Ava stood under the dim, flickering light of her apartment’s kitchen, stirring a pot of pasta absentmindedly. The scent of tomato sauce and basil filled the cozy space, mingling with the soft hum of the radio. It was a routine she had perfected over the years, her way of finding solace in a world that had once been alien and hostile.

Tonight, however, her usual calm demeanor was fractured. She glanced at the clock on the wall. 7:58 p.m. The Gathering was set to begin in an hour. Her mind swam with memories she would rather forget—the powerful pull of the moon, the feel of the earth beneath her paws, her former Alpha’s sneering face when he rejected her in front of the entire pack.

She shook her head, refusing to drown in the past. The Gathering was a summons she couldn’t ignore. Not this time. The Werewolf King himself had declared the event compulsory, and his word was law. Even for an outcast like her.

With a sigh, Ava turned off the stove. The pasta could wait. She needed to prepare for what was to come.

The forest was alive with the rustling of leaves and the distant howls of wolves as Ava made her way to the Clearing where the Gathering would be held. She wore a simple black dress that hugged her curves, a cloak hiding her identity as she preferred to remain unseen. The moon hung low and heavy in the sky, casting an ethereal glow over the meeting place.

Ava had always loved the woods. They were her sanctuary, the one place she could connect with her true nature without fear or shame. Tonight, however, the trees seemed to close in around her, their branches like skeletal hands reaching out to pull her back into the pain she had fled from so many years ago.

As she entered the Clearing, the air around her buzzed with tension. Hundreds of werewolves had gathered, their eyes glowing in the moonlight. Towering above them all, standing on a raised platform, was the Werewolf King himself.

Braiden.

He was older now, more mature, his once-boyish features hardened into those of a leader. His dark hair was cropped short, and his piercing blue eyes scanned the crowd with an authoritative glare. If he noticed her arrival, he didn’t show it.

“As many of you know,” Braiden’s voice boomed, silencing the murmurs around him, “tonight is a momentous occasion. Not only are we here to strengthen the bonds between our packs, but I am also here to announce my chosen mate.”

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. Ava’s heart pounded in her chest. She had heard rumors of his impending engagement, but to see it unfold before her was something else entirely.

“Lysandra,” Braiden called out, and a tall, statuesque woman stepped forward. Dressed in a shimmering silver gown, she looked every inch the queen. But there was something off about her, something that made Ava’s skin crawl.

Braiden’s nostrils flared slightly; he hesitated for a fraction of a second, but quickly masked it with a smile. “Lysandra has been groomed for this role her entire life. She embodies the grace and strength required to be by my side.”

Ava felt the bile rise in her throat. She turned to leave but froze when Braiden’s head snapped in her direction. Their eyes met, and for a moment, the world seemed to stand still.

He sniffed the air, his eyes narrowing as understanding dawned on him. “Wait,” he commanded, his voice sending a shiver down her spine.

The crowd parted as he made his way toward her. Ava’s heart pounded.

“It can’t be,” he murmured, stopping inches from her. His eyes roamed over her face, recognition and disbelief warring within them. “Ava?”

She clenched her fists, resisting the urge to run. “It’s me.”

The silence that followed was deafening.

Ava followed Braiden into a secluded part of the forest, away from prying eyes and curious ears. The moonlight cast their shadows long and ghostly against the forest floor.

“Why are you here?” Braiden asked, his voice softer now, tinged with something that might have been regret.

“The same reason everyone else is,” she replied, folding her arms protectively across her chest. “I had no choice.”

He nodded, rubbing the back of his neck. “I never expected to see you again. After what happened…”

“After you rejected me, you mean,” she said, her voice sharp as a blade.

Braiden looked down, guilt flickering in his eyes. “I was young. Foolish. I made a mistake.”

“Is that supposed to make it better?” Ava snapped, feeling the long-buried anger surge to the surface. “You humiliated me. Drove me out. Do you have any idea what that did to me?”

“More than you know,” he whispered, stepping closer. “I’ve thought about you every day since then. Wondered where you were, if you were safe.”

“I managed,” she said coldly. “But I didn’t come here to hear your excuses. I only want to know why you stopped me.”

There was a moment of silence before Braiden spoke. “Because the moment I saw you, everything changed. Lysandra isn’t my mate, Ava. You are.”

Ava’s breath caught in her throat. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying I made a mistake years ago,” Braiden said, his eyes shining with determination. “And I’m not going to make another one. Not if I can help it.”

“Do you think it’s that easy?” Ava asked, her voice trembling.

“No,” he admitted. “I know it’s not. But I’m willing to fight for you, for us. If you’ll give me a chance.”

Ava’s heart ached with the weight of his words. Could she trust him again? Could she find a way to move past the pain and betrayal?

The sound of twigs snapping startled them both. From the shadows, a figure emerged, cloaked in darkness.

“Interesting reunion,” the stranger said, a malicious grin spreading across his face. “But I’m afraid you won’t have the luxury of sorting out your feelings. Not when there are bigger problems at hand.”

Ava stiffened, recognizing the scent of another rogue. “Who are you?”

The stranger stepped into the moonlight, revealing a scarred, menacing face. “Someone who has a score to settle with the Werewolf King. And it looks like I’ve found his weakness.”

“Leave her out of this,” Braiden growled, positioning himself between Ava and the rogue.

“Too late,” the rogue sneered. “You’re both coming with me. And we’ll see just how far your loyalty to each other goes.”

Before Ava could react, the rogue lunged, and the forest erupted into chaos.