“Hello?” I called out, my voice echoing in the empty hallway. A floorboard creaked in response, and I found myself following the sound. The warm mug in my hands was all but forgotten as curiosity took over.As I moved deeper into the house, I caught more glimpses of that white fabric disappearing ar
AvaI woke up shivering at the sensation of the cold air nipping at my exposed skin. Groggily, I sat up and looked around, noticing that the window had been wide open, letting in the chilly morning air and a bit of the ever-present fog—whose tendrils had slipped in like fingers and were currently cu
“Thank you so much for this, you two,” Fabian said with a thin smile. “It’s starting to feel like home again.”“See?” I said, gesturing to the freshly-plumped pillows on the couch. “It’s not so creepy. It just needed a little…”“Ava,” Chris said softly, shaking his head and shooting me a pointed loo
Ava“We’ll need fresh herbs, a good cut of meat, some vegetables…”Fabian tapped his fingers in succession on the steering wheel, counting off his list of groceries needed for tonight’s dinner with Betty. He was clearly excited, and I was glad for it; and I was certain that the company would also be
Despite my skepticism, I felt a chill run down my spine. Amelia seemed so convinced, so genuinely frightened—just like everyone in this damn town. Despite myself, I couldn’t help but start to wonder if maybe, just maybe, there was some shred of truth to these claims; after all, so many people had sa
AvaChris and I prepared dinner in the kitchen, the sound of Fabian and Betty’s laughter floating in from the parlor. Despite the warm and cozy atmosphere, I still couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that had settled over me since our encounter with the fortune teller.The way she had looked at me, as
After a bit more convincing, Betty finally relented. “Alright, fine,” she said, throwing her hands up in the air. “But if I get too freaked out, I’m calling it quits.”“Fair enough,” Chris said, standing up. “I’ll be the seeker for the first round. You all have five minutes to hide. Ready?”We nodde
AvaChris’s revelation hit us all like a ton of bricks. The room went eerily silent, all of our eyes widening in unison.“But… But I saw you,” I muttered, shaking my head with disbelief. “Chris, I saw you walk past—”“Ava, I never left the main area of the house. We promised we wouldn’t leave the co
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