Chapter 21

Shannon's POV.

"I've told you about her recent behaviors, Erik. It feels as if she's not the Avery I've known for years, she always listens to me, she was like a puppet in my hands but suddenly, everything seems to be wrong."I expressed my observations to Erik who looked at me with a confused expression.

"So what are you insinuating?" He asked, arching his eyebrows in a query way.

"I don't know what I'm insinuating, but all I know is that something is definitely wrong somewhere. She'd changed, on a normal basis, Avery would flinch in fear if a tear dropped from my eyes by mistake, but now all she gives me is a sarcastic comment and her I don't give a darn attitude. It's strange."I said, trying to make sense out of my nonsense.

"Sweetheart, whatever you're saying doesn't make any sense, it's gibberish baby," Erik muttered.

"I know it sounds stupid and definitely out of sense but you have to believe me. Something is wrong baby, that's not the Avery I used to know."

Erik was considering my words when his mother chipped in, "so do you think Avery had been cloned?"She asked, looking at me in a sardonic way.

She'd been in Erik's changing room all these while, had I known I wouldn't have registered my fear to Erik. That woman is a spoiler, she thinks she's always right and whatever she thinks or does is the best. To me, she's a total green snake, she does things that would favor her.

She's an evil mastermind, though Erik calls me an evil genius, but her mother is the master of all evil. I still can't believe she murdered the Luna in cold blood.

I'll have to be careful around her, if a woman like her finds me going contrary to her insane plans, she'd end me in seconds.

I love Erik so much, which is why I have to tolerate an evil witch like Deborah.

"That's not what I meant ma'am, I'm only telling Erik here my observation about Avery. Had you been close to her, you'd know that she'd changed drastically."I explained to the standing woman, who didn't seem a bit convinced.

"Son, don't tell me you're believing all this wild imagination by Shannon?"She asked, taking the other bedside seat.

"I don't know what to believe mother, Avery pushed me with so much strength that I got a popped shoulder. Doesn't that seem odd to you, mother? Don't you think Avery has changed?" He asked, but the mother remained silent.

"Also, she changed the date she's supposed to announce to the pack that I'm going to be her mate. Mother, that girl loves me, she was head over heels for me while we were in school. But suddenly, everything changed, she'd been misbehaving with me." Erik explained further.

"I understand you son. About her pushing you off with strength you can't quite comprehend, it's normal, she's a werewolf, not just any werewolf, the upcoming Luna of this pack. The Royal blood flows through her, and she might have powers she's not aware of. Probably due to the pain of her losing both parents on the same day, she got really rilled up and hence the unexpected strength.''She said and I could see that Erik is believing the nonsense she is blabbing. Though I have no proof to support my suspicion, Erik shouldn't get deluded by his mother.

"What about her recent odd behavior? What do you have to say about that? "I asked, clearly upset by the way she underrated my suspicion. 'Esshhhh, that woman is bent on driving me insane. Why can't she just see beyond what's in front of her? Why does she think she's always right?' These questions played in my head as I stared at her, awaiting my answers.

"Sweetheart ever had of mood swings, Avery is probably having a mood swing. She'll be back to herself soon. Worry not." She said and I almost screamed out due to frustration but I managed to give her a cautious smile.

"Mother, I think it's still going to be best if we keep an eye on Avery, I still feel something isn't right with her," Erik said, and I smiled grateful to him that he understood my point.

"Well, we'll look into it but I can assure you, son, there's absolutely nothing to worry about, your dreams would come true and you'll rule this pack as the Alpha."She said, smiling at Erik.

Erik liked what his mother said and he leaned closer to her and gave her a peck.

"Now that both her parents are dead, she'll be needing support the most and I want you to be there for her. You should create a good image in front of the pack elders, do not give them a chance to think that you're incapable of handling the affairs of the pack. You get it, son?"She asked Erik who was beaming from ear to ear.

I can't seem to understand the mother-to-son bonding a bit, I know Erik is really close to her mother and her mother seems to be in control of everything he does.

He even has to get approval from his mother before he started dating her back then in college.

He's a complete momma's boy but what I love about him is that he's very ambitious and hungry for power, just like me.

.I'll put up with his mother's antics just for now, I need to be in Erik's good book. Once I become the Luna of this pack, I'll show her the exact place she belongs, at my feet!' I muttered angrily in my head and my wolf growled in support.

"Also, I'd like to address one more disturbing issue before I leave. Shannon...."She called, and I felt my heart leap. I hope she was not going to ask me to do something I do not wish to do at all.

"Yes," I answered, looking in her direction.

"I know you love my son dearly, and I've seen that but we have a goal to achieve and for that, you need to stop being too clingy or jealous whenever you see him with Avery. Everything we're doing is for the best, and you'll benefit highly from it, you just have to disengage from him at times. Do you understand me, darling?"She asked calmly and I could detect a hint of sarcasm in her voice but I decided to ignore it.

"Yes, ma'am," I answered, like the obedient girl she wants me to be.

'Clingy??' Zowie, my wolf snorted, 'he's our mate, we can get clingy and jealous for all I care' she added but I choose to ignore her now, her fiery temper would do us no good at the moment.

I don't want any misunderstanding between me and Erik because of his mother.

"Now, that's like a good girl, I'll let you two be for now. Take my words to heart Shannon, I want no mistakes in my son's dream." She said, flashing me a deadly smile.

"Mom, Shannon is a wise girl, I'm sure she won't create any mess for us."Erik defended me.

"I know my son, but I just want her to know how important this mission is to me. If I can kill the Luna without a second thought, then I could do worse to anyone who tries to be a barrier or a spoiler."

She stood up and asked me to come lock the door behind her, 'I hate that woman sometimes, she's so strange and everything I don't want to get involved in, but what can I do?' I mused in my head.

As soon as I locked the door, I felt a hand smack my ass. I need no soothsayer to tell me who the person was.

"Stop being so naughty now Erik, you need to rest," I said, turning to face him.

"Oh come on baby, you know how much daddy misses you. I just got a popped shoulder and I'm completely healed now. Just allow me some quick sessions, I want you on all four right now."He said, grabbing me closer and nuzzling his head on my boobs.

"Erik, this isn't time for this. We really need to talk about Avery's strange behavior and how to go about it. I'm really worried about this and you don't seem to care." I expressed my worries trying to stop his dirty act. If I don't stop him soon, he'll get me screaming with the need for him, he knows all the right buttons to touch and get my body inflamed for him.

"Baby, mother said we need not to worry, why bother yourself about such petty things?"

His fingers were working on my blouse as he talked, taking the blouse down. I know that once he gets the last barrier off me, I'll be toast.

"Erik, please. Let's talk."

"Talk about what darling? Let's do the talking later, right now I want my throbbing member to be buried deep inside you."

I knew it was fruitless to fight him off now. His thumb and forefinger caress my nipples and they swell into a taut peak.

He tried to remove my bra pin but it was proving difficult for him, so he wrench the fragile material away. He's not the patient one, he's never patient when it comes to lovemaking.

As he swooped me in his arms, I only had one thought in my head.

I have to confirm if our suspicion about Avery is true.

Has she really changed?

If yes. Why and how?