Chapter 164

Ava

I woke up feeling more refreshed than I had in weeks—maybe even longer—despite the hard floor beneath me. The warmth of the fire had faded, but Chris’s arms were still wrapped tightly around me. As I stirred, he opened his eyes, a slow smile spreading across his face.

“Morning,” he murmured, his hand absently reaching for the moonstone that still hung around his neck almost as if he were checking to make sure it was still there.

I touched it gently as the events of the previous night flooded back. “I can’t believe we actually got it back.”

Chris nodded, sitting up and stretching. “I’m never letting it out of my sight again. We can’t risk losing it a second time.”

As we got ready for the day, there was a lightness in the air that had been missing for far too long. Even the news that Olivia had managed to slip away again couldn’t dampen our spirits entirely.

“We’ll instate a guard around the borders,” Chris decided as we headed out of the Packhouse. “Just in case she tries to come back. But honestly, without the moonstone, she’s less of a threat now.”

I nodded in agreement. Olivia could still cause issues, but with the moonstone back in our possession and her cohort still locked away in our cells, she was far less of an issue now. “Do you think the blight will start to fade now?” I asked.

“I certainly hope so,” Chris said, his fingers once again touching the stone. “We’ll keep an eye on it over the next few days.”

With Olivia gone and the moonstone returned, life in Moonstone began to settle into a new rhythm over the next few days. Leonard was able to return to his farm, which meant I could finally move back into my own house.

“Are you sure you don't want to stay at the Packhouse?” Chris asked as he helped me carry my suitcase up my front steps.

I shook my head. “I think it’s time I had my own space again. Besides, you’re only a short walk away.”

Chris nodded, although I could see the tiniest pang of sadness in his eyes. “Just don’t forget to make room for me,” he said with a wink. “I plan on moving in sooner rather than later.”

As I settled back into my house, Ophelia stopped by to say goodbye. She was heading to Leonard’s farm to stay with him for a while—the two were damn near inseparable, and his farm had clearly created an impact on her.

“I’ll miss having you around,” I admitted, hugging her tightly.

Ophelia laughed and patted the top of Princess’s head. “Don’t worry, darling. I’m sure we’ll see each other plenty. You can’t get rid of me that easily.”

That first evening alone in my house felt exciting, but also strange. After so much time surrounded by others, the silence was almost deafening. Even though I was glad to have some time to myself, I found myself missing the constant chatter and noise that had filled my days as of late.

Struck by a sudden idea, I pulled out my phone and sent a group text to Chris, Leonard, and Ophelia: “Dinner at my place tonight? I’ll provide the food if you bring the drinks.”

Their responses came quickly:

Chris: “Wouldn’t miss it.”

Leonard: “We’ll be there. Ophelia says she’s bringing her first batch of homemade cheese.”

Ophelia: “It’s a little ugly, but it tastes good, I promise!”

I spent the afternoon preparing dinner, the familiar routine of cooking helping to ground me. By the time my friends arrived, the house was filled with the aroma of roasting chicken and herbs.

“Something smells amazing,” Chris said as he walked in, pulling me in for a quick kiss.

Leonard and Ophelia weren’t far behind, arms laden with lumps of cheese that barely resembled wheels—but, just as Ophelia promised, tasted delicious with crackers and wine. We gathered around the table, falling into easy conversation as we ate.

After dinner, we moved to the backyard. Leonard set up the horseshoes while Ophelia and I prepared the fire pit.

“I can’t remember the last time I did this,” I admitted as I skewered a marshmallow.

Ophelia grinned and handed a piece of graham cracker to Princess, who ate it daintily in her lap. “Then you’re in for a treat, darling. There’s nothing quite like s’mores under the stars.”

As we sat around the fire, taking turns at horseshoes and eating sweet s’mores, I rested my head on Chris’s shoulder and let out a contented sigh.

Finally… Peace at last.

…

The next few days passed in a blur of activity. Chris and I began planning our tour of the remaining three packs, poring over maps and itineraries. We drafted up letters to each pack, hoping that they would accept our requests to visit.

“We should aim to visit each pack for at least a week,” Chris said, marking dates on a calendar. “That will give us enough time to really get to know them and understand their needs.”

I nodded, making notes on my clipboard. “And what about the summit? When should we schedule that?”

Chris thought for a moment. “The autumn equinox could work. We could schedule the summit for the day of the Harvest Festival—invite everyone who wants to come. It’ll be huge.”

With our plans taking shape, we called a council meeting to present our ideas to the Elders. As we stood in front of them, side by side, I wrung my hands nervously behind my back but maintained a schooled expression.

“Alpha Chris and I have been discussing ways to strengthen our relationships with the other packs,” I began. “We believe a tour of the remaining three packs would be beneficial.”

Chris continued, “Following the tour, we propose holding a summit during the autumn equinox on the day of the Harvest Festival. All five packs would be invited to Moonstone to discuss shared concerns and forge stronger alliances.”

“And, hopefully, to put strained pasts behind us,” I finished.

There was a long, weighted silence after our speech. All five Elders had thoughtful expressions on their faces—even Elise, who still refused to refer to me as ‘Luna’, seemed to be thinking deeply.

“I think this could be an excellent opportunity for Moonstone,” Bradley said, nodding approvingly.

Claire agreed, “It would certainly help to establish our pack as a leader among the five.”

“I concur,” Fatima agreed, tapping her chin. “It will be quite the task to host so many people here in Moonstone, though…”

Paul leaned forward in his chair. “Perhaps we can use that large, empty field behind Leonard’s farm—the one that he’s leaving fallow this year.”

“That’s not a bad idea, Paul,” Chris said with a nod, then turned to Elise. “And you, Elise? Do you have any thoughts?”

Elise was stone-still for some time, making my heart pound in my chest. For several moments, I dreaded what she might say: that it was a stupid idea, that we were making a mistake by bringing all five packs together like this…

But, once again, Elise surprised me.

“I like this plan,” she said slowly. “In fact, I have a suggestion that could make it even more beneficial for our pack.”

All eyes turned to her, curious. Elise’s lips curved into a slight smile as she leaned forward in her chair. “Perhaps we could use this summit as an opportunity to draw Olivia back to Moonstone,” she said. “With all five packs gathered, she might not be able to resist the temptation to make an appearance.”

Chris’s eyes widened, the realization dawning on him. “It could be our chance to catch her once and for all.”