Ava“Moonbite,” we said in unison.The realization hit us like a ton of bricks.“But… But how can we be sure?” Ophelia asked, her voice trembling as she pressed a damp washcloth to her bloodied forehead. She was still shaking from the ordeal, her eyes darting nervously to the bedroom door where Leon
We spent the rest of the night grimly monitoring Leonard’s condition, taking turns to check on him through the locked bedroom door. His snarls and growls gradually subsided, replaced by whimpers and then finally, complete silence. Each time we approached the door, we tensed, ready for another outbur
AvaI spent the entire day worrying about Chris. After he stormed out of Leonard’s cottage that morning with no explanation, I expected him to return within a few minutes, or maybe even a few hours. But as the day wore on, there was still no sign of him.Around lunchtime, Leonard and Ophelia both pa
AvaThe death bell tolled in Moonstone.The sky was dark and gray, a storm threatening to spill over the horizon—almost as though the sky, too, knew the gravity of what we had to do today.Today, we would be burning our friend’s casket. Today, we would say goodbye for the last time.It had been thre
“I... I’m so sorry for your loss,” Elise mumbled, barely meeting our eyes. Her hands twisted nervously in front of her.“Thank you, Elder Elise,” was all I could manage.As she walked away, it took all my strength not to pull back my lip and reveal my fangs to her.As the memorial service went on, t
Ava“Well, that was a good show, wasn’t it?”Leonard’s grin stretched from ear to ear, mirroring the smile on Ophelia’s own face. Chris strode over to the nearby wine barrel serving as a table and picked up two glasses, filling them and handing one to me.As we clinked our glasses together, I though
Chris turned to her. “We’ll actually need your help with that, Doctor. We will need you to sign a death certificate and provide a believable cause of death related to Leonard’s condition.”The doctor frowned. “That’s highly unethical in the human world…”“We’re not in the human world,” Chris said. “
ChrisAnd so, there we were, huddled around a small television in Ava’s wine cellar on the night of our dear friend’s funeral.“Look at that,” Ava whispered, pointing at the screen. “Even Elise looks heartbroken as you light the pyre.”“She’s a mighty good actor,” Leonard growled.News headlines fla
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