Leo

Holy crap. No wonder Ava hates him.

"Why didn't you take Ava with you?" I ask, getting heated.

They look at me like I'm crazy. "Couldn't. Carol didn't know about Ava until Ella moved back," William says, looking sick.

"Carol was cool about it," he adds, trying to sound convincing. Yeah right - bet she flipped when she found out her mate had a secret kid.

"Then why didn't you tell Ava that today?"

"Tried. She shut me down. She hates me - you saw how she was."

"What happened?" Dad asks.

"She looked ready to rip his throat out," I tell him. "She was protecting Ella and Olivia. Henry warned you she was hostile at the bus station, remember? You said you'd give her space, but you didn't."

"Maybe I should visit her tomorrow," Dad says softly. "She might remember me."

"Dad, come on," I sigh, rubbing my face. "Think Ava needs a timeout from anyone pack-related. I'll try talking to her in a few days - might help that I'm gonna be Alpha soon." No way Dad playing messenger is gonna fix this mess.

Changing gears, "We better get moving - Mom's gonna kill us if we're late for the ceremony." Dad nods.

"Is she coming tonight?" Dad asks. I shake my head.

"No chance," William says. "Besides, Ella wouldn't let her. I didn't just hurt Ava - I hurt her whole family."

Door opens - Mom walks in with Carol.

"What's with the funeral faces?" Mom asks. "Who died?"

Dead silence.

"Ava's in town," William tells Carol, looking rough.

Carol's got her poker face on - can't read her at all.

Finally: "Is she coming tonight? Would love to meet her." Something weird in her voice. Mom's not buying it either.

"She's not. Ella won't let her," Dad jumps in. William's watching Carol like a hawk.

Carol pastes on a smile, goes to William. "It's fine, we'll see her soon. Maybe at the cafe tomorrow."

"Not happening. She wants nothing to do with us," William says through his teeth. Guy's about to lose it.

Carol turns to me, totally ignoring him. "Oh Leo, wait till you see Stella's dress for the ceremony - she looks amazing!"

Yeah, I know what this is. Henry told me she's been fishing for info about whether I found my mate.

I'm sitting here trying to figure out how to tell William about his daughter being my mate. But that's gonna have to wait - not something I want others hearing.

When Mom asks about Stella through our mind-link, I almost laugh. "No way, Mom. Met her earlier and zilch - no mate bond. Besides, we both know I'm not what Stella's looking for. Pretty sure Carol's just trying to play cupid here."

Mom's eyes flash when she looks at Carol. "That witch better watch herself or she'll regret it."

"You'll be the first to know when I find my mate," I promise through our link, even though my stomach twists. I hate keeping Ava a secret from her, but timing's everything.

I watch Dad, William, and Carol heading out. Man, William looks rough - like he's carrying the weight of the world. Carol's chatting away with Dad like everything's fine, but there's this tension in the air you could cut with a knife.