Chapter 1

~Ava

The Full Moon Festival was one of my favorite times of the year. The festival grounds sparkled under the silver glow of the moon, lanterns swaying gently in the evening breeze. Music and laughter filled the air as the pack danced and feasted, honoring the goddess’s blessing. But amidst the celebration, I found myself at the edge of it all, sitting quietly at a table with my drink in hand.

I scanned the crowd for Aiden, my twin brother. He was supposed to stay close, but knowing him, he was probably sneaking off for more food or causing some harmless mischief.

The brief moment of peace didn’t last long. A cold splash hit my dress, making me gasp.

“Oh, oops!” came a shrill voice. I looked up to see Sasha, one of the more obnoxious girls in the pack, holding an empty glass with an unapologetic smirk. “Didn’t see you there.”

“Should’ve known the omegas would show up,” she added loudly. “Guess they’re letting everyone into the Full Moon Festival these days.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks, but before I could respond, her friend Emma spoke up.

“Sasha, stop it! Everyone deserves to be here, omega or not.” She shot me an apologetic glance. “Ignore her, Ava.”

I nodded stiffly, deciding silence was better than a confrontation. But Nimueh, my wolf, wasn’t so keen on keeping quiet.

Let me out, she growled in my head. Let me deal with this bastard.

“No,” I whispered under my breath, shaking my head. The last time I let you take control, you nearly hurt my cousin, Riley, when she took that dress. Remember?

Nimueh huffed but fell silent, retreating to the back of my mind. I turned my attention back to my soaked dress, dabbing at the fabric with a napkin.

As I cleaned myself, I scanned the festival grounds again. Panic crept in when I realized I couldn’t see Aiden anywhere. My heart thudded in my chest. Aiden was all I had. If something happened to him…

“Where are you?” I whispered to myself.

Then, across the crowd, I saw him—Liam. My heart calmed instantly, and a small smile tugged at my lips. Liam, the Alpha’s son and my boyfriend, was standing near the dance floor, his striking blue eyes locked on me. He raised a hand and motioned for me to come over, a teasing smile on his lips.

I quickly mind-linked Aiden, hoping that he'd reply. Are you okay? I’m with Liam. I’ll see you at home later.

Aiden’s response was swift. I’m fine, Ava. Don’t worry about me. Just… be careful, okay?

I let out a breath of relief, standing up and brushing off the remnants of Sasha’s drink. As I walked toward Liam, I couldn’t help but admire how handsome he looked in the moonlight. His dark hair was slightly tousled, and his sharp jawline made him seem regal.

When I reached him, he took my hand, his touch sending a warm shiver through me.

“You look stunning,” he said, his voice low and velvety.

I bit my lip, feeling my cheeks flush. “Thanks. You don’t look too bad yourself.”

He leaned closer, his lips brushing my ear. “Come to my house tonight.”

My heart skipped a beat. “Liam, I… my aunt will kill me if I come home late.”

He chuckled softly, his breath warm against my skin. “I’ll take you home myself and explain everything to her. Besides, they know we’re dating. We’re fated mates, Ava.”

Fated mates. The words still sent a thrill through me. We’d only discovered it two days ago, and since then, my happiness had soared. For the first time in years, I felt like Aiden and I could escape the cruelty of our uncle and his wife.

Liam led me to his car, holding my hand like I was something precious. As he drove, he kept glancing at me, his eyes warm, filled with something deeper that made my cheeks burn.

“You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen,” he said, his voice soft but sincere.

Nimueh growled in my head. I don’t like him. I don’t know why, but I wish the Moon Goddess had chosen someone else.

“Shut up, Nimueh,” I muttered, not realizing I’d spoken out loud.

Liam glanced at me, puzzled. “What did you say?”

I quickly shook my head. “Nothing. Just talking to Nimueh.”

When we arrived at Liam’s house, I couldn’t help but feel awe. The place was massive, with tall windows and elegant stonework. 

“My parents are on vacation,” Liam said, his arm around my waist. “The house is ours for the night.”

I tried to take it all in, my mind spinning. Was this really going to be my life one day? Living here with Liam, away from my uncle’s house and its cruelty?

Liam must have noticed my silence because he stopped and turned to me. “Once we’re mated, you and Aiden will move here. You’ll never have to deal with them again.”

Tears pricked my eyes. “You’d do that for us?”

He cupped my face, his thumbs brushing my cheeks. “I’d do anything for you, Ava.”

His lips found mine, soft at first, then deeper, more urgent. My heart raced as he pulled me closer, his hands sliding around my waist. We stumbled onto the couch, his kisses trailing down my neck, making my skin tingle.

“I love you so much,” he murmured against my skin. “The Moon Goddess blessed me when she made you mine.”

The night felt like a dream—a perfect, beautiful dream. Until it wasn’t.

Liam left to get me something to eat, and I lay on the couch, feeling more vulnerable and happy than ever. But then his phone lit up on the coffee table. My heart froze when I saw the name on the screen: Riley.

Curiosity gnawed at me. Riley was my cousin, but what was her name doing on Liam’s phone? I picked it up, telling myself I wouldn’t invade his privacy—I just had to know.

The moment I opened the message, my world shattered.

Riley had sent him a picture—of herself, naked. The text beneath it read: Can’t wait to see you tonight. Hope she’s not still there.

My hands shook as I scrolled through their conversation. More pictures, more messages. Liam had been seeing her behind my back.

Tears blurred my vision as I clutched the phone. I didn’t hear Liam return until he was standing in front of me with a plate of poached eggs.

“Ava? What’s wrong?”

I held up the phone, hands trembling. “What is this, Liam? Are you… are you hooking up with Riley?”

His face drained of color. “Ava, I—”

“She even sent you a message saying she’s on her way here!” I cried, my voice breaking.

He rushed to grab the phone, stammering. “You weren’t supposed to find out like this. I… I didn’t mean for—”

“Don’t!” I screamed, standing up and gathering my things to leave . “Don’t you dare try to justify this!”

The door opened then, and there she was—Riley, smirking as she stepped inside.

“Well, well,” she drawled, her eyes glinting with malice. “Didn’t expect to find you here, Ava.”

Riley had always hated me since Aiden and I moved in with her family two years ago after our parents died in a car crash. I wasn’t sure why, but Aiden always said she was jealous of me. He claimed it was because I was prettier, smarter—everything she wished she could be.

She walked up to Liam, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him deeply. I watched in horror as he hesitated, then kissed her back.

I turned to leave, but Riley’s voice stopped me.

“Do it already,” she said to Liam.

“Do what?” I demanded, my voice shaking.

Liam looked at me, guilt all over his face. “Ava… I have to reject you.”

The words hit me like a physical blow. I stumbled back, clutching my chest as tears streamed down my face.

“Do it!” Riley snapped. “Or I’ll leave with the baby I’m carrying!”

Baby. My head spun. She was pregnant?

Liam walked toward me, hand outstretched. “Ava, I’m sorry, I love you so much, but I don’t have a choice.”

I slapped his hand away. “You love me, but you’re rejecting me for her? Do it, Liam! Just get it over with!”

“I’m sorry,” he whispered again, then said the words that shattered my heart.

“I, Liam Malfoy, reject you, Ava Scarlett, as my mate.”

The pain was immediate and excruciating, like my heart was being ripped from my chest. I collapsed to the floor, clutching at my chest as Riley laughed behind him.

“Come on, baby,” she purred, pulling him toward her.

I barely managed to pick myself up, wiping away the tears that cascaded down my face as I stumbled outside.

Nimueh surged forward, her presence overwhelming.

"Let me kill them," she growled, venom dripping from her voice.

But when my bare feet hit the cool ground outside, something shifted.

Instead of turning back, instead of the violent revenge she craved, Nimueh bolted.

She ran.

She ran fast and far, the wind wh

ipping past us as the road blurred around me. Running had always been my escape, and tonight, it was the only thing keeping me from breaking entirely.