Chapter 151

Ava

The sun was just beginning to dip below the horizon as we made our way back from the beach, our cheeks flushed and our hair still damp from the ocean water. Chris and Leonard were walking together at the front, and Ophelia and I lingered in the back, our arms looped around each other’s shoulders.

As we approached the Packhouse, however, one of the guards at the front doors stepped forward, a folded parchment in his hand.

“Alpha,” he called out gruffly. “This just arrived for you.”

Chris accepted the letter with a nod. I peered over his shoulder curiously as he unfolded the paper, my eyebrows raising as I saw the looping script inside.

“Dearest Chris and Ava… Word has reached our pack’s border of your recent relationship announcement—congratulations…”

I tuned out the rest as Chris’s eyes scanned the paper. When he was finished, he lowered the letter and turned to me.

“It seems Moonrise has heard about our announcement,” he said. “This is Lily’s handwriting.”

I quirked an eyebrow. “What else does it say?”

Chris’s gaze skimmed the letter one more time. “Apparently, she and her father—the Alpha of Moonrise—would like us to come and visit... if we’re willing to make the journey, that is.”

An excited flutter erupted in my chest. I hadn’t been to another pack’s territory in years, and Moonrise was always particularly beautiful this time of year. But then, my smile faltered slightly as a familiar form pushed through the doors up ahead.

“Alpha Chris,” Elder Elise said, stopping in the doorway. “Ava. Could I speak with you two privately?”

Sighing, Chris nodded at Ophelia and Leonard, who walked away in the direction of my cottage. We followed Elise inside, and once the doors were shut, she whirled around to face us.

“Did I just hear the two of you are planning a trip?” she asked. “To Moonrise, of all places?”

Chris stiffened infinitesimally beside me. “Yes, Elder. The Alpha has invited us for a visit.”

Elise’s lips pressed into a thin line at that. “Don’t you think it would be a little naive?” she asked, her eyes flickering back and forth between the two of us. “I mean, after you invited Lily to Moonstone not once, but twice, only for her to ultimately wind up unchosen as your Luna.”

Finally, Elise’s eyes landed on me. I could feel the anger practically radiating off of her in waves, and it was all I could do to keep my mouth shut.

“I’m not sure what you’re implying, Elise,” Chris said, folding his arms across his chest.

Elise huffed. “Her father, the Alpha of Moonrise, may not be thrilled at the fact that his daughter was not chosen as your bride. Perhaps visiting his territory isn’t the wisest decision.”

“Moonrise pack is our oldest standing ally. I highly doubt that Alpha Edward would do anything unsavory.” He paused, licking his lips. “Are you sure this isn’t about your distaste toward Ava?”

Elise’s eyes widened into saucers at that. I reached for Chris, ready to put an end to this, but it was too late. “My distaste?” she retorted. “My only distaste is for your apparent disrespect not only for tradition, but also for the bachelorettes who came all this way in the hopes of being chosen as your bride.”

Chris shrugged. “I’m aware, and I’m handling it. Shouldn’t I be happy to accept invitations to other packs in order to make amends? Or have you forgotten, Elder, that Alphas are welcome to make their own decisions?”

The Elder recoiled, turning her face away. For a moment, she opened her mouth and then closed it again as though there was more she wanted to say but couldn’t bring herself to. “If it pleases the Alpha,” she finally said simply before whirling on her heel and storming off.

For several tense moments, Chris and I stood frozen in the wake of that interaction. Eventually, I heaved a shaky sigh, unable to meet his concerned gaze.

“Chris... Maybe she’s right,” I said. “Maybe I shouldn’t come with you to Moonrise after all.” I swallowed hard around the lump that had lodged itself in my throat. “My presence might only stir up more trouble. Especially with Lily being there…”

Chris huffed, causing me to snap my gaze up to meet his. He was staring at me with an intensity that could be seen even in the dim light of the Packhouse corridor.

“Don’t you dare listen to a word that woman says,” he stated. “You’re mine, Ava—end of story. Where I go, you go.” He paused then, composing himself, and traced his thumb along my forearm. “I want you by my side. Always. No exceptions.”

Swallowing hard, I simply nodded, knowing that there was no arguing with him about this—prompting a slow smile to spread across Chris’s lips.

“Alright,” I said softly. “I’ll go.”

…

“We could stop and rest soon, if you’d like.” Chris’s deep voice suddenly rumbled close to my ear, making me start slightly. “Give you time to stretch your legs, do some sightseeing.”

I sat up straighter, only just now realizing that I had thoroughly zoned out for Goddess-knows how long. The caravan was rumbling along the narrow forest road, the air cool and damp.

Shrugging, I replied, “It’s up to you. I don’t want to stop the caravan just for my own sake.”

Chris shot me a sidelong glance. “You’re the Luna of Moonstone now, Ava. If you want to stop, you don’t have to have a reason.”

For a moment, I opened my mouth to refuse the offer, but then shut it again. Truthfully, my legs were tingling and my neck hurt from sitting in one spot for more than two hours, and we were still only about halfway there.

But this sort of authority was new to me. Even as Acting Luna, my power was limited and often questioned—so now, to be openly told that I could stop an entire caravan whenever I wanted to…

“It feels wrong,” I whispered, leaning closer to Chris.

He glanced up from his laptop and raised one eyebrow. “Why?” he asked, and then realization seemed to dawn on him. With an amused chuckle, he said, “Just for that, I’m not going to tell them to stop for you. Do it yourself, Luna.”

Swallowing, I quickly looked away. My throat worked uselessly for a moment before I finally managed to utter those two words to the driver: “Stop, please.”

The driver simply inclined his head with a curt, “Yes, Luna,” and pulled over to the side of the road. The other cars—one in front of us and one in the back—followed suit with no hesitation.

Beside me, Chris was grinning like he had just witnessed me accomplishing something momentous. I felt heat creeping into my cheeks even as a giddy smile tugged at my own lips.

“Feels good, doesn’t it?” he murmured, snapping his laptop shut and opening the car door. I inhaled sharply and followed him out onto the side of the road, where there was a small expanse of alfalfa and wildflowers before the forest line began.

As we paced to stretch our legs and inhale the clean forest air, Chris’s arm suddenly snaked out. He grabbed my waist and pulled me close. I blushed, leaning into him and pressing my hands into his chest as he dipped his head to kiss me.

It was only when a discreet cough sounded from the side of the car that I startled, abruptly remembering our audience. I quickly turned my head, my face turning a bright shade of crimson.

Chris, noticing my reddened face, grinned. “Apologies,” Chris drawled without an ounce of shame as he pulled back slightly. He shot a heated look toward our chaperones. “Could we get a little privacy?”

With only the briefest falter, our guards obediently shifted to face the other way. A lightning bolt worked its way through me at the authority in Chris’s tone, the indisputable way he asserted our status.

Looking back at me through his lashes, he quirked one eyebrow almost playfully. “Better?” he asked, his voice nothing more than a whisper.

I barely managed to nod before he dipped his head once more and devoured my parted lips.