Three

“Luna!” Maya shouted as she run hurriedly towards Avery.

“What’s wrong? Why are you in a hurry?”

Maya looked around the lake. “The Alpha…” She sighed deeply. She was out of breath. “The Alpha decided to bring the white lotus to the banquet!”

“Say what?”

“The Alpha was firm about it, no matter what the other council said! He’s fucking out of his mind!”

“Maya, watch your words.”

“But Luna, no matter how much I think about it, this is clearly a sign of his disrespect! No matter what his reason is, it won’t be enough to justify the things he is doing! She’s doing this to you because he knew you won’t be able to get away because of the blood pact made by your parents. Its effect will last forever in this lifetime!”

Avery sighed. Maya was right. She had long ago accepted her fate because of the pact that her parents had made. She did not know exactly the content of it. What she knew was its lifetime effect. No matter the circumstances, she can’t leave the territory even if her life is at risk.

“I’ll try to talk it out with the Alpha, Maya.”

“I am afraid that if you can’t make it work, our faction will assert dominance against the Alpha’s faction. They are very agitated with the fact that their leader is being disrespected just like this.”

Avery nodded. She totally understands them. They were once a proud werewolves that the other pack couldn’t subdue. She remained silent as she pondered the reason why her parents made that pact when they were clearly at a disadvantage. They were second in power after the Prometheus clan, so what was her father’s reason for merging with an average pack? Clearly, it wasn’t because their parents were best of friends. There has to be a much deeper reason. Maya doesn’t seem to know anything, either, even if she is the sole daughter of the previous beta.

“Alright. I will make sure that things will work out between us.”

Avery let Maya leave her in the falls just meters away from their territory. She took off the white cloth that was covering her body. She submerged in the water and floated around the river. Just as she was about to dive, she caught a familiar scent. It was attracting her so much that she unconsciously followed the smell.

Avery found herself inside the forest in her human form with just a piece of cloth to cover her body. There she saw a man lying on the grass, unconscious. She catches a glimpse of his face, and she can tell that the man is from no ordinary bloodline. His disheveled blonde hair did not cover his gorgeous face. If any other female saw him like this, they might jump on him, especially since he was emitting such an arousing scent.

Avery’s heart pounded when the man opened his eyes. They stare at each other as if they recognized something outlaw, something they wouldn’t dare to name.

“Back off!” The man shouted in annoyance.

Avery immediately walked further from the man. His voice pierced through her heart as if something broke in her as he shouted his rejection.

“How dare you seduce me with such a disgusting smell?” the man shouted.

“What the hell are you talking about?” Avery shouted back in disbelief. Who’s seducing who? He’s the one who had been emitting such a scent!

“Dare to deny when you’re exposing yourself in front of a man like that?” the man asked as he looked at Avery from head to toe. “I may not be my current self but I would not dare to jump into a woman who had been marked!”

Avery rolled her eyes as she remembered the temporary mark James forced her to take.

“I am not seducing anyone here. I was bathing in the river when I smelled something odd.”

“Odd? You described my scent as odd?”

“Why are you on such details? Do you need any help?”

“No! Not from someone who doesn’t have any tact in her.”

“What the f*ck is wrong with you?”

The man sighed. “Nothing.” He closed his eyes. “Just leave me alone.”

“No! I can’t leave you alone like this!”

“Why not? Are you trying to seduce me right now? Because I swear that if you do, I will not hesitate to pin you down. Right here, right now.” His voice got hoarse. ”Please keep your distance. I might not be able to control myself.”