Payment To the Alpha
Chapter 21

It felt good getting that question off my chest.

I'm eighteen, I can't get married. Correction, I don't want to get married. Especially not to a man I barely know.

They all looked around at each other, nobody wanted to answer, I could tell.

Finally, after a few quiet minutes, James started speaking.

"Do you remember how your mother told you about the spell that was put on you before you were born?"

"I- How did you know she said that?"

He pointed to his ears.

"Werewolf, remember? As Lydia said, we have a much faster healing ability, along with immaculate hearing and sight."

Um yeah... right. How was I supposed to take this? Some sort of adaption manual upon entering this place would have been nice.

I sat there quietly waiting for James to continue.

"So when your parents had the witch put the spell on you, they wanted to make sure that we couldn't back out. So at your mother's wishes, the witch made a binding soul contract along with a lock spell, signed in blood. If we don't get married by the time you turn 19..."

James' POV

I can't. I can't say it. I cannot tell Avery the consequences of not getting married.

She would do it just to save me. I know that. There is, however, another way. I would use the love she has for her family if I have to.

'Don't be a jackass'

I will do what I need to

'You don't need to be a jackass. She's our mate, human or not. And trust me you do not want to get on her bad side'

If I have to play the douche to make her believe she needs to do this and stay oblivious to the soul contract, then I will. I still haven't made up my mind regarding my feelings for her

'You like her'

Blade growled back.

Recently my wolf, Blade has been relentlessly badgering me about Avery. I mean I understand, she's our mate, but she doesn't have a wolf, how can he be so smitten?

I pushed him in the back of my head and focused back on the conversation at hand.

"What will happen?"

Avery looked up at me with those big brown eyes. Batting through her lashes. Her bottom lip trembling from the crying.

Damn you, bloody dog... I like her. I don't want to hurt her. But drastic times call for drastic measures.

"I don't know what will happen. But we must get married, it was part of the contract and breaking a contract with a witch always ends badly." I spoke softly and took her hand in mine.

"Who was the witch?"

Her question made me stiffen, along with everyone else present. I saw the fear in Natasha's eyes in my peripheral vision.

Why did she care if Avery knew or not?

I threw her a quick glance and Natasha shook her head hoping I wouldn't tell.

"We don't know. I was just a child when it all happened and my parents never told me."

'Lies'

Do I have to block you out?

Thank you.

The silence in my head was welcomed.

Avery's head shot to Natasha and I saw the blood drain from her face.

"You're a witch. Can't you replace out who it was?"

Natasha looked at me pleadingly. But I leaned back and crossed my arms over my chest. Karma's a bitch.

"I'm sorry, Avery, not all witches know each other... I could look around if you'd like but I'm telling you, chances of replaceing the witch are low."

"Please, just see what you can do. If we replace the witch responsible perhaps they can help us stop the marriage."

Ouch.

I didn't think they would but those words hurt. I never put much thought into the whole marriage, to me, it was obvious after my parents explained. They also told me when I was a child that she was a very special girl and that once I had her in my grasp, I would never want to let go. As if they knew we would-be mates.

Alpha Dominic's words repeated themselves in my mind.

'Tell her the truth. It's the only way.'

I did. Sort of. I left out a tiny detail regarding a tiny contract that may or may not result in our deaths. However, the majority of this conversation had been all truthful.

"Avery, we will get married. That's it." Sorry, little girl.

"But if-"

"NO. You and I will get married. End of discussion. There is no other way," I was losing my temper. It wasn't Avery's fault. It was everything else going on, but she was about to be the recipient of my rage.

"WHY? If we can replace another way around this then we don't have to get married!"

We were both standing at this point. Me towering over her and her hands flying everywhere while she speaks. She was mad too.

"BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY AROUND THIS. YOU WILL MARRY ME, THAT'S IT!"

What the fuck is happening?

Avery's eyes lowered and she cowered back... I had used my alpha tone, not thinking it would work but it is the one I use in serious matters. Why is it working on her?

Avery sat back down on the couch and kept her eyes at her feet.

"Avery... fuck"

"I'm sorry. There just isn't anything we can do. Not right now at least."

Everyone else had pushed themselves as far back into the couches as possible and their eyes touched the floors as well, except for Natasha's, she wasn't a wolf so she wasn't affected like the others were, she only felt the power in my voice.

But Avery, now that is a mystery.

"Please look at me."

"WHAT THE FUCK?!" Alex exclaimed in a not-so-subtle tone. Dumbass.

Everyone's eyes widened and Lydia's and Amber's hands flew to their mouths.

When Avery looked up at me. Her nose was bleeding and her eyes were white again. Completely, eggshell, no iris, white.

"What's happening?"

I asked no one in particular.

Slowly but surely, Avery's eyes turned back to their normal, honey brown color.

She looked at me and in her eyes were so many emotions swimming around. Anger, sadness, confusion, and shame. She squinted her eyes and shook her head in disbelief.

"I wasn't affected by your command. I didn't want to back down. But a voice in my head yelled at me." She looked terrified,

"What did the voice say, sweetheart?" Natasha asked her in a soft manner.

"He yelled for me to submit. I couldn't fight it."

She cast her eyes down again, looking ashamed.

I looked back at Natasha hoping she would have an answer. However, I was met with her eyes nearly bulging out of her head and she was lost for words.

Really? You always have a snide, bitchy thing to say but NOW you choose to lose your voice? I thought to myself.

Amber grabbed a napkin from the table and handed it to Avery so that she could wipe her nose.

Who was that voice? How can someone inside her mind command her to do things? As if she is not in control of her own body or mind. She doesn't have a wolf. Her eyes had turned this way once before when we were speaking earlier but Avery didn't say much about it.

We need to figure out what is going on, or this could turn disastrous.

"Wait a minute-" Avery's angelic voice broke me from my thoughts and all my attention went back to her.

"My parents were werewolves. Does that mean I am one too? The spell that was put on me, you never told me about why it was cast."

Oh, fuck me.

"When your mother was abducted, she was...raped, by her captor. Your biological father. The witch who put the spell on you, did so to strip you of your powers. Of your wolf. You're not a wolf Avery. I'm sorry but they took that away from you."

With the last words came spits of venom. I was seething. The thought of punishing an innocent child for something that was not in her control. And the witch responsible was sitting in this room.

Had she had her wolf she would have been stronger, she would have been able to protect herself. She would have known I was her mate.

I looked over at Natasha who was squirming in her seat under my gaze. Good.

I remember my uncle Carlos telling me about why he asked Natasha.

He said my parents wanted a witch that could be trusted. But what difference would that have made?

The result would be the same. Avery would be without her identity either way.

"Who is my dad?" Her smooth voice broke my thoughts once again. Probably for the better. I was feeling this eagerness to rip of Natasha's head off.

I shook my head and took her hand

"I don't know. No one does really. Except for your mother." I answered her truthfully.

Who her biological father was, was unknown to all of us.

"She said it was because of revenge."

I saw the tears slipping from her eyes. I knew what she was thinking.

"Whatever reason that it happened, at least something pure came from it. I can only imagine how horrible it must have been for you mother, but you're here, and you're safe. You may have been made from vengeance, but that doesn't define you. You are your own person, and we will all help you figure out who that is."

She smiled up at me. She wrapped her hands around my neck and leaned in, hugging me, while placing her face in my neck.

"Thank you" It was merely a whisper. But I heard her loud and clear.

'Told you, you don't have to be a jackass'

Don't go telling me 'I told you so' yet. This fight isn't over.

After the meeting was done, the sun had set outside.

"Hey are you tired?" I wanted to take Avery on a little walk around the territory and talk to her about everything that had happened,

"Yeah a little bit, why?"

"I was thinking we could take a walk." She nodded her head and so I grabbed her hand. After bidding everyone goodbye I realized I needed to speak with Natasha without any extra ears.

"Hey why don't you go wait downstairs and I'll be right there."

"Sure."

Avery stepped out of the room alongside Lydia and Amber and I watched as she turned down the corridor.

As if knowing I needed to speak with her, Natasha stayed seated on the couch. I closed the door and locked it before walking over and pouring myself another drink.

Anytime I was speaking with this woman, I needed something strong to calm my nerves.

"

This is bad James." My head snapped to Natasha who had a serious look going. She never batted an eyelash, but right now I could sense some fear radiating from her.