Chasing His Scentless Mate (Caroline) novel Chapter 333

Chapter 333: Chapter 333 Power Unleashed

Ava’s POV

Mom’s eyes flashed with anger, and for a moment, I glimpsed something almost feral in her expression.

"No right?" she repeated with a cold laugh. "I’m your mother. I’ve protected you your entire life from things you can’t even imagine."

I turned toward the door, grabbing my jacket from the hook. "I’m going out. I need some air before I say something I’ll regret."

Mom said in a low voice, "Go ahead. Try it. See if you can walk out that door."

There was something in her tone, like a challenge or certainty, that made me hesitate. But my pride pushed me forward.

I reached for the doorknob, determined to prove her wrong.

With a subtle flick of her wrist, a soft blue light pulsed through the apartment. I felt it wash over me like a cool wave, settling into my skin.

When I tried to take another step toward the door, my body refused to move. My feet felt cemented to the floor, my muscles locked in place despite my brain screaming at them to work.

"What the hell?" I gasped, struggling against the invisible force holding me in place. Panic rose in my chest as I realized what was happening. "What did you do to me?"

Mom walked slowly around me. "It’s a binding spell, darling. Simple but effective. You won’t be going anywhere without my permission."

The casual way she said it, as if magically imprisoning her daughter was perfectly normal, ignited something primal inside me.

Not just anger—pure, white-hot rage.

"You... you’re using magic against me?" My voice shook with disbelief and fury. "Your own daughter?"

"I’m doing what’s necessary," she replied calmly. "You’ll thank me later."

"Thank you?" I spat the words, struggling harder against the invisible bonds. "For treating me like a prisoner? For using magic to control me instead of just talking to me like a normal parent would?"

She sighed, looking almost disappointed. "I tried talking. You wouldn’t listen."

"So this is your solution? Magical restraints?" The humiliation burned as hot as my anger. "How long have you been planning this? Have you always had this as a backup plan whenever I disagreed with you?"

"Don’t be dramatic, Ava," she said dismissively. "This is temporary. Just until I can make you understand—"

"I understand perfectly," I cut her off, "You don’t see me as a person with my own agency. I’m just a possession to you, something to control."

As my rage built, something strange happened. A warmth began spreading through my chest—not uncomfortable, but intense, like a banked fire suddenly given oxygen. It grew with each heartbeat, radiating outward through my limbs.

"Ava, be good and come with me. Leave this supernatural world. Leave Harbor Bay," Mom repeated.

"I told you I’m not leaving," I growled, surprised by the power in my own voice.

The heat inside me surged, filling every cell of my body until I felt like I might burst from containing it. Without knowing how, I pushed against the binding spell, feeling it stretch and strain around me like an overfilled balloon.

I marched to my bedroom, yanked my duffel bag from under the bed, and began throwing clothes into it haphazardly. My hands were still shaking, but not from fear anymore—from determination.

Mom appeared in the doorway but made no move to stop me. "Where do you think you’re going?"

"Anywhere that’s not here," I snapped, not bothering to look up as I continued packing.

"Ava, please," her voice softened. "You don’t understand the dangers—"

"You’re right, I don’t!" I whirled to face her. "Because you’ve never told me! And now I know you never will."

I zipped up my bag with more force than necessary and pushed past her into the hall. Grabbing my phone and wallet from the counter, I stuffed them into my purse.

Mom followed me but kept her distance, perhaps wary of another magical outburst. "If you leave now, without knowing how to control what’s awakening in you—"

"I’ll figure it out," I cut her off. "That’s what I’ve always done, isn’t it? Figure things out on my own because you only tell me what you think I need to know."

I paused at the door, hand on the knob, and turned back to her. "If you ever decide you’re ready to tell me the whole truth—about what I am, about what’s happening to me—I’ll listen. But until then, I need space from... whatever this is."

A look of genuine pain crossed her face. "Ava, please. I’ve only ever wanted to protect you."

"Maybe it’s time you protected me by trusting me with the truth," I replied, softer now. "I’m stronger than you think, Mom.Today proved that."

She didn’t answer, just stood there looking lost and frightened.