Ava''s POV


    Sad. Maybe...


    I trudged after Steven through the moonlit woods, pushing those thoughts down where they belonged. The path narrowed between thick pines, but strips of silver moonlight still found their way through, lighting our steps.


    "Much further?" I asked, my voice steadier than the mess in my head.


    "Almost there," Steven nced back, concern written all over his face. "You hanging in okay?"


    "Yeah," I forced a quick smile. "Just don''t want to miss this guy."


    Truth was, ke''s whatever-attitude stung, but not nearly as bad as it should''ve.


    I had bigger fish to fry-Dad''s freedom, Mom''s health, the kid''s training. No time for hurt feelings.


    "This is it," Steven announced.


    A small cabin sat nestled between massive trees, a weak yellow light leaking through its single window.


    "Keeper should be waiting," Steven said, but something in his voice hit a wrong note.


    I followed him toward the cabin when my gut kicked in with a warning. "What exactly does this guy know about my dad?"


    Steven stopped and turned. The patchy moonlight made his face look like one of those half-masked theater props.


    "Ava," his voice dropped, "I need to tell you something."


    Mybat radar pinged loud. "What''s going on?"


    He took a deep breath. "There''s no keeper. No new evidence about your dad."


    I froze, cold spreading through my limbs. "Come again?"


    "I lied," he admitted, meeting my eyes head-on. "I needed an excuse to get you alone."


    The betrayal hit like ice water. I stepped back. "So this whole night was bullshit? Just to get me out here with you?"


    "Not exactly," he stepped toward me. "I am working on your dad''s case, and I do think he''s innocent. There''s just... no keeper meeting tonight."


    Then what''s with the cabin?" I asked, voice dropping several degrees.


    "Hunter''s lodge I use for border research, he exined. "I wanted us away from everything. Just to talk."


    1


    Disappointment mixed with anger, but not as much as I expected. "So using my dad as bait seemed like a great n?"


    "It was shitty," he owned it, regret filling his eyes. "But I couldn''t figure out another way. Every time I get close, you back away. Every time I try to tell you how I feel, you change the subject."


    ''Because I''ve got actual problems!" I shot back, surprised at how calm I sounded. “Dad in prison, Mom falling apart, Lucas counting on me-ring any bells?"


    "Is that it?'' he asked quietly. "Or is it because you''re hung up on what ke thinks?"


    That shot hit the bullseye. Had I been that obvious? Those moments my pulse raced when ke walked in, the way I held my breath waiting for his reaction?


    "My feelings aren''t the issue," I deflected. "You using Dad''s situation to trick me- that''s the problem."


    ''I screwed up," he said simply. "But what I feel for you is real. Since that first day watching you fight, I haven''t been able to get you out of my head. I will help find evidence for your dad-that''s a promise."


    I took a breath, feeling my anger starting to fizzle out. His lie was wrong, but at least he came clean, and those eyes weren''t faking that remorse.


    "How are you so sure ke doesn''t care?" I asked, curiosity winning over pride.


    "Because I t-out told him I was into you," Steven confessed. "Said I wanted you alone at the border. If he felt anything beyond boss-employee stuff, would''ve reacted."


    The truth stung, but less than I''d feared. Maybe I''d built castles in the air. Maybe what felt special to me was just Tuesday to him.


    "It sucks being disappointed," Steven said softly, stepping closer. "But someone does care about you-really sees you."


    Moonlight pooled around us, the forest quiet like it was listening in.


    The mark on my neck warmed, but without its usual bite. Like it was saying old wounds shouldn''t dictate new chances.


    "I hate that I lied," Steven broke the silence. "But I''m not sorry for how I feel about you."


    He moved forward carefully, like I might bolt any second. ''I''m not asking for anything massive. Just a chance to show you there''s life beyond old hurts.


    Under the silver light, the honesty in his eyes sparked something warm. Maybe ke didn''t care like I''d hoped, but that didn''t mean I wasn''t worth caring about.


    "I need time," I said quietly. "Dades first."


    "No rush," he replied, his fingers barely grazing my cheek. "We''ve got time. Tonight, just try breathing without carrying the whole world, okay?"


    His touch was warm, his scent like pine and fresh snow. For a moment, I let my guard slip. ke''s indifference hadn''t wrecked me-it just meant adjusting


    course.


    "Ava," my name was a whisper on his lips. "Can I kiss you?"


    I studied his eyes and saw nothing but respect mixed with want. Right then, I decided not to run from what could be, just because of what had been.


    I nodded once.


    Steven leaned in slowly, giving me every chance to back out. When his lips touched mine, it wasn''t fireworks-just something gentle and real. Not mind- blowing, but genuine. I didn''t lose myself in it, but I didn''t pull away either. The mark heated gently, like it was recalibrating.


    Maybe ke would never see me like I''d stupidly hoped, but my world wouldn''t end. Too much still needed doing, too many doors stood open. And who knew? Maybe someday he''d look at me differently. But right now, I needed to breathe for myself.


    Third Person POV


    At the forest''s edge, a dark figure stood motionless, eyes locked on the distant cabin.


    Jackson''s fists clenched tight, nails cutting half-moons into his palms. Every bit of his focus zeroed in on the scene-Steven and Ava kissing in the moonlight, the sight making his blood boil.


    "Fucking bitch, he hissed. "Letting another man touch what''s mine."


    Rage burned through him like wildfire. Though he''d dumped Ava for Sophia to climb the packdder, in his twisted mind, Ava''s body remained his property. His mark meant she belonged to him, no matter how he''d treated her.


    He ran his tongue over his lips, remembering the taste of her, the rush of having her under his control. He''d marry Sophia for position, sure, but Ava should be waiting in the shadows, avable whenever he snapped his fingers. How dare she refuse? How dare she move on?


    "When I''m Alpha, you''ll pay for this," Jackson whispered, smiling coldly. "Marked women don''t just walk away. I let you say no, but never goodbye."


    His eyes gleamed with something sick in the darkness, possession twisting his handsome face into something ugly. In his world, women were game pieces- Sophia for status, Ava for pleasure. Nothing more.


    Jackson melted back into the trees, mind already plotting punishment. The full moon wasing, and he''d make sure Ava remembered exactly who owned


    her mark.