The drive back to Alexander's mansion was quiet, save for the occasional wince from him as the car hit a pothole. His leg was a mess—torn flesh, deep puncture wounds from the wolf's teeth. Ava kept replaying the moment he'd shifted, the raw power of it, how quickly he'd gone from man to monster and back again.
"You shouldn't have shifted," she said, breaking the silence. "Not with the Council watching."
He glanced at her, one eyebrow raised. "And let those wolves tear you apart? Nice plan."
"It was my test. I could've handled it."
"Sure you could've." He reached over, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "That's what I like about you. Stubbornness."
Ava rolled her eyes, but her cheeks heated. "Flattery will get you nowhere, Alpha."
"Good thing I've got other methods, then." His voice dropped, low and warm, and for a second, she forgot about his bleeding leg, about Lorenzo, about everything but the way his gaze lingered on her lips.
The mansion loomed ahead—massive, Gothic, with gargoyles watching from the roof. Ava had seen it a hundred times in magazines, but up close, it felt like a fortress.
Inside, the foyer was marble and shadows, a chandelier the size of a car hanging from the ceiling. Alexander led her to a staircase, but paused, gripping the banister.
"Stay here. I'll get the first aid kit."
Ava crossed her arms. "Or I could help. I'm not completely useless, you know."
He smiled, a real smile this time, not just a smirk. "Stubborn. Fine. Third door on the left."
His bedroom was nothing like she'd imagined. No fur rugs or taxidermy wolves—just sleek, modern furniture, a king-size bed with black sheets, and a wall of bookshelves. A fireplace crackled in the corner, casting gold light over everything.
"Nice," she said, setting her bag down.
"Home," he replied, pulling a first aid kit from the bathroom. He sat on the edge of the bed, peeling off his blood-soaked pants.
Ava's breath caught. The wound was worse than she thought—four deep gashes, still oozing blood. She knelt beside him, grabbing alcohol wipes before he could protest.
"This'll hurt," she warned.
He grunted. "I've felt worse."
"From Lorenzo?"
He stiffened. "Among others."
Ava cleaned the wound carefully, trying not to stare at the muscles in his thigh, the way his jaw tightened when she pressed too hard. "Why'd he do it? The serum, the attacks… why go to all that trouble?"
"Power. He's always wanted it. And… he thinks I stole something from him."
"What?"
Alexander met her eyes. "You really want to know?"
"Yes."
He sighed. "We were kids. Sixteen, seventeen. Stupid, reckless. We… had a thing. For a while."
Ava's hands stilled. "A thing."
"More than a thing." He looked away, jaw tight. "But then the Alpha trials came. I won. He blamed me. Said I used him to get ahead."
"Did you?"
He turned back, eyes sharp. "No. But he'll never believe that."
Ava finished bandaging his leg, tying the knot a little tighter than necessary. "Men are idiots."
He laughed, wincing. "Speak for yourself, Thompson."
A knock at the door made them both jump.
"Enter," Alexander called.
Victoria stepped in, her silver hair pulled back in a braid, face grave. "The Council's called an emergency meeting. They want to question Lorenzo tonight."
"Good. Let them."
She shook her head. "They want you there. And… they want Ava to come."
Ava stood, frowning. "Why me? I thought the test was over."
"Lorenzo's claiming you used dark magic. That your power isn't natural. The Council wants you to prove him wrong." Victoria's gaze softened. "They're scared, Ava. Of what you can do. Of what you mean for our kind."
Alexander stood, too, ignoring his injured leg. "She's not going. Not after what he did."
"I have to." Ava met his eyes. "If I don't, he wins. Again."
Victoria nodded. "Smart girl. The meeting's in an hour."
She left, closing the door softly.
Alexander grabbed Ava's arm. "It's a trap. They'll interrogate you, try to break you—"
"I can handle it." She pulled away, but gently this time. "I'm not some fragile human, Alexander. I've got moon-blood, remember? I can calm wolves. I can stand up to a bunch of old men in hoods."
He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. "Fine. But if they so much as look at you wrong—"
"I'll tell them you'll turn into a wolf and eat their faces. Got it."
He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.
The Council chambers were colder than before, torches flickering, shadows clinging to the walls. Lorenzo sat in a cage in the corner, hands cuffed, but his smirk was still intact.
"Look who's here," he said as Ava and Alexander walked in. "The happy couple. Come to gloat?"
"Shut up, Lorenzo," Alexander snapped.
The Keeper banged a gavel. "Order. Lorenzo Voss, you stand accused of treason, murder, and violating the Accords. How do you plead?"
"Not guilty. I acted in the best interest of the pack. Ava Thompson is a threat. Her power—"
"Is a gift," Ava said, stepping forward. "Not a curse. Just like Eleanor's was."
Lorenzo laughed. "Eleanor? Please. She was a traitor. Sold us out to hunters. Your precious ancestor got what she deserved."
Ava's blood boiled. "You don't know anything about her."
"Oh, I know enough. How she helped hunters track down our kind. How she died screaming, begging for mercy—"
"ENOUGH!" Alexander roared.
Lorenzo's gaze locked on his. "Hit a nerve, did I? You always did have a soft spot for her. For them."
The Keeper held up a hand. "We've heard enough. Lorenzo Voss, you are hereby exiled. For life. Any attempt to return will result in death."
Lorenzo's smile faded. "You can't do this. I'm a Voss—"
"Not anymore."
Guards opened the cage, dragging him out. He struggled, screaming, but when he passed Alexander, his voice dropped to a whisper.
"Ask him about the fire, Alex. About what he did to keep his precious throne."
Alexander went rigid.
Ava frowned. "What fire?"
He shook his head. "Nothing. He's lying."
But his eyes were dark, haunted, and Ava knew he was hiding something.
After the meeting, Victoria pulled Ava aside. "He's right, you know. About Eleanor. She did help hunters. But not by choice. The Council blackmailed her—threatened to kill her son if she didn't cooperate."
Ava's stomach flipped. "Her son. My great-grandfather."
Victoria nodded. "Alexander's family found out. Tried to protect her. But… it ended badly. A fire. Eleanor died. Her son escaped, changed his name, swore never to tell anyone."
"Alexander knew this?"
"His father told him. Made him promise to keep it buried. To protect the pack's reputation."
Ava thought of Alexander's face when Lorenzo mentioned the fire. The guilt in his eyes.
"Thank you for telling me," she said.
Victoria squeezed her hand. "Be careful, Ava. Secrets destroy us. Always."
Outside, the moon was setting, painting the sky pink. Alexander waited by the car, leaning against it, silhouette sharp against the light.
Ava walked toward him, slow and deliberate. "Tell me about the fire."
He tensed. "It was an accident."
"Was it?"
"Eleanor's house burned down. No one knows how. That's all."
Ava stopped in front of him, inches away. "Lorenzo thinks you did it. To protect the pack."
His jaw tightened. "Lorenzo's an idiot."
"Then why won't you look at me?"
He met her gaze, finally, and for a second, she saw it—the guilt, the pain, the weight of a hundred years of secrets.
"Some things are better left buried," he said.
Ava nodded, but she knew this wasn't over. Not by a long shot.
"Take me home," she said.
He opened the car door, silent.
The drive back to her apartment was tense, filled with unspoken words. When they arrived, Ava reached for the door handle, but Alexander grabbed her wrist.
"Stay. Please."
She hesitated.
"I'll tell you everything. In the morning. Just… stay."
Ava looked at him, at the vulnerability in his eyes, and thought of Victoria's words. Secrets destroy us.
"Okay," she said.
He kissed her then, soft and slow, like he was afraid she'd disappear if he stopped.
Inside, her apartment felt tiny compared to his mansion, but it was hers—cluttered, warm, human. Alexander stood in the doorway, looking out of place, like a wolf in a birdcage.
Ava laughed. "Relax. I don't bite. Hard."
He smiled, stepping inside.
Maybe, she thought, some secrets were worth uncovering.
Maybe some cages were worth breaking.
Together.