C12 Morning Fiasco

***THE DAY BEFORE THE JOINING CEREMONY***

Ava was on her morning run with Ethan that day, this was one of their favorite activities together. Unfortunately, Ray never joined them on their runs either because he was always busy, or for the fact was just too lazy for the exercise being the real reason, but it was a great way for she and Ethan to engage in conversations without Ray's annoying interferences. Ethan had woken her up that morning for their normal routine, they'd put on their tracksuits and headed for the road.

The both of them ran for about a mile away from their house before they stopped, panting to catch their breaths. After they did, they picked up the pace and decided to race along the way. "Last one to reach the gas station is a rotten wolf," Ethan teased. Ethan had his car parked at the gas station for repairs, so after their run he'd drive them home in it.

“Oh, it’s on!” Ava said as she took on the challenge and they began their race. Ethan was running ahead of her by a smaller distance, he was obviously faster than her but she wouldn’t let him win, no way would she be the rotten wolf this time around, she increased her pace and was already catching up before she stepped on a foot along the way and fell to the ground, spraining her ankle; it hurt like hell.

“Arrrgghhh!!!” She squirmed.

“Are you ok bunny?” Ethan asked, turning back as soon as she fell, he ran towards her and down at her with creased brows as he helped her sit up from the ground.

“Let me take a look at it,” he crouched down and tried touching the part where she injured, examining it with his hand, she flinched as he pressed on her sprained ankle.

Ethan shook his head at her reaction.

“This doesn't look too good. Hop on my back,” he dragged her up and bent over.

“I'll get you to the gas station then from there we'll get to the pack's healer to see if she can apply something that'll make the pain go away. Tomorrow is your joining ceremony dear; we can't have our Luna limping like an old man without a walking stick on her introduction,” he said mimicking his old man-like expression.

Ava smiled as she climbed his back with a bit of difficulty, maybe she would have laughed at his joke if she weren't in so much pain at that moment.

“Sorry bunny,” he muttered in an effort to console her.

He helped her up and lifted her on his back, Ethan was so strong, much stronger than Ray. Ava had always imagined that if she were given a chance to pick who would make a much better Alpha between Ethan and Ray, she would’ve have picked Ethan. Not because she didn’t like Ray, but because he wasn't as strong as Ethan. It made Ava wonder sometimes why the Alpha couldn't be chosen like the Luna was and the next in line always had to be the Alpha's son. She loved Ray, but sometimes he showed too much weakness, too much for an Alpha, a perfect example is the fact that he gets so tired whenever the three of them exercise and now he refuses to come with them anymore.

After positioning herself well on Ethan’s back, they both continued their journey to the gas station. Ethan carried her on his back effortlessly, gripping her thighs by the sides while they continued their conversation, they were already about ten blocks away from the gas station when suddenly she perceived that familiar fragrance, that unmistakable scent, she tilted her head and spotted him from the side of Ethan’s neck.

**********

This was not good, Ava thought, Lucas was standing in front of a parked Mercedes opposite the gas station, holding a mobile phone to his ear, at the first sight of her, he gave a look that didn’t hide the fact that he was enraged by seeing she was being carried by another man. Her scent wasn’t covered, and even though her face was hidden behind Ethan, he knew she was the one. He put the phone into his pocket and started striding towards them angrily, his expression similar to that of a fighter who’d just entered into a boxing ring, walking towards his opponent, tightening his fists and getting ready to beat the bastards out of him, and worse, Ethan was still unaware of what was happening.

“Put me down Ethan,” Ava demanded softly behind him, Lucas looked like he was coming here to kill him.

“But we’re almost there!” Ethan stopped and turned to face the blonde he carried on his back, oblivious to the fact that an angry Alpha was headed towards his way. “Is anything the matter?” He asked concernedly.

“No, I’m fine, just put me down, now Ethan!” She yelled.

“Alright! Alright!! Sheesh!” He scoffed, wondering the reason for her sudden outburst.

He put her down just in time before Lucas reached where the both of them were standing. Ava stepped forward defensively in front of her friend, he would have to go through her first if he wanted to touch Ethan. At that point, Lucas came within sight of him and it all began to make sense to Ethan of course, but he didn’t say anything, not yet.

Lucas stopped in front of Ava then, giving Ethan the most threatening glare behind her, he didn’t let out a word, his expression did all the talking.

“Who is he?” He scowled at Ethan, “and why was he carrying you?” He wasted no time in asking.

Not like she owed him any explanation but still, “He’s my best friend, his name is Ethan,” she responded, ignoring the other question.

Lucas brushed off the details she gave like he couldn’t care less and proceeded with the interrogation.

“If he’s your best friend, then I’m sure you wouldn’t mind telling him who your—"

“Ethan dear, can you please give us a moment?” Ava quickly interrupted Lucas before he could utter another word. She definitely didn’t want Ethan to know who Lucas was.

“I’ll be in my car,” Ethan informed her, returning Lucas’s glare. She muttered a silent ‘thank you’ to him after he gave her a face that said ‘you owe me an explanation,’ he then walked away towards the gas station to his car.

At that point, she remembered what she said about those consequences that night and if ‘repercussions’ had a face, it definitely was staring at her right now. After Ethan was gone, she turned back to face Lucas.

**********

He wanted to rant about how he’d been looking for her for about three days now, it was at the tip of his tongue but he decided to push the words aside, it’s no use complaining about it since he’d found her already and hopefully, she wouldn’t run away from him again.

“I’m sorry if we didn’t have a proper introduction the first time we met, my name is Lucas De’ Clan, and I am the Alpha of the dawn pack.”

So, he was an alpha, it didn’t surprise Ava. It was rare for a non-alpha to possess such demanding presence.

“I am Ava Maynard, an omega of the moonlight pack, I am pleased to meet you, Lucas.”

“The pleasure is all mine,” he lifted her right hand and pressed his lips against the back of her palm, kissing it subtly. Such sweet gesture from the gentleman he wasn’t.

“I am happy that the moon goddess has blessed me with such a beautiful Luna,” he continued as he raised his head from her hand.

She took her hand away from his. It started off well, why did he have to ruin things so soon? She had dreaded this moment, but knew it was inevitable.

“I am sorry Lucas, but I’m afraid I cannot be your Luna.”