Chapter 249

Ava

The gentle purr of the boat’s engine and the lapping of the dark water against the hull were the only sounds breaking the eerie silence of the night. I shivered, drawing Chris’s coat tighter around my shoulders. The air was crisp and breezy tonight, cooler than it had been as of late.

“Are you cold?” Chris asked, glancing at me over his shoulder.

I nodded, moving to stand beside him at the wheel. “A little. How much longer?”

Chris’s eyes scanned the horizon, his knuckles tightening around the steering wheel. “We’re almost there. Maybe another half hour or so.”

We had been on the boat for several hours now, our journey taking us far from the familiar shores of Moonstone. First, we had headed all the way to the center of the strait separating the human and werewolf continents; to outsiders or anyone watching, it looked as though we were headed toward the human cities.

And then, once we were certain we couldn’t be seen by prying eyes, we switched boats. We met one of Alpha Fabian’s associates, who took our original speedboat and handed over the dingy fishing boat that would serve as our cover.

Then, we turned east to make a wide berth back around the werewolf continent.

Now, we were approaching the eastern beach of Moonstone territory, an area rarely used—perfect for our secret return. But we still needed to be cautious and not draw any attention, so we moved slowly and carefully, maintaining a zig-zag pattern.

To the untrained eye, we were nothing more than a boring little fishing boat, swerving around in search of one last catch for the day.

Ophelia leaned forward, squinting into the darkness. “I can’t see a damn thing,” she muttered. “I wish I had your werewolf night vision.”

I patted her arm sympathetically. “Don’t worry, we’re getting close. I can just make out the coastline now.”

As we drew nearer to the shore, Chris cut the engine, letting the boat drift silently. The lack of lights made our approach even stealthier, although it also made navigation more challenging. But Chris guided us expertly, years of driving NASCAR serving him well.

Finally, we approached an abandoned dock. As Chris maneuvered the boat alongside it, I could make out two figures emerging from the shadows on the beach.

“There they are,” I whispered, instant relief washing over me.

Leonard and Patrick materialized from the darkness, their forms becoming clearer as we drew closer. They helped us off the boat and then the three men quietly maneuvered the boat into an outcrop of reeds nearby, none of us saying a word until we were all on dry land and hidden from view.

“Good to see you made it,” Leonard said, his voice low as he pulled Ophelia into a tight hug.

“Let’s move,” Chris said without preamble. “We shouldn’t linger here.”

Chris was right. We made our way along the dark beach, moving quickly and quietly. We were so close now, so close to ending this ordeal, and we couldn’t afford to ruin it now.

After about fifteen minutes of walking, we reached the entrance to a familiar cave. I smiled despite myself, remembering the last time we had been here—swimming in the bioluminescent waters, carefree and happy. Oh, how things had changed since then.

As we entered the cave, I gasped softly. The space had been transformed into a makeshift headquarters. Computer screens glowed softly in one corner, casting a blue light over stacks of supplies and makeshift beds. The bioluminescent algae and fungus that naturally decorated the cave walls stood in stark contrast to the various accouterments, but it seemed oddly cozy.

“Welcome to our temporary home,” Patrick said, gesturing around with a flourish. “It’s not the Ritz, but it’ll do for now.”

Chris whistled low, clearly impressed. “You’ve outdone yourself, you two. This is incredible.”

Leonard perked up a bit at the praise. “Well, we wanted it to be nice—just in case we wind up having to hide out here longer than anticipated.” Ophelia shot him a withering glare and he quickly added, “Unlikely, but it’s good to be prepared.”

We gathered around the bank of computer screens, where Patrick had set up an impressive array of surveillance equipment. Multiple camera feeds showed different areas of Moonstone, from the town square to the outskirts of the forest.

“I’ve got eyes all over town,” Patrick explained as he switched between feeds. “Any sign of trouble, and we’ll know about it immediately.”

For the next few hours, we took turns watching the feeds, our eyes straining in the dim light of the cave. The town remained quiet, the streets empty save for the occasional patrol. It was surreal, watching our home from this detached perspective, knowing that tomorrow everything could change.

But as the night wore on, the tension in my body began to build. I found myself pacing the cave, my nerves bristling with each step. Chris noticed my restlessness and suggested we take a break.

“Why don’t we go for a swim?” he proposed, nodding toward the bioluminescent pool. “It might help us relax a bit.”

The idea was tempting, and soon enough, we were all stripping down to our underwear and slipping into the cool, glowing water. As I submerged myself, the world seemed to fall away. The water enveloped me in its soft, blue-green light, like a bioluminescent cocoon.

I dove deeper, relishing the weightlessness. A small, glowing frog swam past me, its tiny body leaving a trail of light in its wake. I reached my fingers out, and it skittered away, its long legs jerking behind it.

For a moment, I forgot about the impending confrontation, forgot about everything.

When I surfaced, pushing my wet hair out of my eyes, I caught Chris watching me from across the pool. A soft smile played on his lips, but I could see the worry lurking in his eyes. I swam over to him, reaching out to gently cup his face in my hands. Neither of us said a word, although the way he wrapped his arms around my waist beneath the water and hauled me up against his body spoke volumes.

We stayed in the water for a while longer, letting the coolness soothe our worries. But eventually, exhaustion began to creep in, and we knew we needed sleep before tomorrow came.

Chris and I made our way to the secluded offshoot of the cave where our sleeping area was set up. The makeshift bed wasn’t the most comfortable thing in the world, but it would do for the night. We lay down, our bodies naturally curling toward each other.

I looked up at the cave ceiling, marveling at the patterns created by the bioluminescent fungus. It was like looking at a starry sky, but one that pulsed and shifted with an ethereal light.

“What are you thinking about?” Chris asked, his cool fingers tracing lazy patterns on my arm.

I turned to face him, drinking in the sight of his face in the soft, blue-green glow. “Everything,” I admitted. “I’m scared, Chris. What if something goes wrong tomorrow?”

Chris pulled me closer, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “We’ve done everything we can to prepare. We have to believe it will be enough.”

“And if it’s not?” I couldn’t help but voice the fear that had been gnawing at me. I wanted to tell him about my fear of pregnancy, and I almost did, but… I couldn’t. I had to wait until this was all over before I even found out for myself, let alone told him. It would just add another layer of worry, another life to protect. I couldn’t handle it.

“Then we’ll handle it,” he whispered, brushing his lips across my temple. “It’s what we always do, isn’t it? You and me, always.”

His words warmed me from the inside out, chasing away some of the cold dread that had settled in my stomach. I leaned in, capturing his lips in a soft kiss that quickly deepened, becoming more urgent.

We made love slowly, tenderly, silently, our bodies moving together in the soft glow of the cave. It was as if we were trying to memorize every touch, every sensation, storing it away in case the worst should happen tomorrow.

Afterwards, we lay tangled together, our breathing slowly returning to normal. The events of the day and the late hour began to catch up with me, and I felt my eyelids growing heavy.

“Sleep, love,” Chris murmured, pulling me closer. “Tomorrow will be here soon enough.”

Soon enough, I thought. I almost hoped it would never come.