Ava’s POVThe weight of my thoughts made it hard to pretend that everything was fine. "It's really nothing, Logan. Just some thoughts on my mind."Logan's expression shifted, and I sensed a hint of frustration. "Ava, we're supposed to share things. What's going on?"Taking a deep breath, I avoided the truth and said, "It's just... I'm nervous about meeting Isabella. Old friendship stuff, you know?"Logan's face softened again. "Friendship stuff can be tough. But don't let it ruin your day. Go, meet Isabella, and sort things out. I'll be here when you get back."As Logan turned to leave, my internal struggle intensified. The weight of the accusations against him, mixed with my own complicated feelings, left me feeling distant. In a moment of frustration, Logan looked ready to leave the room.Feeling the need to connect, I reached out and held his hand, drawing him close to me. "Logan, I'm sorry for the way I've been acting."Logan, now a bit irritated, questioned, "What's going on, Ava

Ava’s POVIsabella then revealed the shocking knowledge by saying, "You are not an Omega; you are a princess." It appeared as though the ground beneath me was moving as a result of the weight of those words hovering over me. My ears were filled with the discovery, and the words played over and over again like a spooky tune. "Wait, what?" My voice was hardly heard as I stutteringly spoke. The expression on Isabella's face stayed unchanged, and her eyes conveyed a mixture of fear and compassion. I needed some physical space to handle the mental tempest that was raging inside of me, so I leaned back.I took a deep breath, as if I were getting ready for the turbulent talk that was about to take place. "Ava, you are the child of the king and queen. At that moment, my words lingered in the air like an unsaid reality, and I stated that they were their true biological child. I couldn't help but laugh loudly at the ridiculousness of the situation. "You're telling me I'm some lost princess or

Logan’s POVIn the patch case room, I found the elders already gathering, discussing the day's cases. As I entered, they all stood up to greet me—a customary gesture, a sign of respect for the head of the patch case section. "Logan, good to see you," Elder Johnson said, offering a hand for a firm handshake. "We've been going through the list of cases for today. You have quite a few on your plate."I took a moment to greet each elder, recognizing their presence. My assistant gave me the list of cases, and we delved into the details. The first case concerned a dispute between two neighbors over a property boundary. It seemed like a straightforward matter, but I knew the importance of addressing these problems promptly to avoid them from escalating. As we discussed the particulars of each case, I made notes and asked for additional information when required. The elders shared their insights, and together we formulated strategies to resolve the conflicts in a fair and just way. During

Isabella’s POV I sat in the car, tapping my fingers on the driving wheel with mounting frustration. Glancing at my phone, I checked the time and sighed. Ava was meant to meet me here, but she seemed to be taking longer than planned. I decided to give her a call, and frustration was clear in the way I dialed the number.As the phone rang, my impatience rose. Ring after ring went, and just when I was going to discontinue the call, Ava finally picked up."Where are you?" I asked, my tone a mix of concern and frustration.Ava's voice came through the phone: "Hey, Isabella. I'm sorry; I got held up a bit. I'm nearby, and I'll be there shortly."I couldn't hide my impatience. "You should've been here by now. We need to get going, and I can't wait forever."Ava said, "I know, Isabella. I'm on my way. Just a couple more minutes, okay?"I sighed, "Fine, but be speedy. We don't have all day."As I waited for Ava, I glanced out of the car window, watching the passing automobiles and pedestrians

Ava’s POVI shook my head, and tears were still running down my face. She said, "I can't believe this, Isabella. It's just too much of everything." Isabella put her hand on my shoulder to make me feel better. "I understand how hard it is, but Claire didn't mean to hurt you." She was in a tough spot. I sniffled and looked at Isabella with a sad and angry face. "I believed we were close friends. I believed we shared everything. Isabella nodded sympathetically. "I know, Ava. But sometimes people keep things hidden, thinking it's for the best. Claire was scared of losing you."I sighed, wiping away tears. "I just need some time alone, Isabella. I need to figure out what to do." As we stood outside, I took a deep breath. "Isabella, please, can you drive me out of this place? I need to leave right now." Isabella looked at me, worry etched on her face. "Sure, Ava. Let's go." She led me to her car, opening the door for me. The car journey was silent; the hum of the engine and the odd sound of