Chapter 9

LIZ

I couldn't help but smile as I thought about Ava being locked away in that dingy cell. It was the highlight of my day, maybe even my week.

For years, I'd been trying to get rid of her, to make her life miserable enough that she'd leave the pack on her own.

But Ava was stubborn, refusing to give up despite all the obstacles I'd thrown her way.

I remembered the time I'd tried to have her killed, sending those rogues to attack her. But she'd managed to survive, and that had only made her more of a threat.

Her existence was a constant thorn in my side, a reminder that I wasn't the only one vying for power and attention.

As I sat in my room, sipping my tea and staring out the window, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.

Ava's presence in the pack was a threat to everything I'd worked for. She was a wild card, unpredictable and stern. And if she continued to live, I was afraid she'd take everything I'd worked so hard to get.

I thought about my father, the Beta, and how he'd always favored Ava's mother until he found out that she cheated on him.

It wasn't fair, really. My father had always been so nonchalant to Ava's true nature, seeing her as just a human living freely until recently, he'd seen her true self.

Only I knew the truth. Ava was a manipulative, cunning little thing, always playing the victim.

I took a deep breath, feeling my anger and resentment simmering just below the surface. I couldn't let Ava get the best of me.

I had to stay one step ahead, had to make sure she stayed locked away where she couldn't cause any more trouble.

As I sat there, a plan began to form in my mind. I'd make sure Ava stayed in that cell for a long, long time.

I'd make sure she was forgotten, left to rot in that dingy little cell. And once she was out of the way, I'd be free to pursue my own goals, my own ambitions.

I'd be the one in charge, the one calling the shots.

The thought sent a thrill through me, and I smiled to myself. Yes, Ava's imprisonment was definitely the highlight of my day.

My mind began to wander to the prince who had been the object of my desire for so long.

Cane, the future Alpha of the neighboring pack, was charming, powerful, and handsome. I had been trying to catch his eye for months, but to my dismay, he seemed to be interested in Ava.

The thought of it made my blood boil. How could he possibly be interested in her? Ava was nothing but a weak, pathetic little thing.

And yet, Cane seemed to see something in her that I couldn't. It was infuriating.

As I thought about it, my jealousy grew. I had always been the favored one, the one who was supposed to be the strongest and most capable.

But Ava had always seemed to get in the way, to steal the spotlight and garner attention from those around me.

I remembered the way my mother used to talk about Ava's wolf, saying that it was the strongest in the pack.

It was a constant reminder that I was in Ava's shadow, that I would always be compared to her and found wanting.

And then, there was the incident where Ava attacked me. She had proven herself to be a threat, a force to be reckoned with.

I couldn't let her get away with it, couldn't let her think she had the upper hand.

As I sat there, my anger and resentment simmering just below the surface, I knew that I had to do something.

I had to make sure Ava paid for what she had done, had to make sure she knew her place. And if that meant getting rid of her once and for all, then so be it.

I would do whatever it took to protect my interests, to ensure that I came out on top. Ava was a threat, and threats needed to be eliminated.

I smiled to myself, feeling a sense of determination wash over me. I would make sure Ava regretted ever crossing me.

I would make sure she paid for her insolence, for daring to challenge me. And I would start by making sure she stayed locked away, out of the way and out of sight.

I stood in the dimly lit kitchen, my eyes locked on my mother's trusted cook, Mrs. Silver, who was the head cook.

“I'll pay you a huge amount, just to poison that brats' food.” I said

"Liz, my dear, are you certain about this?" Mrs. Silver asked, her voice low and cautious.

My gaze never wavered. "Absolutely, Mrs. Silver. Ava's been a thorn in my side for far too long. It's time she pays the price."

Mrs. Silver nodded, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "I've known you since you were a child, Liz. I've seen the fire in your belly. I trust your judgment."

Together, we hatched a plan to weaken Ava's wolf, making her vulnerable to the poison. For days, Ava would be denied food and water, her strength dwindling. The thought sent a thrill through my veins.

My mind wandered back to the months of planning. I had studied Ava's habits, waited for the perfect moment to strike.

My mother's hidden stash of poisons held the key to my success. The deadliest concoction, one that would leave no trace, was carefully selected.

I would hide my plan from my mother for now because she wouldn't want me to have blood on my hands but I couldn't care less because my mind was made up.

A sense of fate's favor washed over me. The stars aligned, the moon goddess probably smiled upon me because every piece fell into place with eerie precision.

Ava's downfall is inevitable.