Page 110 of Ava: Part Two

His eyes narrowed at Mr Patrick's words. He was doing that mind-reading shit again. Invading his mate's mind without permission.

He growled, and Mr Patrick turned his head to him and sighed.

"Mr Michelson, if you insist on being here, please let us concentrate," Mr Patrick said. "What do you think I'm going to do to her?"

"I don't fucking trust you," he stated.

"You don't have to trust me. Ava trusts me."

He looked at Ava, who'd opened her eyes again and was watching their exchange.

Was that true? How could she trust someone she didn't know anything about?

"He gave you a potion that made your heart stop several times in the Infirmary, and you trust him?" he asked, looking Ava in the eyes.

He wished now more than ever that they had a mental link, but Mr Patrick would probably be able to eavesdrop on that, too.

"She wasn't going to die," Mr Patrick insisted.

"I wasn't speaking to you," he growled.

This was a waste of time. He should have been out there making plans. Instead, he had to be there making sure Mr Patrick didn't try anything.

"No one is stopping you from leaving—"

"Stop doing that shit!"

Mr Patrick sighed as if he thought he was being unreasonable. They'd already wasted enough time meditating; it was time to start thinking of getting out.

"Roland!" Mr Patrick shouted.

Moments later, Ava's father walked in, holding a half-eaten sandwich.

How could he even eat at a time like this?

"Take Ezekiel out of here. It's hard for me to do anything when all I can hear are his death threats."

"I'm not leaving," he stated. "You said that the Head of Council is coming next week, and we all know he doesn't travel alone. Iulia, Diego and Andrei could come back with him. Last week when all that shit happened during the mock evaluations, there were a lot more guards than I've ever seen at this school. They've planned something big."

He stood from his seat to face Ava's father.

"You know they're not coming here to be friendly, so please, let's cut all this bullshit and get out of here. I can keep Ava safe, Alpha Morgan."

"But the moment he takes her out of here, you will never see your daughter again, Roland. If they're lucky, they can stay ahead of the Council for a little while. If they're not, they'll be dead by the end of the week."

He could tell that was the statement that swayed Alpha Morgan. The thought of his daughter dying.

He glared at Mr Patrick.

"And don't forget that even your other children won't be safe if Ava leaves," Mr Patrick continued.

And that was the statement that swayed Ava.

He was outnumbered. Only he knew Ava wasn't staying to fight; she was staying to hand herself over.

He shook his head and walked out of the room. He needed air, but he didn't want to go for a run with his father this close to Ava. Halfway down the drive, he caught a scent that riled him up some more. Jared stood across the road as if he had been watching the house. He had some colour on his face now, but he could sense he hardly had any strength in him.

He would have sensed that coward if he hadn't been preoccupied with Mr Patrick.