For three days, time blurred into something thick and distant, and I locked myself away on purpose. I barely stepped outside my room, only leaving when I absolutely had to. My world shrank into something closed off and quiet, where every second went into planning how to get out. Staying here wasn't an option. Accepting a life as something owned and used by the pack wasn't an option either. As for Todd, I forced him out of my thoughts, like ripping out a ruined page. Silence cost less than facing it.

The walls felt like they were inching closer, tightening around me like a trap. My heart wouldn't slow down, my eyes stung, and nothing eased the weight building inside me. I tried reading to distract myself, but it didn't help. Every line felt like a cruel joke, every page reminding me of where I was stuck. I stopped caring about school. I knew I wouldn't be going back. It felt like saying goodbye without saying anything at all.

The gala was my only chance. In the middle of all that noise and attention, I could disappear. While everyone else drank and played their roles, I would leave. I packed my bag like it was the only thing keeping me alive. Clothes, food, every bit of money I managed to pull from my account. I didn't know where I'd go, only that I couldn't stay.

I bought a cheap phone and saved Lisa's number on it. Even then, I didn't send a message. Reaching out could put her at risk. So I stayed quiet. I kept everything from her, even while missing her already. If the pack ever noticed how close we were, she could end up paying for it. It was safer to act like nothing had changed.

On the third night, during dinner, I pushed my food around my plate, trying to make myself invisible. Then my father spoke, and everything shifted. We were leaving for the Silver Moon Pack's territory for the gala.

The walls tightened around me.

I forced myself to stay still, to keep my face blank, even as it felt like something alive was crawling beneath my skin. Maybe I had gotten too good at hiding it. Or maybe they simply didn't care enough to notice.

In two days, I would be surrounded by wolves searching for their mates, while all I wanted was a way out.

My father cleared his throat, and I looked up, caught off guard by the way he was staring straight at me. "Ava," he said, his tone soft but carrying the weight of an order. "This matters. For all of us."

"Yes, Father."

He went on, his voice steady and cold. "I would have preferred to leave you behind. But that would raise questions, especially with Jessa attending."

I glanced across the table. Jessa sat there, her expression shut off, while Phoenix watched me with that same distant look he used for things that didn't matter. The understanding between them was clear. I didn't belong in it. I felt completely out of place.

Like I didn't exist in their world at all.

My father's fingers tapped against the table. "I expect you to be flawless while we're there, Ava." His gaze slid over the fading bruises on my neck, and a shiver ran through me. They had lightened, but not enough. All I could do was hope they'd disappear before the gala.

I dropped my gaze and prodded my vegetables with my fork. "Yes, Father."

"Without a wolf, you won't be finding any mate there. So don't cause problems and keep yourself under control." He went back to eating as if nothing had been said. Beneath the table, my hand curled into a tight fist, my nails pressing into my palm.

His words should've made me shrink. Instead, they only made me harder.

The drive to Idaho felt like every other family trip. Quiet. Heavy. My parents and Jessa rode together, while I was placed with Phoenix.

The low hum of the engine and the steady rhythm of the road almost pulled me under. Phoenix drove like he owned the world, one arm resting loosely against the door, his posture easy. The radio stayed off. He carried the same cold distance as my father, the same quiet control.

The scenery shifted little by little. The worn hills gave way to darker mountains rising along the horizon. My thoughts wandered to Lisa. What was she doing right now? Would she forgive me for disappearing like this?

Phoenix's voice cut through the silence, rough and sudden. "You're not about to do anything stupid at the Lunar Gala, are you, Ave?"

A shiver ran through me before I could even think. My body tightened as I turned to look at him. Did he know something? "Of course not. Dad made himself clear."

Phoenix let out a low, unreadable sound. I wished, not for the first time, that I could understand them the way they seemed to understand me.

I looked away and focused on the window instead, watching my reflection blur with the movement of the car. "Besides, no one's going to choose a flaw anyway." The bitterness slipped out before I could stop it.

He didn't answer right away. Maybe he agreed.

Then he spoke, his tone flat. "At least Mason's willing to take you in. Not as a mate, but your kids would have a place. They'd be recognized. Protected."

The name hit me like a slap, and I flinched. "If there are even wolves left for that," I muttered.

He glanced at me for a second. "Right."

No. I wasn't going back to them.

He knew it. And still, he expected me to be grateful to someone who had beaten me for years and now saw me as nothing more than something to use.

I exhaled slowly and forced my thoughts elsewhere, focusing on the plan. The area around Shadowvale stretched wide, with too many roads, towns, and stations to track easily. If I moved carefully, I could disappear. I could leave a trail that led nowhere.

As we neared Shadowvale, something tightened in my chest. Fear mixed with something else. Hope. Stepping onto Silver Moon territory meant stepping into uncertainty, but it also meant a chance. Maybe my only one.

I glanced at Phoenix. His attention stayed on the road, his expression distant and cold. A quiet ache stirred as I thought of the brother he used to be. I pushed it down and shut it away.

That part of my life was over.

My plan came together piece by piece, steady and deliberate. Fear still ran through me, but it wasn't alone anymore. Something stronger held its ground beside it. Determination.

This time, I wouldn't just think about leaving.

This time, I would do it.

And I wasn't coming back.

In front of the mirror, my hands trembled as I reached for the zipper of the dress. The fabric brushed over my skin like water, smooth and cool with every shift. It looked stunning, maybe more than I could pull off. Wearing it made me feel unfamiliar, like I had stepped into someone else's life.

I turned slowly, letting the skirt fan out around my legs. The movement pulled me back to childhood, to those clumsy spins where I used to wish my dresses would twirl like the princesses I watched on screen. That younger version of me would've loved this moment. The woman I had become only felt like she didn't quite belong in it.

From behind, Jessa and my mother watched closely, their eyes picking apart every detail.

"Ava..." My mother let out a soft sigh, the kind that always carried quiet judgment. "You didn't even fix your hair?"

Without thinking, I reached up to touch it. Jessa had already done what she could, and I thought it looked nice. But my mother's expression said otherwise.

"I thought it looked fine," I murmured, my voice barely steady as heat crept across my cheeks.

Jessa exhaled sharply and rolled her eyes.

"Not even close. Come here, we'll fix it. You didn't plan anything, did you? We'll just throw it into a bun."

She seized my arm and guided me toward the vanity, pressing me down onto the chair. My mother stepped in right after, her lips set in a tight line.

"Sit properly," she said as she placed both hands on my shoulders. "Pull your stomach in. That dress is spilling over your hips. You look ridiculous, like a sack of potatoes. If your father didn't need to parade you in front of the other packs just to prove you're still alive, I wouldn't have brought you."

Her attention shifted to Jessa.

"What's that saying again?" she asked. "Can a cow's ear ever turn into a handbag?"

I pressed my lips together, forcing the tears back. A question lingered in my mind about why the pack cared so much about my condition, but I already knew asking it would only set her off.

That little girl who once admired herself in the mirror still lived somewhere inside me, but every sharp word chipped away at her, draining the brightness she used to carry.

Without hesitation, Jessa grabbed my hair and worked through it, smoothing and tugging until it formed a neat, polished bun.

"I'm not doing this for you," she whispered near my ear. "You owe me big for this, Ava. I'm only getting you ready because it benefits me. You don't even have a place here anyway."

I gave a quiet nod, not saying a word. I understood exactly what I was in their eyes, nothing more than something weighing them down. Still, for tonight, I had to step into the part they expected from me and force a smile no matter how hard it felt. Just a little longer.

Freedom was close. I kept repeating it in my head like a prayer while my body shook under their constant judgment.

My mother reached for my chin, tilting my face from one side to the other before letting go with a short nod.

"At least you don't look like a beggar anymore," she said. "For Moon's sake, Ava, learn how to carry yourself. How do you think this reflects on me? Didn't you even think to wear earrings?"

I held the truth back. She hadn't given me anything since I was twelve, and the only thing I owned was a braided friendship bracelet from when I was thirteen. Of course, that had no place here.

Jessa moved in next, taking over my makeup. Her hands worked fast and sure, reshaping my face before I could even process it.

"Don't move," my mother said, her hand settling on my shoulder. "You'll mess it up. Jessa, be careful with the shade. She can't look sick. People will start talking."

I forced myself to breathe slowly, trying to steady the tension inside me. By the time Jessa stepped back, the reflection staring back from the mirror didn't feel like mine anymore. My skin looked flawless, my eyes darker and sharper, and my lips burned with a bold red.

"There," Jessa said with a satisfied glance. "At least you look acceptable now."

Another quiet sigh slipped from my mother.

"That's enough."

I pushed myself to my feet and brushed my fingers over the fabric of the dress. My pulse raced, and my stomach twisted tight. For tonight, I had to become exactly what they wanted, a perfect she-wolf who stayed quiet, polite, and obedient. Just one last time.

After this, I would be gone.

Not long after, I walked into the ballroom just behind my family. My parents took the lead while Phoenix stayed at Jessa's side. I followed behind them like an afterthought, the dull shadow trailing behind polished figures. My mother and Jessa gleamed under the lights with their jewelry, while I wore nothing at all.

The Lunar Gala unfolded in stunning detail. Crystal chandeliers cast shimmering light across the hall, the marble floors mirrored every movement, and the walls were dressed in rich curtains and priceless artwork.

I scanned the room, hoping to find a quiet corner where I could disappear, but my father caught my elbow before I could slip away.

"Ava, come here," he said, already pulling me along toward a well-dressed older man.

I forced a smile, reached out my hand, and offered a soft greeting. One introduction blurred into the next, names and faces slipping past me without leaving anything behind.

The thick mix of perfume and hollow laughter pressed down on me, making it hard to breathe. My father kept steering me deeper into the crowd, and that was when I caught sight of a man observing us. He looked older than Alpha Renard, yet there was something sleek and controlled about him, almost like a predator holding back.

"Alpha Steele," my father said, his tone carrying an edge of restraint.

"Beta Grey," the man answered, his voice low and unsettling.

One by one, my father presented Phoenix and Jessa, then his hand clamped around my arm without warning.

"This is Ava, my youngest."

"It's nice to meet you," I said, my voice uneven. "The place is... really beautiful."

Steele's attention settled on me, his eyes tracing the crescent scar beneath my ear. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

"So this is Ava," he said. "We've been waiting for you to step into our circle."

My words stumbled over each other as a wave of unease crept in.

"I'm not really..." I hesitated. "I've never been involved in any of that."

"Call me Xavier," he said smoothly. "Our Silver Moon pack is proud to host this year's Gala. Having the Blackstone pack here makes tonight all the more significant."

A polite smile settled on my face, even though my thoughts were scattered. It was obvious he held no fondness for my father or Phoenix. For a fleeting second, a reckless thought crossed my mind, wondering if he could help me. But no Alpha would take on someone broken like me.

Xavier lifted his glass in my direction.

"You have quite a remarkable daughter, Beta Grey," he said, his tone layered with something I couldn't quite read.

My father's hand tightened around my arm, and the strain in his posture became unmistakable.

Another figure stepped closer, and my father stiffened further.

"Beta Ashbourne," he greeted, his voice edged with cold restraint.

Jessa moved ahead, glowing in her deep blue gown.

"Kellan Ashbourne, Beta of the Westwood pack. It's a pleasure to meet you," she said.

The man gave a slight nod before his attention shifted to me. His gaze locked onto mine as he reached out his hand. Without thinking, I placed mine in his. He brought it up and brushed his lips against my skin. A shiver passed through me, like he was quietly reading through every layer I tried to hide.

"And you are?" he asked, his voice soft yet sharp enough to leave a mark.

Before I could even speak, my father yanked me away from him.

"Ava, my youngest daughter," he said flatly. "Go spend time with people your age."

I didn't hesitate. I used that chance to slip away, leaving Kellan and the rest behind without a second thought.

As I moved through the ballroom, confusion filled my mind. None of it made sense. Why was he suddenly paying attention to me? And why had my father brushed me off so quickly?

I glanced back over my shoulder. Kellan was still watching me, his gaze fixed and impossible to read. A chill crept down my spine.

I needed to get out.

I stepped outside into the garden, where soft lantern light washed everything in pale gold. Cool air surrounded me, and for the first time that night, I managed to breathe. Quiet murmurs, hushed laughter, and the sounds of hidden intimacy drifted through the space. I turned my head away, heat rising to my face.

Reaching into my bag, I pulled out my phone and opened the ride app. My finger hovered above the screen as I set the destination. Moonlight Terrace Hotel. All it would take was one tap. Grab my things, get a car, and I'd finally be free.

Just as my finger was about to tap the screen, a strong hand closed around my arm, pulling a sharp gasp from me. I spun around at once.

A man stood in front of me. He was tall and built, with dark hair and eyes that cut straight through me. The fabric of his suit brushed lightly against my skin, smooth like silk.

Something stirred deep inside me, something unfamiliar yet instantly recognized.

Desire.

Damn.

Could it really be?

"Where do you think you're going, little wolf?" he said, his voice low and rough, sending a shiver down my spine.

I parted my lips, but nothing came out. My heart pounded wildly against my chest. His hold tightened, firm enough to almost hurt. I couldn't move, caught between the instinct to run and the pull to stay, to fall straight into him and forget everything else.

Lucas's POV:

I kept my eyes locked on my phone, my jaw tight as I read through Kellan's messages. My foot kept hitting the seat in front of me in a restless rhythm. I hadn't even stepped into the ballroom yet. This yearly masquerade made my stomach turn. It felt like a stage built on lies, where girls rushed in thinking they'd found something real and ended up clinging to the first man who gave them attention. It was pathetic.

Kellan: "The Blackwoods are here, just like we expected. There are two daughters. The rumors could be right. I'm heading in."

Kellan: "Stay alert. Watch the younger one. There's tension between her and her family. Grey nearly brushed her off when I approached, and now he's pushing the older one toward me."

I stopped scrolling for a second. That didn't add up. If they were serious, they should've come to me, the Alpha. Instead, they were steering Jessa Grey toward my second. That alone felt off.

Unless they were playing something deeper. Grey's behavior might've been a distraction, hiding a more calculated move underneath.

If both of his daughters ended up tied to the Alpha and the second-in-command of my pack, then control would fall straight into his hands. It was a calculated move, the kind only a cunning mind would come up with. If I allowed it, our pack would be reduced to something obedient before the year even ended.

He thought Kellan and I were easy to manipulate just because we were young. As if we were driven by nothing but impulse. He had no idea. I had never been the type to let desire cloud my judgment.

I slipped my phone into my pocket, stepped out of the car, and crushed the cigarette beneath my heel. Smoke curled into the air as I shut the door and gave a brief nod to the guards at the entrance.

Once inside, I kept to the darker edges of the room. I wasn't about to get cornered by someone chasing attention. I had no interest in playing along. What mattered was figuring out what the Blackwoods were really planning.

My gaze moved across the crowd. Alexander Grey carried himself like he already owned the place, his posture loud with confidence. His son Phoenix stayed close, quiet and unreadable, like a shadow that never strayed. Nearby, Jessa hung onto Kellan's arm, more decoration than anything else.

A quiet laugh escaped me. They were painfully easy to read. The idea that I'd fall for something as shallow as that alliance was almost amusing. What naivety. Their name alone was enough to raise suspicion. On top of that, their Alpha hadn't even bothered to attend, which was nothing short of disrespect to the Council and every pack present.

If Grey was making a move, it wasn't out of goodwill. He was laying the groundwork for something bigger. The real question was why he had set his sights on us.

I typed out a quick message.

Lucas: "What is the youngest sister wearing? I can't find her."

While waiting for a reply, I let my eyes wander across the room again. Then I spotted her.

She stood tucked away in a corner, like she was trying to vanish into the walls. Soft waves of dark blond hair framed her face. The glasses resting on her nose didn't take away from her looks at all. If anything, they made her eyes stand out even more, bright and clear like shards of ice.

Her dress was simple, black, and fitted just right. It followed the curve of her hips with quiet elegance. There was nothing loud about it, yet everything about her drew attention. The fabric hinted at just enough, leaving behind a subtle pull that made it hard to look away.

Perfect. Tempting. Meant to be mine.

A sudden tremor tore through me, sharp and impossible to control. My wolf stirred, letting out a low growl in my mind, something deeper than anything I had ever felt before. She pulled at me in a way I couldn't explain, stirring something restless, something dangerously close to obsession.

I was too far to catch her scent, yet every instinct pushed me toward her. Still, I stayed where I was, hidden in the shadows, watching her every movement. She didn't carry herself like the others. There was no practiced confidence in her steps. Her heels caught slightly as she walked, awkward in a way that didn't take away from her grace. She wasn't childish. There was something else about her, something that made my pulse pick up.

Then she stiffened. Her head turned slightly, her brows drawing together as if she sensed it. She felt me watching. I was sure of it. My wolf grew restless, pressing forward, eager to close the distance. I held it back, fighting the urge rising inside me, the need to claim, to mark, to make her mine.

Light brushed over her skin, tracing the soft line of her shoulders and the gentle curve of her arms. The neckline of her dress dipped just enough, revealing a subtle glimpse of her chest. It wasn't bold, yet it was enough to pull my focus, enough to stir a dangerous kind of hunger.

The urge hit hard. I wanted to sink my teeth there, to leave my mark and make it known she belonged to me.

I dragged my tongue across my teeth, a faint smile forming as she slipped away, clearly unsettled, moving to the other side of the room. Questions flooded my mind. What did she smell like? What would it be like to have her close, to feel her warmth? Something soft, something sweet, that was the only thought that stayed.

My wolf surged inside me, restless and demanding. Take her. Stay close. Don't let her go. The pressure built in my head, sharp and insistent.

Could it really be her? Had I finally found the one meant for me?

I didn't look away for even a second. My gaze tracked her every movement, each step pulling me in deeper. Then she slipped out toward the gardens, alone, just before midnight. A rush of anticipation spread through me.

Of course, little wolf.

You weren't getting away.

I started after her.