Paline knew her sister was here but she didn’t know where exactly in the Mountain Coast pack house she was in.
She marvelled at the size of the pack house. Even when they had stayed here briefly, the awe had been there. It hadn’t reduced with their vacation of the pack house. If anything it had increased as she had returned to the Primo pack only to realize how confining her life was.
She was glad that at least her elder sister had managed to escape from that dreary life. Her sister, Zinora, would now become the Beta female of such a large and progressive pack. It was simply unbelievable.
Once her sister was mated to Beta Alex maybe she would be allowed to come and stay with her.
She was so caught up in her thoughts that she tripped and landed right in a male wolf’s arms.
She felt so embarrassed, she was usually more conscious of her surroundings. As the wolf righted her, she raised her head up to look at him only to be suddenly struck silent.
“Are you alright?”
Paline found her tongue again as she dropped her hands from his shoulder and chest.
“Yes, Alpha.”
He nodded gruffly and continued on his way. She watched him walk away completely enthralled. He was handsome, courageous and fully mated.
It was only after he rounded the corner she realized that she could have asked him where her sister was.
********
“You realize you could have prevented this if you had simply taken my advice from the get-go.”
Anya commented blandly as she sipped at her tea after hearing the entire story.
Ava paused.
If she had told Adrian earlier on at the trial, Gabrielle would have been punished by Adrian, not the council. Knowing how much Adrian cared for her now after their bond had been sealed, she knew he would have spared Gabrielle for her sake.
She could have prevented everything.
“Don’t beat yourself up too much about it. I’ve got tons of experience. There was no way you could have known for sure that this would happen.”
“But Anya, if I had just–”
Anya levelled a glare at her that cut her short.
“What ifs will not help your sister, Luna. You should focus on the things you can change. Things that you have control over.”
Ava nodded in agreement. She was right. She couldn’t keep possessing over her mistakes. She had to do right by herself and her sister.
“Do you think it is a great idea to talk to Elder Elvis about Gabrielle?”
Anya was silent for some seconds, seeming contemplative.
“Perhaps. He has always had a big ego since he was a child. He might tell you so as to amplify your suffering knowing you won’t be allowed to see her or he could withhold the information depending on which one he feels will get at you better.”
“Just be calm, peaceful and non-combative. You should get your result.” Anya’s gaze grew distant as she contemplated something. There was something foreboding in the air.
“Something about this entire situation doesn’t seem right. Perhaps I ought to step in but that is your place now as Luna, Ava.”
Something wasn’t right? No kidding. Her sister was framed and exiled, her mother was dying and Ava was losing her shit. But somehow she didn’t think that was what Anya was referring to.
Could it be possible that there were some other unpredictable variables they were unaware of? As the Luna of the Mountain Coast pack, what could she do to curtail the situation?
Ava ignored her musings. As if she didn’t have enough trouble. She always seemed to be borrowing even more. If there was something else that wasn’t right, it could bloody wait its turn.
“Thank you, Anya. I value your advice as always.”
“You are most welcome, Luna. When you find your sister, send my greeting to her. I never liked her but I wouldn’t have wanted her to be framed for something she is innocent of.”
As Ava reached the regular part of the woods far away from Anya, she wondered if she should read the meaning from Anya’s casual use of the word ‘when’ instead of ‘if’ when she was talking about Ava finding her.
********
Paline was even quieter than her sister Zinora. Their mother on the other hand was so loud that Ava was so sure she had done half deaf just from the proximity to her.
“And so I tell him that hunting is the pride of a wolf no? You track then you attack! It is the way the cycle is supposed to go on. How can a wolf then decide to eat only grass? It is madness.”
“But Mom, um.. some people are vegetarian.”
“Not true wolves!”
Genetics was truly wonderful to account for such variability. Adrian bumped his knee up against hers and made a weird face that had her struggling with a laugh.
This man would definitely put her in trouble one day.
Zinora, seating next to a smiling Alex who couldn’t have looked more pleased with himself if he tried, engaged her and Adrian in conversation that was weirdly out of character for her as though she was trying to make up for her mother.
Her parents on the other hand seemed to be getting along massively with Zee’s mother. Her mother looked lively and when Zinora’s mother made a joke, both of them would laugh like it was the funniest thing ever.
It was almost enough to bring tears to Ava’s eyes as it reminded her of the dynamics of the family dinners with Adrian and his father. How much things has changed since then. It almost felt like those memories belonged to a different person.
Since her taking up more duties especially the ones at the hospital, she had gone to visit Adrian’s dad almost all the time now. Despite the best efforts of the hospital, his muscles were already in atrophy.
If it had been a normal person, they would have pulled the plug on him a while ago. She guessed the only reason they still hadn’t was that he was their former Alpha and the father of their current one as well.
Ava has found herself wondering whether it was about time to finally pull the plug and let the men die with a little dignity.
Ava took her mind out of memory lane and morbid thoughts and tried to enjoy herself while ignoring the empty space her sister had left in her absence.
It was almost like old times. Almost.