Payment To the Alpha

Avery's POV

Christmas time has passed, and the niceties along with it. We had a few calm and nice weeks where everyone was on their best behavior. But now, one week after Christmas, it's like a free pass for everyone to bring their shit.

I guess I can't blame them, though. It was, after all, me who had set the rule.

James is currently in his office catching up on pack business with Alex and Jackson. Amber is at practice, and so are Trish and Lisa. And me? I'm in the library reading my second book of the day.

I don't mind reading; I love it, in fact. Diving into a book is like placing a bubble around me where reality stops for a while.

However, I would've liked to have something else to occupy my time with as well. After 3-4 hours, I get bored and just stare at the wall.

Also, when I'm not doing anything, my mind and thoughts spin around like crazy, thinking about the barrier in my head and the wizard controlling it, and on top of that, James seems to be hiding something from me.

I asked if I could get a job in the village at a small cafe or something so I wouldn't be stuck in this house forever, but James bluntly said no. He said that me having a job would be too risky, seeing as we still don't have any information regarding the wizard or his plans.

I understood where he was coming from with that, but I'm going mad not doing anything all day.

I was walking down the hall on the second floor to grab something to eat on my way to the kitchen. Once I reached the stairs, I'm met by the one person in this place that seems to hate me.

"Well, if it isn't James' new toy." Sofia said, sounding a little too calm and happy.

"Excuse me?" I replied with one eyebrow lifted.

"You do know he doesn't really like you, right? Sooner or later, he'll get bored of you and realize that there is someone much more suited to be the Luna and his mate."

"If I remember it correctly, you don't get to choose your mate. And also," I continued taking a step forward to where I was standing right in front of her, only inches away.

"Do you think he'll get bored of me before or after we get married?" I said calmly with a sweet smile. Her face dropped, and her jaw ticked.

"YOU WHAT?" She yelled in a high-pitched scream that could attract dogs.

"You didn't know? I am going to be James' wife, and I think that also implies that I will be the Luna of this pack, including you. So if I were you, I would butt off and stop putting my nose where it doesn't belong, or you might end up with something much worse than a broken heart." I spat venom with every word and saw how she was trying to contain her anger. Her face was heating up and her brows furrowing. Her chest swelled, and her breathing became heavier.

I like the sight, but why the hell did I say those things? It's not me. I don't stoop to someone's level merely to hurt them.

"YOU BITCH! You will never be my Luna! You're nobody!" She raised her fist and threw a punch. I closed my eyes and prepared myself for the impact. However, her fist never made contact with my face.

I opened my eyes again to see Sofia's eyes wide as hell and staring beside me. Someone had a grip around her hand. I looked to my side and saw Alex staring at her. His eyes were pitch black, and his nostrils were flaring.

"HOW DARE YOU HURT THE LUNA?!" He roared so loud that it echoed through the house, shaking the windows.

Sofia started shaking and tried leaning back away from Alex. Her eyes started glistening, and it looked like she wanted to run away, but Alex didn't seem like he was going to let that happen.

Sofia's mouth made an O-shape, and I saw blood trickling from her arm. Alex had extended his claws, and they were digging into her arm. How did she not scream?

"ANSWER ME!" His eyes were now golden and glowing, which I had come to know means his wolf was surfacing, or already had, I don't quite remember.

But by the looks of Sofia, who bowed her head and didn't make eye contact, I'm guessing his wolf Cesar had made an appearance.

"I-I'm sorry, Beta." That was all Sofia said.

"YOU KNOW THE RULES! Violence amongst pack members is NOT acceptable, and you thought hurting the future Luna was!?!"

"No Beta."

Alex held on a little longer before retracting his claws and letting go of Sofias' arm. Her eyes were still on the floor.

"Do not let it happen again!" Alex warned.

Sofia nodded before walking past us and up the stairs.

I looked over at Alex, and he was pinching the bridge of his nose.

He looked over at me, and I awkwardly smiled. He was still mad, and when our eyes met, I wanted to run.

"YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES WHEN SOMEONE THROWS A PUNCH AT YOUR FACE!?" He yelled at me. I'm thankful he didn't roar.

"Wha-I-I-Yeah?" I stuttered, not able to build a sentence or speak at all, for that matter. That's what he was mad at me about?

"Are you fucking kidding me!? And then what? After they throw the punch, you'll just stand there and let them continue the assault?" I honestly didn't have an answer for that. I don't know what I would've done because I've never been in a situation where I've had to know. It was a valid question, though. I don't know why I closed my eyes.

"No, of course not. Or at least I don't think so..." I said, probably looking as unsure as I sounded.

"I don't know, Alex. I've never fought before." I shrugged and looked up at him.

He stood still and silent for a moment before grabbing my arm and dragging me down the stairs.

"Come with me." His voice was low and dark. Intimidating even.

"Wha-where are we going?" I asked him in shock as he kept dragging me and my body followed as I had no chance of stopping him, obviously.

"Out." Alex said.

"But Alex! Wait!" He stopped, but his hand still had its grip on my arm.

"What?" He looked like he was on a mission, and I was annoying him.

"I'm hungry...." I said in a low voice, hoping we could at least eat something first.

"YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES WHEN SOMEONE FIGHTS YOU! You can eat when we're done!" He said as if I had just told him that vampires exist. Oh, wait, they do. Okay, as if I had told him that aliens exist. Maybe they do too. Why do I think about this?

Alex continued dragging me out of the house and around the back to the fields where the warriors and members train. He stopped by a shelf, grabbed a pair of pads, and threw me a pair of boxing gloves. I looked around at the others who weren't wearing any and felt very, very human.

I held the gloves in my hand and waved them around while waiting for Alex to explain what we were doing here.

"Put them on." Why did he have to sound so mad?

I put on the gloves, and he came to stand in front of me, holding the pads up.

I raised an eyebrow at him, and he sighed and shook his head.

"You're supposed to raise your hands and hit the pads." He said in a condescending tone that was getting on my nerves.

"I know what I'm supposed to do, but why do I have to do it?!" I asked him.

"You closed your fucking eyes, that's why. What if it hadn't been Sofia, and what if I hadn't been in the house? What if it would've been somebody else, somewhere else where there is no one to protect you?" He had a point. But that didn't excuse his way of speaking.

I stayed silent, which looked pleasing to him.

"Great. Now punch." I bit together and clenched my jaw. I raised my right hand and threw a straight punch at the pad Alex was holding. It didn't even move. He didn't bat an eyelash and looked just as disappointed at the lack of strength in my punch as I was.

I threw another with my right hand and then one with my left. Nothing happened. I continued throwing punches until I was out of breath before stopping. I looked around at the fighters who were training and saw how their hands were flying, and the hits made an impact.

I looked back at Alex, who was looking at me with pity.

"You're human, and they're not. Don't compare yourself to them." He said, this time, he was actually nice.

"Here, hit with your right hand first, and then when you hit with your left, put your entire body into the punch. Your whole body weight should lean in when you're hitting me. That way, the hit will have more strength to it." He said as he showed me how he meant by doing it himself. I nodded and raised my hands again.

I did as Alex said and put my entire body weight into the left-handed punch, and again, nothing happened. He didn't budge. This is pointless.

I took off the gloves and threw them on the ground.

"What do you think you're doing, Avery?"

"I'm leaving. This is pointless." I was aggravated. I couldn't fight. I'm human. I can fight humans, not werewolves.

"Put the gloves back on." Alex said, trying to change my mind.

"Why?! So that I can continue throwing weak punches and embarrass myself?"

"Avery, nobody learns right away. It takes practice, and with practice, you're going to do great. You'll become stronger, and you can't just give up after 20 minutes."

"Watch me." I started walking away when I heard footsteps behind me, and Alex grabbed my arm.

I jerked it back. He stared at me in shock.

"Why do you care so much?!" I asked him.

"Because I care about you!" He retaliated.

"Well, maybe you should stop!" I yelled. He frowned and shook his head as if in disbelief.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!"

"I don't know!" I honestly don't know. Maybe I need some rest.

I turned my heel and walked away. Wanting to get back in the warmth.

Although most of the snow had melted away and the grass was visible, the sun was shining, and I was wearing warm clothes, it was still freezing cold outside.

James' POV

I was in my office catching up on the things I had neglected during Christmas. There was a lot to do, but I didn't mind. This was the first Christmas since my parents died that I actually enjoyed and was happy. I was thankful for that.

A few of the neighboring packs were having problems with rogues and had asked if we were too. Except for the rogues around the village a week ago, we hadn't had any problems. Not many would risk stepping onto our territory.

We weren't ones to normally take hostages. The one we had taken the other week hadn't said anything. He was in his late thirties and looked like a hobo. He had the appearance of a harmless man, but something in his eyes told a different story. He has been chained with silver ever since we caught him, the pain would get most werewolves talking within hours, but he didn't.

We have an alliance with most of the packs in the north of America. Out of ten, we have alliances with nine. People prefer to have us on their good side rather than bad. There is one pack, however, the celestial pack three hundred miles away that didn't want an alliance. We haven't had any problems with them, so it's nothing that bothers me. They aren't very close to us either, for that matter.

I heard a high-pitched scream and realized that it was Sofia. Who was she with?

Avery. I quickly went to the door, but before I could open it, I got a mind link from Alex.

'I got this.'

'Good. Make sure nothing happens to Avery.'

'Will do.'

With that, I could continue the work I had and be positive that Avery would be fine.

When I was done making some necessary calls and checking in on the rogue issue, I decided to find Avery and spend some time with her.

I walked to our room to find it empty, and so was the library, so I walked outside.

There she was, hitting on Alex while he held pads. She looked adorable when she tried to fight. I had heard their conversation, and the fact that Avery had closed her eyes when Sofia had thrown the punch angered me as well, first off because Sofia had actually thrown a punch at her future Luna and secondly because it meant that Avery was even more defenseless than I had thought.

I should be the one training her. I'm just worried I'll hurt her.

'She's stronger than you think.' Blade argued.

Maybe. But she's still human. She hurts much easier than us.

'She may be stripped of her powers, but she will never be human. Who we are is at our core. It can't be removed.'

Are you saying that she has her wolf?

'I'm saying that she's not defenseless. She's special....'

And?

I rolled my eyes in frustration because I knew there was something that he wasn't saying.

'And we need to protect her and believe in her.'

I am, and I do.

'I said we, you dumbass. We need to believe in her. Regardless.'

What do you mean?

Avery stopped punching, and I saw her looking around the field at the warriors' training.

"Oh no..." If she starts comparing herself to them, she will feel useless. There is no comparison between human and werewolf strength.

I heard Alex explain that to her. Thank the goddess. Wait, what the hell is that?

'Something is wrong.'

I know Blade. I can see that.

'What's going on with her?'

I'm not sure.

'Is it him?'

Every time I or blade thought about the wizard doing all this shit, we both began to lose it. Blade was growling in the back of my mind, ready to fight. But I don't think it's him.

No. That's impossible, the barrier is still up, and no wizard has the strength to break through it this fast. It's something else.

Avery's eyes were different. They looked lifeless. She was getting mad and frustrated but not the normal kind. This was something else. Was she really that bothered by not being able to fight?

I watched as she threw the boxing gloves on the ground.

"What do you think you're doing, Avery?"

"I'm leaving. This is pointless."

"Put the gloves back on."

"Why?! So that I can continue throwing weak punches and embarrass myself?"

"Avery, nobody learns right away. It takes practice, and with practice, you're going to do great. You'll become stronger, and you can't just give up after 20 minutes."

"Watch me."

I saw Alex following Avery and grabbing her arm. What the fuck is going on?

Avery was facing me a second ago, but she acted like she didn't even see me. Is she that pissed at Alex that she would ignore me?

"Why do you care so much?!" Avery yelled.

"Because I care about you!"

"Well, maybe you should stop!" What the fuck?

"What the hell is wrong with you?!"

"I don't know!"

Avery walked right past me. Like I didn't exist. That shit hurt.

"Avery!"

"AVERY!!"

I yelled after her, but she didn't react. She didn't stop or turn around or say anything. She kept on walking. I turned around to face Alex.

"What the fuck was that?!"

"I don't know, man. But something is up with her. You should call Natasha." Alex said. Maybe he was right; maybe I should call her so she can make sure that her spell worked.

I was starting to get annoyed. First, my mate ignores the shit out of me, and now the witch may have fucked up the spell.

"Maybe she's just mad. I'll give her some time to relax before I call Natasha."

"James," Alex said as he laid a hand on my shoulder.

"She walked past you like you were invisible. Human or not, you two are mates. It doesn't add up."

Alex was right. It didn't make sense. She shouldn't have been able to walk past me without at least throwing me a glance.

"I'll give her some time." I said with a stern voice, indicating that it wasn't up for discussion. Whatever it was that was going on, time couldn't possibly make it worse. Alex raised his hands in surrender, and then we headed back to the house.

Alex, Damon, and I decided to play some pool before dinner. Amber was sitting by the bookshelf, trying to find a book about martial arts that she read when she was younger. She wanted to give it to Avery after we had explained what happened earlier out on the field.

"Dude, you do know you're supposed to actually hit the balls, right?" Alex told Damon, who was losing.

"If you don't shut up, I'll start aiming the stick at two other balls!" Damon yelled back. Alex backed away with a frown on his face, his hands covering his package, and I broke out in laughter.

"You both suck. Now Damon, hurry up and lose so I can play." I told him as I patted his back.

"Fuck off." Damon said. He aimed the stick at the striped ball and took a shot. It didn't go in. However, it hit another ball that bounced on the 88 ball, and that went in.

Alex and I both pursed our lips, so we didn't laugh. Damon looked about ready to hit us, not that he would have had a chance, but even though I'm the alpha, even I must admit that Damon's punches hurt like a bitch.

"Fuck this shit." Damon threw the stick on the ground and walked towards the hall.

"Oh, come on! Nobody likes a sore loser!" Alex yelled after him.

"How can you guys go from being all strong and tough to five years old?" Amber asked with a finger on her chin.

Alex flipped her the finger, and Amber stuck her tongue out.

Just as Damon was about to exit the room, a furious mate of mine comes running in, looking mad as hell, with a silver dagger in her hand.

"YOU SLEPT WITH HER!!!"