Ava''s POV


    I stared out the window, watching sunlight dapple through leaves. Days ago, I was training a young Alpha, sleeping with his father, thinking I belonged somewhere. Now I was packing boxes. Again.


    "Some choice," I muttered. "House sold, cklisted from ckwood. It''s Hayes territory or lone wolf status."


    Sarah squeezed my hand, her callused palm familiar as my own heartbeat. "It''s for William. Once you qualify for Blood Protection-


    ''I know," I cut her off. The same sales pitch I''d heard a hundred times, like repeating it would somehow make returning to Hayes hell more ptable.


    I looked around at the boxes swallowing my life. "Remember when I first moved in? I slept on the floor for a week because the bed smelled wrong.


    A tired smile flickered across Sarah''s face. "Your wolf-nose was always too good. William took night shifts on the floor with you until you gave in.


    Dad. Locked in that damn cell, clueless that we were about to move into enemy territory to save him.


    My fingers found the mark on my neck, now almost entirely gold. ke''s im had nearly erased all traces of Jackson''s silver. What happens to it when I go back to Hayes territory? Does it flip back to silver? Or just fade awaypletely, like everything else between ke and me?


    "Dinner''s ready," Sarah said, squeezing my shoulder. "Your favorite roast. We can n your new start after."


    New start. Right. Some fresh beginning-backing into the same cage I''d escaped, with Jackson waiting to snap the lock shut.


    Hayes territory, my new home. Fucking poetic. We forge our own chains and call it love.


    I traced the mark one more time, wondering if ke was sitting in his study right now, already forgetting my scent.


    Two dayster, we pulled up to the Hayes mansion, the enormous structure


    looming like a prison against the afternoon sky. Martha waited at the entrance, her perfectly tailored suit and professionally styled hair a stark contrast to our exhausted appearances.


    "Ava!" She greeted with practiced warmth, her smile calcted to the millimeter. "I''m delighted you''ve finally made the wise


    Vanessa stood behind her, arms crossed tightly over her chest, eyes burning with barely concealed hatred. I avoided meeting her gaze directly. The less contact with any Hayes, the better.


    ''Not like I had a choice," I muttered under my breath.


    Sarah nudged me with her elbow, shooting me a warning nce "She''s just joking," she forced augh, then turned to Martha. "Thank you so much for your hospitality."


    ''Of course, this is what pack does, Martha replied, her eyes, scanning me like I was merchandise she''d finally acquired. ''Shall I show you to your quarters?"


    My wolf bristled under my skin as we followed Martha into the mansion. The Hayes family home was impressive-excessive wealth on disy at every turn, with ancient wolf symbols and power sigils embedded in every avable surface. I had to admit, it was beautiful in a cold, intimidating way.


    Vanessa took over as our guide, leading us silently through the grand hallways. We passed borately decorated rooms and pack members who averted their eyes when they saw me. I expected we''d head toward the instructor quarters near the main training facilities-that''s wherebat teachers usually lived.


    Instead, Vanessa led us down a narrower corridor, away from the main house. I frowned, ncing at Sarah who seemed too overwhelmed by the grandeur to notice our path.


    ''Isn''t the training facility in the east wing?" I asked, remembering theyout from my academy days.


    Vanessa barely looked back. "You''ll see the facilities tomorrow.


    A knot formed in my stomach. Something felt off. Wouldn''t a Chief Combat Instructor be housed closer to the main training areas? And shouldn''t Martha be giving me a tour of where I''d be teaching?


    Vanessa pushed open a heavy wooden door, leading us across what appeared to be a secondary training yard to a building on the far side. My steps slowed as I realized we were heading toward the warrior barracks, not instructor housing. "Wait, where are we going?" I asked, my suspicion growing stronger.


    "Your quarters, Vanessa replied tly.


    We entered what looked like some kind ofmon area for lower-ranked pack members. The ait inside smelled of sweat and medicinal herbs, with only a few dim lights illuminating the space. My heart sank as I took in my surroundings.


    The furniture was worn, the small kitchen equipped with outdated appliances, and old fighting gear hung from hooks on the walls. Scuff marks covered the floor, and the wolf sigils painted on the walls had faded to ghosts of their original vibrant colors.


    This part of the mansion stood in stark contrast to the opulent main areas we''d just walked through. My internal rm bells were ringing loudly now.


    "There must be some mistake," I said, looking around in confusion. "These are warrior quarters. Combat instructors don''t live here."


    Several young training warriors lounged in themon area. They jumped to attention when they spotted Vanessa, standing rigid as they awaited orders. She looked down at them like they were something stuck to her designer shoe. "What are you doing here?" she snapped. "Border patrol started ten minutes ago, and you''re lounging around? Should I report this to Jackson?"


    "N-no, Miss Hayes," one of the younger warriors answered, eyes fixed on the


    floor. "We just finished training and were taking a short break...


    "Do I look like I care?" Vanessa hissed. "Get to patrol now, you useless Omegas!"


    They nodded quickly and scurried from the room, heads bowed.


    I watched in disbelief, the pieces slowly falling into ce. These weren''t just warrior quarters–these were low-ranking warrior quarters. What was I doing here


    if I was supposed to be an instructor?


    Without another word to me, Vanessa lifted her chin and stalked down a hallway. We followed her through a maze of corridors until reaching a door at the


    farthest end.


    She pushed it open, and immediately a choking mixture of dust and wolfsbane assaulted my senses. The room was dim and


    d; when she flipped on the light, I nearly gagged. A puddle of something dark stained the center of the floor, the windows were nailed shut, and the only furniture was a sagging bed, a rickety dresser, and a nightstand that looked ready to copse.


    "What the hell is this?" I asked, unable to hide my shock. "This can''t be right."


    She crossed her arms, satisfaction gleaming in her eyes. "It''s one of the better rooms in the warrior quarters. You''re wee."


    I stared at her in disbelief. This couldn''t be the amodation for a Chief Combat Instructor. Something was seriously wrong.


    "By the way, you work for your keep,'' she said, her eyes narrowing. "I expect you


    on patrol duty and training the recruits daily. The other warriors will fill you in on the schedule."


    "Wait, what?" The final piece clicked into ce. "I thought I wasing here as Chief Combat Instructor? That''s what Martha told Sarah."