CHAPTER 246: CHAPTER 246 BAD DAY, WORSE MEN

Ava’s POV

I stood there, heart pounding, watching Isaac pound into Cybele.

The betrayal slammed into me. This couldn’t be real.

Not Isaac. Not my Isaac.

It took them forever to notice they had an audience.

Breathe, Ava. Don’t let them see you crumble.

I started clapping, my hands shaking. "Wow, you two should consider making low-budget porn. Might actually make some money at it."

They jerked apart instantly, Isaac’s face going white as a sheet. Getting caught by me made him go completely limp. Deflated faster than a popped balloon.

"Ava, I can explain—"

"Oh, please do. This should be good."

But even as the words left my mouth, I felt my heart shatter into a million pieces. A year of us, of fighting my mother for him, a year of thinking I actually mattered to him.

Isaac stammered, clearly scrambling for some excuse that wasn’t coming.

Instead, Cybele jumped to defend her new boy toy. "Isaac is a man with natural needs, he deserves better than some frigid Omega who can’t even please her own mate."

Natural needs? Frigid Omega? Every insecurity I’d ever had about being wolfless, about not being enough, came crashing down on me.

My throat tightened, but I stayed standing.

I laughed. "Natural needs? That’s what we’re calling cheating now?"

Because Isaac’s busy training schedule and my work shifts totally make cheating okay. So this is my fault for having a job?

Isaac reached for my hand, trying to explain.

I slapped him across the face.

"We’re done. Get the fuck out of my sight."

I stormed out, found Manager Esther, and begged for the afternoon off.

Sitting on a mall bench, I finally let myself break down.

One fucking year wasted on that piece of shit. And the worst part? A tiny voice whispered that maybe Cybele was right. Maybe I wasn’t enough. Maybe being wolfless was my fatal flaw.

I couldn’t hold it back anymore. The tears came flooding out.

The first person I’d ever loved had thrown my heart back in my face like garbage.

Mom was right. Werewolves were trouble. Especially the muscle-heads who thought biceps counted as personality. Isaac was just another walking red flag.

But I wasn’t wrong for wanting to be loved, was I?

I pulled out my phone and called Mom.

When Mom answered, I couldn’t speak. Just these pathetic little hiccupping sounds.

"Ava? Baby, what’s wrong?"

"I—" Another sob escaped. "I broke up with Isaac."

Silence.

Then, "Oh honey, please tell me you didn’t break up with him just because we fought. I know I was being pushy about him, and I’m sorry—"

"No, Mom." I sniffled. "He was screwing someone else."

Sharp intake of breath.

For a few seconds, I expected her to say "I told you so" or launch into some lecture about how I should have listened to her warnings.

Instead, she cursed. "That son of a bitch."

The fury in her voice broke me all over again.

Not from pain, from relief. She was just pissed for me.

"Want me to brew him an impotence potion?"

Hearing this, I started laughing through my tears. "That’s actually not a terrible idea."

"I could also hex his dick to fall off. Just saying."

"Mom!" I was laughing now, ugly-crying and laughing.

"What? I have options." Her voice gentled. "I’m always here when you need to come home, sweetheart."

Home. God, I missed having a home.

I wiped my eyes. "Love you, Mom. You were right about werewolves."

"Not all of them, sweetie. Just the assholes. And there are plenty of those."

I ended the call, feeling lighter for the first time all day. Since I was already playing hooky, might as well do something useful.

First stop: stress shopping. I ducked into Spencer’s and grabbed a vibrator. Isaac never knew what he was doing anyway. At least this thing came with instructions.

Grandma’s birthday was coming up. Perfect excuse to hit Enchanted Elements on the third floor.

Grandma was a full witch who’d fallen for a werewolf and had Mom, then they crashed and burned. Apparently, supernatural romance was doomed to failure. Good to know I was following family tradition.

The shop sat between a candle store and jewelry boutique, crystals glinting in the window.

I found the perfect thing, a hand-carved door blessing with protective runes.

"Popular item," the saleswoman said. "The protection spell—"

"I need to buy my mother a gift." Some asshole in an expensive suit appeared beside us, eyes glued to his phone. He didn’t even glance at the saleswoman, just assumed she’d drop everything for him.

The Alpha energy rolling off him was unmistakable. Another self-important werewolf who thought the world revolved around him.

After the day I’d had, I was in no mood for another entitled asshole.

"In case you haven’t noticed, she’s busy," I said coolly.

"Yeah, I noticed, but unlike you, I don’t have time to wander around malls all day, and she’s the only salesperson here," he replied like he owned the entire fucking universe.

"Excuse me?" I couldn’t believe what I’d just heard. Any other day, I might have let it slide. But today? Today I’d watched my boyfriend cheat on me with my coworker. Today I was done being pushed around.

"Look, she can help me real quick, then get back to chatting with you," he finally looked up from his phone to stare at me.

And damn him, he was gorgeous. Early thirties, tall and broad-shouldered, with green eyes and golden hair that was just long enough to run your fingers through. The kind of perfect lips that promised sinful things. His suit was obviously tailored, probably cost more than I made in six months.

Great. The asshole was gorgeous, which explained the weird magnetic pull. Snap out of it, Ava. Hot guys were still trouble.

He studied me with a serious expression, brows slightly furrowed, looking tense.

"Listen, sir, even if I were unemployed like you seem to think, this saleswoman was already helping me when you walked in and rudely interrupted us with your entitled attitude. It’s called manners."

"I’m not being rude, I’m being practical. You have time to browse, so browse. If she helps me, I’ll be gone and you two can continue your conversation." He maintained eye contact, insisting on being served first.

The arrogance was breathtaking. Just like Isaac, thinking his needs mattered more than everyone else’s.

"Wow! You’re a complete asshole!" I turned to the saleswoman. "I’ll take this. Can you wrap it up for me?"

She took the charm from my hands and headed to the register. I followed, leaving Mr. Rude behind.

"Wait, you’re not going to help me?" he asked the saleswoman, clearly annoyed.

She stepped back nervously, saying she’d help him right after.

"You’re going to make me wait?"

"Keep texting and stop throwing a tantrum. She’ll finish with me and I’ll be out of your perfect hair," I said smugly, glancing back at him.

At the register, I spotted blessing cards on the counter. One about patience and humility caught my eye. Perfect.

I picked it up, paid for my purchase, wrote a quick note on the envelope, and asked the saleswoman to give it to the gentleman.

Walking away, I felt deeply satisfied. When he saw what I’d left for his precious mother, he was going to lose his shit completely.

It wasn’t until I got home that I realized I’d forgotten to take the... other item I’d impulse-bought to cheer myself up. Let’s just say it was battery-operated, and definitely not appropriate for anyone’s mother.

I’d accidentally given Mr. Rude a very personal surprise along with his mother’s "gift."

Well, serves him right. Maybe next time he’ll remember his manners.