Chapter 81

Ava's POV

Mia saw the fear in my eyes and reached out to take my hand. "But you have me, and we have each other. Together, we can protect you and keep you safe."

I nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. I trusted Mia, and having her by my side made me feel like I could face anything that came our way. I knew that with her by my side, I could be safe and protected no matter what challenges we faced.

Mia looked at me with concern as she asked, "Ava, can you tell me what happened? How did they get to you? How were they able to over power and stab you, you were bruised all over from their punches?"

I took a deep breath, still shaken by the events that had just unfolded. "I don't know, Mia. It all happened so fast. One minute I was walking down an alley the next thing I knew, I'm being dragged into a corner with harpoons attached to chains. I tried to fight back, but there were just too many of them."

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my voice as I recounted the events of the attack to Mia. "It was like they had a plan in place. They had harpoons with them, and as soon as they had me in their sight alone, they shot me with them and started dragging me into an apartment building in the alley."

Mia's face went pale, and she reached out to me, her hand on mine. "Ava, I am so sorry?"

I nodded, still shaky from the experience. "Physically, I'm fine. They hit me with the harpoons, but my guards were able to remove them before the humans could do anything else."

Mia let out a sigh of relief. "Thank the Seven. I can't imagine what would have happened if they had gotten to you."

I nodded, still processing everything that had happened. "I'm just lucky my guards were nearby and heard me screaming for help. Otherwise, I don't know what would have happened."

Mia looked at me, her expression serious. "We need to be more careful, Ava. The humans are obviously targeting you, and we can't be caught off guard like this. We need to be prepared at all times."

I nodded, feeling a sense of urgency wash over me. "You're right, Mia. We can't let our guard down, not even for a moment not anymore."

William's POV

I stood in the command center of my ship, my eyes scanning over the consoles and gauges with various data. Thomas, my second-in-command, stood beside me, his hand resting on the control panel.

"Thomas, you'll be in charge of the ship while I take a break," I said, turning to him.

He nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, Alpha. You can count on me."

I smiled at him, feeling a sense of reassurance. "I know I can, Thomas. You're the most competent officer on this ship."

Thomas smiled back at me, his expression still serious. "Thank you, Alpha. I'll keep the ship running smoothly until you return."

I nodded, feeling my heart beating faster with anticipation. "I'll be back as soon as I can. In the meantime, stay alert and monitor the sensors for any potential threats."

Thomas nodded, his eyes focused on the gauges in front of him. "I'll keep us safe and secure, Alpha. You can count on me."

I turned and left the command center, making my way through the ship to Ava's cabin. My mind was racing with thoughts of her, and I couldn't wait to see her again.

As I walked, I could hear the sounds of the ship around me, the hum of the engines and the rattling of the consoles. It felt like we were a living, breathing entity, moving through space and time, seeking out our next adventure.

With each step I took, I felt a sense of excitement growing within me. I couldn't wait to see Ava, to hold her in my arms and tell her how much she meant to me.

As I rounded the corner and approached Ava's cabin, I could hear the sounds of her voice, chatting away with Mia. My heart skipped a beat, and I quickened my step, eager to be by her side.

I opened the door to Ava's cabin, my eyes taking in the sight of her sitting on the couch, her hand resting on her thigh. She looked up at me, a smile spreading across her face.

"William, you're here," she said, her voice warm and soft.

I smiled back at her, feeling happiness blooming within me. "Of course, Ava. I couldn't stay away any longer, you look so much better than the last time I saw you."

I smiled back at her, walking over to the couch to sit down beside her. "How are you feeling?" I asked, looking at her closely.

She smiled at me, her eyes sparkling with appreciation. "Thanks to you, William. You made sure I had enough food and rest to heal properly after the attack."

I nodded, feeling a sense of pride well up within me. "You're welcome, Ava. It's the least I could do after what happened."

Ava leaned back against the couch, her muscles relaxing for the first time since the attack. "I appreciate everything you've done, William. You saved my life, and you brought justice to the ones who tried to take it."

I smiled back at her, feeling a sense of pride and joy growing within me. "Of course, Ava. That's what mates do."

Ava shook her head, her expression growing more serious. "You've done more than just that, William. You've helped me heal physically and emotionally. You've been there for me every step of the way."

I felt myself blush at her words, feeling a sense of humility wash over me. "I only did what any decent person would do, Ava. You have a lot of people in this clan who care about you."

Ava smiled, her expression soft and sincere. "I know, William. And I appreciate all of you. But you've gone the extra mile to make sure I'm okay, and I can't express how grateful I am for that."

I nodded, my heart feeling full. "You don't have to, Ava. I'm just glad I could help."

Ava smiled, her eyes brimming with gratitude. "You've done more than help, William. You've given me a second chance at life, and for that, I'll always be grateful."

I breathed a sigh of relief, feeling my shoulders relax at her words. "That's great news, Ava. You had us all worried there for a while."