Chapter 38

A strong alpha female.

The words rolled around Ava’s head as she tried to understand them.

It seemed nearly impossible to think of herself as strong. Why would she? All her life she’d been held down in some way. Forced to live a life in fear. Wondering when the next bout of punishment would arrive and if she’d be able to withstand whatever they threw her way.

She stared up at the night sky, feeling the warmth within her core, alerting her to the fact she was close to what Caspian had told her.

Mating heat.

She’d never experienced it before. There was no doubt in her mind that Caspian told the truth, but even as she knew it, she couldn’t help but still deny it. After living her life for so long without anyone, always being hurt and never being able to trust, it was hard for her to start now.

Wrapping her arms around her legs, she pulled her knees up. She wasn’t quite able to put her chin on top of her knees, but she sat, calm.

She listened to the night, the animals running through the