Ava's heart was racing as she followed Jax towards the abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the town. She couldn't shake off the feeling that something terrible was about to happen, but she trusted Jax's instincts.

As they entered the warehouse, their worst fears were confirmed. Ava's father lay unconscious on the ground, surrounded by a group of masked men. Jax rushed to his side, checking for a pulse. He was alive but badly beaten.

Ava's mind was in a whirlwind as she saw her father in the floor. That's when she saw him, emerging from the shadows with a smug grin on his face.

"Victor," Jax spat out his name, and Ava gasped. She knew who Victor was; he was the Alpha of the rival pack that had been trying to take over their territory for years.

But what she didn't know was that Victor was Jax's older brother, who had been banished from their pack years ago. Their father had deemed him untrustworthy and incapable of leading the Moonlight pack.

Victor's eyes flickered over to Ava, and she shuddered as she felt his gaze lingering on her. She knew from the way he looked at her that he wanted something from her, something that had nothing to do with the pack.

"I see you brought the little lamb to the slaughter, Jax. How kind of you," Victor's voice was laced with malice as he taunted his younger brother.

"What do you want, Victor?" Jax asked through gritted teeth, his fists clenched at his sides.

"What do I want? I want what's rightfully mine, Jax. This pack should have been mine from the start, but our dear father thought you were more worthy. Well, now it's time for me to claim what's mine," Victor's words were filled with venom as he took a step closer.

"You won't get away with this. Our pack won't let you take our territory," Jax stood his ground, his eyes blazing with anger.

"I don't need your pack's permission. I have my own army now, and they're ready to take whatever I want. But enough talk, Jax. Let's settle this like men. You against me. Winner takes all," Victor offered, his hand outstretched.

Ava's heart was pounding in her chest as she watched the two brothers circle each other. She knew that Jax was a formidable fighter, but Victor was no slouch either.

The fight was intense, both brothers throwing punches and kicks with lightning speed. Ava watched, transfixed, as the two men battled it out, each determined to come out on top.

In the end, it was Jax who emerged victorious, landing a powerful blow to Victor's jaw that sent him reeling to the ground.

Breathless and battered, Jax stood over his fallen opponent, his chest heaving with exertion. Ava rushed forward, her heart pounding with fear and relief, as she threw her arms around him in a tight embrace.

"You did it," she whispered, her voice filled with awe and admiration. "You won."

Jax smiled down at her, his eyes sparkling with pride. "I had to," he said simply. "For you, and for your father."

Ava was silent as she hugged Jax, tears in her eyes, she felt the warmth of his body.

But as Jax turned to check on Ava's father, Victor lunged at him from behind, catching him off guard.

Ava screamed as she watched Victor pin Jax to the ground, his hand at his throat.

"I may have lost the fight, but I still win in the end. You see, Jax, I don't really care about this pack. All I want is Ava. If you give her to me, I'll spare your life and let you keep your precious territory," Victor's voice was cold and menacing.

Ava felt sick to her stomach as she watched the scene unfold.

Jax's eyes locked with hers, and she saw the determination in his gaze. He wasn't about to give up without a fight.

"You can take your offer and shove it up your ass."

Victor let out a menacing laugh. "Your choice, brother. It's your funeral," he said as he prepared to strike the final blow.

But before he could make a move, a bolt from Ava's crossbow struck him in the shoulder. He roared in pain and stumbled back, giving Jax enough time to escape.

Ava rushed to Jax's side, helping him up as they both faced Victor. But before Victor could retaliate, the sound of police sirens filled the air.

Victor cursed under his breath. "This isn't over, Jax. You've made a grave mistake," he growled before he and his pack disappeared into the shadows.

The police arrived on the scene, guns drawn, and arrested Ava and Jax. They were handcuffed and taken into custody, not soon after, a ambulance showed up as the officers began to ask them questions.

As they sat in the back of the police car, Ava looked over at Jax. "What are we going to do now?" she asked.

Jax shook his head, his mind racing with all the possible scenarios. "We'll figure it out," he said, trying to sound confident. But deep down, he knew that they were in trouble.