Chapter 101

Ava

Chris’s mouth hung open in surprise, his eyebrows hiking up in response to my request. For a few moments, a tense silence hung between us, filled only with the sound of my own heart pounding in my ears.

“A separate room?” he finally blurted out incredulously, placing his hands on his narrow hips. “Ava, what’s this about? You don’t want to share a space with me?”

My mouth opened and closed stupidly for a few moments as I struggled to find the right words to answer him.

How could I even begin to explain myself? How could I tell him that in just a few short days, weeks at the most, I might be ending things with him? How could I handle telling him the truth when he already looked heartbroken over something as mundane as a hotel room?

“I just…” I finally began haltingly, licking my lips before continuing in a hoarse voice. “I think it might be better if we keep up appearances, you know? Separate rooms on the books, just in case any of the Elders get wind of this little… trip.”

Chris frowned, clearly unconvinced. “You know none of them will care that I’m going to the human realm for my job. They expect it. And you, as my Acting Luna, are basically my assistant at this point.”

“Perhaps, but we just went on a trip together last weekend,” I countered quickly, arching an eyebrow at him. “It might raise some suspicion if word gets out. Especially with…”

I trailed off, gesturing vaguely at the piles of women’s profiles splayed across his desk.

Understanding flickered in Chris’s eyes then as his gaze followed my hand and he realized what I was referring to. He sighed and ran a hand through his tousled hair, sinking down into his chair.

“Alright, fine. I can book a separate room for you,” he relented, already clicking away on his computer.

I let out a soft sigh of relief, although my chest still clenched at the thought of it. “Thank you. I can pay—”

“Nonsense,” he cut me off with a wave of his hand. “I just booked it. Consider it my treat—and maybe you can enjoy some alone time to unwind. I’ll send you room service, a massage, anything. Whatever you want is yours, Ava.”

A mischievous grin spread across his lips then before I could formulate an answer to his kind offer. “And actually, this could be kind of exciting. We can play like strangers who meet up at the hotel bar. Head back to one of our rooms for a night of passion, you know? Just like old times…”

There was no stifling the sudden burst of laughter that bubbled up in my throat at his words, even as I felt my cheeks flush hotly. I had almost forgotten that our first time together had been under similar circumstances, even though it wasn’t all that long ago.

“You’re impossible,” I chided with a shake of my head.

Chris just winked roguishly in response. “Be ready to go by 8 am tomorrow. I have tickets for the first ferry already booked.”

…

Later that evening, I was just walking up the front path of my cottage on weary feet after a long day of pack business when the sound of a soft voice caught my attention.

“Ava?”

I turned to see my neighbor, a middle-aged woman with a short brown pixie cut, scurrying toward me. She had her teenage son, a boy who looked eerily like his mother, in tow.

“Gemma,” I said, turning. “Is everything alright?”

“I’m so sorry to bother you so late,” my neighbor began, a bit of frustration coloring her voice as she shoved the boy forward. “But Caleb has something he needs to say.”

“What is it?” I asked.

The young boy shuffled his feet, avoiding my gaze shamefully for a few moments before his mother angrily nudged him with her elbow. “I… I was the one who broke your window the other day,” he finally muttered, staring at his feet. “I was playing catch, and… I’m sorry.”

“My window?” I echoed in surprise, furrowing my brow for a moment before I remembered—so much had happened lately that I had almost forgotten about the rogue baseball crashing through my window. “Oh… Caleb, it’s alright. Accidents happen. Thank you for apologizing.”

“Here, we made you this to try and make up for it.” My neighbor thrust a woven basket filled with baked goods and treats into my hands. “And we can pay for the repairs, of course.”

“No, no, please—keep your money.” I waved her off with one hand as I peered into the basket, my mouth watering at the sight of my favorite lemon bars nestled among the chocolate chip cookies and muffins. “This is more than enough. Thank you both.”

Once they had departed, I headed inside, where I settled onto the couch. I couldn’t resist the lemon bars, so I quickly grabbed one along with a glass of milk and went to town while reading my favorite book.

Perhaps I indulged a bit too much, though, as after polishing off a second one, I began to feel a twinge of indigestion in my stomach.

No matter, I thought as I got up to get ready for bed. Figuring I just needed to sleep it off, I quickly showered and finished my nighttime skincare routine before climbing between the sheets and promptly knocking out.

But unfortunately, it seemed as though nature had other plans.

I awoke the next morning to severe cramping, which hit me immediately. Groaning, I clutched my stomach and rolled over… and that was when I felt the unmistakable sensation of wetness between my thighs.

“Shit,” I murmured.

With a gasp, I flung back the sheets to see a blossom of crimson staining the pale blue fabric. Of course. Of bloody course—no pun intended—my moon cycle would start now, I inwardly berated myself as I quickly stripped the linens and bunched them up into a haphazard ball.

Trust me to make an utter mess right before going away. And now I had cramps to top it all off, which meant no passionate fantasies with Chris at the hotel.

Although, maybe that was a good thing, I wondered; if I was truly to end things with him, then perhaps it was for the best…

No, I thought to myself. Not now. I can’t think about it now.

I was just hurrying to rinse out the sheets when the sound of the back screen door opening and slamming pulled me out of my stupor. A moment later, Chris’s voice rang out from downstairs.

“Ava? Are you ready to go?”

Instantly, I felt my heart pound in my chest. No, no, I couldn’t let him see me like this—not with a wad of reddened bedsheets in my hands and blood still staining my thighs and my nightgown. Not now, not when I wanted our relationship to end with a good image of me still in his mind—

But it was too late.

“Ava?” he called out again. His footsteps sounded on the stairs and I felt panic seize my chest as I whirled towards the bedroom door just as the handle turned. Before I could even formulate a response, the door was opening.

Chris stepped into the room and froze when he saw the mess.

“Oh… Ava.”