CHAPTER 9

AVA 

As I sat on the edge of Derek’s massive bed, I couldn’t help but take in the size and grandeur of the room. 

It was enormous—larger than my family’s entire living space—with high ceilings and walls lined with shelves of books and artifacts that spoke of Derek’s status as the future Alpha. 

My eyes landed on the bed itself. It was a grand piece of furniture with dark, heavy posts and a thick mattress draped in luxurious navy-blue sheets. I sat stiffly, feeling like I didn’t belong in a space like this.

My thoughts drifted back to what had just happened outside. Kora’s attack replayed in my mind—the insults, the hatred, and the humiliation I had endured in front of everyone. 

But what confused me most was Derek’s reaction. He had defended me , growled at Kora like a wolf ready to rip her apart, and carried me here as if I were something precious.

“How could he do that after rejecting me?” . It didn’t make sense. He had made it abundantly clear that I wasn’t worthy of being his mate, and yet today, he had acted as if I was.

My chest tightened. If Derek thought he was the only one struggling with the mate bond, he was wrong. 

The pull between us was tormenting me too. Every time I tried to move on, my wolf reminded me of our connection, of the way our scents intertwined and how his presence made me feel safe even when I didn’t want it to.

As I rose and walked into the adjoining bathroom, my mind wandered to the dreams I had been having. 

They were always vivid, always the same. 

My white wolf tore through a dark, endless forest, my paws kicking up dirt and leaves as I ran. The air was heavy, laden with an unnatural silence, broken only by my rapid breaths and the sinister whispers closing in behind me. 

I didn’t need to look back to know they were there—two shadowy figures, their forms amorphous and shifting like smoke, gaining on me with each step. 

Their voices slithered through the air, chilling to the bone. “It was never yours to start with…” one of them hissed, the words slicing through the silence like a blade.

My heart pounded in my chest as I pushed myself to run faster, but the ground beneath me seemed to pull me back, my legs feeling heavier with each step. 

The shadows closed the distance, their presence suffocating, their laughter echoing in my ears. One of them reached out with an elongated arm, its hand formed of writhing smoke, reaching for my chest. I stumbled, my wolf snarling, but the figures were too close.

“You cannot escape,” the other whispered, its voice cold and venomous. “You were never meant to have it.” 

Just as I braced myself for their touch, a blinding light pierced through the darkness, and the figures hissed in fury. A third figure appeared ahead of me, standing tall, their form bathed in a golden aura. 

I couldn’t make out their face—only their presence, which radiated strength and protection.

The shadowy figures recoiled, their forms retreating like smoke blown by the wind. “You will not take it from her,” the golden figure said, their voice calm but commanding. 

The shadows shrieked, dissolving into the void, leaving only silence behind.

I didn’t understand what the dreams meant, but they left me shaken every time I woke up, my wolf has whispered earlier about me being a dreamer and being special but how could I believe it.  

I turned on the shower and stepped under the warm spray, letting the water wash away the dirt and blood from the market incident. I noticed Derek’s soap on the edge of the tub and hesitated for a moment before picking it up.

As soon as I opened the soap, his scent overwhelmed me —pine, musk, and something distinctly Derek. It filled the bathroom, wrapping around me like a warm embrace. I hated how much I liked it.

I lathered the soap and closed my eyes, trying to push thoughts of him away. But it was impossible. The events of the day, his actions, and his rejection all swirled in my mind.

Then, out of nowhere, I felt the weight of a gaze. I opened my eyes, startled, and turned toward the glass door of the shower. Derek was standing there, his golden eyes fixed on me .

“Derek!” I gasped, covering myself with my arms.

But before I could say anything else, he stepped into the shower fully clothed. His presence was overwhelming, his gaze intense. Without a word, he cupped my face in his hands and kissed me.

The kiss was raw, desperate, and full of emotions I couldn’t decipher. I didn’t resist; I couldn’t. I melted into him, my hands clutching at his shirt as the water poured over them. 

For a moment, I let myself forget everything—his rejection, my pain, and the chaos of the bond.

But just as quickly as it started, Derek pulled back. His breathing was ragged, and his hands trembled as he stepped away.

“We can’t do this,” he said, his voice low and strained.

I stared at him, my chest heaving. “Why?” I whispered.

“Because you’re too weak,” he said, his words cutting through me like a blade. He gestured toward my bruises

 “Look at what happened in the market today. Everyone knows it, Ava. You’re weak, and that’s why I can’t choose you as my mate.”

His words echoed in the bathroom, each one more painful than the last. My throat tightened, and tears welled in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall

Derek turned and stormed out of the bathroom, slamming the door behind him. I stood there, stunned and shaking. 

I didn’t know what hurt more—his rejection or

the fact that, for a brief moment, I had allowed myself to hope.