LOGINAva's POVNora wiped her face quickly and nodded."He's still unconscious," she said, taking my hand."But he is stable," Reuben added from behind us. "He'll wake up when he's ready."Reuben paused, then added more quietly, "He's strong, ladies. He'll come back."I walked to Richard's bedside slowly.He was barely recognizable. Bandages wrapped around him in layers, covering most of his body like he had been sealed away from the world.His jaw was unshaven, his skin pale, and his life force was so faint it felt like I was standing next to a body the Moon Goddess had forgotten to breathe back into.Richard had always carried bright wolf energy. He was always restless, loud, and annoyingly alive. Now he seemed like a shadow of himself.My chest tightened violently, and my wolf whimpered low inside me. I bit down hard on my lip until I tasted blood."I'm sorry," I whispered, my voice shaking. "I'm sorry, Richard."
Anderson’s POVAva’s eyes scanned mine. I adjusted my grip carefully."Anywhere is better than this place," I said. My gaze lifted to Magnus and Laura, and my voice cooled."If your family thinks she's unworthy, then you can step aside." I paused, then added, my tone sharper, "You've done enough damage already."Ava tensed in my arms. "Anderson, put me down.""Not happening," I replied.I looked down at her briefly, then softened my tone just slightly. "I spoke to my parents last night." Her eyes widened faintly. "They agreed. I'm bringing you home."She looked genuinely stunned. Reuben let out a low breath behind me, almost amused. "Guess that's settled."Magnus's voice snapped through the room like a whip. "Put her down."I didn't move. I met Magnus's gaze, calm and unshaken. "Mr. Stone," I said evenly, "your family has already decided she is expendable."His jaw tightened. "That is not your concern.
Ava's POVMy breath slowed. My heartbeat steadied. This was the moment. I lifted my gaze and smiled faintly through tears.Just as I was about to speak, Magnus snapped. "Enough of this chaos!" His voice cracked through the room, heavy with rage.He waved sharply. "Clear them out!"His bodyguards surged forward immediately, their wolf auras flaring as they forced the reporters back.But not all of them retreated. Some held their ground. One brave reporter pushed his recorder forward."Mr. Stone! You seem pretty chill about the deaths in the Stone Group's mall. Does that mean it's not the first time? Are you involved in this?"The question detonated the room. Magnus's aura exploded, his wolf surging violently under his skin.For a second, I thought he might actually shift right there on the hospital floor.His face turned red with uncontrolled fury. "GET OUT!" he growled.The remaining reporters were dragged out one
Ava's POVI stumbled again and fell this time. I looked up through tear-blurred vision."Dad, why did you lock me in that place...?" My voice broke further.The crowd quietened immediately, and more eyes landed on me."I'm not crazy..." I gasped. "They drugged me... they injected me... I couldn't think straight... That place was a nightmare... Dad..." I reached out weakly. "Why won't you see me?"Click. Click. Click. Camera shutters snapped, recorders rolled, and the pack of reporters surged forward like hunting wolves."Miss! Are you Magnus Stone's daughter?" I flinched dramatically and slapped the nearest camera away."Don't twist this! This is internal Stone family business!" My voice sharpened for a split second, and I immediately softened it again."I just... I just want my dad..." I buried my face in my hands. "It's my fault... it must be my fault..."Then I let my shoulders tremble, let silence stretch, let them l
Victor's POV"Ms. Laura may be important," Rose said carefully, "but Luna Ava is your mate. She's the one who gave you your pups. She's the one meant to stand beside you for life."I stared at the cigarette until the ash finally fell, then crushed it inside the ashtray.Everything Rose said was nothing but the truth. I lowered my head and muttered, "You are right."Rose's scent spiked with shock, as though she had not expected me to agree with what she had said. Rose had practically watched me grow. She had lived with us since I was a very young boy.She was more like a second mother to me.After a brief pause, she pushed the bowl of food toward me again. "Eat."I glanced at the food. I had zero appetite for it."Thanks, Rose, but I am not hungry."With that, I rose to my feet and headed upstairs, back to my sleeping mate. I already knew that winning Ava's heart back might be the hardest battle of my life, yet it was the
Ava's POVVictor's gaze lingered on me. "Who do you like now? Anderson?" His expression remained unreadable. "Ben? Reuben?"I nearly laughed. Then he said one final name."Richard?"Everything inside me froze. My wolf immediately went still. The image of him lying unconscious in that hospital bed flashed through my mind, and pain pierced straight through my chest.Without thinking, I lunged forward. My teeth sank into Victor's shoulder, and his body tensed. But he didn't push me away, didn't growl, didn't fight back.I bit harder, as if hurting him would somehow lessen my own pain, as if his blood could pay for everything that had happened. When I finally released him, blood stained my lips, and my breathing was uneven.My wolf was trembling. "You owe Richard his life. Richard protected me my entire life." My voice cracked. "And now he's lying in a hospital bed because of Laura."Memories flooded my mind... memories of MAva, Ju
Ava's POVMy heart was racing, but not from fear of the scooter.“No, I…” I pulled away from him, shaking my head, my thoughts a tangled mess. I looked up at him, hope, fear, and desperation crashing into each other so violently I could barely sort through them.“Alpha Anderson…” My voice came out
Ava's POV[My mom’s been complaining about heart palpitations and headaches lately. If you have time, could you take her to the hospital for a checkup?]I stared at Dylan’s second message, then let out a helpless smile.He knew me too well. He knew I wouldn’t dare show my face there, not after ever
Ava's POVThe scent of cigarettes hit me first, before Victor’s.Victor stood in the doorway, his presence filling the room instantly, his wolf brushing against mine in a way that made my chest tighten.“The food got cold,” he said. “I had them make fresh plates. They should be here in ten minutes.
Ava’s POVI snapped out of it immediately, tore my gaze from Victor, and rushed downstairs.He followed at an unhurried pace, each step measured, utterly composed, as though he hadn’t just looked at me like food meant to be devoured.“Miriam, is the chicken soup ready? Give some to Ava,” Victor cal







