AVA
Jacob and Alex never did really calm down enough to talk about the rogue problem like grownups. I tried, but Alex and I just had an argument again.
Now, I just wanted to drown my sorrows in alcohol, and there were six lovely people I wanted to do that with.
The Super Seven
Ava: I feel like dancing. Who wants to come to the club with me tonight?
Izzie: I’ll be there! I miss you, sweetcheeks.
Callum: Of course we’ll be there, little one.
Theo: Dinner at the pack house first?
Ava: I’d rather not, I’ll be honest.
Oscar: We can help keep dad and Alpha Jacob away from you if you want us to, Ava.
Ava: Oscar, I’m not asking any of you to join the side of an argument against Alpha Jacob and Beta Alexander. If you do that, you’re declaring for me, and there’s no going back from that.
That would give them something to think about. At this point, the Alpha and Beta of this pack had acknowledged me as an Alpha in my own right, and therefore our wolves really would see this as taking sides. Since I didn’t have my pack yet, Lloyd would start seeing Artemis as a threat as people chose me over him. No one else could get involved with this yet.
The Alpha, Beta and I needed to argue this out between us.
Oscar: Let me help you, Ava.
Ava: Not on this. Not yet.
Noah: I’ll tell you what. We can’t get involved in your argument, but we can help you ignore them if that’s what you want. Dad and Beta Alex are always some of the first at dinner. Once they are there, Theo and I can snag a table on the other side of the room. You can then join us once the dining room is busier, so we’ll be able to keep some distance between you all.
Noah is sweet.
Ava: Okay, let’s do it.
That message was followed up by a flood of excited GIFs.
When I reached the pack house for dinner, Theo had successfully got us a table on the opposite end of the room to the Alpha and Beta. Unfortunately, the Alpha and Beta’s eyes snapped up when I walked in.
I gave them a small nod, before turning and walking towards the table Theo snagged.
For whatever reason, as I came past, wolves were bowing their heads. “Artemis?” I asked her.
“I think I’ve had a power boost, Ava,” she whispered.
“What do you mean…?”
“It’s nearly our birthday, I think I’m just getting stronger each day.”
“Artemis, my birthday is still six months away.”
“I know… but if the legends are true, a lot is going to change in six months. Surely it makes sense for some of it to start early so it’s easier to deal with the change?”
Bloody Artemis, always being right.
When I reached the table, even their heads bowed in my presence.
“Don’t bow, guys, please,” I begged.
They all looked up at that point, their eyes a little shocked when they saw me.
“Ava,” Oscar whispered. “Your eyes.”
“What about them?” I had one eyebrow raised.
“They aren’t just green anymore, they’re gold around the edges.”
Huh. I thought it was Artemis’ eyes that went gold.
“If I let her forward, can you tell me what colour Artemis’ eyes are?”
They all nodded.
I let Artemis come forward, showing herself in my eyes. The group around me gasped.
“They’re going gold, Ava. The middle is still yellow, but the outside is gold.” Callum’s face was stunned as he spoke. “They’re beautiful.”
I gave him a small smile in thanks, and Artemis was rolling around in my head at being complimented.
I pushed her back down, turning my attention back to my dinner.
We made light conversation whilst we all finished our dinner. Just before we could start dessert, Noah’s eyes went wide over my shoulder, before he leaned across the table towards me. “Ava. Dad and Beta Alex are walking this way.”
I growled under my breath, just enjoying my dessert until I could feel them just a few steps behind me. “Alpha, Beta.” I acknowledged in a formal greeting, still carrying on with my cake.
“Ava, we just need to talk to you about…” Beta Alex started.
“Alpha,” Artemis growled. Apparently she’s pulling rank now.
“My apologies, Alpha, Artemis,” Beta Alex bowed his head.
“What can I do for you gentlemen?”
“We just need to talk about our conversation from earlier.”
I rolled my eyes before standing and turning towards them. Artemis was forward, so I knew my eyes would be gold and yellow.
From the looks on the faces of those around us, both mine and Alpha Jacob’s auras were suffocating.
“Perhaps, gentlemen, we should take this outside. Everyone else in the room will be more comfortable if we do.” Before I left the room, I turned back to face Noah. “When you’re all ready to head out, let me know.” I gave them a small smile before turning to head outside, Alpha Jacob and Beta Alexander falling into step just behind me.
“Alpha…” Beta Alexander started, his voice low. “I’m sorry about what I said earlier, and what I’ve said recently.” He paused for a moment, his voice strained. “You know you’re like a daughter to me.”
“Beta, I know you care about me, and I love that. You’ve had my back through thick and thin, and I’ll always be grateful for everything you’ve done for me. But the simple fact is, I’m not that child anymore who can’t defend herself. I’m an Alpha. Artemis is getting stronger each day. I’ve got this.”
“Alpha, I’m worried about you.”
“I understand that, Beta. But I need to do this.”
His face was concerned, and Alpha Jacob’s face was just expressionless. He knew Beta Alex and I needed to sort this out first.
I sighed, before continuing. “It’s my life and the pack I’m heir to on the line, Beta. If the rogues know about me, they know about my pack. Even excluding everything else, if I want to take over that pack one day, they need to respect me. And no one is going to respect an Alpha that disappeared for a decade and hid during a battle.”
He looked like he wanted to argue back.
“Border security is usually your remit, Beta. So you have a choice. Either, you help me sort border security, including both of us running shifts. Or you stay the fuck out of my way and I do it on my own.”
“We talked about this, Beta. You know she’s right,” Alpha Jacob replied, voice low, supportive.
“We need to sort border security, Beta. Just increasing bodies on the border works for now, but we need a permanent solution before we think about going after a pack of rogues.”
He sighed, nodding, his eyes falling closed. “Okay. I’ve got your back, Alpha Ava.” He gave me a small smile.