Fire

Ava groaned dramatically as sunlight attacked her face with the force of an overenthusiastic morning person. Her calves felt like they had been personally cursed by every ancient dancer who ever existed. Still, last night had been fun, the kind of fun that made her forget she was supposed to be miserable.

Then reality hit. The room smelled like coffee and authority.

She cracked one eye open and immediately regretted it. Standing beside the bed, was Alpha Lucas, holding a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and a large hoodie in the other.

Ava pushed herself up on her elbows. "Did you kill me? Is this my heaven where you get to serve me coffee?"

Lucas exhaled sharply, "Would you be this mouthy if you were dead?" he muttered, setting the coffee down.

"Are you planning to kill me, then?"

"Get dressed. We leave in ten minutes." He threw the hoodie at her.

Ava caught it but narrowed her eyes. "Is this yours? I thought you preferred me with nothing on."

Lucas's lips twitched—was that amusement? Nah. Definitely irritation. "You want to walk through town in last night's torn dress? Be my guest. But you'll be walking back. Can't have people thinking I pick lunatics as concubines."

"Aha! So you do care what people think."

"You have eight minutes." He flicked a glance at her legs as she pulled the hoodie over her head before walking out.

The hoodie barely covered her ass, slipped into her heels, and headed out to meet her very scowly escort.

*****

Ava wasn't exactly the most beloved guest at breakfast.

As she entered the dining room, the whispering was louder than the sound of clinking plates.

"Nelly, I swear, the girl is a witch! You have to do something!" Lily hissed.

"The Alpha needs a bit of change; let him have it. He's been under too much pressure for years," Nelly said.

Sarah was on a roll. "Ignore Nelly, Lily. The Alpha isn't even attracted to her anymore, anyway, so clearly, she doesn't have a problem."

Ava grinned. Oh, so the cracks were visible to everyone? Excellent.

"Gooooood morning, everyone!" she practically sang as she sauntered in. "Who else had a great night? I know I did."

She plopped into her seat, basking in the barely concealed irritation radiating off Lily and Sarah. This was new. People being jealous of me? Obsessed with my every move? Worshipping and fearing me in equal measure? Yes, please.

Lily's eyes narrowed. "Is that Lucas's hoodie?"

"Oh, yeah," Ava said. "He ripped my dress last night, so he brought me this one in the morning."

Sarah nearly choked. "He brought you another?"

Ava picked up a piece of toast. "Mmm-hmm. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have an Alpha to meet in a bit."

"Ava?" Nelly's voice cut through the tension. "A word."

Without waiting for an answer, Nelly walked out, and Ava followed.

Nelly turned on her the moment they were alone. "Are you a child?!"

Ava blinked. "I don't follow."

"Listen," Nelly said. "I'm glad you can give our Alpha some excitement. But don't rub it in the faces of the other girls. You're acting like a spoiled brat. Three days ago, you were beaten and broken, and now you're strutting around like a peacock?"

She placed firm hands on Ava's shoulders. "Use your head, Ava. Or you'll crash just as fast as you rise."

Ava's breath hitched. Something inside her cracked open. "No," she said. "I have been stepped on, spat on, bullied, beaten, despised. Every insult, every humiliation, every wound, I remember them all. And now, whatever strength I get? I will turn it into something explosive. I don't care who burns along the way."

Nelly tilted her head. Then, slowly, she shook her head. "Oh, dearie," she murmured. "You might be the one who ends up burning."

Then she turned to leave but hesitated at the doorway. When she spoke again, her voice was deadly soft. "But if your misguided ambition hurts my Alpha, I will break you."

Her eyes flashed dark gold. Her wolf was barely beneath the surface.

Ava shivered.

And suddenly, breakfast didn't seem so appetizing anymore.

*****

When Ava arrived at Lucas's office, he was hunched over a map of the Crimson Pack, studying it like it held the secrets to immortality. She watched him for a moment before speaking.

"If you're looking for a weak point, try the North entrance," she said. "There's an underground escape hatch leading straight to Leon's estate. It's an emergency exit in case the Alpha needs a quick getaway."

Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Leon has an escape hatch? What a coward."

Ava smirked. "When he found out I was his fated mate, we used to sneak in there."

Lucas's expression darkened. "My little virgin, not so much of a virgin after all."

She rolled her eyes. "Relax. We never did anything serious. Just talked, kissed a little. He wanted to keep our relationship secret."

"Why?"

"Something about 'political unrest.' Then he married Selene to strengthen the pack against your attack."

Lucas chuckled. "Poor bastard. He got scammed. I'll attack whenever I want."

"So why haven't you?"

Lucas leaned forward. "Rules. Laws. Politics." He smirked. "But that's where you come in."

He leaned in closer. "How do I take over Leon's territory without spilling too much blood?"