything. I wanted to know everything. Would he tell me anything? Instead of answering, I kept silent


    and chewed on some more food. He picked up his ss and sipped its contents before leaning back


    again.


    "My mother and father had a somewhatplicated rtionship." he started, "After I was born, things


    seemed to get worse between them. She wasn''t the mostpassionate person, then again neither


    was he. Her nts interested her more than I did and she made sure I knew it. When I was about 7, I


    woke up one morning and she was gone. I don''t remember much about her, only that she loved to tend


    to her nts and flowers and that she seemed afraid to be near me."


    He didn''t flinch, didn''t sound moved and only spoke in a tone that was no different from speaking about


    the weather.


    "Nobody talks about it and frankly, I think most people have forgotten that she was here. That''s about


    it."


    "I''m really sorry about that." I finally replied after some seconds "I hope it wasn''t too ufortable for


    you."


    "Not at all. I''m willing to tell you anything."


    "Have you ever..." I started "Wondered where she was? Looked for her?"


    "No."


    "Why?"


    "I''ve never been interested in searching for anyone else but you." a ghost of a smile appeared on his


    face "You''re the only thing that''s ever made sense."

 Chapter 56

    Chapter 56


    A blush rose to my cheeks and I cleared my throat as I tore my eyes away from him, looking out at the


    "I never knew my parents." I said, hoping my voice came out strong enough "Frankly, the only parents


    that I''ve ever had are Ben and Maria. They taught me what it was to truly love and be loved, regardless


    of who you are."


    "They are really important to you."


    Iughed a little "I''d do anything for them. They really helped me through a lot and took care of me


    without even knowing me. It was because I met them that I got to be a ballet dancer."


    "You really like it?"


    "Like it? I love it! I started dancing when I came out of therapy. Of course, I wasn''t fully recovered, so I


    guess dancing for me was what gardening was for you; a coping mechanism. Along the line though, it


    made me so happy that I decided to be a teacher."


    I remembered how the little girls in the dance studio were always excited toe in every day. The


    sound of Cassie''s voice as she encouraged them and the little moments that we would have snack


    breaks. I really did enjoy what my life was like.


    "Things have changed and obviously, I can''t do what I used to months ago, but I won''t ever stop loving


    ballet." I said and turned to him with a big stupid smile on my face "It''s kind of ironic how getting on


    stage to perform in front of people was a remedy to my anxiety."


    "Not really. I think it''s beautiful. Just like you." he said


    "Why are you looking at me like that?"


    "I''m just wondering."


    "About?"


    "If I was born to a normal family and had grown up a normal person..." he frowned a little, the clenching


    of his jaw visible "If I wasn''t such a monster, would you have loved me enough for your eyes to light up


    the way they just did?"


    There was no way to answer that question. Would I? My mind couldn''t imagine Xander and I meeting in


    another circumstance. We had both been born into a world and a time that had dealt us difficult cards,


    made us do things normal people would never do and develop rtionships destined by fate. Turning


    back the hands of time wouldn''t be enough for us to escape the inevitable and recently, I had be


    painfully aware of that.


    I was lucky enough to have a redeeming moment that had saved me from my suffering. I wondered if


    Xander''s redeeming moment had been the moment he had given the title of ''Alpha''. Then again, even


    years after, he was still suffering. There was really no way to determine.


    "If you feed me enough..." I started, smiling slightly "I might consider it."


    His eyes widened a little bit before he started chuckling, probably not expecting that response.


    "What are you? A puppy?"


    "Hey! The only puppy here is you! I''m not the one that does those cute little head tilts all the damn


    time."


    "Cute?" He tilted his head and I scowled, realising what I had just said "You think my head tilts are


    cute?"


    "You know what Alexander? You were much better when you struggled to talk."


    His chuckling turned into small amounts ofughter and although I kept scowling at him, it was a rare


    sight to see himughing and for some reason, it made me happy.


    .............


    "That chocte cake was wonderful!" I gushed, for the thousandth time as we drove home. I heard


    Xander''s small groan beside me and directed a re at him "Don''t you dare do that. It''s your fault for


    taking me there."


    "I apologize for making you have a good time." he said and I could hear the smile in his voice


    I had ended up having the most wonderful time. Mainly because the food was so pleasing, I had ended


    up meeting the cook and asking her for recipes. Of course, she was not supposed to tell but because it


    was me, I was given ess and had promised in excitement to not tell another soul. The chocte


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    cake was the nail on my coffin and my spirit had been ted since then. I could think of nothing that


    would change this.


    Xander and I had ended up talking throughout and I had found out things about him that I never


    imagined could be true. Like the fact that his favourite food was Chicken Biryani or that he wished he


    could paint or the fact that he liked cats more than he liked puppies. The sheer amount of intimacy that


    had been built between us tonight was unexpected, but I weed it. There were no romantic feelings


    attached and I felt knowing more helped me to be less hostile towards him.


    The only downside was, in my joy, I had forgotten to take my flowers and only remembered halfway


    here. Xander had assured me it was alright and told me he''d get me another bouquet if I wanted.


    "I''ll tell dys all about the chocte cake. I want to bake one if I can." I said as we pulled into the


    driveway "You''re not expecting me to wait for you to open my door, are you?"


    Before I had finished speaking, he hade down from the car and I shook my head as he crossed


    over to my side and pulled the door open. I exited and let him shut the door behind me as I climbed up


    the steps to the front door. His footfalls were behind me as I pulled the door open and went in. The


    night had gotten much colder and my coat wasn''t enough to keep me warm anymore. I pulled it off and


    also took off the sandals, the under of my feet cooling as they touched the floor.


    I turned back to look at him. He stood with his two hands in his pockets as he stared back at me.


    "Thank you for tonight." I said, genuinely d I had ended up going out with him "Even though you


    basically tricked me, I had a good time."


    He didn''t answer but took a few steps closer to where I stood.


    "Will you dance with me?" he asked, surprising me even further


    "What?" I asked "Dance?"


    "I promise I won''t do anything you don''t want me to."


    I was hesitant, but he had asked me and not demanded. I had ended up enjoying myself tonight so the


    least I could do this.


    "Okay." I said, my voice smaller


    He grabbed my items and ced them aside, before taking a hold of my hand and guiding me towards


    the direction of the living room. The centre table was gone, the space now open. He pulled away,


    leaving me to stand at the centre before switching on the speaker. A soft melodious voice rang through


    the room as he turned back to look at me. He reached for me again, one arm holding my waist and the


    other, holding my hand up. His eyes and mine stared back into each other and I was unable to look


    away.


    We were so close that it frightened me. I could hear my heart beating against my chest as I listened to


    the lyrics. It was one of the most sensual love songs I had ever heard, with abination of


    instruments that I automatically moved to. Before I knew it, I was rxing and seemed to melt in his


    arms as we moved together slowly. Our feet moved together, across the small space that we had,


    ording to the rhythm of the song. My head rested on his chest gradually and I listened to his erratic


    heartbeat that was almost as loud as my own.


    My eyes closed on their own ord as the song drew to a close and we stopped moving. It was only


    for a short moment, but it had gotten me so emotional that I couldn''t understand. It was a weird sense


    of nostalgia that nestled in my heart and it ached badly.


    "I''m in love with you." he said, quietly "I seem to love you the more I spend time with you."


    I didn''t open my eyes and didn''t respond as he spoke. There was nothing I could say.


    "I don''t need an answer and I don''t expect you to love me back. It might be selfish, but all I want is to


    stay with you as long as I can."


    His arm tightened around me as his other hand touched my chin to lift my head. My eyes opened and


    widened as I saw that my vision had gotten blurry, tears filling up my eyes.


    "No matter how difficult I am or how much of a monster I be, please let me stay with you."


    I couldn''t stop the tears as they flowed down my cheeks. It was painful. It was so so painful and it didn''t


    help that a smile appeared on his face as he wiped the tears away.


    "At least before you leave me forever."

 Chapter 57

    Chapter 57


    "Mommy, look what I painted!" his hands clutched the ends of the paper and raised excitedly to get her


    attention "It''s you, me and daddy."


    "Not now Alexander. Go meet your nanny." she replied, not even turning to look in his direction. Her


    hands carefully manoeuvered the scissors she held, snipping the dead leaves of her nts.


    "But mommy-!"


    "I said, not now. Can''t you see I''m busy?"


    His heart ached as tears rose to his eyes. There was nothing important about him. Is it because he


    couldn''t be green like these nts? Is it because he talked too much? Why couldn''t she just look at him


    once? A sudden rage hit him and he turned, identally knocking over one giant nt and falling over


    in the process. Through his blurry eyes, he stood up on wobbly feet, whimpering at the pain in his knee.


    What hurt him the most was his painting was now smeared with muddy water. His mommy had just


    watered that nt and it soaked through the flimsy paper faster than he liked. He looked back at her


    and froze.


    She was looking at him now, her blue eyes that he had inherited, red at him with malice. Before he


    could speak, her hands were around his small neck and he found it hard to breathe.


    "Momm-" he choked on air, his head getting lighter as he found it harder to scream. Tears rolled down


    his cheeks without any inhibition, as she scowled at him


    "You little monster." she said, sounding like she was beside herself "You''re just like him. You destroy


    everything I love!"


    Her face got closer as she lifted him a little.


    "Shouldn''t mommy kill you?" she asked, sweetly "That way, you won''t have to cause any more trouble


    for anyone. You won''t end up like daddy."


    Although she smiled at him, he could see tears fill up her eyes as well. She suddenly dropped him to


    the ground, and he took greedy gulps of air. As much as his little lungs could take.


    "When your eyes beg for life, it annoys me..." she mumbled "As long as you have that look in your


    eyes, they''ll always look like mine. I hate it."


    Her calm demeanour returned and she returned to snipping her nt leaves.


    "Get out."


    ........


    Xander''s eyes met darkness when he opened them. His heart beat wildly against his chest as he sat


    up, groaning. He was still in his office in the packhouse and had fallen asleep on the chair he had been


    sitting on for the past few hours. ncing at the clock, he saw that it was 2:34 am. It was a good thing


    he had woken up. He had to get home.


    Thinking about his dream, he rubbed at his temples, feeling a headacheing. It had been a long


    time since he had dreamt about his mother. The fear he had felt as a child had been stored away and


    been gradually ovee by the years of training and hardship he had endured. Xander found it


    strange how he was able to see his mother again and that memory hade back to haunt him in his


    dream. It was possibly because Ava had recently asked him about the woman that gave him life.


    He felt sick a little and heard Nixon stir a little in his mind as he got up to leave. Picking his things and


    his coat, he left the office, locking it behind him and beginning his journey home. Very few pack


    members were awake and looked visibly shocked to see him. He ignored them and wore his coat, his


    body pushing out into the cold night air. Opening the car door, he quickly started up the car and backed


    out of the driveway, in record time. He was tired but his mind opened up to get reports on the activity of


    the night. Various guards were at their duty posts, some scouting different regions of the territory. It was


    peaceful and quiet and he hoped it stayed this way so he would be able to catch a good amount of


    sleep. Although, he felt too on the edge at the moment to even fall asleep.


    It wasn''t long before he was pulling up in front of his house, the agitation he felt, lessening the closer


    he got. The scent of his mate had be part of his home, and it settled everywhere like it always


    belonged. He quietly climbed out of the car and walked in, not surprised to see the lights off. Sighing


    heavily, he took off his coat and his shoes and climbed upstairs. Even though his mind was on going to


    take a shower, his feet somehow led him to the ce that his mate now called hers.


    It was the only ce that had this amount of concentration of her scent.


    He hesitated.


    She would definitely be asleep. Her training had begun about 4 days ago and every day, she got back,


    she would look about to pass out. Still, these past few days, he had rarely gotten to see her as much


    because of their tight schedules. Marcus was taking up most of her time and pack duties were taking


    up most of his.


    A scowl briefly crossed his face as her brother''s smile popped up in his mind.


    Her brother was such a hindrance. Xander wasn''tfortable around him. It was the most logical thing


    to be. Marcus was a threat to his authority. Any Alpha would be ufortable with having someone


    like him moving around freely within the pack. Despite this, Xander couldn''t deny that he had some


    amount of respect for the man. He would never admit it and he still disliked Marcus for taking Ava away


    from him, but it wouldn''t change nor diminish his respect.


    Taking the chance, he twisted the handle gently and walked in. Dropping his shoes and his coat, he


    rolled up his sleeves as he walked closer to where sheid. The lighting in the room wasn''t enough but


    his sharp eyes could see every bit of her. She wasying on her back, her hair a terrifying halo all over


    her pillow and her mouth slightly ajar as soft snores escaped her.


    His mate was cute. All he wanted to do was bury himself inside her.


    His hand found the closest loc of hair and twirled it around his fingers as he stared at her. It had


    be a custom for him to watch her sleep before retiring to bed. Now that he thought of it, it made


    him sound like a creep. There was no way to stop himself though. This woman made him do the


    strangest things. Sometimes he found himself wondering just what it was that he loved so much about


    her. Why couldn''t he think straight when it came to her?


    Maybe it was her eyes. Her eyes pulled him in so quickly, he wasn''t able to look away. Maybe it was


    the way she smiled or told a joke with a straight face. Maybe it was the fact that she was stubborn and


    strong. Back then, if someone had asked him, he wouldn''t have been able to give them reasons. What


    he felt was past what the mate bond allowed. One thing that he loved the most was the way...


    "Alexander?" his cool eyes stared into her drowsy ones, her face flushing slightly as she took a deep


    breath


    Yes. There it was. The way she said his name. He always hated being called his full name yet she had


    "It''s creepy yknow;ing to my room in the middle of the night and watching me sleep?" her voice


    was deep with slumber as she changed her position to lie on her side, her face snuggling into the pillow


    "How..." he started, "How did you know I was here?"


    "Your presence has be too hard to ignore, even when I''m asleep." she replied, peeking up at him


    through hershes "Dis you just get home?"


    "Yes."


    "And you wanted to see me first before you hit the hay? How romantic." of course she was being


    sarcastic, but a small smile made its way to his face anyways


    "I''m sorry for waking you."


    "It''s okay." letting out a small yawn, her nose scrunched up in a way he thought was most adorable


    "How was work?"


    Since their dinner date, they had been on a tonic ground. Although she knew about his feelings,


    they went unrequited and now they were more like friends. She didn''t flinch or scowl when she looked


    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    at him, neither did she back away when he was near. Their conversations were light and not awkward


    the few times they got to see each other. Even though he wasn''t fully satisfied, he would take whatever


    she was giving him and treat it with utmost respect and importance.


    "Fine." he finally replied "Tiring."


    "It''s so irritating when you reply to me like this." her hand swatted his away and his smile grewrger as


    he looked down at her, taking the opportunity to pinch her cheek "Make no mistake. I will murder you


    where you sit."


    "You''d have done that a long time ago with all the chances you''ve gotten."


    "Maybe." her hands pulled the covers over her head, obscuring his view of her "Let me sleep. Go


    away."


    He stood up and stretched.


    "Move over, I''m sleeping next to you tonight." he said, watching in amusement as her head popped out


    "No, the fuck not. This is my bed."


    "Sharing is caring."


    "I don''t give a-hey! Don''t climb in!"


    Contrary to her request, he climbed in anyways, chuckling at how much distance she tried to put


    between them as she moved away.


    "Don''t be shy. I can be a teddy bear if you want?"


    She groaned slightly before answering "Even if I say no, you''d still bug me till I gave in."


    "Maybe." she obviously wasn''t fooled by the innocent expression on his face "I''ll be good. I promise."


    "An Alpha as scary as you telling me he''ll be a good boy. I must be stuck in a dream."


    "Does that mean-?"


    "Good night Alexander."


    Yeah, he should have known not to push his luck but he was happy enough that he got to tease her


    and settled in as he closed his eyes, his whole body feeling lighter than it was earlier.


    "Goodnight Ava."


    He could count many reasons why he loved this woman. The fact that she purposely grabbed his hand


    and gave it a reassuring squeeze before falling asleep again was one of them. Xander knew more than


    anyone else, his reasons would continue to pile up as days passed.


    .................


    "Head up! Don''t try to anticipate where I''m going to hit. Read my movements and think of my pattern!"


    The loudmand did nothing but make her more tired as she charged at him again. Easily, he took


    her down and she was t on her back


    Huffing, she looked up at his face as she tried to catch her breath, her lungs begging for even the least


    bit of air.


    "What the hell Marcus?" She asked, shaking her head "Are you trying to kill me?"


    "You said you had experience princess. I''d appreciate it if you put in more effort and try to push me off


    my feet." he replied, stretching his hand for her to stand up. She pouted as she took it, standing up


    from the ground


    "I need a break. I think my legs are just about to give way." Literally, if she thought about it too much,


    she was afraid that she would copse where she stood.


    Her training had started early this morning. It was almost dawn when Marcus hade to get her from


    Xander''s ce, her mood not too weing as she wasn''t really a morning person, especially for


    something like physical exercise. Snow had been falling, the temperature had dropped to below zero


    and ice now hung off the trees, the sunlight doing very little to warm the air. Decked out in her thick


    coat and the training kit she had been provided with by Sterling the previous day, she stalked out to


    their pack facility and Marcus had proceeded to drill her more times than she had ever been drilled in


    her life.


    It was much tougher than the self-defence training she had got during her time with her family. almost 5


    hours, with no single breakter, she was just about to give up on this altogether and go back to her


    bed, to never return.


    "You seem distracted." he said, as he passed her a bottle of water


    Opening the cap, she took a greedy gulp before sighing in contentment "Distracted? Why would I be?"


    "Your punches don''t carry enough weight. Your mind isn''t fully here, if it was, with your heightened


    senses, you''d have been able to block some of my attacks. You''re not thinking about the right things


    and you''re analytical enough to deduce things. I mean we''ve been at this-"


    "Fine! I get it! I get it!" Ava scowled at him, the scowl getting deeper as he grinned at her "Let''s go one


    more round. I''ll be able to take you down this time."


    "You just said you wanted a break."


    "Break''s over. Come at me as hard as you can."


    She got into a fighting stance, her expression steeling but Marcus could read her like an open book.


    Hopefully, her growing rtionship with the Alpha wouldn''t cause her mind wandering to increase


    more.

 Chapter 58

    Chapter 58


    My eyes followed his feet as they bounced closer to me, with the coordination of a predator. It didn''t


    help that I had to be conscious of the staff he carried that would hit me down painfully if I wasn''t careful.


    It had already done so about 4 times and the aches it left were reminders for me to be vignt and


    perform well. I raised my own staff, sweat dripping down my forehead as I evaded his advances,


    searching for an opening. When I thought I saw one, I lifted my staff and charged forward, victory bells


    ringing in my head.


    That is until he sidestepped me and knocked me down from behind the second I was passed him. A


    groan left my lips as my face plummeted to the ground, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth


    slightly. That was the hardest hit I''d taken today, but today was slightly better than the other injuries I


    had been sustaining ever since I began my training sessions three weeks ago. It didn''t hurt to move as


    I turned over to find Marcus looking down at me with a sweet smile and an outstretched hand.


    "Your defence would have been better if you were quicker. Your attack would have been better if you


    hadn''t already thought you were going to win and your feet-"


    "I know." I said, taking his hand and sitting up, "They need more coordination."


    "Exactly." Marcus replied in approval, d that I was now catching on


    "I don''t know how to. It''s hard." It was. As a ballet dancer, I had learned how to be light on my feet and


    twist my body in ways normal people couldn''t. My flexibility and twinkle toes were an asset. Here, it


    seemed to weigh me down as I needed to be grounded and be able to steel my presence when going


    up against an opponent.


    Like I had realized before, this training waspletely different from the one Ben had given me. It


    seemed like I was fighting for my life and as far as Marcus was concerned, I probably was. It was


    rather exasperating how challenging I found this, especially since I was putting my all into it. For the


    past 3 weeks, Marcus and I had trained day after day. He had been teaching me techniques that I


    never knew existed and from what he had put me through, I would now go around telling people I was


    in the army. I had more or less earned that right at this point.


    Some days were not easy, and I broke down, but Marcus always took time to calmly exin the


    importance of learning how to control my powers. My physical body, despite being a werewolf, was not


    something that could take the force of the energy I had stored. The little I had been giving out always


    made me pass out and ultimately put Keira to sleep. I hade to understand that having these


    powers and having a wolf was notmon for someone like me. Marcus had already told me not to


    ssify them as mere powers but as a part of me, that was made to be mine.


    Kind of hard to do when I wasn''t aware it was ever going to exist in the first ce.


    If Keira was the same, then there would be the constant sh between them and a total overrule of


    Keira whenever my powers were used, no matter how small. It had physically hurt me the day I learnt


    that if a solution wasn''t found, Keira would be put to sleep in my body forever. Since I was stubborn,


    Keira had been brought into our training but there was no guarantee yet that even if she did train hard


    to be able to withstand the force and co-exist with it in my body, that she still wouldn''t be put to sleep.


    We were now fighting together on this like we always did with everything.


    I had to find control. I knew how to get it, but it kept slipping away the harder I tried.


    With a heavy sigh, I stood up and walked to where my bag was, taking out my hand towel and


    proceeding to sit down on the closest bench.


    "You look worried." Marcus stated, sitting down beside me and passing me a bottle of water "Is it


    because of this?"


    "I guess I''m just frustrated with myself. It''s either I do this or risk losing a lot. That''s a lot of pressure." I


    answered


    "You don''t think you may be trying too hard to do it this way? The best way to learn something is by


    finding the mostfortable method for you."


    "I''m too light on my feet. Whether I like it or not, if I don''t work on my bnce and speed, I''ll be a goner


    when youe at me. You''re heartless."


    "Oh, that''s not true. You know I have the softest spot for my only baby sister."


    I grinned at him, although my hand rose to smack his arm "Tell that to my aching back muscles,


    Marcus."


    "I''m sorry. I don''t mean to be too hard on you, I just have to be so you won''t sufferter on."


    "Sounds like something Maria would say before pulling my ear."


    "Well luckily for you, I won''t pull your ears. See, I can be nice."


    I chuckled slightly and silence enveloped us as we stared straight forward, in our own thoughts. Only a


    few minutes passed before I heard his voice again.


    "Next week, I want you to start using your powers properly." My eyes widened and I turned to him in


    astonishment


    "What? I''m not ready for that!" I argued. He just saw how worried I was about my physical state and he


    still wanted us to move forward?


    "Your bnce and speed have little impact on your physical resistance and endurance. I''m confident


    you''ll be able to even everything out eventually, but we can still move forward."


    "But-"


    "No buts. I''m telling you this as your trainer and not as your brother, so just be prepared." Whining and


    crying didn''t work on him when he had decided on something. He wasn''t like Xander. If it was Xander,


    all I had to do was sniffle for him to at least make apromise


    "Fine."


    He smiled and stood up, patting my hair like I was a damn puppy and causing me to scowl in the


    process.


    "We''ll stop here for today."


    "Really?"


    "Yes. You should go home and take a hot bath to help rx your muscles."


    Although the sound of that was appealing to me, I found it rather suspicious that we were ending so


    early. He never let me get off early.


    "Are you going somewhere? Have ns?"


    He didn''t look at me and instead, gathered his things as he said "Yes."


    "Where?" He had the audacity to shoot me a look that screamed ''what do you mean'' "Excuse me. You


    have no friends, as far as I know, and most people don''t know you''re even here."


    "True." he confessed, augh escaping his lips "I''m a secret, but where I''m going is also a secret."


    "Even to me?" Now that was super suspicious "I can guess only one thing and if I''m wrong, then you


    can drill me without meining for a full day."


    Walking to him, I watched his eyebrow raise as I stopped in front of him. Hopefully, I looked serious


    enough for him to take me seriously.


    "Alexander is making you do something for him, isn''t he?"


    "Obviously." he snorted


    "Is it something dangerous? Why did you even agree to it in the first ce?"


    "Don''t worry princess, I promise I won''t be the one getting hurt." For a moment, something foreign


    passed through his eyes but it was gone before I could decipher what it was "I promise I won''t get hurt


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    and I promise to tell you all about it when next I see you. Try not to hound Xander about it and don''t


    overthink."


    He turned and gave me onest smile over his shoulder.


    "Instead, I want you to focus on learning how to infuse your ballet routines into your fight patterns and


    stances. Love you." He disappeared before I could reply. I had already gotten used to it. His


    movements were not something I could track and I knew someday, I''d be able to.


    Deciding to not dwell on it any longer, I wore my coat and shoes, zipping up properly and picked up my


    bag. My hair was in the tightest bun I could put it in as it did nothing but inconvenience me whenever I


    was training. Taking my time, I walked out of the training facility, enjoying the cold air hitting my flushed


    face. A sigh left my lips, as my eyes lifted and locked on a figure that bounced up and down next to


    men twice their size. My feet were frozen in ce as the person turned and I locked eyes with a pair of


    honey doe eyes.


    ''Is that..''


    "Astelle?"

 Chapter 59

    Chapter 59


    wouldn''t have believed it if the weight of her body didn''t tackle me to the ground. Her familiar smell and


    the warmth of her hands surrounded me and overwhelmed by it and by how much I had actually


    missed it, I began to cry as I hugged her back.


    "What are you doing here?" I asked, tears rolling down my cheeks, "How?"


    "Girl, shut up and let me hug you as much as I want." her words were muffled and choked, making me


    giggle slightly as I pat her hair that was in braids "I''ve fucking missed you."


    "I''ve missed you too."


    That was how weid together, on the cold ground as little kes of snow began to fall. I stroked her


    hair softly as she cried hard into my shoulder. A warrior suddenly appeared in my vision, and obviously


    wanted to help us up but I raised a finger to tell him to give us a minute.


    A little whileter, her head popped up and a big bright grin was stered over her face.


    "Is it me or have you gotten buffer? What the hell have you been eating?" she asked, scrunching her


    eyebrows like she hadn''t just ugly cried into my shoulder


    Iughed as we stood up and answered, "Trust me. My muscles have nothing to do with food."


    Her lively chatter started up immediately. She spoke animatedly of how the Blue moon pack was a


    beautiful ce and how she had made friends with the pack warriors that she had been standing with.


    Although I had numerous questions, I let her say everything she wanted and gush about how she had


    missed me and more as we got into the car and drove off. She told me how it wasn''t long that she had


    gotten in and had demanded to be taken to me at once.


    I obviously couldn''t wrap my head around the fact that she was here in the pack. What had happened


    during these few months for Xander to change his mind? I found myself pondering over it as we drove


    through town and towards the direction of Xander''s house.


    "Is it only you? What about Ben and Maria? Donovan and Freddie? What about-?"


    "One at a time, jeez. Everyone is good and we are all here." The information made my heart soar and I


    found myself smiling in excitement as we pulled into the driveway. I could sense them before I could


    see them and once the doors were unlocked, I pushed myself out of the car and ran towards the door,


    pulling it open with little to no grace


    My feet led the way and as I turned into the living room, I found them all, sitting andughing as dys


    poured juice.


    "M-Maria. Ben." Their eyes turned to me and what came after was the most heart-wrenching reunion


    ever. The familiar warm, firm arms of Maria wrapped around me and I found myself breaking down so


    quickly, it was almost unreal


    The little drum of energy against my abdomen, which came around for the first time in a while,


    reminded me of who I was and the things I had been through. It reminded me of what my hands had


    done and the months that I had to be strong for myself and others.


    It hurt. It hurt so much I found myself gasping for breath as I held on tighter, giving in to the feelings I


    had tried to ignore. Despite the loving shushing sounds I heard and thefort, it did nothing to


    alleviate the throb of pain I felt. I was supposed to be relieved and crying with happiness, wasn''t I? Like


    I had done when I first saw Astelle.


    My family should get the same. I shouldn''t give in this way and allow things to happen. Still, as I told


    myself this, I felt my consciousness slipping away as I nuzzled my head deeper.


    This is where I was supposed to be.


    ''Ava'' Keira''s voice was loud in my mind like she was screaming ''It''s okay. Please calm down.


    Everything is okay now baby girl. It''s alright.''


    Yes, it was alright now.


    "W-What''s happening?" I heard a voice ask, "She''s getting hotter!"


    "Do something!"


    "Get some water from the kitchen Freddie!"


    "Her eyes are closing. Is she still breathing?"


    Their voices got fainter and fainter and my vision flickered constantly, through tears and an aching


    heart. My hand reached out for someone to grab it, wanting to let them know that I was fine. Wanting to


    tell them that even though no words escaped me, I desperately wanted them to pull me deeper into


    their arms.


    The voices ceased for a moment and I felt cold for a moment before the warmth engulfed me again. My


    heart that beat frantically began to calm down and although it remained irregr, I felt myself start to


    breathe again and the feeling of giving in to the pain dulled significantly. My whole body felt alive and


    my hand was covered by the strong hands of one I knew.


    There was no mistaking who was holding me.


    My eyes opened slowly and after blinking for a few seconds, I looked around. Ben held Maria as they


    looked at me with worried expressions. Cassie had the expression of someone that was going to pass


    out. Donovan looked pissed but so confused, that it was almostical. Freddie held Astelle''s hand


    and Smith held a jug of water with his mouth ajar.


    My body became hyperaware and looking down, I found a messy head of dark hair nestled into the


    crook of my neck in the most awkward of positions. His breath tickled my neck and stupidly, the heat


    rose to my cheeks as his head rose slightly for his eyes to meet mine. The right was blue but the left


    was as ck as night


    "Are you okay?" he asked quietly, the darkness in his left eye not dissipating. I licked my lips and


    nodded my head, before clearing my throat "Good."


    "I.." I started, taking a deep breath "I''m sorry. I haven''t learnt how to-"


    "It''s alright." his interruption was apanied by a ghost of a smile as he pulled away from me, but still


    supported me with his arms as we stood together "Can you stand right?"


    "Yes. Thank you."


    Slowly, his arms left me to stand on my own, the cold setting in again as I turned to fully face my loved


    ones. Although I should have been embarrassed that they had witnessed the episode and the remedy


    to my episode, I didn''t let it hinder the happiness I felt and took turns hugging them and whispering that


    I was okay. Through it all, Xander stood behind me and patiently waited. When he was sure I was fine


    and everyone was quietly seated, he nodded his head and disappeared out of our sight.


    ''He''ll be okay.'' It relieved me as I heard Keira''s voice and quietly agreed.


    dys gave me onest smile as well, before leaving us all alone.


    Theck of his presence was like a pinch at my skin, but I ignored it as I addressed their questioning


    gazes. Maria held my right hand as Astelle held onto my left, caging me between them


    "Since when are you flirty with your abuser?" Donovan''s loud question cut through the air, shocking me


    My eyes turned to see him, on the edge of his seat and ring at the spot Xander had stood.


    "Donovan." the stern warning in Ben''s voice was clear as Maria clutched my hand tighter


    "It''s okay." I answered, smiling slightly to show that I wasn''t upset. This kind of reaction was to be


    expected. My focus centred on Donovan''s irritated expression as I said "I can''t keep fighting with him,


    Don. You don''t know everything, frankly, even if any of you did, I doubt that you''d understand."


    I sighed heavily, and my mind took me back to the many things between Xander and me these past few


    months. Fighting each other, ignoring each other and hanging on to the feelings of the past. It was true,


    a few months back, I would have never imagined things would turn out this way and I would never


    imagine that the hate I thought I felt for him could simmer down to what it was now. Xander respected


    me, no matter how much of a stubborn person he was. He was open about some things and he got on


    my nerves, I found it easier to rte with him now than before. Only an idiot would do what I was doing,


    living and being friendly with someone that had left a scar on me that would possibly never heal but I


    would also be an idiot for not acknowledging that things could get better.


    With this in mind, I began to exin to them in detail just what had transpired between us, from the


    moment we had met until this very moment. At some points, I found myself crying. At some points,


    there were so many emotions from around the room that there was a bit of effort put in for me to


    continue speaking. Other times weughed together, as they heard about the embarrassing things I


    had done.


    Purposely, I skipped some information so as to not give them any more anxiety than they were


    probably already feeling.


    By the time I was done, they sat quietly and looked to be in their own thoughts. Donovan''s face didn''t


    change and he looked like he still thought of what to say, even as Freddie''s hand was firmly mped


    down on his shoulder.


    "So from what I''m seeing and from what you just said.." Smith said, being the first to speak up as he


    pushed his hair backwards "...he''s head over heels in love with you but he doesn''t force his feelings on


    you."


    "Doesn''t force his feelings?" Ben snorted, "Did you see him breathing down her neck? That boy


    deserves a smack in the head. He''s lucky I was too shocked to do anything."


    "Oh you know you wouldn''t have been able to do anything honey." Maria said, smiling at him. He


    grinned back at her, shrugging his shoulders


    "I bet he''d have taken you down within 5 seconds." Freddie inputted


    "5?" Cassie''s loud familiar cackle was like music to my ears "That''s too much credit you''re giving poor


    old Benjamin."


    "Shut up Cassandra." a yful scowl appeared on his face and I found myself giggling quietly


    "Wait, you guys are okay with this?" I asked, thinking about how their reactions were so minimal


    "With everything that''s happened, of course, we are. I don''t think anyone has had any reason to doubt


    your judgement." Astelle said beside me, rolling her eyes like it was the most obvious thing to do


    "You don''t think I''m being too reckless?" I asked, still feeling worried


    "You''ve been reckless for as long as I''ve known you Ava." Maria said, "It tends to note out much,


    but I''ve always known."


    Iughed as conversation resumed around me, everything centring on the stupid things I had done


    over the years. My spirit became settled as I joined in, just like old times and fondly watched them joke


    around. All conversation was suddenly cut short when Donovan stood up and walked off to God knows


    where.


    "Going for a walk." he mumbled quietly, knowing I''d hear him


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    The bang of the front door was loud as I felt it underneath my feet. I made the move to stand but


    Maria''s hand held onto mine tighter, drawing my attention to her.


    "Leave him be." she said, "The Alpha told us that there are guards all around so he won''t get far."


    "What if he causes trouble?"


    "Then maybe he''ll have some sense knocked into him and see that you''re not that scared girl we


    adopted all those years ago." Her warm smile calmed me as I hugged her and gradually, the


    conversation resumed around me. Although I was slightly worried, as he was a human in werewolf


    territory, I believed that nothing would happen to him


    If anything did, Xander would be to me and obviously, it would do nothing for the tonic


    rtionship we now had. It was almostical to imagine, but I had realised it sooner thanter that


    he wouldn''t do anything to hurt the ones I loved and would make sure no one under his authority would


    either.


    Well, maybe except Marcus. I still worried about how they rted with each other. Hopefully, he got to


    meet my adoptive family.


    As I looked around at my family, I hoped deep inside, that, unlikest time, I would have no reason to


    be torn from them again.

 Chapter 60

    Chapter 60


    Xander''s eyes glided over the water. The ice that floated over it in little chunks didn''t stop him as he


    peeled away the clothes that clung to his skin. Soon enough, his bare chest was exposed to the cold


    air as he began to walk from the edge of theke, deeper and deeper into the arms of the freezing


    water until his body was submerged from his chest downwards. His body felt like it was pricked by


    constant needles, but he paid no mind to it. Compared to the things he had been through, this was


    barely anything.


    The barren trees around him were silent and not even the sound of birds could be heard. It was only


    reasonable to assume that they had migrated.


    Because it was so silent and because his ears picked up the smallest of sounds, he could hear the


    chatter going on in the town, even though he had blocked the mind link he had with all of them. He


    could hear theughter of children and the rowdiness of warriors as they fought against one another, in


    a bid to be upied.


    He could also hear the footsteps and low cursing of the man that had been following him for close to 45


    minutes since he left his home. The trees didn''t hide him that well and Xander was sure that he knew it


    as well. With the thought of a possible confrontation in mind, he turned towards the direction of where


    his clothes and shoes were and watched as his mate''s adoptive brother got closer and closer.


    If he recalled correctly, his name was Donovan and he seemed to be a hot-head when it came to his


    little sister.


    He stopped at the very edge, next to where Xander''s things were and like Xander expected, his things


    were kicked into the water. He watched his things float aimlessly and when they began to sink


    gradually, he raised his eyes to the man that looked at him with the most daring disgust he had ever


    seen from a human man.


    The beast inside him instantly became riled up by the disrespect. There were always two options for his


    wolf in scenarios like these; force the person to submit or kill. For his wolf, anything else was just a


    waste of time and even now his incessant growls echoed in his mind ruthlessly.


    "You did something to her, didn''t you?" the question was dripping in disdain as Donovan''s eyes red


    at him. Xander tilted his head, not moving and choosing to wait for his next move. Would hee into


    the water after him? It seemed that Donovan wanted nothing more than to impatiently rip him to shreds


    "Answer me, you bastard!"


    A small growl escaped him, out of his control and filtering into the air the power that apanied it. He


    saw the other man''s eyes widen slightly, but he didn''t back down despite the obvious fear that crossed


    his features for a split second.


    "I''m not afraid of you. That isn''t going to work on me!" he dered, his voice still stiff and unrelenting


    Xander stayed quiet, gazing back with an empty expression.


    From the moment Donovan had stepped out of the house, Xander had been alerted by the warriors he


    had stationed. Deliberately, he had allowed Donovan toe to him and made sure nobody stopped


    him.


    Xander was many things. Amongst them; a murderer and a sadist by design, a well-beloved Alpha, a


    man with mental problems that he was presently trying to ovee and a saviour to those who


    needed his help the most. His whole existence was contradictory.


    Despite being many things, Xander was not one for power struggles and neither was he one for


    speaking to family members of the woman he loved more than life itself. Yet it was because he loved


    her more than life itself, that he was unable to piece together how to handle this.


    ''We should kill him and dump his body in theke to see how fast he''ll sink.''


    The suggestion was totally unwee and violent but he still chuckled outwardly at how different he


    and his wolf chose to handle situations.


    "Why won''t you fucking say anything?!" Donovan said, his legsing into the water a little, shoes and


    all


    "I advise..." Xander finally began, pinning him with a warning look, "...you get out before this water


    freezes you to death."


    Although his teeth were grinding together in irritation, he actually listened and backed up to stand by


    the side of theke once more.


    "So you do listen." Xandermented, his amusement shining through his expression as he smirked


    "Don''t speak to me like I''m some fucking piece of gum stuck under your shoe."


    ''But you are.''


    "I assure you that wasn''t my intention." he moved a little, turning to take a quick nce to the North of


    him before directing his attention to Donovan once more, "You followed me all the way out here for


    what exactly?"


    "Don''t fucking bullshit me. You did something to her. What was with all that touching and shit back


    there?" he pushed a hand into his hair and cursed again "I need a cigarette."


    "Your sister doesn''t like that you smoke."


    "And she told you that?"


    "No. I just noticed that she doesn''t."


    "Are you trying to paint yourself as attentive? That''s pathetic."


    His body was heating up little by little with rage. The water served the purpose he hade to it for


    and now, he could avoid having a messy confrontation that would end with his hands being painted


    with blood.


    His mate would never forgive him if that happened.


    "I''m not expecting to have any form of rtionship with you Donovan and I doubt any apology I make


    right now would be genuine."


    "That''s because you''re a piece of shit!"


    "Rest assured, the fight you want me toe out of here would only end with you in a pool of your own


    blood. Are you really that desperate to get your sister to hate me more, at the cost of your life?"


    When there was no response, Xander knew he had caught him. The man was trying to bait him and if


    Xander took it, it would give Donovan leverage. He had to hand it to him; he wasn''t as clueless as he


    spoke. If Xander got out, Ava''s brother would be in a mess, but even if he didn''t die, the mere thought


    of him raising his hands on Donovan would put him in a bad position.


    Donovan who was a human. Donovan who had basically helped in nursing her to the person she had


    be.


    "You are aware that she won''t change her mind about anything. Although I''m yet to see what exactly


    you want her to change her mind on." Xander said, moving a little in the water "She''s not a kid."


    "A few months ago she didn''t want to have anything to do with you and now she''s letting you hold her


    like it''s the most logical thing in the world."


    "She''s my mate. It is the most logical thing in the world."


    Taking his wet hand, he passed it through his hair like Donovan did before, brushing his dark hair away


    from his vision.


    "You fucking hurt her! Do you have any idea how damaged she was when she left here?" the


    "I did." Xander replied, his voice and eyes hard "I hurt her. I broke her. I did almost everything


    imaginable and almost ruined her chances of ever having a normal life."


    "And you''re not sorry?! How can you-"


    "I''ve given up on using words to apologize. My life is now dedicated to making that woman happy.


    Why? Because she''s worth more than your human mind will ever be able to understand."


    "And you really think I''ll believe that shit?"


    Xander chuckled loudly, his lips spreading into a grin.


    "I don''t give a fuck about what you believe."


    He allowed his aura to escape him at one go. The force, enough to be felt by even a human. His eyes


    darkened slightly as he observed the effects; Donovan backing away little by little, with a nervous


    expression on his face.


    "Understand this human." his deep voice resonated through the quiet woods "As long as she believes


    me and continues to let me stay by her side..."


    His body drew closer to the edge of the water and the closer he got, the more Donovan backed away.


    "As long as she lets me make her happy..."


    His steps faltered and like a helpless prey, he fell onto his back with a soft thud and a grunt. Xander


    stood over him, tilting his head to the side and smirking.


    "As long as I have her, nothing else will ever matter."


    ...........


    Worriedly, she paced the porch, ncing around in hopes of sighting her brother that had stormed off.


    Everyone else was inside, having the food that dys had prepared, but she had been unable to settle


    and eat, thinking about the amount of time that had passed since shest saw Donovan.


    It was going on to two hours now and still, there was no sign of him. It was not like she could even call


    as neither of them had cellphones.


    The sky was dulling into a hue of pink and orange, with dark clouds scattered around like a painting on


    a wide canvas. Ava huffed, thinking about the things that could go wrong with Donovan moving around


    a territory of werewolves.


    "I''ll go look for him." she muttered, beginning to ascend the steps quickly before pausing


    If her human ears could twitch, they would have, as the sound of a caring towards her direction


    became clearer and clearer. She waited impatiently, almost bouncing on the balls of her feet by the


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    time a ck car pulled in. Her nose picked up Donovan and she was visibly relieved when one of the


    doors opened and he came out, a nket draped over his shoulders. His eyes found hers as she


    rushed towards him.


    "Where the hell have you been? And you left without a coat! Are you okay?" she asked, looking over


    his face as she held onto his cold hands


    "I''m fine." he mumbled, his voice dry, "Nothing a little chicken soup can''t fix."


    Xander appeared in her vision, wearingpletely different clothes from when he had left the house.


    He rounded the car, with a nk expression on his face, but she saw the mild amusement swimming in


    his blue eyes.


    Donovan''s head suddenly lowered to her ear, his cold breath tickling her ear as he whispered "Your


    mate is scary. I''m sure you''re scarier though."


    He pulled away before she could stop him and walked past her to the house. Confused, she looked


    between his retreating back and Xander that was now standing closer to her.


    "What the hell does that even mean?" she muttered, shaking her head


    "I think it means your protective big brother approves of us little mate." Xander answered, nodding at


    the driver of the car as a signal for him to leave


    "Us?" she scowled at him, trying to imagine just what had happened during the time they were gone


    "There is no us Alexander. What exactly did you tell him?"


    As he opened his mouth to speak, she shook her head vehemently and shook her hands in the air.


    "You know what? You can tell meter." she said and sighed heavily, "I knew I shouldn''t have let him


    out of my sight. I''m going to eat some pie and get him warm."


    She took a few steps away before turning to look at him for a moment when she sensed he wasn''t


    moving.


    "Well,e on. It''s been a long day."


    His eyes followed her as she moved farther away from him, her dishevelled hair being carried by the


    wind. He couldn''t help the smile that crept onto his face as he watched her.


    She was right. There was no ''Us'' for the both of them.


    But if the universe ever gave him a chance. If he was gifted the opportunity for a next life, for a second


    chance, he would spend the entirety of it making sure there was.


    ''You''re being so mawkish, it''s sickening.''


    Chuckling, he ignored his wolf as he followed in after his mate. Thankfully, she had not picked up on


    the smell of blood. He would have to exin a lot to herter on, but for now, he settled for being


    momentarily ufortable in his own home.


    How blissful.

 Chapter 61

    Chapter 61


    "Have you ever thought about it?"


    The hand stroking her back paused its motion and she lifted her eyes to look at him.


    "What?" he asked her, sounding puzzled.


    "About what our lives would be like together." she answered, her eyebrows knitting together "You


    haven''t?"


    He chuckled before kissing the crease that had formed from her deep frowning "Of course I have."


    "Really?"


    "Yes. In my imagination, I''ve created a little girl that looks just like you, with the most gorgeous silver


    hair."


    She giggled softly as she rolled her eyes.


    "I haven''t even thought as far as children!"


    "You asked me a question. I''m simply answering you." he held onto her tighter and she felt his


    heartbeat pick up, "Do you want that with me?"


    "I do." she replied, nuzzling her head into his shoulder "I want everything with you."


    "No matter how many lifetimes it takes us?"


    She understood why he asked that. Nothing for them was guaranteed simply because they were


    different from everyone else. It was more painful than beautiful. Despite this, she would hold on for as


    long as he let her. She raised her hands to cup his face and gave him a gentle kiss, a silent affirmation


    before she spoke again.


    "No matter how many lifetimes it takes us."


    .................


    By the time the night was over, her family went off to the homes that had been set up for them, with a


    promise of having more time to hang out the next day. Ava felt the exhaustion settle on her shoulders


    as she rested against the counter, her body aching more than usual. She had just woken up a while


    ago and had gone into the kitchen to get a ss of water for her parched throat. She doubted she had


    slept for up to 10 minutes and felt warm all over. Her eyes had flown open the moment she had uttered


    those words in her dream.


    All through the remainder of the day and even now, she felt the little thump in her abdomen. It didn''t


    exactly scare her, but she wondered why it had taken so long for her to feel it again. Marcus was the


    only one she could ask about this and she promised herself that she would do it tomorrow, while they


    trained together.


    Everyone had a changed life now. It annoyed her how it was because of her and because of that, she


    made sure not to tell them more about her role in ensuring that things didn''t fall into ruin. It was too


    soon to rope them in. They were here and they were safe, that''s all that mattered. After everything was


    over, would they get the lives they had abandoned bacK? Would Freddie & Donovan get back to


    working in their big techpanies? Would Maria and Ben have a peaceful life back in Lansing?


    Would Astelle keep pursuing her passion in healthcare like spoke about? Would Cassie open her


    school back up? And Smith? His family was probably worried sick about him.


    Ava wondered how people were fairing with all these key people gone from where they usually were


    and with a feeling of heavy guilt, groaned as she pushed her hands into her hair.


    "Tired?" dys'' presence appeared beside her and she sighed in response, turning to the smiling


    older woman "You should go to bed."


    "I wish I could, but my mind is running a mile a second right now." she answered, "Is he back yet?"


    "Not yet. He should be back soon since it''s been a while." Ava hummed. Xander had left earlier


    because of a sudden call from the eastern border and hadmanded some of the warriors to make


    sure that her family were taken to the homes that had been set up for them. "Can I ask you


    something?"


    "Of course." her curiosity quipped as she saw the slightly nervous look on dys'' face "Is there


    something wrong?"


    "You don''t have to tell me if you''re notfortable. I just..." she paused, her cheeks heating up, "I''m


    just curious about your history with Alpha Xander."


    "My history with Alexander?"


    "I-It''s not like I want to be nosey! I became so curious when I heard you and your family speaking.


    Although I knew that he didn''t treat you good at some point, I''ve always been curious of how bad it was


    but I didn''t think your history with him mattered much, but now I want to know." Ava''s eyes widened


    slightly at the sincerity in dys'' eyes "Please tell me if you can."


    Her history with the beast of a man. Now, where would she start from? It wasn''t often that people asked


    her about her past with him and it never ended with her exining a thing, but that was because of the


    anxiety that apanied her.


    dys held a fearful expression so Ava smiled brightly, to put her more at ease.


    "He wasn''t always the sweetest person." she started, sighing heavily, "I don''t feel good about


    discussing my personal struggles and what he''s done, especially with someone that''s very devoted to


    him. He''s your hero."


    "I''m not that blind that I can''t see the writings on the wall. There are more than a few reasons why he''s


    feared by everyone."


    "For good reason. I left the pack because, for 10 years of my life, I went through severe abuse;


    emotionally, psychologically and physically, mostly at the hands of the man everyone seems to ship me


    with." she smiled at the irony of it, "Although I''m not ying house with him, I''m letting him into my


    personal space. My therapist wouldugh at that."


    She drank thest of the water in her ss, dropping it softly back on the counter.


    "I ran away on the day I found out he was my mate. Frankly, back then, I thought I''d have died if I


    stayed, but I believed running away was better than staying even if it killed me. That''s probably why


    most people here can''t look me in the eyes."


    "I..." dys choked up, her eyes watering "I''m so sorry."


    "Please don''t cry. I''m okay now and that''s all that matters." she said, still smiling "I''m going off for the


    night. See you tomorrow."


    "Goodnight dear. Please rest well."


    She pulled back and set her mind on taking a hot shower. During the time she had spent with


    everyone, she kept picking up the distinct smell of blood from Donovan, but when she had taken a


    good look at him, she saw that he didn''t have any cuts or bruises. Then she had ignored it, but now as


    she stripped off her clothes in her room, she wondered more about the things that had happened


    between Donovan & Xander.


    Keira was calmer now. She had been bouncing around and had constantly switched reins with her to


    converse with everyone. It must have gotten tiring since it had been so long since they did it that much.


    The warm water felt like it soaked through her skin, relieving her aching muscles as she closed her


    eyes in contentment. She sunk deeper and deeper into her thoughts,pletely drowning out the


    sound of the rushing water.


    When her eyes opened again, she was surrounded by dark water and rapidly sat up, realizing that she


    was sinking. Her confused eyes frantically swept across the scenery and she cursed under her breath.


    Above her were clear blue skies and her lower body was submerged in the blue water below. How the


    hell did she end up here? At this point, there really was no catching a break for her. She looked down


    at her bare body and sighed heavily. What the hell was this even? One moment, she was enjoying her


    shower and now she was here. This was the second time she had been pulled into this ce


    unexpectedly and she was very sure no matter how many more times it happened, she would never


    get used to it.


    Her eyes raised again, expecting to meet the sky, but her vision was blocked by the reflection of deep


    green. She recoiled in surprise, shifting back and stumbling out of the water to create distance.


    A beautiful woman stared back at her, donning a beautiful bright smile.


    Her hair was white as snow.


    Her eyes were the same shade of green as hers.


    Her long red gown flowed behind her in waves.


    And her skin looked like it had bathed in the radiance of the sunlight so much she could rival it.


    The woman from the garden. The woman whose body she had lived in in her dreams.


    There was no mistaking. Ava had seen her far too much to not be able to recognize her. Her body


    levitated about two feet above the water and if anything, Ava saw the woman as god-like. Yet, it was


    almost as if she was staring at herself. At a version that wasn''t quiteprehendible given just who


    she was and how she looked.


    "Ki kunem dio cuta ku." the woman said and although the words out of her mouth sounded like


    jibberish, Ava heard the trantion loud and clear in her brain


    I have been waiting for you.


    "Um.." Ava began, hesitant, "I''m sorry, but I''m not quitefortable having this conversation with you


    while I''m stark naked. I was in a shower and I''ve had a long day so I''d like to go home now. Maybe we


    could pick this up another day"


    "Xim?" she asked, tilting her head and levitating closer to Ava. The closer she got, the more inches Ava


    tried to put between them


    Home?


    "Yes, home." her hair was drenched and stuck to her body and although there was no wind, she still felt


    very ufortable being naked in front of someone else "How can I understand what you''re saying?"


    "Riq uina, ju anem oyi." her brows seemed to furrow as she finally settled her feet on the water,


    standing at the same height as Ava "Ki podo ku fukna."


    Simply put, we are one. I told you before.


    Curiosity weighed on Ava''s conscience and battled with getting away and finding out who this woman


    in front of her was. Nobody would be able to answer her questions and now she was faced with the


    woman that lived in her dreams. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Forgetting to cover the parts of


    her that were exposed, she pushed her two hands in her hair, staring at her reflection that waited


    patiently.


    "I really can''t catch a break, can I?" she grunted, "Can you speak English? It''s kind of freaky hearing


    you speak and hearing something else in my head."


    There was a look of shock on the woman''s face, before she giggled softly and nodded her head. She


    took a deep breath and pushed her white hair behind her shoulders.


    "I..." she began, her voice like air, "I''m so d you''re here."


    Ava''s eyes widened at how simr the voice sounded to hers. Now that she spoke English, it was more


    "We have a lot to catch up on. Will youe with me?" she asked, her tone inviting. Ava stared at her


    outstretched hand. She hesitantly reached out to grab it but paused just before her fingers could brush


    the others


    "No." she answered, looking into her deep green eyes, "I want to know who you are. By name."


    So it wouldn''t be a dream. Both of them being here at this moment, sharing this space, meant that she


    could ask for proof. There was no disappearing and leaving her with cryptic messages. Before she


    moved forward, she wanted to be sure that it was all real and that this person was ready to cooperate.


    Having striking simrities to her meant nothing if she couldn''t even tell Ava who she was.


    "You''re more amusing in every lifetime." the woman said,ughing lightly


    Her expression became mncholic and Ava watched as her eyes glowed


    "My name is Avangeline. Avaline or Ava for short." she introduced, power exuding from her voice even


    though she spoke softly "And I''m a demigod of the earth, moon and sky. Quite a mouthful."


    With wide eyes, Ava watched her step closer, her hands rising to cup Ava''s cheeks.


    "Daughter of the moon goddess."


    The tears that flowed down her face clenched at Ava''s heart despite her growing confusion.


    "I..." happiness was ring as the other woman stared at her, a nostalgic smile appearing on her face


    "I am you."


    Now the statement that had been repeated to her had a clearer meaning.


    We are one.


    It scared her almost as much as it excited her as the small traces of doubt cleared away.


    ......


    A demigod?


    Her?


    A demigod?


    The more she tried to wrap her head around it, the more impossible yet possible it seemed.


    She looked over at the other woman that had now tied her hair up, her face peaceful as she sat on the


    water, staring up at the sky. It wasn''t particrly interesting, but Ava gathered she was trying to give


    her a chance to gather her thoughts. She pulled at the hem of her summer dress that the other Ava had


    conveniently spun out of thin air and presented to her. It was short, reaching just a bit below her mid-


    thighs; aplete contrast to the flowing red gown that her other self wore. It floated on the water yet


    Ava noted that it didn''t get wet.


    "So..." she began, thinking about it, "What do I call you?"


    "Hm?" was the response as they turned to face each other, "Ava of course."


    "That can get pretty confusing since we bear the same name."


    "We bear the same face and everything else, why would the name be any different?" She felt her


    temple begin to throb and sighed


    "Is it okay to call you Angel?"


    "What kind of name is that?" the scowl on her face mirrored the same one Ava always made when she


    thought something was bullshit. She wouldn''t lie though, she didn''t like the name for anything and


    seeing the reaction of her other self resulted in herughing


    "Yeah, I get your point but do you have any suggestions?"


    "How about we call you Angel instead?"


    "Gosh no! I have first dibs to that name. I''m the original."


    "Well, I''ve lived far longer than you have in this lifetime so really, the original is me."


    Far longer? Yeah, that was something Ava wanted to understand now. Pushing the argument of names


    aside, she turned fully to face her other self in curiosity.


    "How has that worked out?" she asked, "Being a demigod? And howe I''m only just finding out?"


    "I''ve been sealed inside you for years. It''s not really a surprise." the nonchnce with which the other


    Ava spoke convinced her that this wasn''t the first time


    "How many times have you done this? You mentioned ''lifetime'' and that makes me assume there''s


    been more than one." the calm expression on her face pushed Ava to keep speaking. It was time for


    her to get all the answers "Why do I keep seeing you in my dreams? Why do I keep living a memory


    that doesn''t even belong to me? Does me being a demigod have to do with this power inside of me?"


    "Power? What power?"


    "Ohe on! You''ve been here and you know there''s something inside the pit of my stomach waiting


    to go sparky sparky boom every time my emotions take a turn."


    Her eyes widened with her mouth ajar but unlike Ava expected, what came wasn''t an answer or a


    confirmation of understanding, but a burst of loud bellyughter that had her blushing almost as red as


    her hair in embarrassment. Is this what she looked like when she wasughing? She likened herself to


    a snorting pig if that was the case but instead of speaking, she kept mute and pouted till the other Ava


    calmed down and wiped at her eyes.


    "What''s got you so cracked up?" she asked, ring slightly


    "You! You''re talking about this ''power'' as if it''s something that isn''t a part of who you are. As if it''s a


    separate entity that you''ve been burdened with."


    "Because it''s not a part of me and it is a burden. I''ve gotten the exnation of it already from Marcus.


    It''s passed down and when I''m gone, another person will have it."


    "Marcus did eh?" she smiled whimsically, "I guess it can get confusing when you see it that way. But..."


    she leaned forward and grabbed my hand, squeezing it softly "It is you. It doesn''t belong to anyone


    else but you."


    "I don''t understand." What did that even mean?


    "You will." her other self held onto her other hand, very close and holding expectancy on her face "Do


    you trust me?"


    "I..." she paused to nce down at the intertwined hands, noting how safe she felt. This was her. There


    was no other reason to feel otherwise. "I do."


    A beautiful stretched out across her face and Ava watched in fascination as she closed her eyes and


    lowered her forehead to ce on hers. The air was still between them and frankly, Ava forgot what it


    meant to breathe. She found herself closing her eyes too, rxing her shoulders.


    The faint electricity and sudden warmth that engulfed her wasn''t enough for her to open her eyes


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    again, but when she did, she was no longer in the grand scenery. She was alone, sitting up in bed and


    staring at the flickering candlelight that danced in front of her. Her vision was the same and through the


    darkness, she found herself in what seemed to be in a bedroom with walls and floors made of wood.


    There was a table with papers scattered on it and on the floor, as she climbed out of the bed, a basin of


    water.


    Her attire was also reced by a soft cotton nightgown.


    Where the hell had she gone to this time?


    "Ava?" she called out softly but was met with no response. From what she felt, she was in a house and


    could hear the sounds of movementing her way. She listened until the faint footsteps stopped just


    outside the door. There was no exnation of what pulled her closer, but she found herself waiting as


    the door was open quietly, with such gentleness.


    With a candlemp in hand, the person stopped on seeing her as her eyes widened. They stepped


    closer, holding onto her with one arm as a soft tendril of snow-white hair fell into her vision.


    "What are you doing out of bed my love?" they asked softly "Did you have another nightmare?"


    She didn''t answer for a while as their eyes stared down at her, but when she found her voice, it cracked


    under the weight of what she felt.


    "N-No. I''m fine."


    The illumination on his face ensured there was no mistake. The man that held her so gently held the


    face of another she knew and she could read everything off him as he watched her, gently rubbing his


    thumb on her spine. Her heart felt like it would explode out her chest any moment as he tilted his head


    to the side.


    "Ava?"


    "Y-Yes?"


    "Are you sure you''re okay?"


    "Yes..." she took a deep breath, her eyes dancing across his face, "Yes Alexander. I''m just


    fine."


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