LOGINAva's POV
Wood 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. TAva'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 POVAnderson didn't even blink. He remained perfectly calm."No." His answer was immediate. "I think allowing yourself to be used as someone's tool is what truly disgraces a family."Laura's face stiffened. "Anderson, have you been bewitched too?"My shoulders finally relaxed. The moment Anderson appeared, I knew the situation wouldn't spiral out of control.I walked to stand beside him. I turned to the officers and said calmly, "When Beatrice Stone died, neither Reuben nor I was at the hospital."I crossed my arms. "I didn't even know she was dead until Kingsley and Magnus called me." I locked gazes with the lead officer. "You can verify that easily."Before they could answer, Laura cut in. "What are you denying now?" Her voice became shrill. "You could have poisoned her beforehand."She pointed at me dramatically. "You could have easily put something in her food or in her medicine." Her eyes glittered maliciously. "You poisoned Mom. Yo
Ava's POVNora’s fingers closed around mine, warm and steady.“Leave this to me,” she said softly. “I’ve run with the law for years. I have friends in the grand council prosecutor’s offfice who still owe me favors. I’ll dig up your old case files, track whoever handled it back then. We will definit
Victor's POVAva didn’t spare me another glance. She seized Nora’s arm and strode away, her back straight, her steps steady.I stood frozen.For a long second, my chest tightened in a way I didn’t expect, a dull pressure spreading beneath my ribs.My wolf stirred uneasily, pacing, confused by all t
Ava's POVThe pup I had carried through nine months of iron bars and concrete floors, through hunger and pain.The child I had almost bled out bringing into this world, now stood in front of me calling another woman Mom, defending her, hitting me and spitting words at me like I was nothing.It felt
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







