Avery’s POV
We drove in silence, the tension crackling between us like a live wire. The trees thinned as we crossed the pack border, the familiar scent of pine and earth giving way to paved roads and rustic buildings. My heart twisted in my chest.
I had sworn I’d never return.
But here I was.
Aidan didn’t say a word as he guided the car through the quiet streets. His grip on the steering wheel was firm, his jaw set with that maddening calmness he always wore when he had the upper hand.
Eventually, he pulled up in front of an elegant boutique. The building stood like a beacon, glittering under the pale afternoon sun.
He stepped out of the car without looking back. “Come on, Avery.”
I hesitated, my fingers clenching the seatbelt.
“Walk faster,” he called over his shoulder. “You don’t
