Chapter 2
“She refuses to admit and I-” Greg’s hands jerked away from her like she’d burned him, his face going pale.
“Leave. Now.” Once the enforcers had left and closed the door behind them, Zarek took one of the seats opposite her, his blue eyes tired. He looked tortured, just as he had each time he’d stepped between Ava and Serina in the past few months.
She could feel how deeply it hurt him to choose sides; his pain chafed her nerve endings like sandpaper. That was what it was like for Seers: picking up positive emotions created pleasant, warm sensations. Negative emotions, however, could cause anything from mild discomfort to excruciating pain.]]
Despite Zarek’s hurt, Ava couldn’t muster any sympathy for him. They had been in a relationship for almost eighteen months. If there was one person in this pack who knew Ava well, it was Zarek. If there was one person who should have seen through all the lies, it was him. Yet even he had jumped on the “Ava can’t be trusted” bandwagon.
It was hard to believe this male was the same man who had once spoken of bonding with her.
“What’s my execution date?” Not that Ava honestly thought Matt would order that.
“No one is going to execute you.” Zarek sounded so tired that she almost felt bad for him. Almost.
“Well then, if you’re going to banish me from the pack, get it over with.” She could have left at any time, but she hadn’t been prepared to let anyone drive her out of her own pack, particularly not some vindictive, unhinged skank. And she’d figured that everyone would see through Serina’s act eventuava, that because she was innocent the matter would soon fix itself.
“You’re not going to be banished.“]
Well, that was reAva a surprise. “Does this mean you doubt what your mate claimed I did?“]
Zarek seemed to struggle for words. “I know that it doesn’t sound like you, but you haven’t been yourself lately. I believe you didn’t set out to kill Serina, but the fact is that you did assault her. I’ve given you a lot of leeway, Ava. I’ve overlooked a lot of things, but I can’t overlook this. I can’t.”
“So are Serina and I going to have a one–on–one instead?” How grand.[]
“No.”
Of course not. Serina might be Beta female, but her level of dominance didn’t exceed Ava’s. Serina wouldn’t want to chance being defeated by someone of lower rank. “Ive apparently harassed and attacked her. Her wolf should be going crazy for vengeance. That alone should have caused her to challenge me.”
“0
He scrubbed a hand down his face. “A part of her feels sorry for you. She said she can understand why you’re jealous. She admits that she’d feel just as devastated and bitter in your position. She even argued to keep you in the pack when Matt was ready to banish you.“[]
Ava double–blinked, shocked. “She did what?”
“She doesn’t want you to be out there all alone. She told Matt and me that if you apologize and vow to end your jealous behavior, she’ll even be happy for you to escape punishment.”
And that was when Ava finAva comprehended just what Serina had been trying to accomplish all along.
Not drive Ava out of the pack.
Not have her banished or executed–or at least not yet, anyway. [
No, Serina had been trying to isolate Ava.
Trying to take away everything that was important to her. []
She wanted Ava to be miserable and alone, and she wanted a front–row seat to the show.
“All you have to do is apologize,” Zarek repeated.]
Laughing humorlessly, Ava leaned forward. “Apologize to her? I’d rather exfoliate my skin with barbed wire and then dive into a pool of chlorine.” Something that Serina would know perfectly well. “Besides, I’m not in the habit of saying sorry for stuff I haven’t done.“]
Zarek cursed under his breath. “Ava, she’s trying to help you here.“]
Ava shook her head sadly. “I never thought you’d be so easily fooled.” If his mating bond with Serina had fully developed, he would have sensed that she was lying. But still, he should have known that Ava was innocent. Should have known that even if Ava had attacked Serina in a moment of rage, she wouldn’t have lied about it. Ava owned her shit.
so if you’re not going to cast me out, and she’s not going to challenge me, what’s the punishment for my fictional crime?”
Chapter 2
“If you don’t apologize to Serina, we’ll be forced to relieve you
The words were like a blow to the head.
of
your status.”
Status was everything to wolf shifters; it gave their wolves a clear purpose and stability. As such, to strip a wolf of their status was a very serious thing, designed to cut deep, to hurt both the wolf and the human side. And it did. []
“I see.” Her tone was flat, empty of a
any emotion, and
gave away none
of her
wolf’s righteous anger.
7-
“Ava, look at me.” Whatever Zarek saw in her expression made him stiffen, as if bracing himself for impact. “I didn’t want things to be like this. Dammit, they don’t have to
be like this.”
“You’re right, they don’t. But they are because your mate is a goddamn story spinner.” Seeing that he was about to deny it, Ava quickly added, “Okay, explain to me why I would do these things she’s accused me of.“]
“Jealousy makes people do things they wouldn’t normally do,” he mumbled as he averted his words.
gaze.
The words sounded rehearsed. Ava got the feeling they were Serina’s
“You know me, Zarek. You know me. How could you believe this crap? How could you believe I’d begrudge you for mating? We both knew the score when we got together; we knew it would end if one of us found our mate. This shit happens to shifter couples all the time,” she added with a nonchalant shrug.[]
A mixture of irritation and hurt flashed on his face. “Don’t downplay what was between us, Ava. We came close to imprinting. Don’t deny it.” He raked a hand through his hair. “Look, I can understand if our abrupt separation and Serina’s presence here hurts you. I sure as hell wouldn’t have liked it if the situation were reversed, but I’d Have respected it.”
“I do respect your mating.”
“Then why did you attack her?”
“Oh, for God’s sake, I did not touch her.”
“Then how do you explain the injuries she’s sporting?”
“She must have done it all to herself!” Yes, Ava knew how that sounded, and it made her cringe. [
It was like the more she denied the allegations, the worse she looked. “I know she’s your mate, but I thought we were still friends. You won’t even listen to me, you won’t even give me the benefit of the doubt!”
“Because the evidence is all there! Serina’s got claw marks on her back, a bruised and swollen jaw, and the youths claim you left to pursue her. Then there are the text messages, the times you yelled at her, and the way you’re constantly angry-“]
“Wouldn’t you be angry if false accusations were being slung at you, and no one believed a word you had to say?“[]
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Why would she falsely accuse you of all these things?”
“Personally, I’m thinking it’s to make you and the entire pack hate me, to leave me isolated and unhappy. But I’m open to the explanation that she grew up on a diet of paint chips and glue.”
“I could never hate you.” He released a tired sigh. “I care about you, Ava, and I always will. But Serina’s my inate, and I can’t let you target her like this. Regardless of what you think, I really don’t want to ask you to step down from your position. But right now, the pack doesn’t feel like they can trust you.“[]
Good. She’d bled for this pack. Died for this pack. But now? Just erased by one woman’s Lies.
“Get me a transfer. Tonight.“}
(0)
