Chapter 150

Ava

The sound of Chris rummaging around the kitchen stirred me from my sleep. I blinked open my bleary eyes, taking a moment to get my bearings in the unfamiliar surroundings of the Packhouse apartment. Soft morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the white sheets.

With a groan, I rolled onto my back and stretched. My body ached slightly from the unfamiliar mattress—I had been staying in the Packhouse apartment to give Ophelia and Leonard space in my tiny cottage, and my back was beginning to protest.

The clatter of pots and pans grew louder, finally urging me to toss off the covers and pad out to the main room in search of the source. I found Chris in the small kitchen, his back to me as he packed a wicker basket.

“What are you up to?” I asked through a yawn, wrapping my arms around his torso from behind.

Chris turned to look at me with a crooked grin and planted a kiss on the top of my head. “Morning, beautiful. I thought we could spend the day at the beach.”

My brows lifted in surprise. “The beach?”

“Yeah.” He nodded toward the basket. “I’m packing us a little picnic. Figured we could use just one relaxing day after, well... everything.”

I frowned in response, taking a step back and placing my hands on my hips. Before I could utter my protest, however, Chris held up his hand to stop me.

“I know what you’re about to say: that we shouldn’t be lounging around when our pack needs us,” he cut me off. “But it’ll only be a few hours. And I promised to treat you like my girlfriend, didn’t I?”

“Yes, but—”

“No buts. Go get your bathing suit on.”

…

Half an hour later, we were making our way down to the shore, the picnic basket looped over one of Chris’s muscular arms. Ophelia and Leonard waved enthusiastically from their spot on the sand, beaming as we approached—Chris had, of course, invited them at my suggestion.

“There are the lovebirds!” Ophelia cooed, laying her tanned legs out in front of her and propping herself up on her elbows.

Leonard sat up beside her, his hair slightly rumpled. The two had become inseparable since she had gotten here, and I was glad for it—clearly, giving them the cottage to themselves had enhanced that.

With Leonard’s help, Chris spread out the large blanket and began unpacking the basket. He laid out fresh-baked bread from the bakery, ripe fruit, and aromatic cheeses. Finally, he pulled out two bottles of wine, which he had soaked with fruit the night before; they were now a pleasant pink-colored sangria.

“Have you two been enjoying the cottage to yourself?” I asked Ophelia with a wry grin.

Ophelia’s cheeks flushed a shade of red that almost matched that of her vibrant lipstick as Leonard ducked his head sheepishly.

“Yes, well… It’s lonely without you there, darling,” Ophelia said coyly with a wave of her hand, although I could see the smirk playing at her lips.

Soon enough, the four of us were splashing in the shallow waves and soaking up the warm summer sun. I didn’t allow myself to feel guilty for those couple of hours, even though the ever-present matters of the pack, the Elders, the moonbite powder, the missing moonstone, and so much more tugged at the back of my mind.

By the time we tired ourselves out and reconvened on the blanket for our picnic, I felt utterly relaxed and content. My gaze drifted between Chris, Ophelia, and Leonard as we ate, taking in the flush on each of their faces. They looked... lighter somehow. More at peace than I could remember seeing them in a long while.

Finally, as Chris handed me a glass of wine, Ophelia cleared her throat shyly.

“We, um... actually have a little announcement of our own,” she said, exchanging a warm look with Leonard.

He took her hand in his, their fingers lacing together seamlessly. My brows hiked upwards in surprise and delight. “Ophelia and I…” Leonard began gruffly. “Well, we’ve decided we want to be together. Properly together.”

My eyes widened. “So soon?” Chris blurted out before I could say anything.

Ophelia nodded, her cheeks flushing an even deeper shade of red. “Yes. I know it seems sudden, but... we can’t deny how we feel.” She squeezed Leonard’s hand tightly. “I sort of like this old coot.”

For a long moment, Chris and I could only gape at them. Then, slowly, beaming smiles spread across our faces.

“That’s wonderful!” I exclaimed, leaning over to pull Ophelia into a tight hug. “I’m so happy for you two.”

Chris echoed my sentiments, clapping Leonard firmly on the back. “Well, you’ve got my blessing,” he said with an approving nod. “I kind of figured you two had hit it off.”

Leonard’s lips tugged up into a smile, his shoulders slumping with apparent relief. Even Ophelia let out a huff that seemed to release the tension in her spin. But it wasn’t long before her expression turned pensive. She twisted her hands anxiously in her lap for a moment before speaking.

“I just... I hope I’ll truly be welcomed here,” she murmured, her gaze straying toward the crashing waves. “I know humans aren’t meant to live in werewolf territory. I don’t want to cause any trouble over this.”

Chris and I exchanged a heavy look. Of course, Ophelia was right; our laws did allow some humans to own land here if given the proper permission, but a human taking up permanent residence in Moonstone had never happened before. My mind instantly went to the Elders, who would no doubt take issue with it.

Not to mention the concept of a human and a werewolf potentially marrying someday. Elise, given her history with marriage traditions, would likely have a heart attack.

Suddenly, Chris reached across the blanket and grasped Ophelia’s hand.

“I give you my word: I’m going to do whatever it takes to make sure you can live here openly and comfortably,” he said. “The law banning permanent human residents is archaic at best, rooted in outdated prejudice rather than any real logic. As Alpha, it’s my duty to evolve the pack’s traditions to meet the changing times.”

He paused then, and glanced over at me. “And, as Luna, I’m sure Ava could say the same.”

Ophelia stared at us with wide eyes. Leonard, too, seemed stunned into silence.

“You... you would really do that, darling?” Ophelia asked softly. “Just for little old me?”

Chris chuckled. “You’re one of my oldest friends, Ophelia. Of course I’d do something like that for little old you.”

For several long moments, Ophelia could only gape between the two of us, her eyes misting over. Then, without warning, she launched herself at us and tackled us to the sand, hugging us so tightly that I almost couldn’t breathe.

Chris and I laughed heartily, our breaths coming out in choked gasps between her raucous thank-yous and giggles. I felt his eyes on me, and when I looked over, I could see him grinning at me.

Somewhere in the sand beneath Ophelia, I felt his fingers intertwine with mine.

And in that moment, I knew that this was only the beginning of our pack moving forward into a new era.