They Burned Me, So I Took the Alpha’s Heir and Ran

AVAS POV

The day I buried Maribel was the same day I found out I was pregnant.

My nanny. My constant. The closest thing Id ever had to a mother. Gone. Lowered into cold earth with no ceremony, no pack rites, no pause from a world that didnt care. Just gone.

I slipped the pregnancy test into a velvet box, hands trembling. Positive. My chest ached with grief and hope tangled together. Xavier, the Alpha of the Blackthorn Pack, my husband of five long years, finally had a reason to see me. Finally, after all this time, I could give him something he couldnt ignore: our heir.

After the funeral, I went home alone, dragging my sorrow behind me. The packhouse loomed ahead, massive, cold, silent. I hadnt expected anything, no parties, no celebrations, just quiet mourning.

But when I stepped inside I froze.

Xavier had planned a gathering. A party. A show. The Blackthorn Pack is reminding the world that they were untouchable. My heart fluttered foolishly. Maybe tonight, I could finally tell him. Maybe tonight, everything could change.

Then I heard her.

Her laugh. Light. Mocking. Familiar. Liezel. My adopted sister. My husbands first love. The only wolf he had ever truly loved and cared for. When she left five years ago, the council chose me to be his Luna instead. I had thought love could grow between us. I had thought, somehow, Xavier would see me as more than a title, more than a replacement. I even believed, for fleeting moments, that he had. He had shown me small cracks of attention, warmth but nothing lasting. And whatever bond I tried to build with him was shattered the moment Liezel returned. I had ignored the signs. Blinded by my love for him, I had ignored the truth.

And now she was here. Clinging to Xavier as though she had always belonged.

She never suspects a thing? Liezel purred, brushing her hand over his chest.

Xaviers low, cruel chuckle made my blood freeze. No. Do you think a wolf like Ava would even dare sniff the truth? Weak. Fragile. Pathetic. She doesnt even know whats coming.

Truth. My stomach dropped.

When they mentioned Maribels name, my chest tightened.

Maribels blood was a perfect match, Liezel said casually. I feel so much better now. The doctors said draining her could actually cure me.

I gripped the wall to keep from falling. My nanny my Maribel had been sacrificed. Killed. To save Liezel. And Xavier, my husband, had allowed it.

The old woman was discarded like nothing, Xavier added, sharp and cold. No ceremony. No dignity. Gone. Thats what she was, nothing. A tool. Weak. Pathetic. And she deserved it. Dont forget that.

I staggered back. My legs trembled. He had promised to love me, to protect me. And now this.

Then came another blow. Christian, one of Xaviers closest friends, asked about Liezels son, my nephew. My family.

Xaviers face lit up, proud and cruel. Strong. Hell be the next Alpha. He was mine. My son. Nobody will ever touch him.

Liezel giggled, soft and cruel. And she doesnt even know. Imagine her little heart breaking when she learns we had a son.

I sank to the floor, trembling. The child inside me, my secret hope, should have been enough to reach him, to make him notice me. And yet here he was, their child, their future.

Xaviers snort carried venom. She doesnt need to know. Orphan. No bloodline. She should thank Liezels family for taking her in. She should be grateful shes my Luna at all. A title only. Nothing more. Love? Shell never get it. I could erase her tomorrow, and no one would blink.

Every word drove a blade into my chest. Each laugh, each sneer, each casual cruelty. Maribel was gone. My dignity was shattered. And now my hope, my child, my secret, meant nothing to him.

I wanted to scream. To run in and tear them apart. But my wolf, my instincts, told me survival first. Quietly, without anyone noticing, I slipped away.

Down the hallway, faces blurred. Conversations floated around me, laughter, toasts, and clinking glasses. None of it touched me. Only the echo of their words, cold, cruel, final.

I reached my room and locked the door. The velvet box pressed to my chest. My tears finally came, hot and relentless. But beneath them, a fire started to grow.

Vengeance.

The wolf inside me stirred, sharp and hungry. Silent, obedient, patient for too long. No more. The pack that had taken everything from me, the Alpha who betrayed me, the sister I had trusted, they would all pay.

Maribels sacrifice would not be in vain. My child would not grow in the shadow of lies. Xavier would see me, not as a Luna to mock, not as a wife to dismiss, but as a force he could never contain.

I sank to the floor, clutching the box, imagining his face when he realized I had survived. When he realized I would not be broken.

The night outside was quiet. Inside me, the storm had begun.

And I would let it roar.

AVAS POV

The hospital smelled like antiseptic and quiet despair.

It was already morning, but the halls felt dim, as if the sun refused to enter a place meant to clean up death and pretend it was mercy. My steps echoed softly against the polished floor as I walked toward the morgue wing, the place where they had taken Maribel after they pulled her from the river.

Floating.

That word kept circling my mind like a curse.

I already knew who was behind her death. I had heard their voices. I had heard them laugh. I had heard my husband reduce my nannys life into something disposable.

And yet the foolish part of me, the human part, still hoped I was wrong.

That maybe grief had twisted what I heard.

That maybe the cruelty was exaggerated by pain.

That maybe Maribel had simply slipped, fallen, and the river had taken her like it took so many others.

I needed proof.

The doctor met me with a stiff nod, eyes carefully blank. Respectful, but distant. Everyone in Blackthorn territory knew who held power here. Even inside hospital walls, Alpha Xaviers shadow stretched long and suffocating.

She was cleaned and prepared yesterday, he said quietly. Im sorry for your loss, Luna.

Luna.

The title felt heavy and hollow in my chest.

He handed me a thin folder. The paper felt heavier than it should have, as if it carried the weight of truth I wasnt ready to face.

I opened it.

And the world shattered.

CAUSE OF DEATH:

Excessive blood loss and blunt force trauma to the head.

I stared at the words, my vision blurring.

Excessive blood loss.

Not drowning.

Not an accident.

Not fate.

She had been drained.

Used.

Discarded.

My knees nearly buckled. I had to grip the edge of the desk to stay upright as a soundless sob tore through my chest. It felt like someone had reached inside me and ripped something vital out, leaving only raw emptiness behind.

Maribel was old. Fragile. Gentle. She deserved a peaceful end, a warm bed, prayers whispered over her, not cold hands taking what little life she had left.

They could have let nature claim her.

But they didnt.

They chose to sacrifice her.

And worse, they mocked her after.

I remembered Liezel as a child. Always pale. Always coughing. Always surrounded by worried doctors and hushed conversations. The Moonveils had adopted me when I was young, smiling warmly, promising safety and family.

A lie.

Just days after they took me in, they tested my blood.

I was too young then to understand why needles hurt so much or why adults looked relieved when the results came back. I learned later. I had been adopted for one reason only.

I was a match.

A spare.

A resource.

I had accepted that truth long ago. So completely that it barely hurt anymore. I had learned to survive knowing I was never truly wanted, only useful.

But Maribel

She wasnt part of that cruelty. She wasnt strong. She wasnt a wolf meant to endure such violence. She had protected me when no one else did. Loved me without conditions. Chosen me when everyone else only calculated my worth.

And they took her.

The very last piece holding me together.

I swallowed hard and forced my voice steady. Is there any more information?

The doctor hesitated. Just for a second. Then his gaze flicked away.

Thats all Im authorized to release, Luna.

Of course it was.

Alpha Xaviers influence poisoned everything it touched. Files disappeared. Truth was buried. Loyalty was enforced with fear.

But I didnt need more.

I knew.

I closed the folder and handed it back, my hands no longer trembling. Something inside me had gone very still, very cold.

I left the hospital as the sun dipped low, painting the sky in cruel shades of red and gold. By the time I returned to the packhouse, night had fully settled.

Laughter greeted me the moment I stepped inside.

Happy laughter.

It echoed from the dining hall, warm and alive, and it made my stomach twist.

When I entered, I saw them.

Xavier sat at the head of the table, relaxed, powerful, untouched by consequence. Liezel sat beside him, leaning in just enough to look intimate, her smile soft and sweet, perfectly practiced.

And little Alexander sat nearby, giggling as he played with a new toy, an omega servant patiently feeding him bite after bite.

They looked like a family.

A real one.

Whole. Untouched. Normal.

If I hadnt known the truth, I might have believed the illusion. I might have missed the rot beneath the surface, the blood, the lies, the bodies quietly disposed of to protect their happiness.

Once, this sight would have crushed me.

Tonight, it didnt.

All I felt was hollow.

Not empty in a weak way, but in a dangerous one. The kind of hollow that leaves room for something sharp to grow.

One day, I would leave Xaviers cage.

And when I returned, it wouldnt be as his Luna.

It would be as his reckoning.

Liezel noticed me first. She smiled, sweet and fake, eyes glittering with something cruel beneath the surface.

Xavier didnt even look at me.

Where have you been? he said coldly. You were supposed to cook. Thats the only thing youre good at as Luna, and you still fuck it up.

I inhaled slowly.

I went to the hospital, I said quietly. For Maribel.

That finally got his attention.

I just found out she was killed.

For a brief moment, the room froze.

Liezels smile faltered.

Xaviers hand tightened on the table.

Then he snorted, breaking the silence. Dont mess around with that kind of nonsense. Its done. Your nanny was already dead. You couldnt do anything about it.

His words were sharp, dismissive, like Maribel had never mattered.

Then he laughed.

Mocked her.

Her age. Her weakness. Her uselessness.

Each word dug deeper, carving hatred into my bones.

I said nothing.

There was no point. Silence was safer. Silence was power I could save for later.

I turned and walked away, my steps calm, controlled.

Inside my room, the door clicked shut behind me.

Only then did I fall apart.

I slid down against the door, pressing my fist to my mouth as sobs finally escaped. Quiet. Broken. Burning.

Maribel was gone.

But I wasnt.

And one day, they would understand just how badly they had underestimated the wolf they tried to erase.

Avas POV

The morning was silent, heavy, almost cruel.

Maribel was gone. Her absence was a weight pressing into my chest, stubborn and

unkind. Every corner of the packhouse reminded me that the killer lived under the same roof.

The one I called my alpha. The one I still served with a fake smile. The life inside me, the pulse in my womb, was the only thing keeping me steady.

It was my birthday. Not that anyone around me cared. Not even Xavier probably noticed. But I needed it. A tiny celebration for myself. A reminder that something was mine, untouchable, safe, even if only in my head.

I went straight to the kitchen. Hazelnut cake. My favorite. I baked it slowly.

The ovens warmth was a small comfort. It smelled like home, like something I could claim just for me. The timer chimed. Cake cooled. I slipped into a floral dress, light and soft, above the knee. A small defiance against the darkness in my chest. Against the grief.

Against the knowledge that the people who ruled my life would use this against me.

Back in the kitchen, I froze. Liezel. Already slicing a piece. She hadnt even let me blow out the candle. Not a single chance to make a wish.

Seconds later, her face changed. Her eyes widened. She clutched her throat. Gasps tore through her chest. Hazelnut. Her allergy.

Panic flared. Liezel! Are you-

You did this on purpose! she wheezed, dragging me forward, shaking me like she could push the truth out of me. I know you hate me. I know you think Im stealing Alpha Xavier. I know youve hated me since we were kids, but this, this is low! Are you trying to kill me?!

My stomach twisted. I baked it for myself, Liezel. For me I never meant-

A shadow moved faster than my eyes could follow. Xavier. Black coat, sharper than sunlight on glass. He caught her before she fell, arms steady and unyielding. Her panic faded the moment she saw him.

What happened? His voice was calm, cold. Like ice over a blade.

She- she tried to kill me! Hazelnuts! Shes evil, Xavier! She really is! Liezel gasped,

trembling. She stumbled, and Xavier caught her fully, protective, towering.

I- Alpha- It wasnt my intention! I tried to explain, words spilling. I baked it for myself.

I swear, I never meant to hurt anyone, especially not Liezel!

He grabbed me by the hair, yanking me close. Pain flared through my scalp. You baked the cake for yourself? His voice was venomous. Then finish the whole thing, you ungrateful little bitch!

Before I could respond, he shoved my face into the cake. Soft, sweet frosting crushed against my skin. My hands clawed at him, my cries cut off by the cold, merciless power in his arms.

I struggled, but he didnt stop. My body shook. Every thought was chaos. Maribel. The baby. Alexander. The years of pretending. The constant survival. All of it collided in that one moment.

Finally, he let go. I sank to the floor, trembling, frosting and tears mixing into a paste on my cheeks.

Xavier lifted me effortlessly, carrying me through the estate. Silence, except my ragged

sobs. Every step was a reminder that power wasnt kind, that cruelty wasnt

occasional, it was permanent. At the hospital, Liezel was already being treated.

Xaviers gaze never left me. His warning was sharp.

Liezel is sick. Pray nothing happens to her. If it does You will pay.

The chaos settled. Wolves moved silently, dragging me. My struggles were weak,

useless.

Where- what- I tried to shout, but Xaviers shadow fell over me. In his hand, a peanut

butter. My allergy. My stomach dropped. Panic clawed my chest.

You caused this, he said, every word a whip across my mind. You did everything on

purpose, didnt you? Now, youll feel what she felt.

He pushed me forward. Wolves held me steady. I screamed. I begged. My body shook,

limbs flailing. He forced the peanut butter into my mouth. Swallow. My body screamed. I

gagged, choked, tasted my own panic mixed with the bitter nut paste.

When they finally let me go, I collapsed. Vomit burned my throat. Darkness pressed

against my eyelids. My throat was closing. My lungs screamed.

I woke in a hospital bed. Alone. Silence except for the hum of machines. My heart

thumped erratically.

A gentle knock. The doctor entered, calm. Youre lucky. Not enough peanut butter to harm the baby. But it could have been fatal.

My hand flew to my stomach. The pup is it-

Nothing to worry about, the doctor said, with a warm smile. Strong heartbeat. Perfect. All

good.

I exhaled, a trembling, shallow thing. Relief and terror collided.

Did did you tell Alpha Xavier? I whispered, voice raw.

The doctor shook his head. Never my place. And consider yourself lucky. He brought you in immediately. Warned you to be careful next time. You have a carrying husband.

The words tasted like iron. Carrying husband Bitter. I wanted to laugh, scream, and cry.

If only anyone knew. If only they knew how twisted this all was. How the one I loved,

feared, served, Xavier was the same man who almost ended me.

The life inside me kept beating. That steady pulse was a lifeline. A reminder. I wasnt powerless. Not yet.

I would survive.

I would endure.

Even if it meant hiding every truth, pretending every day, playing the perfect Luna while my body and mind were a battlefield. Even with Xaviers cruelty sharpening around me, even with Liezels venom, even with the packs whispers, my secret, my child, my strength, they would not touch.

And if they tried I would outlast them.

The pulse inside me was hope. And hope could be a weapon.

Avas POV

Morning came slowly, but not kindly.

I got discharged. Alone. As usual.

Good. I was alive. The child inside me was alive. That was enough. For now.

Weakness clung to me like a second skin. Every step hurt, every breath reminded me of yesterday, the hospital, the peanut butter, Xavier, the wolves. My stomach churned, but I forced myself up. Forced myself out.

The hospital smelled like disinfectant and false cheer. I signed the discharge papers, my hand trembling despite my control.

I paused near a private ward. Laughter, too warm, too familiar, drifted out. It was Liezel. And him. Xavier.

I froze.

Of course. Of course, hed choose to be here with her. Of course, he hadnt even bothered to check on me. The one he almost killed, the one he humiliated, the one

carrying his child and he didnt look back.

I let out a bitter laugh. Silent. Shaking my head, trying not to cry, trying not to scream.

The doctor spoke, sweet and unaware of the venom in my chest. Miss Liezel, I could say it a hundred times, and Id still mean it. I envy you Having a caring man by your side. Alpha Xavier never left you, not once. He made sure everything was fine. He made sure you could recover quickly.

Liezel smiled. That honeyed, perfect, practiced smile. Her hand glided over Xaviers shoulder.

I get the envy, Doctor, she said, voice soft but loud enough for me. What can I say?

Xavier and I we were always in love. Were inseparable. They say a good alpha can only be a good one if he treats his mate right, yes?

Their laughter echoed in my ears like knives. Sharp, precise, intentional.

I swallowed hard and walked on. My steps stiff. My chest is hollow. My stomach is twisting.

Near the hospital exit, a nurse caught up to me. She handed me my phone. A lifeline in

the chaos. I took it silently. Nodded. Didnt speak.

And then, of course, they emerged. Xavier and Liezel. Hand in hand. Perfect.

Untouchable. Their smiles pristine, their poses rehearsed, the image of a life I would

never have.

Caught, I faked a smile. Small, polite, empty.

And for a second, just a flicker, Xaviers eyes softened. Guilt? A hint, buried under years of control. A pause. But then it was gone.

He snorted. Liezel and I have to go somewhere first. You should return to the packhouse. Look after Alexander for a while.

Like a good little lamb. Like I always had.

I nodded again. Forced. Controlled. Smile fixed.

Once, this treatment, his distance, his command, his silent superiority would have broken me. I would have cried. Blamed myself. Believed I was the problem. Always.

But now now I knew. Now I knew the truth. Now I knew everything he had done, everything he had hidden, everything he had planned.

And all that remained was a hollow space inside me. A vacuum of rage, fear, and something darker: resolve.

I watched them leave. Every detail. Xavier carefully helped Liezel into the car, adjusting her seatbelt like she was fragile porcelain. Watching him look at her the way hed never looked at me.

I kept my mouth shut. I didnt scream. I didnt run. I only let the observation sink in.

In the packhouse, I threw myself into my duties, playing the obedient servant Xavier wanted me to be, more omega than Luna of this pack.

Still weak, I chopped vegetables, stirred the soup, and later tended to Alexander. I played

with him, cared for him, and acted like a mother to my husbands son even though he belonged to another woman.

I assisted where necessary. But my hands stayed steady, my expression neutral. I

didnt cry. I didnt complain. I didnt let anyone see the storm raging behind my eyes.

Night fell. Exhaustion hit. I collapsed on my bed. Phone in hand, fingers trembling slightly from fatigue and lingering fear.

And then, almost immediately, I saw it. His post. Xavier.

Liezel on his lap. Overlooking the city skyline from an expensive restaurant, I had

begged him to take me to. The one he said would look cheap on me.

Liezel smiling. Perfect. Untroubled. Safe. In his arms.

I stared. My stomach knotted. My teeth clenched. My heart, hollow, empty, ached in that familiar way.

The caption? Polished, casual, cruel: A good alpha makes sure his mate is protected.

Every moment counts.

I scrolled. Liked it. My thumb hovered, then pressing the screen automatically. A hollow

gesture. A lie to myself. A pretend that I belonged to this world, that I had some control.

I knew it was bitter. Poisonous. I knew what it meant, even if no one else did.

Liezel was safe. Xavier was attentive. And I I was left with ashes of my pride, the

shadow of my anger, and a life that wasnt mine to hold.

My fingers shook as I put the phone down. Forced myself to sleep.

Even in darkness, even in exhaustion, even in the quiet, I remembered everything.

Maribel. The peanut butter. The humiliation. The lies. Alexander. The child I carried.

Everything was still mine. If I survived.

And I would.

Because cruelty didnt just erase people.

It created shadows.

And I was learning how to move in the dark.

AVAS POV

I woke up before everyone else, or so I thought. I rose slowly, each movement deliberate, testing my body. Weakness still clung to me, but I forced it aside. The day would not wait for me to recover. Alexander needed me. The packhouse would demand me. The world would not slow for anyone.

I was alone, and somehow, that felt worse than being hunted.

The first thing I noticed was the cold. My hands trembled as I pressed them over my

stomach, the life inside me pulsing softly against the rising dread.

I slid out of bed, careful not to disturb the sheets, bare feet whispering against the

marble floor. Every step toward the kitchen made me feel exposed, like the walls themselves were judging me.

Passing Xaviers old room, the sound of moans froze me mid-step.

My wolf growled low in my chest. Leave, Ava. Dont look.

But the human part of me, the part that still hoped my alpha might hold even a shred of

respect, led me closer.

The door was slightly ajar. I peeked.

Xavier was in bed. And Liezel, naked, straddling him, moving as if he belonged to her

entirely. My stomach twisted violently. My hands shook, my heart pounded, and yet, I

couldnt tear my eyes away for just a moment.

Then I turned and ran.

Tears streaked my face as I entered the kitchen. I chopped, stirred, and cleaned, all with

hands that refused to stop trembling. I couldnt stop seeing it, the way he looked at her,

the careless laughter, the intimacy I would never know.

Good morning, Xaviers voice boomed from the doorway, and I flinched. Shirtless.

Dominant. Expectant.

Morning, I whispered, voice tight.

Liezel followed, laughing softly, wearing only the lingerie, my lingerie that Xavier had gifted me on our wedding night. My chest tightened. Every memory of love, of marriage,

of hope, felt like shards of glass pressing against my ribs.

Prepare my breakfast, Xavier ordered. And hers. Get her tea, her favorite. Alexander,

coat on. Youll take him to the park.

I nodded, swallowing back bile. Yes, Alpha, I murmured, my voice hollow, obedient.

Alexander, breakfast first, Xavier said, casually stroking the nape of his neck. Liezel

laughed beside him. Make sure its hot. I like my tea strong, darling.

I moved mechanically. Chopped eggs. Buttered bread. Carried plates and tea as if my

hands belonged to someone else. My heart ached with every glance Xavier gave Liezel,

every whispered joke I wasnt part of, every casual touch that belonged to someone

else entirely.

Here, I said, placing the tea in front of her. My fingers brushed her hand for a fraction of a second. She smiled. No recognition. No acknowledgment. Nothing.

Xaviers eyes flicked to me. Move it, he said, voice sharp. Take Alexander out before he loses patience.

I nodded silently. Alexander tugged at my hand, unaware of the storm swirling inside me.

At the park, the sun was sharp. Children screamed and ran, and Alexanders laughter rang like bells.

My phone vibrated once in my palm, an unfamiliar comfort. A call. Magnus. My

childhood best friend from the orphanage, the one I hadnt spoken to since I married

Xavier is now the only heir to the Sharpfang Pack. I didnt call back. I couldnt risk it.

But the knowledge that someone who had truly known me long ago still thought to check on me lingered longer than the vibration itself.

I answered cautiously. Magnus?

How are you, Ava? His voice was steady, gentle, the kind of voice that could untangle

years of fear.

Im fine, I said, voice tight. Im fine.

He didnt buy it. Youre not. Whats wrong?

I hesitated. The truth would open doors I wasnt ready to cross. I shook my head.

Nothing. Really. Just tired.

There was silence for a moment, then he said softly, Ava Ive been here. Always. If you ever need me, Ill help. All you have to do is say it.

I stared at the phone long after the call ended. His words echoed. Always here ready

to help A lifeline I hadnt realized I still craved.

Back at the house, the memory of Xavier and Liezel clung to me like smoke. I cooked,

served, cleaned, and obeyed, every motion deliberate, silent. Every order followed

without complaint, every ounce of pain swallowed like medicine.

Tea, Alpha, I said, setting the cup down carefully.

Thanks, Xavier murmured, not looking at me.

Liezel giggled. You always know exactly how I like it.

I pressed my lips together. A small, bitter smile. Inside, I burned. Outside, I bowed my

head and served.

Alexander tugged at my hand again. Auntie Ava, swing!

Yes, I whispered. He ran ahead, and I followed, letting the fresh air wash over me,

trying to purge the suffocating heaviness of the house.

Hours passed. I thought of Magnuss words. Im here. Always.

Could I trust him? Could I reach out? Or was it a fantasy, a fleeting hope in a life full of

betrayals?

I sank onto a park bench, hands pressed to my stomach. The life inside me pulsed, warmly, stubbornly.

We exist. We survive.

I whispered it aloud. We will survive. We will be stronger. Well endure.

And in that quiet, with the wind in my hair and the distant laughter of children, I realized

something.

I didnt need Xaviers acknowledgment.

I didnt need Liezels approval.

I had a child.

I had Magnuss promise.

I had my own will.

And that was enough.

I would survive. Not just for me. Not just for him. Not for anyone else.

But for the life that belonged to no one but me.

Whatever came next, whatever choices I had to make, I would protect that life.

And if Magnuss hand was offered perhaps it was time to take it.

The world could try to break me.

It could try to erase me.

But it wouldnt.

Not anymore.

AVAS POV

The night air hit me like ice as I stepped out of the packhouse, carrying the last of the boxes filled with my old clothes. My hands trembled slightly, but I didnt care enough to steady them. Each

box held fragments of a past that no longer belonged here, pieces of a life I was done pretending

still fit. I dragged them toward the rusted trash can near the back gate and threw them in, the

metal ringing with a heavy, final clatter.

I struck a match and tossed it onto the pile. Flames rose instantly, eager and unforgiving,

devouring everything I wanted gone. Fabric curled, memories blackened, and for a brief moment, I felt free, free from the shadows Xavier had cast over me, free from the suffocating gaze of a man who had never truly seen me, no matter how close I stood to him.

Then footsteps stopped me cold.

I didnt need to turn around. His presence was unmistakable, pressing into the air like a warning.

Alpha Xavier.

Cruel. Powerful. Dangerous. The darkness clung to him like a second skin. I felt his eyes on me before I even faced him, sharp and assessing, as if weighing my worth.

You, he said sharply. What are you doing here?

I turned slowly, forcing my spine straight, refusing to let fear show. Throwing away things I no

longer need.

He stepped closer, the night itself seeming to bend around him, shadows deepening at his feet.

And what else are you hiding, Ava?

I stiffened despite myself. Every word I had practiced dissolved. I shook my head once. Im not hiding anything.

He laughed, cold, sharp, humorless. Dont lie to me.

Im not, I said quietly, my voice steady despite the storm inside me. And I dont owe you anything, Xavier.

Something in his eyes snapped.

His hand struck my face without warning, fast, brutal. Pain flared across my cheek, bright and

burning, but I didnt cry out. Rage surged hotter than the sting, swallowing the shock.

You made me invisible, I spat. You chose her over me every single time. And youll never understand what its like to fight for air in a world where you dont exist at all.

How dare you- he snarled.

Dont, I hissed, stepping back only an inch. I owe you nothing. Not now. Not ever.

Liezel emerged from the shadows like a predator answering a call. She grabbed my hair and

yanked hard, forcing my head back. Youre only a Luna by title, she sneered. Learn your

place. Do not disrespect the Alpha.

I stumbled, fingers clawing at her grip. Fury surged through me, raw and desperate. With a

violent shove, I tore free and pushed her back. She staggered, sparks leaping dangerously close as my dress brushed the fire. My chest heaved as heat kissed my skin.

Xavier caught her instantly, steadying her as if she were fragile.

She tried to push me into the fire! Liezel cried, pointing at me. Shes

jealous, unstable, dangerous-

His eyes burned as they locked onto me. I opened my mouth to explain, to speak the truth, but it was already too late.

His hand struck me again, harder this time. Pain exploded across my face, white and blinding, and my knees buckled beneath me.

Guards! he roared. Take her. Now!

My stomach dropped. The fire. The trash can. I realized too late where they were dragging me.

Panic surged as I clutched my stomach instinctively, terror flooding my veins.

No! I screamed, struggling as hands seized me. Please! Ive done nothing wrong! Stop please, Alpha Xavier!

He didnt even look at me. Youve forgotten your place, he said coldly. Perhaps this will

remind you.

I love you! I cried, tears spilling freely now. Ive loved you! I thought I always would, no matter how much it hurt me!

The guards shoved me closer. Heat licked my skin. Wolves circled, teeth bared, holding me fast as sparks clung to my dress and smoke curled upward.

Enough, Xavier growled. Youve defied me long enough.

You think yourself clever, he continued, his voice merciless, but you are nothing. You will

learn your place.

Liezel stepped forward, eyes gleaming with cruel delight. It would be a scandal if the Council found out, she said sweetly. Perhaps its best if she burns somewhere hidden.

Xavier smiled. Soft. Terrifying. Final.

Yes. Turn her around.

My heart froze solid.

A burning stick was torn from the trash and pressed hard against my back.

Agony exploded, white-hot, blinding, unbearable. My scream ripped free as sparks caught, smoke stinging my eyes and filling my lungs.

Alpha please I sobbed.

Youll remember this, Xavier said calmly. This will remind you who you are, and who you serve.

The fire consumed my dress. Pain wracked my body. Smoke blurred my vision. The night

dissolved into flames, faces, betrayal, until nothing existed but agony.

I did nothing wrong I whispered.

Then everything went black.

Avas POV

Pain ripped me awake.

It burned across my back, raw, merciless, like the fire had never truly gone out. I gasped, the

sound tearing from my chest before I could stop it, my fingers curling into the sheets as heat

flared through my nerves. Every breath scraped. Every heartbeat sent a fresh surge of agony racing along my spine. The burns throbbed angrily, alive beneath my skin, each pulse a reminder that I had not been meant to survive that night.

I stayed still, jaw clenched, staring into the dark ceiling as sweat cooled against my temples.

The room smelled faintly of smoke and antiseptic. Shadows clung to the corners, heavy and watchful. Somewhere deep in the packhouse, the silence felt deliberate, as if the walls themselves were waiting to see whether I would break.

Then memory surged.

The call.

Magnus Sharpfang.

The image of his name lighting up my phone struck me with brutal clarity. His

voice, controlled, tense, threaded with warning, echoed in my head. My pulse spiked.

Whatever fear had pinned me moments ago shattered instantly, replaced by a sharp urgency enough to cut through the pain.

I forced myself upright.

My body protested violently. Fire exploded across my back, stealing my breath, but I refused to

fall. I pushed through it, staggering toward my room and shutting the door behind me. My hands

shook as I leaned against the wall, grounding myself for a heartbeat before reaching for my

phone.

I dialed.

Once.

Twice.

He answered immediately.

Ava? Magnus said. His voice was alert, tight with concern. Whats wrong?

The sound of him nearly undid me.

My throat closed. My vision blurred. I swallowed hard, forcing the sobs down before they could

surface. I would not collapse, not now, not when I was finally choosing myself.

They killed Maribel, I said. My voice trembled, but the words landed with deadly clarity. And they planned to erase me next.

The silence that followed was vast and terrifying.

They were never going to let me live, I continued, something cold and resolute locking into

place inside my chest. Not if I know too much.

Ava, Magnus said quietly.

I need help, I cut in, the last remnants of hesitation burning away. Get me out of here. And

help me ruin Alpha Xavier Blackthorn.

There was no pause. No question.

Im coming, Magnus replied, his voice turning lethal in its calm. You have one hour. Be

ready.

The call ended.

And just like that, the life I had endured split cleanly in two.

I moved on instinct.

Pain faded into background noise as survival took over. I crossed the room and packed quickly,

efficiently, only what mattered. Clothes. Identification. A few things that still felt like me.

Everything else stayed behind. I was done carrying pieces of a life built on fear and obedience.

From the hidden compartment in my drawer, I retrieved the red velvet box.

Inside lay the pregnancy test.

Positive.

Once, it had been hope. A fragile dream I planned to use to save my marriage, proof that I still

mattered, that I still belonged.

Now, it was the truth. Proof of everything Xavier had gambled away.

I closed the box carefully and slipped it into my bag, my hand hovering over my stomach for a

single, fragile heartbeat. Fear flickered there, but it didnt rule me anymore. Not after everything I had learned. Not everything I had endured.

Next came the folder.

Bond severance papers. Divorce documents.

I had prepared them long ago, the night Liezel returned and tore open wounds I had spent years pretending didnt exist. Back then, I had been too afraid to leave. Afraid no pack would accept

someone like me. Afraid of becoming nothing.

That fear was gone.

Everything I knew now, every secret, every betrayal, burned the last trace of love from my chest, leaving only fury behind.

Not yet, I promised silently. But soon.

Alpha Xavier Blackthorn would pay.

I left my room without hesitation and walked the familiar corridor to Xaviers office. Each step

felt lighter than the last. The door creaked softly as I entered.

The room smelled the same: power, arrogance, lies.

I placed the velvet box and the folder neatly on his desk, positioning them where his eyes would

land immediately. Then I reached for a pen and wrote a note, my hand steady despite the storm raging inside me.

I thought I could endure more.

You chose heaven in another womans arms.

I choose my safety, and the child inside me.

Goodbye, Alpha.

I slipped my wedding ring from my finger.

The bond it represented had already been shattered by his choices. I set the ring gently on top of

the velvet box, where it belonged, with everything else he had destroyed.

And walked away.

The packhouse was silent as I stepped outside.

Cold night air filled my lungs, sharp and clean, cutting through the haze of pain and smoke.

Freedom tasted like frost and truth. I didnt look back at the towering structure behind me, not at the place that had promised belonging and delivered only suffering.

I took one step forward.

Then another.

Headlights flared suddenly, slicing through the darkness.

A black Mustang rolled to a stop in front of me, smooth and controlled. The engine hummed

low, dangerous. The drivers door opened, and Magnus Sharpfang stepped out.

He was night given form.

Power radiated from him effortlessly, pressing into the air without a single word spoken. He

didnt need to assert dominance, it existed naturally, like gravity. He looked like someone no one challenged lightly.

Not even Alpha Xavier.

And that was enough.

Magnus crossed the distance and helped me into the car with careful hands, his touch precise and

steady. He didnt ask questions. He didnt demand explanations. His presence alone felt like

armor settling over my skin.

The door closed.

The Mustang pulled away.

As the packhouse vanished behind us, something inside me hardened, sharp, alive.

One day, I would return.

And when I did...

Alpha Xavier Blackthorn would answer for everything.