CHAPTER 18

AVA’ POV

The air in the dining room was thick with tension, each breath I took feeling heavier than the last. I could sense the weight of all their eyes on me, each person around the table waiting for something—an answer, an explanation, or perhaps a decision. It wasn’t just any ordinary conversation. This was about my future, my past, my choices. And, I knew, it was about Derek and Seth.

As the tension in the dining room thickened, I took a deep breath and met the expectant gazes of those seated around the long oak table. I straightened my posture, trying to keep my nerves at bay, and cleared my throat. “We need to be honest with you all,” I said, my voice surprising me with its steadiness.

Derek sat beside me, his posture relaxed yet firm, his presence grounding me even as my pulse raced. He had always been my anchor, but tonight, it felt as if we were at the edge of a cliff, looking down at the unknown.

Across from us sat Alpha Marcus and Luna Evelyn, their expressions ,their faces a picture of calm, though I could see the flicker of something behind their eyes—concern, anticipation, perhaps a quiet understanding that this wasn’t going to be easy, unreadable but expectant. 

To their right, Kara, Derek’s younger sister, listened intently, eyes flickering between her brother and me. Blake, Adrian, Vee, and—of course—him—Seth—were all present. The weight of so many eyes on me made it harder to breathe.

Derek had specifically requested that this conversation remain between us, without his father’s trusted Beta or any guards present. It was a bold move, one that showed just how personal and delicate this situation was. It wasn’t a discussion meant for outsiders.

Adrian and Vee sat close together, their matching mating marks fresh, their scents mingling as one. These two had recently returned from their bonding ceremony, their matching mating marks clearly visible and their scents now deeply entwined. 

They had wasted no time accepting their bond, something that sparked a twinge of envy deep in my chest. Unlike me and Derek, or me and Seth, their path was easy . And there was something undeniably simple about their love—a kind of straightforwardness that seemed almost alien to me.They were mates. They accepted it. No questions. No complications.

I couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy. Was it that they had found each other so easily, or had they simply chosen to ignore the complexities that surrounded a bond like ours?

Then there was Blake and Kara, another surprising match. I had learned just this morning that they had found each other on the night of the full moon, the same night I had been forbidden from joining the pack run. The same night Blake had encouraged me to go on a solo run instead. The difference between them and me, however, was their age gap. Blake was five years older than Kara, and though they were mates, he had promised to wait until she was mature enough before completing their bond. It was a hurdle, but not an impossible one.It was a testament to his character—his patience, his love for her—but the age gap between them remained a point of curiosity for me.

It wasn’t that I didn’t know Derek was my mate; I had always known. But with Seth’s unexpected presence, a second mate had entered the picture—one I didn’t know how to handle. I didn’t know Seth, but my wolf knew him. And in those moments, when I allowed myself to listen, I could feel the deep ache within her, the longing, the connection she felt for him. My own heart twisted at the thought—could there be room for both of them?

Derek’s hand brushed against mine, grounding me in the present, reminding me that no matter what the future held, he was still here, still mine. The touch was gentle, but there was an undeniable possessiveness in it—a reminder of who I belonged to.

Derek had placed me between him and Adrian, a subtle but clear claim. Even though he had said he was giving me a choice, I could feel the deep-seated possessiveness of a wolf toward its mate growing stronger in him. He was struggling. His desire to be the bigger person warred with his primal instincts.

What had changed his mind so quickly?

Was it the realization that I wasn’t just some weak runt, but something more? Something powerful? I was still struggling to comprehend it. It felt like I was living someone else’s story, not my own.

But deep down, I didn’t think his change of heart was about that.

But even with all the questions swirling in my mind, there was something undeniably different about Derek today. Vulnerability clung to him like a second skin. It was almost as if the person I had known for years was cracking open, revealing something raw, something untamed. He wasn’t the same confident, possessive Alpha I had grown used to. No, today, there was doubt in his eyes. He was unsure of what was to come, just as I was. 

I risked a glance across the table at Seth. He was undeniably handsome. His smile was warm, his gaze kind—so different from the way I had been looked at my entire life. There was no judgment in his eyes. No pity. Just… something I couldn’t quite put into words.

A throat cleared, snapping me out of my thoughts.“Well, go on, son,” Alpha Marcus prompted, his voice calm but expectant.

Derek’s gaze snapped to me. He had seen me looking at Seth. His brow lifted in silent question, and I felt the heat creep up my neck at being caught. But if he was truly giving me a choice—not that I wanted one—then I needed to at least acknowledge Seth. Right?

Derek exhaled sharply, then squared his shoulders. “Me and Ava have been hiding something for months,” he admitted, his voice steady. “It wasn’t her idea. I asked her to keep it a secret. But on the night of her first shift… we scented each other as mates.”

The reactions were immediate.

Gasps echoed around the table. Kara’s eyes widened. Vee clapped a hand over her mouth. Adrian let out an exaggerated mock gasp, earning an eye-roll from Derek.

But the Alpha, the Luna, and Seth? They didn’t look shocked in the slightest.

Derek noticed too. “Shut up, Adrian,” he muttered before turning his focus to his father and mother. “You two… why do you look like you already knew?”

Alpha Marcus and Luna Evelyn exchanged a glance.

“We couldn’t say anything,” his father admitted.  

“For months, your mother and I have been having… dreams. Messages, really. At first, I thought nothing of them, but they became more frequent. More deliberate. Someone was sending them to us. We believe it was the fates. Or the Moon Goddess herself.”

Derek’s jaw tightened. “And what exactly did these messages say?”

“They told us about your mating,” Luna Evelyn said gently. “Among other things we cannot yet share.”

Derek’s eyes darkened. “So you knew… and you didn’t say anything?”

His father sighed. “Even without the messages, did you really think we wouldn’t notice, son? Your behavior changed. We smelled her on you constantly. And, well…” he smirked. “Your mother and I do know what happens in our own pack. You two weren’t exactly discreet.”

Luna Evelyn chuckled. “I love walking by the river, Derek. And I often make your father walk with me under the moonlight.”

I choked.

Derek turned to me, looking absolutely mortified.

The Luna smiled. “Don’t worry, Ava. We didn’t go there after the… second time. We scented you both. We figured we’d give you your space.”

I wanted the ground to swallow me.

Derek groaned. “So why didn’t you confront me?”

“We were told not to interfere,” his mother said simply. “The situation will play out as it must.”

Alpha Marcus leaned forward. “Although, I am wondering why you haven’t declared her as your mate yet.”

Silence fell. Derek and Seth locked eyes.

And then Derek told them everything.

About Selene.

About the blackmail.

About how he had been willing to break our bond to protect me from the pack’s judgment.

Luna Evelyn stood so fast her chair toppled over. “That spoiled brat—” she hissed, already marching toward the door.

Alpha Marcus caught her wrist before she could storm out. “Evelyn,” he said warningly.

But his mate wasn’t finished. The things she threatened to do to Selene had everyone at the table—even Seth—staring at her in shock.

Finally, she took a breath. “That girl is lucky she isn’t my daughter.”

Alpha Marcus sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Derek, I have to ask… have I really raised you to think this way?”

Derek exhaled. “No offense, Dad, but yeah. You’ve only just started changing your way of thinking.”

His father exchanged another look with Luna Evelyn. She gave a small, knowing nod.

“Well, shit,” Alpha Marcus muttered, sinking into his chair.

Derek turned to me, eyes filled with determination. “This is why we’re telling the truth now. I’ve decided to let Ava choose—but her wolf is telling her something important.”

All eyes turned to me. My throat tightened.

I swallowed. “She says she needs her magic back. That the fates sent her back too soon. And… that I was only ever meant to have one mate.”

Seth’s eyes widened, his face pale. He stood up abruptly, his chair scraping across the floor. Without another word, he turned and left the room, his footsteps echoing in the silence that followed.

The silence that followed Seth’s departure was deafening. No one spoke for a moment, the tension in the room growing thicker with every passing second. I could feel Derek’s grip tighten slightly on my wrist, as if anchoring himself in place. His breathing was steady, but I knew him well enough to sense the storm brewing beneath his calm exterior.

Finally, Kara broke the silence. “Well, that went well,” she muttered, crossing her arms.

Alpha Marcus sighed heavily, rubbing a hand down his face. “This was always going to be complicated,” he admitted. “But Seth leaving like that… it worries me.”

Luna Evelyn nodded. “He’s hurting, but it’s not just about the past. This is about the future now, and that’s what makes this dangerous.”

Derek let out a frustrated growl. “He’s not taking her,” he said firmly, his voice filled with a quiet threat.

I swallowed hard, glancing at the door Seth had stormed out of. My chest felt tight, my wolf stirring restlessly within me. I could still feel his presence lingering, like an echo in my bones. It wasn’t the same as the bond I had with Derek—it was something else, something older and heavier.

I stood up suddenly, yanking my wrist free from Derek’s grasp. “I need to talk to him.”

Derek’s expression darkened instantly. “Like hell you do.”

I met his gaze, my heart hammering against my ribs. “Derek, I need answers. And so does he. You said I should make my own choice, right? That means letting me figure out who I was—who I am.”

His jaw clenched. “Yeah, but I didn’t mean running off alone to do it.”

“I won’t be alone,” I countered, glancing at Adrian and Vee. “And besides, Seth isn’t my enemy. If we don’t talk, this situation is just going to get worse.”

Derek exhaled sharply, his frustration evident. “Fine. But I’m coming with you.”

I hesitated. I wasn’t sure if that was a good idea, but I knew better than to argue. Derek was nothing if not stubborn.

Without another word, I turned and walked out of the house, following Seth’s scent through the trees.

The deeper we went into the forest, the heavier the air felt. The night was cool, but my skin was burning, my wolf humming beneath the surface as we approached Seth’s presence. I didn’t have to see him to know he was nearby—I could feel him, a magnetic pull in the shadows.

When we finally found him, he was standing by the river, staring into the water. His back was tense, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.

I knew you’d come,” he said without turning around.

Derek tensed beside me, but I placed a hand on his arm, silently telling him to let me handle this.

“I had to,” I admitted, stepping closer. “You left before I could say anything.”

Seth turned then, his gaze searching mine. “You don’t remember me, do you?”

I hesitated. “Not the way I should,” I admitted. “But my wolf does. And she… she’s grieving.”

Seth exhaled shakily, running a hand through his dark hair. “I thought I was ready for this. I thought I could accept that you’re different now, that you don’t remember the life we had together. But seeing you with him…” He trailed off, shaking his head. “It’s unbearable.”

Derek stepped forward then, his voice low and dangerous. “She’s not yours anymore.”

Seth’s eyes flashed with something unreadable. “That’s not for you to decide.”

Tension crackled between them, the primal dominance of two alphas clashing in the air. My heart pounded, my breath coming faster. I couldn’t let this turn into a fight—not when we had more important things to deal with.

“I need to understand,” I cut in, stepping between them. “Tell me what happened, Seth. Tell me what I need to know.”

Seth studied me for a long moment before nodding. “Fine. But you’re not going to like what you hear.”

I steeled myself. “Tell me anyway.”

And so he did.

He spoke of a time I couldn’t remember, a time when I had been powerful, untouchable, and reckless. He told me how I had fought to protect our people, how I had loved him with a passion so fierce it had burned through everything. But he also told me of my arrogance, my mistakes. How I had walked into a trap, believing myself unstoppable. How I had died because of it.

By the time he was done, I felt like the ground beneath me had vanished.

“I don’t know who I am,” I whispered. “I don’t know who I was, or who I’m supposed to be now.”

Seth’s expression softened. “Then let me help you remember.”

Derek growled low in his throat, stepping forward to pull me back. “She doesn’t need your help.”

Seth’s jaw tightened. “You’re afraid she’ll remember and choose me.”

Derek’s eyes darkened. “She already chose me.”

I closed my eyes for a moment, overwhelmed. “Stop.”

Both of them turned to me, their expressions warring between possessiveness and frustration.

“I don’t belong to either of you,” I said firmly. “Not until I decide who I am first.”

Seth nodded slowly, but Derek’s gaze burned into mine. I could feel his hurt, his fear. But I couldn’t focus on that now.

“I need time,” I told them both. “And I need the truth. All of it.”

Seth hesitated before stepping back. “Then I’ll tell you everything. But just know, Ava… this is only the beginning.”

And somehow,I knew he was right.

This wasn’t just about choosing between two mates. This was about something much bigger—something dangerous, and ancient, and inevitable.

And I wasn’t sure if I was ready for it.