Chapter 140

Kieran’s POV

Ava was different after the battle.

Not in a bad way—but in a way that made me watch her even closer.

She moved with more confidence, but at the same time, she carried something heavy on her shoulders. She thought we couldn’t see it, but I did. We all did.

And I was done pretending that giving her space was the answer.

I found her in the training grounds just before sunrise, her body moving fluidly through a series of fighting stances. The way she moved now was effortless, almost inhumanly graceful.

But she wasn’t just training.

She was testing herself.

I leaned against a nearby tree, watching. She threw a punch, followed by a spin kick so fast that dust swirled up from the ground. A soft growl rumbled in her throat as she landed, her fists clenched.

Her wolf was pushing forward.

And she was holding it back.

“You know,” I called out, making my way toward her, “if you want a real challenge, you could always spar with me.”

She stilled, glancing over her shoulder. Her eyes were glowing.

I smirked. “Nice trick.”

She sighed and turned fully to face me, the glow fading as she exhaled. “Couldn’t sleep.”

I stepped closer, folding my arms. “So you decided to beat yourself up instead?”

She huffed. “It’s not like that. I just… need to know I’m in control.”

I tilted my head, studying her. “Control isn’t about suppressing who you are, Ava. It’s about understanding it.”

She bit her lip, and I had the sudden urge to tug it free with my teeth.

Not the time.

“Come on,” I said, rolling my shoulders. “I’ll help you.”

Her brows lifted. “You want to spar with me?”

“I want to push you,” I corrected. “Show you that fighting isn’t about fear—it’s about trust. And you can trust me.”

Something flickered in her gaze, something dangerous and tempting.

She took a step forward. “Okay. Let’s do it.”

I barely had time to react before she lunged at me, and I grinned.

She wasn’t holding back.

And neither would I.