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My head snapped to the side. My anger continued to mount and I gave Alex a hostile look.

“Riley is not part of my pack. I can do whatever I want."

"You can't do that, Kian. Riley would kill you without hesitation."

I snorted derisively. Riley was a werewolf like me. Even if they were a couple, she wasn't his mate. She was mine and I would prove it to anyone.

I remained silent for the next hour. I drank more than usual, but I also tolerated a lot more than most. My eyes never left Ava. There wasn't a second I took my eyes off. After all, someone had to take care of her because her wonderful friend wasn't doing it. Wherever he was, I didn't care. The main thing was that I didn't see him putting his dirty hands on Ava's body.

She was just dancing on the dance floor with three other girls. She had clearly been drinking too much. But finally seeing her laugh warmed my heart. I only knew her cold-heartedly. I was, after all, but not to her.

"She's your mate, isn't she?" Seth asked suddenly. I took my eyes off Ava for the first time and looked at Seth. He could read it in my eyes, why should I still hide it? So I nodded briefly. He didn't seem terribly shocked, no wonder, after all he had to know that Ava couldn't be Riley's mate.

"Don't tell anyone!" I said coldly.

"I think Riley should know. After all, he's her-" I cut him off.

“I'm not interested in this Riley. The only thing I care about is her alone. I don't let anyone interfere. She's mine and as soon as I can convince her to finally give me a chance, she'll come with me into my pack."

"I can't tell you what to do. You can't do anything about your feelings, after all they are only meant for you. Still, I would take it slow. Ava was badly hurt when she was young, and she hasn't thought much of boys ever since. She can't even look us straight in the eye. She thinks all boys are the same. The only man she left in her heart is Riley."

"How was she hurt?" I asked worried. Of course I knew it had to be me. But I didn't know it was that deep. I had done something terrible to Ava. I just wish I could somehow do it again could undo.

"No one knows for sure, not even Riley."

Through the weak mate connection, I sensed that Ava was in danger. Instantly my head snapped to the side and without hesitation I ran over here and pulled that drunk bastard away from her. Ava's body was shaking and I could tell by the smell that the guy had touched her arms, waist and buttocks. The thought of it made my werewolf blood boil and the next second I punched the guys square in the face. He dangled right back, and due to his alcohol level being way too high, he fell over in the next second.

I turned straight to Ava, who was staring at me wide-eyed. I quickly took off my jacket and tied it around her waist. Before she could protest, I lifted her onto my shoulder and left the club with quick steps. Because of my jacket, no one had a chance to see her under the much too short dress. I had neither a car nor did I want to go to the strange pack house. So I went to the nearest hotel, which was nearby.

"Kian. Put me down!" Ava said quietly, trying to smack my back with her tiny fists.

I slapped her bum and had to smile when I heard her startled sound. Of course I was no better than the guy before her who had touched her against her will. However, I had no bad intentions.

"Kian. I feel sick. Better put me down."

Knowing she had a lot down her throat, I did her a favor and switched positions. She was now in my arms with her head resting on my shoulder.

"I hate you, Kian!" Ava whispered softly. If I didn't have good hearing, I might not have heard her.

"I know!" I replied hurt. Hearing those words from her was killing me inside. I didn't know my heart was capable of taking such great pain. If her words alone were enough to take me in this way hurt me, what would happen to me if she never forgave me? If she never gave me a chance for a future together? I could never force her to be with me. Of course I will not give up and I will care for her until the end of my life battle.

With Ava in my arms, already asleep, I went to the hotel reception and checked in. Then I went into the room and when I got there, I put Ava to bed. I took off her shoes, which didn't look very comfortable. After untying my jacket, I gently slipped the dress off her body. It took a great deal of effort not to explore her body. So I quickly took off my black shirt and slipped it over her.

Ava slowly opened her eyes and looked at me sadly.

"Why are you here? After everything you did to me? I finally want to forget you." She spoke rather slurred, but she said something. Just hearing her voice gave me goosebumps. She would never say something like that, not if she were sober. I decided to take advantage of the situation. So that I could finally find out what I did to her.

"Ava? Won't you tell me what I did? I asked, curiosity in my voice. Under normal circumstances, I would never have taken advantage of the situation. I knew she wasn't thinking straight. Had she been sober, she would never have told me. So I did what I thought was right for the moment.

"You really forgot?" she asked hurt.

"I've tried everything to remember it. I'm really sorry. But I really don't know."

"You forgot me so quickly? Did you even think of me for a second when I was running from town?"

I never wanted to lie to Ava. I didn't know if I missed her. I couldn't remember her. That's why I kept quiet. Ava's eyes shone and she looked more hurt than before. How long could my heart take this? Seeing her like that just destroyed me bit by bit. She straightened up so we were almost at eye level and then she began to talk.

“We were in the same school. You were quite popular, I was just an invisible bookworm. I wanted to do a lot with my life, so I didn't have time for friends. I was completely alone, but I didn't mind. I kept my distance from you – the most popular student in school – and your friends as much as possible. It worked. You didn't know I even existed. In my eyes, the world was fine the way it was. until you noticed me You were looking for me. You always thought I had the prettiest eyes. At some point I believed you. You tried everything to go out with me. I didn't want to, after all you were popular and I was just me.

You were always there and you were always nice to me. I slowly developed feelings for you and then fell in love with you. I gave you a chance We did a lot, spent most of the time together. I wasn't alone for the first time. I felt safe and loved. Then came the prom. Since it was your last year, we went together. That day I slept with you. Everything was perfect. Until the next day. Because when I woke up, you were gone. Disappeared without a trace. You didn't leave a message, nothing. I called you but your cell phone was off. I didn't know what was going on, I was only 16. I was young and naive. After the weekend I went to school. I was laughed at, insulted and insulted. I walked up to you and confronted you. You laughed in my face and said I was a stupid little girl.

You would never put up with someone like me. I would be ugly and nobody would ever fall in love with me. You said you won the bet. You made the little naive nerd girl fall in love with you. You deflowered her and everyone knew. My heart broke into a thousand pieces. It hurt incredibly, Kian. I haven't been able to trust anyone ever since. But the worst came later. I cried for weeks, feeling hurt and humiliated. I could hardly go to school without being laughed at. Most of the girls there slept with you. But I was the stupid little naive girl who fell in love with Kian Black.

Me, an outsider. Who never had a chance with him. Eventually it got so bad that I could hardly stand it anymore. I suffered from an eating disorder and everything in my life seemed colorless to me. I swallowed pills. Lots of pills. I just didn't want to feel this pain anymore. Then I woke up in the hospital. My stomach had been pumped out. We met again the day after you turned eighteen. You were beside yourself. you meant that you love me But I didn't believe you anymore. I told you how much I hate you. How much I despise you. That I never want to see you again I fled the city the same day." you meant that you love me But I didn't believe you anymore. I told you how much I hate you. How much I despise you. That I never want to see you again I fled the city the same day." you meant that you love me But I didn't believe you anymore. I told you how much I hate you. How much I despise you. That I never want to see you again I fled the city the same day."

I didn't know what to think. I didn't know what to feel. I had hurt her so badly that she wanted to take her own life? I hated myself, no I loathed myself. Still, there was a suspicion that she might be lying to me about some things. If I had been 18 when I last saw her, I would have recognized her as my mate. I would never have let her go. Something wasn't right about this story, but was there a reason she lied to me? Still, I screwed up, I hurt her. She's become fragile because of me. I didn't deserve her. Maybe it would be better if I left her alone. But instead I took her in my arms and said softly, "I will do anything to make you forgive me. Let me heal your wounds.