Chapter 28

Ava

“This is why I’m proposing a five-step plan,” Chris announced, standing at the head of the meeting table. “Five steps to help integrate the Omegas into society without upending our entire pack.”

The Elders, seated around the large oaken table, glanced at each other wordlessly. I could sense the silent exchanges between them; they were nervous. This decree, after all, had sparked an unprecedented change in our pack.

“And what, pray tell, are the five steps?” Elder Elise asked, leaning forward on her elbows.

“Yes,” Elder Degas chimed in with his gravelly, weathered voice. “We need to know the specifics.”

Chris nodded. “Of course. The five steps are as follows…”

Over the following half hour, Chris went into excruciating—and impressive—detail on his plan. The plan began with his decree on fair wages and humane treatment. The second step involved forming an Omega task force to help those in need.

Third, Chris would implement an educational program that would aid any disenfranchised Omegas in receiving the necessary training and certifications for various career paths, followed by the fourth step being equal opportunity initiatives in those career paths pack-wide.

“And then, finally, step five would include a formal decree allowing Omegas to own land, run their own businesses, and mate with whomever they desire.”

A gasp rippled across the room at his final words. Owning land and running businesses was progressive enough, but to allow free marriage was an incredibly optimistic ideal.

“Do you mean to imply that the Omegas should be allowed to marry those of… other social statuses?” Elder Fatima breathed.

“Chris, this goes completely against tradition,” Elder Claire chimed in. “Omegas have never been allowed to marry outside of their own social class. Ever.”

Even I was dumbfounded. This was the first I had heard of this plan, especially in regards to marriage. Elder Claire was right; throughout our history, Omegas only ever married other Omegas.

It wasn’t that I thought it was a bad idea, though—I had always thought of that tradition being just as ridiculous and antiquated as many of the others—but rather that I wondered what Chris was getting at. If he changed the rules involving Omega marriage, then what other rules would he try to change?

Almost as if on cue, all of the eyes suddenly turned toward me. “Ava?” Elder Degas asked. “What are your thoughts on this, as Acting Luna?”

I swallowed, suddenly feeling the weight of all of their gazes on me. Chris’s, in particular, stood above the rest.

“Yes, Ava,” Chris said softly. “I’d like to hear your thoughts. Your opinion is important to me.”

For a few moments, I just sat there, unsure of how to respond. As everyone blinked at me expectantly, I felt my heart pound in my chest—although I couldn’t quite decide if it was the sudden attention or the implications of Chris’s decree on marriage that was making me nervous.

Finally, I spoke.

“It’s… unconventional,” I said, my voice coming across as stronger than I really felt. “But I like it. I think it’s about time we make these changes, and so long as they’re implemented correctly and in a steady manner, I think that it will benefit our pack in the long run.”

Elder Elise let out a small scoff. “Well, it will certainly take a long time just to implement the first few steps of your plan,” she said, looking over at Chris. “But perhaps Ava is right; out with the old, in with the new, I say.”

“I agree,” Bradley chimed in as he nervously ran his hands through his red hair. “But, Alpha Chris, if you plan to leave our pack again in the midst of a process as lengthy as this one…”

Elder Bradley’s voice trailed off then, and another heavy silence fell over the room. I watched with bated breath as Chris grappled with his response, wondering what he might choose. Maybe this would be it. Maybe this five-step plan of his would finally make him stay.

“Don’t worry,” he finally said, pressing his palms flat into the oaken table. “I’ll be sure to choose an Alpha who will be capable of taking on the task.”

…

I stood in the middle of my empty living room, looking around at the familiar surroundings. Nothing had changed; the sofa was still sitting beneath the bay window, the rocking chair in the corner still had a handmade blanket laying over it, and the worn rug still covered the hardwood floors.

But somehow, it felt… empty.

Chris had said those words so suddenly the other day as we were drying ourselves off in the cavern: “So I suppose it won’t be a problem if I move into the Packhouse now?”

I had blinked up at him in the glowing light of the cavern, shocked by his sudden words—they had been more of a declaration than a question. “What?” I had asked.

Chris had shrugged as he pulled on his boxers, followed by his pants. “I need to be closer to my office in the Packhouse,” he said. “The search for a replacement Alpha and Beta, not to mention the new changes with the Omegas, is going to take a lot of time and effort.”

“So you’re moving into the Packhouse?” I had asked. “Just like that?”

Chris nodded. It wasn’t exactly an unheard-of idea; after all, there was a small apartment situated in the Packhouse precisely for this reason. It wasn’t uncommon in the slightest for an Alpha to keep the Packhouse apartment on the side for those nights that work ran late. Hell, even Ethan had often used the Packhouse apartment on occasion.

Although, I knew now that those late nights at the apartment had been for more than just work. He had been sleeping with Olivia there.

“I think it’s better this way,” Chris had said as he slipped his shirt back over his head. “Plus, you can have your house back.”

And as I stood here now, looking over my quiet house, I knew that Chris was right. It did feel good to have my home back, and to have some peace and quiet after everything that happened.

Or at least, that was how it felt at first. But now that it had been a few hours, and now that the sun had gone down, it was beginning to hit me—the loneliness.

This was the first time I had lived in this house on my own, and it was the first time that I had truly been alone since Ethan had left. And while I was still glad to have him out of my life, I couldn’t deny the fact that being here, by myself, was depressing.

Maybe that was why, when I looked over and saw the wine bottles sitting in the rack, I popped one open.

As I poured the dark red liquid into a glass, I couldn’t help but shake my head at myself. “Ava, you sentimental fool,” I murmured before taking a sip. The wine was dry and fragrant, just the way I liked it.

I settled down onto the couch, shutting my eyes for a few moments and simply listening to the crickets beneath the window. Before I knew it, I was taking another sip, and then another, and then soon my glass was empty.

Time seemed to slip away as I lounged there in silence, just listening to the sounds of the world outside. My consciousness started to grow soft and fuzzy around the edges, my vision blurring ever so slightly whenever I turned my head.

I’m not sure why I did what I did next; maybe it was the alcohol. Maybe that was the only logical explanation for closing my eyes and biting my lower lip, imagining my splendid night with Chris. The way our bodies tangled together, the way his hips moved expertly, knowing every angle and every depth that would make me arch my back in ecstasy…

When I eventually felt a warmth stirring in the pit of my belly, and just below that, a hot blush crept into my cheeks. I cracked my eyes open to find that I was not in bed with him, but I was instead still sitting on my couch in the dark living room.

The loneliness struck me harder than ever at that moment. I blinked back tears and took another swig of my wine.

And without thinking, I slipped my phone out of my pocket and sent a single text.

“Come over?”