Ava had escaped the baby shower once she saw how distracted Cynthia was with Calvin. She was happy that Cynthia seemed to be moving on with her life even if it seemed a little too soon. Who was she to put tabs on the appropriate time to fall in love and move on?
She reached for her phone to call her mother only to remember what her mother had told her the last time she called that morning.
“Goddess, Ava. I’m not dead yet! You can’t just keep calling me as though I will disappear. I have a mate who looks after me like there is no tomorrow, a caring son and an even more caring soon-to-be daughter-in-law. I am still very much alive and kicking. Stop disturbing me.”
Ava smiled sheepishly. Maybe her mother was right. She had been about to call her again completely forgetting the warning her mother had strictly given her.
It was just that she wanted every moment she had left with her mother to count. She would have moved back into her parents’ house if it wasn’t weird because being mated to the Alpha of the pack and sleeping or moving back to your parents wasn’t glamorous no matter how it was done.
Plus she was sure that her parents would never let her step one foot inside their house if they knew that was her intention.
Ava paused in her walking midway. There was nothing she was going to do at the pack house except mope while subconsciously waiting for Adrian to return.
The best thing she could do for her mother right now was to be a good support system no matter how much it hurt her.
So what if she couldn’t help her mother? There were people who she could and should help like the people of her pack and her sister instead of focusing on something she couldn’t change.
Energized by this new conviction, Ava headed towards the pack hospital.
********
“The envoys are coming tomorrow, right?”
Ava mumbled as she traced circles on Adrian’s bare chest as she snuggled with him feeling at peace.
Perhaps it was a Adrian effect that whenever she was with him she found it difficult to not be content or maybe it was the fulfilment of helping out in the pack clinic and finally sliding on her Luna shoes.
Being at the clinic had been like before only different with everyone bowing to her and giving her the respect a Luna was due. She tried to make them more at ease with her but it didn’t work too well so she focused on helping out which was therapeutic for her.
Interacting with the people at the clinic had made her confident enough to begin holding conversations with wolves at the pack house and she had even dared make a friend or two.
It bothered her sometimes that she was happy and moving on with her life while her sister was in goddess knows where. She reminded herself that Gabrielle had dug this grave all on her own and it wasn’t her fault.
She did however speak to Amber about discreetly finding out where Gabby was, perhaps the society would have better luck than she did prying the secrets from the council. The ban on Ivy attending the meetings would be removed soon and Ava would have to deal with her violating what she had begun to view as a safe space.
But that was the farthest thing on her mind right now. She had more pressing responsibilities.
The report to the wolf council had been sent over a week ago now. They couldn’t just indict a pack based on the words of another no matter how much evidence backed up the words.
That would bring about squabbles, flinging about of false accusations and anarchy.
So it was routine that an unbiased envoy selected by the council would be sent to both packs to ascertain the claims of both packs and then they would be summoned to the next convening council meeting to resolve the issue.
Their envoys were due to arrive the next day.
“Yes. That must be the twentieth time you’ve asked me about this. Is there someone you are expecting in the envoy?”
“Adrian! Come on. Is everything a joke to you?”
Ava smacked his chest and he caught her hand kissing her fingers.
“What can I say? I love riling you up.”
“Come on, Adrian. I am being serious. This is the first event I will be hosting as the Luna of the pack. It has to go perfectly.” Ava’s mind went to the arrangements she had put in place already.
“They will stay here in the pack house naturally. I have cleared up the second floor for them. The rooms are big and airy. If only we knew the exact amount of envoys coming for the event…”
Ava fell silent as she noticed Adrian just looking at her.
“What?”
“I was thinking that maybe I should leave the room for you and your plans for the envoy. You seem more excited about the envoys than being in bed with your very attractive mate.”
Goddess, show her mercy. She was so done with Adrian.
“Come on, Adrian. It’s not like that…why do I even bother with you? ”
Ava rolled her eyes and moved to get up from the bed only for Adrian to pull her back down so that she was splayed across his chest.
“And where do you think you are going?”
“Away from you and your arrogant ass. You can have your attractiveness keep you company.” Ava muttered but she didn’t try to move away from his chest.
He stroked his hand down her back with entitlement.
“I’d rather have you though.”
Ava’s heart skipped a beat and she began to wonder if she would ever get used to him so that it wouldn’t affect her so much whenever he looked at her or touched her so she wouldn’t feel like she was touching a live wire.
“Bully.” She muttered but there was no strength to the muttered curse.
“I love you too.”
He placed his finger under her chin, lifting her head up. His green eyes darkened with pleasure and he claimed her lips possessively.
Ava moaned into the kiss melted against his touch losing herself in her mate for some time.
All too soon, morning came bringing with it a plethora of activities.