CHAPTER 5
Ava's POV
"I'm not ready for this.. No, I don't want to.."
I woke up to this after a really long night.
Last night was not one that I wanted to have a replay of.
I was literally tired but someone decided to cut off my sleep.
A scream ripped through my throat as I jolted awake .
The nightmare felt so real, so close.
My body trembled , with my heart pounding in my chest, and my breath coming in short gasps. I looked around , blinking, but the air was so thick, and suffocating.
The nightmare replayed in my mind , blurring my vision. I saw Wolves, they were huge and black, howling in a circle.
Eyes glowing red in the dark.
My mother's voice , it was desperate and twisted, calling my name like an echo from far away.. too far.
"Mom! MOM!" I screamed , but my words were faded, i was lost in the wind, and swallowed by the dark.
I sat up too fast , and the room spun. I just couldn't breathe.
The collar was still tight around my neck. I reached up to touch it , feeling the cold metal.
This wasn't a dream , It was real.
I looked around again.
The room was different. Luxury , not the regular cold stone.
A big bed, with soft linens , beautiful wallpaper , but the air was still heavy.
The walls felt like they were closing in.
I was still trapped.
I had no idea how long I'd been here , but my confusion was interrupted by a sharp knock at the door.
The door creaked open, and a woman stepped in , she was tall , dressed in an outfit that screamed confidence.. tailored suit, heels clicking against the floor.
She was stunning, with her eyes cold, and a fake smile playing on her lips.
"Up and at 'em," she said, with her voice sharp, and no warmth at all. "Get dressed. You'll be working as the Alpha's personal assistant from now on."
I blinked at her. "What? Why me? I.. I don't know anything about this!" My heart raced. I still couldn't make sense of anything.
Everything felt like a dream , no! A nightmare , a never.. ending mess.
She shrugged , unimpressed. "Alpha's orders. He must see something in you, though I can't imagine what. " Her eyes briefly flicked to the collar around my neck before meeting mine again.
I didn't know who she was, but the way she said "Alpha" made it clear. This wasn't just a job. This was a power play
"What's your name? " I asked, trying to sound like I still had some sort of control.
She didn't answer right away , instead glancing over her shoulder. "Sierra ," she finally said, tone flat. "But I'm not here to babysit you. Just follow the damn orders ."
My mouth went dry.
I wanted to fight. To scream. But she wasn't giving me an inch. "Where am I supposed to go ?" I whispered , barely able to find the words.
Sierra gave a curt nod and turned to leave . "Get dressed. I'll be waiting."
The clothes she'd left on the bed were dark, form-fitting too sexy for someone like me.
I hesitated before I finally pulled them on , the tight fabric hugging my body in a way that felt so wrong.
When I stepped into the hallway, Sierra was already waiting , with her eyes scanning me like she was deciding if I was good enough for whatever this was..
She raised an eyebrow , the corner of her lips curling into a smirk. "Not bad , Let's go."
The walk down the hall was too quiet.
It made everything feel more suffocating.
I didn't know what to expect , but the weight of Brooks' presence in the air made me so nervous.
We stopped at a large office door, and Sierra motioned for me to enter . "This is where you'll be working. The Alpha wants you here ."
I hesitated , but Sierra's glare pushed me inside..
Brooks was sitting behind a massive desk, with his back straight, and his eyes never leaving the papers in front of him.
He didn't look up as I entered , but I could feel his gaze cutting through me anyway.
The tension in the room was so thick that I could barely breathe.
"I don't know why I'm here ," I said, trying to steady my voice. "I didn't ask for this.."
Brooks' eyes met mine, cold and hard. "From now on , you report to me. Personally."
His words hit me like a punch to the gut . I wanted to argue , to tell him I wasn't his servant. But the way he looked at me , like I didn't even matter, made me shut my mouth.
He pushed a list of tasks toward me. "Start with these.. You have no choice."
I swallowed hard , clenching my fists. "You think forcing me to work for you makes this okay ?"
Brooks didn't flinch.
He leaned forward , his eyes dark and calculating. "This is your chance to prove you're useful. Or go back to the dungeon."
My stomach dropped at his words. I didn't want to go back. I didn't want any of this. But what could I do? I was trapped.
The next few hours dragged by , my were fingers moving mechanically as I sorted through papers , filed documents, and pretended like any of this mattered.
Sierra stood nearby , watching me like a hawk, occasionally making snide comments or touching Brooks' nameplate on the desk , a clear possessive gesture.
Every time she did it, I felt a rush of jealousy-of what, I didn't know.
But it wasn't just her.
There was something off about all of this—the coldness, the silence, the way everyone here seemed to be playing a game , and I was just a pawn.
I felt so out of place , like everyone here knew something I didn't.
I wanted to scream, to lash out. But Sierra's cold , calculating eyes kept me in line.
After a while , Brooks left , and I found myself alone in the office.
The room was eerily quiet now. My eyes fell on the drawer in front of me , and despite the warnings , I couldn't stop myself. I opened it.
Inside, a small , framed photo caught my eye. I picked it up carefully , my fingers trembling.
It was an old picture of a much younger Brooks, holding a baby.
The baby's face was partially hidden , but I could see enough to know it was.. precious to him.
I turned the photo over , heart racing. On the back , in messy handwriting, were the words:
"To the one I lost and swore to find again."
My blood ran cold. Who was this baby? And why was Brooks hiding this picture in a drawer?
I heard footsteps coming down the hall , and I quickly shoved the picture back into the drawer, panic rising in my chest.
Before I could stand up, the door creaked open , and there he was—Brooks , with his cold eyes locking onto mine.
"What did you find ?" he asked quietly, his voice almost a whisper, but full of danger.
I froze. My heartbeat pounded in my ears. As I met his gaze , one thought froze my blood in my veins.
The baby in the picture.. had my eyes.