Ava’s POV
Cameron waits for me to get dressed and we walk to the dining hall together, hand in hand as he rubs circles against the back of my hand with his thumb.
I didn’t have time to dry my hair so it’s in a loose braid down my back and I’m wearing a casual navy sundress.
I chew on my lip as we make our way down the hall, thinking about earlier today and the wounded Lycan.
“Cameron?”
“Mmm?” Cameron lifts my hand up to his lips.
“How is the man from earlier today? What was his name?”
Cameron’s face hardens.
“He is doing better, luckily he fought off his attackers enough to escape and get back for our healer to tend to him.”
“His name is Eric, he’s a good friend of mine, and a damn good fighter. I wanted to make him my beta, but Chris’s family has held on to the title for so long, there are rules in place for changing the beta lineage, and I couldn’t just make Eric the beta without a good reason to dismiss Chris.”
I look up at Cameron. “It’s your close friend? Cameron, I’m so sorry!” I drop his hand and stop, wrapping my arms around his waist.
He puts his arms around me and we stand still for a moment.
He just explained a lot. I wondered why Chris was his beta, now I know. He doesn’t even want him as his beta, and that makes me feel so much better.
“How did he fight them off? Did he recognize them?”
“There were two Lycans, but he never saw their faces and they got away before my men could catch up to them.”
Wow. Eric fought off two Lycans, he must be a good fighter.
I lean back to look up at Cameron. He gives me a tired smile and leans down while I stand on tip toe to give him a quick kiss.
“Let’s go.” I nod and we continue, my arm around his waist and his around my shoulders.
The dining hall is packed when we arrive. I can’t see anything. Cameron makes his way through the crowd, pulling me along behind him. We reach the front of the room where Caleb is standing with Ralph and Lily on either side of him.
Two Lycans are standing to the side of Lily as well.
Cameron walks to stand beside Ralph, making sure that I’m on the other side of him and keeps my hand in his.
I feel nervous as I feel several eyes on me, standing next to Cameron. I guess everyone will know we mated now.
I catch sight of Rachel towards the side of the crowd, her arms crossed and glaring at me.
Something brushes my shoulder and I look to my right, scary guy is standing beside me.
He doesn’t look at me. Just his presence makes me nervous. I resist the urge to chew on my lip and look at the back wall, above everyone’s heads, not sure where else to look as Caleb begins to speak.
“As many of you have already heard, there was another attack today, on our pack territory. Eric, one of King Cameron’s men, was ambushed by two Lycans.”
Loud murmuring goes around the hall, but quiets down as Caleb continues to speak.
“Luckily, Eric managed to escape and is recovering in the pack hospital. Unluckily, we did not catch the attackers.”
“Since we now have had two attacks, and knowing that there is Lycan involvement, we are activating the safety circle protocol.”
More murmuring.
“So, anyone who lives out of the safety circle, we will be sending extra men with you to gather any necessary items and placing you in a temporary lodging. Please see Lana for further instruction. Remember, do not leave the safety circle without permission and never leave it alone. Stay together.”
“Also, please see Darius…” He gestures to a dark-haired man with a buzz cut next to Lily. “Regarding patrol duties, everyone will need to take a turn, no one will be alone. Thank you!”
The hall breaks out in chatter, with an undertone of panic. A large amount of the crowd heads towards Lana at the right side of the hall, and another large portion swarms over to Darius.
I drop Cameron’s hand and take a step towards Darius too, but Cameron’s long, hard arm blocks my way.
“What are you doing?”
I look up at him, his eyes are narrowed.
“I’m going to see when I have patrol duties.”
“You are NOT doing patrol duties.”
I take a step back in surprise.
“But, Caleb just said…”
“I don’t care what Caleb just said. I am saying that you are not doing patrol duties.”
His voice is low and hard, definitive.
I glance around me. Chris is smirking, but not looking at me.
It doesn’t seem fair. Everyone is taking turns risking their safety for the pack, for everyone here, and I’m just supposed to sit all cozy and safe in the packhouse?
I chew on my lip.
I really don’t want to argue with Cameron, and he doesn’t seem to be willing to negotiate on this right now.
I nod at him. I’ll figure out a way to get on patrol later…when Cameron isn’t watching me.
He lifts an eyebrow at me, as if he can read my thoughts.
I step back to his side, slightly bumping into the front of Chris and feeling a shiver run down my spine.
Caleb steps in front of us, he looks exhausted.
“Would you mind coming into my office?”
Cameron nods. “Of course.”
He turns his head towards me. “Don’t leave the packhouse.”
I nod. “Of course.”
He bends to kiss the top of my head and he and scary guy follows Caleb and Ralph out of the dining hall.
I turn and Lily is walking towards me, her heels clicking.
“Oh Ava! Isn’t this awful! Caleb just told me that we’ll have to postpone the commitment ceremony if this continues!” I stare at Lily. Her eyes are wide and slightly bloodshot, as if she’d been crying.
“Well, I mean, that makes sense. We really don’t want to invite other packs to come stay with us while we are being attacked by Lycans.”
“Don’t be silly! That is exactly what we should do! No one would attack during a commitment ceremony, there would be too many people here!”
I resist rolling my eyes. For the millionth time, I think how unbelievable it is that this will be our pack’s Luna.
“Lily…it’s a really serious situation…”
“So is our ceremony!” Her voice is higher than usual, her tone whiney, and she literally stomps a foot in frustration. Just like a toddler would.
“Ok…then think of it this way Lily. Since we are having to increase our patrol by so much, think of how many people would miss the ceremony. Not only that, what if other packs decided not to come because they were too scared to cross into our territory? I mean, Daphne’s parent’s still live here, I bet they would tell her not to come.”
Aha. That did it.
Lily’s eyes go huge and her hand goes to her mouth. I can tell she doesn’t want to miss the opportunity to show off her powerful mate, or the fact that a Lycan king will be there.
“Ava…you will stay, even if we postpone?” She looks desperate as she grasps my hands. I wonder if she even cares if I’m there, or if it’s all about Cameron.
Either way, she’s my sister. “Yes, of course Lily.”
She looks relieved and drops my hands.
“Okay then. I guess postponing won’t be the end of the world.”
I give her a vague smile and look around the dining hall. The crowd has thinned a lot.
“Oh, hi! You must be Luna Lily, so nice to meet you!” Rachel is walking up to us, smiling widely at Lily, who instantly perks up at being called Luna Lily.
Lily smiles back and I see her give Rachel the once over, taking in her tall, thin but curvy frame and designer dress.
“Hi! I am! It’s so nice to meet you…?”
“Rachel De Lerann. I’m from King Cameron’s pack. My brother is his beta, Chris. Our families have always been…close.” She smiles as she looks at me pointedly.
Bitch.
“Oh, how wonderful! My sister just mated with King Cameron, have you met Ava?” Lily, who has no idea of Rachel and my previous interactions apparently, pulls me forward by my arm.
“Oh yes, we met earlier.” She gives me a patronizing smile.
“I was just signing up for patrol duty, want to make sure I help out as much as I can.” Rachel raises a perfect eyebrow at me. “Did you sign up Ava?” Her eyes go up and down my small frame again. “Or…do you even fight?”
I feel my face flame.
“Yes, I do.”
“Great! Maybe we will be on patrol together, how fun!” She smiles at Lily, who beams back at her, totally oblivious to the fact that Rachel is being a raging bitch right now.
“So nice to meet you Luna Lily. I’ll see you both around!” She waves a perfectly manicured hand at us and turns to walk away.
“Bye!” Lily turns to smile at me. “She was nice! So pretty too. Maybe you will be friends when you move up North.”
I ignore Lily and march past her up to Darius. He raises an eyebrow at me as I approach.
“I need to sign up for patrol.”
He shakes his head at me. “We’re good.”
“What? No you aren’t! Everyone takes a turn.”
Darius looks at his clipboard in his hands.
“Everyone but you.”
Ugh! Cameron!
I try to jerk the clipboard out of his hand but his Lycan reflexes are quick and he keeps hold of it.
He grins at me.
“I like your attitude, Ava, but I can’t let you put your name on this list, more than my life’s worth.”
I have an idea.
“Oh, well. I wasn’t signing it for me, but for someone else. Someone named…named…” I glance around the room. “Lana.”
Darius looks at me for a moment and then grunts, a grin playing at the corner of his mouth.
“Well then, tell Lana to come sign herself.”
“She’s busy, she can’t, she sent me.”
“Nice try.”
“I swear! Just let me sign her up for ONE patrol.”
Darius looks at me for a moment, then sighs.
“Fine.” He gives me the clipboard and pen.
I feel a sense of triumph as I scribble Lana Smith on tomorrow nights patrol. It’s perfect. I’ll wait until Cameron has fallen asleep, then I will sneak out and join patrol.
I hand the clipboard back to Darius with a smile.
“Thanks!”
He is already handing the clipboard to someone else behind me.
“Uh-huh.”
I smile as I walk away, feeling proud of myself for doing my part. A small voice in the back of my head reminds me that I'm going behind Cameron's back again...but I push that away. It's fine. It'll be fine. He never needs to know and I'm just doing my part, he should totally understand.
I chew my lip. Not quite sure if Cameron will see it that way...