“What do you mean you are leaving?” Adrian was confused. “You said you forgave me.”
She removed her hand from his arm and he could see her mentally pulling away even before she spoke.
“I do forgive you. I will do anything for you but this I have to do for me.” She blinked and a tear dropped on her cheek.
“If I stay with you, I will die slowly every time I see you with her. With your child. I will grow to resent you and slowly I’ll become someone that I am not. I can’t share you, Adrian, and I can’t ask you to abandon your child. Please don’t make this any more difficult than it already is.”
Ava moved to leave as though he could let her leave his life so quickly and so easily. He blocked her path. If he could explain to her, show her that they still had a chance then she would stay. She had to. He couldn’t live without her.
“You can’t leave. We are fated mates. We are going to be together forever. Ivy will have my child but you are the only one I love. The only relationship between Ivy and I will be that of co-parents. I promise I feel nothing for her. I don’t even know how that night happened, I can’t even–”
Ava laughed.
“You don’t? So you didn’t leave bruises on her? Did perhaps she fall on top of your–” Ava shut her eyes as though in pain at just the thought of it. “You know what? I don’t even care about this anymore.”
She brushed past him, he let her distracted by the thought of what she had just said. How did she know he had bruised Ivy? Ivy must have told her, taunted her.
He suddenly began to reimagine what had happened for Ava to lose her temper and hit Ivy. Goddess, to think he had taken Ivy’s side. His mistakes were unending.
He went after her and embraced he4 from behind holding her in place.
“Adrian.” Her voice broke.
This was hurting her as much as it was him if not more, so why was she hurting herself? Was that how much she hated him now?
“I can’t let you go. Even if it means chaining you to our bed until you see reason.”
Surely it wouldn’t come down to that.
“Very well.” Ava sounded broken, so devoid of life, unlike her usual self. “I, Ava Black, reject you, Adrian Gavin, as my mate.”
The pain was sudden and unexpected so much so that he let go of her. They were already fully mated, a rejection wouldn’t sever their bond completely but it would damage it severely.
The bond between them contracted and for a moment it was all Adrian could do to breathe, he sucked in air greedily as though it would take away the excruciating pain in his chest, in his psyche.
When Adrian finally got control of the pain, he saw Ava passed out cold in front of him, her chest barely moving.
“Ava!”
******
“I got something for you.”
Cynthia smiled but her mind was on her conversation with Ivy. Had that woman lost her mind? She needed to see Ava, especially after that impromptu meeting where Adrian had made Ivy his consort.
Cynthia’s jaw had nearly become unhinged. Just the day before, she had given Ava sine sexual tips thinking that perhaps Ava was overreacting only for Adrian to do this a day later. It would seem the night hadn’t gone as planned.
That morning, as Adrian announced, Ivy had looked on with an extra smug expression that for some reason made Cynthia think of Rhea and her last conversation with them before she stabbed her. She has said something about Ivy ruining something.
Why did Cynthia feel that was somehow connected to what was happening?
Discomfited by what had just happened, she had returned home pensive as Calvin had left to get something. Cole seemed to pick up her mood and got extremely fussy so she decided to take him for a walk to get him relaxed.
That was when Ivy approached her with a sly grin. Somehow she had found out about almost everything that she had done but she didn’t seem to know about Dorian. Cynthia was unable to tell whether she meant to blackmail her rather than solicit for her help so she just looked at her while she spoke.
“So what do you say? Shall we partner up?” Ivy asked.
“I’m sorry I do not have a clue about what you are talking about. I never spoke with Rhea or conspired against Adrian and Ava.” Ivy would not come and ruin the little peace she had managed to find.
“You must have your facts wrong, I’m afraid.”
Ivy’s fake smile dropped.
“You are making a mistake, Cynthia. You don’t want me as an enemy.”
Cynthia took a step forward.
“Neither do you. You have no idea what I can do. Now run off and find another person to intimidate into joining your little crew.”
Ivy’s cheeks reddened and she walked away angrily. Maybe Cynthia would come to regret it later but in that moment, she couldn’t find an iota of regret. Cole and Calvin were more important than any half-baked plot. Besides, Ava was already growing on her.
“What did you get for me?” Cynthia looked at the package in Calvin’s hand curiously.
“Why don’t you check it out yourself?”
Calvin handed the parcel over to her.
Cynthia unwrapped it, her mind leaving the awkward experience with a note to herself to check in on Ava in person.
It was a ring. It had a beautiful platinum band with a diamond in the centre.
She looked at Calvin, tears in her eyes.
“It’s beautiful. You shouldn’t have. It isn’t even part of our customs and…”
“I had to. You deserve this and more.”
Goddess, how was she to remain firm if this man kept dropping lines like these? He seemed so unreal. She didn’t deserve him. He was too good, pure and kind. She would do all she could to be worthy of him and what they shared.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Calvin kissed her and she dropped the ring box on the table and pulled him close.
“Bedroom?” Calvin asked, his voice hoarse when they pulled apart.
Cynthia nodded dazedly. Cole was asleep, tired out from his tiny tantrum and a sound meal. They could have the rest of the afternoon to themselves and she would show him exactly how grateful she could be–
There was a knock on the door. Cynthia cursed this time. All she wanted was a moment of Calvin’s time, who would come here– she recalled what had happened with Ava. Could it be Ava?
When she opened the door with Calvin next to her, it wasn’t Ava but a pack warrior. Instantly she was on edge.
“Gamma, the Elder council has summoned you.”
Suddenly she remembered what day it was and her dreams began to fracture as reality crept in.
***********
He looked at Ava as she lay in bed. The pain had been too much for her. She had done that to herself rather than to stay with him. He had destroyed what they had and now there was no going back.
The pack doctor had seemed bothered but he hadn’t told her the full story. Yep, the last thing he wanted was for Ivy and her father to get wind of this.
They had gotten Ava hooked on an IV and given her some mild painkillers. The doctor said that further testing would need to be undergone before conclusions could be made. He was waiting for the doctor to come in for the tests when Calvin rushed in.
“Adrian, we’ve got a problem.”
Adrian didn’t look away from Ava. He would wait here until she awoke. Until he could beg her again.
“It can wait.”
“I wish it could but it really can’t. The attacks have started up again.”
Adrian looked at him.
“What attacks?”
“Turns out the Silverwolf pack was innocent. Because the RiverTide pack got taken out last night by rogues exactly the way Midnight was.”
Adrian’s fingers trembled slightly. They had been deceived. The war was on again and his mate just rejected him.
“The Elders have called an emergency meeting, we could be hit next.” Calvin looked at Ava, his features softening. “I don’t know what the story is between both of you but right now, we have bigger problems.”
He was right. The pack came first and always. For the first time in his life, Adrian wished he wasn’t the Alpha of his pack.
He kissed Ava’s cheek and whispered in her ear even if he knew she couldn’t hear him.
“I love you.”
Standing up to his full height, he hid his emotions. He had a duty to fulfil.
“Let’s go.”