Chapter Sixteen
1519 Words
Ava without breaking eye contact, Damien brought the glass to his lips and took a slow sip.
A challenge.
A taunt.
Ava’s fingers twitched. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to snatch the glass back or throw it in his face.
She settled for leaning in just enough that he’d hear her over the music. “You really like pushing people, don’t you?”
Damien lowered the glass, his expression unreadable. “Only the ones worth pushing.”
The air between them grew heavier.
Then, as if nothing had happened, Damien placed the glass back in front of her, turned, and walked away.
Ava released the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
Tasha gaped at her. “What the hell was that?”
Nathan shook his head. “I don’t know, but I don’t like it.”
Vivian, who had been silently watching from the side, finally spoke. “Neither do I.”
Ava swallowed, her heart still racing.
Because for all her bravado, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Damien had just tested her.
And worse?
She might have failed.
Damien walked out of the party, his expression unreadable, but his mind was far from calm.
She didn’t cower.
That was the first thing that stood out to him. Ava Sinclair wasn’t like most humans—she didn’t shrink under his gaze or stutter in his presence. She challenged him. Met him head-on without hesitation.
And his wolf?
His damn wolf had been restless the entire time.
You’re a fool, his wolf snarled. She is ours. You keep denying it, but you know it’s true.
Damien’s grip tightened around his car keys. She’s weak.
His wolf growled. She is not weak. She is unawakened.
Damien clenched his jaw. There was no room for weakness in his life.
Ava was human.
A human could never be his Luna.
He had spent centuries preparing to fulfill his promise to Selene. The pack expected it. His parents expected it. The entire Shadowcrest pack was waiting for him to take a Luna, and no one—no one—would accept a human.
His father, Gregory, had already voiced his disapproval. His mother, Lillian, had been worse—her words cold and precise, like a blade to the throat.
"She is human, Damien. If you do not reject her soon, I will handle it myself."
He exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand down his face.
Rejecting Ava should be easy.
It should have been the first thing he did.
And yet… he hadn’t.
Because despite every reason, despite every expectation, despite even his own damn logic—
Something in him refused to let her go.
---
Meanwhile, Back at the Party
Ava tried to enjoy the rest of the evening, but Damien’s words lingered.
“Only the ones worth pushing.”
It shouldn’t have meant anything. But it did.
“Hey,” Tasha nudged her. “You okay?”
Ava forced a smile. “Yeah, just tired.”
Nathan, standing nearby, eyed her suspiciously but didn’t push.
Vivian, however, had a different approach. “If you’re already thinking about him,” she said, sipping her wine, “you’re in trouble.”
Ava frowned. “I am not thinking about him.”
Vivian arched a brow. “Then why are you still looking at the door?”
Ava’s lips parted, then shut. She hadn’t even realized she was still watching where Damien had left.
Tasha whistled. “Damn. You’ve got it bad.”
Ava groaned, rubbing her temples. “I do not have it bad.”
Nathan rolled his eyes. “If you say so.”
But deep down, Ava knew they were right.
And she hated it.
The birthday celebration was still going on when Vivian’s phone buzzed. She glanced at the unknown number and debated ignoring it, but something in her gut told her to answer.
“Hello?”
“Is this Vivian Sinclair?”
“Yes, who’s this?”
“This is Dr. Benson from Crestview Hospital. Your parents, Williams and Eleanor Sinclair, were in a car accident. You need to come immediately.”
Vivian’s grip tightened on her phone. “What?!”
The noise around her faded as the words sank in.
“A car accident?” she repeated, as if saying it out loud would make it less real.
“Yes. They’re in critical condition. Please get here as soon as possible.”
The call ended, and Vivian stood frozen, her face pale.
Ava, noticing her sister’s expression, frowned. “Vivian? What’s wrong?”
Vivian inhaled shakily before speaking. “Mom and Dad… They were in an accident. We need to go. Now.”
The air in the room turned heavy.
Nathan immediately stood, his face tense. “Where are they?”
“Crestview Hospital.”
No one wasted time. The party was forgotten as they rushed out, hearts pounding with fear.
---
At Crestview Hospital
The moment they arrived, Vivian marched to the reception desk, Ava and Nathan close behind.
“My parents, Williams and Eleanor Sinclair. Where are they?”
The nurse quickly checked the system. “They’re in the ICU. The doctors are with them now.”
Vivian let out a shaky breath. “Are they alive?”
“They’re in critical condition, but yes.”
Nathan clenched his fists. Ava placed a hand on her brother’s shoulder, feeling her own hands tremble.
“What happened?” Vivian asked sharply.
The nurse hesitated before replying, “From what we know, their car went off the road after another vehicle forced them to swerve. The other driver fled the scene.”
Vivian’s jaw tightened. “A hit and run?”
Nathan, usually the quiet and level-headed one, muttered, “This wasn’t an accident.”
Ava turned to him, her heart pounding. “What do you mean?”
“Mom and Dad are careful. If someone forced them off the road, it wasn’t random.”
Vivian’s eyes darkened. “I was thinking the same thing.”
Ava swallowed hard. The possibility that this wasn’t just an accident made her stomach churn.
But who would target their parents?
And why?
---
Meanwhile—Selene’s Secret Victory
Across town, Selene lounged on a plush leather chair, a glass of wine in her hand, her eyes fixed on the city skyline.
Her phone buzzed.
It’s done.
A slow, satisfied smile curved her lips.
She had waited long enough.
If Ava Sinclair thought she could take what was meant to be hers, she was about to learn just how cruel the world could be.
Selene took another sip of her wine, completely unbothered.
This was only the beginning.
Vivian paced outside the ICU, her heels clicking sharply against the sterile white floor. Nathan sat beside Ava on the waiting chairs, his hands clenched together as he stared at the ground. Ava hadn't spoken much, just watching the closed doors of the intensive care unit with a distant look in her eyes.
The air smelled of disinfectant, thick and suffocating. Every second felt like an hour.
Finally, a doctor emerged, still in his surgical gown. Vivian was on him instantly.
"How are they?" she demanded. "Williams and Eleanor Sinclair."
Dr. Benson sighed, removing his mask. "They survived the initial trauma, but their condition is critical. Mr. Sinclair suffered a severe head injury and internal bleeding. We managed to stabilize him, but his condition remains delicate."
Ava sucked in a sharp breath, gripping Nathan’s arm.
Vivian tightened her jaw. "And my mother?"
"Mrs. Sinclair sustained multiple fractures and a punctured lung. We had to perform emergency surgery to stop the bleeding. She's stable for now, but the next 24 hours are crucial."
Nathan shot up from his seat. "So, what are you saying? That they might not make it?"
Dr. Benson hesitated. "We are doing everything we can, but I won’t lie to you—it's a fight."
Vivian folded her arms, her body stiff. "Can we see them?"
"Not yet. They're under observation. I'll let you know when you can."
Nathan exhaled harshly and ran a hand through his hair. Ava still hadn't spoken, her face emotionless, but her fingers trembled where they rested on her lap.
Vivian turned to the doctor again, her voice low and dangerous. "You said it was a hit and run?"
Dr. Benson nodded. "Yes, the police are investigating."
Vivian's expression hardened. "I want every detail from the investigation. If someone did this on purpose, I need to know who."
Dr. Benson gave her a small nod before stepping away.
The moment he was gone, Ava finally spoke, her voice eerily calm.
"This wasn't an accident?."
Nathan and Vivian exchanged glances.
Vivian sighed, rubbing her temples. "It can't be."
Nathan scowled. "Then we need to find out who did it."
Ava's nails dug into her palm. She had a sinking feeling that this was only the beginning.
Weeks had passed since the accident, but no answers came. The police had closed the case, ruling it as an unfortunate accident. The Sinclair family was left with no choice but to accept it—at least on the surface.
- Writer
