Masuk“No. Nothing.” He quickly locked his phone and placed it on the table.Then, as if forcing himself to look relaxed again, a smile suddenly appeared on his face.“It’s just… I find it funny that you’re expecting our family to have some kind of big secret.”I frowned.“You’re just telling me now that you didn’t meet Mom at the party? And then about you going to war…”He laughed and picked up the book again. “Honey, I was just joking. I can’t believe you actually fell for that.”“That doesn’t sound like a joke. You sounded serious, Dad.” I stood up and walked over to him.He stared at me for a moment before his smile faded. “Seriously, Ava. What exactly have you heard to be acting like this?”“Dad.”“Or did someone perhaps tell you that you’re not my daughter or something?”“No. I just wanted to…”“Ava.” He called my name firmly.I stopped.“Our family really has no secret like the one you’re looking for.”He put the book back in its original position and stepped closer to me, placing bo
Apparently, my father had more important things to attend to before he could even ask me what happened so he said, “How about you go and take a rest first. I need to attend to Lucien, then I’ll come and check on you properly.”I nodded.“Okay, Dad.”I went upstairs to my room, and the moment I opened the door, a warm sense of familiarity washed over me.My room.My warm, cozy room.After everything that had happened, seeing it again felt strangely comforting. I walked over to my bed and threw myself onto it, staring blankly at the ceiling.It had been quite a trip. A very exhausting one. And the saddest part was that I had returned with nothing.All because of him.I let out a heavy sigh and rolled onto my side, trying not to think about anything. I didn’t even give Aria a chance to say a single word and had her locked at the back of my mind for hours now, before she started preaching about some stupid mate bond.I’ve had enough of that bull shit.I kept my mind relaxed and didn’t eve
****AVA’S POV***The flight back home was quiet. I just sat by the window, my arms crossed over my chest and my back leaned against the seat as I stared out at the clouds.Lucien was sitting beside me. And never in a million years did I expect to meet him there. Although, he still hadn’t told me what he was doing there in the first place.“Water?” I heard him ask.I could only shake my head without looking at him.Not in the mood for any of it. For some reason, I just felt full.“Did you really love him that much?” he asked.And that really got my attention. I turned to look at him, surprise written all over my face. He wasn’t looking at me. His eyes were fixed on the magazine in his hands.“If you did, then why don't you just go back and hear his side of the story?”Go back?When I walked away from him, wanting nothing more than to get away from his drama and Natalie, why didn't he come after me? I waited and waited. I even slowed my pace hoping he would catch up with me soon, but
Natalie didn’t answer. She simply crossed her arms over her chest, watching me, her lip lifting up into a smile.Something inside me snapped as I had no time for her little game. It seems I have been so good and gentle with her that she must have been so delusional about me.I stormed back to her, and my hand went around her throat. I tightened my grip and lifted her until her feet barely touched the floor.The color drained from her face.Her hands immediately clawed at mine, desperately trying to pry my fingers away.“Tell me,” I growled. “What have you done this time?”“I…I…” Her voice came out strangled.I tightened my grip.“Tell me!”“I…I didn’t do anything!” She gasped, struggling for air but I only pressed harder.And if I pressed just enough, I was sure her neck would snap in my hand.“I…I just… heard your mother get a call that he was in an accident…”The words hit me like a bullet and my mind went blank.How could that be? The last time I talked to him, he told me he wou
***CAYDEN’S POV***Have you ever noticed how the devil lurks in some dark corner, patiently waiting until you’re finally within reach of the one thing you’ve spent weeks scheming, sacrificing, and fighting for—only to step out at the very moment you’re about to have it and ruin everything?That was exactly what was happening to me.I stared at Natalie with nothing but shock as she walked closer and intertwined her arm with mine, flashing me a warm smile as if this gesture had been something normal between us.“Are you too shocked to see me?” she asked, looking up at me as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I knew you’d be like this. Did you miss me that much?”I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out. I tried again. And again. Still nothing. Because…at this moment…how I so much wished to rip that smiling head off her neck.I could already imagine killing her over and over again. And instead of seeing that, she was still looking at me with so much eagerness i
He shook his head.“We’re leaving tomorrow.”“That soon?” My brows pulled together. “What about Liam? Isn’t he supposed to stay with Joana? He is now her…”“The wedding never took place,” Cayden interrupted gently. “So they aren’t married yet.”Oh, I see.But still…“We had an agreement with Mr. Knight. But now that he’s dead, we don’t know if that agreement will still stand. Until they decide who the next alpha will be, we won’t know whether the alliance will continue.”“But what about Joana? Don’t you feel…”“Ava…”The way he said my name made me stop.“She’s tougher than you think,” he said. “ You don’t need to worry about her.”I wanted to believe him.I really did.But something heavy settled in my chest.Because no matter what he said, I couldn’t shake the feeling that everyone was being cruel to her.Her father had just died. The death has affected her mother’s sanity; She has lost her mate Her wedding had been ruined.Her entire pack was waiting for her to make decisions whil
The second I saw her face, something inside me broke. Fresh tears filled my eyes and without saying a word, I stepped forward and threw my arms around her. She didn’t ask what happened nor demand an explanation. She just wrapped her arms around me and held me as if all she knew all I needed right
I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. I could only stare at him in shock and through the corner of my eyes, I caught this triumphant sneer on Natalie's face. “You…you can’t be serious, right? The one who should be leaving right now is..” “No, it’s you.” He turned to face me, after sl
***AVA’S POV***“Congratulations, you’re three weeks pregnant.” The doctor’s words rang in my ears as I stared at her.“Pardon?”“You heard me right, Luna Ava. You are three weeks along.”I blinked rapidly as I could not believe this. Five years of trying and now finally…I didn’t wait for anythin
I couldn’t find it. My eyes scanned the velvet-lined drawers again. Then again. But it’s still not there. Not just the ring but most of my jewelry are missing. My fingers began moving frantically through every compartment. But it wasn’t there. I didn’t care about the wedding ring or the res







