All Chapters of The Alpha's Scorned Bride: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

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 canvas bag slung over my shoulder. Cold February air hit my face, it felt sharp and clean compared to the recycled staleness of prison.Freedom should have smelled sweet. Instead, the air tasted empty.My wolf stirred weakly beneath my skin, sniffing at scents I hadn’t smelled in years. Scents of car exhaust, rain on concrete and trees, but underneath it all…the one scent I was eager to smell was missing.The scent of my mate and husband, Alpha Victor Smith, Alpha of the Moonshadow Pack.My heart thudded harder. He was supposed to be here. He had also promised to bring the twins with him.I scanned the parking lot anyway, just in case his scent was masked, but he was nowhere in sight.My chest

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 like my heart was being torn apart, slow and merciless, claws digging in and ripping it piece by piece.I stared at him. My hand shook as I reached out, desperate to touch his cheek, to remind myself that he was real.In a flash, he slapped my hand away. “Don’t touch me with your dirty hands!”The words burned worse than silver.“Jasper,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “I’m your mom.”I sank to my knees again, not caring that he’d struck me. Pain meant nothing compared to this. Tears blurred my vision as I looked up at him, my wolf crying softly inside me.“Jasper, I’m your real mom, I gave birth to you” I said, forcing the truth past the lump in my throat. “You—”“Get lost!” he shouted. “

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 definitely find something that will help clear your name.”Her confidence wrapped around me like fur against winter cold. I let out a sigh.She reached over and pinched my cheek, the playful gesture so familiar it made my throat tighten.“Hey,” she murmured, her amber eyes glinting, “there is no need rushing into the past. Tonight’s about you being free. The chains are off. We should celebrate your freedom.”I wasn't particularly in the right frame of mind to celebrate, especially after hearing that one of my pups was dead. I stared at Nora for a few seconds, not wanting to weigh down her spirit, I decided to play along.“So you’re buying me dinner?” I asked, forcing a small smile.“You bet.” Nora

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 box.It was empty.For a second, I simply stared. Then the truth settled with cold certainty. Someone had taken them.I did not need a scent or witness or proof. My wolf knew. It had to be Laura.My breath came sharper. I shoved the lid closed and kept searching, faster for my other valuables, urgency clawing through me.My savings account book was gone.The manuscripts and teaching volumes my mentor Mr. Oliver Hale had given me were also gone.The attic spun with the taste of theft.Right then, every instinct in me howled to run, to storm across the city to the Stone estate, tear through their gates, and demand my belongings back from Laura in front of everyone.But instinct wasn't a strategy

Ava's POVI never imagined Victor could be that heartless.The moment his car lunged forward, my wolf screamed.I tried to move, but it was too late. The car’s bumper clipped my hip with brutal force, the impact ripping a cry from my throat as the world spun. My bone, muscle and nerves exploded into white-hot pain as I was thrown sideways like prey struck by a charging predator.I hit the pavement and rolled.For a split second, I couldn’t breathe. My wolf recoiled deep inside me, stunned, whimpering. Every inch of my body felt torn open, as if claws had raked through my flesh and wolf alike.I didn’t even know if anything was broken.It didn’t matter. I needed to get to Victor to inquire more about June. His car had stopped after knocking me down.I forced my limbs to move, dragging myself upright. My ankle buckled, my back screamed, but desperation drowned the pain. I stumbled to the car and slammed my palm against the tinted window.“Victor!”My voice cracked, raw with dust and blo