Alpha's Caged Mate

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out. These weren’t strangers hurling profane slurs at her and glaring at her with such intense hatred in t

lves threatening to rise to the surface, to come tear Ava apart. These h

u fucking

ght Ava across the forehead. Ava hissed i

bitch!” The crowd erupted in a round of

r risk being dragged through the mud. Determined to maintain her dignity in spite of her rising sen

hether they liked it or not. She refused to s

ck a heavi

e weight of his gaze l

nd. Potential lover. Now

efore he’d inherited the title of Alpha of the Red Moon Pack, he’d been Xavi. He’d bee

ng had change

aring. A small stream ran through it and coupled with the break in

Samantha and Sophia’s scents permeated the clearing, only overpowered by the overwhelming sc

inged musk intermingled with theirs. Faint enough to distinguish from her current presence in the area, but strong enough to

ness the trial and punishment of a so-called murderer. Standing in the center of th

proud, was his father, August, who telegraphed abs

her b

ilthy rogue

mer and current Alphas. Ava watched the males closely, eagerly

e. The exchange was nearly imperceivable, but Ava still caught the tiny nod Au

as practically vibrating with furious energy. “Peace, Wolves!

eady for the bloodshed to begin. Xavier nodded, satisfied that Pack ha

lf – just like she knew him. He didn’t. Instead, he took her in, from the mussed pajamas she’d been wearing when she’d been dragged into cus

er of who he was and what they were there for. The admonishment worked as Xavier’s expre

ne

va started

His voice

ou know I had noth

on whether or not you also want to openly defy its leader.” Ava heard

ed herself to her knees before Xavier. He gave another satisfied

ng over the loss of two of our own. Ava Davis, you’re under suspicion of making treacherous de

ting gaze back on Xavier, “You all know me – Xavier, you know me. Sophia a

e word ‘sister’ and Ava knew

a spot in the trees, he called out, “Victor, it was you w

and for years and was Sam’s father. He shook with rage as he considered her, vengeful satisfaction filling his eyes as

t the crowd as Victor spun to address

er denial even as he conti

She’s betrayed our trust.” He spat, never once looki

that you’re hu

aughter!” Victor spun

e turning to face the Pack again. Wrong or not, he’d resonated with them. Members, both male and female wer

mega.” Xavier

lready judged her and found her guilty in their minds. E

nods from the masses. With a dejected heart, Ava saw Xavier’s nostrils flare

ut of his coat pocket. The bejeweled leopard-print cas

need to talk.’ Sent from the accused’s phone number yesterday afternoon. Then, at half past midnight

leaking past her defenses, the last vestiges of her fa?a

, but this wasn’t the human world. Here, Pack La

against her and that was enough. “Wh

uldn’t!” Victor’s im

rs of Samantha’s budding relationship with Xavier had apparently been circulati

ggedly trained on Victor. His eyebrows were drawn low

vision the future she saw for them. Then, his gentle dismissal had crushed

, in fact she was known for being the brash one of their group. It wouldn’t have come as a surprise to anyone to find out she’d propositioned their Alpha, not like

rank and honor. Retaliation on her part m

ied for it,” Victor continued. “What’s more, our

indeed, had been beloved. She’d been warmth and levity, the kindest friend and fiercest protector. Vi

or! Mu

her Wolf, threatening to unleash herself to protect Ava from the

s is true.” She supplicated herself t

tepped up to him for the first time since the trial had started

, but calm, with the subtle charisma of a master manipulato

her.” Xavier said, though he seemed unsure of

he raging crowd, hyped up by Victor’s angry chants for retribution. “This

ensed at the perceived encroachment on his control. August backed up

ds and the increasingly hostile crowd calling for Ava’s head.

your scent…It’s too much, Ava. It

d as the insults

y dragged Av

ck,” Xavier’s voice boomed across the field like thunder. “As Alpha of the Red M

ent. The rest of her life would

ts in a final bid for salvation. She

’s decision. After all, a Beta’s

ng parents with a ruthless glare. “Do you obj

s response, Ava included. Under the Pack’s scrutiny, her father’s shoulders stra

pha.” Her fath

aving sobs ripped from her chest, all semblance of

f the clearing past Xavier, he ut

ld’ve be