AvaI sat by the fire, rubbing my hands together to ward off the chill that had set in since the sun had gone down. The warmth from the flames helped, but I couldn’t shake the cold sense of worry that was gnawing at my insides.Chris had been gone for a while now, and I was starting to get concerned
“Why are you being nice to me?” he asked, eyeing the food suspiciously. “Is this laced or something?”I shook my head, setting the plate on his lap. I picked a piece of rabbit up off of it and popped it into my mouth, making a point to chew and swallow in front of him. “It’s just food. You can eat i
AvaChris’s fist left a small dent in the cabin wall, causing me to flinch back—not out of fear, but rather surprise. I could practically feel the anger radiating off of him as he turned to face me, his eyes blazing. This wasn’t the Chris I knew. This wasn’t the soft, gentle man I had grown to love.
Or maybe he just felt more in control as a wolf. Either way, it was becoming a pattern.Shaking off these thoughts, I finished packing and got dressed in silence. The cabin felt oppressively quiet without Chris’s presence, but I welcomed the solitude. It gave me time to calm down and gather my thoug
AvaThe guards showed us little mercy as they shoved us roughly through the massive doors of the throne room, their spears pointed at our backs. I stumbled, the point of one spear pressing through my jacket, but I couldn’t slow down; something told me that these guards wouldn’t care if they injured
“Enough!” Winston’s sharp voice cracked like a whip covered in ice. “Moonstone is no friend of Crescent Moon. I specifically forbade you from visiting. I do not take kindly to uninvited guests.”I could feel Chris tensing beside me. “I apologize for coming against your wishes, but it’s a matter of u
ChrisThe harsh clang of metal against metal jolted me awake. I blinked, disoriented, as one of those godforsaken guards who looked like they were hewn out of the very rock that made up these castle walls roughly yanked me to my feet. The cold of the stone floor seeped through my thin shoes, a stark
“Let my Alpha return home. I will stay as your servant for two months and serve out both of our sentences.”My eyes widened. “Ava, you don’t—” I hissed, but Winston held up a hand, silencing me. My words died in my throat, my frustration building at being so easily silenced by a man who I had never
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