Chapter Six
Ava’s POV
As soon as I left the gathering, I decided to go to the guest house to stay. I could not stand sharing bed with him. The knock at the guesthouse door pulled me back to the present. My heart sank when I caught his scent–a familiar, dominant musk mixed with forest and storm. I knew immediately it was him, Hunter. Despite the icy resolve. I’d built up over days, my pulse
quickened as he opened the door, stepping
in without invitation.
“Ava.” His deep voice was calm but intense, like the quiet before a
thunderstorm. His sharp gaze traveled over me, lingering on the few bags at my feet.
“Running off in the middle of the night… What are you trying to prove?”
My jaw tightened. “It’s not a game, Hunter. I’m leaving the pack. Permanently.” I kept my voice even, cold.
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He laughed, though it sounded almost. bitter. “Leaving? You know omegas can’t just walk away from the bond.”
I met his gaze squarely. “I can, and I will.” My voice didn’t waver, though every inch of me ached to keep it together.
Hunter‘ s jaw flexed as he took a step closer. He towered over me, his alpha aura washing over the room, demanding submission. “I’ve been patient, Ava. I’ve given you time, let you cool off. I even sent Katherine away for you.”
A sharp pang shot through me at her name. Katherine had been my best friend before she started openly flaunting her interest in Hunter, taunting me with flirtations she knew he wouldn’t refuse.
“It’s not about Katherine.” My words came out sharper than I’d intended, and his eyes narrowed.
“Then what is it?” He searched my face, his tone softening, though he couldn’t
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hide his frustration. “I’ve claimed you, Ava. You‘ re my mate.”
I laughed bitterly. “Mate? Really, Hunter? You mean that mark you forced on me at the mating ceremony? That wasn’t a choice. It was an obligation–because I was declared your fated mate. Don’t pretend you were happy about it.
“You‘ re twisting this,” he growled, his voice growing harder. “You know full well what being my mate means. And it wasn’t an obligation. The pack chose us together for a reason.”
I could feel his presence pulsing against. me, pushing me toward submission. But I’d been fighting that urge for years, and now I was done. “I’m done being your obedient omega,” I spat. “I’m done pretending this…bond means anything to you. Or to me.”
Hunter‘ s expression faltered for a moment, as if he hadn‘ t expected my stance to be so solid. “You said once we
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were a perfect match,” he said, his voice almost pleading. “You said you loved me.”
“Did I?” I looked at him, letting my anger burn through the pain. “Maybe that was before you pressured me to bear the weight of your pack politics and make peace with Katherine. Before you told me to step aside when you wanted her by your side, for the
‘good of the pack.‘
His eyes darkened, and he took another step forward, closing the space between us. “Katherine‘ s out of the picture now. I’ll prove it to you.”
I took a step back, lifting my chin defiantly. “You shouldn’t have to prove anything if you truly respected the bond we have.”
Hunter’s fists clenched, his chest heaving as he fought for control. “I’m Alpha, Ava. I have responsibilities. Sometimes sacrifices have to be made for the pack.”
“And what about your responsibility to
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me?” I shot back. “I’ve supported you since the day you marked me, Hunter. I’ve stood beside you, even when you treated me like nothing more than a pawn. And now? I’m nothing to you.”
He reached out, but I jerked away. For a moment, something raw and vulnerable flickered in his eyes, quickly masked by the unyielding dominance he wore like armor.
“I never said you were nothing,” he whispered. “Don‘ t twist my words.”
“Actions speak louder than words.” I held his gaze firmly, fighting the surge of emotions that threatened to break through.
“You pushed me away for too long, and I’ve finally realized I deserve more.”
“More?” Hunter‘ s voice hardened, his gaze chilling. “And where exactly do you plan to find this ‘more‘ ?”
I straightened, refusing to let him intimidate me. “I’ll find it on my own. I don’t need you, Hunter. I’m leaving, and
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there’s nothing you can say to stop me.”
A low growl rumbled in his chest, and he advanced again, stopping only inches from me. “You think you can walk away from the bond? From me? I won’t let you, Ava. You‘ re mine.”
His words sent a shiver through me, though I hated how his alpha command made my knees weaken. “You can’t command loyalty, Hunter. It has to be earned, and you lost it the moment you chose Katherine over me.”
Something snapped in his expression, and his hands curled around my shoulders, his grip firm but not painful. “Then let me earn it back,” he said, his voice softer, almost desperate. “Give me a chance to fix this.”
I met his gaze, searching for any hint of the man I’d once believed in. But all I saw was his desperation, his need to control.
“I can’t, Hunter. It’s too late.”
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He inhaled sharply, releasing me, his hands falling to his sides. The silence stretched between us, heavy and painful. I could see the conflict in his eyes, the clash between his need for control and his pride.
“You‘ re making a mistake, Ava,” he finally said, his voice strained. “Leaving me, leaving the pack–it‘ s dangerous. You won’t survive without our protection.”
I laughed, though there was no humor in it.
“I’ve been surviving without your protection for years, Hunter. I’ve endured your indifference, your betrayal. I can handle whatever lies beyond that door.”
He stared at me, his jaw tight, as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t bring himself to let the words out.
I took a steadying breath and reached for my bag. “Goodbye, Hunter.”
As I turned to leave, his voice stopped me, low and rough. “Ava. I’ll give you time, but don’t think I’m giving up. You‘ re
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still mine, and I’ll make you see that.”
I didn’t look back. “We’ll see about that.”
With one last breath, I turned away.
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