Ava
“Braiden.” The woman addresses him with such informality that a spike of jealousy blooms before I push it back
down.
“Selene. What are you doing here?” Braiden asks, his tone devoid of emotion.
His eyes don’t leave me, roaming my face as I squirm under his scrutiny and in this situation. The intrusion is a
godsend, considering how I had lost my head moments ago and nearly let this stranger mark me. This stranger, the
King.
“I need to talk to you,” Selene says with an air of authority that I would have thought would have irked Braiden.
Instead, he takes a st ep back from me and turns around, allowing me to see the woman who has managed to pull
him from this moment.
I almost roll my eyes at how pretty she is. The Moon Goddess must have been having a laugh. She was definitely
mate material for a king, not me.
“Perfect. Because I need to leave,” I say, taking the opportunity to brush past Braiden. Selene eyes me with distaste
as I pass her, my nose scrunching up in disgust when I smell she reeks of Braiden. Part of me wants to rip her to
shreds, but another part is glad. I don’t want this. I don’t want any part of this. My life is simple and quiet—just me
and Nick. No pack drama. No mate drama. A drama-free life.
“You’re not going anywhere. Nick is busy, and none of my people will take you back to Old Town,” Braiden
drawls, his words doing nothing to ease the irritation ignited by Selene.
“I’ll walk then!” I shout, exiting the room and slamming the door shut behind me.
Fuming, I march down the long corridor, almost jumping in fright when I catch a reflection in one of the mirrors I
pass. I cringe when I realize it is me. I approach it, my hands flying to my hair, which is everywhere.
“Fuck, man,” I grumble, running my hands unsuccessfully through my hair and whining when I encounter a large
knot at the back.
“You must be Ava!” A woman squeals, appearing beside me and making me jump with fright.
“I’m Briana. But you can call me Bri. What are you doing?” she asks, her big blue eyes staring at me while her
bleached blonde hair bounces with volume I envy. She must only be around eighteen, but she is at least a head
taller than me. And she looks like someone, though I cannot pinpoint who.
“I, um, I’m looking for the exit,” I say, my words causing the beautiful grin to fall from her face.
“You’re leaving? But you just woke up,” she whines, her shoulders slumping as if I have given her the worst news
in the world.
“I have things I need to do,” I answer weakly, feeling guilty even though I have no reason to.
“Well, you can’t leave looking like that, and you haven’t eaten yet!” Her face brightens up as she grabs my hand
and starts pulling me toward a door on the right—a room. Her room, by the looks of all the clothes strewn across
the place. Expensive ones.
My stomach growls loudly. Just mentioning food activates my hunger, making me realize how starved I am.
“Your stomach can’t lie!” she laughs as she drags me through the room and into the ensuite bathroom.
“Have a shower, and a new toothbrush is under the sink. You can use my brush,” she gushes, her face lighting up as
she holds up the pretty, bright yellow hairbrush.
“When you are done, we can go find some food. And then you can be on your way.” She winks at me before she
closes the door, leaving me dumbfounded.
What bizarre nonsense is this? It’s like I have been transported to someone else life.
I lean forward, examining my reflection. The mess on my head seals the deal as I strip off my clothes and hop into
the shower, energized by thoughts of es caping this place. The cut on my upper thigh stings as dried blood washes
away, tainting the water red.
Shit, I forgot about that. About shifting. I need to get away from here and quickly. The idea that the white wolf is
the reincarnation of the Moon Goddess is just ridiculous. What a load of crock. The Moon Goddess wouldn’t
reincarnate into this body. This one was riddled with scars and bits of silver. It was a mistake. Cast out by my own
pack. Rejected by a mate that the same Moon Goddess was supposed to have picked. And now stuck with one who
was not just the King of all wolves but was clearly in a relationship with another woman. No, thank you.
By the time I climb out, there is a fresh pair of clothing on the basin, courtesy of Bri. I am surprised these clothes fit
me like a glove. She is taller and skinnier than I am. Even the slip-on black shoes fit perfectly and are so
comfortable it’s like wearing a cloud. They are also designer and way too fancy for the walk I had in mind. I brush
my teeth and hair, feeling a million times better than I did an hour ago. Food would have to wait, though, as I
needed to get the hell out of dodge.
“And?” Bri asks as I exit the bathroom, her face excited. “Do you feel better?”
“Much. Thank you. I’ll have the clothes sent back to you when I get home.” I smile at her, running a hand over the
gorgeous figure-hugging black top and pants I am wearing.
“Come, let's go get some food,” she says, pulling my hand and dragging me out of the room and back down the
passage we were in earlier.
“I really can’t, Bri,” I protest, trying to pull my hand back.
“But Nick is waiting for you.” Those words out of her mouth have me reconsidering. He would take me home.
“He is here still? Why hasn’t he come for me?” I ask as she continues leading us down the long corridor.
“He was busy with his mate, I suppose,” she says cheerily. “I can’t wait to find my mate. It must be so lovely to
have someone made only for you.
And you only for them.” Her voice is dreamy, probably like mine used to be
when I was younger—before I was rejected by the one meant to love and acc ept me. With the King already in a
relationship with someone who suited him better, I couldn't bear their mating while this bond still lingered between
us.
I always knew when Alpha Alexander was sle eping with another woman.
It would be like a knife through my heart every time it happened, the pain shooting through my body for the
duration of their encounter. Lucky for me, Alpha Alexander was a selfish lover, and it was often over fairly
quickly. However, he did have an impressive recovery time.
Thoughts go back to Braiden's mouth on my neck, how delicious it felt.
That encounter alone told me he might not be as selfish a lover as my ex- mate. Not something I wished to endure
while he shacked up with Selene.
So, I would reject him. Yes. That was a good idea.
Find the King, reject him, and then leave—the perfect plan.
I’m so wrapped up in the happy plan I have formulated that I don’t notice where we are until the noise in the room
fades.
I look around, a sea of faces looking back at me. At the back of the room, on a raised platform, sits Braiden on his
throne. His grey eyes lock with mine, challenging me. Next to him is an empty chair, similar in grandeur to his
own. Must be for Selene, I think, hurt surfacing before I squash it down.
No. I would not be second best this time. Resolute, I school my features, ready for this rejection.