WILLIAMS’ POVMy entire body shook like a leaf caught in a storm.Ava was standing right in front of me, pliers in hand, blood still smeared over the cold metal from when she yanked out my finger like it was nothing—like I was nothing.And now… she was reaching for another.“No! No, wait—please,” I blurted out, voice cracking as I thrashed against the ropes digging into my wrists. “Wait! I’ll… I’ll tell you everything.”Her hand paused mid-air.Her eyes narrowed, skeptical but patient. “Go on,” she said, tone flat like ice.I swallowed hard. My mouth was dry, my body trembling.“I know him,” I spat out. “I know Charles Moorock, okay? He’s—he’s an ally of my father’s. I know everything about him. Just—please—don’t pull out another goddamn finger.”Her expression didn’t shift. Not even slightly. It was like staring at death wearing a pretty face.“Good,” she said finally, letting the pliers rest at her side. “Now that we’re on speaking terms, this will be much easier. I don’t need much.
Ava’s POVThere he was.Williams stood at the doorway, gun raised, eyes gleaming like he’d just walked in on his favorite show. That arrogant smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, and for a split second, I wished I could force it off his face with my glare alone.Damien stepped forward, voice sharp like a knife.“You son of a bitch… You followed me here, didn’t you? Couldn’t let me have it. Trying to steal my glory for yourself.”Williams gave a slow shrug, not even blinking.“Can you blame me? It’s more fun letting others do the hard work. Especially when they’re already broken.” His gaze flicked to Damien’s bloodied shirt, then to the gun in his hand.“So how about you be a good boy and drop that weapon… or I put a bullet in her head.”He pointed the gun at me. The coldness of it sent a chill through my spine, but I refused to flinch.“Let’s not forget,” Williams went on, casually, like we weren’t one wrong breath from a bloodbath.“You need her to become Alpha. Right now… I do t
Demian’s POV"What more do you want from me?" My voice cracked as I stared my father dead in the eye. "What else must I do to prove I deserve that title just as much as William?"The entire council chamber fell silent. My chest rose and fell with the weight of every breath. I'd had enough—enough of living in his shadow, enough of pretending to be content as the lesser son, the forgotten heir. I wasn’t going to fade away like some background ghost.My father leaned back slowly, that same amused glint in his eyes. Then came the low chuckle, the one he always used when he thought I was being foolish."You truly believe you're worthy of what William has, don't you?"I didn’t flinch. "Yes."He stood. His voice rang through the chamber like a judge passing a sentence.“Then prove it. Both of you.” His gaze shifted between me and William, who stiffened beside me. “Whoever captures the traitor… and brings me the mafia scum—alive—will become the next Alpha. No exceptions.”“No!” William steppe
**Ava’s POV**I lay on the bed, my chest still tight from the vision, my words about Charles Moorock hanging heavy in the air. Russell stared at me, his eyes wide, like he couldn’t believe the fire in my voice. I felt it too—this new strength surging through me, my wolf waking up, sharp and alive. Days ago, I was just a girl, scared and bleeding. Now? I was something else. Something even I couldn’t understand.Russell turned to Mara, the healer, and their eyes locked—hers full of shock, his hard and unreadable. He looked back at me, his jaw tight. “What’s the next step, Ava?”“Find Charles Moorock,” I said, my voice steady despite the ache in my chest. “Find him and kill him.”He scoffed, shaking his head. “You think it’s that simple? Just hunt down a guy tied to your mom’s death and end him? Ava, this is the mafia we’re talking about. These guys are trained killers. You? You’ve got no skills, no training. You think that stunt at the waterfall makes you ready? That was brute strength,
**Russell’s POV**I was in the middle of a heated argument with my men, their voices loud in the cramped room, when a scream cut through the air. It was Mara, the healer. I recognized the voice instantly. My stomach dropped. Ava. Something was wrong with Ava—that was the first thought that came to my mind.I didn’t think. I just ran, shoving past the guys, my shoes slamming against the polished floor. The hallway stretched forever, but I ran faster, my heart pounding like a drum in my chest. When I reached the healer, she was standing outside a door, trembling, her eyes wide with panic.“What is it?” I grabbed her shoulders, shaking her. “Why are you screaming?” I asked.Mara pointed into the room, her hand shaking. “It’s Ava… she’s on the floor, and blood’s coming from her nose.”My heart stopped. I rushed inside and saw her. She was crumpled on the ground, her face white as a sheet, blood smeared across her lips. “Ava! Ava!” I called as I dropped to my knees, tapping her cheek, pray
**Russell’s POV**Brunk’s eyes burned with hate, his hand reaching for the gun at his hip, but I saw it coming before he even moved. My body reacted faster than my mind, and in a heartbeat, I darted for Damien, grabbing him by the neck, my knife pressed against his throat. The knife bit into his skin, a thin line of blood trickling down.“Pull the trigger, and I slit his throat!” I yelled, my voice raw, spitting the words like venom.Damien squirmed, his breath hitching. “Dad… Dad, please, I don’t wanna die. Save me!” His voice cracked, pathetic, his hands clawing at my arm.“You think killing my son will save you? It will only make me furious, and you know what? I don’t mind losing a son. Kill him, and then let’s see what happens to you,” Brunk sneered.“Dad! Dad, please, I beg you! Don’t be like this, please save me!” Damien pleaded, his voice trembling.“Shut the fuck up!” Brunk yelled at his own son. I could see Damien flinch out of fear, quickly falling silent, swallowing the wor