Chapter 3.

”What are you saying, child?” Carlos asked her as he rose from his seat.

Amber sighed.

”Malia and I are mated. I don't care what history our families have or what happened in the past. If she can be okay with it then so can I. I love her, uncle.” She said.

Carlos walked around the study and stopped in front of a book shelf.

He brought out a smaller journal-looking one with a black leather coverage.

”Here, this will come in handy,” he said and held it out to Amber.

”Uncle-”

”No. I'm sorry, I know what this must be like for you but I cannot dive into history. Some things are meant to be left unspoken.” He said.

”But she’s my mate,” Amber defended, sounding frustrated.

”You’d do well to reject her, Amber. Some things leave unspeakable marks on a person and sometimes on many. Things that cannot be undone. Some fight are not worth fighting.”

I could feel Ambers body shaking and her wolf begging to come out. Carlos was telling her to reject her mate.

No wolf would accept that.

”Is it because she’s a girl?” Amber growled.

Carlos smiled softly and looked down on his feet before meeting Ambers gaze.

”I have known you like girls ever since you were a child. I saw the way you looked at some of the pack members. I hoped that you would find you mate one day and finally be your true self. But this, her,” he said and shook his head.

”You two can never be.”

Amber took a step towards him.

”I guess we’ll see about that,” she seethed before storming out.

***

”Hey, wait up!” I shouted after her as Amber ran across the pack border, Lydia was behind me and I guessed we were leaving my car behind. I looked behind me and saw my silver colored convertible standing in its spot. I groaned as I forced my body to run faster.

As i was closing in on Amber, she upped the anti and shifted the moment her feet stepped over the border.

”Seriously?” I groaned and turned my head to Lydia who was watching me with exasperation.

We both shifted and ran after Amber, sig-sacking amongst the trees and pushing our paws of the ground as we approached a steep end.

’Where the hell is she going?’

Home, Xena

We darted off with Lydia hot on our tail. Apparently Xena was faster, stronger and a lot bigger than most wolves, but Amber was an alfas daughter, meaning her wolf was nearly as powerful as mine.

’Avery, we’re nearing the Sliver Moon border’

Shit

I watched as Amber wolf ran in despair, releasing her frustration and anger with every move and every turn. She dug her claws into the ground and she got closer and closer to the border.

We were alias with the Silver Moon pack, but that doesn't mean they will appreciate our unauthorized visit.

we’re shifting

I said and we stopped.

I shifted back and rose my hands, harsh blows of wind encircling us. I looked to my side and saw Lydias Amber wolf hunched down, submitting.

I looked at her in confusion but knew I needed to stop Amber.

I moved my hands so that the wind kept her wolf unable from moving further.

We were merely meters away from the border and guards wouldn’t be far away.

”You’re not thinking straight!”

Ambers wolf turned and her eyes held mine in a challenging glare. Her teeth were bared and her head slightly lowered.

What the hell? I thought as I narrowed my eyes.

Was she questioning me?

My face softened as I looked into her wolf's enraged eyes.

She rose to her full height, pushing her chest out before finally bowing down and shifting back.

”Would you?” She asked me softly.

”Would you think straight if someone told you that you and James can never be together?” I dropped my hands to my sides, allowing the winds to subside. Her words hit my chest with a harsh sting.

”No, nor would I believe them.” I said as I walked over to Amber.

I sat down beside her and grabbed her hand.

”You and Malia have every chance of being together. We just need to find out the truth and I promise you, we will,” I said.

I tried squeezing her hand but my strength had run out. I hadn't practiced my magic much since the war and the lightest bit I did, drained me.

”Are you okay?” She asked me and squeezed my hand. I let out a small laugh as I looked down on our hands.

”I tried to do that,” I said and looked up at her through weighing lids.

Lydia cleared her throat beside us and both me and Amber turned to her.

”Sorry to ruin your little moment but um, we’re all naked and have no car,” she pointed out. Both mine and Ambers eyes grew wide at the realization.

Amber looked at me with a forgiving expression and I shook my head.

”No, nope-no way. I don't want to die today,” I said quickly.

”Who else can we call? He can come here and get us without making a fuss with the other packs.”

Lydia said.

”I don’t want my brother to see me naked but she’s right. We don't really have any other choice,”

Amber said.

”We could go back to your dad,” Lydia shook her head.

”No freaking way, there will be questions and people will see us naked. They want to keep my identity secret, remember?” I blew out a breath and hung my head.

”Damn it,”

Lydia had shifted and ran back to where we had all torn our clothes to shreds. She came back with our bags containing our cell phones.

She handed me my phone and I groaned as I saw the awaiting looks on their faces.

I dialed James’s number and cursed myself while I waited for an answer.

”Hello, love,” he said. His voice sounded weird.

”Hey, babe. So um, I was calling to check on what you were doing,” I said sweetly.

”Oh, so you didn't call about the fact that you left Carlos pack and abandoned your car?” I gulped.

”Yeah that too,” I blurted out.

”I’ll be right there. You guys need anything? Are you hungry?”

I closed my eyes and prayed for a fast death as I answered him.

”Some clothes maybe,” I said quietly.

The line went silent. Dead silent.

”What?” He growled and I winced.

”Are you naked?”

”Avery, answer me.” His voice was demanding.

”Yes,” I squeaked out.

I removed the phone from my ear and looked at the two girls beside me.

”He hung up,” I said as I placed my phone in my bag and pressed the bag against my bare chest.

”Was he mad?” Amber asked me.

”Oh no he wasn't mad, he said that it was no problem at all and that we should do this more often.” I answered her sarcastically.

”He’s pissed.” I shouted.

We sat in silence, awaiting James who would be here any second. There hadn't gone more than thirty minutes but something told me he was in a rush to get here.

”How come your wolf submitted earlier?” I asked Lydia.

”Because you’re powerful, both you and your wolf. You have this natural ’leader’ aura and it’s much more prominent when you shift.” She said.

”That’s why you need the Luna ceremony,” Amber pitched in. I looked at her, confused.

”My wolf was about to challenge you, Avery. That’s not okay. Regardless of my bloodline, our Luna is to be respected. But seeing as you haven't had your ceremonial initiation to the pack, you're not the Luna. I may be able to restrain my wolf, who loves you by the way, but not everyone can.” She said and that’s when it dawned on me, how important the Luna ceremony really is.

Thirty minutes later, a black SUV pulled up beside us. Lydia and Amber were both shaking, indicating that it wasn't just my mate that was present, it was our Alpha.