Avery's POV"You know what I think? We should end the discussion about Flair and mate stuff. I liked when the conversation was light," I said when he didn't respond after asking what's wrong."Yeah, you're right." He immediately gestured for the waiter to walk over where we sat."What's our bill?" he asked.The waiter gave him the bill, and Jameson paid for the food before saying, "Do you want to head somewhere? Probably somewhere quiet," he said.I agreed by nodding my head.He stood from the chair and took my hand before heading out of the restaurant."Where are we going?"Is it far?" I asked. I was literally trying to meet up with his pace."It's just a few blocks away, just trust me," he said.We finally got to a pub, and he paid the man in charge to let us in."Wait a minute, you said that we were going somewhere quiet, what happened?" I asked."Trust me, will you?" he asked."Okay," I responded."Wait here for me," he said, but I shook my head, refusing to stay there and wait fo
Avery's POV He took my hand, noticing that I couldn't match up with his pace.He stopped for a second and picked me up from the ground, running towards the direction of the sea."Ohh... Jameson. Stop it already," I said, giggling and laughing at the same time."Stop what? I want to carry you, Avery. Will you refuse the alpha of that?" Jameson asked, and I narrowed my eyes.After a lot of protesting, he dropped me down. I bit my lips and straightened my dress."Thank you!" I said with an accent.I stood there and watched the sea waves; I was mesmerized. I couldn't stop laughing and grinning at the same time."What's so funny that you can't stop laughing about?" Jameson asked."You asked earlier if I'll refuse the Alpha of carrying me." I paused and laughed."And? What's so funny in that?" He inquired."You're not yet the Alpha of the park yet; you should wait for your time before you start bragging with the title," I warned, causing Jameson to burst into laughter."You really didn't n
Avery's POV "Oh my freaking God. Can't you get it? Nothing happened, and nothing will happen. If you think that Jameson and I could ever be something, then I'll advise that you should think again!" I said, already pissed, but unfortunately, Amelia didn't care."I know that you're keeping something from me, but let's just see how long you would be able to keep it from me," she said, causing me to arch my brows.I just rolled my eyes, deciding not to pay any heed to what she said."You think I'll lie to you? It's the simple truth," Amelia added."I don't care. Right now, I'm hungry," I said, placing my hand on my stomach."Okay then, get dressed; let's go and get food at Reflex," Amelia said, causing me to smile. This was the only good thing that Amelia has said since we woke up."Thank goodness. You're finally saying something," I muttered.I quickly put something on because after having my bath last night, I just wore my undies, and that was all.Now, after putting on my dress, I said
Avery's POV "You've got that right!" Amelia said. I rolled my eyes because in truth, the reason why I wanted to go was because Flair was going to be there. Maybe this was my chance for him to finally notice me. I really needed him to be around me.A crooked smile appeared on my face as I stretched my hand forward to reach for the water.Jameson passed it to me. "I didn't ask you for any help! Did I? Please learn to keep your hands to yourself," I said in a low voice."Okay," Jameson said and took his hand up, signaling that he was going to leave me alone."You know what? See you later, love," he said, causing me to feel irritated before he left."That was too harsh. What's the matter? You seem really bitter," Amelia said."Why do you seem shocked? I mean, it's totally normal. It's not like I like him," I said, causing Amelia to lean closer. I thought that she wanted to tease me, but she ended up saying,"If you say so."After eating, I suggested that we go back to our dorms, but Ameli
Avery's POV"Give me a minute, please," Amelia said, causing me to pause for a second."A minute for what? You freaking left the bathroom after me! What do you need more time to do to?" I asked."Hey, I need to look good, okay? I'm not like you, who spend a minute to get ready. I'm more girly than you think," she said, causing me to laugh."Whatever." I rolled my eyes before sitting on the bed, going through my phone. I saw that I haven't responded to Jameson's message yet."Okay, I'm done getting ready." She caught my attention."Finally," I said before getting to my feet. Stretching my hands and legs, I straightened my dress and said in a low voice,"We should leave. What are you still doing?" I asked."I'm making sure that I look extraordinarily beautiful in the mirror," she said, causing me to smile, making sure that the smile on my face was broad."You can't oppress me with that pretty face of yours. I mean, I'm pretty too," I said.She rolled her eyes and walked towards the door
Avery's POV"Please excuse me," I said, excusing myself from the table to the restroom, taking my bag with me."Okay, hon," Amelia said. She didn't even turn to gaze at me. It was funny how she pretended like she didn't have any feelings for Flair because she didn't want me to know.I briskly walked towards the bathroom and opened the door abruptly before standing in front of it.Gazing at my reflection in the mirror, I gritted my teeth in anger."How can my best friend not tell me about her love interest with Flair? Wait, that shouldn't even be the question! Why would my best friend fall in love with my crush?" I asked myself while gazing at the mirror.I heard the toilet flush, and my eyes immediately widened in shock. "Oh my God, there's someone here," I whispered to myself before running into the empty toilet to hide there because I didn't want the person in the restroom with me to see me.After the person left, I finally had the courage to step out of the restroom."That was clos
Avery's POV After standing in the restaurant for what felt like hours, I finally let out a long sigh and sat on one of the chairs.I took my hand up to my hair, still not wanting to go to the dorms.I wanted peace and silence, and being alone is the only way to get it."I get it," an olive-skinned girl said as she walked towards where I sat."What?" I asked, confused. I turned to look around her and also from where he was walking from to see if there was anyone around."I totally get it," she repeated. I rolled my eyes; maybe she was just one of these random people prying into my life, and I really hated it when people pried into my life."What do you get?" I finally asked."You're sitting here all alone. You're sulking, and you're just like me," she said. There was nothing in this world that could get me irritated as much as the words, "I'm just like you, or you're just like me."Most times, I feel like they needed a slap in most chances just so they can shut their mouth or somethin
Avery's POV "You don't like it?" I asked. Naomi shook her head and said in a low voice, "That's not the case; it's just that I've been working for so long, trying to meet up with my bills, and I don't know if it's safe to say that this is the only time that I've had to myself for some time now..." She said, but something in her words didn't add up. "What do you mean by this is the only time? What happened to the place I met you in? Weren't you having fun there?" I asked. I mean, the restaurant was a five-star restaurant, a place that I wouldn't even imagine or think of going to if it wasn't for Jameson. Now, I think I have messed up everything. Not like I care, but the kind of satisfaction that I thought I'd feel from it isn't what I felt at all. Instead, I felt like a complete villain. Amelia didn't really care how it made me feel, and her behavior towards me made me feel even worse. We are best friends, and I expected her to be there for me, but on days when I need a
Avery’s POVAs the night air brushed against my skin, a chill crept up my spine. Step after agonizing step, another wave of pain coursed through my body as I felt Noah's arm draped around my shoulder, taking most of my weight while we ambled through the darkness behind the hangar. The sirens were getting closer.With a pistol in hand, Dominic escorted us, searching in all directions for any remaining threats. Raven was breaking through on my line.“Okay, listen up! The cops are coming in fast. I don’t know who ratted us out, but we're out of time.”“Shit! Is there an exit?” Noah asked.Raven took a second. “Not one you’ll like.”“We don’t like it already,” I muttered, barely able to keep my eyes open. “Just tell us.”Raven sighed. “There’s a utility tunnel running under the hangar. Emergency access for maintenance crews. If you can get inside, it leads out past the perimeter.”Dominic was walking, scanning the nearby walls. “Where’s the entrance?”“Fifteen feet to your left. A metal
Avery’s POVThe gunshot ripped through the night.Pain exploded through my shoulder, knocking me backward. The ground came up fast, the cold concrete jarring against my spine. My vision blurred, and for a second, all I could hear was the ringing in my ears.Someone was shouting my name.I tried to move, but fire licked up my arm, spreading through my entire body. My breath came in short, shallow gasps as I pressed my hand to the wound. Warm, sticky blood seeped between my fingers.Lisa stood over me, gun still raised, a smirk playing at her lips.“Did you really think this would end any other way?” she mused, tilting her head.I forced my body to move, my fingers curling toward the gun I had dropped, but Lisa stepped forward and kicked it away.“I have to admit,” she continued, crouching down beside me. “You were persistent. Annoying, but persistent.” She reached out, brushing a strand of hair from my face like she actually cared. “That’s why I liked you, Avery. You had fight.”I clen
Avery’s POVApparently, morning has come too early.The city seems to be alive outside the sab house, but inside it is totally quiet. Surreal.Under twelve hours to go before we make our move.The talk was reserved as we gathered around the table, and the blueprint of the airstrip still sprawled from yesterday night. Raven was already typing at her end, her fingertips moving rapidly over the keypad. Noah sat next to her, his arms crossed, his face a deep frowning hiss. Dominic leaned against the wall, taking gulps at his black coffee as though that were all keeping him standing.I could feel that tension hung in the air. The weight of the actions to be taken loomed over us.Noah broke the silence. “We need to go over everything one last time.”Dominic nodded, setting his mug down. “All right. This is it. Once we're in, there's no turning back.”Raven turned her screen toward us. "I managed to hack into the airstrip's security system. I can loop the cameras for about three minutes-enou
Avery’s POVThe air in the SUV was thick with exhaustion and adrenaline. No one spoke as we sped down the highway, the city lights growing brighter in the distance. Every mile that passed felt like a countdown to something bigger, something inevitable.Lisa was still ahead of us.She had let us go because she knew we'd come back. And she was ready.I glanced at Noah. He was still pale, his head leaned against the window, but his breathing was steadier. The pain must have been unbearable, but he hadn’t complained once.“You good?” I asked quietly.His eyes flicked open, and for a second, they softened. “I’ve been worse.”That was a lie, but I let it slide.Raven was still typing on her laptop, her face illuminated by the glow of the screen. Dominic kept his eyes on the road, his grip on the wheel tight.Finally, Raven exhaled sharply. “Alright. I’ve got a lead.”Dominic glanced at her in the rearview mirror. “Talk.”She turned the laptop so we could see. “Lisa’s scheduled to meet at a
Avery’s POVThe hallways blurred around me, every breath burning in my chest. Noah's weight dragged against my shoulder, but I held him up, forcing us forward as fast as possible.Behind us, alarms blared, a violent, grating noise that made every step feel like a countdown to disaster.Lisa let us leave.That thought refused to leave my head. She had every opportunity to stop us—she could have had her men block every door, trap us in that office, make sure we never made it past the underground corridors.But she didn’t.Which meant one thing.She was playing a longer game.And we were still inside it.“Faster!” Raven hissed, keeping ahead of us, her stolen gun clutched tightly in her hand. “They’ll regroup and block the exits any second now!”Noah grunted, his arm tightening around my shoulder. His breaths were shallow, his body heavy. I glanced at him—his jaw was clenched, his face tight with pain, but his eyes were sharp. He was still with me.That had to be enough.We reached a spl
Avery’s POVRaven’s hands were steady as she locked the door behind us, but her eyes were sharp with urgency. We had minutes—maybe seconds—before someone noticed I was gone.“We have to move fast,” she whispered. “Lisa’s guards are all over this place. If we get caught before we reach Noah, we’re screwed.”I nodded, my pulse hammering. “Where is he?”Raven glanced down the hall. “They took him to a different wing. I don’t know exactly where, but I saw them dragging him that way.” She pointed toward a dimly lit corridor. “We go in quiet. Take out anyone in our way.”I flexed my fingers. “Fine by me.”Raven smirked. “That’s what I was hoping you’d say.”We moved quickly, staying close to the shadows. The underground halls were eerily quiet, the concrete walls swallowing sound. My heart pounded harder with every step.Noah was here.And he was hurt.I clenched my fists to keep my emotions in check. Getting reckless wouldn’t help him. Focus. Stay sharp.Footsteps echoed up ahead. A guard.
Avery’s POVThe cold from the concrete walls seeped into my skin as I sat on the floor of my cell, my wrists still raw from the struggle against the restraints. The room was small—barely enough space to pace. The only light came from a single flickering bulb hanging from the ceiling.They had taken everything. My weapons, my phone, even the small knife I’d hidden in my boot.But the worst part?I had no idea where the others were.I had heard Dominic fighting when they dragged us down here, but that had faded into silence. Noah was taken in the opposite direction, and Raven—she had disappeared before I could even process what was happening.I pulled my knees to my chest, forcing myself to breathe. Panicking wouldn’t help. I needed a way out.I scanned the room. The walls were solid. No vents. The door was thick metal with a reinforced lock.But locks could be picked.And Lisa had made a mistake—she thought we were helpless.She thought wrong.Footsteps echoed down the hall, stopping j
Avery’s POVThe alarms shattered the silence like a gunshot. Red warning lights flared to life, painting the marble halls in streaks of crimson. My pulse skyrocketed as Raven and I froze in place, our eyes meeting in a brief moment of panic."Shit," Raven hissed. "They know we're here."We had seconds—seconds before the guards outside the meeting room came storming in. My instincts screamed at me to run, but we couldn’t—not yet.Raven recovered first, snapping her laptop shut and shoving it into the supply cart. "We need to move. Now."The double doors ahead burst open. Two guards stormed into the hallway, guns drawn, their eyes scanning for the threat. I forced myself to stay still, gripping the supply cart’s handle as if it would ground me. We still looked like workers. Maybe—just maybe—they wouldn't suspect us.No such luck."You!" One of them pointed at me. "Hands where I can see them."Raven didn’t hesitate. In one smooth motion, she flipped the cart over, sending supplies crashi
The tension in the cabin was thick enough to choke on. No one had slept. No one had even tried. The plan was in motion, but the weight of what we were about to do sat heavy on all of us.Lisa had built an empire on manipulation, control, and fear. If we miscalculated even once, she’d slip through our fingers again—and this time, we wouldn’t get another chance.Raven was the first to break the silence. “Alright, let’s run through this one more time.”She tapped on her laptop, pulling up a satellite image of the estate Lisa was meeting at. “Security is tight—motion sensors, cameras, at least a dozen armed guards patrolling the perimeter. Getting in unnoticed won’t be easy.”Dominic leaned over the table, scanning the blueprint. “We won’t have to sneak in if we give them a reason to open the gates.”Noah’s eyes flicked up. “You have an idea?”Dominic nodded. “A delivery truck. The estate gets shipments daily—food, supplies, the usual. If we can intercept one, we’ll have an excuse to get