Page 83 of Ava: Part Three

“You will need to start accepting that that’s how it’s going to be from now on,” Dexter said quietly. “You’re different. Your wolf will demand respect, or she will see it as a challenge.”

“I don’t think she cares about that either,” she snorted.

“You beat me in the evaluations because I was a challenge for you,” Dexter said as he opened one of the textbooks he had borrowed for her.

“No, I beat you because you cheated, and you’re a bully. Big difference,” she pointed out.

Dexter’s notes were not making sense because of the mess in her head. She felt like he was challenging her even though he was still sitting non-threateningly across from her. So, was someone challenging Zeke? Maybe Dexter was right after all. Maybe she would have to make sure no one challenged her wolf, whatever her name was.

“Do you need to take a break?”

Derek pulled her thoughts back, and she realised she had broken the pencil in her hand. A break wouldn’t do any good. Zeke had to control himself and think logically about this.

Jared was an Alpha and could help them somehow in their fight with the Council. Not that she wanted to rely on him, but if it came down to it, she was sure he would do whatever he could to help. Didn’t they need allies right now?

“Ava?”

She’d spaced out again. This time, she felt the anger intensify. She sucked in a breath as she felt something unfurl in her. Her wolf. Would she react to this as if she was the one feeling the anger? Could her wolf tell whose emotions she was responding to? Or would her wolf be as confused as she was because she felt such rage... as if she would kill someone?

“Yes. Sorry. I’ll go and get a drink or something,” she said quickly.

As she walked out of the study room, she felt the eyes on her, but one in particular prickled on her skin. The librarian had looked at her oddly when she arrived, and she was doing it now.

But she had to get a grip on herself; she had no time to worry about that now.

She was still passing the librarian’s desk when she felt it. Fury. So much rage that it took her breath away. Her muscles tensed, and she felt things start to stretch and break.

She was shifting.

In the middle of a library full of innocent people!

She rushed out of the library while telling her wolf it was okay; she wasn’t in danger, but she only made it as far as the front steps before she fell to her hands and knees. Her claws scratched the stone steps, and her uniform started to rip along the seams.

What was wrong with Zeke? Were they trying to hurt him?

Red filled her vision, and this time, she knew it was hers. She was a terrible mate. How could she not have realised that Zeke needed her help?

She knew her shift was inevitable, so she mentally prepared herself for the pain.

But something snatched her from behind.

It happened so quickly that she didn’t know how she ended up in one of the study rooms, pinned against the wall. She couldn’t move.

She had already partially shifted; she could feel the change in her face when she tried to struggle against her invisible binds. Frustration had her snarling and growling, especially when she felt the source of that magic approach.

Was it time? Was he there to make her pick the sacrificial students? But she needed to get to Zeke! He wasn’t okay!

She turned her head to the door, and when it opened, Andrei and Iulia walked in.

But there was something strange about them as they quickly shut the door behind them, and Iulia chanted some sort of spell.

“Shh,” Andrei said. “You only have to fight it a little while longer. Trust me, Little One.”

She wanted to rip his head off. She would. The moment the magic released her, she would kill both of them for keeping her away from Zeke.

She would kill the whole fucking school.

“Let me go,” she growled.

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