Third Person POV


    ke hesitated, feeling the weight of responsibility press down on him. "I''ll fix what I broke," he promised. "The guilty will be punished. And the innocent...


    He left the sentence unfinished, but Lucas''s small smile said he understood.


    Neither ke nor Sophia had a clue what Jackson was up to.


    Jackson had noticed something that set his teeth on edge-his silver mark on Ava''s neck was fading, gradually being consumed by ke''s golden im.


    At first, he''d thought Ava''s expulsion from ckwood yed into his hands. She''d return to Shadow Creek where he could control the situation. He''d nned for her to take the Chief Combat Instructor position-a role that might inspire enough gratitude for her to eventually warm his bed again. A convenient mistress, plus leverage against Morgan if needed.


    What he hadn''t anticipated was his family''s ruthlessness. While he''d been busy ying perfect fiancé for Sophia at endless ceremonies, Martha had maneuvered Sarah into selling their house, then dumped Ava in the lowest-ranked warrior quarters. The barracks were crawling with eyes and ears-


    s-making


    it impossible for him to approach her without raising eyebrows.


    He knew in his gut Ava would never hurt Lucas. That kid had her wrapped around his finger from day one.


    Whoever did it was seriously twisted, targeting a seven-year-old cub. But it damn sure wasn''t Ava.


    So he''d done what any resourceful schemer would-bought himself a scapegoat.


    The warrior had been pitifully easy to bribe. Just sh enough money to set her up for life, and suddenly she was all too happy to "confess" to a crime she didn''tmit.


    He''d handed her the catalyst vial himself, watched her greedy eyes light up as he described the fortune heading her way.


    Now he just needed to engineer Ava''s return to ckwood, away from these Hayes quarters where things were spiraling be


    Ava''s POV


    s control.


    "You look like death warmed over," E''s voice flickered through our mindlink, her concern washing over me like a warm shower.


    I nced down at my patrol assignment-my third shift in twenty-four hours-and


    bit back a groan. The Hayes pack was running me into the ground with grunt work that would make an Omega wince.


    "That bad at Hayes territory?" E pressed.


    I sent her a mental eye-roll.


    Worse than bad," I whispered back. "Three days here feels like a month. Haven''t slept more than a couple hours straight since I arrived."


    "God, I''m sorry, Ava, her sympathy flowed through our connection, genuine and warm. "I''ve begged everyone I know for a ce you could stay. Nobody''s willing to stick their neck out against the Hayes. Bunch of cowards."


    "Not your circus, not your monkeys," I assured her, grateful just to hear a friendly voice in my head. Appreciate you trying, though."


    "It''splete bullshit how they''re treating you," E fumed. “Like some bottom- rank Omega fetch-and-carry. She paused. ''What does Sarah say about all this?"


    I mentally shrugged, gnawing at the inside of my cheek until I tasted blood.


    ''She doesn''t know the half of it," I admitted. I''ve been feeding her the everything''s fine line. She''s already wound so tight about Dad, I can''t dump more on her te."


    E''s disapproval radiated through our link like static electricity.


    "That''s messed up, Ava. She''s your mom, she should know."


    My eyes stung suddenly, and I swiped at them before any nearby Hayes wolves could catch me showing weakness.


    E muttered. "Have you eaten today? Your energy feels... thinner."


    I didn''t answer. Truth was, I''d barely touched food since arriving. The slop they


    served in the warrior quarters smelled like wet cardboard, and my appetite had taken a nosedive anyway.


    ''I''m managing, I lied.


    A prickling sensation at the back of my neck warned me someone was approaching.


    "Gotta bounce," I told her quickly. "Can''t let the warden catch me mindlinking on the job."


    "Keep your strength up," she urged as I severed our connection. "This isn''t over."


    I''d just wrapped up my patrol shift-with blisters forming on top of blisters-when a sleek ck carriage with Silverpeak insignia pulled up at the territory line. My wolf instantly went on alert, hackles rising under my skin.


    The window rolled down to reveal Tyler''s weathered face, his expression unreadable.


    "Tyler?" I crossed my arms, surprised to see him here. "This is Hayes territory. What brings you across the border?"


    "ke sent me," he replied, cutting straight to the chase.


    A dull ache spread through my chest at ke''s name. "Of course he did. The


    Alpha King must be too busy toe himself."


    I spotted two Hayes enforcers ambling our way, their interest piqued by the Silverpeak vehicle.


    "Whatever it is, you should make it quick," I muttered, ncing nervously at the approaching guards. "Hayes patrol is pretty strict about visitors."


    Tyler leapt from the car with surprising agility for his size, catching up to me in three long strides.


    "Ava, wait," he called after me. ''One minute. That''s all I need."


    I paused, weighing my options. Whatever Tyler had traveled into here to tell me, it had to be important.


    "I''m listening," I said, turning back to him.


    "We found the real culprit," he said, the wordsnding softly. "A warrior switched Lucas''s catalyst. She confessed to everything.


    I froze, something fragile cracking open inside my chest. After days of uncertainty,


    of seeing the doubt in ke''s eyes, of choosing to walk away-the truth had finally surfaced.


    ''Lucas?" I asked, my voice catching. "How is he?"


    "Recovering. Back in his own room today." Tyler''s gruff/voice softened. "Kid keeps asking for you. Won''t shut up about it, actually."


    A lump formed in my throat that I couldn''t swallow down. I missed that brat more than I''d let myself admit.


    "And ke?" I asked softly. "He knows now?"


    "He does." Tyler nodded, his eyes conveying genuine regret. "The warrior''s been banished."


    I exhaled slowly. "Banishment... that''s harsh.


    ''She nearly killed the Alpha''s son," Tyler said simply. ''Packw is clear on that."


    I wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly cold despite the afternoon warmth. ''I knew someone must have tampered with the catalyst. I just... I wish I''d stayed to exin. Everything happened so fast, and I just..."


    "He understands why you left," Tyler said. "And he wants you to know you''re wee to return to ckwood."


    I gave a small, sad smile. "It''s not that simple anymore. We sold our house. Sarah''s banking everything on me getting established here to help Dad


    "Will you at least think about it?" Tyler asked. "Lucas misses you. ke-


    "If ke wants me back,'' I said quietly, not angry but resolute, ''I''d like to hear it from him."


    Tyler studied me for a long moment, then nodded. ''I''ll tell him."


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    Chapter Comments


    Mike


    tbh fair, also should be expected, hope she doesn''t dissappear before that


    happens


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