Jax’s POV

Ava…. my head spun. They hadn’t seen us… but saw my Ava just a few feet away. Sheer luck on mine and Kallisto’s side. My heart throbbed. I couldn't just let them take her. My breath was getting ragged as I heard her scream. Get away from her. Get. Away. From. Her. I stood, my eyes screaming murder. She was rounded by a circle of A.S.H wolves, their guns trained on her.

“Jax!” Kallisto hissed at me, clawing at my arm. A whirl of emotions pooled up in me. I couldn’t do this anymore. Millions of worries, anxieties and the weights of being the leader, fell onto my shoulders, the same things I had tried so hard to get rid of. I seriously couldn’t deal with it any longer. Ava. My love, my life, my light, the only thing keeping me alive. Cliche, but I didn’t freaking care. A.S.H took my sanity and threw it into the gutter. They killed my family, my friends and the last love of my life. Delilah. My sister.

I wasn’t about to let that happen again. I drew a pistol from my pocket. The very one Ava gave me when I saved her.

“Leave her alone.” Kallisto was watching me, a tear running down her face, but she pressed her back against the rock, her body shaking violently.

I watched as Ava cried, tears dripping down the front of her shirt.

“Jax. Jax. No.”

They were surprised. Of course they were. A small, innocent teenager who was willing to risk his life for another. My eyes trailed Ava, to the gash on her cheek.

A ball of fiery anger curled up in my chest, tugging on my heart. “Ava….” My jaw clenched, fists balled.

I couldn’t take it any longer.

“Get away from her.” A wolf took off it’s helmet, revealing an African woman with a toothy grin.

“Alright, kid. Take her.” The wolf pushed the shaking Ava into my arms, her smile wide.

Ava shook her head, her eyes flitting. “No. Jax. Get away from here.” She clung tight to me, her lower lip trembling. “Jaxen Wright. Please. It can’t be this easy.” I held her to my chest.

“It is, Ava.”

The wolf grinned. “You’re free to go. Seriously. I love young romance. I won’t get between this.”

I felt Kallisto tense behind me, but I didn’t care. I bowed low to the wolf, hate spreading in my heart.

“Let’s go, Ava.” I had my lips in her hair, mumbling my words into the tangled mess. I dropped the pistol, wrapping my arms around her trembling form. She kept shaking her head, muttering ‘no’.

The wolf smiled at me. “Stay true, brother.” She gave me a sign, 2 fingers on her forearm, then moving her hand in a circle. The Enhanced sign.

She was one of…. Us?

I shook my head, turning, with Ava on my shoulder. “Kallisto, let’s go.” I could hardly believe they were letting us go.

Kallisto shook her head, still concealed in the bushes and rocks. I shrugged, knowing she’d follow later.

I turned, the wolf still smiling. “You’ve taught me something, kid. Love won’t stop for nothin’.” I nodded at her. As I stepped out of the clearing, I heard something wizz by me.

The wolf’s voice went low and menacing. “But it will today.”

Ava screamed, repeating my name. I looked down at the bullet wound blood seeping through my denim jeans. The tears came, splattering like flowers on the hard forest floor. I was kicked to the ground, the wind knocked out of me. My vision got hazy, but I saw two arms reach out, only to be withdrawn. I heard a heartbroken voice scream my name repeatedly, pain mixed with the shock and sadness in her voice. I called out her name, unable to see her. Her voice got louder, her screams mixed with her tears, until her’s was stopped, muffled cries in its place. I hear a cocky, gentle voice.

“Thanks, kid. Come along, Ava. The Godfather isn’t gonna be happy when he hears about this.” She tutted, flicking my Ava’s nose.

Ava reached out to me, touching my fingertips. Colour exploded in my eyes… for one last time. A wolf grabbed me, while another grabbed Ava. She was crying, painful heartbroken sobs. The wolf’s weapon was pressed against her temple, mine mirroring the action.

“A-Ava… I love you. I love you.”

She bit her lip, tears running down her porcelain face. “Jax. I-”

And the shooting began.