“And you?” Viktoriya said with her hand outstretched to Ava.
“A-Ava. Ava Black… Though that last name was given to me by Beatrice Black, and I have no desire to keep it.” She snuck a glance at Max over her shoulder. “I want to take my mate’s last name.”
“And your first name?”
“The name I gave myself.”
Viktoriya nodded. She had ice blue eyes that chilled Ava to her bones. “And why are you here?”
Ava took another deep breath. She thought of Max sitting just behind her, cheering her on. “I’m here because I did many terrible things to shifters under Beatrice. I stole shifter souls, and Beatrice sold those shifters to collectors, I accept any punishment you give me.”
“How did you and Beatrice meet? Why were you with her?”
Ava went through all the details of her life for the third time. First with Max, then with Nick, Gwen, Cedric and now with the Celestial Trinity. It was getting easier to tell. She was more confident.
“These shifters from Moonwatch say you saved them. Tell me what happened,” Viktoriya continued, as cold and dispassionate as before.
Ava relayed that story as well, in complete honesty and humiliation. She gave credit to the broken wolf she held inside of her for being able to best Beatrice in the end.
“I understand you have a Lunas Sigil.” Viktoriya was the one running the show. The other two watched on in complete silence as she asked all the questions.
“Yes,” Ava replied.
“Show it to us.”
Ava blushed, and a chair screeched behind her. She looked over her shoulder again to see Max standing with his chair toppled over behind him. His eyes were orange and wild.
“Are you her mate?” Viktoriya asked, completely unaffected.
“Yes,” Max answered with a growl in his voice and a snarl on his lips.
“Let us do our job, and sit back down,” Samson ordered, the crackling heat in his eyes flaring up again, white-hot and blinding.
Nick had barely righted Max’s chair when Max slammed back down into his seat like invisible hands had grabbed him and pulled him down. He was clenching his fists, and an angry vein was popping out of his forehead. He was trying to fight whatever had come over him but to no avail. Nick and the others looked alarmed, but even the Alpha of Blue Pack cowered under the force of this power.
“Samson,” Viktoriya chastised with a small growl of her own. “Stop.”
With an indifferent flick of his head, Samson’s eyes returned to normal and Max doubled over in his chair.
“Please don’t hurt him!” Ava pleaded, tears beading in her eyes. “I’ll do anything.”
“We’re not going to hurt anyone,” Rei said gently. She was soft unlike the other two, caring. It was something that shined in her eyes.
“I only wish to confirm your mark,” Viktoriya said. “Yours, Ava, and your mate’s.” She left the podium and stood in front of Ava. She beckoned Max forward.
As soon as Max was at her side, Ava couldn’t help but smile at his warmth radiating into her. She grabbed his hand and squeezed, trying to reassure him. She looked him over carefully too, hoping whatever Samson did hadn’t hurt him. Whatever it was, it only had its effect in the moment and a few seconds after. Max seemed fine now. He squeezed her hand back as if to affirm her assessment.
“I’ll be quick,” Viktoriya said. She held her hand over Ava as if she would touch her, but she never made contact. She seemed to be feeling her through the air. She stopped when she got to Ava’s left thigh. “Not an easy place to show your mark without stripping, I see,” Viktoriya said absentmindedly.
Ava blinked in surprise. There was a soft shine peeking through Viktoriya’s bangs, a mark on her skin that seemed to glow. It looked oddly like Ava’s Lunas Sigil, based on what she could see. Then the Moon Alpha’s hair rose like the Lunas Sigil on her forehead was creating a breeze, revealing it and the soft glow it was producing. Ava’s own mark seemed to react. She felt a tingling in her skin where Viktoriya’s hand hovered over her Lunas Sigil. Viktoriya did the same thing to Max, but she went to his right thigh immediately. Max tensed, but he held still. He probably felt the tingling, too.
“Thank you. You may stay here with your mate if you please, wolf,” Viktoriya said as she left to stand once again at the podium. The mark on her forehead seemed to disappear completely.
“She’s bold,” Samson said with a lazy grin.
“She is humble,” Rei added.
“She saved a wolf pack and any other shifter who would have been targeted by Beatrice in the future. She took action for her past mistakes by making sure they would not be repeated in the future. Correct, Blue Pack Alpha?”
“Yes,” Nick replied without hesitation.
“But we have a problem,” the Moon Alpha continued. “Correcting the wrongs of the past isn’t something that can be solved by what you’ve done to right them. You are powerful in Black Magic.”
“Nothing good comes of Black Magic, right Vicky?” Samson said with a hard glare at the Moon Alpha who wouldn’t turn around to look him in the eye.
“I’ll do anything,” Ava repeated.
“You’ll even allow us to lock you away?” Samson asked.
“Yes.”
Max’s grip on her hand tightened. She knew how much it would hurt her mate if they were separated. It would hurt her too, but she had to take responsibility for the past. She had to do whatever was best for Max, and that didn’t include running from this. She was tired of being kept in the shadows. She wanted a chance to walk in the sun.
Samson grinned, but Rei lightly shook her head. “We aren’t locking you away. It does no one any good,” the Earth Alpha clarified. “You’ll be assigned to one of our White Witches. You’ll learn everything you can about White Magic and assist our witch in whatever assignments given to them by Trinity”
“And you’ll take a vow to never again use Black Magic,” Samson added.
“As he said,” Viktoriya agreed, her voice much quieter.
“Say what you think, Viktoriya,” Rei encouraged.
Viktoriya collected herself, resuming her calm business aura. “I think we should have Ava teach our witches Black Magic. She used it in that fight against Beatrice, and yet we can all sense the light in her heart. White Magic is a passive, defensive kind of magic. Black Magic is destructive, but it’s also offensive, a weapon. It could be useful.”
“No!” Samson roared, a loud, bone-shaking sound. “That is going too far, vixen.” There was venom in his words. “You know very well what Black Magic does. It destroys.”
“I don’t like Black Magic either. I never want to use it again,” Ava said. She was surprised she found the courage to speak up with all these scary alphas threatening to shake down the building—mainly Samson.
“But why would we need destructive magic?” Rei asked.
Viktoriya replied, “We need the power to stand against the Circle. They’re getting stronger, bolder, more dangerous. And we have no idea what they’re doing. We know they seek power. We know they want to attain godhood. We haven’t been able to make any progress concerning them. We don’t know their stronghold. We don’t know how they’re pursuing their goal or what kind of power they’ve unlocked. What if they bring the apocalypse and we don’t have the power to stop them? Ava could experiment with the witch we assign her. That witch will teach her White Magic, and she will teach Black Magic. If it becomes too dangerous or gets out of hand, we put a stop to it. It is that simple.” She turned her gaze to Ava. Her icy blue eyes were glossy, full of emotion that broke her previously cold aura. “You’ll see that won’t happen, though. Ava will keep her light, and she’ll command the dark.”
“I’m against it,” Samson stated.
“I am also against it,” Rei said. “I’m sorry, Vicky, but Black Magic can’t become part of Trinity.”
“Then it’s settled,” Viktoriya concluded, defeated.
Samson took over. He stood up an
d relieved Viktoriya of her position at the podium. “Ava will be assigned to stay here at Trinity Headquarters for a solid month to train under one of our witches in White Magic. Her mate can stay here too, of course. All of you can if you wish, but I’m sure the Blue Pack Alpha will want to return to his pack. After that month is up, Ava should know the basics of White Magic and be ready for missions. She will be allowed to return to Moonwatch, but she will be on call for whatever assignments or training arise after that. Indefinitely. What she did to hurt shifters in the past will be righted as she helps shifters from this day on. Is this acceptable, Blue Pack Alpha?”
“Ava?” Nick asked. “How do you feel about this?”
“I want to do it,” she said resolutely. It sounded like the perfect way to atone for her sins. Finally, she could leave the darkness behind.
“Then it’s acceptable.”
“Cedric?” Samson addressed. “You were a victim. Is this acceptable?”
“Yes,” Cedric replied without hesitation. Ava couldn’t believe it.
“Welcome to Trinity, Ava,” Samson said, his tone soft. “From this day on, you are one of us. You are under our protection, and we are under yours. Keep your family safe.”
“Thank you,” Ava said with a slight bow of her head. Family. She liked the sound of that.
Ava could feel tension seeping into her from Max. He was grinding his teeth together, doing his best to stay calm. He didn’t like this one bit.
“Max,” she whispered, “it really is okay. You even get to stay here with me. It couldn’t be better.”
He softened at her words, his eyes returning to their normal blue. But he looked sad. “If you’re sure, Ava. Being at Trinity’s disposal for the rest of your life is a long time.”
“I’m sure. Besides, you’ll be here to protect me, right?”
“Always.”
“Dismissed,” Samson announced.
The courtroom came alive with the shifters standing, talking, and some making their way to the exit. Ava wanted to take Max back to their suite to celebrate or something. But her eyes went to Vicky. Why was she so adamant about Ava continuing to practice Black Magic while having light at her core, while being good?
Max lifted Ava up into his arms and spun her around. She laughed and grabbed hold of him in return. She gave him a big hug when he set her back down on her feet.
“God, I’m glad that’s over,” he said. “I thought my wolf was going to rip out and tear everyone to shreds. But that Sun Alpha put him right in his place. Good thing I guess.” He grimaced. “I could have screwed this up for you.”
“Never,” Ava smiled and tapped his nose with her finger. “I’m excited, Max. I’m going to learn so much about White Magic.”
“Excited? You mean it?”
She nodded her head vigorously. “I need to ask the Moon Alpha something before we leave.”
Ava quickly spun around before her lovely mate could distract her again. She darted for Viktoriya just as she was about to leave the room. She grabbed her purple jacket on impulse to get her to stop. Viktoriya raised an eyebrow at her, she stopped and turned to face her.
“Yes?” she asked.
“Why Black Magic?” Ava asked in return. “Why did you… why do you want to prove I’m,” Ava touched her chest, “light and can control darkness?”
“You remind me of someone very dear to me. It’s a long story but to tell it simply, he was shunned because of his Black Magic.” She tilted her chin up to the ceiling and blinked a couple times like she was holding back tears. “I shunned him. I cursed him. He wasn’t evil. He wasn’t bad. But I pushed him away regardless. I didn’t trust him or stand by him when I should have. I may never have a chance to make up for it, but I’ll be damned if I make the same mistake twice.” She gave a sad smile. “That is why.”
Ava was speechless. She didn’t know what to say, or if she should say goodbye. She stood silently, cemented in place, as she watched Viktoriya take her leave.
“I wonder what the whole story is,” Max said from behind her.
Ava shook her head. “Maybe one day she’ll tell us.”
“Ava, I’m leaving Derek and Willow here with you and Max,” Nick announced. He was leaning against a wall with his arms folded, Gwen at his side. “I need to get back to Blue Pack to renew Pack Vows, but we’re going to join forces with Trinity, too. You’re welcome in Blue Pack anytime.” He grinned. “Maybe you’ll make Moonwatch your home.”
“Thank you, Alpha. I know Max loves your pack. He wants to pledge to you as his Alpha. Moonwatch already feels like home.”
“Really?” Nick asked.
Max chuckled. “Yeah. I’ve made my peace. I’m a wolf and a wolf needs a pack, right? I want Blue Pack.”
“Glad to have you then.” Nick nodded his head in approval. “Both of you. When your month sentence is up, you can pledge with the rest of the pack on the next Full Moon. Not sure how that’ll affect you or if it will, Ava, but you should come for the pledge, too. You’re still our packmate.”
“Thank you,” Ava said with another little bow of her head. Her heart was squeezing. She was welcomed into two families. Two! She wasn’t sure she could feel any happier. She never knew what belonging was, but this was it. With these shifters. And apparently witches, too. She was going to spend a month learning White Magic under one. She never thought this would be happening. She never thought her life would be this good. Her punishment wasn’t a punishment at all. She wanted to learn White Magic. She wanted to continue to help shifters and pay for what she had done. It couldn’t have been any better, and she knew, at that moment, that she would have gone through all the pain she went through before again if it always led her back here.
“Glad to have you, packmate!” Willow exclaimed as she jumped at Ava and gave her a bear hug that almost pushed her off her feet. Willow whispered in her ear, “And thanks for getting me and my mate into this fancy building. You have to check out their pool with Max later, Ava. Have to.”
“Remember to actually learn more about Trinity and keep me updated while you stay,” Nick said dryly. “You’re not here to play around. You’re here as my Beta.”
“I know, Nicky,” she teased. “But a girl can have a little fun alongside all this official business junk.”
Ava laughed at the two of them and eased into Max’s side, bracing herself against him and hugging him tight. She let her eyes drift to Cedric, daring to look at him. He gave her a slight nod. His eyes were soft, his owl tucked away. He didn’t seem to have any words for her, and she wouldn’t force it. She understood. He came here to support her, and she was moved by that. After what she had done to him, she wouldn’t have blamed him if he had hated her for the rest of her life. She wasn’t foolish enough to think he liked her now, but she was sure he didn’t hate her. That was more than she could ask for.
“When you’re done in here, I can get you set up with Josh. He’ll be the best teacher for you, Ava,” Bruiser said, making his presence known. He was the last Trinity Shifter still standing in the room.
“Do I get to come?” Max asked protectively.
Bruiser shrugged. “Sure, man. It’s probably going to be boring as hell, but do what you want.”
Ava giggled when Max went all growly. He always did that when he was protecting her, when he was making sure everyone else knew he would protect her. He was the best, and she loved all of him. Wild Wolf included. Her life started with him, and this was the start of her journey.
Epilogue
ONE MONTH LATER.
Ava’s month of rigorous training came to an end. Max was with her the entire time, but she had convinced him to stop following her around like a lost puppy. The training sessions she had with the White Witch Josh weren’t all that interesting for him after all. He ended up spending a lot of time with Willow and Derek learning about Trinity. Any doubts he had about the alliance were settled. They treated Ava like a part of their family. She smiled more than he had ever seen her smile.
Trinity got calls from shifter allies all the time, and they went out to help solve problems without any hesitation. The military front seemed much more like that, a front, than anything else. Force wasn’t really their go-to way to solve things.
Willow and Derek returned to Moonwatch on the first of December. Willow said she wanted to celebrate Christmas this year since so many of the shifters with them were used to celebrating the holiday. Apparently, this would be Blue Pack’s first celebration of it. That explained her excitement. Christmas would come soon enough. Time was just flying by.
“How’re the fingers?” Max asked as he opened Ava’s door, holding his hand out to help her out of the Volvo he finally reclaimed from the apartment in Boise he was officially moving out of. Some of his things were in the car with them, but it couldn’t fit everything of course. The moving van would come to Moonwatch later. Max bought a house and Howard said it was ready.
Max patted his pants pocket to make sure the ring box he placed inside was still there. He had done that so many time today he had lost count. Somehow, Ava hadn’t called him out on it yet.
“Perfect,” Ava replied with a soft smile on her face. She took his hand, and he grinned at her. A solid month and his Ava hadn’t dug into her fingers once. Her fingertips were looking better every day. He couldn’t have been prouder. The nerves that threatened to make her shake apart in the past weren’t so bad anymore. She gave smiles easier. She talked to others more. She was more confident, becoming the woman she wanted to be.
“This is it?” Ava asked, excitement making her voice higher than usual. She squeezed his hand with one of hers and pointed frantically at the cabin-country-style home in front of them.
“This is it.” Max grinned. “Do you like it?”
“Of course! I want to see inside.”
“We have to say hi first.”
Max waved down the wolves hanging out in front of the house, some sitting on the porch, others standing.
“Hope you like the place,” Howard said, walking forward so he could be the first to greet them. His mate, Julie, was at his side, all smiles. “Finished it just in time.”
Her Wild Wolf (Marked By The Moon Book 3) Page 20
