Chapter 86

Lisa Pov

I blinked in surprise. This was unexpected. “Greetings, Luna,” I said, bowing slightly out of respect.

“Greetings, my child,” she replied, her tone soft, almost warm.

Her response caught me off guard. Joyce wasn’t one to openly show affection toward me, and her demeanour today was… different. Still, I kept my expression neutral. “What can I do for you, ma’am?”

She stepped further into the room, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Nothing, my child. I’m here to apologise.”

I froze. An Apology? From Joyce?

“I shouldn’t have acted the way I did when I realised you and Hunter were serious about each other. I let my pride and my own expectations cloud my judgement. I was wrong, and I’m truly sorry.” Her voice broke slightly as she began to cry.

I rushed to her side, placing a comforting hand on her arm. “It’s alright, ma’am. Please don’t cry. I understand. You were only looking out for your son.”

Her tearful gaze met mine, and she shook her head. “You’re too kind, Lisa. Too understanding. I don’t deserve it.”

“You do,” I said softly. “I know you only want what’s best for him. And I promise, I’ll do everything in my power to make sure he’s happy.”

She studied me for a long moment, then smiled—a genuine, heartfelt smile that softened her entire face. “I accept you, Lisa, and I support your relationship with my son wholeheartedly.”

Before I could react, she stepped forward and pulled me into a hug. I stiffened for a moment, shocked by the unexpected gesture, but then I relaxed and hugged her back.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“If you’re not too busy, I’d like you to come with me to my room. There are some things I’d like to give you.”

“Of course,” I said, following her upstairs.

Her room was everything I imagined it would be—elegant, luxurious, and meticulously organized. She walked over to a large chest near the foot of her bed and opened it, pulling out a velvet box.

“These belonged to my mother,” she said, lifting the lid to reveal a set of stunning emerald jewelry. The necklace sparkled in the light, its intricate design exuding sophistication.

My breath caught. “This is beautiful.”

“I want you to wear this on your birthday tomorrow,” she said, holding it up for me to see.

I reached out to touch it, marvelling at the craftsmanship. “I love it,” I said, unable to hide my excitement. “Thank you so much.”

Joyce smiled again, looking genuinely pleased. “I’m glad you like it.”

I returned to my room with the jewellery, carefully placing it on the dresser. I couldn’t stop smiling as I made my way downstairs to check on the preparations.

“Where’s the birthday girl?” a familiar voice called from the hallway.

I turned to see Kate walking toward me, her face lit up with her usual energy. “I’m here!” I said, laughing as we embraced.

“Nice to see you, birthday girl. I figured the house would be buzzing with activity today. You know how Hunter is.”

We both laughed and made our way to the kitchen, where the staff was hard at work. “Where’s Claire?” I asked one of the assistant chefs.

“She went to get more supplies,” he replied.

As if on cue, Claire walked in, her arms full of grocery bags. Kate and I rushed to help her unload.

“Thanks,” Claire said, setting the bags down.

“Is there anything we can do to help?” I asked.

Claire hesitated, then shook her head. “No, Lisa. We’ve got everything under control. Besides, you know Hunter won’t be happy if he finds out you’ve been working on your own birthday preparations.”

“Please spare me that,” I said, rolling my eyes playfully. I nudged her aside and started washing the meat.

Kate laughed, joining me at the counter. “Don’t mind her, Claire. She’s stubborn like that.”

Claire sighed but smiled, turning her attention to the vegetables. “Fine, but don’t blame me if the Alpha scolds you later.”

We spent the next hour chatting and laughing as we helped with the preparations. The kitchen buzzed with activity, pots clanging, knives rhythmically chopping, with the air filled with the rich aroma of spices and warm scent cooking meat.

As the day continued to down, I couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of anticipation. Tomorrow was going to be special—I could feel it. But little did I know, it would be even more life-changing than I could have imagined.

I stood at the counter, rolling dough for the pies Claire insisted were “Hunter’s favorites.” Kate was beside me, humming as she sliced vegetables.

Everything felt right. The pack’s home was bustling with activity, and the anticipation of tomorrow’s celebration kept my spirits high. It was impossible not to feel the energy radiating from everyone.

But then, the lighthearted atmosphere shifted. I heard the faint sound of heels clicking against the marble floors, growing louder with each step. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. Something about the sound was too deliberate, too confident.

I looked up, and there she was. Ava.

She stood in the doorway, dressed to perfection in a sleek black outfit that hugged her figure like it had been tailored specifically for her. Her lips curved into a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. Those sharp eyes scanned the room, pausing when they landed on me.

"Lisa," she said, her voice smooth as silk.

I straightened, wiping my hands on a kitchen towel. “Ava. What brings you here?”

Her smile widened, but there was nothing warm about it. “Oh, I just wanted to drop by and see how the preparations were going. After all, tomorrow is such a big day for you.”

The room suddenly felt smaller. Claire and the other kitchen staff exchanged wary glances, sensing the tension that Ava brought with her. Kate shot me a look, silently asking if I wanted her to stay, but I shook my head subtly.

“Well,” I said, forcing calm into my voice, “as you can see, everything is under control.”

Ava took a step closer, casually inspecting a tray of cupcakes on the counter. “You’ve certainly come a long way, haven’t you? From the girl no one thought could make it in this pack to… this.” She gestured vaguely around the room.

I didn’t rise to the bait. “I have. And I’m grateful for the support of those who believed in me.”

Her laugh was soft but laced with mockery. “Support? That’s sweet. But let’s not pretend everything’s been handed to you, Lisa. Some battles are won by strategy, not strength. And some of us… thrive in chaos.”

Her words hung in the air like a challenge.

I set down the towel, meeting her gaze head-on. “Chaos doesn’t scare me, Ava. I’ve faced worse and come out stronger. If you’re here to stir trouble, you’re wasting your time.”

A flicker of something crossed her face—annoyance, maybe even respect—but it was gone as quickly as it came. She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a near-whisper. “You may have his attention now, but Hunter is a man of habit. Sometimes the past has a way of coming back when you least expect it.”

My jaw tightened. I wasn’t going to let her shake me. “Hunter’s past is his past. But his future is with me. You’re welcome to stay in the shadows where you belong, Ava, or leave. Either way, I don’t have time for games.”

Her smile faltered for a split second, but she quickly recovered, brushing a strand of hair from her face as if I hadn’t just disarmed her. “We’ll see, won’t we?” she said lightly.

Without another word, she turned and walked away, her heels echoing through the hall.

As soon as she was out of sight, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. Kate appeared at my side almost immediately.

“Who was that?” she asked, her eyes narrowing in the direction Ava had gone.

I shook my head, trying to keep my voice steady. “No one important. Just some desperate woman who thinks she can get under my skin because she wants Hunter.”

Kate’s eyebrows shot up. “Was that Ava?”

“Yes,” I admitted, still watching the doorway as if she might reappear.

Kate crossed her arms, her lips twisting into a smirk. “ Joe told me, someone from a Hunter past came back and it looks like the person wants trouble.She doesn’t seem like much. I mean, sure, she’s got the whole ‘polished and pretty’ thing going on, but I can see right through her.”

I smiled faintly, grateful for Kate’s unwavering confidence in me. “She’s trying to rattle me, but I won’t let her. If she thinks she can disrupt what Hunter and I have built, she’s in for a rude awakening.”

Kate nudged me playfully. “That’s the spirit. Besides, she’s no match for you.”

I laughed, feeling some of the tension in my chest loosen. “Thanks, Kate.”

“Anytime. Now, let’s get back to work before Claire has a heart attack over those pies.”

The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of activity. I threw myself into the preparations, channelling my lingering frustration into kneading dough and chopping vegetables. But Ava’s words lingered at the back of my mind.

Her arrival wasn’t just a coincidence. She was here for a reason, and I had a sinking feeling that she wasn’t going to disappear quietly.

That night, as I lay in bed beside Hunter, I couldn’t shake the unease. He slept soundly, his arm draped protectively over my waist, but my mind was racing.

“Lisa,” he murmured, his voice thick with sleep. “You’re tense. What’s wrong?”

I hesitated, debating whether or not to tell him about Ava’s visit. But then I decided he had a right to know.

“She came by today,” I said softly.

His arm tightened around me. “Ava?”

“Yes. She was… civil, but there was an edge to everything she said. She wanted to remind me of her presence, of her history with you.”

Hunter sat up, his expression hardening. “I’ll talk to her. She has no right to come here and—”

“No,” I interrupted, placing a hand on his chest. “This is my battle, Hunter. She came to intimidate me, to make me feel insecure. If you step in, it’ll only give her more power. I need to handle this on my own.”

He studied me for a moment, his blue eyes searching mine. “Are you sure?”

I nodded. “I’m sure. She doesn’t scare me, Hunter. I won’t let her ruin what we have.”

He sighed, pulling me into his arms. “I don’t deserve you, you know that?”

I smiled against his chest. “You do. And I’ll fight to keep what we have, no matter who tries to stand in our way.”