Ava bit into her strawberry birthday cake and it tasted like ash in her mouth.
She went through the motions; laughing with her dad, feeding him the cake, smiling for the camera, hugging Gabrielle and acting like her entire world hadn’t just come crashing down.
Adrian. The arrogant fool. The boy who dunked her head in her 3rd birthday cake. The wolf whose only redeeming feature had been that he was dating her sister was somehow her mate?
He just stood there frozen like a moron. She rolled her eyes and passed by him to hug his dad. It wasn’t like she wanted him as her mate either could he be any more obnoxious?
Mate, mate, mate. Liana declared.
I heard you loud and clear the first time. Ava quipped back.
Although it was growing considerably difficult to fight the growing need to go to her mate, she just couldn’t do it.
He was Gabby’s boyfriend, her sister’s soon-to-be mate. She couldn’t do that to Gabrielle. Even if Ava had wanted to betray her sister, it was Adrian. Adrian of all people.
They aren’t together anymore. Liana urged.
Liana, he didn’t take his eyes off her all night. Until this happened. I think it’s safe to assume they are still together. Ava replied.
Ah yes, how could Ava forget? The infamous breakup. It was mostly rumours and hearsay about Adrian cheating or Gabby cheating.
Neither of them had actually confirmed or debunked the rumours but they weren’t as lovey-dovey as usual so Ava guessed there was actually trouble in paradise. Although she still felt the cheating theory was a far stretch. The two of them were mad about each other. It just wasn’t possible.
****
The birthday dinner was a smaller affair than the lavish celebration. It was just Ava’s family, the Alpha and Adrian, with some extremely close friends. Adrian was seated exactly opposite Ava and Ava tried her best to not meet his gaze even though she was hyper-aware of every small movement he was making.
The way he cut his food, ate it, swallowed, and licked his lips.
Get a hang on yourself, Ava. He’s just freaking eating. There is nothing, I repeat nothing remotely intriguing about that. Ava shook herself awake and tried participating in the conversations being struck up.
“… I definitely want to focus more on fashion. I mean look at me. I’m such a styling expert. It would be a shame to waste it.” Cynthia said.
Ava’s eyes nearly rolled to the back of her head.
Stylish? Huh, right. More like slutish.
Jenny snickered as though in tune with Ava’s thoughts and Ava fought back a laugh.
Somehow Cynthia Hale was at their private birthday dinner. Probably because she was now Gabrielle’s bestie. Seriously, Ava couldn’t see what her sister saw in her.
Cynthia turned to face Dylan who sat by Ava’s side on the opposite side of the table, her expertly styled bottle-blond hair swinging with the movement in a dramatic swish. Ava hoped she didn’t take out someone’s eye with that hair flip.
“What about you Dylan? Still drawing?” She batted her lashes at him.
“Yeah.” Dylan looked vaguely discomforted. He looked at me. “What are you planning on doing now that you are eighteen, Ava?”
Hmm. Was there trouble in paradise there too? Why was Dylan acting so weird with Cynthia?
“Yeah, I was thinking about volunteering more at the clinic. Been waiting out my applications. That sort of thing.” Ava said tightly noticing Adrian’s attention was now on her.
“You always did like to help people.” Dylan smiled.
Then Cynthia cut in. “Yeah, speaking about help. Can someone help me understand why everyone is talking about our Alpha couple splitting up? The wedding isn’t off, is it?”
The entire table went silent even with their parents who’d been carrying on their conversations at the other end of the table. All eyes were now fixed on Gabrielle and Adrian.
Gabrielle blushed turning pink as she spoke. “Actually we are–”
“Were having a fight.” Adrian cut in looking at Gabrielle, who was seated right next to him, his eyes full of love. “But I can’t take it anymore. I love you so much. I want us to put everything behind us, Babe. If you’ll have me.” He lifted her left hand and kissed it.
Maybe it was just Ava but it seemed like Gabrielle was really shocked at the turn of events before she regained composure.
“Of course, Adrian. I love you so much.” She smiled.
Adrian leaned to kiss her, caught the stern disapproving glares of Arthur and Marie Connor, and gave her a peck on the cheek instead and the conversations continued.
Liana whined in Ava’s head. Sounding low and pained.
Ava tried to console her. But Liana was inconsolable.
To think that she used to pity the person who would end up being Adrian’s mate. Not knowing all the while that she would end up being that unfortunate person.
“Avvy. What’s wrong? Not happy your brother-in-law is getting out of the dog house?” Adrian smirked looking closely at Ava for a reaction. Any reaction.
“I’ve told you to stop calling me that. As for your relationship, congratulations.” Ava said not giving Adrian any attention as she dug into her food.
This is wrong. Ryan said angrily.
We can’t stand each other besides she doesn’t want me or care. It’s better this way. Adrian replied.
The only problem was that Adrian hadn’t forgiven Gabrielle for what she did. Every time he saw her, the image of her riding that other wolf and the moans she made kept entering his head.
But he’d had to do it because he knew Ava didn’t like him. Which was fine because the feeling was mutual. Even with everything going down with Gabrielle, he still loved her. A lot. That would never change.
Maybe it had been his fault for touching Ava that way. For dancing with her like that, for wanting to do a lot more than dance with her. Maybe this situation with Gabrielle was his penance.
“Please excuse me.” Ava left the table and went into the house. Adrian waited a bit before making his own excuses too. He listened around for her. She was in the kitchen.
He stood by the doorway watching her search for something, her back to him.
“Are you planning on standing there all day and staring at me like a creep?” Ava said as she opened the fridge, her back still turned to him. She got out some ice cream finally turning to face him.
“You aren’t that fascinating, I assure you. I came in here for something.”
Ava cocked a brow in disbelief. “Well get it and get out.” She lifted herself and sat on the kitchen island and began to lick the ice cream.
Adrian shouldn’t have been looking at the way she licked that ice cream cone thinking about her in an entirely different position. Or the way that dress was made for her. Clinging to her curves, it made her look like a woman not like the annoying younger sister of his girlfriend he could barely tolerate.
He shook himself startled at the direction his thoughts had taken.
Was this the power of the mating bond? Was it affecting Ava in the same way?
She definitely didn’t show it.
“Look about this bond, I have to reject you…we won’t ever have anything together. I love Gabrielle–”
Ava began to laugh. She laughed so hard she nearly choked on her ice cream. She slid down from the island and dumped her cone in the trash before sauntering towards him, her hips swaying with every step and Adrian’s eyes drawn to the movement. Had she always been this curvaceous? He had never noticed.
“Don’t bother Adrian, with the rejection or anything else. Even if you weren’t with my sister, I would never accept you as my mate. You are an arrogant self-important manchild who can’t see anything or anyone beyond yourself. Do me a favour and stay away from me. Dick.” She clipped his shoulder as she walked out of the kitchen.
He heard something like “Accept him?” followed by Ava laughing hysterically in the hallway. She was laughing at him. Adrian stood shocked into silence. Had… had he just been rejected?