Ava was dressing the bed so she could have the dinner she’d brought up from the kitchen to avoid an awkward dinner and even more awkward discussions at the table. She felt someone’s hands encircle her waist.
Ava jumped shocked and turned to see Adrian. “Ava. You look beautiful. You are always so beautiful.” He kissed her neck. Electricity pulsed in her veins but she detected a whiff of alcohol from him.
Wolves didn’t get drunk easily because of their high metabolism. So Adrian must have had something really hard and in a high quantity.
“Are you drunk, Adrian?”
“Only a little.” He tried to mime bringing his thumb and index finger close together but he failed.
“Goddess, how much did you drink? Let’s get you into the shower so you can sober up.”
Adrian allowed her to move him. “Shower. Yes. I want to take a shower with you. I want to take all my showers with you.”
Ava almost laughed. If he could recollect what he assaying while drunk, she was sure he would be horrified.
“Sure.” She helped him into the bathroom.
He began to strip and Ava turned her back to him, her cheeks burning. Then she heard a splash of water as he entered the tub. She had gotten the bubble bath ready for herself but he could have it.
She started to leave, he could take care of himself but she wasn’t sure she would be able to if she saw him naked again. Adrian caught her arm.
Ava turned around. His lower body was submerged in the bubbles but his eyes were burning with desire when he spoke. His words were more like a command than a request.
“Stay.”
Ava looked at Adrian. At her arm which he held. She was surprised to find out that she wanted to stay. She wasn’t sure if it was because of the mate bond or because it was what she wanted.
Adrian was drunk. He wouldn’t remember if she did. At least she didn’t think so. And yet she wanted their first time if there was any, to be something to remember. Why was it so difficult to say no though? “Adrian… I’m here. I’ll be just outside the door.”
Her mating mark tingled as though mocking her. Since when had she been able to control herself when it came to the bond between them?
He seemed to consider it. “But you won’t leave. Even if I tell you to.”
Ava’s heart skipped a beat. Did he mean when he’d asked her to leave town he’d actually wanted her to stay?
No, Ava, he’s drunk. He doesn’t even know what he is saying.
“I won’t. You wouldn’t be able to make me do it even if you wanted to.” Ava smiled at him.
That seemed to pacify him and he let her go.
Ava nearly ran out of the bathroom. She closed the door behind her and leaned against it, her eyes shut. What exactly was going on in her head? She felt guilty for even thinking about being with him in any capacity and yet. Yet that was all she could think about anytime he was within her vicinity.
Ava shook herself awake and went to eat her already cold food. She had already lost her appetite but she didn’t like food wastage.
After eating her dinner, she went to the kitchen to drop her plate feeling only slightly guilty about leaving the room when she had told Adrian that she wasn’t going to leave.
When she got back to the room, he was already in bed. Ava crawled into bed quietly so as to not wake a drunken Adrian up.
Adrian turned wrapping his arm around Ava’s waist and pulled her closer to himself. Ava could have struggled but she didn’t. Instead, she relaxed, her back against the front of her mate, while his breath tingled on the back of her neck sending sparks racing through her and her mating mark burned.
Let him have this night. Let her have this night.
When morning came, they would fight, she would push him away and they would rinse and repeat it all again because the guilt she would always feel about taking Gabby’s boyfriend would never leave.
******
“I do.” Jenny beamed up at Nelson who looked like the happiest man in the world. He cradled her face gently in his hands before kissing her softly then so passionately that the wolves in the background whooped and Ava was surprised to hear herself among those cheering loudly.
Adrian stood next to Nelson smiling like a proud parent. When the couple didn’t seem to want to part their lips, the guests began to break away to go towards the reception area. The wedding was an outdoor wedding like all wolf weddings often were and was at night.
Although Adrian had offered to host the reception at the pack house, they had declined preferring an outdoor setting instead.
It has been exactly one week since she had gotten mated to Adrian. The morning after the drunken incident, she had woken up alone in bed. They didn’t talk about it but she raided his closet and found some alcohol there that she poured down the drain in the bathroom then stacked the empty bottles by their bed stand.
She looked at him as he entered the room waiting for a response. However, when he saw the bottles, he didn’t say anything. Just called for the help to take out the bottles.
She hadn’t smelt even a whiff of alcohol on him since then and it was almost like it had never happened. Like he had never asked her to stay. Like she hadn’t contemplated it. Like they hadn’t fallen asleep in each other’s arms.
Ava preferred it that way. Her parents continued to refuse to see her. Alex was always so considerate telling her that they were still sorting through some things and that it was still early. They would need more time to come to terms with her and Adrian’s mating.
For Ava, a lastborn child used to holding her parents’ attention at all times – especially her father’s attention, it was a bitter pill to swallow.
She saw her mother and father hugging and congratulating both Jonny and Nelson. They seemed to have finally disentangled from themselves in time to make it to the wedding. A pang of envy closed up her throat. Ava fought the urge to approach them. They would just ignore her the way they had been doing recently.
She didn’t want to create a scene on Jonny’s big day.
Ava drifted to the periphery of the reception area nodding and smiling at several pack members.
In her life as the Luna of the pack, she was still at sea however that didn’t mean she was idle. The preparation for the meeting which was formerly meant to be at Sacramento had now been moved to Washington so there were so many things to prepare for and not enough time so she had thrown herself into the venture. They were travelling the next day.
Ava was glad she had been able to attend her best friend’s wedding before leaving at least.
Only one thing bothered her. The fact that at the meeting they expected Gabrielle and not her.
You’ll be good. They will like you. Liana said.
It’s not about that. It’s just… they are prepared for her. Even down to the food preferences that were selected beforehand. It’s almost like I am going where I am not wanted. Ava sighed inwardly.
You are the Luna of this pack and that is who they want to see. You are strong and have an even stronger wolf. And that is all that matters. Shar concluded.
If only life worked like that, it would be so much easier. Ava couldn’t lie to herself. The meeting was going to require social skills. Something Gabrielle excelled at, not her.
As though summoned from her thoughts, Gabrielle arrived at the entrance of the reception area. Ava froze. For the first time since the ceremony, she was seeing her sister.