Chapter 100 Ava’s POV

My body felt alien yet entirely my own, every muscle humming with raw, untamed power. The scents of blood, sweat, and fear assaulted my heightened senses, sharper and more vivid than I could have imagined.

I lifted my head, and a snarl ripped from my throat, vibrating through the chaos like a thunderclap. Every wolf froze. Their glowing eyes, bright with aggression, snapped to me. Even the wolf pinning Isabella hesitated, its jaws loosening just enough to allow her a gasp of air.

There was no thought. My wolf had taken control.

I lunged forward, my paws slamming against the ground, closing the distance in a blur. The wolf attacking Isabella turned to meet me, its fangs bared and dripping with blood, but it was too slow. I slammed into it, sending it sprawling. My jaws found its throat, and with a feral growl, I ripped into it.

The taste of blood filled my mouth—metallic and bitter—but I didn’t care. My wolf didn’t care. It was over in seconds. I spun around, chest heaving, to face the others who dared attack her.

Isabella, battered and bloody, struggled to her feet. Her brown fur was matted, her body trembling, but her amber eyes found mine, wide with shock. Then, instantly, I felt our mind link snap into place, clear and solid like a lifeline.

“You… shifted,” her voice rasped weakly through the link, her disbelief and awe cutting through the chaos.

“I did,” I sent back, my own voice trembling with triumph and urgency. “But we need to get you out of here!”

As I blocked another attack, Isabella whispered in my mind, “Rickon.”

My eyes darted to the silver-gray wolf tearing through the battlefield. The name jolted through me like lightning. That wolf—it was Rickon. But realization didn’t slow the storm around us. There were too many enemies, too much blood; we were vastly outnumbered.

“We can’t stay here!” I barked through the link, shoving another wolf away as it lunged for Isabella. My mind raced as I reached out to the one person my wolf instinctively called to.

The connection slammed into place with almost physical force. I felt his shock ripple through the bond, raw and unguarded.

“Ava?!” His voice was like a road in my mind, filled with disbelief and something deeper—something that warmed the fire coursing through me.

“Yes. It’s me, but there’s no time!” I sent back sharply, ducking under a wolf’s snapping jaws. “We need to get out of here. There are too many of them!”

There was a pause, then his firm, steady reply: “Ava, take Isabella and go. Rickon and I will meet you back at the mansion.”

“No!” I protested; my wolf bristled at the thought of leaving him behind. “I’m not leaving you!”

His voice softened, an edge of command threading through the bond: “Ava, I’ll be okay, I promise. Go. Now.”

My heart twisted, but his determination left no room for argument. I turned to Isabella, who was barely standing, her legs trembling. “We’re leaving,” I told her through the link, “Grayson and Rickon will meet us at the mansion.”

She didn’t argue.

I tore through the chaos, my wolf carving a path through the throng of attackers. My paws pounded the blood-soaked ground; adrenaline surged as I moved. Isabella followed closely, her breaths labored and shallow.

The city became a blur of shadows and blood, the snarls of wolves fading behind us as we pushed forward. My mind was a storm of emotions—rage at being forced to retreat, fear for Grayson and Rickon, and a newfound power surging within me. But above all, I felt the burning determination to protect Isabella.

The streets opened ahead, and the towering gates of Grayson’s estate loomed into view, a sanctuary amidst the chaos. My paws hit the cobblestones with a deafening rhythm, and I pushed harder, my muscles screaming with the effort.

Finally, we crossed into the estate. The moment we were inside, I collapsed onto the soft grass, my breaths heaving as the shift reversed. Pain surged through my body as my wolf receded, leaving me trembling and human once more.

Isabella fell beside me, shifting back into her human form. Her skin was pale, her frame littered with gashes and bruises, blood soaking her clothes.

“Help!” I screamed hoarsely, my voice echoing across the grounds.

From the corner of my eye, I saw movement. Men were moving around the estate, their faces grim, but my focus remained on Isabella. She was slipping, her breaths shallow and uneven.

Brianna broke through the crowd, a blanket in her hands. She dropped to her knees, draping the blanket over us. “Luna, here,” she said quickly.

“Thank you,” I said breathlessly, already turning back to Isabella. “Brianna, I need men. Now.”

Brianna nodded, returned quickly with two men. Together, we hoisted Isabella’s limp form. Her head lolled against my shoulder, her blood soaking into the blanket.

We moved quickly, the halls of the mansion a blur as we carried her to my room. My heart pounded, fear clawing at me as I laid her on the bed. My medical instincts kicked in. My hands moved on autopilot as I tightened the sheet around her.

Brianna’s voice startled me. “Luna, is there anything I can do to help?” she asked, her voice small but steady.

I turned to find her still standing by the door, her eyes wide with worry as she took in Isabella’s battered form. For a moment, I hadn’t even realized she was still there.

“Yes,” I said quickly, my voice sharper than I intended. I softened it: “There’s a bowl on the dresser. Fill it with water and bring it here. Then grab the clean towels from the cabinet by the bathroom door.”

She nodded, her footsteps fading as she hurried to follow my instructions.

I found the first aid kit under my bed and rushed back to Isabella’s side. My hands trembled slightly as I opened the kit and started pulling out supplies—alcohol wipes, bandages, stitching needles, and antiseptic cream.

When Brianna returned, I didn’t even look up. “Set it down next to me,” I said, already dabbing at a particularly deep gash on Isabella’s side.

“She’s bleeding a lot,” Brianna murmured, her voice shaky.

“She’s strong,” I replied, my tone firm, as much for myself as for her. “She’s going to be fine.”

I worked methodically, cleaning the wounds, applying pressure where the bleeding wouldn’t stop. Brianna handed me supplies as needed, her hands steady despite the fear etched on her face.

As I wiped away the blood from a particularly nasty gash on Isabella’s forearm, I noticed something miraculous: The torn flesh was beginning to knit itself together, slowly but surely. Relief flooded through me, and I exhaled a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.

“She’s healing,” I said softly, more to myself than to Brianna.

Brianna leaned closer, her voice hesitant. “So she is going to be okay?”

“Yes. Isabella will be okay,” I replied, “But she’s lost a lot of blood. She needs time, and she needs rest.”

I paused, placing a soft kiss on her forehead, then began wrapping a bandage around her arm. A sharp knock sounded at the door.

“Ava! Are you in there?” Eliza’s voice was muffled but unmistakable.

I stood, wrapping the sheet more tightly around myself as I crossed to the door. Pulling it open, I barely had time to register Eliza’s presence before she threw her arms around me.

“Oh, thank God,” she breathed, her grip tight. “You’re okay.”

I hugged her back briefly, then stepped aside to let her in. Her gaze immediately went to Isabella, lying pale and motionless on the bed.

“Oh my God,” Eliza whispered, her hands flying to her mouth.

“She’ll be fine,” I assured her, my voice firm. “She just needs time to rest and heal.”

Eliza nodded, though her eyes remained fixed on Isabella. “I told Liam,” she said quickly. “He’s already sent men out. They’re on their way to help Grayson.”

“Good,” I said, turning back to my dresser to grab some clothes. “I need to get dressed.”

As I pulled on a loose pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt, I reached out to Grayson through the mental link. The effort felt like slamming into a brick wall. He had closed himself off from me. The abruptness of it made my breath hitch.

“Ava?” Eliza’s voice brought me back to the room.

“He’s fine,” I said aloud, more to convince myself than anyone else. “More men are going. He’ll be fine.”

I finished dressing and moved back to Isabella’s side, checking her pulse, breathing, and the rate of wound healing. My fingers brushed against her forehead—cool and clammy.

“She’s stable,” I said softly, more to myself than anyone else.

Brianna stepped closer, her hands twisting nervously. “Is there anything else I can do?”

I glanced at her, gratitude flickering through the exhaustion on my face. “Yes. Let the guards know I’ll need backup at the gates. And… thank you, Brianna.”

She nodded, slipping quietly out of the room.

Eliza moved to my side, her voice soft but insistent. “Ava, you’ve done everything you can. You need to rest.”

I shook my head, guilt gnawing at my resolve. “This is all my fault. I can’t rest until I know everyone’s okay. I should have listened to him.”

I closed my eyes, a whispered prayer escaping my lips to the Moon Goddess. “Please, let them be safe. Let us all make it through this.”

Something was wrong.

But as I opened my eyes, a cold, sinking feeling washed over me. My wolf stirred uneasily, her growl echoing in the back of my mind. The air felt heavier. And whatever was coming next, I knew we weren’t ready.