Page 37 of Ava: Part One

Ava was in a barely-there swimming suit, her eyes closed as she lay on a lounger in the sun. And Jared was sitting next to her, rubbing something on her body. His claws extended as he watched the bastard lift her arm and start rubbing it.

He put his hands on Ava’s body.

Ava’s eyes were closed, but she smiled at Jared, obviously enjoying it. His claws cut into his palms, but the pain didn’t register. And then she moaned.

She moaned and let Jared continue touching her body.

That sound caused havoc in his body even as his rage increased. Shadow’s rage increased, covering everything with a red haze that took him back to memories he didn’t like remembering. The rage felt almost like the night Shadow had emerged and shown everyone who he really was. So uncontrollable and unstoppable. His hands started to change, and his face tightened as the shift began.

When he saw her flinch, Shadow pulled back and concentrated more on Ava’s pain. Even from this distance, he could see the cuts and bruises all over her frail body. That momentary distraction was all he needed to take control of Shadow and shove him back where he belonged.

He turned away from Ava and Jared before he could see anything else that would set Shadow off again and jogged back to his house as quietly as he had come.

The girls were still in the pool, and Claire’s unwelcome scent tethered him as it had done the day of the assembly. Derek and Myles had left them, which was good. He didn’t need them questioning him about his state. He kept clenching and unclenching his bloody fists as he tried to ignore the threateninggrowls in his head. Shadow was becoming a danger to everyone. He believed his mate was with another man.

He tried not to think of what he had seen so he could calm the other half of him, but the wolf’s pain was his pain.

His chest was caving in.

His heart had been cut open.

“I thought you’d be gone longer than that,” Claire said. "You've been walking a lot lately."

He frowned at the way she said that but didn't respond as he sat back on the lounger. He didn’t pick his beer back up. He probably shouldn’t have touched it in the first place because it made his human side mellow, but he’d thought he had placated Shadow enough with the nighttime visit and contact with Ava. He’d thought it would be safe to loosen up a little.

“Where did you go?”

Could the woman not see he was struggling here? Could she not tell he was about to lose control?

“You probably need to sleep more. It’s not good to stay out all the time.”

That made him look at her sharply. What did she know about him staying out all the time?

“I think you’re right. I need to sleep. You should go.”

He didn’t miss the look she gave him before she looked down and gave a fake smile.

“Of course. Call me when you need me.”

He didn’t know how long they took to leave, but the moment her scent was gone, it was replaced by Ava’s. He growled and shoved Shadow back.

Was this what the whole semester would be like? Constantly struggling not to kill people? Craving the human like she was the air he breathed? It was only the first week, but he had already stopped several disasters. How much more of this could he take?

Chapter 27

Ava felt her muscles relax, and a wave of relief washed through her whole body. Jared’s hands were like magic on her sore body.

“That feels amazing,” she said sleepily. “What is it?”

“A little something I get whipped up by a witch at home. Helps after hard training sessions,” Jared answered. “If I had known it worked on humans, I would have given it to you sooner.”

The fact that anyone with supernatural healing powers needed something like this made her feel anxious again.

She flinched when Jared touched a more painful spot on her back. It brought her mind back to the present.

“Sorry,” Jared said.

“It’s fine.”

---