Page 81 of Ava: Part Three

When he pushed the doors open, the guards on either side turned to him with their hands on their weapons.

“Lesson time. Go back inside,” one of them said.

He ignored them and walked out. Maybe fresh air was what he needed.

But he caught Jared’s scent, and his anger increased. That bastard was supposed to have died the night he tried to escape with Ava. If she hadn’t come into her heat...

“I said get back inside.”

He turned his head slowly to the guards. It was clear that it meant nothing to them that he had been offered a position on the Council. Maybe that hadn’t been publicised because they hadn’t yet taken the offer. But these guards were not scared of him. They weren’t scared of Shadow. And the dominant beast was not happy about that at all.

But it was Jared’s scent they were both interested in now.

He needed to die.

His claws dug into his palms as he clenched his fists. The coppery scent of his blood filled his nose, but it didn’t hide Jared’s. The muscles in his face stretched as all his senses focused on one thing. He was on the verge of losing control.

Because of Jared Fucking Anderson.

He’d tamed his urge to rip him apart for years, but now just because his mate pitied that damn coward... Again! He had put it aside last time because she hadn't known what he had done, but now?

He could tell precisely where Jared was. He could hear the pounding of his heart, the sound of his breathing. Did he know he was in danger of breathing his last breath?

But the last thing he needed right now was to do anything that would risk the plan. Protecting Ava should be the only thing on his mind.

He closed his eyes and focused on his mate instead. Her heartbeat. Her breathing.

“I need to go for a run,” he warned the guards.

They had to know what he was by now. They had to know it was safer for them if they didn’t try to stop him.

“Not during lesson or training time. Read the rules,” the guard snapped.

He wasn’t a wolf. Zeke opened his eyes and cocked his head as he studied him. There was some magic in the air. Maybe the guard was a witch of sorts. But regardless, he should have sensed the danger he was in. Why the hell was he challenging Shadow now?

His claws lengthened more. All the muscles in his body tensed as he turned fully to the guard. The other guard was a wolf, and he kept his position but didn’t say or do anything that would be considered a threat. He should have taught his friend how to do that.

“I need to go for a run,” he repeated.

His voice was deeper.

Before the Council had infiltrated the school, he could have walked out of any lesson and gone for a run anytime he needed to. He hadn’t felt suffocated before, not when he was constantly worried about Ava, but he felt it now. He had no control here. Not anymore.

“Get back to your class, or we will throw you into Isolation,” the guard said.

He sensed more of them approaching as if these two had already called for backup, even though he hadn’t done anything to warrant that.

If he attacked them and ended up in isolation, that would put a cog in their plans. He had to think of Ava. Only Ava.

Shadow backed down from the challenge even though it pissed him off. But they both had to think things through before they gave in to their nature.

‘Let’s go,’ Shadow growled.

Shadow would take them deep into the woods, he’d calm the fuck down, and no one would get hurt. Not even Jared.

He turned away and started jogging towards the woods.

“I said stop!” the guard yelled.

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