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.

***

JAYDEN

'Fucking Hell!'

I let out a frustrated sigh as I leaned back in my chair, my mind still consumed with thoughts of my mate. It was as if the moon goddess had a twisted sense of humour, bringing us together at the most inconvenient time possible.

Her presence alone made me feel weak in the knees, but I knew I couldn't let my guard down. My pack depended on me to make the right decisions and keep them safe, and I couldn't afford to let my emotions cloud my judgment.

But despite what I initially thought of her, she turned out to be more than I could have imagined. Her strength and determination had left my pack speechless, and I found myself drawn to her in ways I couldn't explain.

As the pack discussion in the meeting room continued, my mind drifted back to her. I did not wish to approach her too closely, but my wolf had other plans. My wolf growled at the thought of me with other girls, but I couldn't deny my physical needs.

Even so, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to our connection than physical attraction. I wanted to protect my mate from the dangers of our world, but at the same time, I was drawn to her. Her beauty and innocence were a deadly combination that was difficult to resist.

Hell, I never even thought in a million years that my soul mate would turn out to be 'the angel.'

She was destined to bring peace to our world, but with that came the potential for destruction. It was a risk I couldn't afford to take lightly and only added to the weight of the responsibility I now carried as her mate.

I mean, she was attractive, but she always concealed her curves with these baggy clothes. I wanted to see her bare chest and thighs through her baggy tops and bottoms, but I also wanted to keep a safe distance from her.

She was very young. Some people might think that she is too young for me. She was only 18, and I was 25. I was seven years older than she was. For some reason, the moon goddess saw fit to match me up with a much younger woman.

"We need to figure out what to do about those rogues, Alpha?" my beta asked, breaking my train of thought and returning to the discussion in the meeting room.

We were talking about the recent rise in attacks on our pack by the rogues, which we thought were just the start of a bigger, more dangerous plan.

"Like always, we'll handle it the same way," I responded confidently.

Sitting at the table with me were the elders of our pack, along with my beta, Mason, and my third in command, Dylan. Our monthly meetings were always important, but today's felt particularly urgent.

For weeks, we had been dealing with a series of rogue attacks that seemed coordinated and strategic. Our enemies might have discovered that the angel was among us and used these attacks to distract us from their true plans.

In order to keep the threats at bay, I only let a select few members of my pack know that Ava was my mate. After all, she was my mate, and her passing would also mean the end for me.

Her death might drive me crazy, and I didn't want to take that chance. If my enemies ever found out that I had found my soul mate, she would be the perfect weapon against me.

"We can't win the war without her, and you know it, Alpha," one of the elders said. "We need her on our side."

"We have been engaged in these conflicts for a long time before I discovered her, and we will do so even if she is not at my side," I retorted sharply.

'Did they think they needed to say I was an incompetent Alpha?' I scoffed inwardly.

The elders exchanged uneasy glances, but one of them spoke up again. "Her role in bringing an end to hostilities has been prophesied. While we do not doubt your ability to lead, Alpha, we must take all necessary measures to avoid needless casualties."

Although I knew that my pack's elders were right about the need for Ava to be trained and ready for the frontlines of the war, my wolf was hesitant about the idea. He was unwilling to accept the thought of our mate in danger, but we both knew it was the only way to ensure our pack's survival.

I told the elders, "Since she has not yet mastered her abilities, we will see to it that she receives the necessary training before being deployed to the front lines."

"Considering Elder Victoria's extensive knowledge of angelic lore, we have no doubt that she is the ideal teacher for the girl," said another elder.

"Soon, she will begin training, but for the time being, she will spend time getting to know the pack and its members. The meeting is adjourned," I announced and stood up.

As I left the room, Mason quickly followed behind, and we began the short journey back to the rest of the pack. The Crystal Blue pack was supposed to see me today, but their Alpha hasn't arrived for our meeting.

"Mate is in trouble," my wolf's voice repeated in my mind.

I sprinted back to my pack, my heart pounding and my legs burning from exertion. When I smelled the scent of strange people, I knew that the Crystal Blue Pack had again crossed into our territory.

As I arrived at my house, my eyes quickly found Ava, but they also found someone else standing too close to her. My wolf growled fiercely, threatening to break free inside me and attack the intruder. I struggled to contain my primal instincts and spoke up to assert my dominance.

But the stranger refused to back down, pushing me to the brink of unleashing my fury. "What the fuck are you doing here? Get out of my borders!"

How dare he come into my pack and disrespect me like that? It took every ounce of self-control to keep me from tearing him apart.

"No! Please don't do anything!" she protested.

Obviously, Ava had to intervene to prevent me from suffocating the moron to death. If anyone else had done the same thing, I would have killed them. She was my mate, though, so my wolf would never allow me to harm her in any way. Not even a strand of her hair.

Ava started interrogating him as soon as I could collect myself. "Why are you here? I told you that I'm not going back!"

"Dad is furious, Ava! You have to go back with us!" the mutt hissed.

When I realized it was him again, I wished to kill him more than anything else. It was him, Ava's so-called brother, Caleb. I knew why he was here. He really never cared about Ava like he acted last time. For starters, I already know how his pack treated her.

The moment I stumbled upon her, I began investigating her thoroughly. They were going to get what they deserved for touching her inappropriately. Though I have been called a cold, heartless monster, my pack would never tolerate anything like that from any member.

"I told you that I'm not coming back there!" Ava countered, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Ava, don't make me force you! You're fucking disobeying our father's orders!" her fake brother threatened her.

What she has endured is terrible, and no one else deserves to suffer something similar. I was amazed by her resilience in the face of such extreme cruelty. She did that, and I respected her for it. The fact that the knucklehead was trying to bring my friend down with him was the final straw as if I were going to sit here and let him return her to those horrible people.

Caleb yanked on her arm and scowled. "Come with me! We're going home!"

"Stay away from me! I said I'm not coming back, Caleb!" Ava shoved his hand away from her arm and snapped back, "Why aren't you listening? I'm not returning to the packhouse!"

"I don't care what you want! You'll go back with us!" he shouted.

With a deep growl, I confronted her brother, who had dared to enter my pack and question my authority. "Who do you fucking think you are, barging into my pack and giving me orders?"

He visibly gulped when he realized he was standing before the alpha, but it was too late for him to back down. I didn't like people knowing who I was, just like my father had taught me when I was young. I continued to hide behind a cloak even after I had taken over as alpha, ensuring that no one outside of my pack knew what I looked like. It was a useful tactic, especially in situations like this.

Had he known I was the alpha from the beginning, he would have begged for my mercy instead of trying to take his "sister" away from me. But I was not going to let that happen.

Ignoring my warnings, he argued back, "Mind your fucking business! Ava belongs to the Crystal Blue Pack! She's not under your command, Alpha!"

"I don't fucking care! She will stay here, and you can't make her leave the pack. Don't make me change my mind and rip you to shreds, so get off my territory. As for me, I'll be seeing your dad very soon, so be sure to pass that along," I declared, dismissing him with a wave.

Caleb clenches his teeth. He disregarded me again and glared back at Ava. "We're not done yet, Ava. I'll make sure you'll come with us!"

"Are you deaf, mutt? I said, get out of my territory!" I yelled at him, facing the wimpy werewolf head-on.

Ava's brother gave me a stern look before he stormed out of my property, leaving with his team of boy wolves. As I stared at him, my wolf couldn't contain his anger. He wanted to shred him apart and mutilate him.

I had plans for his father. And that involved making him pay for his past actions.

I knew he and his pack would be back, as boys like them always tried to prove their bravery by standing up to the alpha. But I was not afraid. In fact, my teeth were itching for a fight.

Plus, I hadn't killed anyone in a few days and eagerly anticipated their return. They may have thought they were brave, but he and his friends didn't know what they were getting into.

After all, I would make sure that his stupid father would pay the ultimate price for his crimes.