It happened so fast, like a storm breaking the silence of a still night. Marcus lunged at Lesley, his claws poised to strike. Lesley braced himself for the impact, but it never came. Instead, a blur of movement intercepted Marcus mid-air, sending him crashing to the ground.
Ava stood between them, her chest heaving, her claws extended. Her eyes glowed with an intensity that silenced the room. “Not today, Marcus,” she hissed, her voice cold and unwavering.
Marcus groaned, wiping blood from his lip as he stood. His sneer returned, but this time, it was laced with surprise. “Ahh... So, you do care about him after all,” he said mockingly, his gaze flicking between Ava and Lesley. “Funny, considering you’re the reason this is happening.”
Ava didn’t respond. Her body remained tense, ready to
