Twenty two
1394 Words
Desiree pov
The following day, I slipped away from the arms of my mate and went to my room. After cleaning and changing my outfit, I went to the kitchen to assist.
I barely took two steps before I collided into someone.
“Oops,” I muttered, instinctively rubbing my forehead as a small jolt of pain shot through it.
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you coming,” the girl said quickly.
Her voice was light, almost musical but the moment her eyes landed on me, everything about her expression changed.
They lit up “Luna Desiree.”
I froze slightly, caught off guard by the way she said my name like she already knew me.
I studied her carefully, my brows knitting together in confusion. She looked about my age, maybe slightly younger, with a lively energy that was impossible to ignore.
“I’m sorry,” I said slowly, “but I haven’t seen you in the pack before.”
Her smile widened immediately, almost bursting with excitement. “I’m Zachary’s sister,” she said quickly. “I arrived last night when I heard my brother found his mate.”
That surprised me a lot, I had known Zachary for so long, yet he had never once mentioned having a sister. Not even in passing.
I pushed the thought aside for now and gave her a small smile. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Before I could say anything else, she suddenly moved forward and pulled me into a hug.
“I’ve always wanted a sister,” she said happily. “And now I finally have one.”
Her warmth caught me off guard, but slowly, I found myself relaxing into the embrace.
It felt… nice.
Unexpected, but nice.
“Avery.” Zachary’s voice came from behind me, filled with disbelief and warmth at the same time.
I pulled back just as he walked in, his eyes lighting up the moment they landed on her. Without hesitation, he scooped her into a tight hug.
“When did you get back?” he asked.
“I missed you too, moonpie,” she teased, ruffling his hair like he was still a child.
I couldn’t help it—I laughed.
Seeing this side of Zachary felt…more at ease and calmer. It made him feel more human, less guarded than he usually was.
“How were you able to escape without us knowing?” Grayson’s voice came low against my ear, sending a small shiver down my spine.
I leaned slightly toward him, lowering my voice. “I need my space too.”
His lips twitched in amusement, but he didn’t argue.
My eyes instinctively searched the room, but something felt… off.
Someone was missing. “Where is Brandon?” I asked, a small frown forming.
“Pack duties,” Grayson replied simply.
Of course, he always carried the weight of responsibility, even after everything.
Zachary pulled me gently into his arms after letting go of Avery, his warmth instantly surrounding me again.
“Good morning, love,” he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead.
My chest softened slightly at the gesture.
Avery let out a dramatic laugh from beside us. “My brother is completely smitten.”
“Wait until you find your mate,” Zachary shot back easily.
“I hear you,” she said, waving him off before suddenly clapping her hands together. “Now, you men can leave. We ladies need to bond.”
Before they could protest, she started pushing them toward the door.
Zachary frowned slightly. “You just got here and you’re already stealing our mate away.”
There was a playful pout in his voice that made me smile.
“Thank you,” I said softly to Avery once they were gone.
Because the truth was…I needed this.
She grinned. “What are friends for?”
Friends. The word stirred something in my chest.
It reminded me of someone I hadn’t spoken to in a long time, and a small ache settled quietly within me. I wondered how she was… if she would like Avery.
They would probably get along well.
“Should we go help in the kitchen?” I asked, trying to stay on track with my original plan.
Avery immediately shook her head, grabbing my hand.
“No,” she said mischievously. “I have better plans.”
Before I could protest, she dragged me toward her room.
I laughed softly despite myself, letting her pull me along.
Once inside, she jumped onto her bed like an excited child, and I followed more slowly, sitting beside her.
“So,” I said, curiosity getting the better of me, “what exactly are these plans?”
Her eyes sparkled with mischief. “I want to hear everything,” she said eagerly. “What it’s like being mated to three men…”
I froze slightly. “…and after breakfast, we sneak out to a human land and at night, we visit their club.” She concluded.
My eyes widened. “A human club? Isn’t that forbidden?”
We weren’t supposed to mix like that—not freely, not carelessly. Exposure was dangerous.
“Don’t be a mood spoiler,” she said dramatically. “No one will even know we’re gone.”
I shook my head slightly, but a small smile tugged at my lips.
She was trouble, I could already tell.
“So, Avery,” I said, shifting slightly, “what made you come back?”
She shrugged lightly. “I thought I would find my mate out there. When I didn’t, I figured I’d come home.”
Her gaze shifted to me, a teasing smile forming. “And it seems I came back at the perfect time.”
I huffed softly.
Then my expression slowly grew more serious. “There might be a fourth,” I said quietly.
The words felt heavy leaving my lips, Avery immediately sat up straight, her playful demeanor disappearing. “A fourth mate?” she asked. “What makes you say that?”
I hesitated, my fingers tightening slightly in my lap. “The attack yesterday during my training for the Luna challenge” I began slowly. “It wasn’t normal.”
She frowned but stayed silent this time, letting me continue. “I felt something,” I said. “And when I saw him…the rogue king” My breath caught slightly at the memory. “I knew.”
Avery’s eyes widened slightly. “You think it was the rogue king?”
“I know it was him,” I said firmly. “And I know… he’s my mate.”
Saying it out loud made it more real, more terrifying.
“They don’t know?” she asked softly.
I shook my head. “I don’t know how they’ll react,” I admitted. “He’s our enemy. And I don’t even know if I can trust him.”
Avery leaned back slightly, exhaling. “This is complicated,” she murmured.
“You have no idea,” I said with a small, tired laugh. “The three of them used to fight like children over me.”
She laughed at that. “I can imagine.”
Then her expression shifted again. “Who challenged your position?” she asked.
“Elder Maeve’s daughter,” I replied.
Her reaction was immediate. “Celine?”
I blinked in surprise. “You know her?”
Avery rolled her eyes. “She and her mother are bitter. She once fought me when she was dating Zachary, she accused me of sleeping with my own brother.”
My heart skipped. “Wait… she dated Zachary?”
Avery froze, her hand flew to her mouth too late. “I… thought you knew.”
A strange feeling settled in my chest. “What else hasn’t he told me?” I murmured softly.
Before she could respond, a knock came at the door, a maid stepped in after Avery allowed her.
“Breakfast is served. The Alpha requests your presence.”
I nodded. “We’ll be there shortly.”
The maid bowed and left.
Avery turned to me immediately, her playful energy returning. “Make sure you sneak back here at least at night if not after breakfast. We have a lot more to talk about.”
I smiled faintly, agreeingg to whatever her plan was.
- Writer
