The conference is boring, like they all are.

Avery is shocked by the amount of packs present, as she had expected this to be a small meeting with just a few packs.

The majority of the packs in the country are there, which makes for some mildly awkward conversations when Avery has to greet some of the men she's slept with.

She gets a dirty look or two off some of the Lunas, but she brushes it off with ease, not particularly caring about their opinion of her. If they don't like the fact she slept with their mates - before they had been mated and marked - they had better be blaming their males just as much as they blame her.

The packs are seated in alphabetical order at round tables, and Avery is tugged away with Roman to his spot, much to York's delight.

There could only be two representatives per pack, usually the Alpha and his Luna, but since York was unmated and Avery hadn't been present, he had brought his father.

Hence, Avery was exiled to the Lancaster table.

Her presence drew some confused looks, as most of the Alphas knew her as the Deputy Alpha of Rapid Rock.

One Alpha in particular at the table knew her in more detail and took pleasure in shooting her smug looks when she joined them.

She ignored him, turning her back on him and facing Roman to speak with him about anything that popped into her head.

Alpha Zephyr was sitting with them too, and he noticed the looks being shot at Avery, and so, joined in on the conversation.

Avery is pleased to see somebody she knows well, and she happily engages in conversation with him.

"Any sign of your mate yet?" She asks eagerly, and a massive smile descends onto his face.

She releases a squeal at the sight of it, grabbing his hand and squeezing it in excitement and delight for him.

"How did you find her?!" Avery exclaims, sitting forward in her seat.

"As soon as I left your pack that day, I found her. She was a rogue, for reasons out of her control," he says quietly with a small smile on his face that expands as he speaks of his mate.

"I called your brother and told him, I thought he would have passed on the message," he beams, "I truly think it was because of the conversation we had. I had to accept I may be alone before I could truly appreciate a mate."

Avery is stunned and then smiles.

"I'm like a foster home for you cubs," she teases, "after I deal with you, you go on to find your forever home."

Roman chuckles at that, patting Avery on the shoulder, while Zephyr squeezes her hands back.

"You will find your soulmate, even if they're not a soul-based mate," he states, his tone sounding wise and firm.

Avery is a little surprised, so she just nods silently, appreciating her friendship with this male a lot.

"Where is she today?" She asks with a grin, "I'd love to meet the woman who tamed the beast."

"She's actually just up-" Zephyr is cut off by a familiar face to Avery.

"Oh, stop with this shit. I don't know why you're putting on such a nice act, you bitch," the man sneers, leaning back in his seat and scowling.

"It's not an act, Scott," she responds coldly, staring into his scarred face.

She can see his hackles rising, and she remains calm.

"You ruined my life," he seethes, and Avery raises a brow.

"No, you ruined your life. I was just there to witness it," she replies, her tone bored while she examines her white varnished nails.

Scott stands up, his chair flying behind him.

The chatter in the hall hushes, and numerous Alphas stand up, watching Scott warily.

Avery also stands up, with Roman and Zephyr moving with her, flanking her in case she makes a move.

"You whore, do you have any idea what you did?" He growls, his eyes flashing dangerously fast, as he paces towards her.

Roman and Zephyr quickly move to stand in front of her, staring down at the shorter man.

"She has you two under her spell, I see," he snarls, and Avery snorts from behind the two men.

"No, they just aren't horrible people who my wolf hates," she sing-songs, playing with the end of her braid calmly.

He lunges between the two men, and Roman grabs his arm, forcing him back.

"Alpha Petty, sit in your seat. I have no problems restraining you for the duration of the conference," Roman scolds sternly, as Zephyr stands beside Avery.

"She's a slut," the man snarls, spit flying from his mouth as he tries to swipe at Avery.

"She's standing right here," Avery whispers, walking up to Scott slowly, and in a flash, grabbing his hair and yanking his head back, she puts her face up to his mangled one.

"Watch your fucking mouth," she snarls gutturally, her eyes flashing golden as Sonya makes herself known.

Scott flinches as her canines quickly descend.

"I'll finish what I started six years ago," she growls, her voice becoming low and sounding more animal than human.

He nods as best he can, and she releases him, flinging him back into his chair, and returning to her seat.

The hall is dead quiet, and Avery catches Meredith's eye from the table next to hers.

"You okay?" The other girl mouths, furrowing her brows.

Avery merely nods, before catching York's eyes.

You need to stay away from him at all costs, he links her, and father and son both look incredibly distressed and concerned.

It wasn't my idea to send me with Roman knowing he might be here, Avery shoots back before shutting off the link.

The hall gradually begins filling up with chatter, the dark-haired girl beside Scott looking terrified out of her mind.

Avery feels pity for the girl but doesn't say anything out loud, deciding she'd pull her to the side later and explain.

"What was that about?" Zephyr mutters to Avery, looking concerned.

"That was about an Alpha who can't let the past lie. We had some issues a few years ago, and I'm the one who did that to his face," she says grimly, clenching her jaw.

She hears Zephyr exhale heavily before she spots him rubbing his chin.

"Good on you, he's a jackass," he mumbles back, nodding to her.

"Thank you for standing for me, I really do appreciate it," she adds quietly, and he gives her a weak smile.

"No problem, little bear," he chuckles, rubbing her shoulder comfortingly.

Roman clears his throat softly.

"Are you okay?" He asks quietly, looking closely at Avery.

"Yes, God, I'm fine," she sighs, rolling her eyes.

"He said some mean things," Roman says hesitantly, and Avery stares at him.

"Mean things? Jesus, do you know many girls, or have any female friends? That was nothing," she smirks, shaking her head, "It was like being insulted by a twelve-year-old."

The man can clearly hear her, and he tenses up, before the girl beside him puts her hand on his arm, whispering rapidly and looking terrified of what could happen.

Avery watches the scene in amusement, surprised by the type of mate the man ended up with. He always went for the loud, mouthy females when they were younger, so to see him with a practical mouse is odd for her.

Roman rubs his neck awkwardly, before sighing.

"Ave, if he presses charges, I'll have to write you up," Roman mumbles, not looking at her.

Avery exhales slowly through her nose, before putting her attention back onto her hair.

"It'll just join my file, I understand. I shouldn't have gone near him, but he was provoking me, and I'll be making that clear if he tries to say anything else," she responds evenly.