Payment To the Alpha

James' POV

I was in my office with Alex, Amber, Justin, and Damon. Apparently, another pack had gotten word that we had brought a human to the pack territory and they wanted to know what the hell was going on. As soon as I mentioned Avery's name, however, the alpha on the other side of the phone line bent over in laughter, at least that's what it sounded like. I just let out a sigh and massaged my temple, waiting for him to finish.

"It sounds like you're having a seizure, Alpha Dominic." I exclaimed in a bored tone, hoping my words would bring him back to the conversation.

"Oh I'm sorry son, I just, hahaha!" The old man really couldn't help himself. Part of me understood.

You see, almost every werewolf around the states knew about Avery and the deal. At least the marriage part. They also knew that her parents didn't want her and that they too were werewolves. But they didn't, however, know the truth about where she came from and who her father was. They all thought that Avery's mother had been unfaithful and that Avery was an illegitimate love child.

"Okay, okay I'm good now," Alpha Dominic said sounding out of breath. I looked around my office and everybody rolled their eyes and shook their heads.

"So you finally have her now huh? I heard that her beauty is exceptional, is this true?" I growled in response which caused him to chuckle. An alpha. Chuckling. Jesus Christ this man could get under my nerves.

"I will take that as a yes. I'm just playing with you, James. I'm happy she's finally where she belongs. At least you can give her the life she deserves. How much does she know about her true self?" That was a good question.

"Nothing, I think. She just found out this night that her parents are werewolves so she will probably have questions once everything has calmed down." I responded.

"Very well. A little tip from the old man, Alpha James, whatever questions she has always answer with the truth. It's the only way that it's going to work. She is a special girl and you're lucky to have been paired with her. We all expect great things from the two of you. People talk Alpha, I don't know-how considering that she is human, but that human girl of yours is meant for great things, things that concern all of us. And only with you by her side, will she be able to do it. The two of you are going to do it together." I took in his words. His voice had changed from playful to serious in a nanosecond and I could tell that he meant serious business.

I was planning on telling her the truth, I just don't know-how. But I'm going to have to figure it out pretty soon.

"I know Dominic. She deserves to know, and she will when the time is right. She has been through a lot. I don't want to spring a shit load of information on her."

Dominic had been like a second uncle to me and my siblings ever since we were kids. He always took care of us when our parents were too busy with pack matters. He knew more than the other alphas did regarding Avery.

"Good, and remember, she must be kept safe. There is a reason why he impregnated Madeleine, to begin with. No matter what Jack and Madeline did they couldn't kill the baby while she was in her mother's womb. She was protected and I believe it was him who protected her. Whatever he has planned, she is a big part of it."

Dominic's words cut through me and I felt both enraged and scared at the same time. Everyone in the room looked at me with worry.

"I think you're right." That was all I said before we bid our goodbyes and hung up the phone.

"Amber can you get Avery in here, I need to speak to her," I told my sister. She tensed up.

"Um, she's outside in the garden"

"WHAT!?" I roared loudly enough for everyone in the room to flinch. The authority clear in my voice. I flew up from my chair and slammed my fists on the table.

"I TOLD YOU TO NOT TO LEAVE HER ALONE OUTSIDE!?" I was now seething staring into my sister's eyes, her whimpering in her seat as my Alpha aura filled my office.

Then I received a mind link, as did everyone else in the room.

'Alpha! I just wanted to inform you and the others that your girl is currently in the garden... with Natasha.'

Fuck!

Was the only word repeating itself in my mind.

With those words being said, everyone's eyes widened. They all flew up to their feet and dashed out of my office and towards the garden.

Avery's POV

"Hello there. My name is Natasha, may I have seat?"

I looked up at her in shock. She looked older than James and the others, the wrinkles clearly visible on her forehead and her cheeks.

She looked to be in her late forties, early fifties. She had raven black hair with tons of tiny curls, falling right above her shoulders. Her eyes were grey-ash-ish, the color was hard to explain and to see properly in the darkness.

She was quite tall, at least 5'7.

I scooted over and gestured for her to sit. Something was eerie about her and still, I felt like I could trust her.

Before thinking my mouth opened and out came words. Words of idiocy.

"So, are you a werewolf too?" After I heard what I had just asked my hand slammed over my mouth I mumbled quietly

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to be rude," Natasha only giggled in response which made me drop my hand and release a sigh of relief.

"That's okay dear. It's a valid question." She said and nudged my shoulder with her own, playfully.

I smiled back at her.

"And to answer you, no. I'm not a werewolf. I'm a witch." my mouth dropped. Here I am getting used to the fact that I live in the same world as werewolves and now she tells me witches are real too? I thought to myself in utter disbelief.

"Aha..." was all I could get out. My mouth was still wide open.

"Haha, sweetheart, close your mouth before you swallow a bug," she said as she took her index finger under my chin, bringing it up to where my mouth was now closed.

"It's a shock huh? I get that. There is an entire world out there Avery, one that you and every other human has lived amongst for as long we wandered the earth that is unknown to humanity. It was the way it had to be, in order to protect us as well as you, the humans." I understood what she was saying. I just couldn't quite fathom it all at once. I heard every word she spoke but it was like they got entangled in my mind.

"What else is there?" I asked, not sure I wanted to know the answer, but my curiosity was more prominent than my fear.

"Everything that you have ever read about in fairytales and in mythology, it's all true. It all exists. And we all live amongst each other but we do not disturb each other's peace. We have learned to co-exist." She said as she looked out towards the forest.

"How come you are here? I thought this was a place for werewolves only?"

"It is but you see, my mate is an Alpha of a pack not too far away from here. He is also James's uncle. Which is why I follow him to functions such as this." She said with such a loving voice that I almost felt a tear roll down my cheek.

"Isn't it dangerous? For you to be amongst so many of another kind?" Now I was definitely not scared. Just very, very curious.

"Yes I guess it is. Or at least it could be. But I could never imagine staying behind without him. Do you know what a mate is Avery?" She asked, her brows raised and her eyes held a questioning look.

I shook my head,

"No."

"A mate is your other half. Someone who was made by the goddess simply for you and only you. The better half of yourself you could say. They possess the qualities that you don't and vice versa. You complete each other. You ever only get one mate, which is why when you find him or her, you hold on to that person for the rest of your life. They are the only ones that make you feel good when you're sad, comfort you in your times of despair, make you laugh, make you cry even, everything with a flick of their hand. They are the other half of your soul. And if you were to ever lose them, it would be to lose the best parts of yourself. A pain not many can handle." Her eyes were still locked onto mine as she spoke and I could see so many emotions that it was hard to pinpoint what I was seeing. Love, loss, despair, and happiness.

"James' uncle, was your first mate?" She looked taken aback by my question and her eyes broke contact with mine and turned back to the forest.

"No, he wasn't. My first mate was murdered a few months after I had met him. I went for a very long time with that pain before I met Carlos. At first, I was planning on rejecting him. I had been in a spiral of darkness for so many years and there was no joy, love, or happiness left in me. There was nothing left to love. But he wouldn't take it. He wouldn't accept my rejection, instead, for 3 years, he found me only to talk to me, bring me flowers every Saturday. After a while, I kept looking forward to Saturdays because I knew he would come. That was the first time in what felt like an eternity that I felt a smidge of joy grow inside of me. One Saturday he didn't come, I felt cheated, not by him but by myself, for letting myself feel anything but darkness. I had given up on waiting for him and was starting to work on some magic spells, when my door flew open and Carlos came in, all bloody and beaten, naked from shifting, he fell to his knees breathing heavily.' I'm sorry my love that I'm late. There was a little war I needed to take care of, here' he said as if it was nothing and he raised his shaking hand and handed me a bouquet of broken, bloody, hanging flowers. They was the most beautiful one he had ever given me.

I started tending to his wounds and we talked. After a while, he told me that he needed my help with something. A family that needed some sort of...assistance." She looked down at her feet as the memory came back to her.

"So I did. I helped the family knowing the stakes. It wasn't easy but nothing in life ever is. After the family had left, it was just me and Carlos left. He looked exhausted but he always had a smile on his face whenever I was near. ' so I will see you next Saturday, my love?' He asked me. I shook my head at him and his smile faltered. He took a step back, his eyes held worry and I could see that my silence was tormenting him. ' I accept you Carlos as my mate. I never want to see you injured again knowing I could've been there to help' his smile came back, double the size and he wrapped his arms around my waist, lifted me up, and kissed me."