Ava’s POV
The next morning, I woke up way too early.
Honestly, I wasn’t even sure I’d slept at all.
My first thought was crystal clear: I needed to get that mark removed, and the sooner the better.
Damon hadn’t bothered coming back to the bedroom last night.
He was probably busy with his “private tutor,” learning parenting tips…
or, more likely, swapping ideas about new sex positions.
Whatever.
I couldn’t bring myself to care.
Every time he put on that fake gentleman act, his handsome face twisted into something ugly, and it made bile creep up my throat.
I changed into a clean, sharp business suit and even did a full face of makeup.
In the mirror, I actually looked bright and put-together, like a completely different person from the wreck I was last night.
At nine sharp, I showed up at the top law firm in the Crawford Pack.
The one greeting me was Mr. Hansen, a senior attorney, my father’s old friend, and the pack’s most trusted legal adviser.
“Ms. Crawford, my condolences,” Mr. Hansen said, expression heavy with grief.
“Thank you, Mr. Hansen,” I replied with a small nod.
“I’m here today to check on the progress of the divorce settlement.”
He nodded.
“Of course. I’ve already printed everything. You can review it now.”
I sat on the sofa and went through every clause carefully.
Mr. Hansen really was the best, every single line made sure I got the maximum I was entitled to.
“No issues,” I said calmly.
“I may not be short on money, but what belongs to me shouldn’t be missing a single cent. And clearly, you’ve made sure of that. Thank you, Mr. Hansen.”
I stood and handed the documents back to him.
He hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
“Certainly, my lady.
Your father was one of the most honorable men I’ve ever known.
I’ll make sure you reclaim everything that should be yours.
And…
regarding your inheritance of the Crawford Pack—
“Keep that quiet for now,” I cut him off.
“Until Damon and I are officially divorced, I don’t want anyone knowing.”
“Understood.”
Leaving the law firm, I headed straight for Damon’s company, the harshly worded divorce papers Mr. Hansen drafted overnight tucked in my hand.
I walked toward his office.
And of course, Sylvia was there.
No surprise at all.
She was draped over Damon like some seductive viper, her long red nails drawing little circles across his chest.
Her voice was so sugary it practically dripped.
“Damon, you know what?
Last night we really slept at your Alpha Manor, in my bedroom…
You went down on me…
just like you always used to…”
“Sweetheart, you need to go,” Damon murmured, catching her wandering hand, sounding annoyingly helpless.
“You know Ava’s my secretary right now.
She could walk in at any moment.
We can’t let her find out about us…
not yet.”
“I don’t care!” Sylvia pouted, leaning into him like she was glued there.
“I’ve been away from you for four years. I have to take every chance to be close to you.”
If I didn’t need Damon to sign the divorce papers, I would’ve walked out without looking back.
I cleared my throat, loud enough to slice through the air.
They scrambled apart.
Damon’s face flashed with panic, while Sylvia looked like I had just ruined her perfect little moment.
“Ava? What… what are you doing here?” Damon fumbled with his tie, trying way too hard to pretend nothing happened.
“Oh right, I almost forgot. Didn’t you say you had some ‘super important meeting’ today?” I said with a sudden oh-I-get-it-now tone.
“So Sylvia is here to…
what?
Drop off paperwork for you?”
“Y-Yes!
Exactly!” Damon latched onto my words like they were a lifeline.
“I left a file at home this morning. Sylvia was taking Leo to preschool, so she brought it over for me.”
What a terrible lie.
I almost wanted to clap for the effort.
But I kept my face calm, as if I couldn’t care less.
I nodded and didn’t bother arguing.
Instead, I walked straight to his desk and set my own document right in front of him.
“What’s this?” Damon eyed the folder, suddenly wary.
“A document. Needs your signature.” I smiled.
“Should I come back later?
Looks like you and Leo’s babysitter have…
more pressing matters than pack business?”
“No!
Nothing like that!” Damon snapped, then basically scribbled his name on the signature line.
“Done.” He shoved the papers back at me like they burned his fingers.
When I saw his name on the divorce agreement, a quiet breath of relief escaped me.
I took the papers, catching Sylvia still lingering in the office.
Her stare was pure, unfiltered jealousy.
I stepped closer to Damon, fixing the top button of his shirt, covering the lipstick she’d left on his neck.
“Honey, you look exhausted lately. You should really get some rest.”
My fingers brushed against his throat, lightly, deliberately.
Damon stiffened instantly.
“Ava…
are you sure everything’s okay?”
“Of course,” I said softly.
“Just showing some care.
You are my husband, after all.
And I’m your one and only wife.
Aren’t I?”
“Of course…” Damon grabbed my hand, confused.
“You’re even more affectionate than usual today.”
“You don’t like this version of me?” I slipped my hand free and curled my arm around his neck, giving Sylvia a sideways glance.
“And you? Planning to stand there all day? Want to keep watching me make out with my husband?”
Sylvia’s face turned an ugly, envious green.
She shot me a murderous glare and stormed out.
I noticed Damon’s gaze trailing after her, though he didn’t follow.
Instead, he muttered, “Ava, don’t do this. We’re at work.”
I couldn’t help letting out a laugh.
Working hours?
Seriously?
That was hilarious.
I reached out and brushed my fingers along his face, from his brows, down the bridge of his nose, finally stopping at those annoyingly attractive lips.
My movements were slow, almost lazy, like I was studying some expensive exhibit behind glass.
“What are you laughing at?” he asked.
“Nothing,” I murmured, meeting his eyes.
“I just suddenly feel like… today’s the first day I’ve actually looked at you. Like I should… really take a good, fresh look.”
Something in my gaze must’ve thrown him off, because Damon’s expression flickered with confusion.
“Ava, you—
The sharp ring of the desk phone cut him off.
His secretary’s voice came through, brisk and polite.
“Alpha, the meeting starts in five minutes.”
“Yeah, got it.” Damon hung up, still watching me, like he was trying to figure out what was going on in my head.
But I was already done.
Completely done.
I had finished everything I needed to do.
Now, all that was left was waiting thirty days.
Untangling an Alpha and Luna’s marriage wasn’t simple.
Even after signing the divorce agreement, there was a mandatory thirty-day wait, then the council’s ruling, and a whole bunch of other tedious procedures.
It was a long, messy checklist.
But once the time was up, I’d finally be free of this man, free of this disgusting excuse for a marriage.
I turned to leave, but Damon called after me.
“Ava, wait.”
I stopped, didn’t bother turning around.
“It’s nothing…” he said.
“You just seem… different.”
I forced a small laugh, didn’t answer.
The air in that office was thick and rotten, like a sewer left too long.
I held my breath, resisting the urge to gag, and walked out.
Once I got into my car and pulled away from that place, heading all the way to the quiet outskirts, I finally felt like I could breathe again.
Tall green trees, a clear blue sky.
Just seeing it all made my chest loosen a little.
I had barely parked by the roadside when someone tapped on my window.
An elderly man, well-dressed, silver hair neatly combed, stood outside.
I tensed, watching him carefully before cracking the window open.
He gave me a warm, respectful smile.
“Ms. Crawford, don’t worry. It’s me.”
I knew that voice the moment I heard it.
“You’re…
the one who called me yesterday?”
“Yes, ma’am.” The old man dipped his head politely.
“I’m the former Beta of the Crawford Pack. You may call me Alvin. Ma’am, please come with me.”
My heartbeat kicked up, thudding in my ears.
“Where… exactly are we going?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Home, ma’am.” Alvin’s gaze was gentle but unshakably firm.
“The Crawford Pack has been waiting for you.”
I climbed out of my own car, and that’s when I noticed the long Lincoln parked a short distance behind me, like it had been there the whole time, just waiting.
Under Alvin’s guidance, I slid into the back seat.
The car moved smoothly, and the view outside shifted from the city’s noise and lights to dense, quiet woods.
Bit by bit, the air changed.
And I knew.
We were heading into Crawford Pack territory.
My emotions were a mess.
This place was tied to my blood, my origin…
yet it felt like stepping into a stranger’s life.
The car finally rolled to a stop before a massive manor.
Compared to Damon’s fancy villa, this place was older, grander, and carried that kind of silent authority that only time could build.
Alvin opened the door for me and stood aside respectfully.
I drew in a long breath and stepped out.
The moment my foot touched the first step, a woman drenched in luxury, pearls, diamonds, the whole package, strode out.
She looked well maintained, but the sharpness in her eyes ruined whatever elegance she tried to project.
This had to be my stepmother, Rebecca.
“So you’re Ava?” She raked her gaze over me, slow and judgmental.
Her voice dripped with disdain.
“An Omega born out of wedlock thinks she deserves to come back and inherit the pack?”
I didn’t even get the chance to answer before she snapped open her purse, pulled out a check, and held it out with open contempt.
“I want you to give up any claim to the Crawford Pack. Make a public statement that Lucas is the rightful heir, and take this one million dollars. Then get out.”