All Chapters of The Wrong Alpha’s Heir : Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

—• DAMON POV•—The afternoon sun was bright and scorching overhead, but the shade of the training field pavilion gave me some relief. A guard stood quietly at my left, his posture straight, while a maid stood on my right, holding out a silver tray with water and a towel in case I needed it.The sound of fists meeting flesh, the grunts of effort, the barked orders from their instructor… It all blended together, steady and rhythmic. It should have been a distraction, but my wolf and I both knew why I had dragged myself out here. I wasn’t supposed to be here. Not really. The Alpha doesn’t waste time watching junior warriors practice. I had council meetings, reports stacked on my desk, lands that needed my judgment.But the truth was, I needed something—anything—to keep my mind from going back to her.Avery.The scar on her face. The way she had looked at me with so much hurt. The way she had held the baby, and for the first time, he stopped crying. That memory hadn’t left me since last n

—• AVERY POV •—The smirk on Jessica’s lips sent chills racing through me. Her voice had lost its sweet lilt; it was sharper now, crueler, like a knife dragged slowly against my skin.“And what if I did, Avery?”she repeated, tilting her head, her eyes glittering with malice.The words sliced through me like a blade. My chest tightened, and for a moment I forgot how to breathe. I had known, but hearing her confirm it… the truth burned worse.My hands tightened into fists at my sides, but I forced myself to stay still. “Why?” My voice cracked. “You… you pretended to be kind. You made me believe you cared—”She laughed. The sound was hollow and mocking. “Why not?”I froze.She took a slow step toward me, her eyes sharp and merciless. “You really think I didn’t see it? The way Damon stares at you? The way he defends you, protects you, even when he doesn’t realize it himself? You might not have noticed, Avery, but I did. And I wasn’t about to let you take him from me.”Her words stabbed de

—• DAMON POV •— The growl slipped out of me before I even realized it. I hadn’t planned to reveal myself like this, but the sight of Avery, held down and bloodied, made something inside me snap. My wolf surged forward, clawing, snarling, wanting to rip apart every hand that had touched her. I clenched my fists hard to keep control, but the tremor in my body betrayed me. The women dropped her instantly, stepping back like frightened pups. Even seasoned she-wolves knew the weight of an Alpha’s fury. But Penelope—my father’s mate, my so-called stepmother—straightened her back, her pride refusing to bow. She still thought her title protected her. “Damon,” she said, her voice shrill but trying to sound composed. “I told you this was no good, look at my face she struck me! She dared lay her omega filthy hands on me.” She gestured dramatically at her cheek, though the mark on it was faint compared to Avery’s bruised, bleeding face. Still, I didn’t speak. My gaze was locked on Avery

—• AVERY POV •—My grip on my dress tightened, but I kept walking. Each step felt heavy, but Maya’s words replayed in my head: Hold your head high.I did.I felt their stares crawling over my scars, but I refused to lower my gaze. My scars were mine. My pain was mine. And still, I stood.Near the center of the hall, Jessica spotted me. She froze, her glass of wine halfway to her lips. For a second, her mask cracked—panic flashing in her eyes. Then she quickly recovered, pasting on that fake sweet smile she always wore.Beside her, Penelope sat with a group of elegantly dressed she-wolves, her glare sharp enough to cut glass. The way she looked at me like I was dirt polluting the air with my presence made my stomach twist. But I didn’t turn back.Because then I saw him.Damon.He stood near the head of the crowd, tall and powerful in a black suit that fit his frame perfectly. His eyes, sharp and cold moments before, shifted the second they landed on me. Surprise. Confusion. Something

—• AVERY POV •—“Miss Alice,” the flight attendant leaned down gently, her voice soft against the quiet hum of the plane. “Would you like anything to drink? Perhaps some wine, or maybe a warm towel?”I looked up, blinking, momentarily pulled out of my thoughts. She wore that perfect professional smile, polite and practiced, the kind of smile that didn’t need much effort.I gave a faint shake of my head. “No. Thank you.”She nodded, her smile widening as though she respected my choice. “Of course, Miss Alice. If you need anything, please ring.” With that, she walked gracefully back down the aisle, leaving me alone with the hum of the engines and the steady beat of my own thoughts.I leaned back against the soft leather, fingertips brushing the rim of the glass as I stared at my reflection in the oval window. Five years. Five long years had passed since—Avery died—the mother who had been forced away from her son. The woman who had been betrayed by those she trusted most. I was no longe