It Wasn’t Supposed To Be Like This

Chapter 18

*Dylans point of view*

I’ve been watching and waiting for the right time to go and talk to Avery. I knew she’d be mad at me for working with Zeke but there were bigger issues at hand now. Layla made me promise that I would help her once she was gone and that’s exactly what I plan on doing. It’s only been a few days since Layla passed and I still haven’t completely coped with it.

“Layla if you’re still out there at all please send me a sign when it’s time to finally tell them the truth.” I took a look around the apartment and walked out the door. I got in my car and drove into town. Layla had left me a note with the name of a witch who could help if I needed it. I had made plans with her to meet and Denny’s, a place that was public but too busy for wandering ears to listen to us. As I pulled in I saw Xavier getting into his vehicle. Was this the sign? I quickly parked and went towards where he was parked but he was already gone. I guess it wasn’t the time. I made my way to the door and walked inside.

“You can sit anywhere you’d like.” My lungs filled with an intoxicating scent of peony and lavender.

What is that smell? I looked over to see the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. She was tall, blonde, and had beautiful hazel eyes. I felt drawn to her but I couldn’t be distracted by her. She just stared at me looking deep into my eyes.

“I think we should talk later.” She nodded her head at me and I walked to a booth in the back. I waited another hour before someone showed up.

“Are you Dylan?” I looked up to see an older man, probably late 40’s, his brown hair has strands of gray in it and his skin was forming wrinkles.

“Yeah I am, you are?” He sat down across from me. The sunlight allowing me to get a better look at him. He looked strangely like Layla it made my heart hurt.

“I am Henry, I was a very good friend of Laylas, I was sadden to feel her passing.” Layla had explained to me that when another witch dies the other ones feel the affects. It didn’t make sense to me but I could see the hurt in his eyes when he spoke about it.

“Layla didn’t tell me much before she left, we didn’t have a lot of time but she did write me a letter telling me if I felt like I needed help to contact you.” He nodded his head and waitress came over.

“What can I get you guys today.” I wasn’t in the mood for anything but Henry ordered a coffee.

“I’m not fully aware of all of the circumstances but I do know about Avery, and I know she’s in danger.” My heart ached again, even though I was using her to get information for Zeke there was still some sort of bond there.

“Im honestly not aware of everything either, Layla tried to keep me from everything as much as she could, always telling me the less I know the better. That everything would come to me in due time.” Layla felt bad every time she had to lie to me about something but I understood why as well.

“Did she leave behind anything? Something that she didn’t usually?” I nodded my head and pulled out the letter she wrote me.

“This is all she left, but it doesn’t tell me much except for to contact you if I felt you were needed.” He took the letter from my hand and studied it. His eyes lit up as he tilted it towards the sunlight.

“Smart girl, there’s a secret message within the pages, do you mind it I take this?” I shake my head no.

“Please let me know anything you find out though.” I looked out across the diner and could see the blonde girl looking at me.

“Is that your mate?” I looked back at him, I couldn’t even think about a mate right now, I was still trying to get over Layla, though we weren’t mates I had grown to love her. She did save me so I owed her something.

“Yeah I guess.” He nodded his head and sat his cup down.

“Well I supposed you guys have things to talk about, I’m going to leave and I will let you know what I find in the letter.” He stood up and began to leave.

“By the way, I know you loved her but you gotta move on. You only get one mate.” He left without another word. He was right I had my actual mate right here in front of me. I needed to seize this opportunity. I walked over to the counter.

“Hey, I’m Dylan.” She smiled at me and walked around the counter.

“I’m Brittany, I’m going to be honest, having a mate sounds wonderful but I already have a pup, I’m sure you aren’t ready for those responsibilities yet.” I frowned thinking about that fact that she already had a pup with someone else but I was willing to step up and love them the way I could.

“How about we start slow, maybe I can take you on a date and we can see how we feel about each other?” She thought long and hard before she answered.

“Okay, I’m willing to do that but if things don’t work please don’t be sad, I’ve been without a mate for a couple of years now and I can keep going without one. My daughter is my one priority.” I nodded my head. I understood at the end of the day she can’t put her pups priority below anyone else’s.

“Okay that sounds fair, how about me go on a date next Friday? I’ll pick you up at 6 or we can meet somewhere at 6?” She nodded her head we exchanged numbers and I left. I still had lots of things to do. I went to a few more stores before going home. I walked into the door. It smelled different in here. Someone’s been here.

“You didn’t think I’d eventually find out you were still alive?” I looked over to a dimly lit chair in the corner as he leaned forward. The shadows still cover is face but I could see enough to know exactly who it was.

“Please if anyone can hear me I’m in danger.” I thought to myself really hard. Please someone hear me. He snatched me up by my throat choking me until I was unconscious.

*Xaviers point of view*

Once me and Avery returned home I left her to go find Danielle and I headed to my office.

“Did we ever find anymore out from Ashley?” I walked in to my office seeing my dad and Axel still sitting there.

“No, but she’s been healed and released far from the pack.” I rubbed the back of my neck as I sat down. I wonder what she knows that she isn’t telling us.

“So all we know is that Zeke isn’t actually dead, so we should prepare ourselves for another attack at some point.” I began to worry about Avery and the pup. I had to keep them safe at all cost.

“Yes that’s all we know, he obviously had a witch working with him though but we don’t know of any close to us or that would have been close to our territory back in Florida.” Whoever it was working with Zeke had to of been an inside person someone who knew all of Averys secrets.

“Have we heard from Averys parents yet?” I didn’t want to automatically assume they could have been helping the enemy but I didn’t want to rule them out just yet.

“No we haven’t, they haven’t been at the pack in Florida since we left.” I found that really odd they stayed there for the sanctuary and protection it gave them, why would they leave?

“Okay, please keep me updated. Now for the plans I have to go over for the hotel site let me see it.” My father put a set of blueprints on my desk and I looked through them, none of them looking how I had imagined.

“Ugh can people not do anything right?” I threw the prints off of my desk and growled. I can’t trust anyone to do anything these days.

“Let Lucas know we’ll be heading over to the site shortly and please call the foreman let him know to meet me there.” Axel nodded his head before excusing himself to go make a few phone calls.

“Are you sure now is a good time to leave?” I’m not sure if he was talking about the something happening to Avery or the wedding planning for tomorrow but I needed to make sure the hotel construction went smoothly.

“Dad, I can’t do this right now, I have to go and take care of business it’s my responsibility. There are plenty of other people watching over Avery and planning things for tomorrow.” His eyes grew wide. Did he not know about tomorrow?

“Planning for tomorrow? What’s happening tomorrow?” I didn’t have time to explain everything to him I needed to go and get back as soon as I could.

“Right, uh well me and Avery are getting married down by the lake. Just close friends and family not the whole pack. I really need to be going we can discuss more later.” I nodded my head at him and walked out of the room.

Lucas was already standing at the door waiting for me. He needed a day off soon. We walked out to the car together, he opened the back passenger door for me to get in. The drive to the hotel site was short and the foreman was already there waiting for me.

“Thank you Lucas, I’ll make this quick.” He nodded his head at me as I got out. I walked over to the foreman taking a deep breath to focus on my thoughts.

“I know the issues with the blue prints aren’t all your fault, I almost guarantee my dad didn’t write my request properly.” He nodded his head and pulled out a new blue print. I kept getting an eerie feeling I was being watched, I turned around but I couldn’t see anyone.

“Okay so I want the pool on the top floor, with a hot tub. Make it covered but make the walls and ceiling out of glass so people can look around.” He nodded his head and began to draw.

Xavier someone is watching us, do you smell that?

I wasn’t the only one feeling it, I took a deep breath and could smell a strange scent. Like stale oak and coffee beans. It was a smell I had never smelt before it almost made me want to throw up.

“Like this?” I looked down at the prints, it was almost perfect just one thing missing.

“”Yes but there’s one thing I’d like to change since we hadn’t really chosen a name yet. I’m thinking Avery’s Sanctuary?” He nodded his head and began to drawn the name on top of the building so it would stand tall.

“That’s it, perfect.” Once it was done this would be mine and Averys place to escape reality. I knew she’d love it.

“If this is all you want I will be going now so I can talk to the rest of my crew and make sure they understand.” He rolled up the prints and walked back to his truck. I turned around to walk back to my car when I felt someone else behind me, the smell stronger now.

“Henry, is my name I know you can sense me here.” I turned around and could see a middle aged man.

“Who are you?” He studied me acting as if I should already know.

“You really don’t know anything?” I shook my head. I started walking towards my car again and told him to follow me.

“I don’t want to talk about this out in the open with the chance of wandering ears hearing anything.” Even though we seemed to be alone I didn’t feel like we were.

“What about your driver?” We climbed into the car and I rolled the window up between me and Lucas, nodding my head to let him know it wasn’t personal. He began to drive so we wouldn’t keep sitting here.

“Okay, I honestly don’t know everything but I know enough to fill you in on these last few days.” He looked at me and took a deep breath.

“So, Avery your mate is pregnant with your pup, correct?” I nodded my head.

“Okay that’s good I just wanted to make sure I had the right person. So Layla her best friend was just using Avery for information for Zeke, they were waiting until Avery was the right age to grab her but you got to her first. Dylan was also using Avery as well but you guys already knew that. When you and Zeke fought it was actually Dylan disguised as Zeke.” He continued on to tell me about Layla putting a protection spell around Dylan just in case and that Dylan was still alive and In the area. He also informed me that Layla is who saved me the other night from the wolves and Ashley.

“So where’s Layla now?” His face saddened. I knew what was coming.

“She’s exhausted all of her powers helping Zeke, she passed away the night she helped you she did one final spell before she passed but I’m not entirely sure what it was.” I nodded my head as the car came to a stop.

“All she said was that the spell she did would eventually help you guys out.” I didn’t know what to do with this information it was a lot to process.

“Can we keep this between us right now? I don’t think Avery can handle anything else, also let Dylan know as well.” He nodded his head and shook my hand before stepping out.

“One last thing before I leave you, someone is watching you guys but I’m not sure who, it doesn’t feel like Zeke.” I was right, I was being watched at the job site.

“Thank you Henry, we’ll be in contact soon.” He closed the door and we drove away. I left the window up between me and Lucas the rest of the drive so I could think. I know I needed to tell Avery but I’m not sure when. We pulled up to the pack house and I could see Avery standing on the steps with a huge smile on her face. My nerves calmed as I could see her face come into full view. I opened the door and she ran up and hugged me. I took a long deep breath making sure my lungs we completely full of her scent.

“I love you Avery.” I pulled away and just stared into her beautiful eyes. Not wanting this moment to end.

*Averys point of view*

After Xavier left me alone I quickly found Danielle and we left. We went to five different stores trying on dresses and trying to figure out what my style was. At our last store I finally found one. It was a beautiful creamy white dress with a lace bodice, it fell gracefully down my hips and the train wasn’t overly dramatic. It was so beautiful but simple just like I liked. I took a deep breath before walking out of the dressing room.

Danielle looked at me eyes immediately filling her eyes. She nodded her head excitedly.

“It’s perfect Avery, you look like a true princess!” She came over and hugged me. I was happy I had her here with me but I do miss my mom. She still hasn’t text me back.

“Thank you, I’m happy I have you with me here today.” I smiled at her as I pulled away from the hug.

“Shall we tell the we found the dress?” I nodded my head and she wrapped her arm in mine. We quickly walked to the front and told the assistant we were ready. She walked back and grabbed the dress and came back.

“Alright that’s $2,500.” My jaw dropped to the floor oh no I didn’t have enough I had totally forgot to check the price.

“Alright you can just put it on this card!” She slid a debit card across the table and I could see Xaviers name on it.

“He’s going to be so mad about what I just spent!” She shook her head at me and patted my shoulder.

“Oh honey you have no idea how much money your fiancé really has do you?” I shook my head no, I thought it was rude to discuss his money with him regardless of being his mate or not some things are personal.

“Yes just say his account is somewhere in the millions.” She just looked at me and smiled.

“I’m sure there’s more somewhere but I know he has at least that much.” She just laughed at me as the assistant handed me the dress bag. She wrapped her arm in mine again and we left the store.

“I can’t wait for Xavier to see me tomorrow.” She smiled at me and we got in the car. The car ride back to the house felt like it took forever. Once we were finally home I searched for Xavier, I needed to tell him I loved him one last time before we went separate ways for the night, apparently it’s tradition for the bride and groom to spend the night apart. I wasn’t looking forward to it.

I couldn’t find him anywhere. He told me he’d be here for the day.

“Where’s Xavier?” I stopped a passing omega in the hallway.

“Alpha Xavier had some business to attend to outside of the pack house but I just heard that he’d be returning shortly.” She walked away and I walked down to the front door and patiently waited on the steps outside for him.

“Luna, you don’t need to keep standing.” I looked over to see Axel standing at the door. He must be waiting on Xavier too.

“Well if he would of stayed home like he was supposed to I wouldn’t be standing right now.” I laughed at him and turned my attention to the car pulling in. A smile growing wide on my face as I knew exactly who was in the car. He got out of the car and I couldn’t help myself but run up and hug him.

“I love you Avery.” He looked deep into my eyes. I started to tingle. He could sense it because he quickly swooped me up and carried me to our room. He knew how to please me in all the right ways. After what felt like hours of hot steamy “I miss you” s*x we finally showered and headed down to eat dinner.

“This is the last time I can see you tonight before tomorrow.” I dropped my head, I was going to miss him tonight.

“It’ll only be a few short hours you’ll see me again before you know it.” He kissed me on the forehead as we entered the dining hall. I couldn’t smell any food being cooked.

“It’s sub sandwiches tonight” I looked over to see an omega bowing her head at us. Quick and easy I could go for that. I nodded my head at the omega realizing I’d need to learn everyone’s or at least as many names as I could soon. We sat down at the table and they brought out our sandwiches.

I took a bite out of mine and my mouth instantly exploded with flavor. This was the best sandwich I had ever had. I quickly scarfed it down and the pup kicked in response he was obviously very happy with tonight’s dinner choice. I stood up and gave Xavier one last kiss before heading up to Danielle’s room for a movie/spa night. Once we had ate all the junk food our belly’s could handle and our nails were painted I laid down . Only a few more hours before I officially marry Xavier. I smiled as I fell into a peaceful slumber.