Chapter 8: Caught in the Act
Avery ran through the woods, delighting in the feeling of the chill wind whipping through her thick black fur. Dead leaves crunched under her paws, and the smell of fresh fir needles stirred into the air as she brushed past their boughs, filling her nose. It felt good to stretch her legs after having spent all morning pouring over paperwork and account books. She hadn’t been home in three nights, so she was taking the opportunity to run a quick patrol of her territory, stopping at regular intervals to scratch her scent into the trees and ground. If her strength and vigilance were ever doubted, it would mean serious trouble for her pack.
Ordinarily she would use the time to decompress and let her mind wander, but that Sunday afternoon she couldn’t stop worrying about Brooke, all alone and vulnerable. Avery had assigned one of the teenage members of the pack to stand watch outside Brooke’s dorm building, but it was no substitute for being there herself. No one could protect Brooke like she could. If Brooke was a werewolf, they would already be living together. But her mate was human. She had to be patient, she scolded herself for the thousandth time. Brooke didn’t even know she was a werewolf yet. Avery knew she would have to tell her eventually, but she was worried Brooke would be scared and reject her. She might well die if that happened. Literally. She shook her head gently, as though she could shake away the dark thoughts. She still had responsibilities as the leader of her pack. Ben couldn’t keep picking up the slack indefinitely.
As she roamed over her territory, Avery felt the brush of her nearby pack members’ thoughts, a gentle murmur at the edges of her consciousness. A bright red ribbon of distress caught her attention, and she instantly recognized the smell of Rachel’s thoughts. She abruptly changed directions, heading towards the source of her best friend’s distress. When she was almost to the clearing she shifted effortlessly, landing on her human feet and grabbing one of many sets of clothes stashed in the nearby trees, pulling them on.
Sending a mental probe towards Rachel, Avery was surprised to find she’d walled off her thoughts from the rest of the pack.
Avery could hear a car engine and slightly raised voices. Emerging into the clearing she saw Rachel’s new mate, near the house, in the driver’s seat of his car, arguing with her through the open window.
“–needs to know, she’s my best friend!” The human male exclaimed as Avery loped up.
“I’m just telling you to wait a week or two!” Rachel whisper-shouted, one hand on the roof rack of the car, leaning down close.
“What’s going on?” Avery raised her voice (for the benefit of the human), and the two of them fell silent. The human, Alex, stared at her, wide-eyed and frozen. Rachel crossed her arms, turning to face Avery but not meeting her eyes. Avery looked between the two of them. “Well?” Some of the other pack members had wandered in, drawn by the commotion, or maybe just curious about the new human Luna.
“It’s nothing, A, seriously,” Rachel said, trying to sound nonchalant, but Avery knew her too well. Her gaze darted back to Alex, zeroing in on the distinctive red marks on his neck. She’d marked him.
Avery felt rage boil up inside of her. She shoved Rachel, hard. Her Beta stumbled back a few steps but maintained her footing.
I TOLD YOU TO WAIT TO TELL HIM! Avery mentally shouted.
He’s my mate! How long did you expect me to wait? Rachel responded, her thoughts defensive.
UNTIL I SAID OTHERWISE! I’M YOUR ALPHA! Avery sped over to Rachel, closing the distance until their faces were mere inches from each others’. She stood to her full height, glaring down at her disobedient lieutenant.
I did you a favor! You’ve been putting this off for too long!
Avery growled loudly at Rachel’s thoughts and the ring of spectators edged back carefully. Who do you think you are to tell me what I should and shouldn’t do? A dangerous note scented Avery’s thoughts now but Rachel didn’t seem to care. She was too preoccupied looking at something over Avery’s shoulder. She tried to dart past, but Avery stopped her, throwing her right arm out to her side so it caught Rachel in the chest. Avery heard the breath huff out of her Beta’s lungs and grinned, satisfied. What was wromng with her? She was used to having a tight leash on her emotions.
Avery looked over her shoulder to see what Rachel was fixated on just in time to see the human’s car speeding out of the clearing down the narrow gravel road that led back to the highway.
“Now look what you’ve done!” Rachel cried aloud. “I was trying to convince him to let you tell her but now it’s too late. You scared him off!”
I scared him off?! You don’t think it could have anything to do with you telling him we’re werewolves?! Avery kept her side of the conversation nonverbal, conscious of the pack members still watching them. They’re starting to get worried, she sent, sensing the concern emanating from the members of her pack.Inside. Now.
Rachel’s thoughts were indignant. Avery caught an image of Rachel in wolf form running to catch up to her mate’s car.
NOW! Avery infused the thought with the force of an Alpha Command, so Rachel was forced to obey. Rachel shot her a look of scathing reproach before turning and jogging into the pack house and up the steps. Avery followed her, knowing she would feel bad later. She rarely needed to use her Alpha voice, but when she did it left a bad taste in her mouth. She tried to avoid using Commands, when she could, finding the subversion of free will they enabled repugnant.
They ran up the steps to the top floor where their rooms were. Rachel threw open the door to the office they shared, storming inside and pacing around angrily. Avery shut the door behind her.
They argued back and forth for at least half an hour, both stuck firm in their opinions. It was the worst fight they’d had in years, quickly fidisslvingingto a sream of miages, smells, and emotions. Rachel had a tendency to prefer nonverbal communication, especially when her emotions were running hot. Avery had heard of wolves who never bothered learning any human language. But, unlike Rachel, Avery wasn’t used to losing control. Ever. And somewhere, in the back of her mind, the still-rational part of her was terrified of the implications.
She was able to keep their argument contained in the office… until a passing thought flitted across Rachel’s mind that finally made Avery lose control completely.
Alex may be human but at least my mate isn’t defective…
Avery growled deafeningly. If she was thinking rationally, Avery might have remembered that Rachel came from a fundamentalist family who prized strength over everything else, and that she was still working on shaking those beliefs. But Avery wasn’t thinking rationally. Rachel had insulted her mate.
She ran at the Beta, catching her around the waist, and threw the both of them out onto the balcony and over the railing. Avery let Rachel go and shifted smoothly in midair, shredding the clothes she’d been wearing to pieces. Rachel landed less gracefully, shifting just a fraction of a second before she hit the ground, landing heavily in a mess of chestnut fur.
Avery gave her no time to regain her feet. She charged forward, knocking Rachel’s front legs out from under her with a swipe of one paw. She pressed down between the Beta’s shoulder blades, pinning her. But Rachel bunched the muscles of her shoulders, breaking out of Avery’s grip and springing her to her feet with a low growl.
Rachel leapt at her; teeth bared. Avery was ready for her. As the wolves collided, their limbs tangled, teeth snapping at the backs of each other’s necks, struggling for dominance. One moment Avery seemed to be winning, then the next moment Rachel was on top of her, using her powerful front legs to great advantage. Avery kicked out hard with her back paws, catching Rachel in the belly and flipping her forward so she lost her grip and flew over Avery’s head. She jumped to her feet, black fur standing on end.
The two wolves faced each other, Avery’s golden eyes boring into Rachel’s electric blue ones, both of them snarling, hackles raised. They stalked each other in a tight circle for several seconds. Avery feigned a move to the right, going left at the last moment. Rachel fell for the ruse, pouncing to Avery’s right, but she was long gone. Avery circled around, lightning fast, and surprised Rachel with an attack from behind.
They were grappling, Avery seeming to have the advantage, when both wolves’ ears pricked up at the sound of a car engine approaching. Turning towards the access road, Avery saw that Alex had returned. One sniff was enough to tell her that Brooke was in the car with him. Avery would know that heavenly scent anywhere, like honey, and wildflowers. Rachel was already loping over to the car, but Avery’s heart had dropped into her stomach.
She sat stock still, frozen. How much of their fight had Brooke seen? She must be terrified! Avery wished dearly that she could go shift and put on some clothes, but she knew how frightening her wolf form could be, and she worried that any movement might scare Brooke away. So, she stood stock still, staring at the passenger seat of the car, barely able to see her mate’s form through the dirty windshield. But she saw when Brooke started to slump backwards.
Avery was already halfway to the car before Brooke’s head hit the headrest.
Get me some clothes, now! she mentally shouted at the nearest pack member. The timid-feeling teenager, one of Albert’s, she thought, scurried off, returning less than a minute later with a pair of basketball shorts and a t-shirt. Avery hastily shifted into her human form and yanked the clothes on, accidentally popping some of the stitches in her haste. Werewolves weren’t bothered by nudity, but humans were. She opened the car door carefully, all thoughts of Rachel and their fight gone from her mind. It looked as though Brooke had fainted again.
Avery was deaf to everything except the slow, gentle breathing of her mate, assuring her that she was still alive at the very least. She bent and, with the greatest care, lifted Brooke out of the car, one arm around her shoulders, the other under her knees, her head lolling back.
Avery made to take Brooke into the pack house, but her way was blocked by the scrawny human male. If she had had a free hand, she would have shoved him aside, but she didn’t want to risk letting Brooke down for even an instant. She growled low in her throat in warning, but the human stood his ground. In a flash, Rachel was crouching protectively in front of him, still in wolf form.
“Please listen to me!” Alex shouted. “Brooke will only be more scared if she wakes up in a strange place.” Avery paused, listening. “I’m her best friend, trust me. Just lay her down on the ground, that’ll help her circulation.” Avery eyed him suspiciously. She wasn’t the greatest at reading human facial expressions, but he seemed sincere. She set Brooke down ever so gently onto the soft grass, brushing a stray lock of dirty blonde hair off of her face.
Avery waited on tenterhooks until, after what seemed like hours, but was really a few minutes, Brooke’s breathing gradually sped up. Her eyes fluttered open, instantly wide with fear. Avery quickly grabbed her mate’s hand in her own, pressing it to her cheek.
“You’re okay,” Avery sighed.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Brooke replied, groggy. “At least I think so. Where are we?” Then she seemed to remember because an expression of pure horror crossed her face and she scrambled backward away from Avery. “I don’t believe it! You were just- ..was that?” Brooke stammered, her eyes darting every which way, her fingers raking through her hair. “I’m going crazy!” Alex quickly jogged over to her, motioning for Rachel to stay back.
“You’re okay, Brooke, you’re not crazy, everything is going to be fine,” he said, his tone low and soothing. “Avery would never hurt you, and neither would Rachel. You’re perfectly safe.” She didn’t seem to believe him, but her movements had stilled some. It took every ounce of Avery’s willpower not to run to her mate, to comfort her, to hold her. But she couldn’t live with herself if Brooke was scared of her, so she kept her distance.
“But, Alex, you can’t be serious.” Brooke’s voice was high and strained, breaking frequently. “I mean they’re…” She couldn’t even say it “..werewolves! Did you see them? How are you not freaking out right now?!”
“I had my freak out last night, trust me, I was at least as panicked as you are now,” Alex replied. “But I promise you, you’re completely safe. Just hear her out,” he gestured at Avery. She took a cautious step forward, then a couple more when Brooke didn’t shy away. “Trust your feelings, and just hear her out, please, she’ll explain everything. Won’t you?” He turned to look at Avery, eyebrows raised. She nodded her head jerkily.
“Come on, we’ll go inside, okay?” Alex coaxed. He stood and offered Brooke his hand to help herself up.
“I don’t know…” Brooke said, taking the proffered hand all the same. Alex pulled but Avery saw him teeter slightly at the resistance of Brooke’s weight and faster than a breath, she was at Brooke’s other side, grasping her forearm and lifting her easily to her feet. Brooke jumpe slightly, startled, but let her. Avery knew she should let go, but it was difficult. Everywhere their bare skin touched she felt warm tingles dancing between them. She never wanted to let her mate go. But it was the right thing to do. So she did, reluctantly letting Alex help Brooke into the house and through the foyer to the staircase.
“That’s a lot of stairs,” Brooke said. Avery mentally scolded herself for not considering it before. She would have to look into getting an elevator installed.
“I could carry you up…” Avery offered hesitantly. Brooke looked into her eyes for the first time since she’d woken up, her gaze a burning laser searing into Avery’s very soul.
“No, I can do it myself. I’ve got it,” Brooke said, starting up the stairs, her movements slow and creaky. Avery leapt onto the step next to her, holding out her forearm as a brace. Alex made to follow them. “I’ve got it,” Brooke repeated, brushing him off. “Seriously. I’m feeling better.”
Avery fought back a whine, her face twisting in pain as Brooke quickly lost her breath, her steps becoming more and more labored the higher they climbed. She itched to sweep Brooke off of her feet and carry her. It would take her hardly any effort at all. But she didn’t. She would respect her mate’s wishes, even if it meant letting her cause herself pain and difficulty.
When they finally reached the top landing, Brooke was gasping for air, leaning down, hands braced against her knees, her face red with exertion.
“This is my room here,” Avery said, gesturing at the thick oak double doors to their left. “Or we could go in the office if you’d be more comfortable.” She immediately remembered that the office was covered in evidence of the fight and regretted offering it as an option. Thankfully, Brooke wandered over to the doors to Avery’s bedroom, pulling on one weakly. Avery sprang forward and opened the heavy door, holding it open as Brooke shuffled inside, sitting down wearily on the first thing she saw: the chest at the foot of Avery’s bed.
Avery turned, and shut the door.