Ava's POV
My throat tightened around our pup’s name, but I forced the words out.
“You should be pleased,” I finished softly. “Isn’t this what you’ve always wanted?”
Victor’s gaze dropped to the papers.
Five years ago, I would have stood behind him with lowered eyes, the obedient girl who followed wherever her Alpha led.
Prison had burned that girl away. I stood straight now. Unbowed, claiming my right to leave.
But Victor didn’t reach for the papers.
Instead, his expression hardened, his eyes glowing with his wolf.
“Ava,” he said, his voice low and dangerous, “don’t try to pressure me with this. I’m not falling for your tricks.”
The words struck like claws.
Tricks, He thought this was tricks?
As if I still played games to keep him, as if I hadn’t already lost everything.
He ste
