AvaI held the moonstone up to the light, scrutinizing it closely. It looked… off. Just slightly, like some part of it wasn’t catching the light like it normally would.“Ava?”The sound of Chris’s voice snapped me out of my haze, and I quickly lowered the moonstone. “What’s up?” he asked, cocking hi
“Chris, don’t say that,” I said, reaching out to squeeze his shoulder. “It’s not your fault. You’ve been working tirelessly to fix this.”He huffed and slipped the moonstone out from behind his shirt. “I don’t know. What if... what if I’m the problem? What if the missing moonstone was never the issu
AvaThe implications of the fake moonstone hit us all like a ton of bricks; Olivia likely still had the original moonstone, which explained why the blight hadn’t let up around the pack.We had been played like fools, and now Olivia was likely far away, laughing to herself as she cradled the real moo
Finally, after what felt like hours, a doctor emerged from the treatment room. Her face was grave as she approached us.“Alpha, Luna,” she greeted us with a nod. “Dedrick is stable for now, but he’s in critical condition.”Chris stepped forward. “What happened to him?”The doctor sighed, glancing do
ChrisThe cool, damp earth beneath my paws was a welcome sensation as I padded through the forest. The first light of dawn was just beginning to filter through the trees, casting long shadows across the underbrush, and a gentle breeze ruffled my pure white fur. Leonard’s wolf form moved silently bes
I nodded, hoping he was right. As we approached the car, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out to find a message from one of the scouts, with an attached photo.My heart leaped into my throat as I opened the image. It showed a woman who looked remarkably like Olivia boarding a boat. The time
AvaI stood beside Chris, both of us leaning over Dedrick’s lifeless body in the morgue. The harsh fluorescent lights cast an eerie glow over his pale skin, making him look even more ghostly than he already was. The sterile smell of disinfectant mixed with the underlying scent of death, making my st
Once we were fully protected, the scientist led us around the side of the Packhouse and through the gate that led to the gardens. The sight that greeted us was worse than I had imagined, and I felt my stomach twist immediately.Before, the fungus had been sporadic, eating up the occasional plant or
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