As soon as Greyson pushed opened the heavy doors, all conversations stopped as dozens of curious eyes landed on me. Despite my growing desire to hide behind Greyson in order to shield myself from the multi-colored eyes that bore into my body, I gripped Greyson's hand tighter and lifted my chin to hide behind my mask of faux-confidence. I saw the corners of Greyson's mouth slightly turn up out of the corner of my eye which helped build a shred of true confidence. I allowed Greyson to lead me to the head of the table with Matthew and Natalie sitting on our right side, their familiar faces causing me to relax a bit. As we made our way to our spots, the pack members stood up as we passed them and bowed their heads. Once we made it to the head, Greyson gave them a curt nod before saying, "Good evening, Blood Crescent."

"Good evening Alpha Greyson," they responded instantly.

"As you all may know, I have found my mate and your future Luna, Avery. You will treat her the same as you would treat me and if any of you dare disrespect or belittle her," he said, his voice becoming extremely low, "I will mercilessly rip your pathetic spine from your body." A shiver ran down my spine not only due to the intense fire that burned in his eyes, but also because I knew that he was 100% serious. "Am I understood?" he asked, addressing the pack once more.

"Yes, Alpha Greyson," they said, causing him to give them a satisfied nod before he sat down and since our hands were still firmly interlocked, he brought me down with him and the pack instantly followed suit. There were plates stacked high with delicious looking food that the pack passed around and Greyson instantly filled mine with everything they had to offer and once everyone had gotten their plate filled, Greyson took the first bite and the pack soon followed, their conversations that had been taking place before we arrived returned at full volume.

"You look beautiful, Avery," Natalie complimented as I ate a spoonful of creamy mashed potatoes that simply melted on my tongue. They were delicious.

"Thank you," I said, covering my mouth with my hand so that the contents of my mouth wouldn't be on full display as I spoke.

"Yeah, Avery. You look nice," Matthew agreed, choosing his words carefully so that Greyson wouldn't get upset.

"Thank you. You both look great too," I said, and it was completely true. Matthew was wearing a nice dress shirt with a bow tie and slacks and Natalie wore a simple, yet sexy black dress.

"Nice doesn't begin to describe how you look," Greyson interjected, his smooth voice causing tingles to move from my head down to my toes.

"Thank you, Greyson," I thanked, though I didn't completely meet his eyes.

"Hey, what's wrong?" He softly asked as he cupped my cheek and moved my head so that I had no choice but to get lost in the pools of color he called eyes.

"Nothing," I whispered as I noticed eyes land on us and conversations became quiet.

"Don't lie to me Avery. I know something's wrong so tell me-"

"I'm fine Greyson, I promise," I said cutting him off as I placed my hand on top of his before I gently removed it from my face. His jaw clenched at my action, but to my relief he merely placed his hand on my knee.

"So, Avery," a redhead she-wolf said, saying my name as if it left a sour taste in her mouth, "what exactly are you planning to do for us?" Something about her tone rubbed my wolf and I the wrong way and she could tell. A smirk grew on her face before she continued. "I mean, we all know about Greyson's little Hunt and if you couldn't handle a runt like Andrew, then how can we expect you to-" I didn't realize what I was doing until my fingers wrapped themselves around the girl's neck, causing gasps to fill the air as rage courses through my veins.

"You will not speak on what you don't know," I lowly growled as she clawed as my fist around her neck. "What happened with those people is none of your business and if you think that you can talk down to me like that, try it again I dare you." By now her face was turning red and her movements were becoming slower and weaker, but I didn't care. I needed to show them, show myself that no matter what I would never play the victim ever again.

"Avery," Greyson growled, anger evident in his voice, but I didn't care. She disrespected me therefore I would be the one to fix it. I was done letting others boss me around, Greyson most of all.

"Apologize," I demanded, causing the she-wolf to let out a weak scuff.

"You are not my Luna," she choked out with a weak voice before she spat in my face.

A growl escaped from deep within Greyson, but before he could act on it, I placed my hands on either side of the She-wolf's head, prepared to snap her neck, but despite the position she was in, she laughed. "Wow, you're much stronger than Katherine was. Or at least I think you are," she taunted, smirking at Greyson as she spoke, causing him to growl as he made a move toward her.

"Don't you dare speak that name," Greyson said so low that most would mistake it for another growl. But I heard every word, and by the growing smirk on the she-wolf's face, she heard it too.

"Greyson, stand down," I lowly ordered, not taking my eyes off the girl in my hands.

"Avery-," he said in a warning tone, obviously displeased that I was not only keeping him from his target but giving him orders as well, but I didn't care.

"I said stand down," I growled knowing full and well that I would face the punishment of this as soon as we were home, but at the moment I didn't care. He let out a low growl but did as he was told nonetheless.

"Aw, is wittle Greyson afraid that his weak flower of a mate will be crushed when she-" before she could even finish her sentence, I effortlessly snapped her fragile neck, a low crack ringing through the air as her body became motionless. But I didn't kill her. Her neck would slowly heal and she'd be fine by midday tomorrow with a terrible pain coursing through her body. I knew because Phoenix had done it to me plenty times. But the difference between Phoenix and I was that he did it out of selfish desire to cause pain while I did it to defend myself and to prove to the pack and myself that I'm not that weak girl in the attic anymore and that I never would be again. But at the same time, I hated the satisfaction that coursed through my veins as I dropped her.

However, I straightened up and looked at the dozens of curious and confused eyes that found me and resisted the urge to shrink back. "Ashton," I said, my eyes falling on a dirty-blonde man with blue eyes, the same features I remembered from Greyson's Warriors, "take her to the cells and-"

"Let me know when she's awake," Greyson interrupted, anger swimming his eyes as he looked at me.

"Greyson-" I started but the look in his eyes cut me off. I swallowed and turned back to the pack members just as Ashton and a few others were taking care of the she-wolf. Natalie and Matthew were looking at me with a mix of pride and something else I couldn't quite read. I looked down at the food that was on my plate unfinished before I looked back at Greyson whose intense eyes were still on me. I narrowed my eyes at him before I turned back to the people in front of me.

"It was lovely meeting you all," I said with a smile before I walked toward the door.

"Avery," Greyson called, but I continued walking, 100% aware that once we were out of his peoples' sight I'd be at his mercy. So, as soon as my foot was outside the threshold, I ran toward the house knowing it'd take Greyson at least fifteen seconds to come after me without it looking too suspicious or aggressive.

I heard his low growl as I was running up the stairs toward the bedroom. My heartbeat increased as I desperately hurried into Greyson's room and slammed the door shut before I shoved the chair he kept in the corner of the room in front of it.

"Avery!" Greyson yelled, rage evident in his voice. A small squeak like sound escaped my lips as I booked it to the bathroom and locked the door as well. No matter how many times I said I wasn't afraid, the sound of wood breaking and seeing the pure ferocity that burned in his eyes proved me wrong. I was petrified.

"What were you thinking?" Greyson demanded as he slowly stalked toward me, for every step forward I took one back.

"Greyson I-"

"You acted on impulse instead of reasoning, Avery!" He yelled. "In front of the whole pack!" I flinched at his harsh tone. "I could've handled it."

"Handled it?" I seethed. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize I was a little girl who needed to hold daddy's hand all the time."

"Avery you are-"

"What?" I snapped. "What am I? Oh wait, don't answer that because despite all the time we've spent together not once have you asked about me. All you've done is boss me around and terrorize me into wondering if my next moment will be my last. But I'll tell you who I am, Greyson. I am a traumatized orphan who, despite her best efforts, is turning into Phoenix. Into you. Beating people who disrespect me instead of talking things out like decent people and only resorting to violence if it's absolutely necessary." Tears quickly filled my eyes as I shook my head, the horrible realization sinking in. I was becoming like those who hurt me and countless others.

"Avery," he said, his voice softening as he approached me, but I quickly moved away.

"What about me makes you so angry?" I asked, my own anger slowly filling me like water. "What do you hate so much about me that makes you feel it's okay to abuse me, Greyson? To hurt me. To force me into situations that you know I'm not okay with. You know, you almost had me fooled today with your soft side charade, but now I see it's only because I acted like your little lap dog. That is over."

"Avery," he said as he cupped my cheeks in such a way that I could not escape, "I don't hate you, I just-"

"-want to teach me discipline, right? God, Greyson. Is that what you say to convince yourself it's okay?" I angrily growled as I shoved him, causing him to stumble back and growl. "Come at me Greyson," I baited as I shoved him again. "What are you going to do huh?" I said as I delivered a semi-weak punch to his stomach that caused him to growl louder in addition to his eyes transitioning. "Show me Greyson. Show me exactly how much you hate-"

Suddenly, his lips were on mine. Fireworks erupted between us as he roughly pulled me closer, thus deepening the kiss. Without my consent, my lips started moving against his, butterflies filling my stomach and my knees turning to jelly. A soft mom escaped my lips as his tongue pushed into my mouth, pure ecstasy flowing through me as he effortlessly picked me up and pressed my back against the wall, our tongues battling for dominance. Yes. This is what I've wanted from the moment our eyes locked. This is what I've wanted ever since I was a pup. But then I remembered everything I've had to endure to get to this point and I snapped out of my lust filled trance.

"Get off me!" I growled as I shoved him once more and since it caught him off guard, he stumbled into the wall. "Sorry, but the last time I checked abuse isn't romantic."

Greyson was still leaning against the wall taking labored breaths as if he'd just gotten done training or running. My eyebrows furrowed and despite how I was feeling the words "are you okay" pressed past my lips. He shook his head as he pushed himself off the wall.

"I'm more messed up than you know, Avery," he made out in almost a pained voice, but before I could ask any questions he continued. "I can't be here with you right now." Without warning, he suddenly ran out of the bathroom. A few moments later he called "Matthew will be here soon. Don't leave the house" before the door slammed.

Confusion overtook my body as I slowly walked to the bedroom window just in time to see him shift into his massive beast. Once again, as if he sensed me, he looked right at me. An unsettling wolfish grin spread across his face and he had a different look in his eye. Suddenly, the look and smirk disappeared and he shook his head before running off into the forest.

My eyebrows furrowed as I slowly backed away from the window. There was an obvious conflict between Greyson and his wolf, but at that moment, I didn't care. I'd clearly set my boundaries, and if Greyson ever tried to overstep them again, he'd pay. Even if it killed me.

***