Chapter 205

Ava

After hours of driving with no end in sight, the caravan finally pulled into a small roadside shop for a much-needed rest. I stretched, feeling the stiffness in my muscles from the long drive. Chris opened the door for me, and I stepped out, breathing in the fresh air.

“We’ll take a short break here,” Chris announced to our security team. “Stock up on supplies, use the restroom, whatever you need. We’ll head out again in an hour.”

I paused, my neck cracking as I stretched, and peered up at the massive mountain looming in the distance. Chris appeared at my side and placed his hands on his hips, following my gaze.

“Crescent Moon sure is out in the boonies, isn’t it?” he asked, scratching his head.

I nodded. “Still a few hours at least before we reach the base of the mountain.”

“And then the hike,” Chris added with a small, wry chuckle.

I almost shuddered at the thought. Crescent Moon pack wasn’t just isolationist for the fun of it; their territory, located at the top of the tallest mountain on the continent, couldn’t even be reached by vehicle. We’d need to hike for a full day, spend the night on the trail, then hike for another half day before we reached it.

“How do they even get supplies up there?” Chris asked.

“They don’t.” I shot him a narrow glance over my shoulder. “They’re very self-sufficient.”

He nodded. “Well, I guess they have to be. I’ll be curious to see how the culture differs from here. I’ve never had the pleasure of visiting Crescent Moon.”

“Neither have I,” I said, swallowing as I followed Chris toward the shop. I wondered how Alpha Winston would react to our unwanted visit; likely not very pleasantly. Although, I doubted he would punish us or send us away immediately. He wasn’t completely irrational.

As we entered the shop, the bell above the door jingled. It was a quaint little place, filled with an eclectic mix of everyday necessities and touristy knick-knacks. I wandered the aisles, my eyes catching on a small display near the counter.

There, nestled among other trinkets, was a small wolf figurine carved from what looked like quartz. Its eyes were tiny chips of amber, giving it an almost lifelike quality. Without hesitation, I picked it up, immediately thinking of Chris.

“Find something interesting?” Chris’s voice came from behind me.

I quickly hid the figurine behind my back, turning to face him with a smile. “Just looking,” I said innocently.

Chris raised an eyebrow but didn't press the issue. “I’m going to grab some snacks for the road. Need anything?”

I told him what I wanted, and he wandered off toward the food aisle. I quickly paid for the figurine, tucking it safely in my pocket. I would give it to him later, I decided, when the moment was right. A little show of my affection for him.

As I waited for Chris to finish his shopping, I found myself drawn to the large window at the front of the store. The forest beyond the parking lot looked inviting, the trees swaying gently in the breeze. I felt a sudden urge to be out there, to feel the earth beneath my feet.

Chris appeared beside me, following my gaze. “Want to go for a run?” he asked, almost as though reading my mind.

I sighed. “I didn’t bring my running shoes.”

He chuckled and nudged me with his elbow. “I meant in our wolf forms, Ava.”

“Oh,” I said, feeling a bit foolish all of a sudden. The thought hadn’t even occurred to me, and my cheeks flushed at the idea. “I... I haven’t shifted fully in a long time,” I finally admitted.

Chris’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “How long?”

I had to think about it for a moment. “Years, actually. The pack became very modernized during Ethan’s leadership. Hardly anyone shifted during that time. Cars and phones became more commonplace, and shifting... well, it just wasn’t necessary anymore.”

“And to think you were so adamant about me getting my own wolf form back,” Chris replied with a chuckle.

I nodded, feeling a twinge of guilt at the reminder. “I know. I can drop my fangs and claws, but it’s just been so long, I’m not sure if I could shift fully anymore. Not without practice, at least.”

“Well, let’s find out, then,” he said, already taking my hand. “Let’s go.”

Before I could protest, he was leading me out of the store and toward the edge of the dark, lush forest. Once we were hidden from view of the road, he stopped and shrugged off his jacket, tossing it in a heap on the ground. He stretched, his bones creaking from hours of sitting in the car.

“Ready?” he asked.

I nodded, watching intently as, in one fluid motion, he shifted with an ease that he hadn’t possessed when he first returned to Moonstone. Where my boyfriend had stood moments before, there was now a magnificent white wolf towering over me.

I grinned, reaching for him. He padded over to me, nudging my hand with his snout. I ran my fingers through his thick fur, marveling at the velvety softness, and pressed my forehead against his for a moment before pulling away.

Your turn, he seemed to say with nothing more than his eyes.

Nodding, I took a deep breath, steeling myself. I closed my eyes and reached for that part of myself that I had neglected for so long, and waited.

Nothing happened.

I frowned, concentrating harder. I could feel my wolf stirring inside of me, but it was like trying to grasp smoke. Every time I thought I had a hold on it, it slipped away.

After several minutes of fruitless effort, I opened my eyes, feeling both defeated and frustrated. “I can’t do it,” I said, plopping down onto a nearby stump with a huff.

Chris, still in his wolf form, said nothing. I rested my head in my hands for a moment, pressing the heels of my palms into my eyes. When I looked back up, I found him approaching me, his paws padding softly against the leaves.

“I’m sorry,” I muttered. “I’d love to run with you, but…”

He shook his head and lay down on the forest floor, silently inviting me to just be quiet and still with him. Nodding, I leaned against his warm, furry body and tangled my fingers in his ivory fur. The steady rise and fall of his breathing was soothing, and I found myself relaxing despite my earlier frustration.

We just stayed like that for a while, listening to the peaceful sounds of the forest. The birds were chirping happily, oblivious to all the turmoil in the world, and the wind rustled so softly through the leaves that it felt like the trees were trying to whisper their secrets to each other.

As we sat there, I buried my face in Chris’s fur and inhaled deeply—that musky, unique scent of his filled my senses, making all the muscles, all the tension coiled tightly in my body, ebb away.

I couldn’t wait to shift, to finally mark him as mine, to finally feel that primal connection between our souls. But it wasn’t happening today.

After a while, I felt Chris shift beneath me. His wolf form melted away, replaced by his human one. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me close against his chest.

“We should probably head back soon,” he murmured, his breath warm against my ear.

I nodded, but made no move to get up. Chris didn't seem to be in any hurry either. His lips found my neck, pressing gentle kisses along my skin. I shivered at the sensation and felt a familiar warmth stirring between my thighs.

“We’ll keep practicing,” he said between kisses. “You’ll shift again, Ava. I promise.”

“Thank you,” I whispered, tilting my head back to look up at him.

Chris smiled, leaning in to capture my lips in a deep, passionate kiss. When we finally parted, both a little breathless, he stood and held out his hand to me.

“Come on,” he said. “Let’s get back before the security team sends out a search party.”

I took his hand, allowing him to pull me to my feet. As I stood, I remembered the little wolf figurine in my pocket. Now seemed like as good a time as any, I supposed.

“Chris, wait,” I said, reaching into my pocket. “I got something for you.”

I pulled out the figurine, holding it out to him. Chris’s eyes widened as he took it, turning it over in his hands.

“Ava, this is beautiful,” he said softly. “Is this why you were being so secretive in the shop?”

I nodded, suddenly feeling a bit shy for reasons unbeknownst to me. “I saw it and thought of you. The white wolf, with amber eyes... It reminded me of your wolf.”

Chris blinked at me, and for a moment, I thought I saw his fingers moving toward his own pocket—as if to pull something out. My breath caught, and I wondered… But no. He simply pulled me into another kiss, this one soft and sweet. “I love it," he said when we parted. “And I love you.”

Hand in hand, we made our way back to the cars, which were waiting for us in the parking lot.