e poi hii shit tetthet Baker vilte ?ns? before he caught himself. "11 the linda ml.)
thehi hátt, she''ll bagh, shell try, Usaid. "And then she get through it because then your daughter. She unsiger than you tak
Meley shoulders dropped. "She told me this was her only chance at happiness. That she couldn''t lose this too, for aber her mother." Kao peltzed ho words. Then my daughter, Mrs. I can''t be the one to destroy het world."
Those words pinced me like silver arrows. I fought to suppts the entions rising inside me, tralizing this imbnce had thways existed between us Just revised to see it.
"Pamily," I repented quietly, my voice slightly shaky. "Yeah, family matters.
ke stepped cloves, reaching in touch my shoulder. "Ava? Are you nikay?"
I gently moved away, looking him straight in the eyes. "No. I''m wondering if my father had done something wrong, would you protect him this way? Be this Torgiving
ke expression turned confused. "That''s different
"Not to me,” I interrupted, my voice soft but firm. "I see you willing to hide the truth for Sophia, even protect someone who betrays her. Yet my father sits in prison-" I swallowed hard. "And all I hear is 1 need more evidence and these things take time."
Something like realization Mashed in ke''s eyes, followed by guilt. I am investigating William''s case, but I can''t risk alerting the wrong people..."
"I get it," I said, tears threatening to spill. "I really do understand the responsibility of protecting family. It''s just... watching you do all this for Sophia makes me malice... my family and I will alwayse second for you. Maybe that''s the truth about us
"It''s not like that," Ike''s voice dropped, urgent. "You matter to me. Awal
I gave a bitter smile. "I matter, but not enough. That''s okay, it''s what I signed up for. I just. I took a deep breath. "I thought this mark between us meant
more."
"I need to go home." I hurled away, tears blurring my vision.
Wind whipped through the trees as I walked home, each step taking me further from the ce that had started to feel like a sanctuary. I scrubbed my face with my sleeve, determined not to let Sarah see me crying.
ke''s choice had cut deep, but how could I me him? If forced to choose between him and my family, wouldn''t I pick blood every time? Of course he protected Sophia-she was his daughter. His priority.
But where did that leave me? Was I just convenientpany until something more important came along? Was his mark ju
The knowledge didn''t ease the ache, but at least the battle lines were clearer now just another way to pass the time?
1 pushed open our front door and frome. Sarah sat in the living room, but she wasn''t alone. Martha''s perfectly coiffed figure upied our best chair, looking thoroughly out of ce among our modest furnishings,
They both looked up, conversation dying instantly.
"Ava!" She jumped up. "Where have you been? I''ve been worried sick."
I shifted awkwardly. "Lucas''s training. Had to stay at ckwood a few nights." Half-truth at best.
Martha took a prim sip of tea, her manicured fingernail tapping against the chipped mug like she might catch poverty from it. "Jackson speaks highly of your
to the duale. I told Smith,nering Maritapletely. This
"Precisely, Martha purred. Tady son har entrusted me with Bealising the datatie, as his duties krep him btherwise
"bil ang tongue. Ceuspled Joening a wolf hooker, apparently,
Sarah stopped forward, chitching a scroll tied with Shadow Creek''s silver bon. Ava, listen, Martha brought the official terms: Chief Gehat) ?nsition, Ara. Chief."
Martha nodded, her jewelry catching themplight. "Complete with pack loosing, generous stipend, and most crucially-
"Blood Protection Rights," I finished. "I remember. So what''s the actual price tag?"
Sarah and Martha exchanged a look that made my skin prickle.
"Wa," Sarah''s voice dropped to harply a whisper. I sold the house."
The floor seemed to tilt beneath me. "Vou what?"
Sarah''s hands twisted in her apron-a nervous habit from my childlinad. "It''s been impossible since Will was taken. The pack treats us like we''ve got the gue. My healing practice is dead. Prison guards want more ''gifts'' every time I visit Exhaustion etched lines around her eyes I''d never noticed before. "We have to be out by the fall moon."
"If you ept my son''s generous offer,” Martha said with practiced sympathy, "Shadow Creek will provide immediate amodation. Sarah could live with you-closer to the prison, protected by packw."
The pieces clicked together with sickening rity. "This isn''t an offer-it''s a trap. You''ve been nning this all along, cutting off every escape route to force me back."
Martha''s expression didn''t change. "We''re providing options, dear. Every day sooner you quality for Flood Protection Rights, your father sits in that cell one day less"
"Martha found the buyer," Sarah added, desperation threading her voice. This could be our chance, Ava. To be together again, to save Will-
I looked into Sarah''s hopeful eyes-the woman who''d raised me, who''d loved
me when no one else would. My chest tightened until breathing hurt.
Tonight, I''d learned exactly where I stood with ke. Now my family needed me to choose.
BITE ME WEREWOLVES: These two are KILLING ME! ke''s all daddy-bear protective was torn between heart and duty! NEITHER ONE THINKING STRAIGHT! And Martha buying the house? Pure. Evil. Genius. But don''t worry, loves and loyalty this strong don''t break easily... they just need to get their heads screwed on straight! The question is: Ava" CHOICE? Will ke realize what he''s about to lose? SO MUCH TENSION! See you in the next chapters!
Chapter Comments
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Marjorie Jerelds
the Author thinks she creating/suspense but she is really destroying her character''s personality. I can''t tell if she is a bad ass warrior princess or a emotional twit
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