Nelly grabbed Zari on her way to Ava’s room.
"Co on," she huffed. "We’ve got a stubborn woman to save from herself."
Zari blinked in confusion but didn’t resist. "Ava’s back?"
"Aren’t you supposed to be her maid?" Nelly shot back.
When they reached Ava’s door, the first thing that hit them was the scent of Ava’s distress.
Ava was drenched in sweat, her body trembling, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Her towel had slipped slightly, revealing the fresh mark on her neck, dark and pronounced against her flushed skin.
"Fill the tub with cold water," she instructed Zari, who imdiately sprang into action. The urgency in her tone didn’t leave room for questions or hesitation.
Nelly moved swiftly, closing the distance between them and pulling Ava into her arms. Ava was burning up. The heat radiating from her body was almost unnatural, as if her blood itself had turned to fire.
Nelly gently guided them both onto the bed, keeping Ava cradled against her, rubbing slow, soothing circles into her back.
"Ava, your stubbornness is not going to do you any good right now," she murmured, her voice firm but not unkind. "You have to let the Alpha back in."
Ava tensed imdiately, her fingers clenching onto Nelly’s robe like a lifeline. Then, with a broken sob, she shook her head violently against Nelly’s shoulder.
"No... please... no," she whispered, her voice raw.
Nelly sighed, shifting slightly so she could look down at the trembling woman in her arms. "I thought you wanted this."
Ava let out a shaky, bitter laugh, the sound tinged with sothing dangerously close to hysteria. "Not like this," she rasped, her voice hoarse from crying. "Do you even know where I’ve been all night? In the dungeons, being tortured for so ridiculous accusation. While he was with Sarah."
Well, shit. That was... unexpected.
"Ava," she started slowly, "why the hell were you in the dungeons?"
Ava let out another humorless laugh, but it ended in a broken sob. "Because Dorian thinks I am a traitor and that I plotted to have the alpha shot. Lucas knew. He knew I was innocent. But did he stop it? No. He let them drag away, let them torture ."
Her voice cracked, and Nelly felt a sharp pang in her chest.
The thing was... she got it. She understood exactly why Ava was so furious, why the betrayal cut so deep. The mark was one thing. The fact that Lucas had let her suffer before marking her? That was another level of screw-up entirely.
But she also understood what it ant to be an Alpha. The weight of leadership. The impossible choices. And Ava needed to understand it, too.
"Listen," Nelly said carefully, tucking a damp strand of hair behind Ava’s ear. "The Alpha adores you."
Ava scoffed but said nothing.
"But you need to realize sothing," Nelly continued. "When his affection for you is tested as an Alpha, if he shows you special favors, if he bends the rules just for you, his leadership gets questioned. If you really want to be our Luna, you have to understand that. Accept it."
Ava was silent for a long mont, her face pressed against Nelly’s shoulder.
"But he’s still a dick."
Nelly let out a loud laugh, the unexpected bluntness of it catching her off guard. "Oh, absolutely. What he did was a massive dick move."
Ava’s shoulders shook slightly, and for a second, Nelly thought she was crying again until she realized the tiny, breathless sounds coming from her were laughter.
At that mont, they heard movent at the door, followed by the sound of sothing being fixed.
Nelly glanced up and saw one of the Gammas working on repairing Ava’s door.
With a sigh, Nelly turned back to Ava.
"Alright," she murmured. "Co on, let’s get you out of here."
She helped Ava to her feet, steadying her when she wobbled slightly. Her body was still on fire, but the worst of it was yet to co. Best to keep her away from any full-blooded werewolves before things got out of hand.
Nelly guided her into the bathroom, where the tub was nearly full.
Ava hesitated.
Nelly sighed. "Ava. Get in."
Ava shot her a glare. "It’s cold."
"Yes, that’s kind of the point," Nelly deadpanned.
Ava huffed but finally relented, slipping out of her towel and stepping into the tub. The mont her skin t the icy water, she gasped, her entire body jerking in response.
"Holy shit," she shivered, gripping the edge of the tub. "This is awful."
Nelly smirked, crossing her arms. "And yet, you’re still alive. Funny how that works."
Ava shot her a look that promised vengeance, but she didn’t argue. Instead, she let herself sink deeper, allowing the cold to seep into her burning skin, soothing the fire that had been raging inside her.
Nelly crouched beside the tub, watching her carefully.
"When the next wave hits," she said softly, "don’t fight it. Ride it out."
Ava swallowed hard, gripping the edge of the tub a little tighter and nodded.
*****
Sarah stalked toward the secluded part of the estate, where the pack officials lived.
She spotted Dorian before he saw her. He was pacing, jaw clenched, hands balled into fists. Oh, he was in a mood.
The mont she reached him, he spun on her, rage rolling off him in waves.
"I give you one job," he snapped, voice dripping with frustration. "One job! Keep the Alpha busy. Distract him. That was all you had to do. So I could have just enough ti to break that little bitch and get her to admit to sothing even a false confession would’ve worked! But no! Of course, you couldn’t even do that right! Is there anything you’re good for besides spreading your damn legs?"
Sarah blinked.
Her lips parted slightly as she processed the insult, and for a brief, horrifying second, she considered kicking him right where it would hurt the most.
She was so done with Dorian and his damn mouth.
She may not have had a fancy title, or so grand role in the pack’s hierarchy, but she was still a concubine. That had to count for sothing.
And she’d had it up to here with him treating her like she was nothing more than a disposable plaything.
Her eyes narrowed, lips curling in disgust. "I did as you said, Dorian," she spat. "I tried. But what did you expect to do? Tie him to the damn chair?"
Dorian let out an exasperated groan, dragging a hand down his face. "If that’s what it takes, yes!"
Sarah scoffed. "Well, excuse for not being a professional kidnapper! I did everything I could. He sent out of his office. Practically threw out. And looks like you didn’t get anything done either."
She gave him a pointed look, arms crossing over her chest.
Dorian glared at her. "At least I didn’t have the Alpha get shot with a silver bullet!" he barked.
Sarah bristled.
"I said I was sorry about that," she huffed, rolling her eyes.
Dorian wasn’t listening. He was too busy pacing again, running a frustrated hand through his already-ssy hair. Nothing was working.
Every sche was failing. Every plan was backfiring.
Ava was still standing.
Dorian ground his teeth together, a dark storm brewing in his eyes. "It’s starting to seem like no one can save the Alpha from her clutches," he muttered, more to himself than to Sarah.
Sarah sighed, exasperated. "The woman is really a witch."
At this point, it was the only explanation that made sense.
It was unnatural.
Dorian suddenly stopped pacing. A slow, calculating smile spread across his face.
"It just ans," Dorian said smoothly, turning to face her fully, "that we cannot do this alone. We need allies." His eyes glead. "Sothing has to be done before he announces her as Luna."
Sarah’s curiosity piqued despite herself. "What are you thinking?"
Dorian tilted his head, still smiling. "Don’t worry your stupid head about it," he said, voice condescending as ever. "I’ll handle it."
Sarah’s eye twitched.
Her stupid head?
Oh, hell no.
She may have tolerated a lot from Dorian, but if he thought he was going to sideline her, again, he had another thing coming.
"Look," she snapped, stepping closer until there was barely an inch of space between them. "We are in this together. You think I’m just gonna sit back while you cook up so half-assed plan that’ll probably get us both killed? No. I’m also invested in seeing that little bitch burn. So tell ."
Dorian chuckled.
"She has other enemies, doesn’t she?" he mused, eyes twinkling with sothing almost dangerous.
Sarah frowned, tilting her head. "I guess... but I don’t know of any here."
Dorian’s grin widened.
"Oh," he purred, "I know plenty but not here."
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