Page 69 of Ava: Part Two

Jared sighed and closed his eyes.

“I told you I’ve been to Isolation before. It was the worst experience of my life and my wolf... He was more affected than me. I can’t always rely on him now,” Jared stated. “Sometimes, I don’t heal quickly and rely on witchy potions. Sometimes, I can’t sense any danger around me. Sometimes, I can’t tell when my enemies are lurking in the woods, ready to attack my friends.”

The last part he said so softly. When he opened his eyes, she could see how upset he was.

“I really didn’t know Claire was in the woods that night,” he whispered. “Out of everyone who was there, you were my only real friend. I would never...”

His voice trailed off, and he closed his eyes again. And her heart hurt when she accepted that it was the truth. She had been so quick to trust Zeke when he blamed Jared for that attack, and Jared himself had lashed out when she had gone to get her things from his house that it had been easy to believe.

But here was Jared now. A wolf who wasn’t healing. An Alpha who was not an Alpha. The proof was right in front of her eyes.

“I don’t know what to say. I came to see you when I felt better, but you were just so hateful.”

“Because I’m an asshole. You were right about that. It’s why people only come here when I throw parties. It’s why I’m alone right now, and my pack shows more respect and loyalty to Ezekiel,” Jared said. And then he slowly shifted onto his back.

He looked like he was in so much pain from that little movement that she stood up quickly to help him. When she helped him to settle, she felt how hot and clammy his skin was, like he was running a fever. He was likely infected if he hadn’t been taking care of his wounds.

“I think you really need the Infirmary—”

“No. An Alpha who can’t heal? I’ll be the joke of the academy.”

“Your wounds need treating, Jared. What about that cream you gave me? Have you run out?”

“I’ve been using it twice a day. I’ll be fine soon.”

Twice a day? She’d only had that cream once, and the effects had been long-lasting. Very long-lasting. Did it work differently on humans? But right then, Jared looked very much human. There should have been some improvement.

“Look, thank you for coming; I really needed to clear the air,” Jared continued. “But I should have stayed away when I saw that Ezekiel was fixated on you. I saw him from the first night; he was always watching and always in the background. I think it’s best if you go back to his house but just watch your back. I’m on borrowed time already; I don’t want to make him angry.”

“What do you mean by borrowed time? Is he going to keep coming after you?”

“Zeke is waiting to kill me, Little Red. The day he becomes Alpha is the day I die. That's why there's no one here, because I'm an Alpha in name only. So I’ll stay away from both of you and keep my life a little longer. Go home, Ava.”

She sat back down heavily on the chair. Her limbs weakened, and she felt the blood draining from her face. Was Ezekiel so blase about killing people? Claire, the wolves in the woods and now Jared? Was that why everyone was so scared of him?

Before she could say anything else, she heard a loud crash downstairs.

"Shit!" Jared groaned.

Chapter 46

Zekecrashedthroughthefront door and looked around. All the curtains were drawn, so it was dark inside. There were only two people in this house, all alone like a couple of lovers.

He growled as he followed Ava’s scent up the stairs.

She was supposed to be in his bed sleeping, not hanging out with his enemy.

“Ava!”

His voice was low, on the verge of shifting. It didn’t matter now what he did to Jared. Once he and Ava left the academy, he would likely never be allowed to return. He would never graduate to be officially recognised as the Alpha.

But he would be Alpha anyway. He and Shadow agreed on that.

When he reached the top of the stairs, his steps faltered when he saw his mate coming out of the master bedroom. And she was terrified. Her heart was beating so fast and so loud that he had to tune it out to concentrate. It felt like he had been transported back to when Ava had hidden in her room in fear.

Why would she be scared now? Just a couple of hours ago, she’d kissed him publicly like she was claiming him. She had melted in his arms. The scent of her arousal had turned him inside out, and had there not been all the other scents and heartbeats of the people around him, he would have completely lost his head. She had been ready to go all the way.

“What are you doing here, Ava?”

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