Avery was going through the accounts on his computer, with Roxie sitting in the chair opposite to him in his office. The messy business with Sienna had been handled. It seemed to be over. Things were starting to relax a bit, though Roxie wasn't certain she'd ever get that look of pure hatred on Sienna's face out of her mind. "So, Typically there are a few choice members that are invited to these events. As a show of good faith, we typically invite other pack Alphas and Lunas to celebrate the Ascension with us. As of right now, Crimson Dusk's Alpha hasn't done anything horrible to us specifically. We could invite him, however if your mother ends up attending she will be arrested on the spot. We should invite Alpha James, his mate Maddison but keep close tabs on her at all times. Would you like your father to attend?" He asked absently. "We should invite my father, but does Maddison have to attend?" Roxie asked. Avery made a heavy sigh and nodded his head. "Unfortunately yes. Every gues
"You are quite the dark beauty aren't you?" Avilene asked as they were browsing the dresses for the upcoming ceremony. Roxie didn't want to admit it, but she wasn't really a fan of overly bright colors like the other girls that she grew up with. Pink and vibrant colors just weren't her thing. She clung to the understanding that she was an outcast and tried to pick things that made her stand out less in a crowd. "Are you talking about my hair color?" Roxie retorted quietly. Avilene laughed in response. "No, I mean, you typically wear things darker in color, or absent of color entirely. Blacks, greys.. white.. things of that nature. I think you look beautiful in those anyway, but I was wondering if you wanted to wear something.. brighter for the event?" Avilene asked. "I don't want to stand out too much, then again I'm not accustomed to these kinds of formal events. I never even attended my own prom, so how should I know what's proper attire?" Roxanna asked with a soft chuckle. Avilene
Avery sat in his office the following morning looking through the messages that he had previously received from Trevor. Things were a little rocky, he didn't know what was going on. He didn't trust this alpha of the Crimson Dusk, there was trouble ahead, but he didn't want to worry his mate before she took her first steps as his Luna. Roxie had enough to worry about without adding this to her plate. He hoped that she had fun with Avilene, he needed her away for a while so he could concentrate on finding the leak in his ranks. "Should we pospone the ceremony?" Trenton asked. Avery shot a glare in his direction. "No, but I do think we need to be prepared for anything. Inviting the local Alphas is protocol for situations like this, the unfortunate businesss with all of this is we don't always know who our friends are. Some might think that a young new Alpha like myself will be prime picking. No doubt they think me inexperienced with this role and that I can easily be moved, but there is n
Everything had been prepared for the big day. Roxie woke early from her slumber, but woke to discover that Avery had already left the room. His side of the bed was already cold, which made Roxie a little disappointed and underwhelmed. She moved to sit up in the bed and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. He was the light of her life and she appreciated him like another. She moved out of the bed to take her shower. She had just finished rinsing off and wrapping herself in a towel when she noticed Avery standing there with a tray of food. "Breakfast for our new Luna?" Avery mentioned with a cheeky grin. Roxie couldn't help but laugh at his corny behavior. She lifted onto the tips of her toes to lean up and kiss his cheek. Avery grinned happily. He didn't leave the room until Roxie was contently eating her breakfast. He made sure to grab a fresh omelet with her favorite fillings, as well as a side of hashbrowns and her favorite juice. He would be lying if he said that he wasn't a nervous wre
Mate! It was the first time since she discovered her wolf that Roxanna had actually really heard Vera stir inside of her like this. The unfortunate part of this situation was the fact that she was forced to look up at Alpha James as he stared down at her with disgust, rather than adoration or even acute interest. He looked angry. She had to think back at how she found herself in this situation. She had gone out to let her wolf out, and then she heard the call. The smell of everything she ever found appealing wrapped into one strong package. He smelled like a mixture of cinnamon spice, sandlewood and another natural earthy scent, and her heart lept in her chest, but her hopeful expression was soon to be crushed. James had barely noticed her existence in the pack. When he looked upon her at school, he simply avoided his gaze as if he saw nothing at all. She imagined that it was her size. The rumors were that her mother had been sickly during her pregnancy, Roxanna couldn't say for sur
Avery's POV He had been silent on his ride to the old pack of his birth. They had originally lived just outside of the Redwood Territory in adjacent shifter towns. He didn't really understand why he was coming back here, his parents had split when he was younger. His father had rejected his mother to follow some little she-wolf whore that had stolen his attention for the time being. He didn't understand those who would reject their fated mate, just to be with someone that would never truly make them whole. It was despicable, but it just showed to reason. Fated mates or not, there was no real loyalty in finding a mate. You could give someone the very best of your years, and they would still turn around and stab you in the back.His father was the Alpha of the Red Moon pack, had a fated mate, and beloved wife. Two children that adored him, and turned his back on them for some fling. It made Avery hate his dad with every breath he had in him. He didn't understand why it was important fo
Roxie could barely register what just happened. There was another mate. That same smell, the smell that reminded her of earthy tones and spices wrapped up into one yummy package. Unfortunately for her, the smell came when her highschool bullies had decided to gang up on her. Maddie and Taylor specifically had heard the rumors that James had rejected her, and the sideways glances he shot her somehow set them off. They had decided to take turns kicking and beating her into submission. Her white knight came for her then. The smell of him was beyond intoxicating, and he commanded a powerful and dominating pressence. The way he threw those girls was beyond startling, but beyond that. She knew that she had to look out for herself, and what he did wasn't actually helping her case. You rejected our mate! How could you do that to us?Vera didn't seem pleased. The last thirty minutes replayed in her head like a picture show and the true realization hit her. Shit. It didn't matter, she probably
Avery's POV This was absolutely insane. He had full intention of rejecting that girl on the spot, but he couldn't understand this feeling in his chest. Something about that look on her face when she looked at him, and those large doe eyes of hers had drew him in for a moment and made him hesitate. She had been attacked, and he suddenly felt the urge, an anger inside him that he didn't recognize. He wanted to protect her.We have to make her take it back! She is ours! His beast was stirring inside of him, going mad with what had happened yesterday. Avery didn't know what to think, he was trying to make himself understand. He didn't want a mate, or at least he didn't... until he saw her. She's so tiny. He had no idea who she was, or even acutely aware of her age. She could have been a freshman, a young teen. Did she have her wolf? She has a wolf! Don't be stupid. I could sense her.. and she sensed me.. I want her we want her! Make her take it back! Aries was actively screaming at him