LOGINAva's POVInside the office, Reuben was sprawled across a couch, resting with his eyes shut.The second Nora yelled, his eyes flew open.He sprang upright instantly."Where is she?" he barked. "What happened..."He was already moving toward the door when he finally saw me standing beside Nora.Relief flashed across his face, only for a second.Then his gaze dropped to my wrists.The relief disappeared, and a dangerous look settled over his features."Ava," he said slowly. "Have you completely lost your mind?"I offered him a tired smile."You're about the tenth person who's asked me that today."That stopped him.His brows furrowed."What happened?" he asked.I sighed.The memories came rushing back.My wolf whimpered at the humiliation I suffered at Stone Manor."Nothing major," I muttered. "I just went to Stone Manor, completely lost control, and nearly got myself thrown into a psychiatric facility."The words sounded absurd even to me.Then I remembered something.Reuben was close
Ava's POVThe door burst open.A massive man strode inside carrying a giant axe. His beard was thick, his eyes glowed amber, and his scent screamed violence.Kingsley's cigarette dropped into his drink."I don't think we've met." The man grinned."No." He pointed the axe at Kingsley. "You don't know me."Then he pulled out his phone."But you screwed my woman."Kingsley looked at the photo, then groaned."Oh."The man shoved the phone away."Recognize her?"Kingsley rubbed his forehead."She came onto me."The bearded wolf laughed."Good." He lowered the axe. "I'm not here to kill you."Kingsley visibly relaxed. Then the man pointed downward."I'm just here to cut off the body part that caused the problem."Kingsley immediately crossed his legs."Here?" Kingsley asked. "In my territory?"I stood.This was a perfect distraction for me to leave Kingsley.Unfortunately, I didn't make it to the door.I was only halfway there when the huge bearded man immediately dragged me back and shoved
Ava's POVMagnus's expression darkened. His hand connected with my right cheek in yet another resounding slap.SMACK!"Enough!" he snapped. "Get her out of here!"Blood filled my mouth. I tasted it, then smiled."I used to think you'd feel guilty someday." My voice dropped to a whisper. "I thought maybe five years in prison would be enough."I stared at each one of them, my eyes ice-cold."But you do not care about family. You do not care about anything I did for you!"Finally, something inside me died completely."Listen carefully, every one of you."The room went silent."I'm done."My wolf raised her head within me, proud and resolute."From this moment forward..." I pointed at each of them."You are not my mother, father, or brothers.""And you..." I looked at Laura. My voice turned deadly. "You are certainly not my sister."My eyes burned gold."We are enemies now. I hate every single one of you."I meant every word."I swear I'll..."Suddenly, Kingsley grabbed me. His hand clamp
Ava's POV"Why?" I demanded. "Why did you get rid of June?" My hands trembled. "Why did you kill Maria?"Laura laughed coldly."Why?" She rolled her eyes. "You ask as if it's complicated."Then she looked directly at me and smiled."That little brat figured out I wasn't her real mother before she'd even lost her baby teeth."My breath caught.Laura's smile widened."She kept telling everyone she wanted to find her real mother."Every word felt like a knife."She never accepted me." Laura shrugged. "So why should I waste my time raising an ungrateful child?"The world tilted. For a moment, I couldn't breathe, think, or move.That was it? That was the reason? June died because she wanted her mother? Because she wanted me?Pain ripped through my chest so violently I nearly collapsed.My wolf howled with unbearable grief.In the end... it was because of me. I was the reason she made June go away.If she hadn't needed me, if she hadn't wanted me, maybe she'd still be around.The thought ne
Ava's POVI was standing in darkness.Not ordinary darkness, but the kind that swallowed everything.There was no moonlight, no stars, no scent, no sound, just endless blackness and a freezing cold that seeped into my bones.My wolf whimpered inside me.Then I heard it…a small, weak, terrified voice."Mommy..."My heart stopped."Mommy, help me..."It was June.No... it was Maria.No... both of them.The voices blended together until I couldn't tell them apart anymore."Mommy..."The cry echoed through the darkness."Help me..."I started running desperately and frantically, trying to find them, but no matter how fast I ran, they sounded farther away."Mommy..."The voices became fainter and weaker, as if they were slipping away forever."No!" I screamed. "Don't leave me!"Then everything shattered, and I jerked awake.My entire body was shaking.The sharp scent of disinfectant immediately invaded my senses.I realized I was at the hospital.It had been a dream.For several seconds, I
Anderson's POVThe world seemed to stop.My heart ached as I watched Ava. She sank back to the ground and pulled Maria into her arms, tears streaming uncontrollably down her cheeks.Then she lifted her head slowly toward Victor, her eyes burning with wild rage."Victor!"Her scream tore through the mountain.Before anyone could react, Ava launched herself at him.Victor had been standing nearby, watching Ava with the girl. His face was pale. He looked shaken and devastated, like someone had ripped his heart out.But Ava didn't see any of that. All she saw was the man she believed had destroyed everything.She slammed into him hard enough to knock him backward.Both of them hit the ground."Why?!"Her fists came down repeatedly against his chest."Tell me why!"I took a step forward instinctively. My wolf growled uneasily.This was getting dangerous.Ava grabbed Victor's shirt and yanked him upright. Her eyes glowed blood-red from rage and pure grief, the kind that could drive a wolf i
Ava's POV Victor carried me towards the private bathroom connected to the room. The door slammed open. Then he tossed me straight into the bathtub. Cold porcelain hit my skin…And the next second…Ice-cold water exploded down from the shower above. I gasped. The shock forced the air from my lung
Ava's POV I watched him, waiting for him to speak but he said nothing. My nails dug into my palms. “Why did June’s doctor suddenly quit?” I demanded. “How does a child just die from pneumonia? Why wasn't her dead body shown to you?” My voice rose with every question. “Or maybe you weren’t even
Ava's POV Panic hit me like ice water. I killed the ringtone instantly, my thumb slamming the screen dark, and fled down the hall. Every step I took was silent instinct. My wolf shrank tight under my skin. Thank goodness I had masked my scent before coming. I reached the stairwell corner and wal
Ava's POVI had just finished my wrist exercises, rotating the joint slowly the way the healer instructed. The bones had mended a long time ago, but ligaments in wolf-shifters healed stubbornly when the injury carried trauma.Every twist still sent a dull ache up my arm. I flexed my fingers again,







