Payment To the Alpha

Third-person POV

The black car took a left turn and drove up on a secluded road before reaching the parking lot of a nearby B&B. The pink sign with red neon letters showed itself clearly once the person was near it, but from the main road, it was nearly invisible.

Natasha and Avery stepped out and took out Avery's bags. The driver stayed seated and kept the car running.

They walked up to the check-in window where an older woman greeted them.

"Hello girls, what may I do for you?" She asked in a raspy but kind manner.

"Um, I have a reservation under 'Carla'?" Avery told the lady who opened a book and checked. She gave them a smile and went to the board where the keys hang and brought down number 6.

"Here you go, sweetheart. Enjoy your stay and if there is anything you need, don't hesitate to call the number on the door." She said and pointed to the main entrance door.

The B&B was an old farmhouse that had been remodeled a long time ago. It was timber and painted yellow with pink lining on the door frames and windows. It was two-leveled and held a warm, homey feeling.

"Thank you so much Ms."

"Please, call me Rosie." She said with a bright smile.

"Thank you so much, Rosie." Avery said and grabbed her hand.

Avery and Natasha proceeded up the teal-colored ladder, which led to the second floor. They walked down three doors before reaching number 6.

"Are you going to be okay from here?" Natasha asked, sounding unsure about her decision to leave.

"I'm sure. Thank you for your help.” Avery responded, giving Natasha a big hug.

"If there is anything you need, please."

"I'll call you. I promise." Avery reassured. She smiled at the woman who she knew was her sister and wished there was another way to go about this. But she also knew that there wasn't.

"Avery, when this all goes down, you're going to be in the middle, and I want you to be prepared. Remember, anything and everything the wizard says is coming from a place of manipulation and ill meanings. You're going to be stuck in the middle of a war field Avery and if it goes south... I want you to leave." Natasha said, and Avery looked at her in shock.

"I can't do that. I can't abandon everyone, if it goes south, then I will do what I can, but I will not run." Avery said. Her voice was laced with distress but also a strong will. She wouldn't run. She wouldn't be like her parents and save herself before her pack, her family, her friends.

Natasha looked at her baby sister, hoping she could change her mind some way. She was proud of the woman Avery was shaking up to become. But she was also dreading the day that was approaching them. She needed to keep her safe, but how can she do that when she knows that Avery doesn't want to be saved?

"I need to go, but you have my number. Take care, okay?" Natasha said as she grabbed Avery's hands in her own, giving them a light squeeze.

"I promise." Avery said with a smile before unlocking her door and stepping in, she gave Natasha a last smile before closing the door.

Natasha stared at the closed door for a few minutes before puffing out a breath of air and walking back down to the car.

Avery was sitting on the edge of the bed, holding a picture of her and James in her hands. She stroked the picture, and a tear fell down and hit the frame, landing on his cheek.

"I will be home soon." She said as she took the frame and held it to her heart. She laid down on the bed, staring at the roof,

~FLASHBACK~

Avery's POV

I was sitting on my mattress in the dungeon, holding my knees to my chest and staring at the wall.

James had just left to deal with some other pack that was calling.

We had sex. I lost my virginity to a man that I love and whom I know loves me.

Did it go the way I thought it would? No. I didn't exactly picture myself having sex for the first time in a dungeon. But still, it was perfect. I went over the whole event in my head. Over and over and over again. Smiling more and more every time.

I was broken from my reminiscing when I heard footsteps coming from the end of the hall.

The footsteps echoed amongst the cells until they became louder and clearer.

"Natasha?" She was standing on the other side of the bars, hiding a key. She popped the key in and unlocked my cell.

She stepped in and exhaled before walking over to me.

"Is it okay if I sit?" She asked and pointed to the mattress. I nodded my head, not knowing how else to react.

I knew so much now, and so does she, but I'm not allowed to talk about it. It hurts for some reason, knowing I have a family member who cares about me, but I'm not allowed to embrace it.

Natasha sat down beside me and put one leg over the other. She looked around the cell before her eyes fell on me.

"I'm sorry, Avery. About everything." She said, casting her eyes down on her feet. She shook her head, and she looked so guilty. But why? None of this is her fault.

"You have nothing to be sorry for." I said with a stern voice, the blame should be placed where it's due, and that's not on Natasha.

"I have a proposition. A way to help you, but there is a big sacrifice that needs to be made."

She said, and I felt my whole body shiver.

"What?" I asked, not sure I wanted to know.

"I have noticed that the single most important thing for you is to protect the people you love, even if it means sacrificing yourself to do so." I nodded my head at her statement. It was true; I would die to protect the ones I love. I think most would.

"So would I. Which Is Why I'm telling you this." She said and looked back at me.

"I can semi-permanently block out the wizard from controlling your mind, but there is a cost. You must be in complete control of your emotions, and sometimes the only way to be that is to not act on them. If you want this, if you want to protect the ones you love, you must leave them."

My eyes grew big and wide, and my heart started speeding. Leave them? How can I leave them when I just found them?

"I know it's hard, Avery, but it's the only way. All emotions can interfere; the blocking takes a while to build. While it is building, you need to be alone and unattached. Being alone will bring up feelings as well, but loneliness, sorrow, and sadness aren't nearly as strong as love."

I felt my breath hitch and the air getting stuck in my lungs. I just gave myself to James. How can I possibly leave?

"When will I have to go?" I asked, feeling my eyes blur.

"Whenever you're ready, but the sooner, the better. We don't know when the wizard will come for you, so it is better to be in the clear."

I thought about it for a while. I had to leave them, but it was to protect them.

I remembered the moon goddess' words she spoke in my dream. I would have to make a difficult decision. 'Follow your heart.' My decision had been made.

"Give me a day, and then we'll leave." I said, sounding quite determined.

"But wait, how will we leave without them noticing?" Natasha smiled at me and took my hand.

"Leave that to me. I will stage a rogue attack, and so most of the pack will be busy. We will time it to when the younger pups are in school and the adults at work."

"A ROGUE ATTACK?!" I yelled. The plan was to protect them, not kill them!?"

"Scream a little louder, would ya?" Natasha said, looking at me as if I was crazy.

"Fake rogues Avery, I'm a witch, remember?" I scoffed and released a breath I didn't know I was holding.

"Maybe start with that next time." I said, scowling at her.

~END OF FLASHBACK~

James' POV

I was sitting on the floor. Staring at the letter, I still hadn't started reading it.

This entire situation was driving me crazy and breaking my heart at the same time.

'Read it. I'm here with you. You're not alone.'

Blade assured me. I dragged my hand over my face and then started reading the letter.

'Dear James, my wonderful Alpha.

I am truly sorry for this, but my most important responsibility is to keep you and the pack safe, even from me. Writing this letter is the single hardest thing I've ever had to do.

You taught me so much in the short time I have known you. But the one thing I will always be grateful for is the fact that you gave me a family. People to love and the feeling of being loved. The feeling of being a part of something. The feeling of belonging.

You gave me that, James, and for that, I will be eternally grateful. Another thing you gave me was the chance to fall in love, with myself and with you. I realized it is a feeling unlike anything I have ever experienced. I know that this is all very hard for you and the others. But I needed to leave, to keep you safe. So please, please be safe.

This isn't a goodbye. It's only for now. It's a moment, and one day this moment will end too. And I will be home.

Love, Avery. Your mate.'

The letter got sprinkled with stains from the tears that were falling.

'Your mate.' She knew. She knew that she's my mate.

I wiped the tears away and folded the letter, putting it back in its envelope. I sent out a mind link to the ranked members.

'I want her found.'

'But Alpha-' Jackson started.

'FIND HER!' I roared, and the line went dead.