Chapter 10

Grayson’s POV

The moment I realized I was losing control, it all started with her: Ava Pierce. Control had always been my mantra. I controlled everything—my wolf, my actions, my emotions, even the people around me. That’s how I had gotten to where I was, how I maintained order. But in the few hours I’d known her, that careful balance was slipping, and I hated it. My legs moved before I could even think, as if they had a mind of their own, leading me straight to her.

I clenched my jaw, growling at Liam as I climbed into my car. “Every single thing that involves her, even if it’s her taking an extra breath, I want to know. Do you understand?”

Liam opened his mouth as if to protest. “You’ve never cared about—”

My eyes snapped to his, cutting him off. The deadly glare was enough to silence him immediately. He swallowed hard, his mouth closing like a trap. “I understand,” he muttered.

Without another word, I gunned the engine and sped off in the direction Liam had given me. The restaurant was up in flames when I arrived, chaos unfolding around me like the world had finally decided to fall apart. People were screaming, running, desperate to escape the inferno. And yet, I walked right into it, ignoring the heat, ignoring the fear. Control. That one word grounded me.

But that control shattered the second I saw him—a man on top of her.

My vision went red. All I remembered was the feel of his brain underneath my claws as I sliced his head in two, the sickening satisfaction as blood coated my fingers. It wasn’t enough. My wolf wanted to tear him apart, limb from limb, but I had more important things to handle.

Ava

I hoisted her limp body into my arms, ignoring the gasps and stares from the onlookers as I strode out of the burning building. She was unconscious, her body unnaturally still in my arms. I could feel the heat radiating off her skin, a mix of the fire and the stress of everything she had been through. I headed straight for my car, shutting out the noise, the chaos, focusing only on her.

“Hey!” A shrill voice cut through the air, followed by the pounding of footsteps. “Let her go!”

I turned, more irritated than I should have been. A woman rushed toward us, her eyes wild, clearly panicked. She made the mistake of grabbing Ava’s arm, trying to pull her away.

“This is kidnapping! You can’t just—”

My eyes narrowed, my wolf surging to the surface. “If you don’t want to lose your hands, I suggest you take them off her right now.” My voice was a low, dangerous growl, dripping with the authority of an Alpha. The sheer force of it made her freeze; her hand was still on Ava’s body, but now trembling.

Her gaze finally shifted to me, and the recognition hit her like a slap to the face. “You’re… Grayson Blackwood.”

That meant she was a werewolf. Her pupils dilated, and fear clung to the edges of her scent. Good. I didn’t have time for this.

“Remove. Your. Hand.” I punctuated each word with cold precision.

She swallowed hard, her hand slipping away from Ava as she took a step back. “She hasn’t done anything wrong. Why are you taking her?”

I ignored her, turning around to gently place Ava in the back seat of my car. But just as I was about to close the door, the woman did something that surprised me. She dove into the car, wrapping herself around Ava’s legs like a human shield.

“If you’re taking her anywhere, then I’m coming with,” she declared, her voice shaking but determined.

My wolf growled in my head, both annoyed and slightly intrigued. There was something about her audacity that almost earned my respect. She was trembling, terrified, but she wasn’t backing down. I stared at her for a moment, debating whether to drag her out or just drive with her clinging to Ava.

With a sigh, I decided on the latter. There were more important things to deal with right now. I climbed into the driver’s seat, the engine roaring to life.

“What’s your name?” I asked, my voice rough as I pulled out of the chaotic scene, speeding down the road without looking back.

“Isabella,” she replied quietly from the back seat.

“How long have you known her?” I kept my eyes on the road, glancing at them briefly through the rearview mirror.

“Nine years,” Isabella said, her voice softening with the memory. “She’s my ride or die.”

The emotion in her voice caught me off guard for a second. I didn’t say anything more after that, letting the rumble of the engine fill the silence. My thoughts, however, were anything but calm. I sped down the highway, the streetlights casting fleeting shadows across the car as we raced toward my estate.

The silence in the car was thick, punctuated only by Ava’s shallow breathing and Isabella’s occasional worried glances at her friend.

When we finally arrived at my estate, I pulled the car to a stop, the massive iron gates swinging open as I drove up the long driveway. Without waiting for Isabella to get out, I stepped out of the car and gently scooped Ava into my arms again.

“Stay here,” I ordered Isabella, though I didn’t expect her to listen.

As expected, she followed close behind, her steps hurried as we entered the house. My estate was quiet, dimly lit by low chandeliers, and the atmosphere was cold, just like me.

I carried Ava up to one of the guest rooms, laying her down carefully on the bed. Isabella hovered near the doorway, her eyes darting between me and her friend, unsure whether to thank me or curse me.

I turned to face her, leaning against the doorframe. “Who did this?”

Isabella looked at me like I had two heads. “What?”

I narrowed my eyes. “The fire. What started it?”

She hesitated, glancing at Ava’s unconscious form on the bed, then back at me. Her lips pressed into a thin line, as though she was debating whether to tell me the truth or keep me in the dark. But I wasn’t in the mood to be kept waiting.

“Two guys,” she finally said, her voice tight. “They sent over drinks at the restaurant. Lilian told them she wasn’t interested, but they didn’t take no for an answer.”

I kept wondering why she was calling her Lilian. I was aware that was Ava’s middle name, but that wasn’t important at the moment. I frowned. “And then?”

Isabella exhaled sharply, frustration bleeding into her tone. “I tried to defend her, told them to back off. But they got aggressive. One of them touched her, and Lilian can’t defend herself, so I punched him. Things escalated after that… the fire started.”

“Why can’t she defend herself?” My voice was harsher than I intended, but I couldn’t help it. My wolf was restless and annoyed.

Isabella’s eyes flickered toward Ava, and something shifted in her expression—sadness, maybe? Or guilt? I wasn’t sure. But then she said something that made my blood freeze.

“She’s latent.”

“What?” The word came out before I could stop it.

“She can’t shift,” Isabella repeated, her voice softer this time. “She’s never been able to. Her parents tried everything—medical, supernatural—but she can’t shift.”

The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. Ava couldn’t shift, which made her more vulnerable. The moment it was announced that she was my Luna, she would inevitably inherit all my enemies, which made things more complicated. I studied her face, peaceful in sleep, but now there was an added weight to what I felt.

I nodded slowly, turning away to leave the room. But before I could take a step, Isabella’s voice stopped me.

“What are you going to do with her? Why did you save her? Why did you bring her here?” Her voice trembled slightly, and when I turned back to her, her eyes were wide, filled with fear and concern. “Are you going to hurt her?”

I paused, tilting my head to the side, a slow, dark smile creeping across my lips. “Why would I want to hurt my Luna?”

Her eyes widened, and her breath caught in her throat. Stunned. Frozen.

I didn’t wait for a response. I walked out of the room, my mind already focusing on the problem at hand. I had killed one of the men who had started the fire, but there was still one more out there. And unfortunately for him, he wouldn’t live much longer. The second I found out who he was, his days were numbered.

As the thought solidified in my mind, I heard footsteps behind me. Liam’s voice cut through the tension. “You have a visitor.”

I didn’t bother turning to face him. My anger was still raw, and I let that show in my tone. “I’m not in the mood to entertain any visitor.”

But then another voice spoke, one that made my wolf rise to his feet on alert.

“Considering the fact that you have involved yourself with my daughter, you owe me all the audience I seek.”

I turned slowly, a smile curving on my lips as I met the cold, steely gaze of Luther Pierce. His presence radiated authority, and his eyes bore into mine with an intensity that spoke volumes.

“Luther Pierce,” I drawled, crossing my arms over my chest. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

His expression remained hard, unyielding, as he took a step toward me. “I’m not here for games,” he growled. “Whatever relationship you think you have with Ava, you’re going to end it.”