Ava stared at him. There was something different about Aiden. She couldn't put her finger on it but she was having these uneasy feelings cocooning her in their shell. "What's wrong?" She asked softly, eyeing him. "I just need you by my side. I had a quarrel at work which turned into a fight," He said and her eyes widened as she looked for any injuries. "Are you hurt?" Her voice sounded worried sick. "No, I'm fine." He dismissed the topic. She wanted to ask more but his mood seemed off so she didn't question him. She noticed they passed the turn of their complex. "Where are we going?" The words tumbled out of her lips on their own accord. "I want to give you a surprise. Something you'd love to see," There was this sinister edge in his deep voice or maybe she was being too paranoid because he was cold to her earlier and ordered her as if he owned her. She hated it and she'd talk to him on this matter but only when he wasn't in such a bad mood. She didn't say anything. Ava rel
That night played in her head on a loop, again and again. Those haunting eyes that glowed like flames stared down at her. Ava had shoved that haunting memory to the back of her head and never mulled over it ever again until tonight. It was like she was back in that alley, staring at the mobs holding down an innocent man. The thunder rumbled. "Earth to, Ava."She flinched. Her fear-filled gaze locked with his. The man in front of her wasn't the Aiden she fell in love with and knew all this time. He wasn't that kind, gentle, caring man. Instead of his place stood the monster who approached her with the very intent to destroy her. The revelation had knocked the ground off its axis for her. The earth seemed to pause as if it forgot the basic function of rotating around its axis. Her lungs gave up on her, refusing to take in oxygen. She wasn't physically harmed yet but his words had punched her guts. As if he reached for her soul, fisted it, and wrung it out of her. A warm trail on h
Her heart almost jumped to her throat and twisted knots formed in her belly as she gazed at his veiny massive arms and those big calloused hands that frightened her. Those same hands she loved so much as she kept holding them and kissing his knuckles. His words rattled the existence of her very being. Ava's eyes widened and her face ashen when he strode towards her like a predator. To escape she took a step back only to gasp when her back collided with the door.She looked at the door over her shoulder with teary eyes and when she looked ahead all her breath was knocked out of her system finding him standing in her personal space like a deadly beast. The mere aura surrounding him was so ominous and dark that she couldn't breathe as she stood there holding her breath and trying her very best to evaporate in thin air."Breath." He commanded in that gruff voice making her chin wobble and lips quiver as she took in a sharp breath from her parted lips.Her teary eyes were dead set on hi
She didn't sleep a blink, throughout the night she sat on her bed wide awake and kept glancing at the door in fear that he would barge in any second. Ava didn't go to work. She called in sick and went to the police station. She had thought hard about everything. Cried her heart out and then gathered the scattered pieces of her heart. He confessed to her that he killed her father. She wouldn't let him off the hook so easily. He would pay for killing her father. She'll drag him to the court if she had to. She also concluded that Aiden was filthy rich. That car, that mansion, everything belonged to him. He rented the apartment beside hers just to get close to her. Everything was a part of his bullshit plan. Their first meeting was at the bakery. It was all a lie, the more she mulled over it the more it hurt. There was a possibility that he might've lied about his name and job. The job was a lie for sure, thankfully she had his pictures, the ones she snapped without his knowledge, th
"I'll give you two options. Decapitation or I shoot your brains out." "No..." She whimpered. "None," Her voice came out choked. Offense sat across his features. He looked lethal. Cold. Murderous. He tsked. "Don't be a bad sport. Come on, choose." She couldn't respond. Ava was traumatized by his mere presence. The continuous loop of stress, anxiety, and panic was messing with her head, leaving her thoughts scrambled and her body numb but despite all that her fear knew no bounds. "Don't make me repeat myself." She let out a choked sob shaking her head. "I can't... I can't choose." She was on the verge of hyperventilation. "That's sad." "Come on get up." He said rising to his mighty height and dread enveloped her as she watched him with haunting eyes. "What did I f*cking say about repeating myself?" Ava stumbled to her feet as he began walking out and she hesitantly teetered behind him. The senior officer bowed at him and the junior officer gave her stuff back to her. S
"No." Her voice was barely a whisper as her hands trembled. Ava tried to free her hands. Slowly the reality of the situation dawned on her. He wants her to kill the pleading man. She jerked at her hands but his grip on her hands was tight enough to stop the blood circulation as her hands turned cold. "I would never." Her shaky voice echoed in the dark place. She felt his lips curling into a smile on her skin. A shudder ran down her spine when he kissed her ear, his hot breath prickling her skin. "You've to Ava. Choose yourself," He rasped. He knew her, she was a giver through and through. Always making sure everyone around her was alright. Ava possesses the kindest soul in this cruel world. Such kindness that lured in the evil like him. She shook her head violently and he watched her quivering lips. Aiden couldn't help but feel the trembling of her body. She was shaking like a leaf. "What if I tell you he drugged someone and raped that person.""I'm sorry... Please... I'm sorr
Ava didn't know where she was or where she was headed. She has been walking into the woods, probably jogging for her life with tears streaming down her cheeks. This man was f*cking crazy. Maniac. Psycho. He carries a gun with him all the time. Law was under him. System bowed to him. He was powerful and rich. Could even kill people as if they were pests. This wasn't the man she fell in love with. He wasn't her Aiden. He was lying. The man she fell in love with was kind and caring. Sweet and loving. Ava wiped her tears. She had to contact Lilith and Evan. She felt so stupid for never asking for their contact. Aiden seemed outlandish. As if he was enjoying all of this. She had a feeling he would destroy her in ways she could never be able to heal from. "Stop," His voice reached her, and her heart stuttered in fear. She was supposed to stop but instead, she sprinted away from him. Her heart crawled to her throat he grabbed the nape of her neck and pulled her back. She came crashin
"You're late." The baritone of his voice sends tingles down to her toes. Ava stepped back only to flinch realizing the shards of glass on the floor. "What... What are you doing here?" She was so glad that her voice came out steady. Before her heart used to inflate like a balloon in joy when she would find him waiting for her in her apartment but now she was terrified, though her heartbeat quickened. With a mixture of fear and fragments of her remnant love that refused to die down and was persistent in existing in her broken heart. He tilted his head and didn't offer her any response. Silence fell on them and she felt as if the walls were closing in on her. Ava moved carefully so as not to get injured and wore the slippers. Grabbing the broom she began cleaning the mess. She could feel his eyes on the back of her head drilling holes in her skull but keeping herself occupied helped her gather her thoughts and compose her melting armor. Throwing the trash in the bin she wash
8 years later. Her brows furrowed and a moan slipped through her lips. Confusion washed over her sleepy state as she slowly opened her eyes, Ava felt it and her eyes widened. There was something inside her. Moving. The familiarity soaked her senses. Her gaze flickered to the man on top of her. "Good morning, baby." Thrust. Her lips parted, feeling every inch of him. "Aiden," She breathed his name. He had a pillow resting beneath her hips, holding her legs wide open, he slowly moved in and out of her. "You should've woken me up," she said in her slurry morning voice. "I want to wake you up like this. The expression of surprise and pleasure on your face is a treat to my eyes," He mused. Voice deep and husky with a perfect sleepy edge to it. His hair was a mess, brows furrowed as he moved inside her. She opened her arms, and he leaned in, pressing his lips on hers in a soft kiss, his chest pressing on her bare breasts. His hand slid between them as he grabbed
Ava sat at the edge of the pool with her legs immersed in the water while gazing at the beautiful sky which resembled a dark storm. The ghastly grey clouds scattered over the sky veiling the twinkling stars and glorious moon as a chilling breeze swept past her. It was calming. She loved this weather. The serenity before the rain. The storm. The darkness. The wild breeze. The weather seemed to be in ruthless chaos. Mayhem, and then it bursts in the form of rain. With rain, everything blurred out and all that mattered at that moment was just the present. As the heavy downpour tumbled down, the breeze felt ecstatic. The darkness felt soothing. The fresh scent of after-rain felt surreal. Ava smiled a little startled when the clouds grumbled wildly. A promise of a downpour in its wake. A month had passed since Ava came back to live with Aiden. He took care of everything and wouldn't even let her step out of bed. Ava got better in a week, but he was just too caring. Aiden would s
"What the f*ck are you doing here?" Jacob growled, his hands fisted on his sides and by the dark look on her father's face, she knew he was mad. She had never seen him this pissed in her entire life. "I came to see my wife," Aiden said calmly, pulling to his feet. His eyes lingered over Ava for a couple of seconds before he faced Jacob. There was something about Aiden. He stood tall with his shoulders squared, staring down at her father with that blank look. He resembled a hidden menace. "Your wife? She's not your wife!" Jacob barked. Aiden's jaw ticked as he noticed from his peripheral vision that Ava had stepped out of the bed. "She is my wife, Jacob. I've thought hard about it and concluded. I can't let her go and no one can make me think otherwise." His voice was firm. "Are you in the right state of mind? She is in this condition because of you. It's better if you leave my daughter alone." Jacob fumed. "As I said. I cannot let her go." Aiden's tone oozes out fin
Ava was lying in bed. She was sleepy but she didn't let herself doze off. She waited. Patiently. Hours passed and he didn't show up. Maybe it was all her imagination. Ava buried her face in the pillow and tears of frustration gathered in her eyes. She wants to kill him. Maybe she could; once she gets better. Burying her face further in the pillow she let her body relax and tried to sleep. The ticking of the wall clock was the only faint noise in the silent room. Her breathing relaxed and she tilted her face, her eyes droopy. Just when she was about to drift into her sleep. She heard a light noise. Followed by a heavy thump of boots on the balcony. Ava's eyes flew wide when she heard the subtle creak of the window. A light shuffling and she slammed her eyes close, evening out her breathing and calming her heartbeat, pretending to sleep. She didn't hear a single sound but suddenly goosebumps rose on her flesh when she felt an intense gaze followed by a soft caress on her che
Three days went by in a state of daze and blur. Most of the time she was sleeping and when she was awake, Ava just stared at the ceiling and reeled that barbaric night in her head on a loop. In these three days, Aiden didn't show up. He had abandoned her. The more time passed, the more she felt she was losing herself in silent distress. She hasn't said a single word in the past few days. Ava would sleep most of the time, have small portions of soup or porridge twice a day, and just lay in her bed. Lilith would sit beside her and talk nonstop, sometimes Marcus also joined in; talking about his trainee days and telling her how Jacob made his life hell because he was such a strict leader. Evan did show up in her room twice but both times he would just stand in the corner while Lilith and Marcus talked, and he would quietly leave with them. Thankfully her father hadn't told Annie anything, and she was oblivious to everything. She'd visit them in summer and there were still a
A cry of pain tore through her lips. Ava glanced at the girl who helped her kill the guy hoping she could do it, but she was sprawled out cold on the floor. The fire was reaching close to her. The people trapped in those cages were screaming, banging on the electric wall, and getting electrocuted. Ava was crying full-blown now as she forced her body to move. She had to save them. She had to. Ava dragged her body up with the help of the wall, she put pressure on her wounded leg and the stitches tore her skin and opened making her scream in pain as she jumped forward slamming her palm on the button before falling. Water mist splashed water all over the place. Sirens of emergency and evacuation were ringing, and it felt like she was hearing them through the end of a tunnel. Cold water touched her skin. A shuddering breath left her lips as she closed her eyes hoping for all the pain to go away and softly whispered Aiden's name for the peace of her heart. Ava was in a beau
Bullets were raining behind him and he got hit in the back causing him to stumble forward crashing into her as she held him. "Aiden," She whispered shakily, feeling wetness on her hand. There was a wild commotion behind them. Animalistic growls and snarls but all she could hear was a numbing whistle ringing in her ears, seeing red coating her palm. "Take cover," He rasped in her ear before pulling back. Aiden roared like a wild beast, and she noticed his canines extending and claws expanding as he lunged at the scarred old man. Ava noticed Enzo and more Aiden's men infiltrating the place like charged canons. A guard tried to get to her, but someone blocked his way in a flash and knocked him down with a solid punch. It was Jacob. "Dad," She breathed shakily as Jacob hurried over to her. "F*ck, I'm late. Hide, Ava. Don't let them see you," Jacob said, forcing a pistol in her hand. "Use it to protect yourself. Kill if need be. Don't even hesitate when it comes to your safe
Ava banged on the door with all her might until her hands throbbed in pain. They had locked her in that room and then left. Cole was still unconscious while Ava had searched for every possible escape but there was none. She could hear two guards talking right outside the door. They were keeping an eye on them. It didn't matter how much she screamed or yelled at them to let her out. They didn't pay any heed to her. Ava was scared and drowning in anxiety with each passing second. Her pendant didn't electrocute her which meant she was close. Aiden would find her and be there any second now. A groan from behind had her head snapping to Cole. "F*ck," He cussed while trying to move but couldn't because of the wounds and pain. "Stay still. We are locked here. Your injuries are serious, you shouldn't move much," she said in a hoarse voice. Upon seeing her relief washed over him, his eyes fleeted to the gauze on her thigh and the number of bandages and patches that covered her face
"Are you done for the day?" Cole asked when he ordered his usual honey donut and Vanessa grumpily prepared it for him. They both hate each other's guts she could swear on it. They both left no chance to get on each other's nerves. It was fun to watch them, but Ava didn't want her friend to be dragged into this werewolf's world. "Yeah, I'll be out in a minute," Ava said hurrying to the staff room as she changed into her clothes and stepped out. Cole was waiting by the door watching Vanessa who was putting the chairs away. It was her turn to close tonight. Ava said her goodbyes to Vanessa while Vanessa yelled after her, reminding her of the brunch tomorrow with Alice and Audrey. The girls’ day out. Ava yelled over her shoulder that she remembered as she walked down the street with Cole to their car. Cole handed the donut to the homeless man and Ava watched him. "Why do you buy it, when every time you don't even eat it?" Often when there was no homeless person around, he wo