Chapter 161

Ava’s POV

Repression. That's what it's called, I think. That unconscious process where the mind locks away memories too painful to face, burying them so deep in the subconscious that they become almost impossible to access unless triggered. It's a defense mechanism, a way for the brain to shield you from emotional wreckage. Or, in my case, to hide my darkness.

I was molded to be perfect, taught to believe in the illusion of flawlessness. I clung firmly to that belief, convincing myself I was good, pure, untainted. But the truth was, I wasn't. I had done horrible things, things I'd forced myself to forget. It was easier to pretend they never happened. Easier to pretend I wasn't a monster.

Maybe that's why I was so willing to accept Grayson for what he had done, who he was. Because in him, I saw a mirror of myself—the part I fought to bury, the part I couldn't let others see, the part the other version of myself kept talking about.

It felt like a constant battle raged within me; one side revolted by the blood on my hands, the other accepting it with cold indifference.

Ricardo tilted his head, studying me with that sly, knowing expression. Before he could speak, I cut him off, glaring at him with all the hatred I could muster. "Stay the hell away from me," I hissed.

I tried to step back, but in my haste, I knocked over a bottle on the table. It shattered on the ground. The sound snapped Isabella and Rickon out of their trance, and they both turned toward us.

Rickon spoke first, his voice calm but firm. Addressing Ricardo, he said, "Whatever you're doing, knock it off. Grayson said to stay away from her."

I blinked at Rickon. He seemed different—more composed. His words carried a weight absent before, as if he'd shed his carefree arrogance. Then, turning to me, he said softly, "I'm really glad you're back, Ava."

Ricardo laughed, a sharp, mocking sound that made my skin crawl. "I need to choose better company. You're all getting so serious these days," he sneered.

I opened my mouth to retort, but Grayson's voice cut through the air like a blade. "I told you to stay away from her."

My heart leaped at the sound of his voice, low and deadly. I turned to see him striding toward us, each step deliberate and menacing. He crossed the room in less than five strides. Before I could react, he was pulling me close, his arm wrapping protectively around me.

Grayson's glare locked onto Ricardo, who simply smiled back, that glint of madness still flickering in his eyes.

"I was just saying hello," Ricardo said lazily, shrugging as if he hadn't just been moments away from pushing me to the brink of a breakdown. "Reminding Ava of our history."

His words froze me. My heart raced, and I felt Grayson's grip tighten. He glanced down at me, searching my face for answers before returning his attention to Ricardo.

"You're really pushing it," Grayson said coldly, his voice low and full of restrained fury.

Without waiting for a response, Grayson grabbed my hand, pulling me toward the door.

Isabella called after me, her voice light despite the tension in the room. "Bye, Lilian. I'll come see you tomorrow—or later today."

I managed a weak whisper, "Bye, Bels."

Grayson didn't stop until we were outside. The cold morning air bit at my skin, but his hand was warm and firm, grounding me. Finally, he stopped and turned to me, his expression unreadable.

"What history could you possibly have with him?" he asked, his tone measured but demanding.

I swallowed hard, willing my voice to stay steady. "He just told me he used to come here, to the county. He must have seen me at some events or something. I don't know him."

Liar.

The word echoed in my mind like a taunt, but I shoved it down, locking it away with the rest of the memories I couldn't afford to confront. I forced myself to meet his gaze. "It's nothing," I said softly. "And I'm really tired. The drink was a bad idea. Can we just go to bed?"

For a moment, I thought he would press me further. But then he sighed and nodded, his grip softening. "Alright."

This time, his hold was gentler as he led me back to the pack house. We passed the door to the room he'd originally given me, and he spoke without looking at me. "I'll have the omegas move your things into my room permanently later today."

I said nothing, even though it was a huge step.

When we reached his room, I climbed into bed without a word, pulling the blanket over me as if it could shield me from everything—the memories, the voices, Ricardo. But no matter how tightly I curled, the memories crashed through the walls I'd built, slamming into me with relentless force.

I was back there, standing in that grand hall. The body lay still on the ground, eyes wide open. Everyone was still. My hands trembled, but I willed them to stop. I couldn't let them see. I couldn't let them know what I'd done—

"Ava."

The sound of my name snapped me back to reality as abruptly as I'd been pulled into the memory. I blinked, disoriented, and looked up to find Grayson watching me. His eyes flicked to my still-shaking hands. I quickly clenched them into fists, hiding the tremors.

"I'm fine," I said quickly, my voice too sharp to be convincing.

He didn't look convinced. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he said, "We were gone for two months." This caught me off guard. Isabella had mentioned it earlier, but he'd dismissed it.

I moved closer to the edge of the bed, keeping a small distance between us. "We were," I whispered.

He said nothing for a moment, and I thought that was the end of it. But then he spoke again, his voice laced with disbelief and hurt. "Elaine and Liam mated. And now she's pregnant."

The pregnancy was a surprise, but I heard the pain, the betrayal, in his tone. Without thinking, I closed the distance between us, wrapping my arms around him from behind. "I'm sorry," I murmured.

We stayed like that for what felt like forever, neither of us moving or speaking. The silence wasn't empty; it was heavy, filled with unspoken words and shared grief.

But even as I held him, the memories I'd tried so hard to bury gnawed at the edges of my mind, refusing to be silenced. I squeezed my eyes shut, willing them away. But deep down, I knew they wouldn't stay buried forever.

Finally, I broke the silence. "Is your wolf…"

He cut me off. "Still gone. But I'll figure it out." His tone was steady, but the weight behind it was impossible to miss. After a pause, he added, "No one can know about this. Not even Isabella."

"I know," I said quickly. "I haven't told anyone, and I won't." I hesitated, carefully choosing my words. "Does it… does it have anything to do with the fact that there's a curse on you?"

The atmosphere shifted immediately. His body went rigid, and the tension felt like a physical force pressing against me. Slowly, I pulled back, his reaction sending alarm bells through my mind.

He turned to face me, his eyes sharp and guarded. "Who told you about the curse?"

"My mother," I admitted, my voice steady despite the growing unease. "She came here just before you went missing and told me you knew she was the one who sent that man. She said she made you an offer—to tell you about the curse. That's why I was calling you that day, to ask if it was true or if it was just one of her schemes. But I guess it's true."

I paused. "Maybe I can talk to her. Maybe we can figure out how to fix this together—"

He let out a long, heavy sigh, closing his eyes for a moment before meeting my gaze. "I already know everything about the curse. And I know how to break it."

"Then what are we waiting for?" I was already halfway to my feet, a rush of determination pushing me forward. "Let's go. Do we need Maria? We can fix this. We can stop whatever is happening to your wolf—"

"Ava, stop."

His voice was firm, his hand reaching out to pull me back down, but I didn't stop. Not until his next words froze me in place.

"To break it," he continued slowly, each word cutting through the air like a knife, "I have to find my fated mate. And I have to mate with her."