Chains of the Past

chapter ten: home, sweet home

Alec was going to commit fratricide. Reece was going to die. That is, if he didn't shut up.

"Alec, did you see her? She was gorgeous! Oh, my gods, I just wanted to swoop down and grab her and take her somewhere where I could just—"

"Reece, I'm going to give you exactly three seconds to run before I murder your ass," Alec growled, turning to face him. Reece just rolled his eyes and flopped onto the roof. Alec huffed and turned back around, facing Ava's driveway.

He had to admit, her truck was sexy. It looked like she had even worked on it herself, which gave her some points in his book but he didn't want to like her. She was the end of his fun and he didn't even get a choice about who it was. He knew that he would eventually have to end his serially single-one-night-stand ways but he didn't think it would be so soon.

Suddenly, he heard a soft click, the sound of a lock unlocking. He suddenly straightened up and smacked Reece. Before Reece could open his big mouth, Alec grabbed him and pulled him closer to the edge where Ava had popped into sight. This was Alec's first time really looking at her and she was stunning. The dress she had chosen was certainly doing great things to her figure and to his body.

She was wearing boots, holding a bag and heels in one hand, her keys dangling from the other. He watched her open the passenger door and place the bag and heels there. Then she quickly walked to the other side and hopped in. She hadn't started the car yet, when suddenly, there was no car. Alec leaned forward, startled. What the fuck just happened? He looked over to Reece, who was slack-jawed as well.

"Should we go after her?" Reece asked. Alec rolled his eyes and grunted.

"Yeah, that would be a great idea, minus the fact that we can't even see her," he said. "We'll just have to wait here for her to come back."

Ava was practically dead on her feet when she finally reached the clan house. Freard and Irz had already hopped out, waiting on her to follow. She leaned her head back against the headrest and closed her eyes. Honestly, Ava just needed a minute. She hadn't really given herself one since Jace had come and she really needed one. But that would have to wait.

She opened her eyes and pushed open her door. Freard was again holding her bag and heels. She smiled at him gratefully and closed the door. They walked silently up to the front door. She glanced at her phone to see that it was already four in the morning. Ava would need to get back to Jace pretty quickly if she didn't want him to think something was up.

Irz unlocked the door and pushed it open, not staying to hold it for her or Freard. Asshole, she thought.

Once they were all settled in the conference room, Ava started speaking.

"So, daily report for yesterday and the day before? Everything going well here?" Ava asked. She stopped in practically every day to check on everyone but with Jace being here she had less time to slip away.

"Yes, Alpha. Everything has been going well but we need to set a date for the young ones to go on their hunt. A lot of them are getting antsy and driving me crazy," Irz sighed, rubbing at his eyes.

"Okay. We'll most likely have to do it tonight because... I'll be going out of town for a bit," Ava spoke. She was a little hesitant telling them about her having to go but she needed to. Even though she was considered an exile to the Nephilim community, all the bad shit going down with the Tuatha de Danann exceeded stupid things like exile.

"Wait, what? Why?" Irz sat up, staring at her.

Ava gave a quick rundown of what Jace had told her, mostly focusing on the part about Breas stealing the Cauldron and what that meant about her return to the community.

"That's idiotic. They didn't want you in the first place but now you have to go back and save their asses? You shouldn't go Ava. You have more important things here, not with those jerks," Irz stated, rather passionately. "The Nephilim think that they are all so amazing but now they can't handle one threat? What is the point of them even policing the supernatural community?"

"I know, Irz, but its either I go to them or they come to me. I don't want them anywhere near our home. I've worked so hard for you and the other supes. They need to feel safe here," Ava explained. Irz just looked disappointed.

"I'm going with you," Freard spoke, startling both Ava and Irz. She had honestly forgotten that he was with them.

Ava went to deny him but he quickly continued on. "I don't really belong here, Alpha. I found this to be my home with you. Where you go, so will I. I will go, even if you tell me no. It is my job to protect you and I will."

Freard's words brought Ava to tears. She had never really felt welcome anywhere she went. This place, Parkwood, was beginning to become home though, thanks to Irz and the clan and all the supes that she had met and helped. She didn't know if they had even felt her presence in a significant way, but Freard's words assured her that she was wanted, for the first time in her life.

She got up and gave both of them a hug. "Okay, boys. Irz, tell the young ones to be ready tonight and I'll see when Jace plans to leave. Freard, pack your things. We may have to keep you hidden from Jace but that shouldn't be too difficult."

As Irz left, Ava starting gathering her things but then remembered her dress. Best change first, then tackle the whole Jace thing. Once she was in a relatively normal outfit, she got into her truck and pulled out of the driveway to grab breakfast, as an excuse to not have been home.

Hopefully, Jace could overlook her being gone once she brought him food. Otherwise, she would have to tell some other lie and she was just too tired to think of another one.