Ava by L.G.Savage (HeartBreak)

hapter 26

Chapter 26

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“You’re looking weak, Ezekiel. There are ways around those rules, and you know them. You should show the vampire prince who he will bow to when you become the Alpha. If you become the Alpha.”

His father’s words still rang in his ears long after the dreaded check–in phone call. If he became Alpha? That was all he had been waiting for, for six fucking years. Now, his father thought he could dangle it in his face like that.

He lounged by the pool while Claire and her friends swam–if he could call it that. They were in the water, but they didn’t look wet. They were still perfectly made up when anyone else would have been a wet mess. How the hell did they even do

that?

“Did you tell him-”

“Yes,” he interrupted Myles.

He didn’t want to think about his father right now. How was it okay for him to punish the vampires for a minor infraction committed away from the academy, but his father didn’t even have the balls to gut the wolves who’d killed his mate? He was such a hypocrite. Talked the talk but couldn’t walk the walk.

Since Shadow had made his deadly appearance, his father used him to enforce the rules. It was him the packs feared. It was he who had blood on his hands. But his father still liked to talk like he had the juice.

“Are you coming in?” Claire asked with an inviting smile.

He lifted his beer and tried not to scowl.

“Maybe later.”

He’d invited them to spend the day to stop Derek from asking too many questions, but he knew what he would rather have been doing. He could still feel her body now, hours later. Even though she was so small, she fit so perfectly against him.

Like she was made for him.

Thinking about her made Shadow growl.

It had been a hard week. He had to leave training several times, on the verge of attacking the people hurting Ava. The coach hadn’t let up on her, giving her match after match. She had fought more times than anyone else in the class, and her body showed it.

up on her; he knew that. Phoenix Academy showed no mercy. It

watched her sleep for hours. She’d been restless all night until she had that nightmare. He couldn’t blame her for her mental state, but

academy, but now it

a swig of his beer, as if he’d summoned her, he

by next weekend. It’s our last

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Mon, Jan 20

Chapter 26

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His so–called true mate was near. What was she doing? She

my head,” he told Derek and

come with you,” Claire offered as she

He never usually cared where he had her, so these walks always became something else. But even the thought of it had Shadow ready to rip her apart. Claire no longer had any right to his

“Stay,” he growled.

reaction as he walked around the pool and headed to the woods. Ava’s scent was so strong that he had an idea of where she was. He didn’t dare let Shadow out so he could run there quicker. It had been almost a week since he let

He stayed downwind so Jared and his pack wouldn’t smell him,

sitting next to her, rubbing something on her body. His claws extended as he watched the bastard lift her arm and start

her hands on Ava’s

were closed, but she smiled at Jared, obviously enjoying it. His claws cut into his palms, but the pain

moaned and let Jared continue

like remembering. The rage felt almost like the night Shadow had emerged and shown everyone who he really was. So uncontrollable and unstoppable. His hands started to change, and his

on Ava’s pain. Even from this distance, he could see the cuts and bruises all over her frail body. That momentary distraction was all he needed to take control of Shadow and

from Ava and Jared before he his house as quietly

that would set Shadow off again and jogged

He didn’t need them questioning him about his state. He kept cle Derek and

girls were still in the pool, and Claire’s unwelcome scent tethered him as it had done the day of the assembly. Derek and unclenching his bloody fists as he tried to ignore the threatening growls

and

could calm

was

heart had been

be gone longer than that,” Claire said. “You’ve been walking a lot lately.”

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