~Avery's POV~
I had just finished my third chicken leg and felt like my stomach was about to burst. I guess working out really makes you build an appetite, I had never eaten this much in my entire life.
I exhaled and rubbed my belly with my hand. I looked at my wrist to see what time it was and if James was held up in the meeting, I had time to take a twenty-minute nap.
An omega came and took my plate and while I was sitting there, contemplating whether or not I could stand without falling over, a hand was put on my shoulder and I turned around quickly to see Michael and Amanda standing there.
"Hey, um we were wondering if we could talk to you?"
"Sure have a seat." I said and gestured with my hand for them to sit.
"No, this table is for ranked members." I looked at Amanda funny after hearing her words but decided not to go against the order around here. We walked out of the dining hall and into the community room. We sat down on the couch and I was starting to worry that this conversation wasn't just a normal one.
"Have you heard about Sofia?" Amanda asked me and she looked as if she was pushing back her tears. "No, what's going on?" Has something happened to her? Why were they asking me about this? It's not like we're friends.
"She was sent to the dungeons because Amber believed she was working with some wizard." Amanda said while flapping her arms.
"Well has she?" I asked trying not to sound too confident. They didn't know anything and I couldn't spill it in front of them.
"No! Of course not, she doesn't know any wizards or witches except for Natasha." Amanda quickly defended.
"Look, Avery, I know that you and Sofia aren't on the best terms but could you try and see what the hell it's all about? She would never betray her pack or her Alpha, and regardless of her feelings towards you she would never harm you. She wouldn't risk getting banned or killed even." Michael said and I started to wonder what had happened, Amber would have never punished an innocent member, which must mean that there was proof of Sofia's betrayal.
"Look, I understand that you guys are worried about your friend, but she would have never been sent away had there not been any proof." I looked at them with pity. I understood the charges Sofia was facing and that they were worried about her but there was nothing that I could do.
"We understand that but if you-"
"Hey what's going on?" We all turned our heads towards the voice and saw Chase walking in.
"Have you heard what happened to Sofia?" Amanda said as she ran up to him and grabbed his hand.
"Yeah i heard, serves her right don't you think?"
"How can you say that?" Amanda said on the verge of tears.
" I think we all know that the Alpha never would have sent an innocent pack member away like that. There was proof, Amber had heard her and because of that Sofia was caught before she could do any damage to the pack." Michael stood and looked angrily at his friend.
"Damage to the pack or to Avery?" He asked.
"What?" I stood to my feet and looked between Chase and Michael.
"The Alpha is protecting our pack and just because you're friends with that bitch you're blind to what she's doing!" Chase screamed and Michel jumped over the couch and got up in his face.
"Watch your fucking mouth, you were friends with her too." Michael seethed.
"You're eighteen aren't you?" Chase asked as he looked at Michael with a smug grin.
"So?"
"And Sofia turned eighteen just a few days ago. Missing that mate of yours, aren't you?"
Only then did it dawn on me, they're mates, no wonder Michael was being so protective and worried.
Chase crossed his arms over his chest as he looked at Michael. Something tells me that this will end badly if nobody intervenes, but what can I do? Amanda was standing there looking like she was enjoying the drama. She looked at Chase with such admiration.
"I said, watch your fucking mouth!" Michal's claws were extended and his canines were showing, he was shifting, what the hell do I do?
"Michael, calm down!" Amanda tried warning him, but he wasn't hearing her. She was holding on to Chase's arm. I had to do something.
I had to think quickly.
What do I do?
Oh fuck.
I quickly got around the couch and went to stand between Chase and Michael, I held my hands on his chest, feeling his speeded heart rate.
"Michael, Michael listen to me, listen to my voice, you can't shift here, you know that, calm down and we will talk." I tried conversing with him but it wasn't working, it was to no avail, it was as if he didn't hear me.
"MICHAEL!" I screamed, but still nothing. He wasn't responding, like he was blocked.
His eyes started to glow and his breathing became harder, he was going to shift, I was certain of it, but then, a loud ass growl was heard all through the house, the windows shook and fear struck everybody, including myself.
James entered. His eyes were black, his jaw ticked and his breathing too was hard, fast, and ragged.
"Your Luna is standing in front of you and you're about to shift?" He growled loudly as he took slow, calculated steps towards Michael. I didn't know what to do or how to act. I froze.
"Answer me." He demanded as he got closer.
"Alpha, I'm sorry." Michael said as he bowed his head and clasped his hands in front of him.
When James got to us, he took his hand around my waist and pushed me behind him, I complied not knowing what was about to happen.
"Look at me." James demanded and Michael slowly raised his head and looked at his Alpha. James stared at him. His eyes were pitch black. Chase stepped back and so did Amanda. His Alpha aura alone was enough to make others move away, and James' aura on top of that was magical in some twisted sense. Who was this man?
Everyone was completely silent. You could barely hear them breathing. It wasn't a comfortable silence, but a deafening one. And then the Alpha spoke,
"Shift."
"What?" Everyone gasped as they looked at James in horror.
"I said shift. Don't make me tell you again." He said. He was giving Michael the option to shift willingly. "Alpha, with all due respect, why?" James' eyes were now glowing and I knew that Blade was speaking. "You were going to shift and risk harming your Luna then you can shift and face your Alpha." He and Blade said in one voice.