Chapter 8

I blinked, surprised. Ava’s mate. Of course, she’d found her mate during the night of the mating ball . I forced a smile, trying to match her excitement. “Oh, that’s amazing! Congratulations, Ava.”

Hunter gave me a nod, that cocky look I’d seen a hundred times from him. He was the quarterback, the alpha type everyone drooled over. I’d seen him with plenty of other girls before, the popular ones who flocked around him like moths to a flame.

Ava, sweet Ava, with him. I couldn’t help but think about how strange the Moon Goddess’s choices could be, pairing a girl as kind and thoughtful as Ava with someone like Hunter. But fate was strange that way.

I nudged Hunter’s arm. “Hey, just make sure you take care of my best friend, or I might have to, you know…murder you.”

Hunter rolled his eyes, grinning. “Sure, I’ll be on my best behavior,” he planted a quick kiss on Ava’s forehead.

“See you later, babe.” With a last nod to me, he walked off, leaving us alone.

Ava turned to me, rolling h