Payment To the Alpha
Chapter 53

Avery's POV

I woke up to the sound of a beeping noise and a difficulty to move. I closed my eyes quickly when I felt the strong light burn my eyes.

I decided to open them for a few seconds each time and slowly adjust to the brightness.

After a few moments, I flickered them open and saw the lamp hanging on the ceiling. I looked around and realized that I was in a hospital room. The walls were yellow, and they had some painting hung up to break the awfully boring wallpaper.

As I scanned the room, my eyes landed on a beautiful man sleeping in a chair next to my bed. His head was rested on the bed, and his arms were used as a pillow. I gently stroked his head, and he flew up, startling me.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." I said quietly. Cringing when I heard my own voice. I sounded like an old woman who had smoked her whole life.

"Avery? Am I dreaming?" James asked me and took my hand.

"No, you're not. I'm awake." I said calmly, caressing his hand with my other one.

James laughed and leaned in, placing a kiss on my lips.

"How long was I out for?" I asked him when he pulled away. Making me miss his lips immediately.

James scratched the back of his neck before answering me. I raised my eyebrows, thinking that it couldn't have been that long.

"A week," he said. My eyes widened, and in pure panic, I started removing all the cords and needles in me.

James grabbed my hands and pinned them to my sides.

"Hey, stop! It's okay. Everything is okay." He said, taking a seat on the bed.

"What happened?" My memories were groggy, and I didn't fully remember everything except that there was a war.

James had told me everything that had happened. From the magic to the wizard, to my wolf, and how I killed Crow. He didn't like telling me that last part, however, as I almost died too.

"Oh, one more thing. You're never allowed to fight a war OR a battle. Ever." He said. His face was grave.

"What?! You can't do that!" I shrieked and crossed my arms over my chest.

"Oh, but you see, that's the best part, I can. It's the Alpha's orders." He said with a smirk.

"We'll talk about it," I said and reached for the water that James brought me.

There was a knock at the door. I yelled for them to come in.

The door opened up, and the last person I thought walked in.

"Liam," I said quietly.

James was standing with his arms crossed over his chest and a smile on his face. Did they know each other?

"Hey, Aves," Liam said as he came and took a seat on the chair by the bed.

"How are you feeling?" He asked me.

"What are you doing here?"

"Right... I want to explain what happened in Brooksten."

I sat up straighter and faced Liam.

"When we were about thirteen, your parents came to my family. They said that I had to be with you, as your boyfriend. I had a massive crush on you but didn't want to force you to be with me, so I told them no. Your father, the Alpha, laughed, and ten other werewolves came walking in. He said that if I refuse, we're all dead: me and my family. So I started dating you, and my feelings were real, Avery. Then when you turned eighteen, they said that it was time to end it.

Not only to end it, but they wanted you to hurt in the worst possible way.

And so they made me stage what you saw." Liam took a break to gather his thoughts. I felt my tears falling and a hand on my shoulder. It was James.

"I'm so sorry, Avery, for everything. You didn't deserve it, any of it."

"That's why you tackled Chase," I said in a gasp, and Liam nodded.

"Yeah, I knew that he was a traitor. And I knew that he wanted to hurt you."

"You could've been killed," I said and took his hand. Earning a growl from the Alpha behind me. I rolled my eyes, and Liam chuckled but pulled away from his hand.

"Sorry, but the Alpha scares me," He whisper shouted.

"yes, I could have been killed, but I deserved so much worse for what I did to the girl I truly loved." Liam said.

I grabbed his arm and pulled him closer to me, and I wrapped my arms around him, hugging him hard.

"Alright, that's enough!" James said from behind me. We pulled away, and I turned to James.

"That was like five seconds." I said.

"Yes. And that's enough." He showed me a price-winning smile making me roll my eyes and giggle. And then it hit me,

"Sofia! Where is she?" James looked down at his feet before meeting my gaze.

"She didn't make it. She was badly wounded. She did, however say to Elisabeth when she was in the infirmary that you're going to be a wonderful Luna."

I leaned back, and my head hit the wall.

She's dead. She spent her last time in the dungeons, and now she's dead.

"It might make it easier for you to know that she lived in the house for the week leading up to the war. She and Michael found each other, even if for a short period of time. She was happy. She wanted to fight for you." James added.

I'm so sorry, Sofia. Thank you.

Another knock was heard, and the door opened up. James growled beside me.

"You woke up like ten seconds ago. Can't I have you for myself for an hour at least?" He said, pouting like a child.

Natasha came in, and I felt my breath hitch in my throat.

"Can we speak privately for a moment?" Natasha asked.

I looked at James and nodded my head. He leaned in and kissed me before he and Liam took their leave. James put a hand on Natasha's shoulder and smiled at her before they closed the door.

Natasha sat down on the chair next to the bed and fiddled with her hands nervously.

I remembered what Crow had said about the contract.

I felt a small smile make its way up on my face as I watched Natasha, not knowing what to say.

I decided to end her misery and placed a hand on her hands, causing her head to jerk up and her eyes to lock with mine.

"I am so sorry, Avery," Natasha whispered.

"I've known that you're my sister for a while. I just couldn't tell you. And about the contract, I don't care, Natasha. If it had been before, then, I might have, but I don't. You're my sister, my family, and that doesn't change. Sometimes we're put in impossible situations, and we have to cope with it, trust me, I know how that feels. But I wouldn't have been able to cope with my impossible situations if it weren't for you. I love you, Natasha. That won't change. Let's just not keep anything from each other again." I added and smiled at her.

Natasha looked at me. Her eyes were glossy. She didn't say anything. She simply stared at me before wrapping her arms around me in a big hug.

~1 WEEK LATER~

Avery's POV

Today is the day I get to leave and go home. James is signing some forms, and I'm fixing myself up.

The thought of getting home and meeting the others had me in a swirl of emotions, happiness being the primary one.

I checked myself in the mirror one more time.

Liam was now a part of our pack. He also met his mate, and I was incredibly happy for him.

There was a knock at the door, and James stepped in.

"You ready to go home, babe?" He asked me and reached for my hand.

"More than ever."

We were standing in front of the house, and for some reason, it felt strange. I'm not walking in there as the girl I was. I'm walking in as the half-witch, half-werewolf, soon-to-be Luna.

James gave my hand a light squeeze, reassuring me that it will all be fine.

When we stepped in, we were met by most of the pack members, cheering and screaming. Welcoming me home. A wide smile spread across my face as I went up to hug everyone. Alex and Amber being the first ones. "Good to see you again, cupcake," Alex said with a sincere smile.

"Do not ever do something like that again!" Amber said as she wrapped her arms around me, squeezing my air out.

"I'm sorry I scared you. But I'm home now, and I'm not going anywhere.

We walked out to the garden where they had prepared a barbecue and a table full of sweets. Making me drool by simply looking at it.

I looked around and saw Amber sitting on a stub, looking a little sad.

I walked up to her and took a seat on the stub.

"Hey, how are you?" I asked Amber as I nudged her shoulder.

She quickly plastered on a big smile, and I raised an eyebrow.

"Drop it," I said sternly. Something was bothering her. It was obvious. Amber sighed heavily.

"I met my mate." She said, and I gasped.

"But that's amazing!"

Amber looked at me, tears in her eyes, and she shook her head.

"It was a girl working for Crow. I don't know which pack she belongs to. I saw her during the war. She was fighting Alex in her human form, but the second our eyes met, she dropped him and started fighting her own people." Amber explained.

"But that's good, isn't it?" I asked her.

"She pulled me aside after we had fought off some of Crow's men. And she told me we couldn't be together, that there will only be a pain. Apparently, her family is very...special."

I looked at Amber with sadness in my eyes. She deserved to be happy.

"But maybe if you-" I started, wanting to say something to ease her pain.

"She hasn't always been a werewolf, Aves," Amber started. I gasped and looked at her in shock, silently waiting for her to continue.

"She was a vampire before. Her family is vampires, quite respected ones too. And," Amber's voice trembled as she took a deep breath.

"And what, Amber?"

"She was turned by a Knight. By someone in our family. I don't know by who, but I plan to replace out who and why. Someone must have information about it," She said. Her voice pleading. I can't imagine the things going around in her head. "Amber, you trusted me with your secret. And I haven't told a soul. But you can't be going through this alone. Tell them they won't judge you. And if you two are meant to be, you will be. I will help you look for information, and we will figure this out together," I told her, hoping to be somewhat helpful.

"I'll never see her again. So I don't know if there's any point of telling them."

I heard sounds coming from over by the trees. A woman was walking towards us, and she was looking at Amber with such love in her eyes.

"You sure about that?" I said. Amber's head flew up, and I saw that she caught her scent.

The woman walked up to us and stood silent for a moment. So did Amber.

After a few minutes of awkward silence, I decided to speak.

"Hey! I'm Avery," I said, a little louder than I had intended.

"Hey, I'm Malia. It's nice to meet you," she said and shook my hand. I looked between the two of them before feeling that it was time for me to go.

"I'm going to give you guys a minute." I said and went back to the others.

I was sitting in-between James and Elisabeth on the lounge couch, talking to Elisabeth. Amber and her mate were coming towards us when all eyes were diverted to the two women holding hands.

"Hey guys, this is Malia," Amber introduced, staring and lovingly looking at the girl standing next to her.

"My mate." She finished.

Everyone flew up and walked over to Malia, introducing themselves.

Some were looking a little confused, not knowing that Amber liked women. But there was no judgment or prejudice. They welcomed her like a part of the pack. Alex and James went to congratulate their sister and sat back.

"So that's why you saved my life," I heard Alex say to Malia. Malia simply shrugged. She was a little shy but delightful.

"Hey, when is your birthday, by the way? I need time to plan." Elisabeth said, sounding giddy.

I looked at James and smiled.

"It's in April." I said, smiling.

I walked over to James and grabbed his hand, turning him to face me.

"What's up, babe?" He asked me while putting a strand of loose hair behind my ear.

I looked up at him and tilted my head to the side.

"I know this may be a little unconventional, but" I started and cupped his cheek with my hand.

"Will you marry me, James Knight?" Gasps and giggles were heard from all around, and James looked taken aback by my question.

He raised his eyebrows and scanned my face.

"Are you sure?" He asked me, and I nodded my head.

"Yes. My answer to you, my love, will always be yes." James said with the most loving voice I had ever heard. He grabbed my waist and lifted me, spinning me around.

"So, does that mean I can fight in a battle?" I asked when he put me down, sticking out my bottom lip.

"NO!"

"NO!"

James, Alex, and Amber yelled. I groaned and pouted.

But the pout turned into a smile when James leaned in and placed his lips on mine.

A toothy smile grew on my face when I saw mine and James' future flash before me, how I could kiss him whenever I wanted, how I could touch his unbelievably handsome face by only extending my hand. How I would never have to leave him

again.

"Welcome home, my love," James said with such adoration in his voice. And his eyes held nothing but love.

"Thank you for giving me one," I replied and leaned in to kiss the most perfect lips in existence.

"My uncle, Lydia, and Natasha are on their way here too," James said.

"Great!" I said, jumping up and down.

I forgave Natasha for the contract. The second Crow had spoken those words. At least they chose a witch that they trusted. We're family. We will always be family.

"I love you, Avery,"

"And I you Alpha James,"

~THE END~