Chapter 147

Ava

I used to believe trust was something you gave once and only once. That when shattered, it became an irreparable thing, scattered like glass across a cold, empty floor. But I was wrong.

Tonight, as I stood in the center of the Nightshade Pack’s great hall, surrounded by laughter, music, and the scent of celebration, I realized that trust could be rebuilt. Not easily. Not quickly. But if the hands that broke it were willing to bleed while picking up the pieces, maybe—just maybe—it could be whole again.

Liam’s eyes caught mine from across the room. There was something reverent in the way he looked at me. Like I was a miracle he didn’t quite believe was real. I could feel the warmth of that gaze like a fire in my chest, slow-burning and sweet.

He started toward me, cutting through the crowd like I was his only destination.

“Care to dance, my Luna?” he murmured when he reached me, voice husky with something that made my knees weak.

I raised a brow, lips tugging upward. “I haven’t officially accepted that title yet.”

He grinned, that devastating smile that once made me ache. It still did.

“Then let this be the beginning,” he said, extending a hand.

I placed mine in his without hesitation.

The music shifted to something softer, slower. Liam’s arm slid around my waist, drawing me into the hard line of his body. We moved together like the song was written just for us. I leaned my head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.

“I missed this,” I whispered, unsure if I was talking about dancing or the way I felt safe in his arms again.

He kissed the top of my head. “I missed *you*.”

For a while, we didn’t speak. The silence between us wasn’t uncomfortable—it was sacred. Every step, every breath, every shared look, was a stitch in the torn fabric of what we once had.

And then Lucas stepped in.

He tapped Liam on the shoulder with a smirk. “My turn, brother.”

Liam laughed, reluctant but understanding. He pressed a kiss to my temple and stepped back, nodding to Lucas.

Lucas’s grip was different—firmer, a little possessive. The moment we began to sway, I felt the intensity of his emotions pressing into me like a tide.

“I still have nightmares,” he said softly. “About losing you. About the pain we caused.”

I didn’t reply immediately. I wasn’t sure how.

He went on, “But you’re here. You’re strong. And I’m going to spend the rest of my life making sure you never feel like you’re alone again.”

I blinked back tears, throat tightening.

“You’re not alone either,” I said, laying a hand against his cheek. “Not anymore.”

Lucas leaned down, brushing his lips over mine in a kiss so gentle it made my heart ache. There was no urgency, just devotion.

When he pulled back, Landon was already there, waiting.

Without a word, Lucas stepped aside, and Landon took his place. His touch was softer than I expected—his hand at the small of my back, his other one wrapping around mine like I was something delicate. Precious.

“I was the coward,” he said. “I was scared to care too much, scared that if I did, I’d lose control. But I see now that loving you isn’t a weakness. It’s the only thing that ever gave me strength.”

I looked up into his stormy blue eyes. They weren’t cold anymore.

“You’ve changed,” I said.

His jaw clenched. “Because of you.”

I smiled, and this time, I kissed him first. His breath hitched, and his grip tightened, pulling me closer until our foreheads touched.

And then Logan was there.

He didn’t say anything at first. He just looked at me like he couldn’t believe I was real. His hand trembled when it touched mine, but his eyes never left my face.

“I love you,” he said. No preamble. No hesitation. “I know it’s not enough, but it’s the truth. And I’ll never stop saying it until you believe it.”

I choked on the wave of emotion that crashed through me. “Logan—”

“I’ll wait forever if I have to,” he said, eyes fierce. “I’ll prove it every day.”

Tears slipped down my cheeks, and he caught them with his thumbs before they could fall far.

“I already believe it,” I whispered.

His arms closed around me, and I buried my face in his neck. The world faded away until all that remained was the warmth of him, the scent of pine and earth and home.

We stood like that for a long time.

When the song ended, I found the four of them surrounding me once again, forming a protective circle. My mates. My Alphas. My heart.

A silence settled between us.

I cleared my throat. “I’m still healing,” I said, looking at each of them. “But I’m ready to try. If you are.”

Liam nodded. “We’re ready.”

Logan stepped forward. “We’ve always been yours, Ava.”

Lucas took my hand. “And we’ll earn back every part of you we lost.”

Landon bent down, pressing his forehead to mine. “We’ll never let go again.”

The crowd around us seemed to disappear. For the first time in forever, I felt whole. Not because they completed me—but because I finally saw myself through their eyes. Not just as an omega. Not even as their mate.

But as Ava. Strong. Resilient. Worthy.

Just as I was about to speak, a loud howl echoed through the night.

We all froze.

Another howl followed. Then a third.

Something was wrong.

Liam’s expression darkened. “That’s the eastern perimeter.”

Logan growled low in his throat. “Trouble?”

Lucas’s eyes were already glowing. “Only one way to find out.”

Landon looked at me, torn. “Stay here.”

I stepped forward. “Like hell I will.”

“No,” Liam said firmly. “It could be dangerous.”

“I *am* dangerous,” I snapped. “Or have you forgotten what happened last time?”

A beat of silence. Then Logan grinned. “She’s got a point.”

Lucas chuckled. “She’s our Luna, alright.”

Liam hesitated—then nodded.

We moved together toward the door, the five of us, bound not only by the mate bond but by choice. By love. By trust that had been tested and reforged in fire.

As the night swallowed us whole, I felt the spark inside me flicker back to life. Whatever waited out there, we would face it together.

But I had a feeling this wasn’t just any threat.