Xavier’s POV
From behind the wall, I stood still, barely breathing. I couldn’t
see Ava, but I could hear her voice from inside the room–lower
than usual, hesitant.
She was stalling.
“Father,” she said slowly. “If. if I do what you ask, if I go through
with marrying Asher–what happens if-”
She stopped. Her voice caught in her throat.
Jason didn’t say anything. Waiting.
She took a breath and tried again. “You said this marriage must
happen soon. But what if. before that. I find my true mate?”
Jason’s tone stayed flat. “Mate?”
“Yeah!” She hesitated again, the pause stretching out. “My
destined partner”
For a moment, there was silence.
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Then Jason laughed. Not amused–mocking.
“Your mate? Ava, don’t start with that nonsense.”
Her voice stayed quiet. “It could be a possibility.”
Jason scoffed. “You’re not going to find anyone. And even if you
do, it doesn’t matter.”
A pause.
“I will make you forget him real quick,” he added. “You think
the Bear Clan cares who the Moon chooses for you? We choose.
And I already made that choice.”
He was getting sharper now.
“You were not born for yourself. You were born for this clan.
For this alliance. That’s what matters–not some mystical bond
or romantic fantasy.”
Ava didn’t answer.
Jason continued, colder now. “If your so–called mate dares to
get in the way, I’ll put him down myself.”
I felt my own pulse jump.
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“If he tries to claim you, speak for you, fight for you–I’ll kill him
where he stands,” Jason finished, like he was discussing a
business deal.
I couldn’t see Ava from my position, but I could feel the stillness
in her. She hadn’t moved, hadn’t said a word.
Jason clicked his tongue once. “Stop talking like a weakling,
Ava. I raised you for this. You knew it was coming. So, don’t
worry about that, and get some rest!”
Ava still didn’t speak anything. She might just have nodded,
shocked by her father’s determination to get her married to
Asher.
And after a while Jason’s footsteps started toward the door. I
backed farther into the shadow, not moving until I heard them
pass and fade into the corridor.
When I finally stepped out, Ava was standing in the same spot,
arms crossed tightly over her chest, eyes on the floor.
“Why are you still here?” she asked.
“Because I listened everything.” I stepped closer, watching her
carefully. “You asked him. You actually asked him.”
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She didn’t say anything for a second. “And now you know his
answer.”
“I already knew what kind of man he was.” I exhaled. “I just
didn’t know he’d go this far.”
Ava looked at me now. “He won’t change his mind.”
“I noticed.”
She turned her back to me, walking a few steps away. “You
need to leave. If he finds you again, he’ll do exactly what he
said. And I won’t be able to stop him.”
“I’m not afraid of him.”
“You should be. He doesn’t bluff.”
I took a step forward. “Neither do I.”
She looked over her shoulder, frowning. “Xavier.”
I cut in. “I wasn’t completely honest with you earlier.”
She turned around fully, arms falling to her sides.
“I’m not just a guard,” I said. “I’m a hybrid. Half wolf, half bear. I
was part of a secret project years ago–an experiment. I led a
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rebellion against the wolves once. That war nearly destroyed
both sides.”
Her brows lifted. “You are a hybrid?”
“Yes. And it is my duty to hide nothing from my mate!”
She looked at me for a second, then said, “I get why you didn’t
say the truth carlier”
“You’re not upset?” I asked, watching her expression closely.
She shook her head. “No, I wouldn’t have told the truth either.
Not right away. Not here”
“You’re really going to let him use you like this?” I asked her,
after looking at her in surprise for her honesty.
“What choice do I have?” she muttered. “He’s my father. He
raised me. Taught me everything I know. He built this tribe. I
owe him.”
“You don’t owe him your future.”
She laughed once, bitterly. “That’s not how it works where I
come from!”
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“It should be.”
She didn’t argue. Just sighed.
“You don’t want to marry Asher,” I said.
“No.”
“You don’t want to be used as a bargaining chip.”
“No.”
“Then help me stop him. Help me get the Silvermoon Grass.”
Ava’s head jerked up. “You’re asking me to betray him.”
“I’m asking you to do the right thing,” I said. “If we don’t stop this now, Asher’s going to start a war. The entire wolf clan is
preparing to strike. It will devastate the bear clan.”
Her voice lowered. “Has he announced the war against us?”
“Yes. And he is preparing for that.”
She walked a few steps away, then turned back to face me. “I
don’t know what to do. If I help you. I’m done. He’ll never
forgive me. And if I don’t, you’ll go to war.”
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“It’s not just about the war,” I said. “It’s about Violet. She’s dying.
That child inside her. he’s your mate’s nephew. Do you want to
be the reason they die?”
Ava looked down at the ground.
“You’re not your father,” I said. “That much I believe.”
She didn’t look up. “I need time.”
“You’ve got until ten tonight. That’s when I’ll be waiting–outside
Violet’s palace.”
She nodded once. I didn’t ask for more.
I left the palace through a different route, making sure none of
the guards saw me. My head was spinning the whole way back.
She didn’t say yes. But she didn’t say no.
Violet’s POV
I didn’t sit down the entire evening.
Xavier told us everything the moment he returned. He paced through every detail–what Jason said, how Ava reacted, how
uncertain she was. And most of all, the mate bond.
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I kept glancing at the clock.
8:45.
9:10.
By 9:30, Asher started preparing for the worst. He didn’t say it aloud, but I could tell from the way he moved. From how he
stood by the window, arms crossed, silent.
By 9:50, Xavier was already gone–heading toward the side gardens near our chambers, where he said he’d wait for her.
I stayed in the room with Asher. He didn’t talk much. Neither
did I.
What was there to say?
Ava was the last person holding this entire mess together. Her one choice could stop a war, save me and my baby, and change
everything.
And she was late.
By 10:15, even I started to lose hope.
At 10:20, Xavier came back. I could see it in his face. She hadn’t
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come.
“I gave her a chance,” he said quietly, not looking at us. “I
thought she would come.”
I wanted to say something to console him but it wouldn’t be of
any use.
Then we heard it.
A knock. A soft one, from the back entrance.
Xavier was the first to turn. His eyes narrowed, sharp.
The door opened slowly.
And Ava stepped through.
She wore black cloak while her hair was tied back. But in her
hands–held tight against her chest–was a small pouch wrapped
in dark cloth.
“I’m sorry I’m late,” she said.
We all froze.
And then she slowly opened the cloth.
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Inside was a cluster of pale green stems, slightly glowing under
the moon light.
Silvermoon Grass.
