Mated To Her Enemy's Brother: Read Chapters 1-5

"Cheers to the newlyweds! You two are perfect together as fated mates!"

Newlyweds? Fated mates?

She was supposed to be the bride, the one in the white dress, standing beside Jax, the alpha of Creekwood. Ava and Jax had been betrothed at a very young age to each other. At the age of eighteen, if they had no mates, their engagement would be finalized.

But now, she was nothing more than a shadow of her former self, a slave in the pack she had once been a proud member of. The wedding bells had rung not for her but for Lily, the woman who had stolen it all. Lily was Jax’s fated mate. And the most miserable thing was that it was her ex-fiance Jax who told her.

Ava was crouched in the garden away from the ceremony, her hands bound in shackles, tugging at the wild weeds that dared to grow where they weren’t wanted. She didn’t care. Every tug of the weeds was a small defiance, a quiet rebellion against the life she was forced to endure. The clinking of chains against her skin felt like a constant reminder of her fall from grace.

“Oh”, Lily’s voice rang close, as high-pitched and playful as before when she chatted with the pack members, basking in their adoration.

“Isn’t it just perfect?” A voice interrupted Ava’s bitter thoughts.

Ava froze as Lily appeared from behind her, her movements graceful. There was no mistaking the malicious glint in her eyes. “You look like you’re enjoying yourself,” Lily continued, her tone dripping with mockery. “I’m sure you’re thrilled to see me as the future Luna. It must be so nice for you to watch everything slip away.”

Ava remained silent, her hands balling into fists, but the chains made movement impossible. Her heart raced in her chest, but she wouldn’t give Lily the satisfaction of seeing her break.

Lily circled Ava like a predator, her eyes appraising her, a smug smile playing at the corners of her lips. “You know, I should thank you,” she continued, her voice sweet but sharp as a knife. “If it weren’t for you, I never would’ve ended up here. I wouldn’t have met Jax.” She stepped closer, so near that Ava could smell the sickly sweet floral perfume Lily wore, a reminder of everything Ava had lost. “You’re the one who found me, brought me into this pack... all because you wanted to play the hero, didn’t you?”

Ava’s pulse quickened, but she fought to stay still, to not show how badly Lily’s words stung. Her breath was slow and steady, as she whispered, “I didn’t know you were Jax’s mate when I found you.”

Lily tilted her head with a smirk. “Oh, you didn’t? How charming,” she mocked, before stepping even closer, her hand suddenly pressing hard against Ava’s cheek, the force making Ava flinch. “Tell me, Ava,” she purred, her voice thick with satisfaction, “How does it feel knowing you were never the one Jax wanted? You thought you had him, but in the end, it was me. It’s always been me.”

Before Ava could respond, Lily’s fingers curled into a fist and slapped her hard across the face.

SLAP!!!

The sound of skin against skin echoed in the still air, a sharp crack that reverberated through Ava’s entire body. Her cheek burned, but it was the humiliation that stung even more.

Ava's head snapped to the side from the force of the slap, her body trembling as the stinging pain settled into her bones. She hadn’t expected it. Not like this. Not from Lily, who had been the one to steal everything from her.

Lily’s laughter was sharp, cruel, like nails on a chalkboard, and she ran a finger along her own lips, as if wiping away a speck of dirt that wasn't there. “Oh, don’t look so surprised, Ava. You should’ve known it was coming. You really thought you could get away with what you did?” Lily’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t forget you tried to kill me.”

Ava’s breath caught in her throat, the memory of that day rushing back. The sudden fury, the strange rage that had made her lose control... The sight of Lily standing there, untouched, while she lay on the ground, helpless, had been the last straw. And Jax, the fury in his eyes when he found out, the disappointment. The punishment that had come after.

“I didn’t try to kill you,” Ava finally spat out, her voice hoarse. “I was only—”

“Only what?” Lily interrupted, stepping forward again. “Only protecting what was yours? Tell me, Ava, how did that work out for you?” She placed a hand on Ava’s bound wrist, twisting it cruelly as she grinned. “You should’ve stayed out of it. But you didn’t. You made me your enemy. And look at you now.”

Ava bit her lip, trying to suppress the heat that spread across her face from the sting of the slap. It hurt, not just from the physical pain, but because it represented everything she had lost. The victory Lily had stolen from her. The complete destruction of everything Ava had once held dear.

The bitter taste of it was suffocating.

Lily took a step back, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “Enjoy the view, Ava. Because this is as close as you’ll ever get to anything that’s mine.” With that, she turned and walked away, her laughter trailing in the air like a lingering poison.

Ava stood frozen, the sharp sting of Lily’s words still echoing in her mind. She could feel the weight of her failure, the humiliation burning deep in her chest. But before she could even collect herself, a cold voice cut through the silence.

"Look how far the mighty has fallen" two female werewolves passed her, one of them looked at her disdainfully.

"She was always acting like she was better than everyone else because she was betrothed to Alpha Jax. Look at her now, a common slave" the other one replied.

"I heard Luna's brother is coming soon and he wants revenge for all the bullying his sister went through"

"I heard that he is a bloodthirsty wolf and he really cherishes Lily, anyone who tries to hurt her always suffers by his hand."

They looked at her and snickered mockingly before leaving.

Hearing this, Ava suddenly remembered that Lily’s elder brother, Alpha Ryder from Fireblood Pack, was known to be a cruel and unforgiving person.

If he was really coming, it meant that he would surely take revenge on anyone who had wronged his sister. Ava’s stomach churned at the thought. Her only hope now was that he wouldn’t harm her father.

She bent down and continued working, all of a sudden, she heard the most delicious scent, it smelled like vanilla and butter.

"Mate!" a voice echoed in her head,

Ava couldn't believe it, she had a mate? After everything she had done, she had someone who would love her unconditionally. Could her mate save her from this living hell?

She looked around frantically, where was he? Who could this mate be? Was he someone from this pack?

She noticed someone walking in her direction, the closer the person got, the stronger the scent was, this was her mate!

He was breathtaking. His presence was commanding, like the calm before a storm, and his eyes—intense—were fixed on her. His gaze held an edge of curiosity, though his features were unreadable. Ava was sure that he was a man used to being in control, and right now, he was looking at her with that same controlled intensity.

"Hi," he said, his voice smooth, like velvet.

Ava’s throat tightened. She wanted to speak, to say something—anything—but no words came. Her mind went blank. This—this was her mate with everything she had hoped for. Her heart raced as she realized just how humiliating it was to be seen like this, bound and broken. She wasn’t the proud wolf she once was, not the woman who would stand by Jax’s side. She was a slave now, a fallen member of this pack. And her mate—her mate—was witnessing her lowest point.

Her lips trembled, but she could not bring herself to speak. Instead, she lowered her gaze to the ground, unable to meet his eyes. Her whole body felt like it was on fire with shame, every muscle frozen.

The silence between them felt suffocating, thick with unspoken words.

Then, a voice broke through the quiet.

A guard stepped forward and bowed low to the man. "Welcome to Creekwood Pack, Alpha Ryder. I hope the journey wasn’t too stressful."

Ava's stomach churned. The words stung with a terrible realization, and her heart plummeted as though it were sinking through the earth beneath her feet.

Alpha Ryder? Her mate was Alpha Ryder—the brother of Lily, the woman who had stolen everything from her.

Ava felt her world tilt, a wave of disbelief crashing over her as the full weight of her mistake settled into her bones. Her chest tightened painfully as waves of shame, embarrassment, and disappointment flooded her mind. How could fate be so cruel?

"My journey wasn't stressful at all," Ryder replied the guard.

Then Ryder turned his gaze back to her, and his eyes softened slightly as if he noticed her discomfort. He bent down, his movements slow and deliberate, like he was trying to read her. There was a brief, almost tender pause before he asked, "What is your name? Why are you wearing shackles?" His voice was calm, and genuine, yet there was a flicker of something else—a hint of concern or maybe curiosity.

Before she could speak, the guard beside her stepped in, answering for her. "Alpha Ryder, this is Ava. She was the one who tried to kill your sister. That is why she’s in shackles."

For a split second, it was as if time itself had stopped.

Ava felt her entire body tense, every muscle locked up in a vice grip. Ryder’s face changed instantly. His kind expression disappeared, replaced with a hard, cold mask. His eyes darkened, and Ava could feel the change in the atmosphere—the moment he realized who she was.

His jaw tightened, and his voice, when he spoke, was chilling. "I see." His gaze hardened as he stood, straightening. "Let’s go. Where is my sister?"

The guard gave a quick bow and gestured for Ryder to follow. "This way, Alpha Ryder."

Ryder turned without another glance at her, his back straight as he walked away. Ava stood motionless, frozen to the spot. She didn’t dare move, didn’t dare make a sound. She wanted to scream, to beg for his forgiveness, but the words were lost on her. Her body trembled with fear, dread, and regret.

She whispered to herself, her voice a broken murmur, "Don’t cry... Don’t cry..." But her body betrayed her as tears welled up in her eyes.

As Ryder’s figure disappeared into the distance, Ava collapsed to her knees, the weight of everything crashing down on her. How could fate be so cruel?

After a while, Ava was still crouched in the garden, her hands dirty from hours of weeding, when two guards appeared and yanked her up roughly by her arms.

“What’s going on?” she asked, struggling against their grip, but the guards offered no response.

They marched her across the grounds, the familiar landscape blurring in her vision as her heart began to pound in her chest. When they reached the prison, Ava’s breath caught as she saw Jax waiting for her, his expression cold and unreadable. The guards threw her to the ground in front of him, her body landing hard against the dirt floor.

Jax looked down at her, his voice sharp and distant. “Alpha Ryder, Lily’s elder brother, has requested that you be transferred to the Fireblood Pack. He wants to handle your punishment personally. I’ve agreed to this, so you’ll be leaving Creekwood today.”

The words hit Ava like a physical blow, stealing the air from her lungs. Ryder, she thought, her heart sinking with fear. Her own mate, who now saw her as his enemy. This meant punishment, pain—and likely far worse. Ryder was known for his cruelty, and the thought of falling into his hands made her skin crawl.

But what hurt even more was the fact that Jax had agreed to it.

Her Jax. The one who’d once been her best friend, her love. He’d decided to send her away, knowing exactly what awaited her. Ava’s hands trembled as she tried to steady herself.

She forced herself to speak. “I see. Can I at least say goodbye to my father before I leave?” she asked, her voice shaking.

Jax shook his head, his gaze averted. “That won’t be possible. Your father isn’t here, and Ryder is leaving now. You can leave a message, and the guards will deliver it to him.”

Ava’s stomach twisted in disbelief, her heart shattering as she looked up at him. There was no trace of kindness or familiarity in his eyes anymore, only indifference. It was as though the years they’d spent together, the years he’d promised to protect her, had meant nothing.

She took a deep, shaky breath. “You know what this means, don’t you, Jax?” Her voice was barely a whisper. “You know he’s going to kill me, right?”

Jax’s expression remained impassive, his gaze fixed on a distant spot over her shoulder. He said nothing.

The silence was crushing, an answer in itself. Ava felt her last hope crumble as she watched him turn away from her, the betrayal sinking into her heart like a knife.

Ava’s voice cracked, her heart breaking all over again. “Doesn’t our friendship mean anything to you?”

Jax’s eyes turned to hers, cold and unyielding. “I stopped thinking of you as my friend the moment you tried to harm Lily,” he said, his words as icy as his expression.

Ava felt tears prick at her eyes, but she fought them back, clinging to the last threads of her pride. “She isn’t as innocent as she seems, Jax,” she said, her voice barely more than a whisper.

“Don’t even try to blame her,” Jax snapped, his face hardening with anger. “I know my mate, and I believe her. Goodbye, Ava.”

She lowered her head, her shoulders slumping in defeat.

After what felt like an eternity, footsteps echoed down the corridor, stopping right in front of her. Ava’s heart pounded as she forced herself to look up, her blood running cold at the sight of the face she feared most—Ryder.

“Stand up, you will come with me,” he commanded, his voice as sharp and unforgiving as steel.

Ava’s heart pounded, her mind racing. As he turned to lead the way, Ava’s mind clung to a single desperate thought: Would this be the end? Or was this the beginning of something far, far worse?

Ava was shoved into a truck, she sat in the darkness and waited for the truck to start moving.

"She has been put in a truck and the truck will follow you as you leave," Jax informed him.

Ryder nodded. "Ryder, don't you think she has suffered enough, just let her be" Lily begged on behalf of Ava with her usual faked grace.

"I don't think she has suffered enough, she dared to hurt you and I am not okay with that. Besides, I don't feel safe leaving you with her." Ryder brushed away her worries.

Lily was the most precious thing in Ryder's life. His mother had died while giving birth to her and his father unable to handle the grief of losing her had died too.

Ryder had been the one who raised her and he had protected her all her life. Anyone who hurt her had faced the consequences.

When she had disappeared a few months ago, Ryder had almost gone crazy.

When he finally heard she was in this pack, he was so relieved and furious as well when he heard about a female werewolf who tried to his little sister.

He had come to get revenge for Lily. But the person who had made his sister suffer had turned out to be his mate.

Ryder remembered her face and clenched his fists, he would never accept that as his mate.

He would take her back to his pack and torture her till she regretted ever laying a hand on his sister.

He turned to Jax, "I will be on my way now. Take good care of my sister"

"I will" Jax assured him.

Ryder walked to his car escorted by Jax and Lily. He kissed Lily on her forehead and gave her a hug before entering his car and driving off.

As he drove off, the truck followed him.

After some hours of driving, Ryder got to his pack.

He stopped his car and the truck stopped as well, the guards who were on duty and his Beta Jayden came out to welcome him.

"Welcome back, how was the ceremony?" Jayden asked.

"It was okay, Lily was the most beautiful Luna bride." Ryder said with a beaming smile.

"Thats good to hear" Jayden said. He looked at the truck, "What is in there?" he asked.

"A prisoner," Ryder replied. The guards who had driven the truck came down to open the back of the truck. They brought out Ava who was still in her shackles.

Jayden looked at Ryder in confusion. "What is going on?"

"she bullied Lily while Lily was recovering in the pack and even tried to kill her. I brought her here to punish her" Ryder answered.

"What the hell! Why can't you just let bygones be bygones?" Jayden asked.

"I can't do that. I have to give her the same treatment she gave to Lily," Ryder said.

He turned to his guards and instructed them to take Ava to the prison.

Ava sat on the damp cement floor of the prison. Thoughts of Ryder filled her head, she thought about how his face had been so cold earlier. It was like he wanted nothing more than to tear her to shreds at that moment.

She knew he would never see or acknowledge her as his mate. It was just her fate that her mate turned out to be Lily's elder brother.

The door of the prison opened and Ryder walked in.

"Stand up!" he barked at her. She scrambled to her feet instantly.

He walked closer to her and held her chin with his hands, he punched her chin so hard that her eyes watered from the pain.

"Do you know how much I love and cherish my sister?" he asked menacingly.

Ava kept quiet. "I love her very much, she is the most precious part of my life. You hurt her and I can never forgive you for that. You might be my mate but I will never acknowledge you, I will never accept you and I will never love you." He told her. Ava felt a painful jolt in her heart when she heard these words.

"Do you understand me?" Ryder asked.

"I do" Ava answered.

He pushed her to the ground roughly and left.

'don't cry, don't cry' Ava told herself.

Ryder went back to the general pack house where he stayed and sat at the table sipping a bottle of water, he had gotten from the fridge.

Jayden came to meet him. "What's wrong with you? You have been tensed up since you came back from Creekwood pack."

"I am fine" Ryder assured him.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, it must be the stress of the journey"

"Okay, then go have some rest okay," Jayden told him.

"Okay, I will do that now" Ryder replied.

He stood up to go to his bedroom. When he had gotten to the door, he turned around, "Tell someone to give the prisoner food and water" he ordered.

"Okay, I will take care of everything" Jayden replied.

Ryder nodded and went to his bedroom, exhaustion finally overtaking him as he sank into the bed. Sleep crept over him quickly, and in the quiet darkness of his dreams, Ava appeared before him.

She was in a cell, her hands bound in chains, her head bent low. Shadows pooled around her, flickering in the dim light. Ryder took a step closer, feeling a strange ache twist inside him as he saw tears streaming down her face. Her eyes—haunted and hollow—looked up at him, filled with a sorrow so raw, so deep, that he felt it pull at something inside him he hadn’t known existed.

Without thinking, he reached out, his fingers brushing her cheek to catch the falling tears. But the moment his hand touched her skin, she dissolved like mist, leaving only the coldness of the cell.

“Ava!” he called, his voice echoing off the empty walls.

But then, another presence crept into the room. He felt the cold grip of it before he even saw her. Lily’s voice slithered through the darkness, low and accusing. “So, this is the girl you would choose over your sister?” Her voice was laced with betrayal. Ryder turned, and there she stood—his little sister, her face pale and her eyes glinting with disappointment.

“Lily, it’s not—” he stammered, but she silenced him with a single, piercing look.

“Do you remember what she did to me?” she whispered, stepping closer. Her voice was filled with a quiet, simmering rage. “How she tried to take my life? My own brother mated to the one who hurt me most.”

Ryder felt his heart twist painfully. He looked down at his hands and saw blood on them, though he didn’t know whose. “No,” he whispered, shaking his head. “I would never... I could never betray you, Lily. She means nothing to me.”

Lily’s eyes narrowed, sadness flickering there for a brief moment. “Are you sure?” she asked, her voice cold, drifting through the silence like a curse. “Because your heart seems to beat for her. And the bond…” Her words trailed off, her lips twisting in disgust as she turned away.

Ryder felt a chill sweep over him, clawing its way into his chest. He reached out, desperate to hold onto her, to assure her of his loyalty. But she vanished into the shadows, leaving him alone.

In the silence, he heard his own heart pounding, a heavy, erratic beat that echoed in his ears.

"You feel for her", a voice in his mind whispered, taunting him, daring him to accept the truth he so fiercely denied.

“You’re already bound to her!!!”

“No!” he cried, the word ripping from his throat as he shot upright in bed, breathless, drenched in sweat.

As the dream’s dark haze lifted, Ryder clenched his fists, anger swirling with something he could hardly understand. “I will never accept her as my mate!” he muttered, his voice fierce in the stillness of the room.

Yet, the strange pang in his chest remained, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that, somehow, he was already bound to her in a way that terrified him more than anything. How could he betray his sister for the very woman who had hurt her, simply because fate had entwined his soul with Ava’s?

Ryder laid on the bed and tried to sleep yet sleep was very far from him. Thoughts of Ava filled his head, he had no idea what to do about her. A part of him wanted her to suffer for causing Lily pain while another part of him wanted to get to know her better, wanted to protect and keep her safe because of the damn bond.

He stood up from the bed and looked outside his window. It was already dark outside. He took a blanket from his bed and went outside the room.

He walked to the prison and entered inside. Ava was lying on the floor, she had curled herself up into a little ball.

Ryder moved closer to her and covered her up with the blanket.

"This doesn't change a thing. I still hate you." he whispered.

He turned around and left the room.

..............................

Ava's father, Dustin Shields came home from his trip and was informed that Ava had been taken away to Fireblood pack.

He looked at Jax who had sent for him to give him the news sadly. "I know you are disappointed with me, but there was nothing I could do" Jax said.

"You know, after Lily came, I begged her to give up on you because I saw how you looked at her. Do you know what she told me? She told me she was never going to do that. She trusted you so much." Dustin told Jax.

"There was nothing I could do." Jax said resolutely.

"We both know that is a lie, there were things you could have done, you could have kept her here." Dustin said.

Jax handed him a piece of paper, "She said that I should give this to you."

Dustin took the letter and opened it.

Dear Father,

By the time, you are reading this, I would have been gone. Don't worry about me and don't come here to try and get me, it's too dangerous. I am sorry for bringing shame to you, it was never my intention to do so. Please try to live your life stress free and worry free. Don't get into a fight with Jax, it's not worth it. Take care of yourself, I love you so much and I really hope I get to see you again.

Your loving daughter

Ava.

Dustin held the paper close to his chest, as if by doing so, he could hug his daughter.

He composed himself and looked up at Jax.

"From today onwards, I am not a member of this pack. I denounce my membership of Creekwood pack."

"What, what do you mean by that?" Jax asked, he was very shocked by what Dustin just said.

"Exactly what you heard, I am denouncing the pack" Dustin said.

"But that means, you are going to be a rogue wolf" Jax said.

"You already denounced my daughter as a member of this pack, the only reason I stayed was because of her. Now that she is gone, I have no reason to stay. So please Alpha Jax denounce me."

"But where will you go? Do you plan to go to Fireblood pack and ask for her freedom. I wouldn't advice you to do that. Alpha Ryder is known for being ruthless"

"Where I go is none of your business. Just make the denouncing declaration." Dustin said coldly.

Jax sighed, despite everything that had happened between him and Ava, he still liked Dustin and regarded him as a fatherly figure.

"Fine, since you say so. I Alpha Jax of Creekwood pack declare that from today henceforth, Dustin shields is no longer a member of Creekwood pack. He shall leave the pack before today ends and never come back unless the alpha permits it."

After Jax finished talking, he had the sensation that something was being cut away from him. The last time he had felt this way was when he had denounced Ava as a member of the pack.

Dustin felt like he was being removed from a warm embrace and thrown into the bitter cold. This was the feeling of being denounced.

Nevertheless Dustin kept his face blank and bowed to Jax before walking out.

When he got home, he packed up his important things and his clothes and entered his car and drove off.

..............................

Instead of sending somebody to deliver the food to Ava, Jayden decided to go himself.

He took some food from the kitchen and a bottle of water and proceeded down to the prison.

Ava was sitting down quietly when she heard the door open, she looked up thinking it was Ryder, instead she saw someone else. She remembered seeing him with Ryder when she was brought down from the truck earlier.

"OH! It's you" she said in a neutral voice.

"Were you expecting someone else?" Jayden asked.

"No, I wasn't" Ava answered.

Jayden dropped the tray on the floor close to where she sat.

"The alpha asked me to bring you food"

"That's surprisingly considerate of him" Ava said.

"No matter how cruel or ruthless our pack may be, we don't starve our prisoners" Jayden said with a light laugh.

"That is very comforting to hear" Ava said.

She picked up a spoon and took a spoonful. She looked up at Jayden.

"This isn't poisoned right?"

Jayden rolled his eyes and took the spoon from her hand and put it in his mouth. He chewed the food slowly and swallowed it.

"Are you satisfied now?" he asked Ava.

"What if you have the antidote?" Ava asked.

"Just eat the damn food okay? It isn't poisoned"

Ava started to eat the food. Jayden bent down and sat close to her on the ground.

"Ryder said you bullied his sister and tried to kill her, is that true?" Jayden asked.

"Yes it's true. I am a cruel and wicked soul. I bullied an innocent blameless soul" Ava replied.

"So she didn't do anything to you?"

"Why is any of this your business?" Ava asked.

"So I can know how to beg Ryder to be lenient on you" Jayden replied.

"Don't bother, he absolutely hates me and I don't see that changing anytime soon" Ava said matter of factly.

Jayden stood up, "anytime you are ready to talk, I am ready to listen."

"Don't raise your hopes up" Ava muttered under her breath.

Jayden looked at her crouched figure on the ground, he sighed and shook his head. He wanted to help Ava, he wanted her to tell him everything that had happened. Only if she talked, would he be able to help her.

Because if there was one thing that Jayden knew, it was the fact that Lily was absolutely not blameless or innocent at all. He sighed again and turned around and left the prison cell.

Jayden didn't go back to the pack house, he still had one more person to deliver food to.

He entered the forest which bordered the pack territory and kept walking inside until he got to a small house.

He knocked on the door, he knocked several times yet no one answered.

"I brought you some food, I am leaving it out here. If you want anything, just let me know" Jayden said. He dropped the food and went away.

Some few minutes after he left, the door opened. Someone stepped out and carried the food inside.

..............................

The next morning, Ryder sent for Jayden, after a few minutes, Jayden came before him.

"You sent for me?" he asked.

"Yes I did. I wanted to discuss something with you"

"What is it?"

"I don't know what to do with Ava, where should I assign her to work?" Ryder asked.

"Hmmm! Our male prisoners usually work in the goldmines, while the females either do the farm work or are assigned to the houses of high ranking wolves to serve as their slaves while others become concubines. Should she become a concubine?" Jayden asked.

"NO FUCKING WAY!" Ryder said with a growl.

"Why are you so angry? It was just a harmless suggestion." Jayden asked.

Ryder himself didn't know why he was so angry, it was a normal thing. Female prisoners were usually sent as concubines to high ranking wolves. But, the thought of someone else touching her and making love to her made him so angry. It provoked a blinding anger in him.

"She won't be a concubine, make another suggestion." Ryder said.

"She can be a household servant" a woman said as she walked inside. She was Helena, she was Ryder's aunt.

"I am sorry for eavesdropping. I was just passing by when I heard you two discussing." she said.

"Do you think she should be an household servant, aunt Helena?" Jayden asked.

"I think so love, give her a room in the house and let her help me around the house" Helena replied.

"I dont think that is a good idea, she should be given a more harsh punishment that befits her crime" Ryder said.

Helena resisted the urge to roll her eyes, this nephew of hers could be a bit pig headed. "Come on now Ryder, the girl has suffered a lot. I am sure she must have learnt her lesson by now." Helena said.

"Come on Ryder, just keep her here at least you can keep an eye on her" Jayden added.

"Fine, go and get her, give her the details of her work." Ryder said.

"sure." Jayden said.

Jayden went out of the pack house and went to the prison to get Ava.

When he got to the prison, he saw Ava on the floor, wrapped up in a blanket that looked familiar to Jayden.

She looked up when he came in. "Thanks for the blanket" she said. Jayden was sure that he wasn't the one who brought the blanket so who could it be?

He took a closer look at the blanket, it was Ryder's blanket, and it still had his scent. So Ryder had been the one that had brought the blanket.

"did you sleep well?" Jayden asked.

"kind of"

"Ryder has said that you are to be an household servant and take care of the house chores. Come with me" Jayden said.

Ava stood up and folded the blanket. Then she tried to hand it over to Jayden.

"it's okay, you can keep it" Jayden said.

They walked in silence back to the pack house. Before they got inside, Jayden stopped Ava. "he doesn't really like you that much so avoid doing anything that would annoy him"

"I understand completely" Ava replied.

They got inside and met Ryder and Helena. Ryder's eyes narrowed when he saw how close Jayden and Ava were standing. He glanced at the folded blanket in Ava's hands and his eyes narrowed even further.

"You are to help out Helena in the house. Don't try to disrespect her" Ryder said.

"I won't."

"good. Helena will show you to your room."

Ryder turned around and left. "come here child, I will show you to your room."

Helena took her to the room and Jayden went to the kitchen. He took some food from the kitchen, put it in a bag and walked out of the house to the forest. He went to the same house, he knocked on the door but nobody came outside. He put the food outside and walked away.

Some few minutes after he left, the door opened and someone came outside. The person looked in the direction Jayden had left.

"foolish fool, when will you stop coming here." He took the food inside and locked the door.

Helena showed Ava to her room, it was a small room, it had just a bed and a small table.

"You are free to decorate it anyhow you like it" Helena said kindly.

Ava nodded and said nothing. "You know Ryder isn't always like this. It's just that he really cherishes his sister so much and the fact that you hurt her made him angry" Helena said.

"aren't you angry at me too?" Ava asked.

"I raised Lily, and I know her very well. She isn't as innocent as her brother thinks she is. And if there is anything that I know is that life isn't black and white, you might have your faults too but everything that happened isn't entirely your fault. Have a shower, I will get you some clothes" Helena said. She patted Ava's shoulders.

She walked away and left Ava to her thoughts. Ava sat on the bed and hugged the blanket closer to herself.

For some reason, the smell of the blanket made her feel safe.

She thought about Ryder, she couldn't help it. Thoughts of him constantly filled her head. She couldn't help but think about him. She regretted giving Lily an hard time. If she had been a little nicer, things wouldn't be like this now between she and him.

..............................

Dustin Shields came out of the car and looked around. He had driven for a long time and he had finally reached his destination.

He didn't want to be here but he had no choice. He had to do this to save Ava.

He walked to the gate and pressed the door bell. "I am here to apply for a job" he said into the speaker.

"Come in" a voice answered from the speaker.

The gate opened and Dustin walked inside. He went inside the main house and met a man.

"what specie are you?" he asked.

"werewolf" he answered.

"what pack are you affiliated with?"

"None. I am a rogue"

"Are you sure you can do this kind of work?"

"very sure. There is nothing that I can't do. As far as money is involved"

"good. You will be perfect for this job then."