Mag-log inAVIONNA’S POVFabian’s silence was enough of an answer for Zolani whose expression dropped.The realization seemed to settle over her all at once.“Oh my God,” she clasped a hand over her mouth, eyes widening.Her gaze swerved from Fabian to me. I met her eyes briefly then looked away. I didn't need to see the thoughts form in her gaze to know what she was thinking. Earlier, I pondered why she was being so approachable to me and even appreciated the fact that she was being so kind and friendly towards me. Now, after determining that she didn't see me in the same light as everyone else and didn't think I should be punished for a crime I hadn't committed, I was thankful. But that didn't erode the fact that she hadn't known what Fabian's intention in bringing me back was until now.Zolani hadn't known that I wasn't her brother's mate, and that I was merely a woman he brought back to be punished.I didn't realize she was holding me until her grip on my wrist tightened, bringing my focus
AVIONNA’S POV“So?”The single word hung in the air.Cicero stared at Zolani like he hadn't understood what she meant.“What?”“So what if she's Elara Vale's daughter?”Her voice was calm, almost casual, but there was a strange firmness underneath it that made me lift my head properly.Cicero's face hardened.“You heard what I said.”“I did.”Zolani leaned back against her chair, folding her arms over her chest.“And?”Cicero's nostrils flared.“And she's the daughter of the woman who murdered Hillary.”“And so?”He looked genuinely speechless for a second.I could understand why.I was speechless too.Not because I didn't know what Zolani was saying, but because I had spent so many years hearing the opposite that the idea of someone simply refusing to accept my mother's sin as mine felt almost foreign.Cicero finally found his voice.“You're defending her?”Zolani frowned.“I'm asking you what she has to do with it.”“She is Elara's daughter.”“And?”“Zolani.”“What?”His voice rose.
AVIONNA’S POV I had never felt so uncomfortable in my life. Gathered around a table with four people, two of whom I would rather weren't here, I wondered how this had somehow become my life. Fabian's arrival earlier was unexpected but what was even more unforeseeable was that Zolani would drag me to have dinner with him and his Beta, Cicero, who'd shown up not long after he did with his familiar revulsion. Zolani's insistence had ended up with me at a table, seated next to her while Cicero sat opposite us, glaring daggers at me. Fabian was at the head of the table, not saying anything. The dining room in itself was large and I could remember how big it had seemed the last time I was in here, when I had sat at the far end of the table away from Fabian. Now, I was seated way closer to him and the room seemed so much smaller. If Zolani weren't between us, I would have been right next to Fabian, a thought my wolf found very much appealing. She wholeheartedly approved the cl
AVIONNA’S POVZolani had to be the funniest person I had met in my life.I also had not expected how quickly I had warmed up to her or how easily I grew accustomed to her presence.She was like a breath of fresh air. Even Martha had laughed more easily than I had seen her do since I got here.I sat in the kitchen like I had everyday for the past couple of days, one leg raised onto the stool I was seated on, chin resting over my raised knee as I watched Martha rub a mixture of herbs and spices into a whole chicken.The familiar tang of herbs I could identify by their blend was refreshing but what I found even more calming and very amusing was the jokes Zolani was making at Reo's expense."You're a real piece of work, dude," She muttered, the corners of her lips twisting up. She glanced over her shoulders at me."Don't you think he's strange?"I shifted my gaze to Reo, who stood by the doorway with his hands folded, leveling Zolani with a look I had never seen him wear.He looked...wary
AVIONNA'S POVThe question hung in the air between us, unanswered.Truthfully, I held the same question myself.Was I his mate?Sure, I'd felt drawn to him and the bond had settled in my chest like I'd been born with it the instant I saw him and he'd loudly proclaimed his acceptance of me in a room full of people but did I really believe that?The answer was no. Although Fabian had said that I was his mate and everything around us and inside of me pointed towards it, it felt nothing like what I had always imagined a sacred bond bestowed by the Goddess would feel like.So, when Zolani asked if I was really Fabian's mate, I didn't know what to tell her.We had to be the most mismatched pick to ever exist. My mom had murdered his wife and child. He hated me. He was an Alpha while I was an Omega, cursed to always be a bottom feeder. He had everything, whereas I owned nothing.Was I supposed to tell her that we could hardly be considered mates when he was keeping me hostage in his home and
AVIONNA'S POV I realized Fabian still wasn't home when I woke up. I wasn't sure why I noticed, but I did. And just like last night, I was relieved that I didn't have to see him or be conscious and wary of every step I took. It had been a full day of peace and quiet and I didn't know how long I had before the supposed peace would be shattered by his return but I had made up my mind not to keep on living in anxiety. Moreover, after yesterday's conversation with Martha, I realized that this was a good time to figure out what I could do around here, something to fill the time I spent idle and something that would be some form of respite if Fabian eventually decided to make good on his promise to make my life hell. Surely, I could find joy even in hell. With that thought in my mind, I went downstairs in search of Martha, knowing she was probably already in the kitchen. I walked down the stairs, rubbing sleep from my eyes, only to stop halfway. The instinctive stillness of my







