Ava''s POV


    "Jackson, Sophia said when he didn''t answer, squeezing his arm gently. "Do you know her?"


    Heavy silence nketed the room. My heart nearly stopped as I waited for his answer. My wolf thrashed inside me, sensing the danger approaching.


    Jackson''s expression shifted from shock to cold indifference in seconds, his eyes deliberately avoiding mine. "No, I don''t know her," he said calmly, his tone calcted and distant. "She just looks like someone I might have seen around.


    The words cut through me like a de. Two years of promises, of sworn devotion-all reduced to "I don''t know her." The mate mark still throbbed on my neck, a physical reminder of how ridiculous his lie was.


    My hand instinctively moved to my neck, trying to cover the mark that began to burn with his denial. When our eyes finally met, I saw the warning sh in his gaze.


    Sophia''s eyes darted between us, clearly sensing the tension. "Strange," she said slowly. "There''s something... peculiar about the energy between you two."


    ke''s handnded on my shoulder, warm and steady. "I''m afraid the moon shadow dust hasn''t fully worn off," he stated calmly, his voice carrying Junquestionable authority. ''It can cause emotional fluctuations."


    Jackson''s gaze fixed on ke''s hand, his jaw visibly tightening. "Of course," he nodded, his perfect smile firmly in ce. "Moon shadow dust is known to be... unpredictable.


    After an awkward pause, Sophia turned to me with a smile. "Anyway, I''m d Lucas finally has an instructor he won''t chase away on day one. You must be special."


    Suddenly, the sound of urgent paws broke the tense atmosphere. Hunter-Lucas''s massive wolf-dog-burst into the room, golden eyes gleaming.


    When he spotted Jackson, he froze, a deep growl rumbling from his throat. His fur bristled as he fixed his gaze on Jackson, as if sensing a threat.


    "Hunter!" kemanded sharply, but the wolf-dog continued growling, ignoring his master''s order.


    To everyone''s surprise, Hunter then turned to me, and the growling immediately stopped. He approached slowly, sniffed my hand, then unexpectedly licked my fingertips like we were old friends.


    "That''s highly unusual, Sophia remarked, eyebrows raised. "Hunter is never friendly with strangers, especially... non-pack members."


    "She must have a special gift," Sophiaughed. "No wonder Lucas likes her."


    Jackson''s eyes narrowed, the surface smile failing to mask the jealousy and anger in his eyes. He stepped forward, and Hunter immediately returned to a defensive posture, growling low in warning.


    "So, Jackson forced himself to look at ke, "Miss Rivers is here as Lucas''sbat instructor? That''s... unexpected."


    "What''s unexpected about it?" ke asked evenly, his voice low with a hint of challenge.


    Jackson shrugged. Just some recent... matters concerning the Rivers family." He paused deliberately, letting the word hang in the air.


    "What?" I finally spoke, my voice stronger than I''d expected, knowing exactly what he was trying to do.


    Jackson''s gaze settled on me, with the pleasure of a cat toying with a mouse. "About your father, Ava. They''re saying he betrayed the pack, that he''s responsible for Alpha Carter''s death."


    "Enough, ke''s voice wasn''t loud, but it carried the full weight of Alpha authority. "I won''t have unfounded usations in my home."


    Jackson immediately lowered his head, but I caught the satisfied smirk that shed across his face-he thought he''d sessfully nted seeds of doubt.


    Sophia looked ufortable, gently touching my arm. "Don''t mind those ridiculous rumors. If my father trusts you, that''s enough." She turned to Jackson,


    Honey, shouldn''t we check on the wedding preparations?"


    Jackson nodded, but before leaving, he reached out, pretending to adjust his pack emblem. As he passed by me, he whispered, "Looks like you found yourself


    a new protector."


    Sophia suddenly turned back toward ke and me. "Oh! Father, I haven''t shown you the new ring Jackson gave me!" She excitedly returned to us, extending her left hand to disy an exquisite silver wolf-head ring on her finger, with sapphire eyes surrounded by glittering moonstones.


    "It''s the Eternal Loyalty symbol from pack tradition," she exined proudly, eyes shining. "Jackson had it custom-made for me. The wolf cisman spent three months creating this masterpiece."


    When Jackson''s gaze met mine over Sophia''s shoulder, the cold satisfaction in his eyes nearly suffocated me. He knew exactly what this meant to me he hadn''t just abandoned me, he''d deliberately given the sacred symbol that should have been ours to another woman.


    My throat tightened, feeling as if a silver knife had pierced my heart. My wolf howled internally, from both the pain of betrayal and the rage I couldn''t


    express.


    Jackson smiled triumphantly, kissing Sophia''s cheek while keeping his eyes fixed on me. "Only a true fated mate deserves such a symbol," he said softly, words clearly meant for me.


    Once they left, the room fell silent. Hunter settled at my feet as if guarding me. "Alpha Morgan," I started, my voice low. "About my father-is there any way you could-


    "Not now." His tone was firm, final. The Alpha King had reced the man who''d touched my mark moments before. "These walls have ears, Miss Rivers."


    swallowed hard, the reminder of our different positions hitting me like cold water. I was just an employee-abat instructor from a disgraced family. He was the Alpha King.


    "Understood, sir," I replied, forcing my voice steady.


    As he turned to leave, my mark warmed briefly when he passed. I pressed my hand against it, confused by the reaction. Hunter nudged my fingers gently with his muzzle, offering silentfort.


    Third Person POV Jackson


    Jackson strode down the corridor of ckwood Manor, his fingers clenched into fists. The scene reyed in his mind-Ava in ke''s quarters, bonding with his wolf-dog, ke''s protective stance, and most disturbing of all: the change in Ava''s mark.


    He was certain he''d glimpsed golden threads running through what should have been a silver-white mark. It was unheard of-rejected marks were supposed to fade slowly, not change color.


    "You seem troubied, Sophia''s voice pulled him back to reality. "Was she really just familiar?"


    jackson shed a charming smile, gently taking her hand. "Of course, sweetheart. I was just thinking about our bonding ceremony."


    He knew Ava had hinted multiple times about wanting such a ring, but he''d never bought it for her. He always made excuses, telling her loyalty should be proven through actions, not symbolized by objects.


    Ava eventually stopped mentioning it, but he knew she still yearned for it. Now, he had given this highest symbol of loyalty to another woman-one he didn''t even love.


    Seeing Ava''s expression, he felt a perverse satisfaction. He knew this hurt her more than any words could.


    Now, Jackson needed to formte a n. Ava''s presence at ckwood Manor was a threat. There was clearly some connection between her and ke, and Hunter''s eptance of her was unusual-it meant wolf instincts recognized her. His father''s situation was just the beginning. He would use his political connections to ensure everyone ostracized the woman who had refused to be his secret lover.


    Jackson clenched his fist. Ava Rivers had only two choices: either return to him, secretly epting his "protection, or faceplete rejection from werewolf society.