AVA

"Ugh! I hate you!" I yelled, swatting my hands on the edge of the bed.

I took in my surroundings as I stood alone after my unpleasant roommate left. The room looked like it belonged to a man, and the smell made it clear that it was his personal space.

The room was entirely devoid of colour, with only shades of grey and black undertones covering the walls. It lacked any personal touch, giving off a gloomy and sterile ambiance. The occupant seemed to prefer simplicity and minimalism, as evidenced by the few abstract paintings scattered around.

Even though it didn't have any decorations, this room was much better than the one I had been in before. It was the most pleasant space I had experienced, and I felt grateful not to be responsible for cleaning it.

This room might have looked depressing, but it was nowhere close to how sombre my 'room' was. It was the most pleasant room I have ever had the pleasure of being in, and I did not have to clean it.

"Um, hi..."

Right then, I heard a voice behind me, and I turned to see a stunning girl standing in the doorway. She was of average height, about 5'4, with curly dark hair, caramel skin, and beautiful honey-brown eyes. Her white summer dress made her appear as though she were an angel.

Feeling self-conscious in my baggy clothes, I awkwardly waved and greeted her. "Er... Hi."

With a polite smile, the girl announced, "The al—I mean Jay—sent me to keep you company."

"Jay?" I asked, my confusion evident.

'Is that his name?' I pondered.

"Mm--mm, yes." Her hair was falling into her eyes, so she tucked it. "He brought you here, right?" she responded, eyeing me strangely.

Jay. At least now I had a name to attach to the man who left me stranded in this unfamiliar room. I couldn't help but feel annoyed as I recalled his earlier behaviour.

"Ah, yes...I guess." I muttered, mentally facepalming at my own forgetfulness.

She walked towards me and extended her hands. Smiling, she responded, "By the way, I'm Katie."

"Nice to meet you, Katie," I said, grabbing and shaking her hand. "I'm Ava."

She dropped her hands to the side and looked around the room. Drawing a sigh, she asked me, "Well, Ava, would you like a tour of the house?"

Uncertain but grateful for the offer, I hesitantly responded, "Sure."

"Great!" Katie exclaimed, clapping her hands excitedly.

As we strolled through the house, I couldn't help but feel the curious gazes of the pack members on me. I could almost sense their unspoken questions about why I was there. Like them, I wondered why this 'Jay' guy had brought me here. It was customary for mates to move in together once they found each other, but Jay hadn't even bothered to explain anything beyond those certain formalities aside from being my so-called mate.

While I walked through the pack members, I could feel the weight of their stares on the back of my head. Their whispers were barely audible, but I knew they were talking about me.

Trying to ease my discomfort, I turned to Katie and asked, "Hey, Katie, can I ask you why I'm here?"

"Everyone does," she replied, her smile a little uneasy. "You're the lu—I mean, you're Jay's mate."

What the heck? She must have been trying to keep something from me. All of them were, but I don't know what it was or why they were so secretive about it. She would begin to speak, only to pause in the middle of her thoughts and change her response.

'What is going on here? It's weird?' I asked myself as my eyes peered around the area.

"Anyway, speaking of your leader, where is the Alpha?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"Um, he's away," Katie answered, avoiding eye contact. Her lie was transparent.

"You're lying," I noted, feeling a hint of frustration. Why couldn't anyone just tell me the truth?

"I'm sorry, but it's not my place to say anything about what you've asked," she said, her apologetic smile doing little to quell my frustration.

I was about to press further when Katie changed the subject. "Have you eaten? We can go to the kitchen and grab some food."

My stomach grumbled at the mere mention of food.

"Oh--okay. I can eat," I replied, trying not to sound too desperate. In reality, I was starving, and I hadn't eaten anything since yesterday morning.

As we entered the kitchen, the chatter and clatter abruptly ceased as all eyes turned to me. I could feel their eyes on me and moved uncomfortably, trying to hide behind Katie's frame.

"Don't mind them," Katie chimed in cheerily, trying to defuse the tension. She then yanked my hand and introduced me to the she-wolves in the kitchen, saying, "Everyone, this is Ava."

"Is she the one?" A haughty-looking girl sneered, giving me a judging head-to-toe look.

Katie stepped in before I could respond, introducing me with a gracious smile. I offered a timid wave, already feeling like an outsider.

"She seems ordinary and unsettling. Is she even a werewolf?" the girl snarled, shooting daggers my way.

I bristled at her harsh words. Who did she think she was?

"Stella, you know you shouldn't talk that way to Ava," Katie chided, her tone firm but gentle.

Stella spat back, "I can do whatever the fuck I want," her eyes blazing with hostility.

My stomach churned with unease as she rose from her seat and stalked towards me, circling me like a vulture eyeing its prey.

"Miserable human!" she sneered, disgust etched on her face.

I gritted my teeth, determined not to back down.

"For the record, I am not human," I muttered, hoping to catch her off guard.

"The heck was that? Oops, I couldn't quite catch that," she taunted, her voice dripping with venom.

"I said, I'm not a human," I repeated, this time with more conviction.

Stella raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips. I could tell she didn't believe me, but I refused to let her intimidate me.

"You're weak and pathetic! You can never make him happy the way I do, Bitch!" She spoke softly and leaned in to whisper in my ear. "I deserve him more than you do! So go back to the shit where you came from, a'right?" Her voice was sharp and venomous.

I couldn't believe it—he had slept with this whore.

As Stella's words sank in, a wave of shock and betrayal washed over me. I was frozen as I tried to process what she had just disclosed. The very thought of it made me sick to my stomach.

How could he do this to me? I had been saving myself for my mate, and he couldn't keep it in his pants.

The pain of betrayal mixed with the rage boiling inside me. It was like something had taken over, and before I knew it, I had shoved Stella to the ground and unleashed my fury on her.

But my lack of fighting skills became apparent quickly as she flipped us over, and I was now the one on the receiving end of her powerful blows. Each hit felt like it was driving me closer and closer to the brink of unconsciousness, and I knew I was no match for her.

I tried to defend myself, but it was no use.

My wolf refused to come out, leaving me helpless in this fight. I was coughing up blood as she continued to pummel me with her fists, each hit sending waves of pain shooting through my body.

Trapped beneath her, Stella flipped me onto my belly and twisted my arms behind my back. The pain was excruciating, and I could feel my wrist giving way under pressure.

"Pathetic," Stella whispered before I heard a sickening snap in my bones.

The pain was indescribable, and I screamed out in agony. Tears blurred my vision as she got up and left me writhing in pain.

As I lay there, feeling helpless and alone, I couldn't help but wonder how it had all come to this.

Was it worth saving for a mate who couldn't keep it in his pants?

Was this what I deserved for believing in true love and loyalty?

"Oh, Goddess, Stella! What did you do?" someone shouted.

"What should I do then? Stand there and let her hurt me? The bitch attacked me! I had no choice but to defend myself," Stella retorted.

"But you didn't have to break her arm!" the woman countered, her voice laced with apprehension.

Katie dashed toward my spot and helped me sit upright. Biting my lips to stop myself from wincing, I held my broken arm close to my chest as tears streamed down my face. Despite the pain, I gripped my left hand with my right and snapped the bone back into place.

As my hand healed instantly, everyone looked at me in shock and wonder. I possessed rare powers that I had never revealed to anyone.

I could heal at a rate that had never been seen before and use my abilities to hurt others. Due to my fear and anxiety that others would attempt to take advantage of my talents, I avoided revealing them in public.

According to the ancient texts I had read, a powerful healer was born once every hundred years to bring peace to the world. I was born with the power to heal and protect.

"Good Goddess! How did you do that?" Katie asked, her eyes wide with amazement.

"Don't all werewolves heal?" I said, trying to play it cool and keep my secret hidden.

She squeaked, "Uh-huh! But we don't heal as fast as you do, Ava!"

I massaged my arm, feigning as though it still hurt and replied, "It's not that fully recovered—"

"What the hell is going on here?" An authoritative voice cut through the noise of the whirlwind of chaos I'd just started.

"That bitch attacked me! I was just trying to ask, and she punched me!" Stella's finger pointed accusingly in my direction as she darted into the protective embrace of my mate's arms.

'Huh, so the slut is a goddamn liar too? Well, that's just great!' I groaned mentally.

"It hurts, Jay!" Stella faced me again, grinning triumphantly, before burying her face in his chest.

My heart sank as I watched her cling to his arms with no resistance from him. A pang of jealousy shot through me as I stared at them; he wasn't even hugging her back, just staring at me with an unreadable expression.

I felt defeated and humiliated, wanting nothing more than to cry. But I refused to let anyone see my tears, so I gathered what little dignity I had left and quickly rose to my feet, rushing out of the room.

'Just what are you expecting, Ava? You've just known the man for less than a day!'

No, this was not another fairytale story. Sadly, this was how reality panned out. I have to admit that Stella had a point. Despite how hurtful it sounded, I had to accept it was true. I'm a she-wolf without a wolf.

Basically, I'm useless to any packs.

A sudden commotion interrupted my thoughts as I stepped outside to clear my head. A man burst through the door, cradling a small boy in his arms, his body covered in blood.

"God! What happened?" I asked, but he ignored me, rushing into the kitchen. Without hesitation, I followed him, pushing through the crowd gathered around the injured child.

"Oi! What the hell are you doing? The boy is in critical danger and needs a damn help, woman!" The man shouted at me.

"I can help him," I declared with conviction, leaning over to listen for his faint heartbeat.

Time was running out, and he wouldn't make it if he didn't receive medical attention soon.

AVA

"Please give me some space," I said, trying to create some distance between myself and others so that I could focus on healing the wounded child.

"Can you heal him?" the man worriedly asked.

"I have to check his vitals first, but I guarantee you I mean no harm to this boy," I retorted as I placed my hand on the boy's arms.

He gave me a nod and replied, "I'll hold on to your word, then." The man turned his back and instructed the onlookers to move out of the way.

As they moved back, I looked at the boy's wounds and gasped in horror. His left hip had been brutally bitten, with a chunk of flesh missing.

"Oh, dear! What happened to you?" I couldn't help but take pity on his state. He could die any minute if I didn't do something about his injuries immediately.

"Help! Please, it hurts!" the boy cried.

I patted his forehead and gave him a comforting smile. "Don't worry, kid. I've got you." Extending my left hand to him, I requested, "Hold my hand and close your eyes, okay?"

He bobbed as he jerked his head to the frontside and slipped his hand into mine.

I quickly put my hands over his wound and focused on improving him. I could feel a warm, tingling feeling in my hands as a yellow glow came from under them and wrapped around the boy.

Gripping his hand tightly, I watched in disbelief as the wound slowly closed, proof that my healing abilities were successful. I hadn't used them since I accidentally healed Caleb when I was only six years old. I had been too afraid to use them from then until now.

'Thank Goddess! It worked!' I couldn't help but be grateful to her.

Looking at the boy's peaceful face, I saw he was no longer in pain. But as I continued pouring my energy into him, I felt my life force draining away. I attempted to stop, but it was as if my hands were glued to the boy's hip.

Despite my efforts to pull away, the healing power only grew stronger, draining all of my energy and leaving me on the brink of unconsciousness. As black dots danced in front of my eyes, I knew I was being sucked into the veil of the void.

As I poured every ounce of my being into healing the injured boy, I didn't realize the toll it would take on me. My vision grew hazy, and I felt like slipping into an endless void. But just as I thought it was all over, a pair of strong hands wrapped around my waist and yanked me away from the boy. The sudden separation caused a surge of energy to burst, knocking us all off our feet and onto the ground.

As I blinked away the blur in my eyes, I was securely held by someone beneath me.

But who was it?

I couldn't quite make out their faces, and soon the darkness beckoned to me once again, and I succumbed to its embrace.

When I finally came to, I found myself in an otherworldly space. It was as if I were standing in a vast expanse of pure white, with nothing and no one around me. I couldn't help but wonder if I had been transported to the afterlife and somehow ended up in purgatory.

Did I die? Was this some sort of hallucination?

My gaze fell to my body, and I was startled to see that I was clad in a long white gown. And then, as if by magic, a woman materialized before me. She was also dressed in white and positively radiated an ethereal glow.

"Hello, Ava," she greeted me with a kind smile and a graceful bow. "It's a pleasure meeting you finally, dear one."

"Who are you?" I straightened my back and looked around at the pure white foliage surrounding me.

"We've been waiting for you," she continued.

But instead of responding to her, my mind was spinning with questions. "What is this place? Why am I here? What happened?"

The ethereal woman's lips arched into a sweet smile. She stepped closer to me and held my hand. "You're in limbo between this world and the next. Those deserving a second chance are welcome here. Once I have enlightened you on your life's purpose, I'll send you back to the place of the living."

"Um, oh-kay," The words came out of my mouth with ambiguity.

Then the woman added, "You're not dead. Your body is just unresponsive, as if you're in a deep sleep that you can't wake up from,"

Despite my confusion, I nodded again, eager to understand why I was in the middle of death and life.

"My guess is that your power nearly killed you when you healed that boy," she said, her words more a statement than a question. My heart was racing, wondering how she knew what had happened to me.

"Wait, how did you find out?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

"All knowledge is mine. You and your people aren't the first to face adversity like this." The woman gave me a knowing grin.

My brows furrowed. "Then you know about me?"

Her pearly white teeth flashed at me. "Of course, I know who you are, Ava. I've been watching you from up here, dear one." She brushed my cheeks and patted them. "You are an angel with the capacity for good and evil. Every century, angels such as yourself are born. Your mission on Earth is to spread peace to everyone. But be aware, Ava. There is a shadow within you that could destroy you. If you give in to that darkness, you risk wiping out all life on Earth," she explained with a hint of warning.

"I'm what? An angel?" I asked, still trying to wrap my head around it.

She jerked her head back and forth. "That's right. It is also why your wolf is as white and pure as your heart. It stands for the good in you. Aside from yourself, there is no other white wolf anywhere."

"But I've never seen her. She left me." I murmured.

"Oh, let me help you with that," she said kindly, stepping closer to me. She placed her hand on my forehead, and suddenly I heard a voice in my head.

"Ava!"

It was her—my wolf.

"Do not forget, Ava, that you are no longer a part of that horrible pack. You are not to blame for your mother's untimely passing. The sooner you realize this, the sooner you'll have full control of your abilities. Whatever your future holds, I hope you'll live it with your purpose, Ava." She embraced me and then disappeared.

As I opened my eyes, I gasped for breath. I bolted upright from the ground where I'd been lying and found myself lost in Katie's warm, honey-brown gaze. She had a look of concern etched on her face as she pulled me into a tight hug, relieved that I was still breathing.

"You scared the hell out of me," she said, holding me close.

"I'm sorry," I replied sheepishly.

"We thought you had died! Your breathing almost stopped, Ava!" She continued, her eyes never leaving mine.

"I'm fine," I assured her, feeling better than I had in a long time. "I just lost consciousness after healing the child. Where is he? Is he okay?"

All of a sudden, Katie hugged me. "Yes! You saved him, Ava! The boy is fine now. But you don't have to worry about him anymore since the pack warriors took him to the clinic."

"That's good. At least he's safe now." I sighed in relief.

For the first time, I felt I had a purpose—something worth living for. I couldn't believe I would be able to help the kid. At first, I doubted my abilities, but as soon as I saw his wounds closing up with my power, I knew all of it was real.

After my conversation with the mysterious woman, my guilt over my mother's death was lifted, and it felt like a huge burden had been removed from my shoulders. I couldn't keep living with the guilt of something I didn't do.

And I swore that I wouldn't be the one responsible for the end of the world.

I scanned the room, hoping to see Jay, but he was nowhere to be found. Disappointed, I turned my attention back to Katie.

"By the way, Ava, what happened—" she began, but her words were drowned out by a piercing scream that came from deep within me.

"Gahh! Fuck!" I heard myself repeatedly scream, writhing in agony as I clutched my stomach. This was a kind of pain that I had never felt before, and I had no idea what was happening to me.

"Oh, shit! Are you okay?" Katie's voice was laced with concern, but it was clear that there was little she could do to help me.

Another wave of pain hit me, and I collapsed onto the floor as I felt a knife stabbing my spine. Bones were breaking inside me, rearranging themselves in a way that felt like torture. I knew at that moment that I was transforming into my wolf.

It was nothing like I had imagined before. When I met my wolf, I would've thought I'd be able to transform into her. However, she suddenly left me without even giving me a word. With that, I'd never expected to be in this state now or at least transform in front of the crowd.

I had heard it was painful, but this was beyond anything I could have prepared for.

My body contorted and shifted, with fur sprouting from my skin. My small nose elongated into a snout, and I found myself on all fours, towering over Katie. I looked at my white fur and stretched out a paw, still trying to get used to my new form.

"Oh, my God! Is this...your wolf, Ava?"

When I turned around, Katie had a look of awe on her face. I cocked my head to one side, growling, and sat glumly on the floor. She slowly approached me and ran her hands through my white-covered fur. She beamed at me as I purred loudly with pleasure.

"What's going on?" a voice demanded.

I turned to see the man I had seen with my mate. He was staring at me in disbelief, mouth agape. I was a massive wolf, standing just as tall as he was.

"She's beautiful, isn't she?" Katie said, beaming with pride.

The man parted his mouth. "Is that—"

Suddenly, my mate appeared in the doorway. "What is this commotion again?!" He halted in front of me, clearly taken aback by my wolfish appearance; however, his expression of surprise soon faded.

He walked over to me, and my wolf began to purr with delight.

'Mate! He's our mate!' She was even more excited than I was.

"Everyone, out! NOW! " he ordered, and they left the room immediately.

***

AVA

As my mate and I stood in the room, the air between us felt tense. His eyes roamed over my wolf form, taking in every detail as I tried to stand on my ground. But when he took a step forward, my wolf instincts kicked in, and I backed away.

'What the hell?' I asked myself as I got curious about my wolf's unsettling gestures.

"Aren't you eager to meet our mate?" I asked in my mind, addressing my wolf's sudden retreat.

"Yeah! But he cheated on us! And I don't like cheaters!" My wolf, Alana, answered with a huff, her anger still simmering from the earlier encounter with Stella.

I didn't bother responding, knowing we were both hurt and vulnerable. Stella's words had cut deep, and I couldn't shake the feeling that there might be some truth. But I wasn't about to let anyone see me as weak or vulnerable, especially not my mate.

So when Stella pushed me too far, I lashed out with a ferocity that surprised even me. For once, I stood up for myself and refused to be harassed by my bullies.

But as I looked at my mate now, I couldn't help but feel a sense of regret. I didn't want him to think I was violent or unruly, and I knew my actions could have severe consequences if the alpha found out.

And at this point, nobody could do anything to me that I had not already experienced. In fact, if the alpha were still in the picture, I would be dead and buried by now. I was digging my own grave if I attacked one of his pack members.

As if sensing my thoughts, my mate's expression softened momentarily before he masked it with a cold stare.

"Change back. Now," my mate ordered me, his voice filled with authority as he threw a blanket over my wolf form.

I felt the power in his words as I slowly shifted back to my human form, the blanket covering my naked body as I lay on the ground. When I looked up, my mate was already leaving the room, leaving me to process everything that had occurred today.

I knew I had a lot of work to do now that I had Stella back, but I was determined to do whatever it took. For the first time in a long time, I felt a glimmer of hope that maybe I could be something more than what everyone else saw me as.

Shortly after, Katie returned and found me collapsed on the floor, trembling from exhaustion.

"Oh, my God! Ava!" She lifted me from the ground and used her lap as my headrest.

"Katie...I-" My sentences paused as I suddenly felt drained from the change. While I stared at her in a daze, the sounds surrounding me began to muffle, and my sight blurred. I sank into the darkness as I was dragged into the abyss.

***

When I opened my eyes, I was surprised to find myself in bed.

'How did I end up here? I was outside the kitchen...' Confused and disoriented, I sat up and tried to piece together the events that led me to this unfamiliar place.

'What happened? Who brought me back to the room?' As my mind raced with possible scenarios, I gradually adjusted to the bright sunlight streaming through the open drapes.

As my mind kept racing, creating scenario after scenario of where I might be, I quickly stood in bed. It took a while for me to adjust to the brightly lit room because the drapes were open, and the sunlight was peeking through the windows.

'Where exactly am I?' I asked myself while my eyes were squinting.

Looking around the room, I was relieved to discover I was in "his" room. It was all starting to make sense, though I still couldn't quite believe that everything that had happened the day before was real.

It all felt like a dream, from meeting my mate to getting into a fight, healing someone, and transforming into a wolf. It was a whirlwind of events that felt almost surreal.

Lost in thought, I heard a voice clearing her throat in my mind.

"Ahem."

My heart leaped with excitement as I realized it was my mate.

"Bejeezus!" I reacted in surprise.

Alana, my wolf, rolled her eyes at my childish excitement, but I couldn't help it. I never expected to see her again or to shift into a wolf after she stopped communicating with me.

"I'm really sorry, Alana," I cried, feeling guilty for everything I'd put her through and endured.

"Don't be, Ava," she said in a sarcastic voice. "I've already come to accept who you are. I mean, it's not your fault that you're a spineless idiot."

"Well, thank you very much for rubbing it in me, Alana," I huffed out, dismayed by her comment.

"What? I'm just telling the truth. No offence to you, Ava," Alana retorted.

I was offended, but I knew she was right. I'd never stood up for us, never stood up for myself. Sometimes she tried to take control so she could defend us, but I always pushed her away and took the beatings.

It was hard for her, and we had both been through a lot. We might not have visible scars thanks to my healing abilities, but our internal wounds ran deep. We needed to work on healing together to come out triumphant.

"Anyway, I'm really disappointed, Ava." Alana opened up.

My eyebrows shot up. "About what? Me again?"

"No, not you. But with our mate!" she grumbled. "Why is our mate a dick? I just can't accept this!" Alana muttered with a pout.

"I feel you," I replied with a sad sigh. "I can't understand why the Moon Goddess gave him to us."

"Plus, he doesn't want us, but his wolf, Jax, does. That's why he brought us here because his wolf made him." Alana sighed.

"I understand your point, Alana, but I don't want you to have your hopes up only to be disappointed," I tried to reassure her. "We don't need him if he doesn't like us."

"But he's our mate, Ava. Our other half. We need him," she argued.

"I know, but we don't necessarily need him to be happy or complete. We can find our own happiness," I replied.

Alana let out a sigh and looked down.

"You know I love you, Alana, and I don't want to see you get broken again," I confessed. "When you left, I was utterly devastated because I thought you wouldn't return to me anymore."

"Ava. I love you too. I'm sorry if I did that." Alana sighed and continued, "I guess I've gotten scared and exhausted seeing you being beaten up by those people..." she said with a bitter smile before retreating to her hiding spot.

Feeling relieved that I had eased some of Alana's frustration, I got out of bed and went to the bathroom. After a quick shower, I changed into some comfortable clothes I had brought with me. As I lifted the oversized shirt over my head, my stomach grumbled. When Katie diverted my attention, I realized I had forgotten to eat yesterday.

I rummaged through my bag and found a sandwich I had made a few days ago. I was about to bite when Katie walked in with a food tray.

"Oh, you're awake! I brought you breakfast. Please don't tell me you were about to eat that," she said, looking at my sandwich disgustingly.

"Hey! This sandwich is really good," I argued.

"Maybe it was a few days ago," Kate replied, placing the tray on the bedside table.

"What? No!" I pouted, but she just laughed. I extended my arm to show her my sandwich and said, "This still tastes good!"

"You're such a child," she teased, shaking her head.

"Well, I am a child," I defended myself.

Her eyebrows furrowed as she asked, "Really? How old are you?"

"I'm 18," I replied, and her eyes widened slightly.

"Oh. You're very young. I'm 25," Katie said, and I gaped at her.

"No way, you look so young," I said.

"Good genes, I suppose," she said with a smirk. "Anyway, give me your disgusting sandwich and eat this hearty and healthier meal." Katie handed me the tray.

Taking it from her, I smiled. "Thanks, Katie. I really appreciate you doing this."

"Nah! Don't mind it. Eat up." She gestured with her hands in dismissal. "You must be hungry."

As we ate, we chatted about various topics. I opened up to Katie about myself, except for the part where I was the punching bag of my old pack. My answers were mostly vague, as I didn't want her or anyone else to know what I had been through.

Perhaps one day, I could tell her everything, but not today. After finishing breakfast, we went into town together. I still received strange looks from everyone, but I ignored them. They were likely just curious about the new girl in town.

After strolling around for a while, we decided to grab some drinks and relax on a bench beside a fountain in the park. I sat beside Katie, and we were having a good time laughing and teasing each other when something caught my attention in the distance.

I squinted my eyes and focused on the figure, and instantly, a chill ran down my spine. My drink slipped from my hand and fell to the ground, and I turned away for a second to collect myself.

Katie sensed my discomfort and asked, "Hey, Ava, are you alright?"

As I gazed back in the direction where I saw the figure, there was no one there anymore. Maybe, it was my imagination, and I couldn't have been more relieved.

"Hmm?" I replied, looking at her. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" Katie asked as she looked in the direction I was looking at before. Her eyes scoured the surroundings as she added, "Did you see someone you know, Ava?"

.

As I glanced again at the same spot, I saw the same person waving to me with a condescending smirk before disappearing into the crowd.

Oh hell.

Shaking my head, I gazed back at Kate. "No. I-I just thought I saw someone I know."

***