Patricia’s eyes widened. “That’s so romantic; like it was written in the stars.”I chuckled. “I’ve never thought of it that way, but yes. I suppose it was.”“And that night,” she asked, “Did you know it was him?”I shook my head, chuckling. “Not at first. It was quite a shock when I found out. I rem
AvaI snapped my eyes open at the sound of the door creaking, my hand immediately moving away from my groin. My cheeks flushed red as I saw a tall figure emerge from the steam, followed by a tawny head of hair and a pair of green eyes.“Ava. There you are.”Chris approached the edge of the pool in a
Gently, Chris worked his fingers a little deeper and faster, his tongue and lips leaving scorching trails along my neck, breasts, and collarbone, until I was practically aching for more. Then, he slipped his fingers back out and pulled his hand out of the water.“Open,” he muttered.He didn’t need t
AvaLater that night, Chris and I arrived in the elegant dining room—this one larger than the other, with a crackling fireplace situated at the far end and a gleaming mahogany bar against the wall. Chris pulled my chair out for me and I took my seat across from Clara, who was sitting beside Bernard.
Chris nodded, exchanging a glance with me. I nudged his knee with my own beneath the table, feeling bolstered; maybe we didn’t have a solid plan set in case of evacuation, but Bernard might just offer his help after all. That was all that mattered.“We completely understand,” Chris said. “And thank
AvaI woke up early the next morning, feeling refreshed despite the late night and what was perhaps a bit too much wine. Chris was already up, packing our bags and bustling around the room by the time I climbed out of bed.“Morning, sunshine,” he said with a grin, glancing over his shoulder as he st
Patricia nodded and shot me a knowing look. “Everything’s fine. I was just wishing Ava well.”Chris smiled. “I’m glad. And thank you, Patricia, for everything.”We said our final goodbyes, promising to keep each other updated on the blight, the infestation, and the growth of the seed. Just before we
AvaThe car rattled along the road, the only sound that of the wheels churning against the gravel. Chris, sitting beside me, gripped my hand tightly.“You okay?”I startled a bit at his touch, but nodded stiffly. Surrounding the car on all sides was a thick, oppressive fog that had rolled in not lon
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