Ava’s POVI chewed on my lips to gain some time as I thought of what to do. Logan was no fool, and in order to save the day, I would have required a more persuasive plan.
"You're completely incorrect. It is a game that I play with my friends. Just some ridiculous role-playing. Nothing major."
Logan did not waver, his eyes cutting through my thin defense. Guess he didn’t buy that“Whether it's for role-playing or not, secrets are not tolerated here. Particularly when they concern our Alpha.”, he said.
It dawned on me how serious things were. Logan was aware that I wasn't just here to make a presentation. I had to figure out how to take back control and deflect attention. Though time was passing quickly, my mind was racing with possibilities.
"I know how important trust is in a pack," I replied while still trying to seem contrite. "I didn't intend to come across incorrectly. I’m no threat, Trust me. Guess with time when you know me, you will see"
His eyes narrowed even further, as though he perceived the despair hiding below my composed voice. "Loyalty is not given; it is earned. I'll be watching you closely, Dr. Ava."
Logan turned and left me standing in the dark, my heart racing, after issuing that menacing threat. I had been startled by the near miss, but I could not allow fear to stop me. I had to reconsider my strategy, fortify my disguise, and—above all—figure out how to take out the threat that the watchful Beta posed.
Logan’s POV
Everything about my meeting with Dr. Ava Wolfe made no sense to me. It was tense in the air as I tried to figure out why she was in the Nightingale pack. You could still hear her words, and I couldn't get rid of the feeling that her story had more to it than she told me.
She said some heavy things that stuck with me as I walked away from her. "I play it with my friends." It was just silly role-playing. Not a big deal." Her effort to play down the situation made me even more suspicious. The Nightingale pack knew a lot of secrets, and her claim that she was just role-playing seemed like a thin cover for a more complicated plan.I kept going over our talk again and again, trying to figure out what she meant by what she said. Our pack didn't like it when people kept secrets, especially when they involved our Alpha, Aiden. I knew how serious things were; it was a careful dance of lies, and Dr. Ava Wolfe seemed to be a part of a game I hadn't seen coming.The darkness outside showed how complicated my ideas were. I couldn't figure out what she really wanted. Was she a danger to Aiden? Or did she have a completely different plan? I couldn't figure out how to put together the message she sent because it was like a puzzle with big gaps in the pieces.
"You have to work for loyalty to come to you. I told Dr. Ava, "I'll be keeping a close eye on you before I leave." What she was really after was clear in her eyes, and I couldn't help but wonder what she was after.
Back in my office, where it was just me and the big desk, I was surrounded by things that made me feel powerful. The nightingale pack had always been my duty to keep safe, and the fact that Dr. Ava Wolfe was there added to the doubt.
As I sat behind the huge desk, a million thoughts went through my head. The nightingale pack had always been my safe place, and I always did my best to protect it. Now, the sudden arrival of Dr. Wolfe made the security I had worked so hard to keep in doubt.
Even though my task had brought me to the Nightingale Pack, she was a new kind of challenge. Why would someone show up out of the blue with what seems to be the same goal as mine? Was she sent? If so, who sent her? The dynamics of the pack were already delicate, and adding an unknown factor caused worries that went beyond the Nightingale area.
I looked through the pack records to learn more about Dr. Wolfe's past. When she came back after being away for years, after looking at her records, seeing that she was once at the Willow Creek Orphanage.
I noticed that her records in the pack were limited, so I chose to look into her outside of the pack. I quickly looked up Dr. Ava Wolfe online and found that she was a doctor, but the digital trail didn't tell me much about her past. She didn't have a husband or kids, so she seemed to be by herself.
The search on the Internet brought up more questions than it answered. This woman seemed strange. Why did she decide to join the Nightingale Pack again after all these years?
Was she back here for someone, or she working alone, or did she have ties that could throw off the careful balance we were keeping?...
Why is she here???
Ava’s POV
I paced my small apartment after returning there, trying to make sense of the growing situation. I couldn't take a chance of Logan or any other pack member scrutinizing me more. When my phone buzzed, I fumbled to see what message was there.
"Just do the needful, and your kids will be safe." I kept thinking about what he had said, how serious things were, and how urgent my task was.
In an attempt to calm myself, I took a long breath and considered what to do next. It was clear that Beta Logan should not be taken lightly. His natural protectiveness toward the Alpha made my dangerous mission in constant danger. Gaining his trust became more important than ever, not just for my survival in the pack but also for Natasha, Nathan, and Natalia's security and freedom.
My cover had been compromised, as I realized as I considered my choices. Logan was not going to be simply placated, and I could not undervalue his ability to discover the truth.
Each move in the tricky game of pretending had consequences that echoed through the complex Nightingale pack, making it a very risky situation.I quickly grabbed the disposable phone that Xavier had given me.
A fresh message said, "Remain alert. Although Logan is a strong opponent, everyone has weaknesses. Identify his weak point, subtly take advantage of it, and report back to me."
How did Xavier know that I just encountered Logan, was he watching me or something?
Ava’s POVIt was really creepy. Even though the steps were clear, it took some careful work to find Beta Logan's weak spot. I couldn't make any mistakes that would put my goal or the safety of my kids at risk. When I thought about how hard this was going to be, the apartment walls felt like they were closing in on me.I called Aurora's number on my regular phone and waited for her to answer while my fingers lingered over the screen. When I heard her voice answer the phone, the familiar melody made me feel better."Whoa! How are you? Aurora's voice had a mix of interest and worry about it.Before I spoke, I took a deep breath and gave it some thought. "Aurora, this is... tough. Ethan wasn't ready to meet me when I first met him, let's just say that.Aurora, the other person laughed too. "Of course!" You've come a long way since you used to want the Alpha's child. He must be really mad at himself right now.I laughed a little and was glad that someone was trying to make things fun. I gu
Ava’s POVAurora's voice on the other end held a weight, a solemnity that struck Ava to her core. "Ava, we found out that your kids were kidnapped. Captured by some men who, we suspect, are werewolves from the Nightangle Pack."Ava's breath caught in her throat, her mind struggling to process the shocking revelation. "Kidnapped? Werewolves? Nightangle Pack?" The words hung in the air, a surreal concoction of fear and disbelief.Aurora continued, her tone measured but laden with concern. "Yes, Ava. We tracked where your kids were being kept, but by the time we got there, the kidnappers had moved with your kids. And here's the unsettling part: we found strange markings on the walls, unmistakably the markings of the Nightangle Pack. It was a Crescent Wolf."The room seemed to spin around Ava as she absorbed the gravity of Aurora's words. "Nightangle Pack? But why would they...?" Her thoughts were a whirlwind, attempting to grasp the unfathomable truth that the very pack she had infiltrat
Ava’s POV When the door opened, the guard said, "Sorry for the trouble, Ava." He had a sorry look on his face. Aiden urgently asked you to be there. He wouldn't want to waste his time.I acknowledged the message with a nod. "I'll be there soon." Tell him I won't be in a hurry. The guard walked away and shut the door behind him.As I went back to getting dressed, there was a sense of urgency in the air. I stepped out, entering my car as the guards readied theirs, forming a safe patrol. My mind was tense because Aiden was so hurried. Why did he need me to be there so quickly that even his guards seemed rude? I pushed the question aside and focused on the job ahead. Upon entering the pack house property, I drove to the parking lot. It spread before me in all its glory, a sight that seemed new, as if I hadn't truly noticed it on my initial arrival, obscured by the evening clouds. The parking lot, bathed in the warm glow of lampposts carefully placed, was a testament to both usefulness
Ava’s POV When Aiden spoke, his words sent a chill down my spine. They reminded me of a painful past. Saying, "We were cool before," he seemed to downplay the seriousness of the cracks that had once broken the trust. His offer of company and casual mention of a past they both had made me think he was trying to hide the wounds that were still there. "Friends now?" I repeated myself, and my voice was calmer than the crazy thoughts going through my head. He spoke in a carefree way that hurt my sensitive feelings, and his tone made them worse. "After all, there's no place like home, right?" His words, which were meant to heal the wounds of the past, made things even less clear.Looking into his eyes, I tried to find any sign that he felt bad about what he had done or knew how much pain he had caused. While the table was carefully set for a private talk, it became a stage for the feelings that were still brewing below the surface. Aiden's laugh, which used to be familiar and comfortable,
Ava’s POVI let out an uncontrollable yell in response to the ridiculousness of his request. The personnel withdrew discreetly, feeling the tension crackling in the air. I gave Aiden a quick, disbelieving glance, expecting him to provide an explanation for this unexpected turn of events in the conversation.Aiden smiled cryptically, his eyes full of anticipation and amusement, seemingly unaware of the storm he had just unleashed. It's just a little game, Ava. Come on. Get lighter."My cool exterior broke and was replaced by a wave of incredulity and rage. "A little game?" My voice was tinged with frustration as I responded. "Aiden, I am unable to do that—never, ever. You must be joking with me.With that annoying grin on his face, Aiden tried to minimize the significance of his suggestion. It's not harmful, Ava. A tiny gesture to let people know there are no hard feelings a friendly gesture, if you will."His ridiculous remarks only made me feel more outraged. "Goodwill?" I sneered. "
Ava’s POVThen it came—the thing that made me feel like a fish out of water in every sense. wearing a necklace with the clear Nightangle sign on it. It was the same symbol I had seen earlier that day in the packhouse. As I looked at the picture, the effects of what I had just learned were still fresh in my mind, which made my heart beat faster."Hold on, is this really what I think it is?" I thought something to myself as I zipped in on the jewelry in the picture, and my fingers started to shake. While the study was going on, the Nightangle sign, which is a mark closely connected to the pack, didn't seem to belong. How did this man, who is thought to have done the crime, get this kind of pendant? As my mind filled with links, I began to feel sick to my stomach. It was easy for me to remember the tattoo on the criminal's left wrist. Like the symbols I had seen on the top guards earlier that day when I was at the palace, this one was a seal. The outfits and behavior of these security g
Ava’s POVI quickly looked at the person in the hood and quietly agreed that the story was important. I smiled and nodded, trying hard not to cry because the tears were about to show."Yes, honey." Mummy had to go on a business trip, and this kind man took care of you while she was gone," I said, keeping my voice calm even though I was feeling very upset. Nathalie fixed her eyes on me and seemed to trust me. "You were on a trip, Mummy?" With a sad smile on my face, I brushed off a piece of her hair. "Yes, my sweetheart. I'm back now, though, and I promise we'll soon go home. The hooded figure spoke up, maybe because they could feel the inner battle. "Your mom really missed you." She can't wait to take you home now that she's back. Nathalie gave me a tighter hug, and the boys returned their sister's love. "Yes, we missed you too, Mom." "We'll take care of Nathalie until you get back," they said, and I felt their truthfulness in my heart. Nathalie smiled at me and gave me a small p
Logan’s POV Aiden's mood changed as he started to share the news, which showed how serious the situation was. "People have told me that strays have been making trouble at the pack edges of the areas next to mine." The packs nearby are too close for us to risk getting into any trouble, and I'd rather these rogues not cause us any trouble. Just the thought of lone dogs made people feel scared right away. "Lone wolves gone missing?" Are there any specific packs, or are there just a bunch of troublemakers?" I asked about it because my mind was already running to figure out how bad the possible risk was. Aiden shook his head and said, "It's not clear yet." The letters I received did not say anything about the sender's place of origin, but we can't take any chances. We need to make sure our defenses are strong and ready for anything that might happen. I told him, "We'll take care of it, Aiden," because I knew how important the problem was. I'll go out with a group to keep an eye on the