Chapter 184

Ava

The afternoon sun hung high in the sky as I made my way to the mansion’s communal bath house, eager to relax after the tense morning. Crescent Moon was known for their rich bath salts, made from the plants and herbs grown in their forests, and I was looking forward to trying it for myself.

As I stepped inside, the steam and scent of herbal salts filled the air, a heady mixture of lavender, rosemary, and something earthy I couldn’t quite place—basil, maybe? Either way, it instantly relaxed my tired muscles.

The bath house was empty, its stone walls echoing with the gentle sound of flowing water coming from an ornate faucet at the center of the large pool. I slipped out of my robe and eased myself into the hot water, sighing in relief as the warmth enveloped me. The tension in my muscles began to ease, and I closed my eyes, letting the stress of the day melt away.

As I soaked, my mind wandered to the situation with Bernard. He had been locked up in his office all morning, considering our proposal. I hoped he would accept our offer of friendship and cooperation. The future of both our packs could depend on it.

I tried to imagine what it would be like if we could work together, sharing resources and knowledge. It could be the start of something truly remarkable, and perhaps Patricia and I could even become friends over time.

Suddenly, I saw a face in the steam, and my heart leapt into my throat upon seeing those beady eyes and blonde hair.

Olivia.

I tensed, instinctively gripping the edge of the pool behind me. What was she doing here? And why? How…?

But as the steam cleared, I realized that it was just Patricia who was standing in her robe in front of me, her hair wrapped in a yellow silk scarf to protect it from the steam. Dammit, I thought to myself, feeling like a fool. My nerves had gotten the best of me.

“Oh!” Patricia exclaimed, looking equally surprised to see me. “I’m sorry, I didn’t expect anyone to be here.”

I relaxed, sinking back into the water. “It’s alright. Please, join me if you’d like.”

Patricia hesitated for a moment before nodding and slipping out of her bathrobe to reveal a slender, almost waifish body. She slipped into the water across from me, her pale skin turning pink as soon as the hot water washed over her. We sat in silence for a while, the only sound the gentle lapping of water against the stone sides of the pool.

Finally, Patricia spoke. “I wanted to thank you for your offer earlier. My father is still considering it, but... I think he’ll accept.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Really? That’s wonderful news. Has he said anything specific about it?”

She shook her head and moved her hand beneath the water, sending small ripples across the surface. “Not directly, but I can tell he’s impressed. He keeps muttering about ‘innovative thinking’ when he thinks no one’s listening.”

I couldn’t help but smile at that. “Well, that’s something, at least,” I replied. “I know what Chris and I did may never make us friends, but I want to do everything I can to show that I’m sorry. We never meant to hurt anyone.”

“Truthfully,” Patricia said, “I’m excited to work with you. I hope we can share some fruit cultivation techniques.”

“I’d love that.”

Patricia was quiet for a moment after that, her fingers tracing patterns in the water. “Can I ask you something? About you and Chris?”

I nodded, curious about what she wanted to know.

“How did you two meet? Fall in love?” she asked. “I mean, if it’s not too personal.”

I shook my head. “No, not at all,” I replied. “Actually, since I was ten years older than Chris, I was his babysitter as kids. But when he turned eight, he moved away to the human world. I didn’t see him again until about six months ago.”

“How did you wind up seeing him again?”

“Well…” I paused, hesitating to tell the truth, but decided to just be honest. “My husband cheated on me—I found him in a hotel in the human world with my best friend.” I shuddered at the thought of that day. “But that night, I met a handsome stranger at the bar, and… well, the rest is history.”

Patricia’s eyes widened. “That’s so romantic; like it was written in the stars.”

I chuckled. “I’ve never thought of it that way, but yes. I suppose it was.”

“And that night,” she asked, “Did you know it was him?”

I shook my head, chuckling. “Not at first. It was quite a shock when I found out. I remember thinking, ‘Oh great, I’ve gone and fallen for the one person I probably shouldn’t have.’”

“But you made it work anyway,” Patricia said softly.

“We did. It wasn’t easy at first, but... when you find the right person, you fight for them.”

Patricia nodded, seemingly lost in thought. Then she asked, “And the age difference... it doesn’t bother you?”

I shrugged, the water lapping at my shoulders as I did. “It did at first. I was worried about what people would think, whether it was appropriate. But Chris has never cared about it, and eventually, I realized it didn’t matter to me either. We’re both consenting adults, and we couldn’t deny our feelings for each other.”

“Older men are allowed to date younger women all of the time. I see no problem with your situation,” Patricia said thoughtfully. Then, her expression turned curious again. “Have you two thought about having children?”

I felt myself tense at the question, my relaxation from earlier quickly evaporating. “Oh, I... I don’t know. I think I might be getting too old for that. I’m almost thirty-six.”

Patricia shook her head emphatically. “You’re not too old! My mother had me when she was forty-three, and I turned out just fine. With proper health care, a werewolf woman can have a baby at a much later age than most people think.”

I tried to keep my voice neutral, even as my heart raced at the thought. “That’s good to know. But really, I don’t care if I don’t have kids. Chris and I are happy as we are.”

Patricia gave me a knowing look through the steam, and I could feel my cheeks heating up. “If you say so,” she said, standing and letting rivulets of water run down her bare skin. “But the way your cheeks turn pink when you talk about it tells me differently…”

I felt a lump form in my throat as I watched Patricia step out of the bath. Was I that transparent? I mean, I had obviously considered it before, but I didn’t think it was that obvious how much I secretly craved a little family…

As she wrapped herself in a towel, she turned back to me. “Thank you for the chat, Ava. And for everything you’re doing to help us. I know it’s not easy for any of us, but... I’m glad you came to visit.”

With that, she left, leaving me alone with my thoughts once more. I couldn’t help but let my mind wander to the idea of having children with Chris. Of course, we would need to get married first.

And then we’d have to think about how best to conceive…

I closed my eyes, sinking deeper into the water until it came up to my chin. It had been a while since Chris and I had been intimate, what with all the stress and chaos lately. I found myself squirming slightly as I pictured making love to him, his strong hands on my body, his lips on my skin…

The image was so vivid, I could almost feel his touch. I imagined his fingers trailing down my stomach, lower and lower... My breath hitched, and I felt a familiar warmth building inside of me that had nothing to do with the bath water.

In my mind, Chris was there with me, his body pressed against mine in the warm water. I could almost hear his voice, low and husky, whispering my name.

My hand drifted lower, almost of its own accord, and my fingers began to swirl in slow circles in just the right spot. My lips parted, a soft moan escaping my throat…

But then, suddenly, I heard the door open.