24 Chapter 24 Ava&Ronan
Victoria
His lips lingered against mine, warm and possessive, stirring something deep within me that hadn’t been there before. When we finally separated, I felt different–more complete somehow, like a puzzle piece that had found its matching edge after years of searching.
“Close your eyes,” Leo murmured, his forehead pressed against mine. “Focus inward. Try to find her”
I nodded, letting my eyelids flutter closed. I took a deep breath, imagining my consciousness sinking deeper within myself, past the surface thoughts and immediate sensations.
*Hello? Are you there?* I called into the void within me, expecting the same hollow emptiness that had greeted me every time before.
*Well, it’s about time you properly looked for me!*
The voice–distinctly feminine, vibrant and somehow familiar–echoed through my mind with such clarity that I gasped aloud. My eyes flew open, meeting Leo’s concerned gaze.
“Victoria? What is it?” His hands gripped my shoulders.
“I heard her,” I whispered, tears springing to my eyes. “Leo, I heard her!”
His amber eyes widened, something like vindication flashing in their depths. “I told you she was there.”
Impatient to reconnect, I closed my eyes again, diving back into that internal space with newfound purpose. This time, I could almost see her–a sleek wolf with fur the color of burnished copper her intelligent eyes regarding me with what could only be described as amused affection.
*I’ve been waiting forever for you to finally tune in,* she teased, her mental voice carrying notes of playfulness I rarely allowed myself to express. *I was beginning to think you’d never notice
me.*
*You’ve been here all along?* I asked, incredulous.
*Every step of the way,* she confirmed, her presence wrapping around my consciousness like a warm embrace. *Through everything with Enzo, the night at the club, meeting our mate… all of it. I’m Ava, by the way. Nice to finally meet you face to face–well, mind to mind.*
Tears streamed down my cheeks as the implications hit me. I hadn’t been incomplete or broken. She’d been with me through every hardship, every moment of loneliness when I’d felt utterly abandoned.
*Why couldn’t I feel you before?* I questioned, desperate to understand.
*You weren’t ready,* Ava explained gently. *And honestly, neither was I. We needed him-* An impression of Leo flashed between us. *-to help complete the bond. His presence
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24 Chapter 24 Ava&Ronan
strengthened me enough to finally reach you.*
“She says her name is Ava,” I told Leo, opening my eyes but maintaining that precious internal connection. “She says she’s been with me all along, but we weren’t strong enough to connect until…” I blushed. “Until you.”
Leo’s expression softened with pride. “Wolves need pack to thrive. You were isolated too long.” *Ask him if Ronan wants to say hello!* Ava urged excitedly.
“She wants to know if… Ronan… wants to talk?” I repeated, testing the unfamiliar name on my tongue.
Leo’s eyes flashed amber, a slow smile spreading across his face. “Ronan’s been impatient to meet her properly. Though I should warn you–my wolf isn’t quite as civilized as I am.”
*Tell him to quit stalling and let Ronan say hi!* Ava practically bounced within my consciousness.
I laughed, the sound surprising me with its lightness. “Ava says to quit stalling.”
Leo’s expression changed subtly, his posture shifting as his wolf rose closer to the surface. When he spoke again, his voice carried a deeper, more primal edge.
www
“She’s beautiful,” he–or rather Ronan–growled. “We’ve been waiting for you both. For too long.”
I felt Ava’s delight surge through me, a bubbling excitement that was almost overwhelming. It felt like being caught in the undertow of someone else’s emotions–exhilarating and disorienting
at once.
*Oh, he’s magnificent!* Ava gushed. *Strong and protective. Perfect for us.*
“Ava thinks you’re… magnificent,” I translated, feeling heat rise to my cheeks at her enthusiasm. Leo’s–no, Ronan’s–grin was all predator. “And we’ve barely begun to show her what we can do.” The promise in those words sent a shiver down my spine. Leo blinked, and I could tell he had reasserted control, though the amber glow lingered in his eyes.
“What else is she telling you?” he asked, guiding me to the plush sofa. We sat together, his arm draped possessively around my shoulders.
I closed my eyes again, focusing on Ava’s presence. “She says… I won’t be able to shift yet. My body isn’t ready for the transformation.”
*But you’ll start noticing changes,* Ava confirmed. *Enhanced senses, especially smell. Better reflexes. Heightened awareness. And-* she hesitated *-stronger mating urges.*
My cheeks burned as I decided to keep that last bit to myself.
“She says my senses will improve,” I summarized. “Especially my sense of smell.”
As if on cue, Leo’s scent intensified around me–cedar and sandalwood, leather and something uniquely male that made my pulse quicken. It had always been appealing, but now it carried nuances I’d never detected before: notes of power, protection, and most potently, desire.
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24 Chapter 24 Ava&Ronan
“Try it now,” Leo encouraged. “What do you smell?”
I inhaled deeply, letting the complex bouquet of his scent fill my awareness. “You,” I whispered. “But… more. Like I’m suddenly hearing all the notes in a chord instead of just the melody.”
His smile was knowing. “That’s the mate bond. Your wolf recognizes mine on the most fundamental level.”
*He’s not lying, you know,* Ava interjected. *We really are destined mates. I knew it the moment we met him, even if you were too stubborn to listen.*
“Ava says you weren’t lying about us being destined mates,” I admitted reluctantly. “She knew from the beginning.”
Leo leaned forward, capturing my lips in a kiss that was both tender and possessive. “I told you,” he murmured against my mouth. “Some things can’t be denied, no matter how hard you try.” Hours passed as I explored this new dimension of myself, this internal dialogue with a part of my identity I’d begun to believe would never awaken. Leo watched with undisguised satisfaction as Toccasionally laughed or blushed at Ava’s commentary.
“You should rest,” he finally said, noting how I stifled a yawn. “The Hunt Festival may be over, but pack duties never cease.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, reluctantly pulling my attention from Ava’s enthusiastic descriptions of pack dynamics from a wolf’s perspective.
Leo stroked my hair, his fingers weaving through the strands in a soothing rhythm. “The Northern Alliance meeting is scheduled for next week. Representatives from all aligned packs will gather to discuss territory and resource allocation.”
I tensed slightly. Another public appearance where my every move would be scrutinized by wolves who doubted my legitimacy as Luna.
*Don’t worry,* Ava soothed. *I’ll be with you now. You’re not facing them alone anymore.*
The thought was immensely comforting.
“There’s something else,” Leo continued, his expression turning serious. “I’ve enrolled you in the Luna preparation course at Port Willows.”
My eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Luna preparation course?”
He nodded. “It’s traditional for new Lunas to receive formal training in pack protocols, history, and governance–especially those who weren’t raised in dominant pack positions. You’ll start tomorrow morning.”
“Tomorrow?” Isqueaked. “So soon?”
“The instructor is only available for the next three weeks before she returns to her home territory,” Leo explained. “And you’ll be attending alone.”
“Alone?” The prospect was both terrifying and strangely liberating. Since becoming Leo’s mate, I’d rarely been without his protective presence.
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*This is perfect!* Ava chimed in. *We need time to bond without his overwhelming Alpha energy constantly around us. Plus, I can help you navigate all those stuffy protocols.*
“Will I… be safe?” I asked, thinking of Enzo and his vendetta against me.
Leo’s expression hardened. “Tiny will drive you there and back daily. The facility is on neutral territory, protected by ancient pack laws. No one would dare harm a Luna–in–training.” His hand cupped my cheek. “But if you’re uncomfortable—”
“No,” I interrupted, surprising myself with my certainty. “I want to go. I need to learn how to be what the pack needs.”
*What We need,* Ava corrected. *Being Luna isn’t just about serving others.*
Leo studied my face. “You’re different already,” he observed. “More confident.”
I smiled, feeling the truth of his words resonate through me. “I’m not alone anymore,” I said simply.
His answering smile held pride and something deeper–a possessive satisfaction that should have troubled me but instead made me feel unexpectedly secure.
“You never were, he murmured, pulling me into his arms. “But now you can finally feel it for yourself.”
