The silence almost made Ava turn around and head back to the pack house. Her parents regarded her solemnly over their dining table.
For the first time since the disaster of a mating ceremony, she was in her family’s home again and Ava had never felt more out of place.
Gabby had insisted on her returning home today. She said it was about damn time and that if she, the victim could see eye to eye with Ava then her parents could mend the bridge especially now that they had a new addition to the family.
Her parents had watched with shock as they crossed the threshold of the house together. Maybe they’d thought the tentative truce between Ava and Gabby wouldn’t hold.
“Mom, Dad. I know I betrayed your trust.” Ava broke the uneasy silence. “That I hurt you almost as much as I hurt my sister. I know no apology would ever suffice, would ever be enough to make up for my mistakes and I accept that. I accept it and promise that I will try every day to be worthy of both of you and Gabby. I miss my family. I don’t know anything about running a pack, I’m so in over my head with this. I need your help.”
Gabby took her hand over the table and gave her a shaky smile with tears glistening in her eyes. “You know you have my forgiveness. Always.” Gabby looked at their parents. “What happened was unfortunate and it tested the strength of this family but we can overcome it as a family. The way we always have.”
It was her mother that broke first. “Oh, my babies.” She left her seat and came over to their side embracing both of them and their Dad joined in on the hug.
Finally, Ava could breathe for the first time since she returned.
******
Cynthia wore a loose flowery maternity dress. Her baby bump wasn’t obvious and the loose clothing almost swallowed her up giving her a matronly vibe. She had hated these sorts of clothes, but she was a different Cynthia now. Her hand stroked her belly absentmindedly as her mind raced. Nothing was as she had expected.
Insecurity and uncertainty had taken over the Mountain Coast pack and Cynthia had no idea what next was going to pop up. As the breeze blew her blond hair back, on the balcony of her parents’ house, Cynthia moved another chess piece in the game against herself placing herself in an impossible situation.
If anyone had been watching, they would have seen her lips turn up slightly at the side in the semblance of a smile. But no one did and the moment was lost.
“The Primo pack cannot stay here.” Elder Elvis announced and the others concurred. Adrian was more frustrated than usual. That might have had something to do with the fact that he had been cockblocked by his sister-in-law who was also his ex, or the tense conversation with his father-in-law the day before. It might also have been because he had been up since the crack of dawn explaining to the elders who were way older than him that the ancient laws of seeking refuge could not be revoked.
“I don’t think I have to explain to you the relevance of the ancient laws. You of all people should stand for the upholding of this law.”
“Alpha,” Elder Asher said, the voice of moderation and Elder Elvis’s counterweight. “You must understand the reason the law is almost obsolete. It is because two Alphas cannot dwell in the same territory. One must give way to the other. As much as we care for our displaced brethren, we cannot destabilize the structure of our pack for them.”
Adrian contemplated it. He couldn’t just send homeless women and children packing just because he wanted to consolidate power. Ava remained silent. She watched him as though only his opinion mattered even if he knew for a fact after her outburst yesterday, she would not be too heartbroken to see Adelaide leave.
“I will take your words into advisement and get back to you about my decision.”
They looked like they wanted to protest his decision but he didn’t wait around for it. He was Alpha after all. Adrian stood up and left the elders arguing amongst themselves about his decision.
As he walked to the breakfast table he reminisced on his last conversation with Arthur, Ava’s father.
After Ava left to catch up with her sister, he’d taken a cold shower and then hit the office where he made calls informing the others and the surrounding packs of the new rogue development and asking if they had gotten abnormal activity or if it had happened on just their side.
It was while he was in the middle of one of the talks when there was a knock on the door and Arthur Black entered.
To say he had been shocked would be an understatement.
His brown hair was cut close to his scalp and his brown eyes shone belied his age despite his youthful appearance.
“Alpha Adrian.”
He said by way of greeting and Adrian could feel himself straighten up in his seat. Had something happened between Gabby and Ava after she had caught up with her?
Arthur took a seat without waiting for an invitation from Adrian and got straight down to business the way he usually did.
“Years ago, I asked you not to make my Gabrielle cry. You promised even though you knew you were Ava’s mate at the time so your word means less than nothing to me. I would do anything to undo this mating bond, you don’t deserve any of my daughters but it is a gift from the moon goddess and must be endured as such.”
Adrian was rooted to his chair and couldn’t muster a word to defend himself even if he tried. Arthur was right.
“And I will do my best to be worthy of the blessing I have been endowed with.”
Adrian meant every word this time and hoped this time, time wouldn’t make a liar out of him.