An umbrella came over her. Ava looked at Alex and hugged him tightly, not caring about the fact that she was drenching his clothes.
“Alex. I’m so sorry… I didn’t mean to…”
“Shhh, Ava. I’ve got you. It’s alright.”
“But it’s not. I’ve ruined everything. I should have said something, done something. Anything to prevent what happened today. But I couldn’t and now…” She trailed off burying her head in Alex’s chest.
“Look Ava, I know you would never hurt anyone. Not on purpose, much less our sister. I know the situation must have been impossible for you to have made the decisions you did. And deep down our parents also feel the same but they have to be there for Gabrielle. In time they will come around.”
Ava pulled back to look at Alex. “You really think so?”
Alex smiled. “I know so. Now let’s get you out of this rain so you can tell me exactly what happened.”
Alex gave her the umbrella before picking up both bags as though they were weightless and they strode to his car.
Alex got her wrapped up and warmed up then he listened. He didn’t speak or criticize her, he just listened. Ava told him everything apart from the kisses and other private aspects of the relationship. When she reached the part about Cynthia’s exile, she looked away. They had exiled her in order to keep their secret. A secret that had ended up costing more than she ever anticipated.
When she finished, she looked at Alex, whose passive facial expression was eerily similar to their father’s.
“I’m going to kill Adrian.” Alex looked beyond pissed. “Why would he let you come here alone? What sort of mate is he?
“Please don’t.” Ava protested, surprised to find herself defending Adrian even though they had not parted on the best of terms. “He didn’t have a hand in my decision, he protested it, then I sort of slapped him and came here anyway.”
“Good girl,” Alex said approvingly, nodding and Ava bit back a smile. He was so protective sometimes that he made her smile. She was glad at least someone in her family was speaking with her.
“Look Ava, things are going to be difficult and very different from here on out. A lot of people were expecting Gabby to become their Luna so you have to show them that you are worthy of that position. You have to show them that you are here for them. You don’t have the necessary experience required but I want you to follow your instincts, they won’t lead you astray.”
“As the new Beta of this pack, I will support you as much as I can but ultimately, Adrian is now your mate and the Alpha of this pack. He can shield you in ways that I cannot as much as I have to admit it. So don’t push him away too much especially when other people are present. You must maintain a united front. Okay?”
Ava nodded. This was why she loved her elder brother. He always gave her the advice she needed to hear.
“Alex… do you think Gabby will ever forgive me?”
Her voice came out smaller and weaker than she’d intended.
“Gabby needs time, Ava, she is in pain. She just had her entire life upended. Give her some time and your differences will be sorted out, I know it.”
Ava hoped he was right. She hoped everything was still salvageable.
They arrived at the pack house. Her home now.
Adrian fought the urge to drink. The last thing he wanted was for Ava to know he had picked up a new habit, she would turn her nose up in the air at him. Since when did he care what Ava thought about him?
Since she became our mate. Ray sounded thoroughly amused and relaxed.
Of course, he would be. He wasn’t the one who had followed Ava secretly to her house, watched her get drenched and yelled at fighting the urge to go about and rip off heads until Alex had shown up.
Then he doubled back and went to the pack house, took a quick shower, dried himself up and got a blanket ready for Ava.
Okay, that way she wouldn’t be cold until she got into the shower.
After the hectic journey and even more stressful day, Adrian realized that she must be tired. His bed was a mess. Goddess.
He had asked the help to clean up the connecting room for Gabrielle and not to touch his so that she would understand that they were never going to have that kind of relationship. How was he to know that he would end up mated to Ava instead?
He began to lay the bed then on second thoughts ripped off the entire bedding and got out fresh ones then laid the bed.
Adrian summoned the help to clear up the old bedding ignoring the surprised look she gave him. Right. Now everything was ready. She would be able to rest after her shower… how could he have forgotten to make sure the water temperature was hot enough for her?
Adrian ran back to into the shower and adjusted the water temperature.
What if she was hungry? His hand was already on the phone to call up the cook and ask them to make steaming soup for her when he realized what he was doing or more appropriately realized that he didn’t know what he was doing.
He dropped the phone like it was on fire and looked at the already laid bed with fresh bedding, and the blanket and heard the water running in the bathroom.
What was he doing? Was… was he becoming domesticated?
Was this what he would become during this mating? His mind driving him to be a butler for Ava anticipating her every need?
He would not allow himself to become that. He sat on his bed, the blanket sat next to him as though mocking him. The rain intensity increased.
Adrian stood up and grabbed the blanket. He wasn’t doing this for her, he was doing it because he was the Alpha of the pack and if he saw a pack member getting drenched of course he would get them a blanket and ensure they had a warm room to get back to.
On his way out, he grabbed an umbrella just in case. He didn’t want her to get drenched on her way to the house. Fuck. It was official Adrian Gavin was becoming domesticated.
So he stood at the entrance of the pack house waiting for Ava. Most of the pack members staying there had already gone to bed. It was late and Adrian fought the urge to mind-link Alex and ask him where his mate was. He was about to give in when he heard the signature sound of Alex’s car engine round the corner.
Adrian hastily got the umbrella open. Alex stopped the car by the pack house so that she wouldn’t get drenched by the rain. Adrian hastily closed the umbrella back thankful he wasn’t in a direct line of vision from the car.
“Do you need me to help you out with the bags?” Alex asked concerned.
“No, Alex, I’m a wolf remember? I can lift this stuff really easily.”
“I worry about you, Ava, I do. Don’t forget to call me if you need anything from a shoulder to cry on to somebody to roughen up that mate of yours Alpha or not.”
Ava laughed. “Thank you, Alex. I really appreciate everything you do.” They embraced and Ava got her bags and stepped out of Alex’s car.
She waited for him to zoom off before taking a step into the house.
How would she manage to stay in this house with a mate she didn’t want and who didn’t want her in return?