Payment To the Alpha
Chapter 17

The tears were streaming down my face now, both from the pain Natasha must have felt, but also from the joy and happiness that had followed. She seemed like an amazing woman.

"I'm so sorry for your loss. But I'm glad you allowed yourself to replace happiness," she smiled at my words and placed her hand over mine, that was resting on my lap, giving it a soft squeeze.

"Life is a bitch Avery. Trust me, I would know. But just know that you too can have the happiness you deserve and desire, you just have to allow it to yourself." Her words hit my heart and I felt heavy, but not in a bad way.

"Things are about to take a turn for you. Now you can either embrace it, or you can run from it. The choice will be yours. I know all of this must be driving you mad, but just remember that family isn't always the people who share the same genes and DNA as you do. You can also choose your family."

I was about to open my mouth to say something when a loud howl shook the grounds. I looked at Natasha in panic but she looked as calm as ever.

"Its okay Avery. Stay calm."

Something came flying above us and I turned my head, there it was, the silver grey wolf, Amber's wolf, and another dark brown one that was huge and made Amber's look like a baby.

They were baring their teeth at Natasha. I looked behind us and saw two other wolves baring their teeth as well, looking like they were ready to lunge at her.

"Avery. Stay calm," I nodded my head. The bigger wolf changed back and right there in front of me stood James. Naked. Holy crap, whoever created him must have had a mold of a Greek god. Now this is what I call magic.

I quickly averted my eyes away from James when I realized I had been staring at his naked body. After a minute or so I had mustered up the courage to look into his eyes. He had a big smirk on his face, and his eyes held mischief in them.

"You like what you see?" James asked as he straightened his back and raised his head. He extended his arms as if to allow me a better look.

"Please." I scoffed,

"don't flatter yourself." I swallowed hard when I heard my weak words leave my traitor of a mouth.

"I'm not, sweetheart, you're flattering me." I felt my cheeks heat up and I probably looked like a tomato right about now.

"Natasha, get away from her. Now." James commanded.

"What, why?" I said in a high pitched screech that even made me flinch.

"It's nothing. We have our indifferences. That's all," Natasha responded. She gracefully stood up and bowed her head at James. She then turned to me with a heartwarming smile.

"Until next time, Avery. It was nice meeting you, I will make sure we meet again." I gave her a small smile in return.

"I would really like that." I said.

Before Natasha could walk away, there were sounds coming from the woods. Branches snapping and a low growl that sounded almost screeching to my ears. Everyone's heads snapped to the sound in the woods and I quickly got up on my feet. James shifted and got in to fighting stance a few feet in front me.

Natasha quickly ran to me, pushing me back

"Avery, get behind me!" She screamed as she was now also in front of me, blocking any view I had.

"Don't move, understood?" She said with a stern voice. I nodded my head frantically.

My heart was beating hard in my chest and my palms were getting sweaty. But I couldn't help but wonder what it was that was happening. I peeked from behind Natasha and saw an amber-red colored wolf emerge from the woods. The wolf's hind leg was injured.

James roared loudly and it held so much authority that even I wanted to cower back into a corner.

'What the hell?'

The wolf immediately bowed its head and showed its neck. I read about this in books, it was too show submission. James shifted back and so did the wolves that were behind us. One was Alex and the other one I didn't recognize.

Alex threw a pair of shorts to James that he pulled on. Amber still hadn't shifted back. Instead she took a step back, towards me. Never averting her eyes from which I'm assuming is an intruder. "SHIFT!" James demanded...loudly.

The wolf whined and shifted back. It was a girl. Her head was still down. She had red, beautiful hair and porcelain skin. But when she lifted her head, I gasped in shock

"Lydia?!"

"Lydia?!"

Natasha and I exclaimed simultaneously.

My eyes shot to Natasha's and we stared at each other for a while before Natasha broke the eye contact and looked down at the ground. Guilt written all over her face.

I ran up to Lydia, cradling her in my arms.

"Lydia what are you doing here? And are you-"

I couldn't finish the sentence. Something dawned on me.

A lightbulb going off in my mind. I let go of Lydia and looked back at Natasha. They knew each other. Lydia was a werewolf. Natasha knew about me and she knows James, which means...so does Lydia.

I looked back at Lydia, her face full of guilt and tears rolling down her cheeks.

"You knew." My voice coming out weak, like a quiet whisper.

"Avery, I can explain..." She pleaded. She tried standing but quickly fell down again and that's when I saw her leg. A bone was sticking out from under her kneecap and the blood was oozing out in waves.

"Oh my god, Lydia! She needs a doctor!" I yelled to everyone standing around us, in desperation.

"Damon!" James called for the guy that I didn't know.

"Take Lydia to the pack doctor." After he had given the order, Damon nodded and lifted up Lydia in his arms. She screamed in agony as he treaded as carefully as possible. James' gaze left Damon's and went to focus on Natasha, who was staring down at the ground.

"Natasha. Do you know her?" Natasha's eyes lifted up to replace mine and she looked so sorry.

"Yes, she's a member of our pack." She sighed and shook her head.

"Mind link Damon and tell him to take her to your office. I can fix her injury quicker and we can talk." She said and looked at James.

"No," I said, I was too tired. Too tired from everything that had happened today. I was in no mood to talk to anyone let alone hear another lie. This would have to wait till tomorrow.

"I don't wanna talk. I want to sleep. I want to take a hot shower, get out of this air chocking dress and these torturous heels, and just sleep!" I was done.

"Please, I can't do this today." I said.

"Avery please, we can expla-" Natasha tried pleading her case but I wasn't hearing it.

"I said no. I'm not saying we won't speak, I'm just saying we won't speak today, tomorrow we can talk about everything and you can all explain yourselves, tomorrow." I emphasized the last word. With those final words I straightened my back and started walking back to the house. However, as I reached closer I had the awkward realization, that I had no idea where to get in... I turned around slowly facing Amber, who was still in her wolf form with James and Natasha. They all had big smiles when I looked at them like a lost puppy. I just shrugged and pointed to the house.

James started laughing and Natasha soon followed. The sound made my heart warm despite everything happening.

James started walking towards me, still laughing. He took my hand and together we walked back into the house.

I was so excited for that hot shower and to then crawl in under the sheets. Letting go of reality for just a moment to let sleep consume me.