avier’s POV
I hadn’t expected her to be Ava.
Jason’s daughter. The so–called key to peace. The one Asher was
being pushed to marry. I’d only heard her name tossed around
during council meetings, whispered like she was some pawn
being moved around the board.
But she wasn’t what I expected.
And now, my wolf had made the call I wasn’t ready for.
Mate.
Ava’s hand was still around my wrist, but then I felt it loosen.
She blinked, as if just now noticing how close we were. Her
expression shifted–confused, curious.
“Did you feel that?” she asked.
I swallowed. “Yeah. I did.”
She stared at me for a long second, her eyes narrowing slightly.
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“What does it mean?”
I knew what it meant. But I wasn’t sure I wanted to say it out
loud yet. This moment felt too delicate–like anything said too
fast could make it crumble.
“It means,” I said carefully, “that you and I are bonded. We’re
mates!”
She took a small step back, looking down at her hand like it had
betrayed her.
“That’s not possible,” she muttered. “I’d know if I had a mate. My
father said-” She stopped herself.
I raised an eyebrow. “He said what?”
She looked up again, less rattled now. “That I wouldn’t find a
mate.””
That sounded like Jason. Controlling every part of her life
down to the future she was allowed to believe in.
“Maybe he was wrong.”
She didn’t answer.
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Instead, she asked, “Who are you?”
I paused. Telling the truth could complicate everything. Not just
for me, but for Asher, Violet, all of us. So I lied.
“I’m just a guard,” I said. “Sent to monitor your father, not kill
him. The king didn’t want anything to happen to any Bear Clan
guest. He still believes in diplomacy”
Ava nodded slightly. “That makes sense. He wouldn’t risk an
incident.
She relaxed a bit, though the edge in her posture didn’t fade
completely. I didn’t expect it to. She was trained for politics, for
survival.
“I’ve got a question, though,” I said, keeping my voice casual.
“Now that you know we’re mates. would Jason still punish
me?”
That caught her off guard. She blinked again. “What?”
“If your father finds out you’re bonded to someone from the
Wolf Clan–especially one who snuck into the palace–what does
he do?”
She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she turned away
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slightly, arms crossed.
“I don’t know,” she said finally. “He’ll be angry, yes. But mates
are a sacred thing, we know this much as well. But if he’d harm you, nobody can tell.”
“You’re right,” I muttered. “He could use this to exhibit one of
his politics move.”
Ava didn’t deny it.
For a moment, neither of us said anything. I could feel the tension building between us again, but it wasn’t the same kind as before. It wasn’t about knives or secrets. It was something heavier, harder to name.
“Let me ask you something now,” I said. “Do you want to marry Asher?”
Her head whipped toward me.
“I mean it,” I added. “Do you want to be his second mate? Is that
what you really want? Or is it just about your father’s plan?”
Ava looked at me like she couldn’t decide whether to be
insulted or honest.
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“You think I want to force someone into a marriage?” she said.
“Use the Silvermoon Grass as leverage to trap a king?”
“I’m asking.”
She exhaled, frustrated. “No. That’s not what I want. I never
asked for any of this.”
“Then why are you doing it?” I asked. “Why let him drag you
into it?”
“Because he’s my father,” she said sharply. “Because this isn’t
just about me. This is about my tribe, our future. I’ve spent my
whole life preparing for a political marriage. I thought it would
be someone from one of the minor clans. Not the Alpha King.”
“And that’s supposed to make it okay?”
“No,” she said. “But I don’t have a choice. If I disobey him, I’m not
just disappointing my father. I’m betraying the whole clan.
That’s how he’ll make it look.”
I watched her closely. She wasn’t lying. I could tell.
“But now,” she added, her voice lower, “this mate bond changes
everything!”
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I didn’t respond right away. My wolf was restless, pushing at
the edges of my thoughts. He wanted me to do something.
Claim her. Take her away from all of this.
But I couldn’t act on instinct. Not now.
“Ava,” I said, “if you’re being honest–if you really don’t want
this–then maybe there’s another way!”
She looked at me cautiously. “What way?”
“We will reveal our identities to him. We figure this out.
Together. You help us get the Silvermoon Grass. We stop a war.
Violet is saved. Your father loses his leverage.”
Ava’s eyes widened slightly.
“Do you really think that would work?” she asked quietly.
“I know it’s hard to say,” I admitted. “But we wouldn’t know
until we try.”
She didn’t say anything for a moment. Her hand had dropped
from my wrist, but her posture was still tense.
“Even if I wanted to help,” she said, “I can’t access the
Silvermoon Grass. My father keeps it locked away. The council
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doesn’t even know where it is. And he’s made it clear–he only
passes it on to me after the wedding.”
“Then we stop the wedding,” I said.
“You make it sound easy.“”
“It’s not. But you’re not powerless.””
Just as I took a step closer, the sound of heavy boots echoed
down the hall.
Ava turned her head, recognizing the rhythm of the steps
instantly.
“My father,” she said under her breath.
Before I could react, she grabbed my shoulder and pulled me
toward a nearby door.
“Hide. Now!”
“Ava-”
“I’ll talk to him. Don’t let him see you.”
I didn’t argue. There wasn’t time.
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She pushed me through the doorway and shut it behind me,
turning just in time to face her father alone.
