“Is that so?” Olivia scoffed, but I could see the momentary fear flicker through her eyes as the door swung open and several guards, along with the five Elders, strode in. She took a hesitant step backwards, but she had nowhere to go; only the wall was behind her. “What’s all this for?” she asked,
Ava I felt my throat tighten as I looked down at the bruised and bloody Omega who lay in front of me. Her fingers, weak and cold around my wrist, tightened ever so slightly as she spoke those words. “Thank you, Luna.” On instinct, I shook my head solemnly and corrected her. “Acting Luna. Not L
Ava “I have brought you here today to issue a decree that will change the future of our pack... forever.” Chris’s calm, yet firm, voice carried across the gathered crowd with ease. All around us, our pack watched with bated breath; after all, the past few days had been a whirlwind of activity th
Ava Chris and I made our way back to the podium with the Elders in tow. This decree was unprecedented, a radical shift that would undoubtedly send shockwaves rippling through every facet of our pack’s way of life. But I was proud of him. Eradicating the Omega slavery had been a lifelong pipedrea
Ava “Care to join me for the party?” I couldn’t help but return Chris’s smile, although I felt my heart fluttering at the sight of him standing there in the dimly lit doorway—which, of course, I would never admit. “I’d love to,” I replied, rising from the window seat and smoothing my hands ove
Chris laughed, a sweet and melodic sound that would have been lost amongst the music had we not been pressed so close. For those fleeting moments, it was as if the rest of the world blurred, leaving only Chris and me in our own little bubble as we twirled on the dance floor. His face was flushed,
Ava “You do know how much I hate surprises, don’t you?” Chris walked behind me, his hand still clasped in mine. The further we walked, the more the sounds of the party faded into the distance, replaced instead by the sounds of the forest. I could never decide which was louder: the sound of music
Seeming to sense my hesitation, Chris’s expression softened. “I’ll turn around,” he said gently. I wavered for a moment longer before finally giving in with a curt nod. “Fine,” I replied, tilting my chin up at him. “But no peeking, you hear me?” Chris simply grinned, spinning around in the water
Chris shook his head, rolling his eyes. “Unbelievable,” he hissed as I smirked with satisfaction.The trip to the clinic went by a lot faster on wheels than on foot. Chris remained glued to my side, his hair falling into his eyes as he repeatedly checked on me. I simply smiled in the backseat, and w
Epilogue — Part IIAvaAs the balloon hit me square in the face, I stumbled back, nearly losing my balance. Chris’s strong arm caught me, steadying me as a chorus of “Surprise!” filled the air.Our living room had been transformed, covered with balloons and streamers in shades of blue and silver. A
Her imprisonment in New Moon was coming to an end, and soon she would be returning to Moonstone on parole. The thought filled me with a mixture of apprehension and hope, as it did all of us.But that was not coming for another month.As the Elders filed out, I leaned back in my chair, unable to keep
Before I could comment, the Elders finally filed in, their usual robes swishing around them as they moved. Fatima was now the Eldest since Elise was gone, and so she took the end of the table opposite Chris.Claire hobbled in after her; she had been leaning on a cane lately due to a sudden onset of
Epilogue — Part IAvaMy hand rested on my belly as I waddled through the doors, half-ignoring Chris’s presence. He sighed, letting the door fall shut behind me.“What’s wrong?” he asked, following me to the circular council table in the center of the room.“Nothing.”That was a lie.It was my 40th
For a moment, Chris was silent, his gaze intense as he searched my face. Then, without warning, he dropped to his knees, burying his face in my skirt. His arms wrapped around my waist, holding me close.“Goddess, I can’t wait to marry you,” he murmured, his voice muffled by the fabric.I smiled, run
AvaI found Chris on a balcony overlooking the golden sunset of New Moon mountain. The sky was ablaze with vibrant oranges and pinks, casting a warm glow over the snow-capped peaks. The crisp mountain air carried the scent of pine and distant earth from far below, the scent of autumn.Back in Moonst
“As you should, Alpha Edward,” Chris said, clasping the Alpha’s forearm. “As you should.”It was heartwarming to see how everyone seemed to be thriving. The bonds between the packs were stronger than ever, and there was a palpable sense of hope in the air.Finally, it was time for the meeting to beg
AvaGolden sunlight streamed through the enormous windows, shafts of warmth spreading across the large meeting hall. A fire crackled merrily in the hearth, and a long oak table had been placed at the center of the room. Soft piano music played from a human-made record player in the corner, and counc