Chapter 4

~Ava~

My body felt like it was made of lead as I walked away from the guest wing. Every step was a struggle. My shoulder ached, and my limbs trembled as if I could crumble at any moment. Inside, I was numb—empty—drowning in the suffocating void of loneliness.

Just as I was about to escape the stifling walls of the pack house, Emilia had appeared, blocking my path with a smug grin. My stomach turned, and I felt a wave of frustration surge. I tried to move past her, but her grip tightened around my wrist, pulling me back.

I closed my eyes and exhaled, trying to remain calm.

“It’s nice to see you’re finally coming back to your senses,” she taunted, a sickly sweet smile twisting her lips.

I could feel the anger bubbling in my chest, but I forced myself to ignore her. Her presence was like a poison I had no energy to fight. Still, she wasn’t about to let me go that easily.

“You’ve finally accepted that Ethan won’t look at you the way he does me, Never,” she sneered, her words sharp as a knife. “It’s almost amusing watching you come to terms with reality. Your bond with him is gone, and deep down, you know it.” She chuckled.

“I need to leave, Emilia. Please, get out of my way,” I said, my voice trembling with exhaustion. There was no point in fighting anymore. She had won. I had lost.

“Oh, I guess you are in a hurry to leave, I’ll move, don’t worry,” Lyselle smirked, stepping aside. “But first, I have to say how pleased I am by your decision. I thought you’d keep trying to make Ethan notice you, but I guess not. You’re finally letting go.” Her mock sympathy made me sick. “I almost felt sorry for you—trying so hard for his attention, even after I left him for three years. Guess what? He still chose me over you.”

I rolled my eyes, ignoring her, but she wasn’t done.

“You don’t get it, do you?” she continued, voice dripping with venom. “Even after losing your baby, Ethan will never look at you the way he looks at me. He doesn’t even care about your pup. What a pity,” she said, her voice taking on a sickening sweetness. “But it’s probably for the best. The pup would have just been a reminder of how little he cares about you. Isn’t that what you wanted? To keep clinging to him like a pathetic fool?”

I clenched my fists, feeling the familiar rage rise, but I took a deep breath, steadying myself. I knew what she was trying to do—what she always did: make me lose control. Make me break. But not this time. I couldn’t afford to give her the satisfaction.

But inside, I was breaking. She had won again. Emila had always won.

“Please, Emilia. Just let me go,” I said quietly, my voice barely a whisper.

She blocked my path again, her smile widening. “No. Not until you understand something, Ava. You’ll never win with Ethan. You’ve never been good enough for him, and you never will be.”

I turned to leave, my patience running thin, but then I heard a yelp and the sound of something hitting the floor. I spun around, startled, and saw Emilia crumple to the ground.

Ethan appeared out of nowhere, rushing to her side, his expression one of sheer panic.

“Emilia!” His voice was filled with concern, and he completely ignored me as he crouched down to help her. His gaze flicked to me for a moment, but his focus quickly returned to her.

Tears streamed down Emilia’s face, but I could see the glint of satisfaction in her eyes as she looked up at Ethan.

“Emilia, what are you doing out here? You’re supposed to be resting,” Ethan said softly, his voice laced with worry.

“I heard that Ava was leaving,” Emilia sobbed, exaggerating her distress. “I wanted to ask her to stay, but she became so aggressive towards me. She started accusing me of ruining her relationship with you, and then she pushed me. She was so violent…” She trailed off, pretending to sob harder.

My mouth dropped open in shock. I couldn’t believe she was lying like this—so casually, so coldly. I had never touched her, yet here she was painting me as the villain.

Ethan shot me a furious look.

“How could you, Ava?” His voice rose in anger. “You rejected me, remember? I tried to get you to change your mind, but you were firm about it. So why are you accusing Emilia of everything? It’s not her fault.” His gaze hardened, and I could feel the sting of his words.

I opened my mouth to defend myself, but I stopped short. I knew it wouldn’t matter. He had already made up his mind. No matter what I said, it would fall on deaf ears.

I let out a bitter chuckle, more to myself than anyone else. “I guess I should’ve expected this,” I muttered, turning on my heel. I wasn’t going to waste any more energy on him. He had made his choice.

I left them behind, stepping into the darkness of the rain-soaked road.

Alone.

The rain poured down, soaking my hair and clothes. I walked aimlessly, my mind numb, my heart aching. The cold wind whipped through me, but I barely felt it. I couldn’t feel anything anymore.

I was alone. Truly alone. No family to turn to. No pack to call home. No mate to lean on. I was just a shadow, drifting through this life without purpose.

Why? Why had life played me this way? What had I done to deserve this cruelty?

Two years as a loyal Luna, trying to give everything to a man who would never truly be mine. And for what? For nothing. My fated mate, wherever he was, had never appeared, and now my only connection to this life—the bond with Ethan—was shattered.

I didn’t know if I wanted to see my fated mate anymore. What was the point? My future felt as empty as the road ahead.

I didn’t care anymore. Maybe the rogues would come for me, and I wouldn’t have to live in this world of pain.

Suddenly, a sleek black car pulled up beside me, its engine purring softly in the night. I glanced at it, confused, but it didn’t move. Instead, the window rolled down, and a voice—a deep, smooth voice—cut through the silence.

“Ava.”

I froze. That voice… it wasn’t familiar. My instincts screamed at me to run, but I couldn’t move.

I looked up and met the gaze of a man whose eyes were as cold as marble, his stare piercing through me like he could see into my very soul. The hunger in his eyes was almost predatory, and I felt my heart skip a beat.

“Who are you?” I asked, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to stay composed.

A smile tugged at his lips, dark and knowing.

“Someone who knows exactly what it feels like to be betrayed by a loved one” he replied, his voice like velvet.