~Avery~ In just a few minutes, I had managed to persuade my mother about King and me resolving our differences, even though her sceptical expression suggested she wasn't fully convinced. Despite this, I couldn't let King create a scene in front of the children or act out in anger. His temper was already flaring, and I decided it was best I kept my own anger at bay, at least until I knew he was thinking straight. I lied to my mom and Jane that the kids and I needed to spend only a week at King's place. Hopefully, by then I would be able to make King see reason. Jane had asked me to tell her the truth if I were under any coercion by King, but I couldn't risk him harming anyone just because he was angry. My mother and Jane assisted in gathering our few belongings, while Divah cheerfully carried them out to my car. Meanwhile, King had parked his vehicle prominently at the front of the house and was leaning against it, arms crossed, exuding a mix of impatience and expectancy. His dem
~King~ It was quite fascinating to see them, and what's more amusing and amazing was that I was enjoying every word with them. Their endless questions made me smile, and surprisingly, I enjoyed answering each one. These moments with them were golden, filling me with a warmth I hadn't known I was missing. My pups. Goddess, I never imagined that I would say those words, they felt alien but incredibly right as I thought them. I was still grappling with the reality of it all. How the fuck could Avery hide something like this from me? Did she hate me that much? Although the thought of fatherhood had never crossed my mind before, now that I knew of Julian and Julia's existence, there was nothing in this world I wanted more. And nothing was going to stop me from raising my twins. With or without Avery. I was so furious that I couldn't even speak to her, although I knew she wouldn't answer any of my questions. She had refused to even look at me, which infuriated me even more. She had
~Avery~ I knelt at the centre of the grand hall, surrounded by the esteemed members of the Silverpine pack. My gaze remained fixed on the ground, avoiding eye contact with anyone. Deep down, I yearned to meet King's eyes, for I believed he was the only one who would believe me, but they had kept me from him since last night. In this pack, they despised me, and no one would entertain the notion of my innocence, even if I pleaded otherwise. Beta Kristopher, who had never held much regard for me in this pack, rose and positioned himself before me. I had always been seen as unworthy of the Luna title. I was only but a mere rogue who was captured to come and serve as a slave, but I somehow became the Luna because King, my mate needed a Luna. The pack members had never truly accepted me, and today seemed to mark the end of my reign. I had fallen before I had the chance to rise. "It appears we are all present now," Kristopher announced, as Sammy, my closest friend, entered the
~Avery~ Throughout the day, my thoughts lingered on King, and I found myself yearning for his return. With no enthusiasm for my classes or training, I pretended to be unwell, of course, I was lovesick, and I confined myself indoors. I spent the day lost in memories of the previous night, my mind replaying each moment until the sky outside was awash with orange hues. Eventually, I rose from my bed and stood by the window, my gaze fixed on the horizon, eagerly awaiting my mate's return. My mind was a whirlwind of questions. Why had King touched me the way he did last night? Would he come back to me this evening? Was this a sign of his acceptance? Thia, my wolf, was brimming with excitement, her restless energy almost infectious. It was then that Sammy's voice pierced my reverie through our mind-link. 'Hey, Ave, are you there?' she inquired, her mental voice tinged with concern. 'Yes, I am,' I replied, my voice bubbling with barely contained excitement. 'Thank go
~Avery~ As I knelt under the heavy gaze of the assembly, the solemn voice of Kristopher rang out, casting a shadow over my fate. "Avery Frost is kneeling here today, accused of infidelity with a rogue, and also aiding the rogues by giving them vital information about our pack, which caused their last successful attack that claimed the lives of many pack members which we are still grieving." Kristopher turned to me, his piercing eyes fixed on me, he continued. "Avery Frost, the trial today will look at the evidence to determine if you are guilty of these crimes." Perspiration formed like icy beads on my forehead as I scanned the room, every pair of eyes a judge unto themselves. "Avery, do you swear by the sacred goddess to speak the truth and nothing but the truth?" "I do," I replied, striving to keep my voice unwavering. In the corner, I heard my mother's muffled sobs. She knew I would never commit the crime they accused me of. I could never bring harm to
~Avery~ As I regained consciousness, I found myself bound and lying on the cold, unfeeling ground, surrounded by impenetrable darkness. The only covering on my body was an oversized shirt, which belonged to King. My eyes strained against the pitch black that enveloped me, but no shape or form emerged from the shroud of night. A flood of emotions— the sharp sting of recent events overwhelmed me. Betrayal, so raw and profound, bore down upon my soul with an unbearable weight. Succumbing to this tide of despair, tears flowed freely, tracing cold paths down my cheeks. I thought about my mother. The thought of her, enduring this ordeal, her mind wracked with worry for me, intensified my anguish. I didn't want her to worry so much about me, so I tried speaking to her through the mind-link. 'M-mom?' I whispered hesitantly. 'Avery, my dear,' her voice, laden with relief and anxiety, echoed in my mind, as though she had been anxiously awaiting my awakening. 'You're fin
~Avery~ Time seemed to dissolve into an endless night, as I stayed shrouded in perpetual darkness within the confines of my prison room. For three days, darkness was my sole companion. My stomach churned from lack of food, and the only solace in this abyss was the occasional flicker of my mother's voice as she checked on me through the mind link. Tia was weak already and I could barely muster the energy to sit upright. But just when I thought I was going to die, that was when I heard the gate clang and the door to the darkroom open. The guards walked in and hauled me to my feet, escorting me from my gloomy prison to the Beta chambers. "Alpha has returned," Kristopher announced, his gaze scrutinizing my weakened form. "Prepare her, and ensure she is fed." Tia, though weakened by our ordeal, sparked to life at the mention of King's name. Anxiety churned within me, uncertainty clouding my thoughts about what awaited me in King's presence. The memory of his piercing g
~Avery~ The pain overwhelmed me, rendering me immobile. I lay sprawled in King's office, my strength drained to the point where even using the mind link was beyond me. As the excruciating pain threatened to plunge me into unconsciousness, the door creaked open, and Regina entered. The click of her high heels against the hard floor echoed through the room as she advanced toward me. She was going to help me up. I know she was a nice person, and I wouldn't hold any grudge against her, because she had given me an opportunity which I messed up. However, as she crouched before me, the sight that greeted me was completely unexpected. A triumphant grin stretched across her face, morphing into a derisive laugh. My confusion deepened, manifesting in a puzzled frown. Regina brushed aside the strands of hair that veiled my face. "So, you believed you could reap where you hadn't sown?" she taunted. My forehead furrowed in bewilderment, struggling to make sense of her words. She rose, the