I woke up a few hours later, snuggled tightly between them, with one of each of their arms draped over me, and realised I must have fallen asleep almost immediately. It wasn't all that surprising, really, given how thorough they seemed to like being when it came to giving me pleasure. And how skilled they were at it. I sighed softly, trying to gently wiggle my way out from between their sleeping forms, to head to the bathroom. Haden stirred sleepily, his arm curling around me tighter, holding me against him, and I sighed again, trying to move it. He lifted his head then, frowning at me, until I hissed at him to stop and let me get up. "Where are you going?" he mumbled, still half asleep, then reluctantly released me when I told him. Saxon's arm was easier to move, though he still stirred slightly as I pulled away and climbed off the end of the bed. Slipping away while they slept might not be all that easy, I thought to myself as I used the bathroom, pausing to wash my hands and face

"No," I whimpered, shaking my head again as tears began flowing freely from my eyes. He nodded sadly, "I'm sorry, Ava, if there was anything we could do.." he trailed off as I broke down into sobs, burying my face into his strong chest, clinging to him as he wrapped his arms tightly around me. He held me for what seemed like forever, his head rested lightly on mine. When my sobs finally ceased, and I lifted my head, wiping my red, swollen eyes, he dropped his arms, nodding towards the bed and Mama's sleeping, frail form. "Would you like to stay, until.." he asked, and I frowned up at him. "H..how long?" I asked him, not realising it would come so quickly now, and he gave me another sympathetic look, "Not long now, I think." I nodded, and he pulled a large armchair closer to the bed, and I sat in it, taking Mama's hand again, while he grabbed a chair for himself, bringing it in and sitting himself next to me. He placed a hand on my back, rubbing it soothingly as we sat for most of t

As I wandered down the street, towards the shop Kaira had mentioned, I noticed the few people that were about eyeing me suspiciously. It was blatant, and consistent, enough that I quickly began to feel uncomfortable here, out in the open, and couldn't help but start walking more hunched over, with my head down, trying to draw less attention. I found the shop, though it looked dark inside, and had a closed sign on the front. Looking at the displayed business hours, I couldn't help but find them odd, with only a few days and short hours that they were open. Had they been short-staffed for so long that they'd had to reduce their opening times, I thought to myself, and wondered if it implied anything about how well they treated their workers. Yet, it seemed like a small town, so maybe there were just too many jobs, and too few people, I told myself, trying to remain optimistic. I turned away from the shop, and found myself face to face with an older man, looking quite unimpressed as he

My birthday. My mind seemed stuck on the thought of that for a moment. I hadn't been looking forward to it, but now that it was so close, I couldn't help but feel at least a little bit of anticipation, for my coming of age. Not that much would change, really. Maybe I'd find out I really was a werewolf, but it wasn't like I could turn and go for a wolf-run, here among the humans. Though the thought was amusing, imagining them all losing their minds about a werewolf running loose in their midst. Yet I doubted that kind of reaction would last long here. If there was any town likely to band together to run off a beast in their midst, then judging by their attitude towards outsiders, it would be this one. I sighed as I eventually ended up back at the same oak tree I'd slept under the night before, sitting down and making myself as warm and comfortable as I could be under its broad branches once more. Sleep came fairly easily, and undisturbed, after the long, productive day, and a good m

We arrived back at the pack house a short while later, and unlike last time, Haden didn't stop at the front, but drove around and into a rear garage himself. "Most have no idea you left, and we'd like to keep it that way," Saxon said quietly, as they ushered me up a set of stairs that was much smaller than the ones I was familiar with. I nodded silently, walking with them to their floor, with Haden behind me, and Saxon in front. They led me straight to Saxon's suite, where he dropped my bag by the wardrobe, as Haden closed and locked the door behind us. I tensed, immediately feeling a little trapped, and excused myself to the bathroom, taking a long moment to compose myself before I stepped out again, to face them. Saxon immediately stepped closer, cupping my face with his hands as he looked down at me with an intense look in his eyes. After a moment, he suddenly picked me up, carrying me over to the bed, where he sat and lifted me onto his lap, wrapping a hand in my hair and pushi