Chris The golden morning sunlight streamed in through the open balcony doors, bathing the room in a warm light. The sound of the city waking up floated through the air, and the scent of fresh baked bread wafted through the hotel hallways. But instead of waking up languidly with Ava beside me
Finally, I managed to unstick my tongue from the roof of my mouth. “She’s really gone,” I said. “No one can find her. It seems she’s fled the pack.” Ava’s eyes blew wide at my words. “Oh, Goddess,” she whispered, pressing her trembling fingers to her lips. “Oh, Goddess, this is all my fault…”
Ava The corridors of Chris’s towering office building were quiet as we strode toward his office, our footsteps echoing in the empty halls. My gaze roamed over the gleaming surfaces and out the large windows overlooking the bustling human city below—a sight that I wasn’t sure whether I would ever g
“Of course,” I said. The secretaries spent a few moments fussing over my tattoo, and then moved on to other things—like my hair, my eyes, my outfit. I couldn’t help but blush beneath their praise. “You’re so beautiful,” Maria cooed, her eyes wandering my face while Chris continued to busy himsel
Ava I felt my heart pounding as we approached the cell where Olivia had been kept beneath the Packhouse. The dark corridor smelled faintly of mildew and stale air, but I barely noticed it—my mind was racing too much to focus on anything else. We had only just arrived back to Moonstone on the fer
It wobbled beneath my fingertips. “Hmm,” I muttered. I grasped the loose stone and worked it away from the wall entirely, revealing a hollow little pocket nestled in the wall behind it. “Chris,” I hissed, turning back toward the doorway. He held up one finger to stop me, his intense gaze still f
Ava I shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other as Chris scoffed loudly, shaking his head. My gaze flitted nervously between him and the gathered Elders standing before us in the dimly lit meeting hall. An emergency council meeting had, of course, been called just moments after we had disco
There was a long silence as Degas gathered his thoughts; not even Chris, for all of his bravado, dared to interrupt the wizened Elder. “You have seen the blight at the old warehouse, yes?” Degas finally asked, leaning back in his chair. Chris nodded without turning. “I have.” “So you have, the
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