Chasing His Scentless Mate

Chapter 397 The Truth Among Friends

Ava’s POV

I looked around at the expectant faces of my friends. They had created this warm circle around me, waiting for me to open up. I felt Leila stirring within me, her presence giving me courage.

"Go on," she whispered in my mind. "They deserve to know."

I took a deep breath, the words heavy on my tongue.

"I’m a witch."

The moment those words left my mouth, I felt as though a boulder had been lifted off my chest. The silence that followed was brief but felt eternal. I scanned their faces, searching for disgust or hatred, but found none.

Caroline reached out and squeezed my hand. "Ava, please continue. Tell us everything."

I told them everything—about my mother’s powerful magic. I explained how Isaac had broken into my home and threatened my mother, the threatening notes I’d received, and everything that happened after I fled to the West Coast.

When I finally finished, I felt lighter than I had in years. The burden of secrecy no longer weighed me down.

After a moment of shocked silence, Eleanor spoke first. Her voice was tight, holding back anger. "I can’t believe you went through all of that alone and didn’t tell us!" She crossed her arms, her blue eyes sharp. "What were you thinking?"

Nina leaned forward, her face clearly hurt. "Ava, we lived together. Did you stop trusting me? Was I... not someone you could talk to?"

"No, that’s not it—" I started, but Kyle gently cut me off, putting a hand on Nina’s shoulder.

"Let’s not come at her like this," Kyle said, her voice quiet but steady. "She just trusted us with something very personal."

Ruby’s eyes were wide as saucers. "Holy shit, Ava. You’ve experienced more in the past month than I have in my entire life! You’re basically a supernatural superhero!"

Caroline moved closer to me on the couch."Why didn’t you want to tell us you were a witch, Ava? Did you think we would judge you?"

I nodded, tears welling up in my eyes. "Witches and werewolves have always been enemies. I was terrified you would all hate me, or even be afraid of me."

Caroline pulled me into a tight hug. "Then you’ve seriously underestimated us. I understand your fear of losing us, but you should have more faith in our friendship."

"Yeah," Nina chimed in with a mischievous grin. "Plus, having a witch friend is pretty damn cool. Can you, like, turn people into toads or something?"

I couldn’t help but laugh through my tears. "Not exactly."

Kyle, ever the practical one, brought us back to more serious matters. "Ava, do you know why your mother sealed both your witch powers and your wolf? I’ve met Odelia—she’s strong-willed but clearly loves you deeply. There must have been a significant reason."

"I honestly don’t know," I admitted. "Since I returned to Harbor Bay, she hardly ever replies to my texts."

Eleanor frowned. "And your ex breaking into your home to threaten your mother? What secret could he possibly know that would make him so desperate to have you?"

"We’re not interrogating you, Ava," Caroline quickly added, noticing my discomfort. "We’re just concerned for your safety. After what happened with Howard, I understand how far some people will go to get what they want."

I shook my head slowly. "I’ve been asking myself the same questions. Why was Isaac so determined to have me? Back then, I was just a wolfless Omega. I wasn’t special."

Kyle’s expression turned serious as she sat up straighter. "Actually, from a historical perspective, what you are is incredibly rare. I spent years working with Alpha Draven’s father on diplomatic matters, so I’ve seen a lot."

Everyone fell silent, hanging on her every word.

"Technically speaking, witches and werewolves rarely produce offspring together," Kyle continued. "Witches are essentially humans with magical abilities, and humans rarely successfully conceive with werewolves. Beyond that, witch bloodlines carry magic that typically conflicts with our wolf nature. Most mixed-blood children either have very weak magic or very weak wolves—if they have either at all."

She paused, looking directly at me. "I mean no offense, Ava, but you spent over twenty years living as what many would consider an inferior mixed-blood. Yet now you’re a powerful Alpha female with pure witch abilities. You literally saved Alpha Kenneth from silver bullet wounds—something that should be impossible. Your power isn’t just rare; it’s practically unheard of."

A chill ran down my spine. "Are you saying my power is what Isaac wanted?"

Kyle nodded gravely.

Eleanor tapped her fingers thoughtfully against her wine glass. "Kyle’s right. I’ve visited many packs with my father, and powerful mixed-bloods are practically non-existent."

She leaned forward, lowering her voice. "But there’s more. Both werewolves and witches pass power through bloodlines. As a powerful mixed-blood, any children you have would likely inherit your abilities. If you became Luna of any pack, you’d instantly elevate that pack’s standing and power for generations."

"That’s insane," I whispered. "How could I possibly be that important?"

Caroline’s eyes softened with understanding. "This might be exactly why your mother sealed your powers, Ava. She was protecting you, just like I would do anything to protect Liam and my quadruplets."

I sat back, stunned. Had my mother truly been protecting me all along?

Ruby, sensing the heavy atmosphere, suddenly perked up. "Well, in that case, Ava, please marry my brother Jace!" She grinned widely. "Our pack is tiny and could really need a powerful Luna like you.Caroline says my brother is quite a catch!"

Nina laughed, playfully shoving Ruby’s shoulder. "Good thing Alpha Draven isn’t here. If he heard you mentioning Jace in front of Caroline, he’d be jealous for weeks."

"Ruby’s not wrong though," Eleanor added with a smirk. "If Joseph doesn’t get his act together, you should definitely reject him as your fated mate. My brother Sebastian is looking for a chosen mate. He’s handsome, responsible, and I promise I’ll personally cut off his dick if he ever cheats on you."

"Eleanor!" Caroline gasped, though her eyes sparkled with amusement. "I have to defend little Layla’s godfather here. Ava, a fated mate bond is truly the Moon Goddess’s blessing. Draven and I went through so much before finding each other. That connection is precious."

Eleanor waggled her eyebrows suggestively. "What kind of precious? The can’t-keep-your-hands-off-each-other-in-bed kind?"

Caroline’s face turned bright red. "Elle!"

I burst out laughing, the tension completely dissolved by my friends’ banter. The fear and anxiety that had been plaguing me seemed to dissipate in the warmth of their acceptance.

Kyle rolled her eyes. "Look at us—the Alphas haven’t even started fighting over you yet, and we’re already trying to claim you for our packs."

When our laughter finally subsided, Eleanor’s expression turned serious again. "Ava, now that we know everything, I think we need to keep your mixed-blood identity secret. At least for now."

Caroline nodded in agreement. "Yes. Isaac likely discovered your heritage somehow, which is why he’s so determined to have you. I’ll talk to Draven about increasing security around Isaac’s cell and investigating those threatening notes."

"Have you told Joseph about any of this?" Kyle asked carefully.

I shook my head. "No. And I’d rather not, at least not yet."

Nina frowned. "Why not?"

"Are you worried he’ll only want you for your power now?" Eleanor asked bluntly. "Ava, Joseph may be an emotional idiot sometimes, but he’s not that shallow. He genuinely cares about you."

"I know," I admitted quietly. "But Elle, I just... I don’t have enough security in this relationship yet."

Caroline sighed sympathetically. "Elle, not everyone falls in love as straightforwardly as you and Nate did. Ava, take your time. I’ve been where you are. I understand needing to be absolutely certain before fully opening your heart."

She wrapped her arms around me, and soon all the girls joined in a group hug that made me feel truly safe. Leila hummed contentedly within me.

"But Ava," Caroline added softly, "for your safety and everyone else’s, I am going to tell Draven that the threat from your ex isn’t over yet. And you have to accept security protection from us. That’s my only condition."

Touched by their understanding and concern, I nodded as tears filled my eyes. "I will. Thank you... all of you."