Ava’s POV“Can we be friends?”Friends? With Vanessa? I didn’t see that coming, and from the look on Vanessa’s face, she didn’t either. Her eyebrows shot up as she stared at Sarah like she’d just grown two heads.“You want to be my friend?” Vanessa asked, her voice dripping with pride. She tilted her chin up and gave Sarah that smug, know-it-all look she loved using to make people feel small. “Do you even realize who I am? I’m the Alpha’s daughter. The one and only Alpha’s daughter.”She said it like she expected Sarah to back down, like just hearing those words would make her rethink her decision. But Sarah didn’t even flinch. Instead, she smiled wider and let out a soft laugh, like she wasn’t intimidated at all.“I know exactly who you are,” Sarah said sweetly. “And that’s why I want to be your friend. You’re strong, confident, and, well… I can tell you’re a good person deep down. I think we could really get along.”For a moment, Vanessa didn’t say anything. I could tell she wasn’t
Ava’s POVI rush to the rooftop, my breath coming out in quick gasps, my chest rising and falling as though I just ran a marathon. My head spins, and I press my hand against the cold wall to steady myself. Everything feels like it’s caving in on me all at once, like I’ve somehow lost control over everything happening around me.What’s going on? I don’t even know anymore. First, there’s Sarah, acting all friendly with Vanessa. Then there’s Vanessa and her weird conversation with Sarah, Zach suddenly acting like he cares, and Irish stepping in and punching Zach in front of everyone. And now… now I’m here, on the rooftop, feeling like I’m losing my mind.I lea
Ava’s POVSteve’s lips brush against mine softly at first, like he’s testing the waters, and my heart skips a beat. I don’t know how it happens, but before I can think straight, I’m kissing him back. His hand cups my cheek gently, and for a few seconds, I let myself melt into the moment.It feels… strange. New. His lips are warm, and there’s a softness to the kiss that makes my chest tighten. I’ve never felt anything like this before.But then, like a slap of cold air, reality comes crashing down on me. I pull away, gasping, my face flushed, my heart racing so fast it feels like it might burst out of my chest.Steve stares at me, his green eyes wide with
AVA’S POVSarah smirks at me, like she’s already won. I can feel my pulse pounding in my ears, and my chest is rising and falling fast, but I don’t care anymore. I’m tired of letting them walk all over me. Tired of being treated like I’m nothing.“You’re not getting this letter,” I say firmly. Sarah raises an eyebrow, clearly surprised by my sudden defiance. My stepmom crosses her arms, her eyes narrowing. “What did you just say?” she asks, her voice sharp and cold.“I said,” I repeat, more clearly this time, “I’m not giving you the letter. Vanessa invited me to the party, not Sarah. If Vanessa wanted Sarah to come, she would have given her the invitation, not me.”For a second, there’s silence, and I can tell by the way their faces twist with shock that they weren’t expecting that. Sarah looks like she’s just been slapped, and my stepmom blinks at me, trying to process what I had just said. “Sarah is Vanessa’s friend, she’d have given her the invitation letter if she wanted her.”M
Ava’s POVI stand there, frozen, staring at my stepmom and Sarah as their words sink in. A VIP customer is waiting for me at the stripper house.I feel like the ground just shifted beneath my feet. My stomach twists, and my hands clench at my sides. “Why can’t Sarah go instead?” I blurt out, unable to hold it in. I know it’s dangerous to talk back, but the words slip out before I can stop them.The moment I say it, my stepmom’s face twists in anger. Her fake smile vanishes, replaced by that familiar look of pure disgust she always has when she looks at me. “Don’t you ever say that again!” she snaps, her voice sharp and cold.I flinch but stay where I am.“Sarah will never be a stripper,” she hisses, like the thought alone is insulting. “She’s too good for that. You, on the other hand… You’re the one who’s fit to be a stripper. That’s who you are, Ava. You’re nothing but a filthy little girl who belongs there.”Her words cut through me like knives. I feel tears burning the back of my e
Ava’s POV“Let go of me, Zach!” I screamed, thrashing as hard as I could.His grip on my wrist tightened. “Stop fighting me, Ava. You’re my mate, and you belong to me.”“No! I don’t belong to you!” I yelled, shoving at his chest, but he didn’t budge. His strength was overwhelming, and the fear in my chest tightened like a steel grip.“Stop acting like this,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous. “I’m not going to hurt you.”“You already are!” I snapped, tears stinging my eyes as I tried to yank my wrist out of his grip again. “You tore my clothes, Zach! You’re hurting me right now!”He paused, his eyes flickering as if my words hit him somewhere deep, but it only lasted for a second. His jaw clenched, and his face hardened again.“You’re mine, Ava,” he said through gritted teeth. “You can’t keep running from me.”“I’m not yours! You rejected me, remember?” My voice broke as the memories flooded back. I could still hear his cruel words ringing in my ears. I could still feel the pain
Steve’s POVI was walking back from the pack, my fists clenched, my jaw tight. The Alpha had said something that really got under my skin, and I couldn’t shake off the anger. My mind was spinning with thoughts, and all I wanted was to get home, take a cold shower, and try to calm down. But that plan changed the moment I reached the front gate.There she was. Ava.She was sitting on the ground, huddled against the gate, crying. Her clothes were torn, her shoulders shaking, and she looked completely broken. My heart twisted in my chest, and all the anger I had been feeling vanished in an instant.I was surprised to see he
Ava’s POVI stare at Steve, watching his face twist in confusion. He’s standing there, frozen, trying to wrap his head around what I just said.“Vanessa gave you the invitation?” he asks again, his voice slow, like he’s trying to make sure he heard me right.“Yes,” I say softly. “She even sent it to my house.”His frown deepens, and I see his jaw clench. He’s not just confused — he’s angry.“She sent it to your house?” He repeats it like he’s trying to convince himself that it’s real. His brows pull together, and I can practically see the wheels turning in his
AVA’S POVWhat have I done?My breath is still shaky, my body warm and tingling from what just happened. I don’t know what came over me, but I blame it on the alcohol. That has to be it. I would never…Bang! Bang!“Ava!” a deep voice shouts from outside, followed by loud knocking.My heart stops. Oh my God.Zayne moves faster than me, grabbing his pants and yanking them on before striding to the door. My body tenses when I realize who the voice belongs to.My boss.
ZAYNE’S POV“Why are you so straightforward tonight?”“Because I realize I can’t keep running away from the mate bond, aside, you guys are the only people who treat me well.”Damn it.A low growl rumbles in my chest as I close the distance between us, gripping her chin between my fingers. “You have no idea what you’re asking for, Ava.”She tilts her head slightly, pressing her cheek into my palm. “Then show me.”Heat rushes through my veins. My patience snaps.
AVA’S POVI pull myself together, forcing my hands to stop shaking as I rummage through my bag for the dress I have to wear. The moment my fingers touch the fabric, my stomach twists. My hands feel weak, but I push through, dragging it out and clutching it against my chest.I take slow, careful steps toward the changing room. My breath is uneven, my head pounding. The moment I shut the door behind me, I let out a deep sigh, staring at my reflection in the mirror.I look… empty.Dark circles frame my eyes. My skin looks pale under the dim lighting, and my lips are dry, slightly chapped. I run my fingers over my face, trying to see if I still recognize myself, but all I see is someone who&rs
AVA’S POVI don’t even realize I’m running until I collide with someone. A sharp gasp escapes me as I stumble back, my heart still hammering from the conversation with Steve.I look up only to realize it is Sarah.Of all people? Sarah, why her?She crosses her arms, her eyes narrowing as she looks me up and down. “Why are you roaming around the school?” Her voice is sharp, almost amused. “Shouldn’t you be in class? Or is this what you do while my mother pays your school fees?”I swallow hard. My palms are sweaty, my throat dry. I don’t know what to say, and at the same time, I
Ava’s POVI woke up the next morning feeling exhausted, my body heavy as if I hadn’t slept at all. The events of yesterday still weigh on me. My stepmom, her cold voice, her cruel words… It’s like an echo in my head.“I just hate that you exist.”I shake my head, trying to push her words away, but they cling to me, refusing to leave. I don’t know why, but for the first time in a long while, I miss my mom. I don’t even remember much about her, just bits and pieces, blurry memories that fade when I try too hard to hold onto them.But I remember the warmth. The softness in her voice. The way she used to hold me.
Ava’s POVI stand there, my body rigid, my breath shaky. My stepmom’s eyes narrow as she folds her arms across her chest. “Since when did you start talking back to me?” she asks, her tone sharp with irritation.I lift my chin, meeting her glare. “Just now,” I say, my voice firm despite the storm raging inside me. “And you should answer my question. Did you take money from Vanessa?”Her expression darkens instantly, as if she can’t believe I would dare to challenge her. I see the flicker of shock in her eyes, the way her lips pressed together in irritation. But I don’t care anymore. I’m tired of everything that’s happening.&l
Ava’s POVIrish’s hand is warm and firm as he pulls me out of the principal's office. His grip is strong, like he’s afraid I’ll slip away if he lets go. I don’t know why, but my heart is racing. Maybe it’s because of all the eyes on us. People are staring, whispering, looking at me like I’ve suddenly become someone important.Because Irish is holding my hand.But Irish doesn’t seem to care about their stares. He just keeps walking, pulling me forward like nothing else matters. Meanwhile, I feel completely out of place, uncomfortable with the way everyone’s eyes follow us.“I need to go back to class,” I say, trying to sound firm.
Ava’s POVVanessa lunges at me, her eyes blazing with fury, and before I can dodge, her hand tangles in my hair, yanking hard. Pain shoots through my scalp, but I don’t cry out. I won’t give her the satisfaction.“You think you can slap me and get away with it?” she hisses, her voice low and dangerous.“You slapped me first!” I snap back, my hands flying to her arm to try to pry her fingers loose. But she’s stronger than she looks, and her grip only tightens.The classroom explodes with noise as desks screech against the floor, students jump to their feet, and phones are whipped out to record the fight. No one steps in to help, of course. They just want a front-row seat to the drama.&nbs
Writer’s POVZayne stormed out of the room, his mind spinning with anger and disgust. He didn’t want to see Vanessa or Zach for now. Not after what he had just witnessed. His fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and his heart pounded violently in his chest. How could Vanessa do something like that? How could she stoop so low?He needed air. He needed to calm down, but every time he thought about what he saw, rage bubbled inside him all over again.He wandered through the hallway, trying to shake off the anger, when suddenly he heard a scream. A high-pitched, terrified scream. His body froze for a second, and then he sprinted toward the sound. It was coming from one of the rooms down the hall.