Twisting Fate

Adjusting

Chapter 12

Travis POV

I didn't think the screeching would ever stop. Bethany had plastered on this refined, strong woman appearance. When in reality, she's just a spoilt little brat.

The second she hugged me in the field while I was on my way to the fight, I knew she smelled Avery. But she just wrinkled her nose. However, when she came into the pack house she made herself at home. She checked all the rooms till she found mine. That's when all hell broke loose.

"Why is there another female's scent all over the place?" Bethany asked me. "Cuz one lives here. We share a house, a room, and a bed." I answered. I'm not going to be polite. I don't like this girl. Whether she is my mate or not, I won't accept her. She can't replace Avery. No one can.

"EXCUSE ME?" That was her first screech.

"You heard me. Avery sleeps with me." I answered.

"I understand a man has needs but come on. That's rediculous. She isn't your mate. Your wolf will reject her so no worries." She scoffed.

I crossed my arms and stood in the doorway. "You need to leave. I have to change and go check on Avery. It's my fault she got hurt."

Bethany spun around and shot daggers at me. She had been admiring my room but it seems I struck a nerve of some sort.

"You can change right here in front of me. Oh, and you will NOT be going to see that little tramp. She's pathetic, weak, and has no stature. You deserve much better. Like me. I come from a powerful line. We will have strong offspring." She rattled off.

My anger flared. My wolf wanted to rip this girl's throat out for speaking about "his" Avery that way. I'm telling you, he harbors unnatural affection to her. Probably more than myself.

"I suggest you watch your tongue you little brat." I warned. Bethany gaped at me, jaw dropped and all.

"Avery is a million times the wolf you will ever be. Not only is she strong, skillful and intuitive, she holds compassion for all around her. Something you don't seem to understand."

"Look," Bethany began as she made her way to the dressers. "I don't care about her. She doesn't matter. Just change your clothes and you can show me around my new home." She smiled at me.

That smiled faltered as soon as she opened a drawer containing, um, well Avery's underwear.

"What is this?" Bethany asked, holding up a pair of my favorites. They are black lace with red trims and design. Boy was she killer in that set. I grinned, remembering the last time she wore them. "lingerie." I answered coolly.

Bethany threw the lace and started.depositing everything in the drawer, onto the ground. The whole while she growled and screeched.

"Her smell is EVERYWHERE! Get rid of it." She demanded.

"Don't know how." I countered simply.

"UGGGGGH!" She screamed.

Then she began total destruction of my room. Ripping things, smashing, throwing, completely dismantling anything and everything Avery has touched.

That went on for a few hours. Several times a day for two weeks.  Until Avery showed up.

She looked strange. She held an amused glint in her eye as she watched Tornado Bethany wreck havoc. However, her eyes were distant. They held none of her usual sass or mischievousness.

James told me the doc had said her wolf was nowhere to be found. No one could sense it. That Avery was virtually human when she was brought in. He said that it would take an extreme amount of unbearable pain for a wolf to neglect it's human and refuse to heal them.

I have a feeling it was my fault. She saw my mate. Her heart probably broke. Mine is breaking just thinking of hurting her.

But what hurt me the most was seeing that I didn't get there in time. I refused to look at Avery. I could smell her blood. But i didn't want to acknowledge she had been hurt. I didn't know what to do. But there's no pain like the howl she let out. That heartbreaking, mournful cry.

I shook my head to clear the memory. I hadn't intervened when Avery grabbed Bethany because I knew Avery wouldn't really hurt her unless she felt threatened. We both knew Bethany wasn't even competition to her. But mostly, I didn't want to.

God, my mind is everywhere. I can't think straight lately. It's only been a day since Avery woke up.

I keep replaying that image. The image of tears running down her beautiful face. Avery never cried. Not since she first got here. She wasn't crying when I found her. Even though I knew she was in pain. No, Avery only cried when she was scared that first night. The other nights she just screamed. But she was crying yesterday. Before she left I saw them. Her tears.

What did she mean by goodbye? We're in the same pack. We live in the same house. What does "goodbye" mean?