AvaThe soft sound of the curtain brushing aside was all that broke the eerie silence as we stepped into Degas’s hospital room. I felt my breath catch the instant I saw him hooked up to all those machines again, just days after he had been here before.For a moment, I almost turned and fled—but then
My eyes widened. “Degas, you don’t—”“Nonsense.” He cut me off and coughed again—this time, a bit of red blood splattered his lower lip as he did so, but he made no move to wipe it away. “You two belong together; I realize that now. Whether you are together or not should be up to you and no one else
ChrisThe interrogation room was dimly lit, save for one hanging light over the cold metal table. I pursed my lips as I peered through the small window that was set into the door; there, seated at one of the chairs, was an all-too-familiar head of red hair.Leonard cleared his throat beside me. “We
“I… I…” She gulped hard. “Look, I… I don’t—”“Quit stammering and get out with it.”Amelia nodded hastily and swallowed again. “I didn’t want to hurt anyone, I swear,” she began slowly, haltingly—I allowed her to speak, even though the sound of her voice made me want to punch a hole in the wall. “I
AvaI pursed my lips as I stared at my reflection, tugging at the fitted black dress to smooth out any wrinkles. The dark fabric clung to my curves, the skirt swishing at my knees as I turned to inspect myself at another angle. On any normal day, I would have felt good about wearing something like t
AvaThe crackling flames began to lick hungrily at the bottom of the pyre. Smoke billowed around us, the scent of burning oak and sage thick in the air. My eyes stung, but I blinked rapidly to keep the tears at bay.Today, on this beautiful, sunny, warm day, our dear Degas would leave this world. In
AvaThe square was utterly silent as every eye turned toward me. I could practically feel their stares boring holes into my skull, their eyes prickling over my skin like a thousand tiny needles. If anyone had spoken, I wasn’t sure—my heart was too busy thundering in my ears, the sound of it drowning
Chris squeezed my hand again, and I forced myself to rip my eyes away from the Elders to meet his gaze.“Degas will be celebrated tonight,” he murmured, quietly enough so only I could hear. “Let’s allow tonight’s revelry to be for him, yes? Just for him.”I managed a small smile, leaning into his so
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