Ava by L.G.Savage (HeartBreak)

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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.

that. Phoenix Academy showed no mercy. It was how they produced all the bastards who ran

away, knowing Shadow would become uncontrollable if he saw her. But last night, he hadn’t been able to help- himself. He’d let himself in through her unlatched window and 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 the worst was still

wanted her to get out of the academy, but now it was so they would stop hurting her,

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

have sorted it out by next weekend. It’s our last year; we don’t want

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Mon, Jan

Chapter 26

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

my head,” he told

you,” Claire offered as she started to walk out of the water.

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 body.

“Stay,” he growled.

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 his wolf out for a run, so they were both antsy. But it was better this way. Shadow had already catalogued the scents of the people who had trained with Ava. Letting him out was

the scent got. He stayed downwind so Jared and his pack wouldn’t smell him, too. But the moment he could see Jared’s house, he wished he had stayed

as she lay on a lounger in the sun. And Jared was sitting next to her, rubbing something on her body. His claws extended as he watched the bastard lift her

her hands on Ava’s

Jared, obviously enjoying it. His claws cut into his palms, but the pain didn’t register. And then she moaned.

Jared continue touching her body.

haze that took him back to memories he didn’t like remembering. The rage felt almost like the night

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 shove

away from Ava and Jared before he his house as quietly as

see anything else that would set Shadow off

left them, which was good. He didn’t need them questioning him about his state.

him as it had done the day of the assembly. Derek and unclenching his bloody fists as he tried to ignore

and

to think of what he had seen so he could calm the other half of him, but the wolf’s pain was

was caving in.

heart had been

thought you’d be gone longer than that,” Claire said. “You’ve been walking a

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