"And this means that there was a minor threat at the border, but it was handled without incident," Greyson explained as I sipped the tea I'd made a little while ago. We were back in Greyson's office and he was explaining reports and negotiations to me along with many other things. But most of it went over my head, yet I simply nodded and sipped my tea.

Greyson's nice spell had been going on for over four hours now and though it was a nice bliss, it worried me a bit. Did that mean his wrath would reign longer once I did something that set him off? I told myself that if I could tiptoe around him, I could prevent myself from the physical and emotional pain I knew I'd bring on myself if I didn't. No. I didn't escape one controlling bastard of an Alpha just to submit to another. I might've been absolutely terrified of Greyson, but I wouldn't let my fear control me. Maybe if I'd just tried my strength with Phoenix, maybe I wouldn't be in the situation I was in now. Maybe I'd be happy in another pack on the other side of the country. On the other side of the world. I might've found someone who would treat me right not just when I follow their every order, but all the time. Through thick and thin. I knew a lot of women in my old pack who married outside of their mate bond and they were perfectly happy.

Greyson was about to say something else when there was a sudden knock at the door. He let out a frustrated sigh as he held me tighter. It was very rare that someone wandered up to the Alpha's floor of the pack house unless they were hopelessly lost or someone that the Alpha trusted."Come in Matthew," he called as he used the hand that wasn't around my waist to pinch the bridge of his nose.

"Hello Greyson. Avery," Matthew said as he entered the office, nodding toward each of us as he said our names.

"Hello Matthew," I greeted before I took another sip of my tea. It was so good.

"What is it, Matthew?" Greyson asked, a tinge of irritation in his voice as he rested his head on my shoulder. Was that a hint of jealousy in his voice I heard? Interesting.

"I was just coming to remind you that your dinner with the pack is in two hours. They are going restless to meet their new Luna," Matthew explained, picking up on Greyson's mild jealousy vibes.

Greyson lowly cursed. "I forgot about the dinner. Thanks for reminding me, Matthew. Avery and I can take it from here. Also, thank your sister for getting Avery's clothes."

Matthew nodded in response before he silently walked out of the room, leaving me and Greyson alone. "What dinner?" I asked, not recalling Greyson ever informing me about a dinner I was supposed to attend, let alone it being tonight.

"It's a formality," Greyson brushed off. "Just to introduce you to the pack and let them meet their future Luna."

"What time is it supposed to happen?" I questioned, though Matthew just informed us it was to take place in two hours.

"About eight, eight-thirty at the latest," he nonchalantly answered before he tapped me in a way that let me know he wanted me to get up which I did. "And we're going to be late if we don't get a move on now, and that's not the first impression you want as Luna, trust me." I nodded before I threw back the rest of my tea.

"I'll be right back. I'm going to put this in the sink then I'll be back to help you with the bags," I said, referencing the bags Natalie had gotten me that still lied on the floor. Without waiting for an answer, I walked out of the office and down the hall pass the infinite meeting rooms among other mystery rooms until I reached the kitchen once more. I quickly rinsed the cup out before I placed it in the sink for it to be put away at a later time.

I turned to return to the office just to see Greyson standing in the doorway with all the bags in his arms. "Come on," he said using his head to motion down the hallway so we could leave.

"Ok," I said as I walked by him, taking three bags so that he was carrying three and I was carrying three as well. We walked back to Greyson's house in a peaceful silence. As we walked, I allowed myself to take in my surroundings in order to find any weaknesses in the defenses, but unsurprisingly, I found none. We walked into the house and walked upstairs to set down the bags, and almost as if it were instinct, I walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower. I knew Greyson would be joining me whether I wanted him to or not and he'd made that abundantly clear last time.

I'd just gotten finished brushing my teeth when Greyson made moves to undress me and though his movements were gentle and genuine, I couldn't help myself from tensing up. I was still traumatized by everything everyone had done to me and it would take a while for me to get used to anyone touching me in any way. Especially Greyson with his constant mood swings and violent outbursts. "Trust me, Avery. I won't do anything," Greyson assured, the tone of his voice causing a shiver to run down my spine as he gently pulled my shirt over my head. His eyes burned into mine as his thumbs hooked underneath the waistband of my sweatpants as well as my underwear, his eyes remaining on mine as I stepped out of them. We entered the shower and Greyson's skilled hands wandered over me, gently and carefully washing me per usual.

After about twenty minutes we were back in the bedroom changing into our formal attire. A pack member had dropped by with Greyson's suit and a long elegant dress that radiated a power that I'd never felt before. "I-I can't wear this," I said barely above a whisper after staring at the elegant maroon dress that laid on the bed in front of me with a semi-deep V-cut in the front. I hugged myself as I shook my head. "Is there anything else I could-" I started, but the words died on my tongue when I turned and saw Greyson in a dress shirt with rolled-up sleeves that showed off his bulging muscles and various tattoos with a maroon tie that matched my dress. He was also wearing black slacks and nice black dress shoes. His hair was still messy, but it gave him a sexy rugged look that would make any she-wolf swoon.

"Why?" he softly asked as he approached me, his muscular build towering over my small lean one.

"I...I just can't," I shrugged as I hugged myself and looked down. "I just don't think I'll look right and I'm already feeling nervous meeting that pack and I don't want to have to worry about-"

"Avery," he cut me off, his hands suddenly cupping my cheeks to make me look up at him drawing a sharp gasp to escape my lips. "You'll look absolutely beautiful in that dress, so there is no need to worry. As for your confidence, if it wavers just remember that I'm right next to you and I won't let anyone do anything to you. Andrew used to be my best friend, almost like a brother to me, but when I found out he hurt you I showed him no mercy. I don't care who they are or how important they are to me, you are more important than anyone and I'm not afraid to let people know, do you understand?" I swallowed before I slowly nodded, his sudden burst of emotion and passion putting me off guard. "Good. Now let's get going, we don't have much time." I nodded once more before Greyson carefully picked up my dress and held it so that all I had to do was step into it. I carefully put my hand on his shoulder in order to steady myself and once I saw that he held no opposition to it, I allowed myself to fully lean on him as I stepped into the dress. He lifted it up so that I could slide my arms through the straps and once I'd done that, he instructed me to hold up my hair so that he could zip me up.

"You look breathing-taking," Greyson muttered as he walked around me so that he was now in front of me again. His heated gaze made me want to squirm and hide, but instead I simply stood there looking up into his moss eyes. "I don't understand how you could be so nervous about how you look. Any she-wolf would kill to have the work of art you do."

I shrugged. I knew I wasn't bad looking, but I definitely wasn't as beautiful as Greyson was making me out to be. "Maybe, but it hasn't exactly worked in my favor," I said with an empty chuckle as I looked away and tucked my hair behind my ear. Memories that I'd been trying so hard to forget flashed through my head causing my chest to tighten.

"That will never happen to you again, Avery," Greyson said with confidence and I nodded. I knew that despite his violence, he'd kill anyone who posed a threat to me, but he couldn't kill my memories. I couldn't even stop them.

"You also need to open your eyes," he said as he gently grabbed my arm and led me toward the bathroom once more, "and see yourself the way others do. See?" he said once he'd led me to the mirror in the bathroom so I could see myself. "You look beautiful." I smiled at my reflection. He was right, though beautiful wasn't the word I'd use to describe myself. The dress perfectly fit my body while showing off my figure but not too much. My long hair fell neatly over my shoulders and down my back and even though I wasn't wearing any makeup, my skin looked smooth and my eyes looked bright. The bruise from last night had completely healed leaving nothing to allude to the trouble that went on behind closed doors.

"Are you ready to meet your new pack?" Greyson softly asked as he offered me his hand.

"As ready as I'll ever be," I said with a half-hearted smile as I placed my hand in his. We began our journey to the pack house and with every step, my heart rate increased and my panic slowly rose. We stopped right before the doors of the pack house and Greyson said, "Remember I'm right here."

"I know," I assured with a small smile. "I'm ready. Promise." But it was a lie.

I was terrified.