~Avery's POV~
All of us stood there gasping. I held my hands over my mouth, not wanting to scream. I knew that James wasn't the one being put in harm's way, yet I was worried about him getting hurt.
But Michael, Michael was only worried about his mate, he didn't have any ill intentions, he shouldn't get hurt because of it.
"James," I said in barely a whisper, but I got no reaction. I knew he heard me, but he refused to take his eyes off Michaels, he wasn't going to break eye contact.
"James, he was just worried, he didn't mean to cause me any harm." I tried reasoning with him.
"Yet he almost did." He growled angrily.
"Please, don't do this." I don't know if I would believe myself with how weak my voice sounded. In my head, I sounded a lot stronger.
James turned his head, and there and then I knew that no matter what I said or did, it wouldn't change his mind or his actions. I nodded my head and took two steps back.
"SHIFT!" Blade roared, forcing a shift upon Michael, and that he did. His bones were breaking, his wolf was surfacing and his canines were showing. A loud growl came from his wolf the second he shifted, but why wasn't James shifting?
Michael's wolf looked around the room, not in anger, but in pain. He then looked into the eyes of his Alpha and I saw why there was no need for James to shift. Michaels wolf bowed his head and bent his front legs to where it appeared like he had bowed. He had his tail tucked between his legs and his ears were pressed back.
Michaels wolf was submitting. By only looking into Blades' eyes, he knew he had done wrong, he knew who was in charge, and he knew he defied his Alpha.
James' eyes were going back to his normal blues, his chest wasn't puffed out and his shoulders were relaxing.
"Face me." The wolf rose to his paws once again and raised his head. His tail was still between his legs, which meant that even James' aura was affecting him. The wolf then faced my way and started walking towards me. I felt small compared to a werewolf, but not afraid. Not now that James was here at least.
He came up to me and bowed his head. As his head was bowed he looked up at me, playfully and I couldn't help but giggle. He nudged his snout at my hand and so I raised it and started petting him. I never knew werewolves were so big on cuddling.
After a while he walked back to stand in front of James. Alex threw him a pair of shorts and with a slight head bow, James indicated that Michael could shift back.
James threw him the shorts which Michael quickly got into and then took his stance awaiting further orders.
"Don't ever put your Luna in harm's way again, or you know the consequences."
"Yes, Alpha." Michael saluted but stayed in his spot.
"Are you okay?" James asked me and I walked up to him and grabbed his hands in mine.
"Yes, Alpha." I responded, however more in a mocking way than Michael had. James laughed and I believe I heard Alex snicker in the back. He knows I'm funny he just won't admit it.
"Michael, I will talk to Sofia, but I can't tell you that she will be set free. There are things going on now that are beyond your understanding. These are things that must be dealt with with caution, so for now, just hang tight, okay?" I said in my most confident tone as I looked at Michael.
"Yes, Luna." I cringed at the word, still not very okay with being called Luna but I guess I'll have to get used to it.
James dismissed Michael and he, Amanda, and Chase embarked on a run to blow off some steam.
"I believe you owe me a walk." I took James' hand and he led me out of the room. I giggled at the memory of when I toldhim that. The fact that we're going to the same place only makes it so much more wonderful. But as we were leaving the room I made eye contact with Alex and the way he was looking at me broke my heart. He knew something was up, and the realization hit me, why we're going to the clearing and what I had to do when we got back.
Alex's stare was so intense that I had to look away, I looked down at my feet and the lump of guilt in my stomach grew larger, I had to bite my tongue to hold back the tears. He will understand, they all will.
"So where exactly are you taking me?" James asked after we had walked for fifteen minutes,
"Don't you remember from the last time we walked here?"
"We're going to the clearing." He said in a knowing tone, he was smiling, good.
When we reached the clearing, the sun was starting to set. However, there was still plenty of light around us. I had asked Elizabeth earlier to set out a blanket and a picnic basket by the lake and that she had, it looked perfect and romantic.
"You did this?" James asked me in shock. He walked over and sat on the blanket and opened the basket right away.
"Is it so shocking to think that I have?" I felt the frown on my face and the sass in my voice, but I felt a little offended by the amount of chock that he portrayed. I had my hands on my hips and stared at him while he put a handful of grapes in his mouth and then looked at me.
"Well have you?" He asked me with a raised brow and putting another grape in that big hole of his.
"Wha-" I started but technically I hadn't, and I couldn't lie. At least not a good one. I looked around the clearing, anywhere but at him which probably gave me away.
"My eyes are here, love." He pointed at his eyes and I puffed out some air before going to sit with him on the blanket. He wrapped his arm around me, pulling me closer to him.
"No, I asked Elizabeth to do it because I didn't have time." I said as I exhaled.
"Well, it was your idea, and it was a really beautiful idea, remind me to thank Elizabeth too."
He was looking down at me as I rested my head against his shoulder. I was looking up at him. I could never get enough of looking into his eyes, and then I felt tears coming back, threatening to fall. I quickly averted my eyes and looked at the little lake instead.
It was a little warmer today and the sun was still bright and shining down on the lake. It made those beautiful shapes, how I wish I could be in this moment forever. But I can't, can I? Forever isn't measured in time, it is measured in the importance of the moment you are currently living. And this moment was truly important.
"What's on your mind?" I heard him ask. I was so lost in thought that I hadn't realized he was looking at me. However, then I realized, it wasn't the sun that was warming, it was the gaze of the man I loved, it was his touch, his love. I looked back up at him and saw everything I needed in his eyes.
"James, I-" I licked my lips and leaned up, placing a soft kiss on his lips, before retracting.
"-I love you." His eyes lit up upon hearing my confession, and his lips curled into a grin.
"Took you long enough." I gasped at his response and playfully smacked his arm. I scooted away from him, I stared at him with the most evil eyes I could muster up.
James scooted after me and grabbed my arm pulling me to him. A small scream came out as I hit his chest. He took his index finger under my chin and lifted it up so that our eyes met.
"I have loved you since the first time I saw you, and I will love you for as long as we breathe, and after that, I will love you still." This time a tear did escape. It was one of happiness, love, family, belonging, so many emotions all at once. James Knight was my forever, he was my forever moment.