Fell for the Alpha-less Queen

Chapter 535 Two Paths, One Heart

Avery stood frozen on the training field, gripping his phone tightly. His thumb brushed again and again over the photo case-a picture of the five band members taken backstage at the Grammys last year. In it, Tessa was flashing a peace sign with a bright smile, while he stood beside her, grinning like a fool, his small fangs peeking out.

The words he'd said earlier-cutting ties-were like a thorn lodged in his throat. It stung just thinking about it. He knew he'd acted like a jerk. He only wanted to protect his brothers, but the words that came out had been like a blade, cutting deep.

Would Steven and the others really leave? Would Tessa think he'd lost his mind?

The phone screen dimmed, then lit up again. He opened Tessa's contact, his finger hovering over the call button, unable to press it. He'd rehearsed his apology a hundred times in his head, but when it came to saying it out loud, all he had left was clumsy regret.

Just as he took a deep breath, ready to make the call, the screen lit up again-with an incoming call.

From Tessa.

Avery jolted, nearly dropping his phone.

He stared at it, making sure it wasn't his imagination, then frantically swiped to answer, his voice tight. "Hello?"

"What were you doing? Took you long enough." Tessa's voice came through the speaker with a hint of a smile. "I just thought of a way for you to keep the corps and return to the band. Wanna hear it?"

froze, then awkwardly rubbed at his burning

didn't need to be said out loud. She'd

Avery's breath quickened with

a way to

out the plan: support an internal

silence on the other end for a long time-so long she wondered if the signal had dropped. Finally,

can really go

teased. "If you pick

"There's a guy named Scarface. Fought alongside my dad for ten years. He led the Crimson Valley mission -solid rep, commands respect. Bit blunt,

stream, his excitement impossible to

the days that followed, the two

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14:47 Man 14 JU

Two Paths,

mercenaries who'd served und- him, and the picture became clear: not only had the veteran shown brilliant leadership in the outnumbered victory at Crimson Valley, but he'd also carned a quiet reputation among the ranks as someone who looked out for the younger ones-always setting aside extra pay for injured rookies

the Nightshade Pack's intelligence network and sourced three crates of high-purity energy crystals-each with an 80% purity rating. More than

as their plan was beginning to take shape,