AvaWe walked in silence as we made our way back through the blighted wasteland toward the treeline. Every few steps, Chris would glance over his shoulder, as though he couldn’t quite believe the desolation he had just witnessed.I couldn’t blame him. Seeing the aftermath of Ethan’s arrogance like t
My lips twitched upwards into a small smile as I studied him. He was making it painfully obvious how much he was looking forward to the prospect of having me all to himself for an evening, just the two of us.As tempting a thought as that was, however, I had to squash it down. We were still in the m
AvaChris stared at me for a long moment after my question, his brow furrowing slightly as the words seemed to sink in.“You’re still asking if I want to stay in the pack?” he asked slowly, as though trying to make sure he had heard me correctly. “Ava, you know we’ve talked about this already…”I he
“Maybe,” I conceded. “Or maybe not. The point is, it would be your choice to make, one way or the other. I’m not going to try and strong-arm you into anything. But you know how I feel about it.”A beat passed, and then the corner of Chris’s lips quirked upwards into that faint smirk of his.“You’re
AvaI could feel the weight of every single pair of eyes in the tavern settling squarely on me, pinning me in place with their eager anticipation. A hush had fallen over the once-raucous crowd, the only sounds the faint strumming of the musician’s guitar and the crackle of the fireplace.Swallowing
AvaThe entire tavern was silent once again, but not in a good way this time. The strange man’s question had echoed through the space, his deep voice reverberating off the walls in a menacing way.Before I could even fully comprehend what was happening, Chris straightened his shoulders and announced
“And what would that truth be?” I bit back.“That you convinced your dear Alpha to step down from his position through whatever twisted manipulation or trickery you’ve employed. And why? So you can clear a path for yourself, of course.” The Beta sneered openly at me. “A little past her prime, perhap
AvaI followed Chris’s long strides as he made his way toward the secluded thicket, my heart pounding in my chest. Despite his reassurances, a sick sense of dread was coiling in the pit of my stomach—and for good reason.“You shouldn’t have come,” he said without even glancing back at me. “I told yo
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