Chapter 108

Ava’s POV

“Are you sure this is a good idea? You haven’t fully healed,” I asked, focusing my binoculars on “our target,” as Isabella called him. My concern lingered, but I proceeded.

“Don’t be a buzzkill,” she replied dismissively. “You said you wanted to take your mind off Grayson, and I need to channel my anger somewhere. So, no, this isn’t a good idea—but we’re doing it anyway. Eliza is our friend. When our friends get dumped, we find the guy responsible, and we beat him up. That’s how it’s always worked.”

“This is a bad idea,” my wolf grumbled disapprovingly. Her voice, which always felt like a tickle against my skull, was both strange and comforting. I giggled despite myself.

“What the hell is so funny?” Isabella snapped, glaring. I felt my wolf roll her eyes—if that’s even possible.

“Nothing,” I replied, stifling another laugh.

The bond with my wolf still felt surreal. She was like an older sister who frowned on my bad decisions, yet I couldn’t imagine being without her now. Having her here after so long was exhilarating and weird. I wanted to tell my parents—to explain that she’d always been there, waiting for me to find myself—but with everything else, especially Grayson’s behavior, I decided against it.

So, here I was, stalking Eliza’s ex to distract myself, at least until I had to return to work and deal with Crystal in a few days.

“He’s about to leave,” Isabella said.

“I can see that; I’m holding binoculars,” I replied dryly.

“Why did you even bring those? Don’t you have a wolf now? You’ve got heightened senses, which means…” She snatched the binoculars. “You don’t need to be ‘goggle girl.’ Just focus on what you want to see, and you will—no matter how far away it is.”

I glared but sighed, turning my head and doing as she said. My vision zoomed in as if through an invisible lens, and I gasped.

Isabella laughed. “I know, right? It’s cool.”

“Tell her your abilities are not a toy,” my wolf huffed superiorly, making me sigh again. “I don’t think my wolf likes you or your antics very much,” I muttered.

Isabella grabbed my face, forcing me to look at her. “You and I just need a little time, honey. Trust me—you’re going to love me.”

I felt my wolf growl, and I rolled my eyes. Isabella grinned and stood. “Shit. He’s already leaving. Come on, Lilian, we have to go.”

She grabbed my hand, pulling me forward as we followed Jeremy. Isabella, whose new hobby apparently involved stalking, had been watching his routine for days. She knew he walked home every night and cut through an alley. All we had to do was intercept him there, show him our claws and black eyes, and scare him. We’d make sure he knew what happened to guys who broke kind women’s hearts.

It was ridiculous, and my wolf hated every second of it. But when Isabella put her mind to something, there was no stopping her. Mostly, I tagged along to make sure things didn’t get out of control.

Chapter 108 (Continued)

“Hurry up, Lilian, or we’re going to lose him! He’s almost at the alley,” Isabella whispered-yelled.

“I’m literally in front of you; you’re the one lagging behind,” I hissed.

“My point exactly! I’m still waiting! Hurry your ass up and don’t let him escape!”

I rolled my eyes but grabbed her hand. As we neared the alley, Jeremy stopped. I froze, and Isabella slammed into me.

“What the hell are you doing?” she hissed.

My wolf growled softly, and unease settled in my chest. Something was wrong. I silenced Isabella with a finger to my lips, just as Jeremy’s shaky voice rang out: “Are you here?”

A large man stepped from the shadows. He was tall and imposing, wearing a black suit that looked out of place. I shoved Isabella into a corner, and we watched unseen.

His voice was calm, cold, and terrifying. “I paid you a lot of money for information, and what do I hear? That you ended things with the source?”

Jeremy’s voice wavered. “I—I tried to make things work with her, but she’s too much. I couldn’t keep pretending.”

The man grabbed Jeremy by the collar, lifting him effortlessly. I tensed, my claws itching, but Isabella held me back.

“You will call her,” the man ordered. “Get back together, and keep pulling information from her until I say otherwise. Do you have any idea how many people want Grayson Blackwood dead? And what they would do to those who stand in their way?”

My heart pounded. What?

The man continued, his tone unrelenting. “Your girlfriend handles all his affairs. Call her the moment you leave this alley. Make amends, gain her trust, and pull every scrap of information you can about him. Do I make myself clear?”

Jeremy nodded frantically. The man tossed him aside; Jeremy crashed into a garbage can. The man stepped closer, his voice an icy threat. “You have until tomorrow to get me something new—and it had better be useful.”

He disappeared into the shadows, leaving Jeremy shaken and pale.

This time, I didn’t let Isabella stop me. I stepped forward, my voice cold and deadly.

“You know,” I began, “when my friend suggested we beat you up, I said no. Because I know better than anyone that sometimes relationships just don’t work out.”

Jeremy’s head snapped up; recognition dawned.

“It’s good you know who I am,” I continued, stepping closer. My claws extended, his eyes widening in terror. “So you’d better start talking. Why are you using my friend to get to my husband? And it had better be a damn good reason.”

I leaned in closer, my eyes darkening. “Because if it’s not, I promise you—you won’t be walking out of this alley at all.”