Chapter One
Ava’s POV
The day I found out I was pregnant, my mate, Alpha Hunter, posted a photo on the pack’s feed. His arm was wrapped around my best friend, Katherine, her bare, swollen belly resting against him as they posed in front of a cozy fire. The caption read: “There’s nothing stronger than the bond of pack… and family.” His hand, marked with the same mate‘ s band I wore, was splayed across her belly. It was unmistakable.
I clenched my jaw, barely able to breathe as I typed a quick comment,
“Congratulations.”
Within seconds, my phone buzzed. Katherine’s voice, breathless and shaky, was on the other end. “Ava, I’m so sorry. I only posted it to get back at Kade after we argued! I swear it wasn‘ t supposed to mean anything!”
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I could feel my heart racing, but before I could answer, Hunter’s voice came through the line, cold and sharp. “Ava, I know you‘ re reading too much into this. You‘ re so obsessed with being a mother that you‘ re letting jealousy twist everything around you. No wonder you haven’t been able to conceive.”
The line went dead, but I barely noticed. I was numb.
Minutes later, another alert popped up. Katherine had posted again. “Counting down the days until I’ll have two strong alphas protecting me.” Hunter had already liked it.
It felt like a blade twisting in my chest. Without a word, I took off my mate‘ s band, tossed it into the woods nearby, and headed back to the healer‘ s quarters to cancel the appointment I’d made for a fertility check.
Later that night, for once, Hunter came home before the moon had risen. He found
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the untouched herbal remedies and
supplements tossed in the waste bin and scowled. We decided to opt for herbs since. the drugs from the hospital weren’t having an effect. To Hunter, I am just a barren wife.
“Are you throwing a tantrum over nothing?” He raised a brow. “So petty.”
My voice was steady, almost detached. “I’m not angry.”
He laughed, a low, mocking sound. “You threw out the fertility herbs, but sure, you‘ re not mad. Do whatever you want. But remember, you‘ re the one who’s desperate, Ava. Not me.”
I was gripping the edge of the counter, trying to steady myself, when he handed me a small, dark box. “This is from Jen. She feels bad, alright? She’s young,
inexperienced… She wanted to make things right with you.”
Inside was a crystal bead. Katherine‘ s
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favorite. She likes it a lot, in fact she loves it so much she wears it everyday causing it to be worn out and scratched, I could see the deep scuffs around the beads. They weren’t new, far from it. But the fact she’d even given them to him as a ‘gift‘ felt like a slap to the face.
“Take them,” Hunter insisted, his voice. edged with annoyance. “She’s been struggling lately, Ava. She doesn’t have much, and she knows this means a lot to her so it should to you.”
Just hours ago, Katherine had posted a picture wearing brand–new jade beads, captioned- “To the best alpha in the world. When favoritism feels like love.”
When I didn’t reach for the boots, Hunter’s face hardened. “Ava, seriously? You‘ re almost twenty–five, acting like a jealous pup. You know Katherine has no family, nothing but this pack, and still you. treat her like this?”
His voice rose in irritation as he tossed the
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box onto the table, hard enough to make it rattle. I winced as it brushed past my head, catching me on the temple.
Hunter’s eyes widened, realizing what he‘ d done. “Ava, I didn’t mean–let me see it.”
I pulled away from his hand, blinking back tears. “I’m fine.”
Ignoring my protests, he pushed my hand aside, inspecting the bump starting to form. His face shifted from anger to something almost like worry. “That’s not fine. Hold on, I’ll get some ice.”
He was halfway across the room when his phone buzzed, and I watched as his face.
softened at the name on the screen-
“Peckels”
“Hunter!” Katherine’s voice came
through, fragile, breaking.
He stiffened, holding the phone close.
“Jen, what’s wrong?”
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“I… I’m scared,” she whimpered. “It’s just… My stomach hurts. I don‘ t know if it’s the baby or…”
Hunter‘ s tone softened, and his eyes clouded with worry. “Jen, why didn’t you call me sooner? You‘ re supposed to let me know immediately if anything‘ s wrong.
Her voice was quiet, unsure. “I… I didn’t want to get in between you and Ava. I thought you might need to be with her tonight.”
Hunter chuckled, warm and reassuring. “Silly girl, there’s nothing Ava needs. from me that can’t wait. Your safety comes first. Send your location. I’m coming.”
He hung up, turning back to me, irritation flashing again in his eyes. “Did you hear that? Katherine‘ s worried about you, and here you are, acting ridiculous. I’m taking her to the healer. I’ll grab ice for you on the way back.”
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“Hunter,” I murmured, just as he was reaching for his jacket.
He turned, clearly exasperated. “Ava, stop being so… needy. This is about two lives- hers and the pup‘ s! Don’t make this about your own insecurities.”
I watched him, knowing better than to argue. Instead, I walked calmly to the coat. closet, pulled out the worn leather satchel where he kept his belongings, and took out a small card. “Katherine’s health records. You’ll need it if the healer asks.”
Hunter looked taken aback for a second, then he reached out and took it from my hand. “Thanks,” he murmured, almost begrudgingly.
His gaze remained on me, as if he might say something, but I forced a small smile, tilting my head. “Drive safe.”
I reached up, my hand brushing his collar, straightening it the way I always did. His expression softened just slightly, his hand.
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reaching up to touch my shoulder.
“I’ll be back soon. Wait for me.”
I nodded, not trusting my voice, as he walked out the door and disappeared into the night. I stood alone in the quietness of the house, the fire slowly dying down to
embers. I could still hear Katherine‘ s laughter echoing in my head, her voice
intertwined with his….
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