Ava’s POV
When I heard the slight tap on my door, the sun had hardly dropped below the horizon. Already before I opened it, I knew who it would be. Jackson stood there, a storm in his eyes, and we just stared silently for a time. He was my best buddy, my compass through the storms, not just the alpha. That compass was also whirling right now.
His voice low yet firm, he continued, "Walk with me."
Closing the door behind me as we descended the steps and into the crisp evening air, I pulled on my jacket. The night noises of the forest alive—rustling leaves, the far-off shriek of an owl. His pace slower than normal, as though he were gathering his ideas, we strolled in silence for some time.
At last he started talking. "You should be aware of something. Around Eli.
Hit me like a stone wi
