~Avery's POV~
I grabbed the glass of water that was standing on my night table aggressively and through it across the room. The glass hit the wall and shattered into a hundred pieces that lay across the floor.
"IT'S BEEN A MONTH NATASHA!" I shouted. I was succumbing to the anger and frustration that had been slowly building for the past month.
I grabbed the night table and threw it up in the air. It landed harshly on the floor, breaking the drawer. The only thing perhaps in the room that wasn't broken was the framed picture of me and James. It was lying safely on the bed.
"I know, sweetheart, it's time soon I promise." Natasha said from the chair she was sitting on. I turned my head and looked at her in disbelief.
"You said that a month ago!" I shouted.
"I know," Natasha remained calm. She had one leg over the other and her hands were clasped in front of her, lying on her knees. I shook my head and dragged my hands over my face.
"You say you know, but after this, you can go home to your family. To your mate. I can't do that Natasha and it's killing me," I said. Desperation was evident in my voice.
For one month I had been isolated from the people I love. Seeing Natasha once in a while did the job for the first week, but after that week, everything went downhill. I met Natasha less than usual. I had to be more careful on my walks and limit my time outside so as not to be spotted.
I had to go every day with constant worry about James well being as well as the others.
I couldn't make the nightmare scenarios stop. I couldn't make the nightmares stop. I would wake up in the middle of the night after a dream of James getting killed by the wizard and the pack being slaughtered.
Sweat would dribble down my face and my breathing would hitch in my throat. I couldn't make it stop.
No matter how many times I thought about the plan, the outcome, the fact that the wizard would hopefully be killed, it didn't help. It didn't help me keep my sanity which was slowly fading with every passing moment.
"Avery it's almost time. I can feel it." I dropped to the floor and leaned against the wall. I pulled my knees up to my chest. What if when he finally comes and the war begins, James will have forgotten about me? What if he's moved on or doesn't believe that I will come back?
What if I lose him?
The only family I have ever truly loved. The only people that ever loved me.
~James POV~
"James you need to calm down," Alex said. My eyes were pitch black and all I could see were interferences standing in my way.
"Don't you fucking dare tell me to calm down." My breathing was heavy and ragged. My chest was heaving and my nostrils were flaring. Alex stared at me. He didn't show what he was feeling, and I didn't care.
"IT'S BEEN ONE FUCKING MONTH ALEX AND SHE'S STILL NOT HOME!" I growled, trying my best to restrain the urge to hit something. Or someone.
"Yes but-" Alex was cut off by a knock on my office door. I turned to my brother and we both looked at each other in confusion. Everyone had been informed not to disturb.
"Come in!" I yelled from the seating area. The door opened slowly and a hesitant man carefully stepped in. It was Carlson.
"I-I'm sorry to disturb Alpha,"
"Everyone has been told not to disturb us. What is this regarding?" I asked. Sounds more angry than I had hoped.
"Um, it's about your Luna. I was wondering when I'd get the pleasure of meeting her?" He asked me. Alex's head turned my way quickly. Fearing what was to come. And fearing he should.
In less than a second, I was in front of Carlson holding him up by his throat.
"YOU DO NOT EVER ASK ABOUT MY LUNA. IS THAT CLEAR?" I growled and I saw panic on the man's face. I tossed him across the room and he hit the wall, knocking down a painting that was hanging there.
He stayed down for a while before seeing that it was okay to stand.
"I'm sorry Alpha. I didn't mean to overstep my boundaries." He said.
"So why did you?" I asked him. Who the fuck comes into my office and asks about my girl? For no reason at all.
"I simply wanted to know when she would be back," Carlson said. Trying his best to sound confident although it didn't quite work. His eyes faltered and he looked down on his feet after seeing my eyes.
He knew who I was by now. He had been with us for nearly a month. Carlson integrated well with the others. He was a good fighter. He never went for a run with the other pack members though, he never showed his wolf. I do wonder.
"Look at me." I demanded. Carlson raised his head and looked me in the eyes. I stepped closer to him. Alex was cautsiouly watching my every move.
"The Luna won't be back. She has left, for good." I said and there it was. That flicker in his eyes. It was anger.
"Wha-What do you mean Alpha? The pack doesn't have their Luna?" He asked me. He cleared his throat and straightened his back. I looked at Alex who had his eyes glued to Carlson. Alex's eyebrows were furrowed and his arms that were earlier crossed were now hanging at his sides.
"That is exactly what I meant. That's what this meeting was about." I said and sounded undeniably honest. I and Alex knew that I was lying but Carlson didn't.
He looked at me in disbelief. His lips were pressed into a thin line. In all his time here, nobody had noticed any strange behavior. I had around-the-clock surveillance on him and it showed nothing. He talked to the others, helped the pups, fought with the warriors, and ate with the youths. He seemed as ordinary as they come. The one thing that the rankedmembers noticed was the fact that he never shifted.
We had tried everything to get him to show us his wolf but with every suggestion we laid forward, he somehow countered it with an excuse. As if he didn't want us to see what his wolf looked like.
"Say, Carlson, would you like to go on a run? To blow off some steam? I know I certainly need to." I said, stepping towards him. He stayed in his spot and raised his head.
"Actually Alpha, I promised some of the pups that I would play with them and teach them some fighting moves. Perhaps another time?" He said. He may not have noticed it himself but his face had changed completely.
I allowed him to leave, not wanting to mind-link anyone whilst he was in the room.
I gave him a nod and he turned on his heel and walked out of the office.