Ava’s POV
The word "father" felt completely foreign to . This person had never appeared during my childhood.
I fell silent, looking down at our intertwined fingers. "I’ve never asked my mother about him. I didn’t want to hurt her by bringing it up. As far as I’m concerned, he’s been dead to my whole life."
Joseph tilted my chin up, pressing a gentle kiss to my cheeks. "Sorry for bringing up sothing painful."
I shook my head. "I should be the one apologizing to you. You ca here for dinner, not to be treated badly."
Joseph pulled closer, placing a gentle kiss on my lips. "I’m still sad your mom doesn’t approve of . Her question was pretty intense, though."
I kissed him back more deeply, silencing his words. "We’ve only just started dating. Let’s not talk about ’soday’ yet."
The truth was, I was afraid to even consider the question. Being a Luna to a pack that would see as defective because of my lack of a wolf? It was easier to be like an ostrich and bury my head in the sand.
"How about dinner tomorrow? Just the two of us, so alone ti?" I suggested seductively, trying to make it up to him.
"I like that idea." He kissed my neck, making shiver.
"What about Antonio? Isn’t he staying at your penthouse lately?"
"He’s going ho tomorrow. My sister called and said our kickass father went to a hotel, so she wants Antonio back." Joseph continued kissing my neck. "I’ll pick you up at eight. The weather forecast says it’s going to be hot tomorrow!"
His joke was so silly that I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. He was being corny, using cheesy pickup lines.
After Joseph left, I confronted my mother in the kitchen.
"That was completely unfair," I said, crossing my arms. "You embarrassed both of us."
My mother continued washing dishes, her back to . "I was looking out for you. If you want to be with an Alpha, I need to know his intentions. I won’t let you suffer the sa way I did."
I froze. "What do you an, ’like you did’?"
My mother’s shoulders tensed, but she didn’t elaborate. "Go to bed, Ava. It’s late."
I didn’t want another fight, so I went to my bedroom with a frustrated sigh. My mom always said confusing things that left puzzled.
On my nightstand, I noticed an envelope that hadn’t been there this morning.
When I picked it up, I realized it was actual mail—handwritten and addressed to , with no return na, just an unfamiliar address. The handwriting was unfamiliar, feminine but not elegant.
The return address ant nothing to . Strange. Who even sent physical letters anymore?
Curious, I changed into my pajamas, settled onto my bed, and opened the envelope. As I unfolded the letter inside, my blood ran cold.
[You’ll never escape my grasp. I will hunt you down to the ends of the earth.]
My hands shaking, I clutched the letter and rushed downstairs to find my mother.
"Mom!" I called out, finding her still in the kitchen. "Where did this letter co from?"
She looked up from drying a plate. "Oh, that? I picked it up from the mailbox earlier. The handwriting looked feminine, so I assud it was from one of your female friends."
With trembling hands, I held out the letter. "Read it."
My mother took the paper, and her face imdiately went pale. The plate slipped from her other hand, clattering into the sink.
"No," she whispered. "That’s impossible. They couldn’t have found us."
"Who?" I demanded, my voice rising with panic. "Who are ’they’? What exactly are we running from? Mom, you need to tell what’s going on!"
My mother’s expression turned deadly serious. Without another word, she hurried to her bedroom and returned with a small wooden box filled with crystals, candles, and other divination tools I’d seen her use occasionally but never questioned.
"Stay back," she said, her voice suddenly authoritative.
As she began her ritual, spreading the items on the kitchen table, I felt the air around her shift. There was an energy, a power radiating from her that I’d never noticed before. It made my skin tingle with an otherworldly sensation. The candles flickered without any breeze, and the crystals seed to glow with their own inner light.
She held the letter above a lit candle, her eyes closed in deep concentration, whispering words in a language I didn’t recognize. The shadows in the room seed to dance and move on their own. After several tense minutes that felt like hours, the energy dissipated, and everything returned to normal.
"It’s nothing major," she said finally, though her voice still carried worry. "This letter didn’t co from another territory. It’s local, from Harbor Bay. There’s no supernatural scent or magical trace on it."
She fixed with an intense stare. "Who have you upset recently that would send you sothing like this? Think carefully, Ava."
I wracked my brain, feeling helpless and confused. "I can’t think of anyone... except Isaac, my ex-boyfriend who got arrested. But he’s locked up in jail."
I paused, considering other possibilities. "There’s Linda at work, but our issues aren’t serious enough for death threats. And besides, she’s not the type."
My mother studied my face for a long mont, as if searching for sothing I wasn’t telling her.
Finally, she pulled into a protective embrace.
"Don’t be afraid, sweetheart. I’ll protect you. I’ve kept you safe all these years, and I won’t stop now."
She disappeared into her room again and returned with a small silver pendant on a delicate chain. It was intricately carved with symbols I didn’t recognize, and it felt warm to the touch.
"This is a protection amulet," she said, fastening it around my neck. "It will save your life if you’re ever in mortal danger. Promise you’ll never take it off, no matter what."
The pendant felt heavier than it looked, and I could swear I felt a faint pulse of energy from it.
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