CHAPTER 14

AVA 

It was the day before the Alpha and his sister from the Lunaris Mystique pack were set to arrive. Tomorrow, Derek would claim his bonded mate, and our fleeting, fragile connection would be nothing but a memory.

I woke up in the cave, the emptiness beside me a harsh reminder that he wasn’t there. Rubbing sleep from my eyes, I noticed movement outside. A wolf paced back and forth, its movements deliberate and vigilant, like it was on guard.

"Derek?" I called groggily, stepping toward the entrance. But as I approached, the wolf shifted, its fur receding to reveal a familiar figure. To my surprise, it wasn’t Derek—it was Adrian.

"Adrian?" I stammered, unsure of what to make of his presence.

"It’s okay, Ava," he said, his voice calm but firm. "Derek asked me to watch over you until he gets back.”

I felt a rush of panic. "I… we were just…" I struggled to find the words, my mind racing.

"Having sex?" he interrupted with a smirk, laughing at my wide-eyed expression. "Relax. Derek told me everything.”

My face burned, and I couldn’t bring myself to meet his gaze. That’s when I noticed he hadn’t bothered to dress after shifting. 

I kept stealing glances, unsure how to politely point out his lack of clothing. When he finally caught on, he ducked behind a nearby rock, quickly pulling on some clothes.

"He got summoned by the Alpha," Adrian explained, emerging fully dressed. "So, here I am, babysitting.”

While he lingered outside, I stayed in the cave, wrestling with my thoughts. The weight of tomorrow loomed over me, suffocating in its inevitability. Derek would bond with someone else, and I had agreed to it. No, I had allowed it, like the coward I was.

But sitting there stewing in self-pity wasn’t helping. Summoning my courage, I stepped outside and sat next to Adrian.

 We didn’t speak for a while, the silence stretching between us. The air felt heavy, like we both understood this was my last day with Derek before everything changed.

Adrian broke the silence first. "You hungry or thirsty? Derek had me bring food and drinks. They’re in the bag over there." He pointed to a backpack.

I nodded. "Yeah, I’m famished."

I grabbed a bar of chocolate and a bottle of water, nibbling in silence. Adrian studied me, his piercing gaze making me uncomfortable.

"I’ve never seen Derek this distracted," he said suddenly, his tone thoughtful.

I didn’t respond, staring down at the bottle in my hands.

"It’s sad, isn’t it?" he continued. "The fates give you someone you can’t truly claim."

His words struck a nerve, and I shifted uncomfortably.

"Derek says you’re okay with this arrangement," Adrian said, his voice quieter now. "But are you really? Knowing that once this is over, he’ll be with someone else? Most girls would fight tooth and nail for their mate. But you… you just asked for one week to feel loved and wanted. That’s selfless, Ava. Painfully so.”

I sighed, the weight of his words pressing down on me. "I’m not like most girls," I said softly. "I understand what being with me would mean for him. 

The pack wouldn’t accept me as their Luna. I’m the runt, the weak one. They’d hate me. And if we went rogue… wolves aren’t meant to survive without a pack.”

Adrian nodded, his expression serious. "Derek was right about you. You’re different. Stronger than you realize—mentally, at least. I can’t speak for your fighting skills.”

I rolled my eyes, but he continued, a teasing grin on his face. "Last I saw, you were on the ground in the market square. You always run away instead of standing your ground.”

He wasn’t wrong. The thought of sparring filled me with dread, the memory of my one and only attempt with Blake still fresh.

"You’ve got speed, Ava, but you’re too afraid of the pain. Pain is what makes you stronger." His tone shifted, becoming serious. "Get up.”

"What?" I blinked at him, confused.

"Get up," he repeated, pulling me to my feet. "Derek won’t be back for a few hours, and I refuse to die of boredom here.”

He led me to a clearing, the ground free of trees and debris.

"Start by dodging my hits," he instructed. "Don’t be shy. Be courageous. I won’t tell anyone if you mess up.”

Reluctantly, I positioned myself as Blake had taught me. Adrian nodded approvingly. "Impressive. Now, dodge."

At first, I hesitated, my thoughts clouded with self-doubt. Adrian’s blows were controlled but relentless, and I struggled to keep up.

"Focus, Ava," he said, his voice sharp. "You can do this. A five-year-old pup could dodge better than that.”

His words lit a spark in me, and I started moving with more purpose. I remembered Blake’s advice, letting my body flow with the movements.

 Slowly but surely, I began to dodge more effectively. Adrian smiled, his laughter filling the air as I started to enjoy myself.

We sparred for what felt like hours, Adrian teaching me self-defense techniques and patiently correcting my mistakes. For the first time, I felt a glimmer of confidence.

Just as Adrian had me pinned to the ground, a throat cleared behind us. We both turned to see Derek standing there, his expression unreadable.

Adrian quickly helped me to my feet. "We’ve been sparring for three hours," he said, a note of pride in his voice.

"Wow," I murmured, brushing dirt from my clothes. "I’ve never lasted that long. My first sparring session after my shift barely lasted twenty minutes.”

Derek’s eyes softened as he looked at me, but there was an edge to his gaze when he turned to Adrian.

Adrian raised his hands in mock surrender. "If you ever need a sparring partner, Ava, you know where to find me." With that, he shifted into his wolf and disappeared into the trees.

Derek’s grin was playful but laced with something else—something darker. "So I can’t leave you alone for a few hours without you sparring with another man?"

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t suppress a small smile. "It wasn’t like that, and you know it.”

He stepped closer, his grin softening into something gentler. "I’m proud of you," he said, his voice low.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, I realized this would be one of our last moments toget

her. Tomorrow, everything will change. But for now, in this fleeting moment, it was just us.