LOGINAva'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
Victor's POVThat was the question that had been burning inside me ever since I walked into that room.Ava laughed. It was a sharp, bitter laugh."You finally figured it out."My chest tightened. She wasn't even denying it. "Since when did you start faking it?" I asked quietly. "From the start?"She leaned against the window. "Take a guess."I frowned. The alcohol was making her reckless. Usually, she would never admit something like this so easily.She looked at me and scoffed. "Does it matter?""It matters to me, Ava." The words came out before I could stop them.For a second, she looked startled. Then she laughed again."Now it matters?" Her eyes turned red. "You never listened to me, Victor. You never believed me."Every word struck like a blade. I swallowed hard."What's the point of telling you anything, Alpha Victor Smith?" The way she said my name hurt more than I expected.I exhaled s
Ava's POVBen stood. "I have a function tonight. I need a date." He tossed me a business card. "You've got two hours to decide.""I'm in," I blurted out.His brows shot upward. He hadn't expected that answer. He lit another cigarette."Ms. Stone, those entertainment industry parties aren't exactly innocent." The look he gave me said everything. I already knew what goes on in places like that. It is always a game of power.I nodded. "High society is the same everywhere."Ben seemed genuinely surprised. I knew he was wondering why I was so determined.The answer was simple.It was because I had nothing left to lose. Because my wolf still remembered prison. Because Laura still breathed. Because Lucian still walked free."Let's go pick out a dress."---While choosing dresses, Ben picked a revealing one. The moment I changed into it, his expression shifted, his eyes locking onto the scars covering
Ava's POVEach word felt like claws scraping against my skin. I lowered my head slightly, exhaling slowly.This wasn’t what I wanted. I hadn’t come here for this.And yet… once again, I had dragged someone else into my war.My wolf quieted in guilt.Just then, a sharp cry cut through the air like a
Ava's POVMy breath caught somewhere between my chest and my throat, refusing to move as his words settled over me.My wolf lifted its head sharply, alert, watching him with narrowed eyes like it was trying to catch something hidden beneath the surface.What was he saying? What was he trying to do?
Ava's POVFor a brief moment, the storm seemed to quiet around us, like even the wind was holding its breath. Anderson’s eyes stayed locked on me, but something in them changed.I could sense the thoughts moving behind his gaze. He seemed confused. But then, in a matter of seconds, I saw that cold
Ava's POV Victor carried me towards the private bathroom connected to the room. The door slammed open. Then he tossed me straight into the bathtub. Cold porcelain hit my skin…And the next second…Ice-cold water exploded down from the shower above. I gasped. The shock forced the air from my lung







