Page 25 of Ava: Part Three

Breakfast was the same. She ate alone at the table. No one tipped her tray. No one said a word. And when Claire and her friends walked into the dining hall, they didn't even look at her. They got their food and sat at a table far from her as if they couldn't even sense her.

But she knew they could. They were just playing games with her until they made their move.

By the time the training session started, her nerves were shot. She didn't pay much attention as the coach demonstrated something, so she got it wrong when it was her turn on the mat. She got most things wrong. But still, nothing happened.

In detention, she once again ignored Mr Patrick. There were a couple of other students in there with her, so thankfully, he couldn't speak. She was going to do this on her own; all she wanted was for him to take care of Zeke. She repeated this thought several times so he could understand that this was her final decision.

"Miss Morgan, a word, please," Mr Patrick said at the end.

But she shook her head and left with the others.

Once she was back in her room, she blocked the window and door before she lay down on her still-unmade bed and looked up at the ceiling again.

Just outside her window, she could sense her mate. His misery added to her own as she started the vicious cycle all over again. But he would be okay once all of this was over.

The Council couldn't come quick enough. She was already tired of waiting.

Chapter 14

“Ava.”

Ava almost jumped out of her skin when she heard the voice behind her. It had been three days since Claire had come, and sleep had become non-existent, even with Zeke just outside her window. She was on constant alert, ready to defend herself if needed.

Not a single move from anyone.

“Sorry,” Jared said from behind her.

She turned around and briefly looked at his face before she lowered her gaze. He had completely healed from his run-in with Zeke’s dad so he looked his usual self, but without the flirty smile.

“I just wanted to talk. To see how you are.”

“I’m fine,” she said, adding, “Alpha Anderson.”

Jared mumbled swear words under his breath.

“I really need to go. I have to set up for training,” she said.

“Wait. I don’t know what the hell is happening around here these days, but if you need me for anything, you know where to find me,” he said as he approached her.

Jared had a temperamental wolf. She doubted he could help her with anything, but she appreciated his offer all the same.

“Why are you taking their crap?” he asked in a whisper. “You know you’re not an Ome—”

Four guards appeared right next to them as if they had been watching her closely, waiting for her to break a rule. They had been doing that for days.

“No touching,” one of them said.

“I haven’t touched her,” Jared growled.

She stepped back from him and then carried on her way. There was no point in Jared getting himself into trouble over this. A few steps ahead of her, Emily waited, ready to jump in and save her from any doom like the courageous, strong wolf she was. She rolled her eyes and walked past her to enter the training centre.

Zeke was there today. Some days, she could imagine she could still catch the scent of his cologne as if he was right next to her. Like today, the moment she walked into the building, she smelled it everywhere. The closer she walked to his dressing room, the stronger the scent became. It made her body tingle, and her toes curled as she took deep breaths. Her feet stopped moving just outside his locker room. He was in there. She closed her eyes and tried to fight her body’s reactions. She had not touched her mate in days. She had seen enough mated wolves in her pack to know she couldn’t do that much longer.

Strong arms circled her and lifted her off her feet. When she opened her eyes, she had already been dragged into the dressing room.

“Zeke!” she whispered.

But he closed the door and pressed her against it without a word before he brought his lips down to hers.

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