Chapter 3

Ava's POV

I woke far too early the next morning. Honestly, I wasn't even sure I had slept.

My first thought was very clear: I needed to get rid of Damon's mark as soon as possible.

Damon had not come back to our bedroom last night. He was probably busy learning parenting skills with his "private tutor"... or, more likely, trying new sex positions. Whatever. I didn't care.

Every time he acted like a gentleman now, his handsome face seemed to twist into something ugly in my eyes, something that made me sick.

I changed into a sharp business suit and put on full makeup. The woman in the mirror looked calm and put together, completely different from the wreck I had been the night before.

At exactly nine, I arrived at the Crawford family's most prestigious law firm. Mr. Hansen met me personally. He was a senior attorney, an old friend of my father's, and one of the family's most trusted legal advisers.

"Ms. Crawford, please accept my condolences," Mr. Hansen said, grief showing on his face.

"Thank you, Mr. Hansen." I nodded. "I came to ask about the divorce agreement."

"Of course. I've printed all the documents. You can review them now."

I sat on the sofa and read every clause carefully. Mr. Hansen had done an excellent job. He had made sure I would receive the maximum compensation I was entitled to.

"No problem," I said calmly. "I may not need the money, but I won't leave behind a single thing that belongs to me. You've clearly made sure of that. Thank you, Mr. Hansen."

I stood and handed the papers back to him.

He hesitated, then nodded. "Of course, ma'am. Your father was one of the most honorable men I knew. I'll make sure you recover everything that belongs to you. As for the Crawford Pack you've inherited-"

"Keep it confidential for now," I interrupted. "I don't want anyone to know until Damon and I are officially divorced."

"Understood."

After leaving the law firm, I went straight to Damon's company with the strongly worded divorce agreement Mr. Hansen had drafted overnight.

As expected, Sylvia was in Damon's office. She was wrapped around him like a seductive snake, her long red nails tracing circles over his chest.

"Damon," she said sweetly, "can you believe we actually slept in the Alpha estate bedroom last night? You kissed between my legs just like you used to..."

"Enough." Damon lowered his voice. "You need to go."

She pouted. "Why?"

"Because Ava still works here. She could walk in at any time. We can't let her find out. Not yet."

"I don't care!" Sylvia pouted and clung to him. "I've been away from you for four years. I have to take every chance I get to be with you."

If I had not needed his signature, I would have turned around and left them to it. Instead, I cleared my throat loudly.

They sprang apart. Panic flashed across Damon's face, while Sylvia looked as if I had ruined the best moment of her day.

"Ava? You... why are you here?" Damon fumbled with his tie, trying desperately to act as if nothing had happened.

"Oh, right. I almost forgot." I drew out the words as if I had just remembered something. "Didn't you say you had a very important meeting today? So Sylvia is here to... deliver a document?"

"Yes." Damon grabbed the excuse immediately. "Exactly. I left an important file at home. Sylvia took Leo to school and brought it over for me."

What a ridiculous lie. I almost wanted to applaud the effort, but I simply nodded, too tired to argue.

I walked to his desk and put the folder in front of him.

"What is this?" Damon asked, suddenly alert.

"Something I need your signature on." I smiled. "Should I come back later? You and Leo's tutor seem to have more urgent business."

"No! It's absolutely not what you think!" Damon snapped.

Then he hurriedly signed on the line.

"Done." He tossed the papers back to me as if they had burned his fingers.

I let out a quiet breath when I saw his name on the divorce agreement.

Sylvia was still lingering in the office, naked jealousy in her eyes.

"Was there something else, Sylvia?" I asked.

"Nothing." She gave me a taunting smile. "You two just don't seem very close. Don't misunderstand me. I'm only Leo's tutor. Seeing what his home life is like might help me teach him better."

I gave a cold laugh.

"That makes sense. Damon, are you cheating on me?"

Damon denied it at once. "What? Of course not! Ava, why would you think that?"

"Sylvia gave me the idea," I said. "So tell me: would you ever love a woman like Sylvia?"

"Absolutely not," Damon answered without hesitation. "You know you're the woman I love most."

I turned to Sylvia.

"Now you should understand that there's no conflict between us, right?" I smiled. "I hope that clears things up."

Then I turned and left. Sylvia's breakdown echoed behind me, but I didn't look back as I entered the elevator.

I got into my car and drove until I reached the quiet countryside, where I finally felt as if I could breathe again. Tall green trees and a blue sky eased some of the tightness in my chest.

I had just pulled over when someone knocked on my window.

A well-dressed elderly gentleman stood outside, his silver hair perfectly neat. I studied him cautiously before lowering the window a crack.

He gave me a warm, respectful smile. "Ms. Crawford, don't worry. It's me." I recognized his voice immediately.

"You... you're the man who called me yesterday?"

"Yes." He bowed his head respectfully. "My name is Alvin. I served as Beta to the former Alpha of the Crawford Pack."

My heart began pounding in my ears. I was going back to my father's pack, even though he was already dead.

With Alvin's guidance, I got into the back seat. The car pulled away smoothly, and the noise and lights of the city gradually gave way to dense, quiet forest. Even the air felt different.

I knew we were entering Crawford territory. My feelings were complicated. This place was tied to my blood and to the home I had never known, yet entering it felt like stepping into a stranger's life.

The car finally stopped in front of a huge estate. Compared with Damon's luxurious villa, this place looked older and grander, carrying a quiet authority built over time.

Alvin opened my door. I stepped out and took a breath.

I had barely stepped onto the first stair when a woman covered in expensive jewelry came out of the house. She was elegantly dressed, but the sharpness in her eyes ruined the gentle image she had carefully created.

This had to be my stepmother, Rebecca.

"So you're Ava?" She looked me slowly up and down, her voice full of contempt. "An illegitimate omega actually thinks she can come back and inherit the pack?"

Before I could answer, she opened her handbag, pulled out a check, and held it toward me with obvious disdain.

"I want you to give up every right you have to the Crawford family. Publicly declare Lucas the rightful heir. Then take this one million dollars and get out."