AvaAs soon as I got home, I immediately checked my phone in the hoped that I would find a message or a call from Chris. We had been playing phone tag all day, our schedules seemingly in perfect misalignment. To my relief, there was one text from him, sent hours ago:“Been busy all day. Probably bes
AvaThe days following Chris’s return were a nonstop flurry of activity. Patrick continued his surveillance of Elise, reporting back to us every morning. The pattern was always the same: late at night, Elise would slip out and head to the clinic, where she would stay for anywhere between fifteen min
“Leonard!” I rushed over, Chris close behind me.“I’m… fine,” Leonard wheezed, trying to wave us off. But the handkerchief in his hand was stained red. Deep red.“Alright, that’s it,” Chris said firmly, his words suddenly no longer slurred as though his body just forgot the alcohol in his system. “W
AvaAs we followed the doctor into his office, my heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. Chris’s hand found mine, squeezing tightly, but I hardly felt it through my panic.The doctor’s face was grim as he gestured for us to sit in the worn leather chairs facing his desk.“I’m afraid
The doctor hesitated, his brow furrowing. “Well, I would prefer if he stayed the night for observation, but…”“But he refused, didn’t he?” Chris finished with a wry smile on his face. We all knew how stubborn Leonard could be.The doctor nodded, a hint of fondness in his expression. “He’s insistent
AvaThe night was unusually quiet as Chris, Patrick, and I crept through the shadows towards the clinic. We were all dressed in black, our faces partially obscured by dark hats and scarves.Even though Chris was the Alpha, we couldn’t just walk into the clinic; the staff would never give us the info
Patrick, however, made a soft sound of triumph. “I’m in. Idiot set his password to his kid’s name… I mean, what year are we in?”Chris and I exchanged eye-rolls. “Focus, Pat,” Chris hissed.“Right. Now, let’s see what secrets you’re hiding, Doc,” Patrick whispered.The minutes ticked by agonizingly
AvaChris’s fingers trembled slightly as he inserted the flash drive into his laptop. The three of us huddled around the screen, our breaths held in anticipation.After a moment, the files that Patrick had copied popped up on the screen. There had to have been dozens of folders, maybe even well over
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