AVA
Yesterday sucked, and badly. But that just made this trip even more necessary. Yes, we had security
with us now. But that I could deal with.
I just wanted to put my feet up, spoil my mates, and be spoiled. Rolling around in bed with them all
would be good too.
We ended up taking one of the seven seater SUVs Michael had arranged for us whilst I was
unconscious because it was just easier. Us five plus Jeremiah and another warrior drove with all the
luggage, and the other two warriors shifted and ran ahead to make sure the cabin was safe.
Jacob and Amelia’s cabin was in the middle of nowhere surrounded by beautiful forest. It was still in
Blood Moon territory, but only just. It was far enough away from civilization that we wouldn’t be
bugged by anyone.
Calling it a ‘cabin’ was a little derogatory too. Yes, it looked like a wood cabin. But it was enormous,
and it had a second little cottage just behind it. The plan was that the warriors could use the cottage
when they weren’t on active duty.
It might not have been a holiday for them… but that doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy the location whilst
we’re here.
Both properties had full kitchens and bars. Every cupboard we opened was fully stocked, it was great.
Jacob had gone out of his way to make it perfect. There was even a tray of baked goods from Paula in
each property, so the kitchens smelled amazing.
I couldn’t wait to spend a couple days just relaxing by the river, wandering through the woods,
drinking… and just being normal.
The boys needed a touch of normality just as badly as I did. Just a few short weeks ago, the four of
them were flung into a world where they’re all Alpha wolves and King Consorts to a prophesied
Queen, who happens to have a load of madmen after her… and everyone nearly died.
Noah and Theo took us on a tour when we got there; Callum, Oscar and I had never been to this
particular cabin. The inside was just as stunning as the outside, but it was modern instead of the rustic
that you’d expect.
“Your dad really has sorted this place out for us, hasn’t he,” I whispered to no one in particular, my
voice slightly in awe.
The bedrooms were all massive. The Alpha had moved his and his Luna’s room out of the biggest into
one a little smaller, and the biggest room had been remastered to now fit a bed big enough for five.
“Jacob, thank you, this place looks amazing,” I linked.
“I’m glad you love it, Ava. I’m sure it has nothing on the Crown Suite in Eclipse Mountain, but it’s
quiet and beautiful where you are, just what the doctor ordered for you five.”
“Definitely,” I smiled.
“Let me know if you need anything, Ava. We’ll see you all in a couple days. Make sure the five of you
actually relax, okay?”
“Sir, yes, sir!” I chuckled.
I could even feel his eye roll through the link before I closed it off.
We set all of our stuff down in the master bedroom, before shuffling down to the kitchen as a group.
None of us had eaten properly before we left. I sat on one of the bar stools at the kitchen island,
immediately tucking in to the millionaire’s shortbread I knew Paula made just for me.
Her salted caramel… oh it was so good it made me salivate just thinking about it. Even Artemis was
rolling around at the thought, and she was normally a steak and bacon kind of gal.
“What do you want to do after we’ve eaten, Ava?” Callum asked whilst he and Noah busied
themselves making sandwiches.
“I’d love to see that waterfall I’ve heard so much about.”
Theo nodded, a smile on his face. “Anything for you, princess.”
OSCAR
Once we’d all eaten lunch, we got changed into something comfortable, grabbed Jeremiah and headed
in the direction of the waterfall. Jeremiah hung back giving us the illusion of privacy, whilst still being
close enough to jump in if any threats appeared.
We all knew Jeremiah could still hear and see everything we did and we’d be able to see him if we
looked… but not being able to immediately see him at least made us feel like we weren’t being
watched.
Kind of.
The river and waterfall really was as beautiful as I’d heard. The clearing it was in was surrounded
with wildflowers full of bees, and I even saw a rabbit or two running through the flowers.
Unfortunately rabbits can smell the wolf on us, so they all ran when we arrived.
Ava stopped at the edge of the river, kicking her shoes off before sitting down with her legs in the
water. She leaned back on her hands, her eyes closing at the feel of the sun dancing along her skin.
She had a smile on her face. A smile full of innocent joy, as if she didn’t have a care in the world. It
was something special to behold after everything she has been through, not just lately, but in her life.
I sat next to her, Noah mirroring my movement on her other side. “It’s beautiful here,” my voice was
low as I watched the bees and butterflies in the wildflowers.
Ava nodded, her eyes meeting mine with a small smile. “We’ll have to make a point of coming here
more often, especially now Jacob has sorted the master suite to fit five.”
“Even after you take your throne?”
“Especially after I take my throne,” she smiled. “The castle will get stuffy after a while. The pomp
and pageantry will get old. The Crown owns multiple properties. The castle will be our main
residence, and then there’s a load of cottages, mansions and holiday homes. A lot of the cottages are
rented out as holiday homes for anyone to rent, but there are a couple properties reserved exclusively
for members of the royal family.”
It still felt a little weird to say that one day, not only would I be moving out of my pack, but it would
be because I was moving to a castle in the Lycan territory, and marrying into actual royalty.
We had a lot of hurdles to get through before we got there… but that was the endgame. It was Ava and
the four of us taking our destined places, reuniting the realms and preventing war.
No biggie.