It had been a month since the devastating ambush and the revelations that shook the foundation of the pack. While the pack continued its routine, there was a sense of unease in the air, like the lingering scent of a storm that had passed but left the skies gloomy. Ava felt it in every glance, every whisper that stopped the moment she entered a room. She was still the Luna, but only in title.
Lesley had not formally rejected her, though his actions spoke volumes. He avoided her like the plague, his silent treatment cutting deeper than any words could. And yet, she remained in the pack, her determination to prove herself outweighing her pain.
Ava stood in the clearing outside the pack house, surrounded by the small group of Blackthorn members who had pledged loyalty to her. Their faces wer
