Ashley snorted, “Welcome to Nashville, Cayden. Everything is backwards here, and that worthless troglodyte who calls himself an Alpha has no spine. He’s a coward… plus he’s sexist… AND he’s a disgusting, chauvinistic pig. I WILL get in trouble, but I don’t care.”
“Avery is staying at the King’s tonight. Hendrick and Mason already agreed she can stay with us from now on. I kind of commandeered her now… but Avery is my Warrior now so I can do that. I don’t give a flying pig if they don’t like it. I WILL protect her from those awful pieces excuses of crappy wolves that call themselves pack leadership!” This wasn’t the first time I’d heard her call them out.
I knew Mason and Hendrick King were in this building. Hendrick played the drums, and Mason played the electric keyboard in their band. Ashley was shaking she was so angry. I told her, “I can take you to my father in law for an audience. This should not be happening.”
Ashley snorted, “Shouldn’t they know? What if they do? What if there’s someone who just doesn't tell them about how it is down here because they think people here should suffer? No… not people, that was too inclusive. They think I should suffer.” I nearly jumped and fist pumped the air. This was the most she’d ever said about that.
The door slammed open. Addison warned, “Ashley, calm down.” Ashley shouted, “Calm down?! You can’t be serious?! They were going to GANG RAPE HER! His own sister! The people here… just suck. I HATE IT HERE! He just WALKED AWAY and left her there!”
Addison reasoned, “You’ll see it clearly when you calm down. He wanted you to be there.” She scoffed, “So? He could’ve done something! It’s AVERY! His beloved and precious little sister! I actually… you know what? He tricked me. I thought he was one of the few down here…. who understood supernatural sibling bonds! I don’t like it when people trick me! I don’t like not being right, but I don’t understand… because he… I just…. UGH!!!!!” She kicked a chair, “I HATE IT HERE SO MUCH!”
I jumped back in, “So leave. I’ll help you.” Ashley’s countenance fell completely. She replied, “I can’t leave. I have things to do here. If I leave, no one protects the women of the pack.” I argued, “If you’d tell my father in law, then yes, someone would.” I had no idea why, but for some reason she simply didn’t believe me.
I added, “If you think there’s a mole on the council. My father in law needs to know that.” Addison rebutted, “If there was, I’m sure you could figure it out.” I could and now I would. I just wished they’d give me a direction to look in.
My father-in-law, his closest allies, Red Run, Blue Moon, Yellow Hills, Yellow River, and several former Alpha’s from all over the country were on the Werewolf Council. If someone was betraying my father in law, I’d find out about it.
Addison inclined her head to the door saying, “Give me a minute, C.” They nicknamed us. “C” for me and “M” for Micah, was to keep anyone from knowing who we were.I left and I found a scared Avery in the hallway, crying.
I sat down saying, “You can go in there. You know that, right?” She whispered, “I’ve said horrible things to her, to Ashley. She doesn’t like my brother and would say that he’s just surviving instead of doing what he should. I listened to the older pack members who said she was ruining the pack. She could’ve just run on past me saying ‘I told you so’, but she didn’t. She heard me screaming then…” She trailed off into a sob.
I handed her a tissue I had on hand in case Veronica started crying. Uncle Bjourn had everyone prepared just in case a surprise Operation Flood hit. She took it, “Thanks. I’m sure you know she’s amazing. There’s no way you guys haven’t sparred. I wasn’t allowed at the Female Lead Warrior challenge so I’d never seen her fight until today.”
She was in awe, “She’s incredible. She even gave me clothes out of her bag. They had ripped mine off.” I noted Avery was in shock. Great. I let her keep talking since that was better than her being silent in her head.
“She gave me clothes and killed some of the wolves. She’ll get in trouble, which she knows. She fought for me anyway.” She snorted, “Me. When I’ve been awful to her.” I gently asked, “How old are you, Avery?” She answered, “I just turned sixteen.”
I said, “You’re just a kid. Which means you can change. People gave you bad information, and I know Ashley doesn't hold it against you.” Avery wiped her tears, “She should. Hell, I would in her shoes. I know she won’t though. She already ordered her Warriors to get my stuff out of the packhouse.”
I raised an eyebrow, “You don’t live with your parents?” Avery shook her head, “After we shift in our pack, we are moved into the pack house.” That was ridiculous. Newly shifted wolves need guidance. They could move into the pack house when they were seventeen if their parents agreed. Most moved at eighteen. I was beginning to see Buck’s plan quite clearly. The question yet again was why he felt it necessary at all.
As the Male Lead Warrior, he could take down those men. Instead, he knew it was coming and drove Ashley’s motorcycle around. Now, Avery was under Ashley’s protection which meant a lot in their pack. She was also moving in with Mason, Hendrick, and Ashley instead of being alone in the pack house. Buck had clearly manipulated the whole situation then let himself get beat to shit to sell the story. It just didn’t make any sense why he would do that.
Avery cried, “She said she’d protect me until I could protect myself. She’s going to train me personally. She could’ve let them rape me and later told me I told you so. I….” She broke down sobbing. Micah appeared with more tissues.
I linked him, “I’ve got an interesting picture formed.” He agreed, “Same. Buck set it up so Ashley would save her. I just don’t get why he didn’t do it himself.” There were several options. One, being rejected hurt him and he didn’t think he could care for Avery in his state, so he pushed her on Ashley.
Two, he didn’t want to get punished and Ashley didn’t care. Three, he was giving Avery the best life he could even if it meant she hated him. He got her with the best person in the pack that would train Avery and give her a loving place with guidance to live as a new wolf. Or any combination of those choices.
Sierra walked up and sat down on Avery’s other side. She took her hands saying, “Avery, Me….” She turned bright red and stopped speaking. Avery’s head shot up in fright. I linked Micah, “What the fuck?” He answered, “I got nothing.” Neither did I.
Sierra rubbed Avery’s arms while we sat in silence. Micah finally asked, “You what?” Both girls looked relieved. Sierra answered, “Me, Addison, and Ashley know you just wanted to believe in your brother. Ashley always said one day she felt we’d all be friends and now we know why.”
I linked Micah, “Did you ever meet Buck’s mate?” Micah answered, “No, I saw her from a distance once in a tree line. She was a skittish Omega. Let me just say the Omega’s here are not like the ones we are used to seeing.”
I snorted, “A skittish Omega who ran away after rejecting the Lead Male Warrior? I don’t think so. When we get back, observe Black Mountain Pack’s allies. Find her. I think Ashley got her out.” Micah winced, “When I say I caught a glance, it was of her back. If Ashley got her out, I bet everything about her changed, including her hair color.” God damn it. I nodded letting him know I understood. Maybe we could find her picture or something.
Sierra took Avery to see Addison and Ashley. Micah said, “So, I think Sierra was about to say someone’s name. I don’t think she was about to say ‘me.’ They both looked petrified, like Sierra had slipped up.” I nodded, “I agree. It’s not a concern right now, we have other matters to attend to.”
We stepped outside and found a healing Buck waiting. He stood, “I need to talk to Avery.” I laughed, “Try.” Everyone turned to me. I was certain I was right on his motivations, but they still pissed me off. I got in Buck’s face warning, “I’ll kill you if you go near her right now. I can’t even look at your face. Get the hell out of my sight. I have two sisters and anyone who wanted to touch them against their will, HELL anyone who looked in their direction in a way I didn’t like, would die.”
Buck spat out, “You think I like this?” I snorted, “If you don’t, you’re weak and pathetic to walk away and leave your little sister to be raped by your own damn men. LEAVE!” I dropped my tone to a whisper only my mate and her siblings could hear. “I’m trying to help you sell this story you seem intent to sell. I know all the things you did tonight to made sure Ashley got to your sister. So, if you don’t want those stated out loud, leave.”
Micah smirked as Buck tucked tail and took off. I knew I was right. He’d done all of that instead of acting himself. What the fuck was wrong with these people? Micah said, “Aww, I think he’s going to cry.” I decided Buck did leave so I’d play it up. It’s not like I had to feign disgust because he acted a way I never would. “Some Lead Warrior he is. Anyone else would’ve fought me.”
Things got back to normal, and the girls came back out. Mason sat Avery on his piano bench by him. She was smiling now at least. Poor thing. Micah and I eventually slipped away while they practiced. Ashley had told us where the drug leader would be. It was a private box that Micah wired for sound.
We walked back down in time to see the band wrap up their practice/soundcheck. Ashley winked at us asking, “What did you think?” Her eyes looked so hopeful. She clearly wanted us to be proud of her. I answered, “You guys are good.”
