Chapter 2 " She refuses to admit and I- " Greg's hands jerked away from her like she'd burned him , his face going pale . " Leave . Now . " Once the enforcers had left and closed the door behind them , Zarek took one of the seats opposite her , his blue eyes tired . He looked tortured , just as he had each time he'd stepped between Ava and Serina in the past few months . She could feel how deeply it hurt him to choose sides ; his pain chafed her nerve endings like sandpaper . That was what it was like for Seers : picking up positive emotions created pleasant , warm sensations . Negative emotions , however , could cause anything from mild discomfort to excruciating pain . ] ] Despite Zarek's hurt , Ava couldn't muster any sympathy for him . They had been in a relationship for almost eighteen months . If there was one person in this pack who knew Ava well , it was Zarek . If there was one person who should have seen through all the lies , it was him . Yet even he had jumped on the " Ava can't be trusted " bandwagon . It was hard to believe this male was the same man who had once spoken of bonding with her . " What's my execution date ? " Not that Ava honestly thought Matt would order that . " No one is going to execute you . " Zarek sounded so tired that she almost felt bad for him . Almost . " Well then , if you're going to banish me from the pack , get it over with . " She could have left at any time , but she hadn't been prepared to let anyone drive her out of her own pack , particularly not some vindictive , unhinged skank . And she'd figured that everyone would see through Serina's act eventuava , that because she was innocent the matter would soon fix itself . " You're not going to be banished . " ] Well , that was reAva a surprise . " Does this mean you doubt what your mate claimed I did ? " ] Zarek seemed to struggle for words . " I know that it doesn't sound like you , but you haven't been yourself lately . I believe you didn't set out to kill Serina , but the fact is that you did assault her . I've given you a lot of leeway , Ava . I've overlooked a lot of things , but I can't overlook this . I can't . " " So are Serina and I going to have a one - on - one instead ? " How grand . [ ] " No. " Of course not . Serina might be Beta female , but her level of dominance didn't exceed Ava's . Serina wouldn't want to chance being defeated by someone of lower rank . " Ive apparently harassed and attacked her . Her wolf should be going crazy for vengeance . That alone should have caused her to challenge me . " " 0 He scrubbed a hand down his face . "A part of her feels sorry for you . She said she can understand why you're jealous . She admits that she'd feel just as devastated and bitter in your position . She even argued to keep you in the pack when Matt was ready to banish you . " [] Ava double - blinked , shocked . " She did what ? " " She doesn't want you to be out there all alone . She told Matt and me that if you apologize and vow to end your jealous behavior , she'll even be happy for you to escape punishment . " And that was when Ava finAva comprehended just what Serina had been trying to accomplish all along . Not drive Ava out of the pack . Not have her banished or executed - or at least not yet , anyway . [ No , Serina had been trying to isolate Ava . Trying to take away everything that was important to her . [ ] She wanted Ava to be miserable and alone , and she wanted a front - row seat to the show . " All you have to do is apologize , " Zarek repeated . ] Laughing humorlessly , Ava leaned forward . " Apologize to her ? I'd rather exfoliate my skin with barbed wire and then dive into a pool of chlorine . " Something that Serina would know perfectly well . " Besides , I'm not in the habit of saying sorry for stuff I haven't done . " ] Zarek cursed under his breath . " Ava , she's trying to help you here . " ] Ava shook her head sadly . " I never thought you'd be so easily fooled . " If his mating bond with Serina had fully developed , he would have sensed that she was lying . But still , he should have known that Ava was innocent . Should have known that even if Ava had attacked Serina in a moment of rage , she wouldn't have lied about it . Ava owned her shit . so if you're not going to cast me out , and she's not going to challenge me , what's the punishment for my fictional crime ? " Chapter 2 " If you don't apologize to Serina , we'll be forced to relieve you The words were like a blow to the head . of your status . " Status was everything to wolf shifters ; it gave their wolves a clear purpose and stability . As such , to strip a wolf of their status was a very serious thing , designed to cut deep , to hurt both the wolf and the human side . And it did . [ ] " I see . " Her tone was flat , empty of a any emotion , and gave away none of her wolf's righteous anger . 7- " Ava , look at me . " Whatever Zarek saw in her expression made him stiffen , as if bracing himself for impact . " I didn't want things to be like this . Dammit , they don't have to be like this . " " You're right , they don't . But they are because your mate is a goddamn story spinner . " Seeing that he was about to deny it , Ava quickly added , " Okay , explain to me why I would do these things she's accused me of . " ] " Jealousy makes people do things they wouldn't normally do , " he mumbled as he averted his words . gaze . The words sounded rehearsed . Ava got the feeling they were Serina's " You know me , Zarek . You know me . How could you believe this crap ? How could you believe I'd begrudge you for mating ? We both knew the score when we got together ; we knew it would end if one of us found our mate . This shit happens to shifter couples all the time , " she added with a nonchalant shrug . [ ] A mixture of irritation and hurt flashed on his face . " Don't downplay what was between us , Ava . We came close to imprinting . Don't deny it . " He raked a hand through his hair . " Look , I can understand if our abrupt separation and Serina's presence here hurts you . I sure as hell wouldn't have liked it if the situation were reversed , but I'd Have respected it . " " I do respect your mating . " " Then why did you attack her ? " " Oh , for God's sake , I did not touch her . " " Then how do you explain the injuries she's sporting ? " " She must have done it all to herself ! " Yes , Ava knew how that sounded , and it made her cringe . [ It was like the more she denied the allegations , the worse she looked . " I know she's your mate , but I thought we were still friends . You won't even listen to me , you won't even give me the benefit of the doubt ! " " Because the evidence is all there ! Serina's got claw marks on her back , a bruised and swollen jaw , and the youths claim you left to pursue her . Then there are the text messages , the times you yelled at her , and the way you're constantly angry- " ] " Wouldn't you be angry if false accusations were being slung at you , and no one believed a word you had to say ? " [ ] He pinched the bridge of his nose . " Why would she falsely accuse you of all these things ? " " Personally , I'm thinking it's to make you and the entire pack hate me , to leave me isolated and unhappy . But I'm open to the explanation that she grew up on a diet of paint chips and glue . " " I could never hate you . " He released a tired sigh . " I care about you , Ava , and I always will . But Serina's my inate , and I can't let you target her like this . Regardless of what you think , I really don't want to ask you to step down from your position . But right now , the pack doesn't feel like they can trust you . " [] Good . She'd bled for this pack . Died for this pack . But now ? Just erased by one woman's Lies . " Get me a transfer . Tonight . 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