AVA
I hated the look of pity on people’s faces, and that was exactly what was currently staring at me.
Pity.
They didn’t need to pity me. I just needed people that would have my back and be on my side now and in the future.
“That’s enough of the pity, people,” I said, my voice exasperated. “Pity won’t change the past. I need you all to have my back now and in the future.”
They all snapped out of it, like they’d been in a trance.
“Wait Ava…” Izzie started. “You’re a Lycan?”
I nodded. “I’m heir to the Eclipse Mountain pack.”
Her mouth fell open.
“But you can run as a wolf?”
I nodded.
“The Legend of the Alpha Queen?”
“You’ve heard it, Izzie?”
“I grew up with it as a bedtime story.”
“Have you got Lycan heritage?”
“My maternal great, great, great grandma was Lycan, but there hasn’t been enough Lycan DNA in my family to have a baby born as a Lycan in a long time now,” Izzie replied. “They all grew up with the more positive Legends being told as bedtime stories, and I grew up on the Legend of the Alpha Queen.”
She gave a strange smile. “I didn’t think I’d meet the next Alpha Queen, let alone call her a close friend.”
She wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me into a hug. “I’m sorry you had to go through everything you have, Ava. Anything you need, I’m here, okay?”
“Thanks, Izzie,” I smiled, hugging her back.
I sat back down in my chair, looking over the room. The twins all still looked a little shell shocked at my revelations. Before anyone could say anything else, we were distracted by howls in the distance.
I jumped up to look out the window, not seeing anything close. I tried to open a mind link to the lead wolf on patrol tonight, but he didn’t answer. “Jacob, Alex, isn’t it Luke’s night to lead patrol?”
They nodded. “Why…?” Alex asked.
“Something’s wrong and he’s not answering.”
Just as I turned to leave the room, Callum was shouting after me. “Ava! You’re meant to be taking it easy!”
“I’m just going to check on Luke, Callum.”
More howls exploded through the night, at which point I swore, shifted, and ran towards the border.
Commotion behind me told me all I needed to know. Alex was trying to follow. “ALEX! Do not follow me!” I commanded through the link, hearing when he stopped fighting them. “Jacob, I’ll let you know if I need backup.”
He sighed through the link. “Be careful, Ava.”
THEO
“Dad, why did you let her go? She’s still injured?” I shouted, my voice frantic.
He chuckled, rubbing his eyes. “She’s an Alpha, Theo. An incredibly strong one too. I can’t really stop her.”
“You could command her?”
He snorted. “She’s been able to resist my commands for a long time, Theo. And you just saw how she commanded Alex to stand down.”
“Jacob,” Alex panted. “Let me go after her.”
“I can’t break her command, Alex, you know this as well as I do,” he sighed. “Even if I commanded you to go after her, hers would overrule mine.”
Beta Alex sat in the corner and swore repeatedly under his breath.
“I’ll go after her, Dad,” I whispered.
“It’s not safe, son.”
“Wait!” Beta Alex shouted, as his eyes glazed over, his face shocked. “Ava just lifted the command.”
“Why would she do that?!” dad exclaimed. “Is she okay?”
Beta Alex’s eyes glazed over again, and we watched the changing expressions on his face whilst he spoke to Ava.
“She’s okay. She needs you and I to join her though, Jacob.”
AVA
Alex and Jacob reached my location within minutes of my mind link with Alex, fortunately. This pack wasn’t mine, so this decision wasn’t mine to make.
I met the two of them at the edge of the woods with spare shorts once they shifted back, leaving our new friends in the care of our border guards.
“Alex, Jacob, this is Martha Stanley, beta female of the Blue Mountain pack.”
They both nodded a simple greeting.
“Martha and a couple families that are still hiding in the woods are here seeking refuge.”
Both of their faces were emotionless; they were trying hard not to show any emotions. “We need to know more. You can lead, Ava.”
I nodded at Jacob in thanks.
“Martha… how many of you are here?”
“Myself and two other women, there are seven children, all under ten, between us. Plus four trusted guards of ours.”
“Martha, what is your relation to Matthew?”
“He’s my brother, Alpha.”
“Are you aware of the problem we’ve recently had with your brother?”
“I am, Alpha. I’m sorry he’s done what he has, but unfortunately that’s why we’ve run.” She sobbed. “Both him and our Alpha have abused the women in our pack for a long time. We had to get away from him and them.”
My stomach sank. “Would you be willing to give us information on your brother, the Alpha and activities they get up to around the pack?”
“Are you talking about the rogues, Alpha?”
“Amongst other things, yes.”
“I’d gladly help you, Alpha, Alpha, Beta. What they are doing is wrong.”
I nodded, before turning back to Jacob. “Alpha Jacob, have we got somewhere we can look after them for now?”
“Of course, Alpha Ava. We can set the families up in one of the guest houses for now. Martha, we’ll stock up the house ready for all of you, with food, drink, toiletries. If you need anything else at any point, please feel free to ask.” He paused for a moment, looking serious. “I’m going to have to ask that for the time being, you all stay in the guest house whilst we investigate what is happening here. As I’m sure you can appreciate, it is a measure for both our safety and yours.”
“Of course, Alpha, thank you,” she gave a small smile.