CHAPTER 23

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

In a heartbeat, Avyanna shivered in fear while she was still in Baron's grasp because she heard the thundering voice of a very jealous Ericson. She immediately straightened her leg and made herself to rise up using her core's strength, as Baron simultaneously lifed her up.
"Such act is unacceptable." Jonathan's voiced echoed after Ericson's voice. He could be seen strutting behind Ericson as they both walked into the gardens and into the sensual position that Avyanna was with Baron.
"This is preposterous!" Ericson scowled.
"Why would the Luna do such?" Jonathan asked Avy, but looked at Ericson.
"It is not what it seems like." Avyanna protested as she arranged her short gown to cover her exposed laps. As a result, it dropped lower, revealing an arousing amount of her cleavage.
"What does it seem like?" Jonathan asked as Ericson fumed in anger, "because it seems to me like you were about to get down with the Lycan Alpha."
"I almost tripped and fell. He was just helping me up." Avyanna adjusted her dress once more and it fit perfectly like it should have. She wasn't afraid of Ericson but she was scared of what Baron could do to both of them. It was very disrespectful to address a Lycan in that manner.
"Lies!" Ericson screamed.
"Is there a problem in helping the Luna of Wales to find her feet? Would you prefer your wife to be on the floor in agony than be safe in my...?" Baron asked, a satisfied smirk forming on his face.
"The Luna is married!" Jonathan barked, stopping Baron from completing his question.
"Arms?" Baron continued smirking at Ericson, ignoring Jonathan.
Avyanna was shocked at how calm and collected Baron was despite how Ericson and Jonathan were hot tempered, transferring agression on him.
Ericson felt so humiliated as he stood before his wife and seeming rival. His smoldered face gradually turned smooth before it progressed to a downcasted one. He was downcasted but he didn't reveal that to the trio before him. He maintained a devious smile as he stared back at the Lycan.
Unable to say any more words to Avyanna or Baron, he looked at Jonathan and said, "Bring her to me when she is done escorting our guest." Ericson then proceeded to whisper to Jonathan, "Protect her. He shouldn't put his hands on her in that manner again."
"You have no right to command me in such manner, I will only leave the Lycan Alpha's side when I'm done with what I'm supposed to do. Besides I wonder why you're here. Doesn't the Omega require your companion anymore?"
"Avyanna, I will not have that discussion here with you right now." Ericson responded in a low tone.
Jonathan looked at Ericson cooperatively and nodded his head to the directive he had just been given. Ericson then cast one final look at Avyanna and Baron before he walked away.
When Eric was completely out of the picture, Baron said to Jonathan, "You can follow your Alpha now. The Luna does not need any protection. My protection is enough."
"I have a duty!" Jonathan argued.
"Do you doubt my ability to protect your queen?" Baron growled, the color of his eyes turning to a molten yellow.
Avyanna's eyes widened as she saw the sudden change in the Lycan king's countenance. She immediately dashed a worried look at Jonathan and conspicuously signalled for him to leave.
Jonathan couldn't see Avyanna's signals because he was hell bent on letting Baron know that Avy was his to protect, "I have a right to protect her! Your protection may come in handy but I have a ..."
"How about now do you have a right?" Baron's hands squeezed Jonathan's neck tightly with great force as he jacked him up, off the ground he stood.
Jonathan's eyes turned to a lava red, his fangs sprouted out of his gum, the hairs on his face grew thicker and longer slowly covered his whole face, save for his eyes, as he struggled with Baron's grip on his neck. His legs dangled as he clawed on Baron's hand to let him go.
Baron bared his fangs too smiling at weak and helpless Jonathan in his grasp.
"Let... go... of... my... fucking neck!" Jonathan's voice was strained and restricted to saying a word at a time because Baron's hands was squeezing his neck so tight to the extant that it was blocking the air passage through his lungs. At the same time, Baron's claws slowly dug into Jonathan's neck.
"I'm sorry, I can't hear you over the sound of your neck breaking!" Baron jested.
Avyanna stood in shock as she witnessed a side of Baron she had never seen before in play. She was dumbstruck at the way her strongest warrior was a weakling to the Lycan king.
The Jonathan she trusted to protect her was nothing compared to Baron; they were evenly unmatched and if Avyanna knew that if she didn't do anything to stop them in that moment, her Zeta would lose his life.
"Put him down!" Avyanna commanded but Baron unwavered, he kept squeezing the life out of Jonathan. "Please put him down!" Avyanna tugged at Baron's jacket.
The Lycan Alpha turned to look at pleading Avyanna. Upon seeing the look on her face, he felt wrecked and slightly sorry for what he had done to Jonathan. He slowly set him down and released his grip on his neck, uprooting the bloodied claws that penetrated Jonathan's neck.
Baron was ashamed of himself. He couldn't help but feel that, in his attempt to protect the Luna, he had revealed a side of himself that he never wanted her to see. He wanted her to know and witness the good sode of him first but he was doing a terrible job at that.
Jonathan knelt to the ground, gasping for breath. The wounds on his neck that were caused by Baron's claws slowly healed themselves due to his fast regenerative perk. Jonathan coughed and panted like he had just survived a dangerous battle with a foe that was a million time fiercer than him.
"What did you do that for?" Avyanna asked Baron.
"That is what happens to people who defy me."
"Defy you? This isn't your pack! You cannot treat my Zeta like this and expect a war to not break out!"
"That is your Zeta? I thought he was just an Omega, the way he seemed so weak." Baron jested and Jonathan growled angrily, almost attacking him again. "You best stay down because I might not be so merciful a second time." Baron said to the boiling Jonathan.
"Jonathan don't." Avyanna pacified.
"I pledge my loyalty to my Luna alone. Better not harm her." Jonathan spat on the ground as Avyanna helped him up to his feet.
"I believe there will be no war because I ... Apologize." Baron said mockingly bowing his head.
Baron, knowing that Avyanna had already seen that side of him, kept on his maniacal act and mockery to Jonathan, not to Avyanna; he could never try such with Avyanna.
Avyanna scoffed and turned to look at Jonathan, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Jonathan replied, massaging his neck and staring angrily at Baron. "Lest I forget, there is a message for you. Lots of presents. It just came in the mail but a few minutes ago before Alpha Ericson and I walked down here."
"Okay. Who was the present from?" Avyanna asked curiously. The only person she would expect a present from was already with her in the garden, almost inciting a war so her curiosity grew.
"No idea my Luna. No one has opened it yet so we do not know, but it seems to be someone that is very important.'
"Was this you?" She turned to ask Baron who stood behind her listening in on the conversation she had with Jonathan.
"I wish it was."
"Let's go check it out then."
The trio walked through the gardens back to the pack house. Upon arrival, they met with a bunch of presents and a very infuriated Ericson. Attached to the presents was a letter. She detached it and ripped it open.
"From ... Thomas." Avyanna read. "Oh. Would you look at that. It's Alpha Thomas I met at the Feast. I wonder why he would send all this to me."
Oblivious to Avyanna, Baron was intensely jealous at the presents she had received from another Alpha, and Ericson was insanely pissed off.
Another suitor was coming into play and the Alphas were not ready.