Ava’s POV
I pulled my jacket tighter around as I walked out the back door of Harbor Bay Mall. The night shift had been exhausting. All I wanted was to collapse into my bed.
"Ava! There you are."
My stomach dropped at the sound of Isaac’s voice. My ex-boyfriend ca out from the shadows. His tall fra blocked my path.
"What do you want, Isaac?"
He moved closer. His familiar cologne that I used to love now made feel sick.
"Why didn’t you co ho last night?"
"Ho?" I let out a bitter laugh. "We broke up, Isaac. That’s not my ho anymore."
"Co on, babe. You still have all your stuff there."
"I told you I’d co get everything when you weren’t around." I tried to step around him, but he shifted and blocked my path again.
"You’re not moving out." His voice beca hard. "We belong together."
"No, we don’t. You made your choice when you decided to sleep with Cybele while I was working overti to pay our rent."
Isaac reached for my arm. "Look, Cybele was just... convenient. She doesn’t an anything. She’s just a cheap thrill who threw herself at ."
"Let. Go. Of. ." I pulled my arm free. Disgust twisted my face. "And what exactly are you suggesting? That I should be grateful you’re willing to take back after you cheated?"
His lips curled into a smile he thought was charming. "I’m saying you could be my girlfriend, and she could be... entertainnt on the side. Best of both worlds."
I stared at him. I was speechless for a mont. "You want to be your side piece?"
"Don’t think of it that way. Look, you’re an Oga. Let’s be real, Ava. Your options are limited. With , you’d have protection. Once I make warrior, I can provide for you. You wouldn’t have to work these late shifts anymore."
This man’s nerve was truly breathtaking.
"Let get this straight," I said. "You want to be your girlfriend while you continue sleeping with Cybele on the side because, poor little , I should be grateful that an up-and-coming warrior would even look at a wolfless Oga?"
Isaac grinned. "Now you’re getting it."
"I’d rather eat glass," I said angrily. "I have no interest in being your girlfriend, your side piece, or your anything. I certainly don’t need to be the live-in maid who cooks your als, washes your clothes, and pays your bills while you’re out sleeping with other won."
His expression darkened. "Don’t act all high and mighty. You’re nothing but a defective wolf."
"At least I’m not a defective man," I shot back. "Tell , does Cybele fake her orgasms with you? She must have quite the acting skills to make you believe you’re actually satisfying her."
Isaac’s eyes flashed with rage, and he moved forward with his hand raised. "You little..."
"I wouldn’t do that if I were you."
Nina’s voice cut through the tension. My friend stood a few feet away. Her small fra sohow looked strong as she stared Isaac down.
"This doesn’t concern you," Isaac growled.
Nina stepped closer. She raised her chin defiantly. "Attacking a pack mber absolutely concerns . Lay a hand on her, and I will report you to the enforcent agency faster than you can blink. I wonder how that would affect your chances of making warrior?"
Isaac’s jaw clenched. His eyes moved between us before he took a step back.
"This isn’t over, Ava," he snarled. "You’re mine, whether you accept it yet or not."
He walked away angrily.
I let out a shaky breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.
Nina rushed to my side. "Are you okay? That jerk! I saw him hanging around the service entrance and figured he was waiting for you."
"I’m fine." My voice shook slightly. "Thanks for the rescue."
Nina linked her arm through mine. "What did he want?"
"To tell that I could have the privilege of being his girlfriend while he keeps Cybele as his mistress," I said mockingly.
"The nerve!" Nina’s eyes widened. "Please tell you told him where to shove that offer."
"In painful detail."
Nina worked at the costics shop across from my clothing store. She was tiny but fierce, with a pixie haircut and more confidence than people twice her size. Like , she ca from a small pack called Silvercrest before moving to Harbor Bay for better opportunities.
"You’re shaking," she noticed. "Are you sure you’re okay?"
I tried to control my trembling hands. "It’s just... my mom’s out of town for the week. My house will be empty, and Isaac knows where we live."
Nina’s expression beca serious. "No way are you staying alone. You’re coming ho with tonight."
"Nina, I couldn’t..."
"Not negotiable." She squeezed my arm. "My apartnt’s small, but the couch pulls out into a bed. And this way, we can go to work together."
wanted to refuse, but the thought of being alone with Isaac possibly showing up made afraid. "Thank you."
Nina’s apartnt was cozy. It had secondhand furniture that looked good together. We sat on her pull-out couch, eating ice cream from the carton.
"I still don’t understand why he won’t leave alone," I sighed.
"Because n are trash," Nina said, waving her spoon. "Especially wolf n who think with their cocks instead of their brains."
I smiled at her bluntness.
"Seriously though," she continued, "you were a saint in that relationship. You cooked, cleaned, paid most of the bills, and helped him train. He’s not missing you. He’s missing his personal chef, maid, and ATM."
"Nina!" I protested.
She softened. "I’m not saying you were stupid, Ava. I’m saying he took advantage of you. And now that Cybele can’t afford to support his lazy ass..."
I sighed. "Yeah, I know."
"Let’s talk about sothing more interesting," Nina said.
"Girl, let tell you about this guy I t yesterday." I thought of the man from the mysterious item shop. I had to tell Nina about him. She would definitely find it interesting. I told her everything.
"He was insufferable."I said.
"But hot, right?" Nina wiggled her eyebrows.
"Yes. But his ego was huge. And His scent was... intoxicating," I admitted. "Like cedar and rain. But then he opened his mouth and ruined it."
"This man really made an impression on you!" Nina comnted.
"Nina, he’s the most handso man I’ve ever seen in my life! But he’s also very arrogant."
"Ah, what a sha you didn’t give him your phone number. Arrogance can be corrected."
We burst into laughter.
"We should get so sleep. We have to work tomorrow." As I settled onto the couch, I felt safe. But Isaac’s words still echoed in my mind.
He’d called defective. A wolfless Oga. It broke my heart. Sotis I wondered what it would be like to feel my wolf.
The next morning, Nina and I arrived at the mall together. We stopped by security on our way in.
"Morning, ladies!" Pablo, the head of security, greeted us with a warm smile. He was a middle-aged wolf with kind eyes.
"Pablo, we need a favor," Nina said. She explained the situation with Isaac.
Pablo’s expression grew serious. "That won’t be happening on my watch. I’ll alert all the guards to keep an eye out for him. If he shows up and causes trouble, we’ll escort him out imdiately."
"Thank you," I said. Relief washed over . "I hate to be a bother."
"No bother at all," Pablo said. "Your safety is part of my job, Ms. Flynn."
As we walked toward our stores, Nina squeezed my arm. "See? You’re not alone in this."
I nodded and straightened my shoulders as I approached the store. Through the glass storefront, I could see Cybele and her friends, Laura and Cynthia, huddled by the register. Great. Just what I needed to start my day.
"Text if you need anything," Nina whispered before heading to her shop.
I took a deep breath and pushed open the door.
As I clocked in, I caught Cybele’s hateful glance. She quickly looked away and whispered sothing to Laura. Let them talk. I had a job to do.
"Ti to be professional," I said to myself. Today would be better. It had to be.
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