LOGINAva's POV
I blinked innocently. "What do you mean?"
Kingsley stared at me, unimpressed. "You've been distant from me since you were ten."
My smile almost slipped.
That was oddly specific.
"You've never acted like this." His eyes narrowed. "You've never tried to win Dad over."
There was no accusation in his voice, only observation.
"Just because I didn't expose you downstairs doesn't mean I didn't notice."
I sighed internally. Of course h
Ava's POVA stunned silence swept through the memorial hall. Magnus ripped the reports from my hands, his fingers trembling as he flipped through page after page.The scent of panic poured off him. For the first time in my life, I saw genuine, intense fear in the man who had terrorized me for years.Beside him, Lucas leaned forward to examine the papers. His eyes scanned the results, and a moment later, his brows shot upward.Shock flashed across his usually emotionless face. The DNA reports were real, and he knew it.I took a slow breath. The room was descending into chaos, but my wolf remained strangely calm.Maybe because I'd waited my entire life for this moment. Maybe because the truth was finally free.The reporters Ben Styles sent were recording everything that was going on."I know this is difficult for everyone," I said. My voice echoed through the hall. "But Mom's death is connected to all of this."Dozens of eyes turned toward
Ava's POVI watched Magnus' face turn pale.Everyone knew how much Lucas had sacrificed for the Stone family. For years, he had held Stone Group together through sheer determination.He had carried the entire family on his shoulders, and now he was discovering that Magnus intended to replace him with some unborn pup from his mistress.Magnus visibly trembled. "Lucas, don't listen to Ava," he said hurriedly. "She's lying. She's the one who killed your mother...""Enough."Lucas's voice wasn't loud. It didn't need to be.Magnus's face turned ghostly white. "Lucas," he pleaded, "it's all fabricated. I'd never betray your mother."Lucas didn't even look at him. His gaze shifted to me. "Continue."I blinked. For a moment, I was genuinely surprised. Then I nodded.Before I could speak, Laura rushed forward. "Lucas!" Tears streamed down her face. "Are you really going to let her destroy Mom's funeral?" Laura cried.She clung to Lucas's
Ava's POVLaura froze. Then her eyes dropped to my emerald earrings. Immediately, her face twisted."Why are you wearing those? Did you steal them from me?"The sheer audacity nearly made me laugh. Those earrings belonged to me. She had stolen them first.Nora wrinkled her nose dramatically. "Your scent reeks of lies. You stole those from Ava. She's simply taking back what's hers.""Bullshit!" Laura lunged. Her hand partially extended as she reached for my earrings.The scuffle immediately drew Magnus' attention. The moment he saw Laura's reaction, his protective instincts activated.Without asking a single question, he charged forward, his fist rising. I wasn't surprised. Magnus had always chosen Laura.Before the blow could land, Anderson's hand intercepted him. His grip clamped around Magnus's wrist like forged steel.His Alpha aura instantly flooded the area, and several wolves nearby lowered their eyes instinctively."Mr. Smith,
Ava's POVI was stunned. Those earrings had always been with Laura and Kate. There was no way she would willingly part with them.I immediately looked up. "Did you negotiate with Laura?" My expression darkened. "Did she make things difficult for you?"The concern in my voice made Anderson laugh. He reached forward and lightly pinched my nose. "No."I glared at him. Anderson only smiled wider. "It wasn't Laura. It was Kate.""Kate?" I frowned.Immediately, Anderson's palm settled against my forehead again, smoothing away the wrinkle. His touch was annoyingly effective."I think she needed money." His expression turned thoughtful. "Maybe Beatrice's death finally made her realize the Smith family wasn't as stable as she believed."He shrugged. "So she took the earrings and tried to sell them."My eyes widened. "And you bought them back?"Anderson nodded. "That's all."I lowered my gaze to the earrings. "How much did you pay?"
Ava's POVWood splintered across the floor. A pack of masked wolves stormed inside. Each one carried a heavy club. Their aggressive scents filled the room.My wolf instantly bared her fangs. It was obvious they weren't here to talk. They were here for blood.I frowned, and before I could say a word, the leader looked us over and barked at the men behind him."Those are the targets. Ava Smith and Kingsley Smith. Teach them a lesson!"My eyes narrowed. So that was it. The pieces clicked together instantly. Kingsley had publicly refused to support Laura at the hospital.She must have flown into one of her usual fits of rage and sent wolves after us. My wolf growled beneath my skin.Without wasting another second, I rushed back toward the couch and grabbed Kingsley's arm. "Kingsley!" I shook him hard. "Wake up!"His head lolled forward. "Laura sent people to kill us. Get up!"Unfortunately, despite how coherent he'd seemed during our conversa
Ava's POVKingsley slowly dragged himself upright. His eyes were bloodshot and half-lidded from exhaustion and drinking."Ava," he said quietly. "I understand you now."I frowned. He laughed bitterly."I spent my whole life trying to be a good son." His gaze drifted somewhere far away. "But the moment I stopped standing on their side, everything disappeared."His jaw tightened. "Twenty years of loyalty meant nothing."The pain in his scent grew stronger."Even the sister I spoiled for over twenty years turned against me."His fingers curled into fists. "She mocked me, sneered at me, and called me weak. Said I was too soft whenever women were involved."His laugh sounded almost broken. "After everything I did for her, after all the times I protected her, the moment I refused to speak for her..." He shook his head. "She acted like I'd never been her brother."I stayed silent.Kingsley continued. "And Dad..." The word was filled wi
Ava's POVNora hesitated, her brows knitting together, her scent spiking with unease.“I can’t say for certain,” she said slowly, “but… Victor has been throwing Laura birthday parties for the past five years.”Something inside me broke.My body went cold, my wolf shrinking back as if she’d been str
Ava's POVThey say an Alpha's promise is unbreakable.They lied.The iron gate of the werewolf prison groaned as it slid open, the sound scraping straight down my spine.Five years inside had tuned my wolf to every vibration of metal and stone, and this one felt final.I stepped out with a worn can
Ava's POVIt was a small but heavy iron box, my grandmother’s crest.The box held our family heirloom—emerald earrings from our bloodline, stones that were said to glow green in moonlight when worn by the rightful heir.It had been given to me by my grandmother.My pulse quickened as I opened the bo
Ava's POVStanding before me was the housekeeper, Mrs. Rose.“It’s you…Luna Ava” She said in amazement.Relief loosened something in my chest.“Hi, Rose,” I said, managing a thin smile.“Alpha Victor and Jasper aren’t home yet,” she said quickly. “Would you like to freshen up? Or should I prepare s







