AvaWe made our way back to the parlor, the music box clutched tightly in my hands. Its weight felt significant, as if it carried more than just metal and mechanics inside of it. That strange scream still seemed to echo in my ears, sending a shiver down my spine.Zara was waiting for us in the parlo
“Mommy!” the little girl cried out. “Mommy, she’s here again!”My stomach dropped, my insides turning thin and weak. No, no, it couldn’t be; I remembered this night. I remembered the terror, the certainty that there was something—someone—in my room night after night.I remembered how my parents woul
AvaI blinked, my vision slowly coming back into focus. I was no longer in my childhood bedroom, but rather in Moonshine Manor; the parlor ceiling swam above me, and I realized I was lying on the floor. No fog anywhere to be found—just Chris’s face appearing in my line of sight, his brow furrowed wi
The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. I remembered my mother’s illness, how quickly it had taken her. Just two weeks after she had been diagnosed, she was gone. “I didn’t know... I had no idea it was because of that spirit.”Zara placed a weathered hand on my shoulder. “Your mother was a h
AvaAfter hours of driving with no end in sight, the caravan finally pulled into a small roadside shop for a much-needed rest. I stretched, feeling the stiffness in my muscles from the long drive. Chris opened the door for me, and I stepped out, breathing in the fresh air.“We’ll take a short break
“Ready?” he asked.I nodded, watching intently as, in one fluid motion, he shifted with an ease that he hadn’t possessed when he first returned to Moonstone. Where my boyfriend had stood moments before, there was now a magnificent white wolf towering over me.I grinned, reaching for him. He padded o
AvaThe drive to Crescent Moon was long and treacherous. Chris and I sat tense in the back of the car, waiting for the moment when we would eventually have to leave the vehicles behind and continue on foot; we’d be able to make it about halfway up the mountain, though, before that happened.As we wo
I snorted. “No. Never.”I was about to catch up to him when my foot caught on a hidden root. I stumbled, crying out as my ankle twisted painfully beneath me. Chris was at my side in an instant, crouching down to where I had fallen to my knees in the dirt.No, not dirt—mud. My pack, heavy, tipped me
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