AVA: AWAKENING OF THE LUNA

prepared her for this. Up close, he was... overwhelming. He made everyone else look small, and it wasn't just his height. He had this presence, this aura of pure Alpha power

- he was studying them, analyzing them. His eyes had this intense focu

Alora, Ava swore her heart

ion impossible to read. Finally, he gave this tiny nod - so s

e entirely. Something that felt... wrong. The air around her got heavy and thick, like the atmosphere before a massive thunderstorm. Her

f here," her mind ra

slammed straight into what might

at. Or smell like pine and rain. Or

hed right

all, even to her own ears. "I didn't... I wasn't trying to... please, forgive me." She stared down at her feet so h

hat followed

n staring at her like he'd seen a ghost. His expression was a me

r. One word that c

a

creamed as her breath

ad just punched him in the gut. His whole body went stiff, jaw clenched so tight she could see the m

g against what his wolf already knew. But it was too

d partner. The one person in

grabbed her wrist. "Come with me," he snapped, his voice hard and cold.

platform. She could see the confusion on everyone's faces.

ly hear anything else. Was this really happening? Was he act

hether to be thri

out a deep, commanding growl, sil

." His voice was powerful, unwavering. "As tradition dictates, the Moon Goddess

th as Damon addressed them, the

bombshell that wou

ang out clear and strong across

shattered

laughing out loud like this was some kind of joke. Faces turned from shock to

That

weak

who can ba

be some kind

ss must have lo

hat was happening. She'd imagined a thousand different scenarios for tonight - being totally ignored, being mocked, mayb

ned to face her. The look in his eyes wasn't just cold -

the now-silent square, each word precise and

heart

ing, as my mate and as the

. Her wolf, who had been so alive with joy moments ago, curled up into a tight ball of pain. She c

e most public way possible,

estroy

hroat, and her chest tight

t once-a sharp, unbear

e rejection. It w

e life, but this... this was worse. He had dragged her

e forced herself to ask the on

g with raw emotion. "Is it because I'm an Omega? Beca

e her voice rose, cutting through the noise of the

ll over t

rned to Dam

entire expre

, the ones he had kept buried f

e spat, stepping closer. "When exactly do you

She looked genuinely confused. "I don't

ed. His hands clenche

s flood

shb

e, no! Stay w

ssing against his father's bloodied chest

le girl-her dress stained in bloo

ying. She was

od there, st

th

t her. He had tackled her to the ground, his hands

nce. She just lay there-silent, unmovi

choked the l

th

am

ing voice

o his father, who w

ng up blood. "Promise me... that you won't blame

k his head

mise

final words.

... he w

es

breathing was heavy, hi

ou," he said, his voice dark

s widened

tepping back. "No, I

hly. "What about this?" He yanked up her sleeve, rev

"I don't know how I got that! I

ne was l

with disgust. No one stepped f

ven A

causing her to stumble and

e," he muttered coldly. "But I will never

uldn't

He reached for her hand, pu

ton, take Alora M

st piece of her