~King~ It was quite fascinating to see them, and what's more amusing and amazing was that I was enjoying every word with them. Their endless questions made me smile, and surprisingly, I enjoyed answering each one. These moments with them were golden, filling me with a warmth I hadn't known I was missing. My pups. Goddess, I never imagined that I would say those words, they felt alien but incredibly right as I thought them. I was still grappling with the reality of it all. How the fuck could Avery hide something like this from me? Did she hate me that much? Although the thought of fatherhood had never crossed my mind before, now that I knew of Julian and Julia's existence, there was nothing in this world I wanted more. And nothing was going to stop me from raising my twins. With or without Avery. I was so furious that I couldn't even speak to her, although I knew she wouldn't answer any of my questions. She had refused to even look at me, which infuriated me even more. She had
~Avery~ My anger began to surge to the surface again as we ascended the stairs with King leading the way. When we reached his door, he swung it open, gesturing for me to step through first. With a defiant stomp, I marched past him into the shadowed confines of the room. He followed, slamming the door shut with a resounding bang that echoed through the space. Now, we were secured in our privacy, and there was no fear of the kids sneaking up on us and overhearing. I was so ready to give King a piece of my mind. I folded my arms defensively across my chest and glared at him. "Are you out of your mind?" I snapped. "Like you're the one to say that," he shot back. "You're unbelievable. Do you have any idea what this is going to do to them? You're so fucking selfish!" "You hid my fucking children for five years with no intention of ever telling me about them, and yet I'm the one who's selfish?" King growled, walking towards me, his eyes blazing with unrestrained anger, his every st
~Avery~ King didn't return until much later that evening, long after I had tucked Julia and Julian into their makeshift beds. The rooms provided for them were nothing like children's rooms; this whole situation had been rather too hasty. As I sat in the dim light of King's room, doubt filled my mind. Was this his idea of fatherhood—absence and indifference? He was not even there to bid them goodnight. I hadn't laid down on his bed; I couldn’t even think of sleeping. We needed to have a crucial conversation tonight; he had to see reason with me. I never should have brought the twins back to even the same city as him, let alone the same pack. I should have done everything I could to keep them far, far away. This was exactly what I was afraid of. Now, King seemed more like a villain, and my innocent children were caught in his dangerous plans. His room door finally swung open abruptly, and King entered with a casual swagger as if he didn’t have a care in the world. I hadn’t bother
~Avery~ I woke up in King's bed, my head on a pillow that was wet with my tears. I had no idea how long I had been out, but darkness had covered the sky. I got up from bed and walked to the mirror. My eyes were all puffy from either sleep or crying, but I knew the latter was the case. I was still wearing the same clothes I had on when I arrived, and I felt a strong need to take a bath. But then, I realised it had been hours since I last saw the twins and a wave of dread washed over me. "Julian? Julia?" I called, bursting into each of the rooms assigned to them. Both rooms were tidy, with everything in its place, but there was no sign of the kids. With my heart in my throat, I darted out of Julia’s room and sped down the hallway. It had been years since I was here, but I still remembered the intricate layout of King's house. "Julian? Julia?" My calls grew more desperate, but there were no answers. A million thoughts played through my mind. King wouldn't do anything to hurt them, w
~Avery~ I knelt at the centre of the grand hall, surrounded by the esteemed members of the Silverpine pack. My gaze remained fixed on the ground, avoiding eye contact with anyone. Deep down, I yearned to meet King's eyes, for I believed he was the only one who would believe me, but they had kept me from him since last night. In this pack, they despised me, and no one would entertain the notion of my innocence, even if I pleaded otherwise. Beta Kristopher, who had never held much regard for me in this pack, rose and positioned himself before me. I had always been seen as unworthy of the Luna title. I was only but a mere rogue who was captured to come and serve as a slave, but I somehow became the Luna because King, my mate needed a Luna. The pack members had never truly accepted me, and today seemed to mark the end of my reign. I had fallen before I had the chance to rise. "It appears we are all present now," Kristopher announced, as Sammy, my closest friend, entered the
~Avery~ Throughout the day, my thoughts lingered on King, and I found myself yearning for his return. With no enthusiasm for my classes or training, I pretended to be unwell, of course, I was lovesick, and I confined myself indoors. I spent the day lost in memories of the previous night, my mind replaying each moment until the sky outside was awash with orange hues. Eventually, I rose from my bed and stood by the window, my gaze fixed on the horizon, eagerly awaiting my mate's return. My mind was a whirlwind of questions. Why had King touched me the way he did last night? Would he come back to me this evening? Was this a sign of his acceptance? Thia, my wolf, was brimming with excitement, her restless energy almost infectious. It was then that Sammy's voice pierced my reverie through our mind-link. 'Hey, Ave, are you there?' she inquired, her mental voice tinged with concern. 'Yes, I am,' I replied, my voice bubbling with barely contained excitement. 'Thank go
~Avery~ As I knelt under the heavy gaze of the assembly, the solemn voice of Kristopher rang out, casting a shadow over my fate. "Avery Frost is kneeling here today, accused of infidelity with a rogue, and also aiding the rogues by giving them vital information about our pack, which caused their last successful attack that claimed the lives of many pack members which we are still grieving." Kristopher turned to me, his piercing eyes fixed on me, he continued. "Avery Frost, the trial today will look at the evidence to determine if you are guilty of these crimes." Perspiration formed like icy beads on my forehead as I scanned the room, every pair of eyes a judge unto themselves. "Avery, do you swear by the sacred goddess to speak the truth and nothing but the truth?" "I do," I replied, striving to keep my voice unwavering. In the corner, I heard my mother's muffled sobs. She knew I would never commit the crime they accused me of. I could never bring harm to
~Avery~ As I regained consciousness, I found myself bound and lying on the cold, unfeeling ground, surrounded by impenetrable darkness. The only covering on my body was an oversized shirt, which belonged to King. My eyes strained against the pitch black that enveloped me, but no shape or form emerged from the shroud of night. A flood of emotions— the sharp sting of recent events overwhelmed me. Betrayal, so raw and profound, bore down upon my soul with an unbearable weight. Succumbing to this tide of despair, tears flowed freely, tracing cold paths down my cheeks. I thought about my mother. The thought of her, enduring this ordeal, her mind wracked with worry for me, intensified my anguish. I didn't want her to worry so much about me, so I tried speaking to her through the mind-link. 'M-mom?' I whispered hesitantly. 'Avery, my dear,' her voice, laden with relief and anxiety, echoed in my mind, as though she had been anxiously awaiting my awakening. 'You're fin