Ava''s POV


    "Interesting trick, Jackson said, circling me like a shark. "But there are other ways to remind you who you belong to."


    Before I could tell him to go to hell, his eyes half-closed, and a splitting pain exploded in my head. It felt like someone was taking a sledgehammer to my skull, cracking it open one hit at a time.


    I dropped to my knees, the knife slipping from my grip. The mindlink between us- dead since he''d kicked me to the curb-roared back to life like a hurricane.


    "Stop!" I screamed, grabbing my head.


    My wolf thrashed wildly inside me, trying to shield my thoughts, but the mate bond gave Jackson a VIP pass into my mind that I couldn''t block.


    Think that gold decoration can protect you? His voice filled my head, cold as ice. Wake up, Ava. You''re mine. Always have been, always will be.


    I fell on all fours, my nails digging into my palms until blood spotted the carpet. This was worse than any beating-he was rummaging through my thoughts like they were his personal junk drawer.


    Get out of my head! I pushed back with everything I had.


    Hisugh bounced around my skull. Fat chance. The mark means you can never ditch me. Not really.


    I felt him digging deeper, hunting for specific memories-anything with ke. When he found the moment ke''s fingers had traced my mark, his rage hit me like a truck.


    Maybe I''ll tell Sophia how her daddy''s been feeling you up, he taunted. Wonder how she''d take knowing daddy dearest is ying with my leftovers?


    I copsed, my body shaking like I was having a seizure. Mindlinks weren''t supposed to work this way-as weapons instead of bridges.


    Suddenly, Jackson''s face changed. His focus wavered as another signal tried to connect with him. Through our forced link, I knew instantly who it was.


    Sophia.


    Jackson''s mental presence flipped from razor-sharp to honey-sweet so fast it was nauseating.


    Hey babe, he projected to her, throwing up a wall between us.


    I grabbed the chance, fighting to m down my own mental barriers, but the damn mark kept a thread of connection open. I caught snippets of emotional tone rather than words-affection, reassurance, sweet nothings.


    Yes, heading over soon... Just wrapping up... Got a surprise for you... Miss you too...


    Each fake sentiment made my stomach turn. I dragged myself to the bed, using it to pull my jelly-legged body upright. My wolf instincts screamed for a weapon, an exit, anything.


    Ava? Mom''s tentative mindlink brushed against me. You okay in there? Heard somemotion...


    I mmed that door shut immediately. No way was I letting Mom see this train wreck.


    Through our lingering connection, I caught fragments of Jackson''s promises: "Got something special for you"... "Be there in twenty"... "Love you too, babe."


    Each sweet nothing drove a nail into my chest-not from jealousy, but disgust at how easily he could mess with my head while sweet-talking her.


    When their chat ended, Jackson''s focus snapped back to me, the mental pressure cranking up again.


    Clock''s ticking for daddy dearest, his thoughts slithered through my mind. The Alpha King''s just using you as a ything.


    Despite feeling like my brain was in a vise, I fought back. You''re full of it. ke said-


    ke said? Jackson''s mentalugh cut like ss. First-name basis with the Alpha King? How cute.


    I struggled to stand, fighting on two fronts. But the mindlink kept me chained to him no matter how hard I thrashed against it.


    Here''s the deal, Jackson nted his ultimatum directly in my thoughts. Door number one: you keep fighting me, William dies, and you and mommy get kicked to the curb forever. Door number two: you be my little secret, and William walks free.


    Go to hell, I pushed back, the effort making ck spots dance in my vision.


    Quit fighting what you can''t change, his voice crawled through every corner of my mind. Like your body, your thoughts will always be mine to y with.


    My resistance grew more desperate as the golden threads in my mark flickered weakly, like a shlight with dying batteries.


    Never forget, Jackson''s final shot hit home, wolves mark once. You''re stuck with


    me.


    With that parting gift, he cut the mindlink, leaving me to crumple on the floor like someone had pulled my plug.


    The door clicked shut, and momentster, a gentle knock broke the silence. Mom peeked in, her face a mix of hope and confusion.


    "Jackson left?" she asked, stepping inside. "How''d your talk go?"


    I scrambled to pull myself together. Mom had enough on her te.


    "He mentioned helping Dad," I croaked, my throat raw.


    Mom''s face lit up like Christmas morning. "That''s what he told me! This could be our lucky break, honey."


    My stomach twisted. Jackson had yed herpletely, never showing his real hand.


    Her eyes caught on my neck, noticing the weird mark. "You two patched things up? That would do William a world of good."


    I bit my tongue till I tasted blood. Mom was barely hanging on; I couldn''t crush herst hope, even if it was built on quicksand.


    "Need some time to think it over," I mumbled, avoiding her puppy-dog eyes.


    She squeezed my hand. "Don''t be so hardheaded, sweetie. Sometimes familyes first, you know?"


    That innocentment cut deeper than any knife. If only she knew what kind of "family first Jackson was demanding.


    After she left, I finally broke. Tears came hot and silent as I realized I was caught between a rock and a hard ce-Jackson''s evil games and Mom''s blind hope.


    The mark throbbed dully, but I felt vited in a way no shower could wash away. My wolf whimpered deep inside, mourning what should have been sacred.


    I traced the mark with shaky fingers, feeling the golden threads pulse weakly. They were my only allies in this nightmare.


    Even if I caved to Jackson''s demands, he''d never keep his word. He''d use me up, then toss Dad aside anyway once he got what he wanted.


    I curled into a ball on my bed,pletely drained. I''d find another way to save Dad, whatever it took. No way in hell would I y Jackson''s sick game.


    Sleep finally dragged me under, but even unconsciousness wasn''t an escape.


    A searing pain jolted me awake in the dead of night. Fire exploded from my mark, racing through my body like I''d been injected with acid.


    I hit the floor hard, my back arching as I wed at my neck. The golden threads flickered once before fading, leaving me defenseless.


    My nails dug into the mark, drawing blood as I fought against the torture.


    My wolf''s voice screeched inside me: Mate... other... woman!


    Horror dawned as I realized what was happening. The true cruelty of the mate


    mark revealed itself-I was being forced to feel Jackson having sex with Sophia.