Cynthia watched from the balcony of her home as the Primo pack left the Mountain Coast pack with their member Tiana in their ranks.
Her lips turned up slightly. The fact that she was still roaming free simply confirmed the fact that Adrian had been unable to get anything out of Tiana before her people had come in to rescue her.
Her plan had been derailed for now but at the very least her identity was still secure. It meant that she could still try to get back at Adrian and Ava.
“Your plan failed.” Gabrielle said bitterly as she sat on Cynthia’s chair on the balcony.
Cynthia looked at her keeping a placid expression on her face even though she wanted nothing more than to rip into Gabrielle.
She buried her true feelings before speaking. “Failed? I wouldn’t call it failed. The pack members now distrust Ava. They aren’t taking the judgement that Adrian made favourably.”
“Why the bloody hell would I care if they are taking it favourably or not? He has given them an order and they have to follow it. He is Alpha. Only his opinion matters. How can I become Luna if we can’t get Ava deposed?”
Cynthia moved into the chair opposite Gabrielle, her ankles feeling a little bit swollen, she couldn’t stand for as long as she used to.
“Patience, Gabrielle is a virtue. What would you say if I told you that in less than a week I could get Adrian to accept you in the presence of the entire pack and Ava would be unable to do anything about it?”
Gabrielle’s brown eyes widened with disbelief.
“Stop beating around the bush and tell me, Cynthia.”
Cynthia smiled and told her.
*********
“Mom, Dad, I’m fine. I swear.” Ava said.
The moment she was awake, the nurse had come to tell her that her parents were there for her. Apparently, Adrian had given orders for her not to be disturbed by anyone, even her parents, while she slept. She didn’t feel too bad about it though it got her thinking as to how exactly Gabrielle had gotten in to see her much earlier on.
“You don’t look fine, Ava.” Her mother tsked.
“I don’t know who could have made up such a story about you. I was so scared seeing you on trial that I…”
Her father put a hand on her mother’s shoulder as if to calm her down while exchanging a glance with Ava. It wasn’t like he wasn’t worried himself but he had to stay strong for his mate’s sake.
Ava hugged her mother. “It doesn’t matter. Thank the Goddess that it is all over now.”
“Thank the goddess.” Her mother intoned. “The nurse said that we couldn’t see you for too long as you are still recovering. Perhaps we should leave.”
“There’s no need for that, I am not feeling tired.” Ava said only to find herself yawning as though on cue.
Hell, didn’t she just wake up?
“We’ll leave you to rest for now.” Her mother said pecking her forehead.
“Take care of yourself.” Her father said somewhat gruffly before ruffling her hair.
Someone knocked on the door and Alex stepped in.
“Alex!” Ava was pleasantly surprised to see her brother but he seemed even more surprised to see their parents where they were.
“Alex, what are you doing here? You should be helping Adrian interrogate the assailant.” Arthur asked, looking more serious than Ava had ever seen him.
“I’ll tell you all about it later Dad, for now, I want to talk to Ava alone about something important.”
“But the doctor said…”
“Don’t worry, Mom, I’ll be fine.”
Their parents left them alone in the room giving them privacy while eyeing Alex curiously.
Once they were alone, Alex faced her, all traces of humour gone.
“Is it true that Adrian found you in bed with a wolf from the Primo pack?”
Ava opened her mouth and shut it, stunned and speechless.
“What?” She finally managed to get out.
“Ava, I need you to tell me the truth. I know you. You might not like Adrian or want the bond but there is no way you would have done something like that. So why did Adrian kill Shawn?”
Ava didn’t know what to say. Her brother knew her tells better than even she did. She wouldn’t be able to bluff with him the way she had with Adrian. He would know she was lying if she didn’t tell him the full story about Gabrielle. Goddess. She was so fucked.
“Who told you Adrian killed anyone? Besides if he did it would be for a good reason.”
Ava focused on that detail. There, she hadn’t lied or omitted anything. She’d just refused to volunteer any useful information.
“Ava, for the goddess’s sake, look at me when you speak.” With his dark brown hair so similar to hers and his brown eyes, he looked so much like their dad that he was almost impossible to lie to up close.
How could she find the words to explain that even she had not had the ability to decongest what had happened to her that night? That she didn’t remember anything. No flashes, no thoughts, just this intense feeling of violation and her sister had done that to her.
Ava looked up at her brother. “I– I…”
To her greatest surprise, she began to cry. It wasn’t the quiet silent tears but the large bawling kind. Alex stood stock still for a minute then he closed the distance between them and took Ava in his arms.
She sat sobbing in his arms unable to form any words.
“Ava, it’s alright. It’s alright, I’m here.”
He rubbed her back, consoling her. After some time had passed, Ava was able to get herself under control.
She felt a little bit embarrassed at how she had broken down so easily and completely but she understood that it was due to the fact this was the first time since the event happened that she had been given the opportunity to say her own side of the story by someone who was ready to listen without bias and wouldn’t kill Gabby for what she had done.
Her head still tucked into her brother’s chest, she spoke.