chapter 18

Chapter 18: Ultimatums and Ghosts

Kieran POV…

I opened my eyes to the blinding white of a hospital ceiling and instantly sat up. The beeping machines beside me reacted with alarm, but I ignored them, yanking out every wire and tube stuck to my skin. The cold sting of adhesive ripped against my chest as I tore the last patch off. My head was pounding, my throat dry, but I didn’t care.

Lucas stood near the foot of the hospital bed, holding my coat like he’d been waiting all night.

"Why the hell did you bring me here?" I snapped, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed. "You know I don’t like hospitals. And you know I can heal in a few minutes."

He held the coat out as I snatched it from him and threw it over my shoulders. His mouth moved like he was chewing on his words before they came out.

"It wasn’t me. The Luna insisted. Said you needed proper treatment after what happened. She said she wouldn’t take no for an answer and that if anything happens to you it will be all on me."

I froze as I remembered I hadn't seen her when I woke up.

"Where is she?"

Lucas blinked like the question surprised him. His brow furrowed as he glanced around the empty hospital room.

"I thought she was here. But when I came In I hadn't seen her."

I pulled my phone from my coat pocket, praying I had at least some clue in my messages. Nothing. Just missed calls, none from her. But then my screen lit up. A call.

DEMON.

I stared at the name on the screen, the corners of my vision going red. I answered without a word, phone pressed tight to my ear.

His voice came through almost too casually.

"Just calling to let you know… I have your Luna in case you are about to go crazy not seeing her."

"Where is she?" My voice dropped low, nearly a growl. "If you touch her I swear—"

He chuckled like it was a joke, like I was just some pawn in a game he already knew he was winning.

"Relax brother. I haven’t hurt her. Yet. Though she’s quite the fighter. Stronger than I expected. Even after she found out the truth about you, she stayed. That kind of loyalty is hard to come by these days. Shame you have to lose her soon."

I paced the room, phone clenched tight enough that I heard the plastic casing strain.

"What do you want, Demon?"

He didn’t hesitate. "Step down. Give up your claim as Alpha of the werewolf clan. Publicly. Make it clear to the council you renounce everything. Do that, and I’ll let her go. If not… well, you’ll find her in pieces buried."

I stopped moving. My teeth clenched.

"You think the council would vote for a coward like you?"

"They don’t have to. But if you keep dragging this out, they might change their minds. Some of them already don’t trust your leadership. I’m just giving them an alternative."

And just like that, the call ended.

I stood in silence for a few seconds, listening to the dial tone, my body completely still. My thoughts were anything but. Ava. Gone. Taken. Because of me.

"We need to find her," I said without looking at Lucas. "Now. Search every block, every alley, every building that demon bastard's been linked to."

Lucas nodded once and left without another word.

I headed back to the mansion alone. My head was spinning, not from whatever had knocked me out earlier, but from the weight of every decision I’d made since Ava entered my life. Every secret. Every delay. Every time I thought I could protect her without telling her everything. All of it might cost me the only person who mattered.

When I walked through the front door, I wasn’t expecting company. But there she was.

Catherine.

Legs crossed on the living room couch like she owned the place, her smile just as fake as always.

Just seeing her I wish I could Forget the past but the betrayal was too much to pull away.

"You look tense," she said, brushing invisible lint from her red dress. "Not happy to see me?"

I stopped near the doorway, jaw clenched.

"Why the hell are you here Catherine?"

She stood, slow and deliberate, like she was enjoying the buildup.

"I came to give you good news, didn't you want to hear it?"

"You came to gloat. Don’t play games with me, Catherine. What do you want?"

She stepped forward and reached for my arm. I pulled away before her hand could land.

"Don’t touch me. You lost the right to even look at me when you chose my brother over me."

Her smile twitched but didn’t disappear. Instead, she returned to the couch and sat down like this was all a mild inconvenience.

"You really are no fun anymore," she sighed. "Demon sent me."

That made me pause.

"Of course he did."

"He figured you’d be all dramatic after his call," she continued, brushing her hair behind her shoulder. "Probably planning something stupid. So he wanted to be clear: no werewolves near his territory. No rescue missions. No trackers. No tricks."

I stayed silent, but my heart beat harder against my ribs. She wasn’t done.

"He’ll release Ava… if you step down. But if he senses any threat? Any hint you sent someone after him? He won’t hesitate."

Catherine leaned back, her expression oddly calm. Like she truly believed Demon wouldn’t hurt her. Like this was just business. Negotiation. A casual message between two powerful men.

But I wasn’t playing business.

I was trying to get my mate back.

And now I had to make a choice that might destroy everything.

I stared at Catherine, watching the amusement dance behind her cold smile.

I didn’t say anything. I just stood there, burning with rage and drowning in the silence she left behind.