The mansion's training yard smelled like sweat and wolfsbane. Ava dodged as Alexander swung a wooden staff at her ribs, his movements precise, ruthless—no hint of the man who'd held her gently in his bed last night.
"Faster," he snapped. "Rogues don't wait for you to catch your breath."
Ava grunted, blocking his next strike. "Maybe if you didn't fight like a tank, I'd have a chance."
He smirked, but there was no warmth in it. "Tank? I'll show you tank."
He lunged, staff whirling, and Ava barely ducked in time. The wood grazed her shoulder, sending a jolt of pain down her arm.
"Ow! Asshole."
"Better a sore shoulder than a torn throat." He lowered the staff, chest heaving. "You need to focus. Lorenzo's out there, and he's not alone."
Ava rolled her eyes, rubbing her shoulder. "How do you know? The guy's probably hiding in a cave, crying into his pillow."
"Rogues have been spotted near the east border. Three of them, working together. That's not random. Lorenzo's recruiting."
Ava's humor faded. "Rogues hate nobles. Why would they follow him?"
"Because he's promising them something. Revenge. Power. And they're stupid enough to believe him." He tossed her the staff. "Again. And this time, hit me back."
Ava took a deep breath, silver light flickering around her. She charged, swinging the staff with all her might.
Alexander blocked it, but she saw his eyes widen—surprise, maybe even pride.
"Better," he said.
They fought until the sun set, Ava's muscles screaming, but her reflexes sharpening. By the end, she managed to land a hit on his thigh—nothing serious, but enough to make him grunt.
"Ha," she said, grinning.
He grabbed her wrist, pulling her close. "Cocky. I like it."
Ava's pulse raced. "Is that a compliment, Alpha?"
"Depends. You gonna kiss me, or what?"
She kissed him, hard, the staff clattering to the ground. His hands tangled in her hair, pulling her closer, and for a second, she forgot about Lorenzo, about rogues, about everything but the way he tasted—like pine and determination.
A wolf howled in the distance.
Alexander pulled away, growling. "Stay here."
He shifted, black fur rippling, and bounded into the woods.
Ava grabbed the staff, heart pounding. Something was wrong. That howl—too high-pitched, too desperate.
She followed, running as fast as she could, silver light guiding her way.
The woods were dark, shadows twisting, but Ava could hear it—the sound of fighting, snarls, yelps.
She burst into a clearing, and her blood ran cold.
Alexander, in wolf form, was surrounded by three rogues—emaciated, eyes wild, fur matted with dirt. One had him by the leg, another by the neck.
Ava screamed, silver light exploding from her.
The rogues froze, whimpering, as the light washed over them. Alexander took advantage, shaking off the one on his neck and tearing into its shoulder.
Ava ran to the rogue gripping his leg, slamming the staff into its ribs. It yelped, releasing him, and she hit it again, harder.
It ran, tail between its legs, the other two following.
Alexander shifted back, blood dripping from his neck, his leg mangled.
Ava ran to him, silver light pulsing around his wounds. "Why didn't you call for help? The pack—"
"Too slow." He winced as the light healed his neck. "Lorenzo's here. I saw him. Watching from the trees."
Ava's blood boiled. "Coward. Sending others to fight his battles."
"He wants us tired. Weak. Then he'll strike." Alexander stood, leaning on her for support. "We need to tell the Council."
Ava helped him walk, her shoulder still sore but her mind racing. "Or we could strike first. Take the fight to him."
He laughed, wincing. "Stubborn. I like it."
They reached the mansion, and Alexander called a pack meeting. The wolves gathered in the ballroom, tense, anxious, as Alexander told them about the rogues, about Lorenzo.
Ava stood beside him, silver light flickering, a silent promise that she wouldn't let them fall.
"We need to move fast," Alexander said. "Rogues are unpredictable, but they're not stupid. They'll hit us when we least expect it."
A young wolf raised his hand. "What about Ava? Shouldn't she stay here? Safe?"
Ava's eyes narrowed. "Safe? I'm the reason those rogues ran. I'm not sitting this out."
Alexander nodded. "She fights with us. End of discussion."
The pack murmured, but no one argued.
That night, Ava lay in bed, Alexander beside her, his arm around her waist.
"Scared?" he asked, voice rough.
"Terrified. But excited, too. Like… I'm finally where I'm supposed to be."
He kissed her forehead. "Me too."
They fell asleep, but Ava woke hours later, heart racing.
Something was wrong.
She slipped out of bed, grabbing the staff from beside the door, and crept into the hallway.
Silence.
Too much silence.
She ran to the ballroom, heart pounding, and skidded to a halt.
The wolves were gone.
All of them.
A note was taped to the wall, scrawled in messy handwriting.
Come to the old mill. Alone. Or they die.
Ava's blood ran cold.
She grabbed her phone, dialing Alexander, but it went straight to voicemail.
"Alexander? It's me. The pack's gone. Lorenzo has them. I'm going to the mill. I—"
She stopped, hearing a noise behind her.
Lorenzo stood in the doorway, grinning, a knife in his hand.
"Going somewhere, darling?"
Ava raised the staff, silver light blazing. "Where's Alexander?"
"Oh, he's fine. For now. But if you don't do exactly what I say…" He shrugged. "Well. Let's just say wolves make a lot of noise when they're dying."
Ava's hands shook. "What do you want?"
"Just a little chat. At the mill. Alone. No tricks, no silver light. Just you and me."
Ava thought of the pack, of Alexander, of all the wolves who'd stood by her.
"Fine. But if you hurt them—"
"I won't. Cross my heart." He made a show of crossing his chest, but his eyes were cold. "Now. Let's go."
Ava followed him out, staff clutched in her hand, silver light dim but still there.
The old mill loomed ahead, a crumbling ruin, moonlight glinting off its broken windows.
Lorenzo led her inside, where the pack was tied to pillars, gagged, eyes wide with fear.
Alexander was among them, his shirt torn, a bruise forming on his cheek.
"Alexander!" Ava cried.
He shook his head, eyes begging her to leave.
Lorenzo laughed. "Cute. Now. Let's get down to business."
He pulled out a vial, holding it up to the light. "Wolfsbane. Pure, undiluted. One drop, and your precious moon-blood stops working. Two drops… well. Let's just say you'll wish you were dead."
Ava's stomach flipped. "What do you want me to do with it?"
"Give it to Alexander. Or I kill one of his wolves. Your choice."
Ava stared at him, horrified. "You're sick."
"Maybe. But I'm also right. He doesn't deserve you. Doesn't deserve the pack. He's weak, Ava. Always has been."
Ava thought of Alexander, training her, protecting her, loving her. Weak? No.
She smiled, silver light exploding.
"Wrong."
She charged, swinging the staff.
Lorenzo dodged, but she was faster this time, hitting him in the ribs. He grunted, dropping the vial.
It shattered on the floor, wolfsbane spilling everywhere.
Lorenzo roared, lunging at her, but Ava was ready. She ducked, sweeping his legs, and he crashed to the ground.
She grabbed the rope tying Alexander's hands, silver light burning through the knots.
"Go!" she yelled.
Alexander stood, shifting mid-air, and tackled Lorenzo.
The pack cheered as Alexander fought, wolves breaking free, joining the battle.
Ava ran to the other wolves, burning through their ropes with silver light.
Lorenzo managed to grab a piece of wood, swinging it at Alexander's head.
Alexander dodged, but the wood hit Ava instead.
She fell, vision blurring, as the world went black.
When she woke, Alexander was beside her, his face etched with worry.
"Hey," he said, voice soft.
Ava smiled, wincing. "Hey. Did we win?"
He laughed, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "We won. Lorenzo's in the cells, and the rogues are… well. Let's just say they won't be bothering anyone again."
Ava sat up, silver light flickering. "Good."
She looked around, at the wolves cheering, at the mill crumbling around them, at the man she loved.
"Home?" she asked.
"Home," he said.
They walked out, hand in hand, as the sun rose, painting the sky in shades of pink and gold.
A new day. A new beginning.
And for the first time, Ava knew she was exactly where she belonged.