Ava’s POV
Half an hour later, I was back at the Darkmoon Pack Group.
“Darling, weren’t you taking Leo on that trip? Why are you back so fast?” I asked, pretending to be surprised.
“Yeah.” Damon looked worn out, rubbing the space between his brows.
“But something went wrong with a client. I had to rush back.”
We stepped into his private elevator together, and the air between us felt a little tight.
“I already got calls from my mom and Catherine.” Damon’s gaze lingered on my reflection in the elevator wall, his voice low.
“Ava, I know you were upset. But they’re still my family. If the family’s at odds, the pack won’t stay strong. You shouldn’t have talked back to my mother in public like that.”
I bit the inside of my cheek, forcing myself not to chuck my bag at his face.
I had something important to do today, no way I could risk making him mad.
He turned toward me, speaking like he was commenting on the weather.
“Listen, I’ll book a table for tomorrow. You can apologize to her in person. Just think of it as doing it for the pack.”
Apologize?
To the woman who humiliated me?
Sure.
In his dreams.
I laughed coldly on the inside, but kept my expression soft and obedient.
“We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”
Damon looked pleased with my so-called compliance, probably convinced I’d finally caved.
The elevator opened, and we walked into his office.
“So here’s the thing,” Damon said, rubbing his temples again, looking genuinely uncomfortable for once.
“You missed today’s meeting. Their tech team brought up a few questions, and no one here could answer them. They got annoyed, said if the Darkmoon Pack’s technical lead has never been one of our own people, then they’ll have to re-evaluate all past collaboration data.” He paused, like the words tasted bitter.
“I had no choice but to drop everything and come back.”
I gave a short, humorless laugh and stayed quiet.
Damon sighed, wearing the expression that used to melt me every time, gentle, patient, trying so hard to make things sound like they were all for my sake.
“Ava, you know I didn’t hide your identity on purpose. If the pack found out the core developer was an Omega woman, people outside would question our whole team’s ability. That would be a disaster for our credibility. I’m doing this to protect you.”
I lifted my eyes to him.
“Maybe,” I said.
“But you’re an Alpha. If you say it, people will believe you.”
He hesitated, then shook his head slowly.
“I can’t, not yet. The timing isn’t right.” He leaned closer, trying to kiss me, his voice softening even more.
“But when we become the strongest pack on the East Coast, I swear, I’ll tell everyone myself. Ava is my hero.”
I didn’t pull away or respond.
I just stared into his eyes.
He sounded so sincere, so convincing, and every time before, I had believed him completely.
“You promise?” I asked quietly.
“I promise,” Damon said, firm and certain.
I heard his answer, clean, crisp, without the slightest pause.
His acting really was flawless.
I didn’t say another word. The source of this chapter is g.com.
I just walked over, picked up the file, skimmed through it, and instantly spotted the issue.
“This is actually easy to fix,” I said lightly.
“Give me your computer. I’ll tweak a few parameters and regenerate the report. That should make it look complete.”
Inside, I waited for Damon’s reaction.
If he said yes, my plan would slide forward without a hitch.
His shoulders tightened for a split second, his gaze flickering like he was second-guessing himself.
“What’s wrong?” I asked casually, watching him.
“Aren’t you in a rush? I’m trying to help you here.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed once, and after a few seconds of silence, he finally stepped aside.
I sneered inwardly.
Of course he hesitated.
This computer had always been his secret weapon for keeping me in check.
I slid into his oversized leather chair, and without drawing any attention, took out a lipstick-shaped USB from my bag and slipped it into the port.
I woke up the screen, and the wallpaper popped up instantly.
My breath froze in my chest.
It wasn’t the default company landscape.
It wasn’t a picture of him and me.
Not even him and Leo.
It was a beach photo.
Golden sand, Damon holding Leo, both of them grinning like they didn’t have a single worry in the world.
And next to him stood a woman in a white dress, leaning her head on his shoulder with that soft, blissful smile.
I didn’t even need to see her whole face.
It was Sylvia.
The three of them looked like a picture-perfect family.
So bright, so happy, it almost hurt to look at.
It felt like a hand dipped in poison tightened around my heart, squeezing until the pain spread sharp and cold through my chest.
No wonder he didn’t want me touching his computer earlier.
“Ava, don’t get the wrong idea.” Damon must’ve noticed something off in my expression, because he rushed to explain.
“I… I just like Leo’s smile in this photo. It feels warm. That’s the only reason I set it as my wallpaper.”
What a limp excuse.
I shoved down the boiling hatred and nausea, turned to him, and forced out a smile uglier than crying.
I didn’t say anything, did I?”
Then I faced the screen again and started “carefully” editing that so-called report.
I slowed every move on purpose, but my eyes stayed locked on that lipstick-shaped USB.
The tiny indicator at the end kept blinking red.
I knew once that red turned green, the transfer would be done.
Seconds dragged by.
Finally, the light shifted from red to green.
I took a long breath, slipped the USB out as calmly as I could, and tucked it back into my bag like nothing had happened.
“How is it?” Damon had been hovering beside me the whole time, visibly on edge.
I pulled a conflicted look onto my face, knitted my brows, and said, “It’s handled.
The client will come back to us soon.”
“Good.
You always know how to fix things.” Damon let out a relieved sigh.
I stood up, ready to leave.
“Wait,” he suddenly called after me.
“Why’d you go furniture shopping today? Don’t we already have everything at home?”
I turned back with a smile, one he couldn’t quite read, something layered underneath.
“Oh, nothing special.
I just figured out a little life lesson lately.” I met his eyes and said slowly, “Like…
some things, when they’ve been around too long, start growing these invisible mold spots.
And if you don’t replace them in time, they’re bad for your health.”
Damon frowned.
He clearly picked up on something off in my tone.
His stare turned sharp, confused.
“Ava, you’ve been acting weird lately.”
He looked like he wanted to dig deeper.
But just then, his phone rang in his pocket.
He checked the caller ID, and just like that, his whole expression softened.
He subconsciously turned away from me, walking toward the window as he answered.
“Hey… yeah, I’m still at the office… don’t worry, I’m almost done… okay, I’ll be home tonight to eat with you and Leo…”
His voice dropped low, gentle, too gentle.
That softness used to be mine, but now it belonged to someone else.
I didn’t need to guess who was on the other end.
But honestly, I didn’t care anymore.
All I had to do now was wait for them to collapse on their own.
Thirty days from now, they’d have to admit, out loud, that I was the real force behind the Darkmoon Pack.