Xander's pov“You summoned me here for this?” I asked in a low tone.Thane gestured for me to take a step forward. “As you are well aware, we just received some concerning information about the human called Ava. Vanessa has brought some certain things to light and we cannot ignore them.”The human. It disgusted me the way they spoke about Ava.My jaw ticked and I turned to shoot Vanessa a glare which she ignored by keeping her eyes forward.“Baseless accusations.” I spat.“Well, the rest of the pack seems to think otherwise.” Thane replied. “They also believe that she is manipulating you somehow , turning you against your pack and making your priority shift from your duties. And the fact that she may also be inclined in the rebellion brewing amongst the humans.”I couldn't control it anymore and a low and dangerous growl escaped me, echoing through the room. Everyone went silent, pin drop silent. “how dare you accuse my mate of such?”Shit. I didn't know when the word “mate” slipped o
Ava’s POVXander had been summoned by the council this morning. I was worried about him because I knew it was because of me and Vanessa wasn't going to let it go.Thomas had also found me this morning and told me that we were to have a meeting. That added to my nerves, I was still considering my decision to join the rebellion but I was already too far in to kill out I had memorized the directions Thomas had given me on a note. He said to burn it once I was done and I did it. It was a small, poorly lit space hidden behind the servant's quarters which was accessible by going through a narrow passage hidden by some loose stone in the wall. My heart pounded with every step I took inside.The room was fairly crowded with people— servants, cooks, gardeners, all humans who worked down to their bones tirelessly to keep the castle and werewolves running because they were too lazy to do it themselves. Their eyes turned to me as I walked in, there was a mixture of determination and apprehension
Ava's povI gave her a hug then watched her disappear back into the servant's quarters before heading to my room, entering and shutting the door behind me. The space felt smaller than usual, the walls pressing in as the weight of the rebellion’s expectations settled on my shoulders.I pulled out the letter again, rereading D’s words. “You are more than you know.”His words echoed in my mind as I laid down on the bed and stared at the ceiling. Sleep didn’t come easily, my thoughts were filled with fear and a million questions.What did they mean, I was more than I knew?The Next Morning…The castle was quieter than usual, the tension in the air was thick and I knew that it had something to do with the council meeting yesterday. I hadn't seen Xander since and as much as I didn't like to admit, I was worried about him.I kept my head down as I went about my tasks, avoiding unnecessary interactions. Xander didn’t assign me any task but I couldn't just sit around and do nothing so I joined
Ava's povA lot of strange things have been happening a lot lately. This was my second time seeing the shadow, first with beta Magnus and now outside the laundry room.It was being… controlled. Sent by someone and I knew their target was me, for what reason? I don't know.I sighed and rubbed my face in exhaustion as I walked back to my room. Pulling the note out of my pocket I read its content once again and traced by fingers along its edges.“We must meet.”The words kept replaying in my head. It felt like some sort of challenge and an invitation at the same time.D.It was just a single letter but something about it. I couldn't put my finger on it but my intuition told me that I should meet with him. I rested my head against the cool glass window and stared at the letter.Everyone seemed to have faith in me, why? I don’t know. Did I deserve their faith? I wasn't sure. The more I stared at the note the more the handwriting began to look… familiar.A knock at the door pulled me out of
Ava's povI decided to take a nap to rest my head and gather my thoughts. To my surprise, there was a basket of food waiting for me outside my door when I woke up.I knew that no one had access to that wing except Xander and myself. It was so thoughtful of him to do this for me.After eating I decided to take a bit of fresh air outside my room. It was late so the castle was dark, Xander's warning rang in my head but I promised that I was going to be quick and I was going to scream at the top of my lungs if someone attacked me.I walked with my bare feet on the cold stone floors, something about me grounded me. The castle was a bit cold and I welcomed it.“We must meet. There are truths you need to hear, but they cannot be written.”What truths? What could he possibly want to tell me that would justify the danger of leaving the castle? What does he know that I know?It all sent a chill down my spine.The soft clattering of a pebble against the floor in the silent castle startled me. M
Ava's povThe ride was a bumpy one as the cart jolted on the uneven path. Every bump made my nerves worse, I began to second guess my decision but it was already too late.Heather and Thomas were silent throughout the ride, nothing needed to be said because their presence was calming enough. Looking back, the castle was far behind us, only the spikes of its towers could be seen in the horizon.The cart slowed and came to a stop. The driver— a short, chubby man with sharp eyes, turned to ys. “This is the furthest I can go. The meeting point isn't too far from here, just walk down this path and you'll find it.” He said pointing at a path to our left.“Thank you.” I whispered to him, he gave a nod in return.Thomas helped Heather get down then me. The air was chilly so I pulled my cloak tighter around my body.“Stay close.” Thomas said, his voice low.The driver gave us one last tip of his hat before he kicked the horse and went on his way, disappearing into the forest.I took a deep bre
Ava's povHe then sighed and turned to the fire. He took a seat on one of the logs of wood next to the fire and gestured for me to do the same.Hesitantly, I obeyed and walked towards him. My legs felt weak— like jelly, as I took a seat across from him. He may be my brother but he wasn't the Darius I knew any longer. In the past few years that has has been missing something changed, I could tell.So I wasn't going to trust him easily. He was acting… suspicious. How does he know the things that he does? I needed answers.The fire flickered casting shadows on his face as I watched him.“There’s so much you don’t know, a lot that I need to tell you.” he began, his voice steady but lacking warmth. It was cold and distant, like he was here physically but his mind was elsewhere. “When I disappeared, it wasn’t by choice. I was taken.”“Taken?” I asked.“Yes,” he said, his jaw tightening. “By the werewolves. They thought I was the one the prophecy spoke about, Ava. They know about your blood
Ava's povDarius paused, mid sentence, his green eyes locking with mine as he furrowed his brows in confusion. He was shocked.“You don't know?” He asked voice barely above a whisper, he couldn't believe it.“Know what?” My tone came out much sharper than I had intended. My heart raced as dread pooled in my stomach at what he was insinuating.He ran a hand over his face. “I thought you'd have figured it out by now.”“What are you talking about?” I snapped.“The bond. Don't you feel it? The instant attraction, his scent, the sparks, the tingles. Didn't you see his protectiveness over you? Ava… Xander is your mate.”Silence.I couldn't control it as I burst out laughing. The situation was comical, like he actually expected me to believe that a human could be mated to a werewolf.“What's funny?” He asked.I held up a hand for him to wait whilst I caught my breath. “You are.” I said finally. “Did you actually expect me to believe that?”His expression darkened slightly. “Ava, this isn't a
Xander's povSomething felt off, I don't know why but the feeling was there. I was walking to Ava's room because I had forgotten to invite her to have dinner with me earlier.I stood outside her door and hesitated for a moment before knocking. I still couldn't shake off the fact that she was hiding something from me. I understood that our relationship was still rocky— very rocky, so I didn't expect her to open up to me so easily.With a sigh, I raised up my hand and knocked.Silence.I knocked again.No response. “Ava?” I called out and was still met with silence.Frowning, I pushed the door open. It was unlocked, surprisingly. The room was empty and her bed was made.Where could she be?Her scent was still faint in the room as I followed it.Where could she be at this hour? Having dinner with the other servants?I followed her scent as I walked through the empty corridors. It led me through different hallways. I had expected it to take me to either the servant's quarters, kitchen or
Ava’s POVI searched my brain for a response. “I… I couldn't sleep. My mind kept reeling with everything you told me the other day about Vanessa and the council.” I said, casually. “I went for a walk to clear my head.”“At night?” he asked, looking skeptical. “After everything I told you, you still went on a walk that late knowing that it's dangerous? That’s… not like you.”“You don't know me well enough.” I blurted.He flinched, making me feel bad. I didn't mean to cause him harm but I needed him to drop the matter.I looked away and focused on my bedside table instead. “I just needed some air.”He sighed then took a step closer to me making me look at him once more. He towered over my small figure and his scent washed over me. “Ava,” he said softly, grabbing my hands. “I know that as a human this is all frightening but I want you to know that I'm by your side and always will be. If something is wrong you need to tell me, come find me no matter the time of the day.I stared at him“
Ava's povI walked back the path I had come from just like Heather and Thomas had instructed. I found the two waiting for me not far from the clearing. Thomas was pacing and Heather was biting her finger nail, face etched with concern.She was the first to notice me. “How did it go?” Heather asked softly as I approached.I shook my head, unable to find the words. A lot of things had been discovered tonight and I didn't know where to start from. “Let’s just go back.”They exchanged a glance but didn’t press me further. The walk back to the place the cart had dropped us off was a quiet one. The forest was eerily quiet now as if it could sense the tension in me.When we finally reached the rocky path and another cart was waiting for us. We reached the cart and I climbed in without a word, pulling my cloak tightly around me. Heather and Thomas sat on either side of me, their presence brought me a sense of comfort. I wasn't alone at least.I had a lot of thinking to do.The ride back to th
Ava's povDarius paused, mid sentence, his green eyes locking with mine as he furrowed his brows in confusion. He was shocked.“You don't know?” He asked voice barely above a whisper, he couldn't believe it.“Know what?” My tone came out much sharper than I had intended. My heart raced as dread pooled in my stomach at what he was insinuating.He ran a hand over his face. “I thought you'd have figured it out by now.”“What are you talking about?” I snapped.“The bond. Don't you feel it? The instant attraction, his scent, the sparks, the tingles. Didn't you see his protectiveness over you? Ava… Xander is your mate.”Silence.I couldn't control it as I burst out laughing. The situation was comical, like he actually expected me to believe that a human could be mated to a werewolf.“What's funny?” He asked.I held up a hand for him to wait whilst I caught my breath. “You are.” I said finally. “Did you actually expect me to believe that?”His expression darkened slightly. “Ava, this isn't a
Ava's povHe then sighed and turned to the fire. He took a seat on one of the logs of wood next to the fire and gestured for me to do the same.Hesitantly, I obeyed and walked towards him. My legs felt weak— like jelly, as I took a seat across from him. He may be my brother but he wasn't the Darius I knew any longer. In the past few years that has has been missing something changed, I could tell.So I wasn't going to trust him easily. He was acting… suspicious. How does he know the things that he does? I needed answers.The fire flickered casting shadows on his face as I watched him.“There’s so much you don’t know, a lot that I need to tell you.” he began, his voice steady but lacking warmth. It was cold and distant, like he was here physically but his mind was elsewhere. “When I disappeared, it wasn’t by choice. I was taken.”“Taken?” I asked.“Yes,” he said, his jaw tightening. “By the werewolves. They thought I was the one the prophecy spoke about, Ava. They know about your blood
Ava's povThe ride was a bumpy one as the cart jolted on the uneven path. Every bump made my nerves worse, I began to second guess my decision but it was already too late.Heather and Thomas were silent throughout the ride, nothing needed to be said because their presence was calming enough. Looking back, the castle was far behind us, only the spikes of its towers could be seen in the horizon.The cart slowed and came to a stop. The driver— a short, chubby man with sharp eyes, turned to ys. “This is the furthest I can go. The meeting point isn't too far from here, just walk down this path and you'll find it.” He said pointing at a path to our left.“Thank you.” I whispered to him, he gave a nod in return.Thomas helped Heather get down then me. The air was chilly so I pulled my cloak tighter around my body.“Stay close.” Thomas said, his voice low.The driver gave us one last tip of his hat before he kicked the horse and went on his way, disappearing into the forest.I took a deep bre
Ava's povI decided to take a nap to rest my head and gather my thoughts. To my surprise, there was a basket of food waiting for me outside my door when I woke up.I knew that no one had access to that wing except Xander and myself. It was so thoughtful of him to do this for me.After eating I decided to take a bit of fresh air outside my room. It was late so the castle was dark, Xander's warning rang in my head but I promised that I was going to be quick and I was going to scream at the top of my lungs if someone attacked me.I walked with my bare feet on the cold stone floors, something about me grounded me. The castle was a bit cold and I welcomed it.“We must meet. There are truths you need to hear, but they cannot be written.”What truths? What could he possibly want to tell me that would justify the danger of leaving the castle? What does he know that I know?It all sent a chill down my spine.The soft clattering of a pebble against the floor in the silent castle startled me. M
Ava's povA lot of strange things have been happening a lot lately. This was my second time seeing the shadow, first with beta Magnus and now outside the laundry room.It was being… controlled. Sent by someone and I knew their target was me, for what reason? I don't know.I sighed and rubbed my face in exhaustion as I walked back to my room. Pulling the note out of my pocket I read its content once again and traced by fingers along its edges.“We must meet.”The words kept replaying in my head. It felt like some sort of challenge and an invitation at the same time.D.It was just a single letter but something about it. I couldn't put my finger on it but my intuition told me that I should meet with him. I rested my head against the cool glass window and stared at the letter.Everyone seemed to have faith in me, why? I don’t know. Did I deserve their faith? I wasn't sure. The more I stared at the note the more the handwriting began to look… familiar.A knock at the door pulled me out of
Ava's povI gave her a hug then watched her disappear back into the servant's quarters before heading to my room, entering and shutting the door behind me. The space felt smaller than usual, the walls pressing in as the weight of the rebellion’s expectations settled on my shoulders.I pulled out the letter again, rereading D’s words. “You are more than you know.”His words echoed in my mind as I laid down on the bed and stared at the ceiling. Sleep didn’t come easily, my thoughts were filled with fear and a million questions.What did they mean, I was more than I knew?The Next Morning…The castle was quieter than usual, the tension in the air was thick and I knew that it had something to do with the council meeting yesterday. I hadn't seen Xander since and as much as I didn't like to admit, I was worried about him.I kept my head down as I went about my tasks, avoiding unnecessary interactions. Xander didn’t assign me any task but I couldn't just sit around and do nothing so I joined