Fated hearts

Chapter Nine---- Crossing into danger

LUCAS

Ava insists on going to Moonsville to nurse her injured mum. I’m not happy about that, but I can’t stop her from visiting the woman who was terribly hurt in the clash between Wolfsgate and Moonsville—because of us. I have to follow her. I have to protect her.

I came back from work to find her sitting silently, eyes clouded with sadness.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

After some hesitation, she told me what happened at the bookstore and how she had resigned. I was filled with anger for Mr. Anderson. How could he?

“It’s okay,” she murmured, forcing a smile. “I have a good news as well.”

I listened as she told me of her encounter with Lizzy.

“Oh! Great! I don’t have to confront Richard again,” I said, relieved.

Just then, my phone rang. It was Henry. His voice was tense as he told me what happened—Ava’s mum was injured.

“I have to go and see her,” Ava said immediately.

“It’s dangerous, Ava.”

“You think I don’t know? But I can’t leave my mum like that. I’m her only child, you know.” Her voice trembled, but her resolve was firm. Experience has taught me that once she sets her mind on something, she must do it.

“In that case, I’ll have to come with you,” I said resignedly.

Her head shot up. “What of your work?”

“I’ll talk to Mr. Hennesy.”

I’m walking out of Mr. Hennesy’s office—he’d just agreed to give me three days off. Relief washes through me, but it barely lasts before trouble finds me again.

“Hey, you,” Sandra calls out, leaning against the wall, her arms folded across her chest. Oh, not again. I’ll be forced to harm this woman if she continues harassing me. Ever since that embarrassing encounter with her, I’ve tried to avoid her as much as I could.

I ignore her and keep walking.

“A man is looking for your small girlfriend,” she says.

I stop in my tracks and slowly turn to her.

“Oh! Now I have your attention because I mentioned that your brat,” she sneers. My palms coil into fists, but I force myself to exercise self-control and hear her out. Seems Orion’s men are closer than we know.

“Repeat what you said,” I say.

She laughs. “Seems it isn’t only you sleeping with her. And you’re here forming Mr. Holy for me.”

She starts walking away. I’m tempted to go after her and give her a hot slap for that wrong, filthy insinuation about Ava, but I remember we’re in an office environment.

I take in a deep breath and turn to walk away.

Ava will be waiting for me.

MUM

She writhes in pain. What’s in those hands of Lucas’s mum? Iron? It’s probably due to the hard labour they’re used to, being an inferior pack made up of poor peasants. She should have listened to Stephen. Her whole body burns. Small injuries heal fast, being a wolf, but these are deep. Her ribs feel broken, and her head pounds like they’re hitting it with a pestle.

Ava’s dad had rushed home the moment he heard what happened.

“What a foolish decision,” he remarked on seeing her bruised body.

She couldn’t even talk to defend herself.

“How could you?” he continued angrily. “Do you think I haven’t thought of going over to Wolfsgate and demanding for my daughter’s whereabouts?”

His fury shook her more than her wounds.

“What if you’d been killed?”

“I’m s-sorry,” she stuttered.

She had only gone to scare them, hoping that on seeing such muscular males, they would, out of fear, tell her where her daughter was. She didn’t bargain on the young males from the pack who suddenly emerged from all corners and started fighting the few from her pack. In anger and confusion, she had turned to Lucas’s mum, blaming her for whatever was happening. The woman had suddenly lost it and went at her with all she had. She had been forced to fight back.

Alice had tried separating them, only to have one of her eyes nearly blinded due to a blow from one of them. She doesn’t even know whether she was the one that hit her or Lucas’s mum. She didn’t see the woman again after that. She had probably gone home to nurse her wound—the result of loyalty to a friend deserted by most people.

She had been unconscious when she fell.

The pack healer had been summoned immediately when she was brought home. He had administered some effective wolf drugs which eased some pain and returned her to consciousness, but she was still in agony.

Oh, Ava my daughter. What did we do to you? If not for greed, you wouldn’t have been involved in this mess. Her heart cries. Listening to her husband’s blame hadn’t helped.

“Mum.” Ava’s voice calls.

She must be dreaming in her sleep.

The voice calls again, followed by a gentle touch. She winces, then slowly opens her eyes to meet her daughter, Ava, staring at her with deep concern.

“Ava?” she whispers, needing to confirm it’s real.

“Yes, Mum. I’m here.”

“Oh, my daughter.” She starts to cry… tears of joy, as her eyes travel to her husband who just entered the room.

“You shouldn’t have come,” he says, worried.

“I had to, Dad,” she replies.

Though worried, he is relieved that his daughter is alive and well.