Page 19 of Framed and Forgotten (Ashen Wolves #3)

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A V R I L

Whatever flicker of hope I had for saving my relationship with Koen was fading fast.

I lay in bed, still as stone, until I heard the car engine start. My heart tightened, and Kea let out a whimper as we realized that our mate was gone. He’d left without kissing me goodbye. Without holding me tenderly. Without changing his mind.

With trembling steps, I dragged myself to the bathroom. Beneath the ache in my chest, confusion stirred. I wasn’t used to Koen’s coldness, and I didn’t think I deserved it. Even when I’d pushed his buttons in the past, he’d never treated me with such indifference.

The Koen I knew - the one I fell in love with - would never do that.

Deep in thought, I stared at my reflection in the mirror.

No matter how hard I tried to keep my expression blank, the hurt was carved into every line of my face.

I couldn’t leave the room like this. It was hard enough to excuse my mate’s absence to the pack; they certainly wouldn’t believe me when I looked like the very picture of betrayal.

My fingers lifted hesitantly, drawn to the mark at the base of my neck. As I traced the delicate bite scar, the familiar rush of emotions never came. The bond that once set my heart soaring felt distant, frayed, unraveling thread by thread.

It didn’t matter anyway. Koen and I had found our way back to each other with a shattered bond and a story full of hurt and distrust. That bond shouldn’t be the only thing holding us together now.

But what could have driven us apart so quickly?

It felt like magic, only the opposite of the pull between fated mates.

Like magnets, Koen and I had always been drawn to each other by an undeniable pull, effortless and natural. But lately, it felt as if the polarity had flipped. Instead of attraction, there was resistance, an invisible barrier keeping us apart and pushing back whenever I tried to hold on.

How was everything falling apart so quickly? Our love was new, but it had never felt fragile. At least, I thought it hadn’t. Was I wrong, or had something changed?

My breath hitched as a thought crossed my mind.

A completed bond could rarely be broken, but it could be weakened by betrayal.

The possibility made my knees weak, but I quickly dismissed it.

If Koen were cheating, I would know. The intricate magical threads tying our souls together would warn me, sending sharp waves of pain if he were ever intimate with another female.

Perhaps the explanation was less dramatic and more straightforward. A new bond had been formed for Koen when he learned about Elias’ existence - a familiar bond, which was typically stronger between parent and pup. More often than not, it surpassed the connection between fated mates.

Maybe the parental bond between my mate and his son was simply more intense than what we had, and the fact that I wasn’t his pup’s mother...

I shook my head, clearing it of unwanted thoughts.

Wondering why our relationship wasn’t the same wouldn’t change the truth.

I needed to find my focus before warrior training started in half an hour.

Koen might have let me down, but I couldn’t do the same to my family.

Regardless of what was happening in my personal life, I needed to be the alpha - the one everyone could rely on.

If I started to crumble, my pack would follow.

With a deep breath, I steeled myself for what I had to do.

First, I pushed Kea to the depths of my mind, muffling her sounds and emotions.

Our animal counterparts felt more intensely than our human side, meaning I couldn’t rely on her this time.

She was in shambles, and I knew I wouldn’t make it through the day as long as I was listening to her.

A cold shower did the rest, washing away my concerns about Koen - at least for the moment. I got dressed quickly and rushed out of the packhouse, eager to reach the training grounds as fast as I could.

The sooner I could punch something, the easier it would be to keep the tornado raging inside me at bay.

Fortunately, training proved to be a good distraction. I obviously wasn’t at my prime, but I doubted the rest of the warriors had noticed it as they sparred with each other. Well, most of them didn’t pay attention, but there was one person who would never let it slip.

Once training ended and the warriors started to leave the arena, my beta approached me. “Lingering behind today?”

I felt a tug in my chest, an urge to tell him everything. But I held it in with everything that I had. “Think I’ll practice some more. Can’t say I’m satisfied with my performance,” I answered in the most casual tone I could muster.

But the fact I couldn’t look him in the eye probably gave me away.

As I turned around, my beta took a step closer. “Avril, if there’s anything I can do-”

“There’s nothing you can do,” I cut him off sharply, shooting him a glare that made him stiffen. Seeing his reaction, I let out a sigh. “I’m tired of talking, Theo. I just…I need some time to myself.”

Reluctantly, my friend nodded. He began moving away, but not without adding, “If you do need anything - anything at all - don’t forget that I’ll be right here.”

I didn’t reply. I didn’t have the strength to speak. As soon as he vanished and I was completely alone, I threw my fist against the punching bag in front of me, so hard that my bare knuckles burned red, almost knocking me off balance.

When I was able to think more clearly, I realized I shouldn’t stay here.

Other pack members might stumble upon me, and my behavior could strike them as unusual, raising suspicions and forcing me to make up more excuses.

I was too exhausted for that. But I wasn’t ready to dive back into the real world and its problems yet.

As sneakily as I could, I left the training grounds and crossed the nearly empty town square, taking advantage of the fact that most warriors were at the cafeteria.

Running toward the forest, I searched for a spot where I could continue venting my anger.

I settled on a quiet, hidden area near the borders, where I was sure I wouldn’t be disturbed.

Or at least, that’s what I hoped - until my desires were frustrated after just the first few kicks.

With a grunt, I stopped. I didn’t turn around to see whose presence I could feel watching me, but I supposed it could only be one person. “I told you I don’t need help, Theo!” I groaned.

“Sorry. Not your right hand man.” A different voice answered, startling me. “Perhaps you’d accept my company instead?”

When I finally glanced over my shoulder, I found Uncle Joe moving toward me. I held my breath, trying to change my posture. The last thing I wanted was for him to know things between Koen and me had been tough. He never liked Koen to begin with, and I didn’t want him to feed my negative thoughts.

Clearing my throat to stabilize my voice, I answered, “I’m fine.”

Unfortunately for me, he didn’t buy it. “Are you?” He raised an eyebrow, tilting his head as he studied me. “You’re slower than usual.”

When I didn’t answer right away, unsure of what to say to get him off my case, he asked, “Koen’s gone again, huh?”

I didn’t flinch. “What do you mean?” I shot back, feigning ignorance.

Joe didn’t miss a beat. “You’ve been distracted. And it’s because of him, isn’t it?”

My body tensed. I couldn’t let him see how much it hurt to simply hear my mate’s name. Grasping onto my anger to muffle my pain, I snapped, “What’s it to you?”

He held up a hand, palm out, like he was trying to calm me down. “I’m not here to argue. I’m just trying to understand. That kid is important to Koen. I get that.” He took a step forward, his eyes never leaving mine. “But you’re important too, Avril. More than anyone.”

I stiffened. “You don’t understand.”

“Maybe not,” Joe admitted. “But I understand enough. The distraction, the tension I’m seeing in you... It’s because of him, isn’t it?”

I held my tongue, my muscles tight with the effort it took to keep my emotions in check. If Joe knew how much his words were cutting, he didn’t show it. But it was probably exactly what he wanted - and it was working. I was saying too much.

With that in mind, I tried to end the conversation. “I don’t need your pity, Uncle,” I spat, turning my back to him as I went back to punching and kicking the trees around me.

Joe was silent for a moment, but he didn’t walk away.

I suspected he wouldn’t just let this go.

Unlike me, he was always calm, seeing things with clarity when I tended to let my feelings get in the way.

As I heard him approach, I hit my targets harder, but it did little to drown out the sound of his voice when he opened his mouth again.

“You don’t need pity. You need focus,” he determined, stepping in my way.

Before I could hit him, I stopped, a low growl rumbling in my throat.

It didn’t threaten him. “You’ve always been sharper than this, Avril.

You can’t lose sight of your goal,” he reminded me, his voice firm.

“Don’t let anyone distract you from it. Not even that outsider. ”

I didn’t hold back this time. My lips curled, my teeth showing as I pushed him back against one of the trees, my forearm against his throat.

“That outsider is my mate,” I growled, glaring into his eyes.

He stayed still, accepting my harshness, not trying to challenge me.

It appeased my alpha side, and I let him go.

Taking a step back, I added, “And he’s an Ashen Wolf now, whether you like it or not. ”

Joe lowered his head. “Forgive me,” he uttered, quieter now.

“I understand the importance of mates and how broken we feel in their absence.” When he lifted his gaze again, something had changed in his eyes.

They were softer as he continued, “After all, I lost your aunt before you could even meet her.”

He drew closer again, his gaze steady. “Look, Avril, I just want you to be happy. It’s why I never tried to intrude in your personal life. But to see you like this…”

I didn’t want him to finish. I couldn’t hear it.

Nonetheless, I didn't have the strength to stop him. “I have no doubt Koen must be a good guy if you chose to forgive him. My niece is no fool,” A glimpse of pride glistened in his expression. “But an outsider will never truly understand what it’s like to be one of us. Even if his body’s changed, his history and his mind haven’t.

Be with him as long as he brings you joy, but don’t let his actions and choices bring you down. ”

When he held both of my shoulders, staring straight at me, I didn’t push him away. “You can’t afford to care so much,” he concluded, and the words resonated deep within me.

Swallowing, I shook away from his grasp. “I know how to take care of myself.” He opened his mouth again, but I didn’t let him speak this time. I played my last card. “Leave me,” I said, loud and clear. It wasn’t a request - it was an order.

An alpha command that he couldn’t fight.

“As you wish, Alpha,” he gave in, bowing his head one last time as he finally disappeared from my sight.

Even with him gone, I stood still in the middle of the forest. I didn’t know if he was right. I didn’t want to think about it. I had a role to play. I had responsibilities. I couldn’t forget that. I had to stay strong, no matter what.

But deep down, I wished I could simply turn off the bond between me and Koen, if only for a fleeting moment, so his absence wouldn’t sting so much.