Ava’s POV

I looked around, expecting to see mourning faces, somber whispers, or at least a shred of acknowledgment for what I was going through. But instead… they were celebrating.

The maids bustled about in a hurry, their arms filled with flowers, fine linens, and trays of food. The servants were gathered near the grand hall, cooking lavish dishes, their laughter blending with the aroma of roasted meat and fresh bread.

Music blasted across the village, filling every corner with a festive melody.

And the grand hall, our sacred space for gatherings, was decorated in golden silks and flickering lanterns.

A celebration. A joyous, extravagant display.

But not for me. Not for anyone else.

This was for her.

Charlotte.

My hands curled into fists at my sides as I walked forward, my chest tightening with each step. They had discarded me and my daughter so easily, as if we had never mattered, as if our presence had been nothing more than an inconvenience.

My jaw clenched as I approached the grand hall doors. Just as I was about to enter, two guards stepped forward, blocking my path.

“You cannot go in there,” they barked, their voices firm.

I stiffened. Lucas must have told them to keep me out. Of course, he did.

But how dare he?

This was my home. My village. I was the Luna. The woman who had stood by his side through every battle, every hardship. And yet, from the moment Charlotte returned, with her daughter, everyone had turned their backs on me.

Like I never existed.

I pushed forward, shoving past the guards. They scrambled to stop me, but I was already inside, my gaze locked on the couple at the center of the room.

Lucas and Charlotte.

They danced together in the middle of the hall, their bodies moving in perfect harmony. The way he held her, his hands resting possessively on her waist, their fingers intertwined, it was intimate. Familiar. Painfully familiar.

And the way they laughed, eyes only for each other… It was like watching a nightmare come to life.

A sharp, bitter taste filled my mouth.

I couldn’t stop myself. My body moved on its own, fueled by the fire burning inside me.

“Charlotte!” I shouted, my voice cutting through the music.

The moment her gaze met mine, I raised my hand and slapped her, hard.

The crack of my palm against her cheek echoed in the hall.

Charlotte gasped as she stumbled back, falling to the floor. Tears welled up in her eyes as she clutched her face, her expression twisted in shock and pain.

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

“Oh my!” she cried.

Lucas’s head snapped toward me, his eyes blazing with fury. “Ava!” he roared.

But I didn’t back down.

I glared at Charlotte, watching as she sobbed dramatically, making a spectacle of herself. What an actress. She clutched her cheek, trembling, as if I had done something monstrous. As if she were the victim.

Manipulation!

I had seen this before. I knew exactly what she was doing!

“You hurt me! Why?!” Charlotte wailed, her voice shaking as if I had broken her.

A sharp pang of frustration stabbed through me.

“You took everything from me, and you dare play the victim?!”

“Mommy!” A small voice shrieked.

I froze.

Sophia rushed forward and threw herself at Charlotte.

Tears streamed down her tiny face as she clung to her mother. “Why did you hurt Mommy?” she sobbed.

I inhaled sharply, my body stiffening as I stared at her.

For a brief, painful second… I saw Mia.

Memories of my own daughter, my sweet, innocent Mia, flashed in my mind. Her laughter. Her warmth. Her small hands clutching my fingers, trusting, loving.

I could never hurt a child.

Never.

The fire inside me flickered, the rage in my veins turning cold.

I shut my eyes, forcing myself to breathe, to think. But before I could gather myself, a furious voice shattered the moment.

“Why did you hit her?!”

Lucas.

His voice was thunderous, filled with unrestrained anger.

And when I opened my eyes, his gaze was locked onto me.

Furious. Unforgiving.

Like I was the villain.

“Was it really that easy for you, Lucas?!” My voice shook, but not with fear.

But with fury.

I took a step forward, my hands trembling at my sides. My chest burned with an unbearable mix of grief and rage. “You’re celebrating!” I spat, my voice rising, “when our daughter just died!”

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

They needed to hear this.

I turned in a slow circle, making sure everyone saw me, saw the pain in my eyes. “That’s right,” I said, my voice raw. “Your Alpha, the man you follow so blindly, let our daughter die.”

The room fell into stunned silence.

I took a shaky breath, my nails digging into my palms. “Mia died because Lucas chose to save Charlotte’s daughter i-instead!” My voice cracked, but I refused to waver.

The weight of my words settled over the hall like a curse. People glanced at each other, whispers beginning to spread. Some looked away, as if ashamed. Others narrowed their eyes at Lucas, doubt creeping into their expressions.

And Lucas?

He was furious.

His fists clenched, his whole body stiff with anger. His jaw tightened so hard I thought his teeth might crack.

But the worst part?

Charlotte.

The ever-dramatic, ever-calculating Charlotte.

She sniffled, clutching her chest like she was about to faint. “Ava, just admit it!” she crooned, shaking her head. “Lucas loves me! He chose me! It’s time for you to move on!”

Then, beneath her pathetic act, I saw it.

A smirk.

She was enjoying this.

Before I could react, Lucas was already at her side, helping her up, holding her as if she were fragile glass. As if she hadn’t just destroyed my entire life.

And then, she wrapped her arms around him.

Sophia, too, ran into Lucas’s embrace.

Together, they looked like a perfect, happy family. Like I had never existed.

A sharp, soul-crushing pain ripped through me, leaving behind only raw, burning hatred.

No.

I wouldn’t accept this! Not when I was the one grieving! The one suffering!

Lucas turned to me, his expression dark and unyielding. “Enough, Ava!”

I barely had time to react before he shoved me back, hard.

I stumbled, my breath catching in my throat.

Then he said the words that shattered everything.

“I reject you as my Luna!”

My body went numb.

No.

No, he couldn’t….

He wouldn’t!

“You are no longer my mate.”

The room spun. My heart pounded violently against my ribs, my breath shallow and uneven.

What?

I stared at him, my mind refusing to process what he had just said.

“Y-You can’t possibly mean that!” I screamed, my voice breaking.

Lucas straightened, his eyes cold. “I can.”

Then his lips curled into something bitter. “You think I don’t know?”

I froze.

“Know what?”

His gaze bore into mine. “I know what you’ve been doing behind my back, Ava.” His voice was sharp as a blade. “You’ve been sleeping with another Alpha.”

No.

The room erupted into a mix of gasps and murmurs. My stomach twisted violently.

“That’s a lie!” I snapped. “I would never—”

“Don’t bother denying it,” Lucas interrupted. “Not just any Alpha.” His voice lowered, full of venom. “My enemy.”

I choked on air.

This was Charlotte.

I turned to her, and there it was. The satisfied gleam in her eyes. The knowing smirk.

She had done this.

She had orchestrated this whole thing, painted me as the villain while she played the innocent victim.

I turned back to Lucas, my heart hammering. “I would never betray you.” My voice wavered, but I meant every word.

For a fleeting second, doubt flickered in his eyes. But it vanished the moment I uttered her name.

“After Mia…” I whispered.

Lucas stiffened.

His expression faltered, just for a moment. But then, as if forcing himself to forget, he hardened again.

“Leave.”

His voice was final.

“Get out of my sight!”

Something inside me snapped.

My jaw clenched, my hands curled into fists. My body screamed at me to beg, to plead for him to believe me.

But I wouldn’t.

Not anymore.

I straightened, lifting my chin, forcing my shoulders back.

I met his gaze, unflinching.

“You will regret this, Lucas.” My voice was steady, cold. “I promise you.”

Lucas barely blinked. “Guards.”

His tone was emotionless. “Throw her out!”

Heavy footsteps rushed toward me, but I didn’t fight. I didn’t resist.

Charlotte turned away, Lucas’s arm wrapped protectively around her.

I stood there, letting the whispers of the crowd wash over me. Letting their judgment press against my skin.

They thought this was over.

They thought I was powerless.

They had no idea what I can do.

Ava’s POV

I left the tribe.

My chest felt unbearably heavy, as if the weight of my emotions had settled deep inside me, making it hard to breathe. With every step, my arms ached from carrying Mia’s belongings.

Her blankets, her favorite toy, her tiny clothes, everything she held dear. But the real burden wasn't what I carried in my hands; it was the pain in my heart.

As I walked away from the Moon Dagger Pack, memories of the past clawed at me, refusing to let go. I thought about everything Lucas and I had been through, the bond we shared, the moments that once felt unbreakable. And yet, for him, it had been so easy. So easy to push me aside. So easy to throw everything away.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palm as the memory resurfaced.

His hands shoving me in front of the entire pack.

The sheer force had sent me sprawling to the ground, humiliation burning through me like wildfire. The pack had witnessed it. They knew I was their Luna. And still, no one had dared to stop him.

The moment Charlotte arrived, with her child at her side, Lucas didn’t even hesitate. He tossed me away like I was nothing, as if I had never mattered.

Pain twisted inside me, but I refused to break. Not here. Not now.

No, I wouldn't let it end like this.

I had a plan.

If Lucas could throw me away so easily, then I would make sure he regretted it for the rest of his life. He would grieve. He would suffer. Because as far as he, and the rest of the world, would know, I would be dead.

I made my way toward the one place no one dared to step foot in.

The witches’ territory.

It was forbidden, a land known for its dangers, but I wasn’t afraid. I had something they wanted.

Money.

And that was all that mattered to witches.

By the time I arrived, the air was thick with an unnatural stillness, as if the land itself was alive and watching me. The door to the small, eerie-looking cottage creaked open before I could even knock. A voice, smooth yet laced with caution, echoed from within.

"Who is it?"

I took a step forward. “It’s Ava. The Luna of the Moon Dagger Pack.”

A woman emerged from the shadows, her piercing gaze scanning me from head to toe. She was older, her face lined with wisdom and secrets. Her dark eyes gleamed with curiosity.

"And what do you need from me?" she asked, arching a brow.

Before she could say another word, I tossed a heavy bag onto the wooden floor. It landed with a dull thud, and the moment the bag spilled open, gold coins shimmered under the dim light.

Her eyes widened. A slow, knowing smile crept onto her lips.

"Interesting," she murmured, crouching down to run her fingers through the coins. "I'm listening."

I straightened my posture, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me. “I need you to create a body. One that looks exactly like me.”

The witch tilted her head, intrigued. "Go on."

"Then, I want you to set a fire in the forest. The body should burn there, but it must still be recognizable. It needs to be found… by Lucas.”

A flicker of amusement crossed her face. "I see," she mused, her fingers tapping against her chin. Then, slowly, her lips curled into a smirk. "Something happened, didn’t it?"

I didn’t respond. My silence was enough.

She let out a soft chuckle. "But it’s not my place to ask. You paid me well, and that’s all that matters."

Turning away, she began gathering her tools, her movements smooth and effortless. "It will be done," she assured me.

I exhaled, a sense of relief washing over me. This was it. The first step.

My plan was simple.

I would fake my own death. And if I was going to disappear, I had to make sure it looked convincing.

Lucas thought he had gotten rid of me.

But soon, he would learn what true regret felt like.

I lowered my gaze to Mia’s belongings in my arms. Her tiny clothes, her favorite toy, the little things that once brought her joy, they felt unbearably heavy now.

I knew what I was doing was desperate. A last resort. But I refused to be seen as weak. I refused to let them think I was a defeated woman.

That’s why I was here.

That’s why I sought out the witch.

A woman who had the power to make the impossible happen.

After some time, we made our way deep into the forest, the damp earth soft beneath our feet. This wasn’t just any forest, it was dangerously close to the village, to the Moon Dagger Pack’s territory.

From where I stood, I could see the glow of torches and lanterns in the distance, hear the faint sound of laughter and music drifting through the trees. They were celebrating.

My hands curled into fists at the sight.

They were rejoicing while I was out here, forced into exile. Lucas had cast me aside, thrown me away like I was nothing. And now, they partied as if my existence had never mattered.

I swallowed down my rage as the witch turned to me, presenting the lifeless figure she had conjured.

It was an exact replica of me.

Every feature, every detail…perfectly crafted. A doppelgänger.

"Are you ready?" the witch asked, her voice calm, almost bored.

I smirked, but before answering, I reached for my phone. "Wait a minute."

I needed to do one last thing.

I dialed Lucas’ number. But the moment the call connected, my stomach twisted.

The voice on the other end wasn’t his.

It was her.

Charlotte.

Her voice slithered through the receiver, sickeningly sweet and dripping with mockery.

"Well, well, well. If it isn’t the desperate little whore."

My grip on the phone tightened.

"Where’s Lucas?" I demanded.

Charlotte let out a cruel, delighted laugh. "Oh, sweetheart, he’s not available. But I have to say, this is pathetic. You’re still calling him? Even after everything?"

Rage boiled in my chest, but I refused to let her hear it in my voice. "Give the phone to Lucas."

Another laugh. This one sharper. Meaner. "Why? So he can humiliate you again? So he can remind you how worthless you are?"

My jaw clenched. "You’ll never win against me, Charlotte."

Her laughter stopped. But when she spoke again, there was nothing but satisfaction in her tone.

"Oh, but I already have."

My breath caught in my throat.

Then she said something that shattered me.

"You really are stupid, Ava. Funny, isn't it? That your daughter died for nothing?"

The world tilted.

"What?" My voice came out as a whisper, barely audible.

"Poor little Mia. You thought she died because of Sophia, didn’t you? But the truth is…" Charlotte let out a wicked chuckle. "Sophia was never sick. It was all a lie. And Lucas? He fell for it so easily."

My entire body went numb.

Mia.

My hands trembled. My breath came in shallow gasps. The phone nearly slipped from my grip as Charlotte’s laughter rang through the line, sharp and cruel, before the call went dead.

For a long moment, I just stood there, my whole body shaking with rage. My vision blurred, but I refused to let the tears fall.

The witch, who had been silent until now, chuckled under her breath. "Ah, so now I understand."

I shot her a glare, my nails digging into my palms. "Start the fire."

Her grin widened. "No turning back now, huh?"

"There never was," I muttered.

Without hesitation, she lifted her hands, murmuring ancient words under her breath. Flames roared to life, devouring the doppelgänger as the fire spread through the dry leaves and branches. The heat licked at my skin as I took one last glance at the village in the distance.

Let them think I was dead. Let them believe they had won.

Because I wasn’t just running away.

I was disappearing.

I turned away from the burning body, my resolve hardening like steel.

It was time to become someone new.

Time to change everything.

The Ava they knew was gone.

But inside?

I was still me. Still the woman they had betrayed.

The woman who had lost everything.

And this time, I would make them pay.