Hayden raises an eyebrow and nods to Mitchell, sending daggers his way.

Mitchell rapidly shakes his head, pursing his lips and pointing aggressively at Hayden.

"You do it," he mouths, jutting his chin forward as he scowls.

I'm not doing it, you prick, Hayden declares through their mindlink, slyly flashing him the middle finger.

You are the Gamma, as your Beta, I'm ordering you to do it, Mitchell instantly replies, folding his arms smugly, and waiting for Hayden to react to the response.

You aren't actually commanding me, so I'm not doing it. Ask York or Kathleen to do it; she won't kill either of them, Hayden complains, throwing his arms up silently.

The two men glance furtively at Avery, who is reclining in her seat with her eyes closed.

They know she isn't asleep, she scared the crap out of them all a few minutes earlier when she had joined in on a conversation and debate suddenly. Her breathing is level, and Hayden is convinced she's napping - Mitch assumes she's meditating.

Mitchell glances at his mate, and then shakes his head, making eye contact with Hayden and then pointing at York.

They nod to each other, and then connect York into their mindlink, staring at him intensely.

You have to ask her how it went, Mitchell states, and Hayden makes a noise of agreement.

I'm not talking to her, one of you do it, York grumbles, curling up in his seat and facing the other direction.

No, you have no rank, and we're telling you to do it, Hayden reminds him.

Are you seriously pulling rank? York groans, shaking his head at them as he slowly rises to a seated position, wincing as his knees crack, I'll do it, but I don't think I should be the one doing it since it's you guys who want to know.

Kathleen is blissfully unaware of the plotting taking place two feet away from her, as she stares out the window at the clouds, ignoring her mate and the jets other occupants.

"How was your meeting with Lilith?" York sighs out loud, rolling his eyes as his sister opens one eye.

"It was fine," Avery responds shortly, her voice monotone as she closes her eye again.

"Did she tell you much?" He asks, trying to satisfy the others urge for answers.

Avery ignores her brother, rolling onto her side and pulling her blanket over her shoulder.

Her meeting with Lilith hadn't gone to plan.

As soon as she had walked in, Lilith had started screaming like she was being murdered.

Guards had run in and tried to restrain Avery, but once they saw that she hadn't even walked past the doorway, they released her as quickly as they had started getting out their handcuffs and ropes.

Kinky, had been Sonya's only reaction.

As soon as the guards had left, after having words with Lilith, she had given Avery a bloody smile.

She wanted to know where the blood had come from, but she honestly wasn't invested in the girl's health enough to ask about it.

"How are you today?" Avery asked as a way of starting the conversation, not wanting to waste any time.

"Better now that you're here," Lilith winked.

Avery was vaguely horrified, but she couldn't tell if it was because of the bloody teeth or the deranged smile that was in place on Lilith's lips.

Avery had interrogated rogues who had been in captivity for years, and she hadn't been creeped out or one bit fearful.

Lilith scared her.

"I heard that you wanted to talk to me, so here I am," Avery said after a moment, hiding her unease well, forcing her shoulders back and her chin up.

"Yeah, it's all I've wanted to do since I got away from your pack," Lilith sneered, winding some faded blue hair around her finger.

She looked terrible, and Avery didn't mean it in a bitchy way. Lilith was gaunt, the skin on her face stretched over bone, her eyes popping out of their sockets. Her hair looked thin and dead, and she was an awful grey colour. Her usual tan skin tone was completely gone, and she looked like a corpse - to put it mildly.

"How have you been?" Avery asked quietly, looking up at her friend.

Lilith had tried to pace, but her chains were short, which Avery thought was unusual.

Political prisoners, which Lilith technically was due to her conspiracy charges, usually had very relaxed conditions with minimal restraints - they weren't usually violent, rather just tired.

"How has my mate been? You know, since you've stolen him from me?" Lilith roared, and Avery had pushed her chair back about a meter from the metal table, her eyes widening the further away she got.

"Lilith, I haven't stolen Zephyr," Avery calmly stated, her mind racing to try to solve the problem.

Sonya, check and see if her wolf is there, Avery murmured to her wolf.

"I bet you're talking to him right now, I can see your eyes flashing," Lilith growled, trying to get around the table.

"I'm talking to my Beta. Nobody thought I should come and see you, but I'm doing it out of respect for you. We were friends, and I thought I owed you at least that much," Avery retorted, her tone steady and stony.

I can't sense her wolf at all, not even slightly, Sonya had reported back with panic in her voice.

"Were we friends? It didn't feel like it," Lilith hissed, "once Emmett was born, you never checked in with me."

Avery's jaw dropped, and she sat up straight.

"I phoned you every day, sometimes three times a day," Avery whispered, "if you needed more support you could have asked. Every time I asked if you wanted me to come over there and stay for a few nights, you said no."

"You were trying to steal Zephyr, of course, I said no," Lilith roared, trying to leap across the table.

"Zephyr is my friend, and only my friend. You know I was interested in Hayden," Avery insisted, showing Lilith her palms as she lifted them aloft in a way of showing she meant no harm.

Lilith had barely even looked at her as her face got redder and redder as she got angrier.

Avery wasn't sure what to do, and had tried to calm her down, offering to show her pictures and videos of Emmett or Zephyr.

"He isn't mad, he's just upset," Avery had pleaded, but Lilith hadn't wanted to listen to anything she had said, instead deciding to lash out again and try to harm Avery.

She had managed to leap across the table fully this time, her claws coming within an inch of Avery's throat before her chains had ripped her backwards, sending her staggering into the wall behind her.

Avery had avoided her claws, and she slammed on the button for the guards.

The lack of monitoring by the guards had horrified Avery, and she had left a note about it with the prison coordinator - the norm was to have at least one guard in every interrogation, only leaving if the Alpha or interrogator had asked them to.

Avery had never said that it was okay for them to leave - she didn't trust Lilith, not even a little bit.

Sonya was in agreement with that for once, usually trying to persuade Avery that everyone had some good in her. A mother that could abandon her child horrified Sonya, and it was Avery who was for once doing the understanding.

"Why did you leave them?" Avery had asked before she left, her cold eyes locking with Lilith's furious ones.

"I had no choice," Lilith had spat, "they would have killed him."

That had left Avery with a lot of thinking to do.

Lilith had been dragged away foaming at the mouth before Avery could ask any more questions.

Lilith had looked rabid, and she was fighting the guards with every inch they walked.

Avery wouldn't have wanted to be in the guard's shoes, because she knew Lilith was strong - she had been a very well-trained rogue before becoming a Luna, and she technically still had her capabilities until the de-marking ceremony that Zephyr was organising as soon as he got back to his own pack.

Apparently, according to a guard Avery had spoken to in the cells, Lilith had been thrown in seclusion for her attempted attack on Avery.

Avery had pleaded with them not to put her there on her behalf, but the guards couldn't break procedure.

She wasn't sure how to tell her people that Lilith thought she was a man-stealing whore.

She felt offended by the accusation at the time, but now she was just concerned for the girl who was once her close friend - obviously, something had happened when she had vanished, and Avery was curious as to what it was.

Sonya hadn't felt Lilith's wolf at all.

Their wolves had been close before Emmett was born, running together whenever they saw each other in person - her absence was strange, and made Sonya and Avery nervous about what might happen next.

Avery stares out her window, watching the clouds and mountaintops pass by as she contemplates everything she discovered over the past two days.

Before she tried to unpack the Roman debacle, she instructed one of her Generals to file a sectioning request.

She wanted Lilith to be taken into a Council hospital and analysed, because the level of escalation into insanity was hugely uncommon.

Being away from Zephyr could have effected her, but it certainly wouldn't have made her wolf dormant and her lose her grip on reality.

Settling on her side, she exhaled quietly, closing her eyes.

Her phone vibrates in her pocket, and she reluctantly pulls it out of her pocket, her heart sinking as she moves.

Once she realises that it's Zephyr, she feels a little relieved, opening the message to reveal her friend and her godson.

Zephyr is beaming at the camera, and his tiny son is in his arms, grinning at it with his toothless gums.

Avery grins herself once she sees the photo, instantly replying with compliments for her godson.

'He's so beautiful, he definitely gets that from me', Avery texts, adding some winking and laughing emojis for good measure.

'You wish, it's all from his daddy', is Zephyr's immediate response.

Avery chuckles silently to herself at that, rolling her eyes and checking her emails while her phone is on.

Emmett looks like a mirror image of Zephyr, except his eyes are grey rather than brown.

They don't look like Lilith's green orbs - the baby doesn't actually look like her in the slightest, which Avery supposes may be a relief for Zephyr - he won't have to see Lilith's face in Emmett every day.

Emmett had been taken off his ventilators, and some of his feeding tubes had been removed that morning, the nurses and doctors having decided that he was growing as he should be.

Avery had immediately pencilled in a visit to see her godson the following week, because she hadn't been able to hold him the three other times she visited.

In her emails is a chat request, and she raises an eyebrow as she clicks it, the pop-up taking her straight to her text messages.

'hi, it's Roman, I wanted to start a new text thread because our old one was very hostile, sorry if this was a bad idea', is what the text reads.

Avery takes a moment, and then slowly considers a response, checking the time it was sent at.

It was sent almost two hours ago, and she shrugs her shoulders slightly, beginning to type.

Everyone else on the jet, bar Kathleen, is staring at Avery intently, watching her move slightly every few minutes.

Kathleen silently gets up from her seat, walking past Avery - and as she does, tapping her on the shoulder gently - and towards the bathroom suite.

Avery stops her typing immediately, furrowing her brows and quickly following her friend.

As soon as the door closes and locks, Kathleen sits on the edge of the bathtub.

"What is it, love?" Avery asks, kneeling beside her and holding her hand, looking up at her.

"I'm pregnant," Kathleen whispers, her face paling as she says it out loud.

Avery gasps, clapping one of her hands over her mouth as she bolts up.

"Okay, that's brilliant!" She whisper-yells, trying not to jump up and down with excitement.

Kathleen wanted a big family, but Mitchell had wanted to wait until he had a stable position within pack borders so that he was able to be there and help Kathleen with every aspect of the childcare.

Kathleen doesn't respond or share her excitement, and Avery furrows her brows in concern, shaking Kathleen's hand softly.

"What's up, why is this a problem?" Avery asks quietly, sitting beside Kathleen on the edge of the tub.

I don't like where this is going, Sonya whispers in Avery's head. Avery tries to shut her out and quell her own worries, to try her best to focus on her friend, but she isn't sure what's about to be said, and she's inwardly questioning if she's confident that she actually wants to know what's wrong.

"I don't know if it's Mitch's," Kathleen gasps, suddenly dissolving into tears.

Avery's jaw drops, and she immediately pulls Kathleen into her arms, patting her back and pulling Kathleen's hair out of her face.

"Okay, that's okay, we can sort it all out," Avery whispers soothingly, gently lowering them to the ground as she stares at the wall ahead of her.

We shouldn't have asked, why did we ask? What do we do now, I can't face Mitch knowing this, Sonya howls.

If she didn't tell us she might not have told anybody, Avery responds grimly; we don't know what happened yet.

"Who's the father if it isn't Mitch?" Avery asks, glancing at the bathroom door nervously.

She made sure every room of the jet was soundproofed because she didn't particularly care for hearing people defecate from a room away.

There's no risk that anyone can hear their conversation, but she's still worried - male wolves can be extremely territorial about their mates and children. Mitchell is incredibly protective of Kathleen, even with Avery.

"I think he might be a vampire," Kathleen murmurs, gasping for air around her sobs.

Avery winces, pulling Kathleen into a tighter hug.

"You know what that means, then," Avery whispers grimly, looking down at her best friend and kissing her forehead.

"I can't keep it," she mumbles, looking at the wall of the bathroom as she sits back onto the bath ledge.

"It would kill you to keep it," Avery whispers, rubbing Kathleen's knee comfortingly.

"It was one night, one stupid, stupid night," Kathleen sobs, tears running down her cheeks again.

"I know, I know sweetheart. You're not the first, and you won't be the last," she murmurs, glancing at her friend, "when was it?"

"About a week and a half ago," Kathleen whispers, and Avery frowns slightly.

"Did you get his name or coven by any chance?" Avery asks, and Kathleen looks up at her angrily.

"I don't have to tell him, he doesn't need to know," she snaps, and Avery shakes her head quickly.

"No, I need to know if he could have known who you are," Avery hurriedly explains, and Kathleen's face softens gradually.

"His name was Max, and he was from the coven in the east, the one with 'star' in its name," she mutters, standing up and pacing the small bathroom, tugging at her hair.

Taking a second to think, Sonya confirms to Avery that the coven in question is relatively peaceful, especially with them. They're quite close to the Rapid Rock pack, and Avery has contracts with their leader.

"I'll mindlink the doctor and have an ultrasound set up for when we get back. That way we can figure out if it is a vampire baby, or Mitch's," Avery sighs, and Kathleen nods.

"Are there any other surprises that I need to know about?" Avery grumbles, massaging her temples as she feels a headache coming on.

"No, I swear that's it," Kathleen mumbles, surprising Avery by pulling her into a tight hug.

"Thank you for not killing me," Kathleen whispers, and Avery lets out a snort of derision.

"Don't thank me yet, I still might," Avery grits out, forcing herself to laugh.

Avery can't look in Mitchell's direction for the rest of the flight without feeling guilt.

Kathleen is the last person she'd expect to cheat, and she's disappointed in her friend.

She'll tell her that later, because she really doesn't think it's a good idea to make her any more upset at the moment.

As soon as the plane lands, Avery yanks Kathleen away from a confused Mitchell, saying that there's an issue at the centre that the two of them need to attend to.

The men buy the excuse without much of a fight, because there's no reason for them to fight it or doubt it.

Avery and Kathleen are collected by one of Avery's generals and brought straight to the pack hospital.

The journey is entirely silent, and Avery takes the time to finally compose a response to Roman.

'hey! I think it's a great idea, it means it's a fresh start! Did you land back in your pack safely?'

She feels like her response to the message is good enough - it's more neutral than anything, and it shows she's open to change and to taking a chance on them - or, she hopes it does.

Avery gets comfortable for the short journey, running a hand down her face as she breathes out slowly and tries to focus on something other than the jolting and bouncing car.

A glance at Kathleen tells her that she isn't the only one thinking the ride is particularly bumpy, with Kathleen looking an interesting shade of grey.

As soon as they arrive at the hospital, Avery thanks the general and then leads Kathleen indoors, smiling and nodding to the nurses.

Usually, she's in a much more frantic state when she enters this building, and the surprised nurses notice her calm demeanour.

"Hello, Alpha! What are you looking for today?" A nurse asks at reception with a broad smile on her face.

"We're here to look at the ultrasound wing. I think we need to upgrade the technology, but I want to check in with the doctors," Avery bluffs, "we have an appointment with Dr Montgomery for eleven."

The nurse types on her keyboard for a minute and then beams at them.

"Yes you do, that's floor three today, have a good day," she grins, and Avery sends her one back, nodding and thanking her before they go on their way.

"Why are you so quiet?" Avery asks curiously, glancing over her shoulder at Kathleen.

"Because I think I'm going to throw up," Kathleen hisses at her, and Avery blinks at her, hurrying her into a bathroom.

Kathleen rushes into a stall, and Avery hauls herself onto the sink counter, swinging her legs as she waits for her friend.

The sounds of vomiting fill the room, and Avery scrunches up her sensitive nose as she tries to avoid breathing in the acidic scent.

After a minute, Kathleen is done, and she flushes the toilet while Avery snags a free bottle of water from the machine for her.

Kathleen washes her hands while Avery opens the water, handing the bottle to her while they walk out.

"Thank you," Kathleen breathes, pressing the button to the elevator.

"Don't mention it. Seriously, please don't," Avery grimaces, stepping into the elevator and pressing the third button.

The elevator is weirdly slow, and Avery mindlinks the hospital mechanics to take a look at them before she gets out.

Avery navigates the floor easily, having glanced at the directory on her phone while Kathleen emptied the contents of her stomach into a poor toilet.