But still, I couldn’t bring myself to say the words. Not when those green eyes were staring at me, not when those cool hands were gripping mine so tightly. Instead, I simply smiled and sipped my gin and tonic. “I know. I was only teasing you.” Chris seemed to let out a breath that neither of us
Ava Chris’s mouth hung open in surprise, his eyebrows hiking up in response to my request. For a few moments, a tense silence hung between us, filled only with the sound of my own heart pounding in my ears. “A separate room?” he finally blurted out incredulously, placing his hands on his narrow
Ava I tried to hide the mess quickly and haphazardly, but it didn’t matter; it was already too late. Chris had already seen the stained sheets and the look of panic on my face. For several moments, a tense silence hung between us as I stood there, clutching my ball of bloodied sheets with my nig
Ava Chris and I stepped off of the ferry for the second time in a week, and were instantly met with the hustle and bustle of the human world. Cars and motorcycles zoomed past, high-rise buildings stretched up into the sky, the sounds of street musicians and people talking and all the other sounds
Turning, I felt my cheeks redden beneath his gaze. “Oh, we should probably get to the hotel—” “The hotel can wait,” he said with a wave of his hand. He was already walking over to the shop door and pulling it open. “Besides, I like watching you try on new clothes.” There was no arguing that, I s
Ava When Chris finally set me back on my feet, I was too dumbfounded to speak. Here, in front of the flashing cameras and chanting paparazzi, he had… kissed me? Publicly? To be spread all over the media? I felt like a puppet in his arms at that moment. Even when he finally ushered me inside and
My voice trailed off, my words catching in my throat. Part of me wanted to tell him now—to rip off the bandaid, to finally reveal what Degas had warned me about. To reveal that I thought that maybe, just maybe, it would be the best to say goodbye on good terms now and look back on these past weeks t
Ava Smoothing down the front of my top in the mirror, I turned this way and that to get a better look at myself. I was dressed nicely, but still a little casual—as per Chris’s request. A matching skirt and sweater set, tall heeled boots, the necklace Chris had just given me, and I had put my hair
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