“Never! You forget that we are like family. Has your father’s illness made you forget that we have always been there for you? How could you make such an atrocious demand?! You will have one of my daughters as your mate and the other to warm your bed?”
Arthur looked livid and Adrian couldn’t blame him. In fact, he understood him. He wouldn’t be here if he had any other choice. If there was any other alternative that wouldn’t give Elder Elvis disproportionate power over the pack. He didn’t know what the old coot was planning but it couldn’t be anything good.
The last time they had spoken, he had promised to be worthy of his daughter now he was here asking him to let him have Gabrielle.
He didn’t think he would even be able to touch Gabrielle after everything but that was a bridge he would cross when he reached it.
“I know I am out of line. I would never ask this of you if it wasn’t necessary. I would prefer it if I did this with your permission. The selection is tonight and I can’t pick Ivy to do so would give Elder Elvis too much power..”
Arthur shook his head. “My daughter had suffered enough. She will not be your consort.”
“Father doesn’t speak for me.”
Arthur and Adrian turned around stunned to see Gabrielle standing at the open door to her father’s study.
She took a step in, her gown trailing behind her. So she was back to wearing dresses again.
“Gabrielle.” Arthur’s voice sounded heartbroken.
“Father.” She ignored Adrian and took her father’s hand. “After everything that has happened, I would be a liar to say that all my feelings for Adrian have faded. I loved him for years on end. I envisioned a life with him. All of that can’t just disappear in the span of a month. But that isn’t why I want to do this.”
“I want to do this for the pack. The pack that I have always cared about even though I couldn’t be their Luna. I don’t want a power-hungry Elder to endanger them. I want to do this for Ava, for my sister, because she would do the same for me. She wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice her chance at happiness for me.”
Gabrielle looked at Adrian with her dark brown eyes that gleamed with cold determination. “I agree to be your consort, Adrian.”
*******
Ava had a headache as stood in the clearing waiting for her mate to come and pick his consort. The rest of the pack stood waiting for him as well. The unmated eligible she-wolves who were interested in being Adrian’s consort stood facing the crowd, their gowns long and billowy with the evening breeze.
Adrian was yet to arrive so the ceremony couldn’t begin yet so the wolves still mingled, making small talk.
Maybe like her, he wanted to say to hell with the wants of their pack. Maybe he wanted to stay by her side only despite everything.
“Ava, are you alright?” Cynthia asked, her face was pinched with worry.
Ava tried to muster up a smile to ease Cynthia’s worry. She was pregnant, negative emotions could affect the baby.
“I’m great.”
Cynthia didn’t look too convinced. How could she? Which person would be happy, great, as she had claimed, seeing their true mate pick a consort? Nobody that was who.
“I don’t believe any of the rumours the wolves are peddling. You would never cheat on Adrian, I don’t care what anyone says that is otherwise. The both of you obviously care for each other. How could he have agreed to something like this? And why is Gabrielle standing with the women to be selected? I thought both of you had resolved your affairs.”
Ava shook her head and then stopped as the headache intensified, she needed to sit.
“Gabrielle. Oh. We have resolved all our issues. I told her to go for it.” Liar, liar pants on fire.
“I would rather it be her than to let someone who is not as passionate about the pack. And as for Adrian, there was nothing he could have done. He is the Alpha of this pack and with power comes responsibility. He has to be held accountable by the pack lest he becomes a tyrant.”
Cynthia looked close to tears from hearing her impassioned speech. “I’m sorry that I haven’t been able to help you out with anything. The pregnancy is getting more tiring. I feel like I’m asleep half the day and I used the other half being sick.”
“You did so much to get me here, I didn’t want to leave Dorian’s killers roaming but I now understand why you brought me back home, I would have gotten myself killed out there. Now I feel bad that I can’t assist you with anything.”
Ava began to shake her head then paused and settled for just talking instead.
“You are already doing something for me. You being here is more than enough. Why don’t you get somewhere to sit? Standing up for so long will tire you out quickly.”
“Are you sure that you don’t want me to stay with you a little longer?”
“Don’t worry, I will be fine.”
As Cynthia left, Ava rubbed at her temples feeling a touch of nausea. She hadn’t felt too good since the morning. It felt like she was coming down with something. Probably heartache. Why was she here again? Right, she wanted to torture herself by seeing Adrian with someone else
The clearing went silent as Adrian walked in.
He looked handsome. He always did. His long hair was in a low ponytail and a few strands had escaped to frame his face. His facial expression was unreadable. The pack members settled. Not on seats though, people migrated from where they had been to where they ought to stand.
“Today, I am here to take a consort as the pack has requested.”
Adrian wasn’t wasting any more time. It was as though he couldn’t wait to be done with whatever the hell was going on. Ava could relate. Her knees were weak, her head pounded and she was beginning to think that this might be more than just the reluctance to see Adrian with someone else.
****”***
Adrian walked towards the bevy of women that he was going to pick his consort from.
The women regarded him with different looks. Some with seduction, stood with their bodies arched to showcase themselves with strategically placed rips in their dresses, some looked on indifferent while the others watched on curiously.
He walked towards Gabrielle. She stood firmly in between indifferent to mildly interested.
Adrian stopped in front of her ignoring the gasps of surprise all around them.
He would never have thought that it would come to this. That he would pick his mate’s sister to be his consort. Gabrielle might have changed. But his feelings towards her could never.
It doesn’t matter to me, you can have as many consorts as you please.
Ava wanted him to do this. He wasn’t betraying their bond although that was what it felt like, to be honest.
Adrian outstretched his hand for Gabrielle to take and as she was about to place her hand above his, their gazes colliding over the space between them when Ava screamed.
Adrian left the line in a second and he was kneeling next to Ava in a few heartbeats. She had fallen to the ground on her knees, her hands buried in her hair as she sobbed in pain.
He gathered Ava to himself and she relaxed into his grip, shivering in his arms like someone had poured a bowl of cold water on her before passing out, her head dropping on his chest.
“Ava, Ava look at me.” Adrian urged, fear making his voice shake as he registered her rapid breathing as well. He pulled back slightly still holding her in his arms.
Ava’s eyes fluttered open for a second before shutting again. Her eyes were a solid black, with no hint of blue as though her pupils had swallowed up the rest of her eyes.
Adrian froze. Ava had just entered heat.