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."

***

AVA

"Hey, Ava, are you sure you're fine?" she asked, her brows furrowing in apprehension.

I shook my head and replied, "Y-yeah. I'm fine, Kate." Getting on my feet, I stood straight from the bench. "I'm not feeling well, I think." My lips pressed into a thin, white line.

She gave me a slight bob and smiled. "Oh-okay. Let's head back to the pack house. Jay might be looking for you." She grabbed my empty juice drink and discarded our drinks in the trash.

On our way back to the pack house, my mind was consumed with thoughts of Josh's unexpected presence. Despite my inner turmoil, a part of me hoped that his appearance had nothing to do with me. However, the weight of my instincts suggested otherwise.

As we walked back to the pack house, my mind was racing with thoughts of Josh's sudden appearance. Why was he here? Was it just a coincidence, or did he come for me? Although I wanted to believe that his visit was for something other than me, my gut told me otherwise.

As soon as I stepped inside the pack house, my heart started pounding with fear. A group of familiar boys was gathered in the foyer. Their attention was solely focused on Stella, with whom they were shamelessly flirting. I wanted to escape the situation, but I knew I couldn't.

The moment the door closed behind me, the boys' eyes shifted to me, and their expressions turned hostile. I could feel their anger and resentment toward me, making me take a few steps back in fear.

Suddenly, Caleb appeared out of nowhere and hugged me tightly. "We've been searching the town for you, Ava. Since you disappeared, dad has been worrying nonstop."

'What the hell?! Why is he here? Besides, Caleb doesn't act like this to me!' I was in disbelief, wondering if this was some kind of twisted prank.

As I retreated from Caleb, I heard him say through the mind link, "You're fucking dead after this, Ava. Dad will kill you."

His phony smile filled me with dread. My wolf was clawing at my mind, urging me to fight, but I tried to calm her down.

Before I could gather my thoughts, an authoritative voice interrupted the tense atmosphere. It was Jay, and I couldn't help but admire the confidence and power that oozed from his voice.

"What the hell is going on here?" Jay's piercing eyes narrowed at us.

"It's none of your business. I'm here for my sister, and I'll take her home," Caleb sneered, grimacing at Jay.

I could see the shock on some of the onlookers' faces. It was strange how Caleb spoke to the pack members as if he owned the place, despite not being a part of this pack. It then hit me that I had not seen the Alpha since I arrived. I didn't even know what he looked like.

Now that I think about it, it was definitely weird.

The Alpha should have shown up by now, but I haven't spotted him anywhere. Heck, I had no idea what he looked like. In a short amount of time, Jay had closed the gap and had Caleb by the scruff of the neck.

Jay's grip on Caleb's neck tightened as he spat out his words. "Have you got any idea who you're talking to, mutt?"

Caleb attempted to pull his hands off, but his grip only tightened. I saw the redness spread across Caleb's face and knew I had to intervene before he killed him. Even if he was a complete jerk and had hurt me more times than I can recall, I couldn't watch while he was murdered.

I quickly stepped in, not wanting anyone to get hurt. Although Caleb had hurt me before, I couldn't just stand by and watch him be killed. I pushed them apart, and to my surprise, a golden glow emanated from my hands, sending them both flying in opposite directions. I closed my eyes, trying to calm myself down before doing something I would regret later.

As I opened my eyes, I saw everyone looking at me. I immediately hurried over to Jay's side and kneeled down to see if he was okay because of our mate bond. His hand rubbed the back of his head, and when he brought it back around, it was covered in blood.

"Oh, Goddess! Are you okay?" I asked, scanning his body for any other injuries.

He sat against the wall, rubbing the back of his head, and when he brought his hand back around, there was blood.

"My goodness, I'm so sorry, Jay! Let me fix this. I'll hear-" I started, but Caleb cut me off.

"What, you were more concerned about that total stranger than making sure I was all right? I'm your brother, Ava! For fuck's sake, he nearly killed me!" Caleb yelled at me from behind.

Jay stood up with a growl, poised to attack. Caleb and his friends flanked him, ready to defend themselves. The tension was palpable, and I could feel my heart racing as I watched them.

"No, Jay! Stop!" I shouted, stepping between them.

"Shut up!" Jay snarled, his eyes shifting from blue to gold as he struggled with his wolf. "Nobody tells me what I should do!"

"Hey, weirdo, you better listen to Ava! " Caleb warned him. "It's only going to make things worse for you."

'Why couldn't he just shut up?' I sighed inwardly. Caleb always had to put in his two cents, even in the middle of a potentially deadly fight.

Suddenly, a loud growl shook the entire pack house. My eyes widened in fear and shock as I watched Jay transform into a massive brown wolf. He snarled at Caleb, ready to pounce, and I knew I had to act fast.

"Please," I begged, stepping before him with my arms outstretched. I hoped his wolf would listen to reason and not harm anyone.

Jay growled again, but I stood on my ground. He gave Caleb a final menacing look before leaving the room in his wolf form.

A few seconds later, he returned, now wearing dangerously low shorts. I couldn't help but notice his toned abs and defined v-line, but I quickly pushed those thoughts aside. There were more pressing matters at hand.

"What are you doing here, Caleb?" I asked, turning to face him.

"Dad sent me to find you," he replied simply. "I'm bringing you home, Ava."

My lips pursed. I swallowed the lump as I asked again, "How did you know I was here?"

"Of course, I asked the people around her. I'm not dumb like you, you know?" he said, rolling his eyes.

"Why does he want me to return? He hates me," I stated, my voice laced with confusion.

"Don't be ridiculous, Ava. Dad is worried about your safety," Caleb said, giving me a knowing look.

I knew what that expression meant. Caleb was attempting to intimidate me, but it was futile. I had decided that I wouldn't return to that hellhole. Josh would go ahead with his grim plans for me, and Alpha Benjamin wouldn't give a damn.

"I'm not going back there, Caleb," I said firmly.

"That's not really up to you," Caleb said, grabbing my hand firmly and pulling me closer to him. My body tensed up, and I tried to pull away, but his grip tightened. I looked up at him, and for a moment, I could see a hint of frustration in his eyes.

"Let...her fucking go!" Jay growled fiercely behind me, his voice deep and menacing. I could feel his breath on my neck, sending shivers down my spine.

"Stay out of this, wimp," Caleb responded, his eyes darting nervously between Jay and me. "This is between my sister and me!"

"Who the fuck do you think you are? Entering my pack and instructing me on what to do?" Jay said, his voice rising with each step he took toward Caleb. He was towering over him now, and I could see the muscles in his arms bulging as he clenched his fists.

Caleb shook his head and backed away from me as soon as he saw Jay, his eyes wide with terror.

'What the hell?' I shouted in my head. My mind was still trying to wrap around the revelation I'd discovered.

'Wait. Does this mean Jay is the Alpha of the North Pack?' My mouth gaped open as soon as I realized that. Holy shit! That's why, when I asked Kate about their Alpha, she was adamant about talking about him. More so, Stella was agitated when she knew Jay was my mate.

My mate's the famous Alpha of the North Pack.

"So you're Benjamin's son?" Jay asked, his voice still tinged with anger.

"Yes. He sent me here to get my sister," Caleb answered cautiously.

"Ava's your sister?" Jay asked, raising a skeptical eyebrow. "You don't look like siblings." He crossed his arms and scrutinized the both of us.

""Whatever we have going on between us is none of your concern...Alpha," Caleb replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Are you sure you're only here for Ava?" Jay asked again, his eyes piercing through Caleb's.

"Yes, I am. I wouldn't be here if my dad didn't instruct me to return her to our pack," Caleb replied, this time with more confidence.

"Well, if that's the case, she isn't going anywhere. Don't make me change my mind and kill you, so get off my property immediately. Also, tell Benjamin that I plan to see him soon. We'll talk about...certain things," he responded, his menacing voice resonating through the air.

"I'll inform, Father." Caleb gritted his teeth, and his fists were clenched tightly.

"Get out now. I don't want to see you here, creating another commotion." Jay dismissed them and turned to walk away.

Caleb glared at me before he and his friends stormed out of the pack house, embarrassed by what had just happened. I knew this wasn't over.

'They're going to want revenge.'

A sense of dread settled in my stomach as I watched them leave. I knew Caleb and Alpha Benjamin wouldn't let me go this easily. Despite North Pack's undisputed power, Alpha Benjamin would do anything with his willpower to get what he wanted. He wouldn't hesitate to do that if he had to pull some resources.

I knew they wouldn't stop until they got what they wanted from me.

***