Chapter 40

Xander's POV.

After seeing Avery, I felt a lot much better, though it took every ounce of self-control to not pounce on her, and devour her lips with kisses till kissing wasn't enough for both of them.

Nothing interesting happened in the morning, and the afternoon isn't doing anything to change my boring day.

A knocking sound at my door, jumping from my bed... I hurried to the door and opened it.

"Good afternoon, sir." I greeted my uncle.

He gave me a questioning look, "hope you're good?"

"Yes, I am."

"Have you done your training practice today?" He asked, still peering deeply at me.

Here we go again, training and more training.

"Yes, I have. I couldn't find you in the morning."

I usually train with him but I couldn't find him in the morning. It was a relief though...I did many dangerous stunts today, he wouldn't have allowed me if he was around.

"We the pack elders are deliberating on our new Luna request for more time." He answered moving towards his room.

"Have you eaten?" He asked, turning back.

"Y..yes... I have." I stammered.

Why's lying so difficult for me!?

I almost said that aloud.

"Hmmm...join me again for lunch." He ordered heading into his room.

I closed my door and gave out a long sigh of frustration... My heartbeat must have given me away, my uncle must have heard my quickened heartbeat, his sense of hearing is so bad, and the most bizarre thing about everything is my inability to lie without my heart beating so fast.

My uncle knows whenever I'm lying even without asking me.

I just don't have the appetite to eat, I don't feel hungry much. Avery has stolen my appetite. I'm gonna vent my frustration to her soon.

I've blocked her every attempt to mind link, in as much as it hurts me to do it but I just have to.

She should have to think twice before asking me to give her space. What fucking space does she need?

I'm not imposing myself on her, I'm not trying to claim her as mine even though she's my mate, and I don't hover around her always.

Then why on fucking mother earth does she needs space?

I never did anything she doesn't like, I always try to be there for her but she's been a hard stubborn woman.

She's going through a lot, I knew that but she can't just keep pushing me away and wanting me back at her own will.

I have feelings too.

‘Thinking about her would only give rise to unnecessary questions in your mind. Just relax please, stop being an immature jerk.’ Declan chided and I rolled my eyes.

He'll always support our mate, that's how crazy my wolf is.

‘I'm not supporting anyone, I just want you to be reasonable and stop thinking silly, everything will be fine. She's been trying to connect to you since yesterday but you aren't budging. That's your typical male ego.’ Declan growled but I chose to ignore him, I'm in no mood to argue with him, he always wins anyway.

I needed to distract my mind, so I decided to go online and do some little chit-chat with a few friends.

Reaching for my phone, I turned it on and I saw Avery's message. There was this crazy excitement I felt that I chided myself for feeling it.

‘You're in love dude, stop trying to hide it.’ Declan said excitedly and the reason for the excitement is none other than Avery.

I'm pretty excited to see her message. I opened it.

'An apology and an Invitation to a party.'

"Quit it, I'm trying to think straight here," I muttered to Declan. The wolf is giving me headaches.

’So what are you gonna wear, she's personally inviting you...it's more like a special invitation. The Luna herself is inviting you to a party.' He asked, and I let out a grunt of frustration.

He won't stop pestering me, so I dropped the phone without replying to her messages. I know I'm being a jerk, the excitement I felt was out of this world and it took all my willpower not to reply to the message.

A smirk appeared on my face as a crazy thought came across my head but I quickly discarded it.

I'll go to the party, I sure will... I'm sure it's gonna be good. Going to the party would allow me to see her. A chance to be with her, even as a friend.

"Xander!" I heard my uncle roar my name.

Oh no, I almost forgot about joining him for lunch.

The great thing is that I have gotten my appetite back and my stomach is already crying for food.

I rushed out to meet him, if he calls my name for the second time... I'll be in for a mouthful. My uncle is pretty good at lecturing, and it's such a long boring lecture.

Declan whined at the thought of long lectures from my uncle, he hates it as much as I do.

"What took you so long son?" He asked, dishing my food for me.

"Nothing uncle....will you be at the party organized in honor of our late Luna and Alpha," I asked, digging into my bowl of food.

"Of course...it was very thoughtful of the Beta's wife to organize it. Some neighboring Pack Alpha or Luna might attend. He sent me an invitation, get ready, we'll be leaving by seven in the evening. You might find a mate or a suitable wolf there. You're of age to think of settling down." He explains.

As he mentioned the aspect of the opposite gender, I nearly choked on my food. Like seriously?!.

Alright, this is beyond awkward.

I wish to tell my uncle that I've found a mate, and she's none other than the Luna herself.

I can't even imagine the surprised look that would be on his face.

Ever since my parents died in a war with another pack, my uncle has taken me as his blood, he doesn't discriminate between me and his children.

Sometimes his kids would say he loves me more than them, and I could feel it.

He lost his mate to rogue wolves attack in the pack a few years back and it nearly killed him.

People still wonder how he's still alive, some came up with the theory that perhaps there's another fated mate for him by the moon goddess but my uncle never made any attempt to find her.

When asked, he'd say he's content with his children, but deep down I know my uncle is afraid of having another mate.

When his mate died, no one thought he's gonna survive, my uncle himself considered his survival a miracle... When a wolf loses his or her mate, it's like half part of him or her has been wrenched away from the wolf.

Most wolves usually die a few days after they lose their mate. Just like the Luna and the Alpha.

I don't wish anyone that pain, it's excruciating and the worst day all wolves don't wish to see.

I've not marked Avery yet but I can't even imagine anything happening to her, before any harm would befall her, I earnestly pray to the moon goddess to avert it and bring it to me instead.

She'd become everything to me, she's brave, intelligent, beautiful, bold, stubborn, crazy, and hot-headed.

She's not perfect, she has her flaws but I'm willing to be with her and deal with those flaws. Only if she stops pushing me away!

I nearly screamed the sentence out.

I'm not perfect myself but I'm sure I love her. I'm not gonna force her to reciprocate my feelings but I want to be there for her... Always.

Thinking about her brought a smile to my head that I didn't know appeared on my face till my uncle ruffled my hair.

"Are you alright?"

"Uhmmm...yeah... I am... Just thinking about the party."

Thinking about Avery quickened my heartbeat rate, and my uncle smiled.

"Are you with any girl?" He asked and I choked on my food this time around.

Is this man reading my mind?

He quickly offered me water which I slowly took to thinking of an excuse to leave the dining room.

"Uncle... I need to get some rest. I'm really tired."

He looked at me and gave me a nod of affirmation.

"Do you have something good to wear? If you don't, join Lir and Piaa at the shopping center. They went shopping a few minutes ago." He said.

Lir and Piaa are his kids. Lir is a bit older than me but I can defeat him in fights... He'll never agree he lost to me though.

Then Piaa, I'm older than her, but she's Avery's age mate... She's a beauty queen... Gentle and weird in her ways, she's working in the human world as a model.

"Thanks, uncle, I have something to wear," I said heading to my room, the thought of seeing Avery giving me a wide broad smile that hurts my cheeks.