LOGINDarien’s POV"So, what you're telling me is that you didn't see Ava? You couldn't find her after days of searching?" I asked, forcing myself to speak calmly, even though a deep burn of annoyance was starting in my gut. I hated incompetence. And I hated that Ava was once again proving impossible to control."Yes, Alpha. Druke here can testify to it." Ashlen said, his posture rigid. Ashlen always looked like he was bracing for impact. I rubbed my temple slowly, trying to make sense of this new complication. Where in the hell could she be hiding?"Yes, Alpha. But the few people we asked around the wedding venue told us she had been missing after the wedding and they had seen some of her clothes and had concluded that she was...dead." Druke said, his voice flat. Dead? My head snapped up. That was too easy. Ava was never easy. But at the same time she can't die! No, not when I'm still alive, not when I'm not done with her!"Dead?" I repeated, the word tasting strange on my tongue."Yes, th
Ava's POV "No, I can’t take this." I muttered, my voice coming out in a whisper. My chest felt tight, like a vice was squeezing the air out of my lungs. Every second that passed felt like an eternity, knowing Thorne and Kaelen were out there. "Ava, you need to calm down..." Briane said, her hand reaching out to touch my arm. Her touch did nothing but remind me of my own uselessness. "Stop fucking telling me to calm down..." I snapped back at her before I could stop myself, yanking my arm off her grip with sudden, harsh strength. I spun around to face her fully, my eyes probably blazing with the same fire that was consuming me inside. "Why the fuck are you telling me to calm down? It's been a whole fucking week that Thorne is back with Darien. I don't even know what he's going through there. I don't know if he's still alive and my only son...my only child is out there too! I wonder what they're doing to my innocent baby and you're fucking asking me to calm down. Calm down till when?
Ava's POV "I need to go to Thorne already. I don't want to leave him alone." I said, my voice tight with desperation as I tried to stand up.“But you need to rest, Ava,” Mira said gently, stepping in front of me as if to block my way.I shook my head quickly, my hair falling over my face. “I can always rest later, but I need to be with Thorne right now. This is when he needs me the most.” My chest ached as I spoke. “He’s lonely there. He has no one to be with him.” The thought of him lying there alone without me made my stomach twist.The car had taken me to the hospital earlier, and when I saw Thorne, I felt that spark of relief—his heartbeat was strong, and steady. The nurse told me he had no complications, that he was fine. For a moment, my world felt lighter. But now, being told to rest while he was still there felt unbearable.Nathan had joined me at the hospital then with Mira. He and Mira had insisted I go home to freshen up, saying I looked bad, saying Thorne wouldn’t want t
Darien’s POV I opened my eyes slowly and pushed myself upright. I must have slept after dinner last night. I had meant to call Ava in, but sleep took me instead. No matter... I could call her later tonight or this morning.I slid my feet to the floor and almost froze when I saw a shape lying near the bed. Ashlen. He blinked, yawned, and pushed himself to his feet. The moment his eyes met mine his posture changed: he straightened, reached for his sword, and bowed."Pardon me, Alpha. I feel asleep while watching you last night." He said, quickly. "It's fine, you can go and wash up and helped me get Ava here on your way." I replied. His face softened at once, relief flashing across it like pale light. “All right, Alpha,” he replied, bowing and moving away.A sudden knock came on the door and i nodded at Ashlen to open the door. He stepped closer toward the door and opened it as one of the soldiers who had been assigned to watch Ava stood there and bowed, his hands trembling, as he bow
Ava’s POV"Ava..." I heard Ashlen’s low voice calling my name. It sounded so careful, like he didn’t want the walls themselves to hear. My body reacted instantly as I quickly stood, my knees shaking a little as I found my feet. My heart was already racing.He unlocked the gate slowly, the tiny click of the lock sounding louder than it should in the silence. He was careful, as if even the air could betray us. I slipped out and felt the freedom of air outside the bars. Ashlen held out a yellow blanket he had been carrying, then he draped it around me and I hugged it tightly. It was scratchy but warm, and for the first time in days I felt comfort."Let's go," he said, reaching for my hand, his hand rough. I nodded quickly and followed, pressing close to him as he held a small lamp. Its light spilled around us, pushing back the shadows. My stomach twisted in fear and hope at the same time.When we reached the prison entrance, my breath hitched. Three guards were lying across the floor. Th
Ava's POV “What are you doing here…” That was the first voice I heard the moment I woke up. The floor was icy cold against my cheek, biting into my skin.I snapped my eyes open, blinking into the dimness. My throat was dry, my body sore from lying on the hard ground. At this point, I didn’t even care who had spoken. I had been locked in this prison for days that blurred together. Time didn’t matter anymore.I had cried until no more tears would come. Now my eyes just burned, swollen and heavy. What’s the point? Thorne wasn’t coming back. He had promised me forever. He had promised he’d be there to watch Kaelen grow. But he left me. Why did he leave me? Why now, when I needed him most?And my son… my baby was ripped from me too. I hadn’t heard his cry, not even once since that day. Maybe this place was too far, maybe he was somewhere else. Or maybe—no. I couldn’t think that way. But my mind whispered dark thoughts anyway. Was he safe? Was Darien hurting him? If Darien dared to harm my







