Sharon let out a strangled sound; part pain, part humiliation. If Ava had any doubts about how much satisfaction she would get from punching Sharon, they were gone now.
Around them, the spectators whispered among themselves, so in shock, others in growing amusent. Sharon had never been put in her place like this before. The thought made Ava almost giddy.
But of course, Sharon wasn't done.
Fueled by nothing but pride and sheer stupidity, she launched herself at Ava again.
Ava sighed. "Oh, for fuck's sake."
This ti, as Sharon ca barreling toward her, Ava crouched low and swept her legs out from under her, sending the other girl crashing onto her back. The crowd erupted into laughter.
Sharon blinked up at the sky in sheer disbelief.
*****
Leon and Lucas were seated in the lounge, sipping expensive whiskey. Kade stood behind them, ever the silent enforcer, his eyes scanning for trouble before it even arrived.
Leon leaned forward, placing his glass on the table with an exaggerated clink. "If Ava is going to be your Luna, then this contract needs so serious revision."
Lucas arched a brow, swirling his drink lazily. "How so?"
"A Luna from our pack should make us allies, not enemies," Leon stated firmly. "She will bear you an heir, a child who will one day beco Alpha of your pack. What do you think happens when that child realizes you destroyed the pack his mother ca from? Do you really think he'll be loyal to you then?"
Lucas chuckled, his voice as smooth as silk laced with venom. "Destroy your pack? Alpha Leon, that was never my plan." He took a sip of his drink, savoring the taste before continuing, "I want to take over your pack. There's a difference. And Ava agrees with . The leadership here is... questionable at best."
Leon's fingers twitched against the armrest. He didn't like the way Lucas spoke. It was too confident, too casual, as if Ava already belonged to him body and soul.
Before Leon could retort, Kade stepped forward. "Alpha," he said, his voice calm but urgent, "there's a disturbance at the training pit."
Lucas sighed. "So?"
Kade's expression didn't change. "Ava is in a fight."
Leon barely had ti to react before Lucas was on his feet, his chair scraping against the floor with a sharp screech. His jaw clenched, his eyes darkening with fury. "Ava," he growled under his breath.
Leon wasn't prepared for what happened next.
Lucas turned to him, and his entire deanor shifted. His wolf surfaced, golden eyes burning with raw, animalistic rage. His voice dropped to a deadly whisper. "Take to the training pit. Now. And so help God, if they've hard even a single hair on her head..." His voice trailed off, but the threat hung heavy in the air.
Leon swallowed. Well, shit. He had seen possessiveness before, but this was sothing else entirely. He signaled for them to move, and they stord toward the pit, Kade right behind them.
At the training pit, the fight continued.
Ava ducked, her body moving with effortless grace as Sharon swung wildly, her knuckles barely missing Ava's jaw.
"You're getting slow, Sharon," Ava taunted, smirking as she dodged another punch. "What happened? Too much sitting around, waiting for soone to worship you?"
Sharon let out a furious growl, lunging forward, but Ava stepped aside easily. The montum sent Sharon stumbling, and the spectators roared with laughter.
It was delicious.
Ava took a step back, allowing Sharon to regain her footing. "You good? Need a water break? Maybe a hug?" she teased.
Sharon's eyes burned with humiliation. This wasn't supposed to happen. Ava was supposed to be weak, pathetic, defenseless. Yet here she was, toying with her.
Sharon scread in frustration, her whole body shifting into brown fur. Her body collided with Ava's sending her sprawling to the ground. As she was about to snap her jaw down on Ava's stomach, a deep, terrifying snarl echoed through the pit. The sound of dominance. The sound of fury.
Lucas.
Ava turned her head just in ti to see him erge, his golden eyes locked on Sharon.
like a predator deciding whether to kill its prey slowly or quickly.
In the blink of an eye, he was on her, his fingers wrapping around her furry throat in an iron grip. He lifted her off the ground as if she weighed nothing. Sharon quickly shifted into human form, her face white as a sheet.
Ava's breath caught. His wolf was at the surface, and he was barely restraining himself from tearing Sharon apart.
Sharon choked, clawing at his hands.
Lucas' voice was deadly calm. "You touched my Luna."
Sharon's eyes went wide in shock. Luna?
Ava stepped forward, placing a hand on his arm. "Lucas."
He didn't budge. His grip only tightened.
"Manic," she whispered, knowing his wolf had taken over. "Not here. Not now." Her fingers traced slow circles on his forearm, grounding him. "Let handle this."
His chest rose and fell rapidly, his golden eyes flickering between wolf and man.
Then, with an animalistic growl, he flung Sharon across the pit. She crashed against the stone wall with a sickening thud before crumpling to the ground.
Silence.
Everyone stared, wide-eyed.
Lucas turned to Leon, his voice like thunder. "I want her burnt."
Leon's mouth went dry. He had expected Lucas to be possessive over Ava, but this? The way he had stord in, the way he had looked at Ava like she was the only thing in the world that mattered. It sent a chill down his spine.
It also made him sick.
Because that was supposed to be his mate. His.
He had given her away like a pawn, and now, standing here, watching Lucas hold her, Leon felt sothing ugly rise in his chest.
Regret.
Jealousy.
Rage.
Lucas didn't even glance back as he carried Ava out of the pit, his arms wrapped around her protectively, as if daring anyone to try and take her from him.
Leon clenched his fists.
Sharon groaned on the ground, her body trembling with humiliation.
Leon turned to her, his voice like ice. "Do you have any idea what you've just done?"
She barely managed to lift her head.
He scoffed. "You really couldn't have picked a worse ti to be a dumbass."
And with that, he walked away, leaving Sharon to stew in her disgrace.
*****
Ava let out a slow breath as Lucas set her down in his room, his hands lingering on her waist, fingers gripping just a little tighter than usual. She could still feel the heat radiating off him, could still see the burning gold in his eyes. The telltale sign that Manic, his wolf, was still in control.
This anger was the kind of fury that led to bodies being buried in unmarked graves.
Trying to lighten the mood, she smirked and tapped his chest. "You're acting like I'm made of glass. If I were, you would've shattered a long ti ago."
Manic didn't smile. His jaw clenched as he cupped her face, his thumb grazing the fresh cut on her lip. The mont his fingers brushed against the wound, his golden eyes darkened with sothing far more dangerous than anger.
"She hurt you," he growled.
Ava rolled her eyes, because honestly, it was barely a scratch. "She barely grazed ."
Manic let out a low, rumbling snarl. "I should have killed her."
Ava knew how easily he could've done it, how quickly he could have snapped Sharon's neck like a twig and tossed her aside without a second thought. She also knew what kind of war that would have started.
Leaning in, she pressed her lips against his in a barely-there whisper of a kiss. "Then you start a war."
Manic's hands tightened on her hips, his fingers digging into her flesh like he was grounding himself. His lips found hers again, but this ti, there was no hesitation. He kissed her roughly, possessively, as though he was trying to prove sothing; to her, to himself. Maybe even to Lucas.
A delicious shiver ran down Ava's spine as his hands explored her body, his touch rough yet undeniably worshipful. Every inch of her skin burned where he touched her, and she wasn't sure if she was ready for Manic's intensity, but damn... he knew exactly how to make her lt.
"Manic..." She moaned, but he was already moving.
He lifted her effortlessly, pinning her against the wall as though she weighed nothing. His breath was hot against her throat, his growl vibrating through her chest.
"You are mine," he murmured, his lips tracing the sensitive skin along her neck.
Ava's head tilted back involuntarily, giving him more access. She wanted to laugh at how easily her body betrayed her, but the mont she felt his fangs extend, her breath hitched.
Oh.
Oh, no.
He wasn't, was he?
"Manic..." Her voice wavered slightly, her hands gripping his shoulders.
She felt his tongue flick against her skin, slow and deliberate, teasing the place where his bite would go.
Her heart pounded.
Manic wasn't just claiming her body, he was about to claim her soul.
Reviews
All reviews (0)