Ava’s POV
I drove toward Catherine’s place, my thoughts tangled into an impossible knot.
Thirty days.
I just had to get through these last thirty days.
During this time, I was still Damon’s wife, the gentle, obedient, maybe even slightly pathetic Luna everyone thought they knew.
Catherine lived on the far side of the territory, in a fancy area packed with mid-sized packs and rich families.
Her husband, Jax, was the Alpha of a small pack near East Bay.
Just thinking about Catherine’s snobby, mean-girl face made my stomach twist with visceral disgust.
When I arrived at her lavishly decorated villa, Catherine was standing at the entrance with her arms crossed, looking thoroughly impatient.
“Oh, look who decided to show up. Our esteemed Luna finally graces us with her presence?” she said, rolling her eyes dramatically.
I didn’t bother reacting to her nonsense.
I just asked, “Where’s Leo?”
“Ava, seriously? What’s wrong with you? You’re late. My brother already took him.” Catherine suddenly accused me.
I took a long breath.
“You knew they were coming but didn’t tell me.”
“I thought Damon would,” she said, rolling her eyes again.
Then she suddenly widened her eyes like she’d just remembered something shocking.
“Oh wait, don’t tell me you had no idea? Right after I called you, Leo got picked up.”
I stared at her cheap performance, my expression flat.
“Oh my God, how could Damon do this?” Catherine said, barely hiding her glee.
“He doesn’t even respect his own wife, taking the tutor on a trip. Oh, Ava, you must be so disappointed.”
My chest tightened, like someone had reached inside and squeezed my heart as hard as they could.
A trip to see the aurora?
With his mistress and our son?
Meanwhile I, his actual wife, got left in the dark and dragged here like an idiot to pick up a kid who wasn’t even here.
Catherine placed a hand on her chest, acting concerned.
“Ava, you know my brother loves Leo. As his wife, you should be more understanding. Don’t take it personally.”
I honestly didn’t.
If this were the old me, I’d already be dizzy and panicking, my heart tearing itself apart.
But that Ava was gone.
Catherine must be dying to see me fall apart.
In her dreams.
Sorry to disappoint.
I lifted my chin and gave her a flawless, polished smile.
“Take it personally? Why would I?” I laughed softly, the ease in my voice surprising even me.
“Of course I don’t mind. Actually, I think Damon made the perfect choice.”
My reaction clearly caught Catherine off guard.
The smile on her face froze halfway, like someone had hit pause.
“What… what did you just say?”
I looked straight at her, letting each word land with purpose.
“Having her mentor travel with them helps Sylvia understand Leo’s strengths and potential. That’s how you shape a stronger future Alpha, right? For the sake of the pack’s future, supporting Damon’s decision seems like the smart thing to do.”
Catherine’s expression shifted instantly, turning stiff and ugly.
She must’ve expected me to break down crying or explode.
What she didn’t expect was…
this version of me.
“Ava, cut the act!” Her patience finally snapped, her hypocritical mask finally slipping.
“Can you just be honest for once?
Admit it, you’re useless!
That’s why your husband doesn’t respect you.
He’d rather take a tutor on a trip than bring you along!”
“Honest?” A small laugh slipped out as I stepped forward, closing the distance between us.
“Catherine, if we’re talking about honesty… did your husband Jax ever tell you where his project funding really came from?”
Her pupils shrank in a sharp, panicked twitch.
“If I hadn’t fought to get him those crucial contracts, do you really think you’d be living in a house this big? Driving the car you brag about every chance you get?” My voice wasn’t loud, but every word hit harder than a hammer.
“Honestly, without me, you two might be digging through discount bins for food that’s one step away from expiring.”
“That’s a lie!” Catherine’s face went crimson in seconds.
She shrieked. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
“That’s impossible!
Jax is talented!
His career took off because of his own skills!”
“Really?” I raised a brow.
And right on cue, the front door swung open.
A tall, broad man stepped inside.
Jax.
Back home.
Judging by his awkward expression, he heard everything.
Catherine rushed to him like he was her lifeline.
“Jax! Tell her! Tell her she’s making it all up! Right?!”
Jax glanced at me, then at his hysterical wife.
Finally he nodded, reluctantly but honestly.
“Catherine… Luna Ava is telling the truth.”
It was like the world around her shattered in one explosive crash.
The husband she worshipped, the lifestyle she flaunted.
It all existed because of the Omega she loved to belittle.
“No… no, I don’t believe it…” she whispered, then broke into a full-blown, messy, screaming meltdown.
I watched the scene without a flicker of sympathy.
Just cold, quiet detachment.
Then I turned around and walked out without looking back.
The air inside that house was suffocating anyway.
With Damon gone, this was the perfect chance.
I needed to start planning my move, while he was still away.