AvaI hung up the phone, blinking back tears. “Well… That’s done,” I murmured as I slipped my phone back into my pocket with a shudder.Telling three families that their sons died in battle wasn’t easy. And what was even harder was knowing that all of this, as Elise had said… didn’t need to happen.
“Moonstone.”Chris chuckled softly. “I can see that.” He looked away, and his throat bobbed as he swallowed. “You’re better at this pack business than I am. I feel like a big fuck-up.”“Chris…” My fingers stilled in the midst of wrapping his hands. “Don’t say that.”“But it’s true. We’re in this mes
AvaAs the week passed, I found myself feeling worse with each passing day. The mornings were especially rough, a constant battle against waves of nausea and fatigue that seemed to worsen as the days went by.I tried to push through it, attributing the symptoms to stress and lack of sleep, but deep
Later in the afternoon, I made my way down to the cellar to administer Leonard’s medication. As I prepared the syringe, my hands shook; I hadn’t managed to eat yet. Every time I tried, my stomach would churn and ruin my appetite entirely.Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore.“Leonard,” I began hesit
AvaI turned to see Chris walking in through the front door, the lines in his face etched with an uncharacteristic worry.“Hey.” I strode up to him, my eyes scanning him as if searching for some kind of imaginary injury, even though he had only been handling business at the Packhouse. “How did every
Chris snorted, but there was a hint of a smile on his lips. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, Patrick.”Patrick laughed, clapping Chris on the back. “Tell you what,” he said. “When this is all over, we have to have a real drink together. Then we can decide if we’re friends or not.”“Deal,” Chris agreed.
AvaThe gentle purr of the boat’s engine and the lapping of the dark water against the hull were the only sounds breaking the eerie silence of the night. I shivered, drawing Chris’s coat tighter around my shoulders. The air was crisp and breezy tonight, cooler than it had been as of late.“Are you c
“I’ve got eyes all over town,” Patrick explained as he switched between feeds. “Any sign of trouble, and we’ll know about it immediately.”For the next few hours, we took turns watching the feeds, our eyes straining in the dim light of the cave. The town remained quiet, the streets empty save for th
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