Chapter 40

Ava

My heart felt lighter than air as Chris and I made our way back toward the car, our fingers brushing occasionally. My lips still burned with the sensation of our kiss, the kiss that I had initiated.

And even though I knew it was wrong, I couldn’t help but smile.

There was no stopping the contented smile that tugged at my lips. This whole day had been like something out of a dream—the breathtaking hidden overlook, the quiet talks and shared secrets, that heart-stopping kiss that had finally bridged the gap between us.

My cheeks flushed hotly at the memory, and I snuck a sideways glance at Chris from beneath my lashes. His expression was equally blissful, those green eyes slightly unfocused in a way that made it clear his mind was wandering as well—hopefully to the same place.

Part of me wondered if I should say something. If I should address what had happened.

But another part of me couldn’t seem to find the words. Every time I opened my mouth to speak, nothing would come. Finally, I gave up and just decided to enjoy the moments, even if they only lasted until the end of this walk.

When we finally arrived back at the car, Chris opened the passenger side door for me. I climbed in and when he came around to the driver’s side and put the keys in the ignition, I glanced over at him with a blush in my cheeks.

“That was a nice date.”

A lazy, lopsided smile tugged at his lips as he put the car in drive. “I can take you on more, you know,” he said, pulling away from the side of the road. “If you’d want.”

I bit back a giddy grin, trying and failing to suppress the swirl of butterflies in my stomach. Goddess, I felt like a lovesick teenager. I was too old for this. But there was no denying it.

“I think I can allow that,” I managed.

We drove in comfortable silence, the only sound that of the crackling radio and the tires crunching along the road. All too quickly, we pulled back into my driveway and Chris put the car in park. I had a fleeting idea, a thought driven by the same thing Leonard had felt—loneliness.

“Chris?” I turned to him, swallowing against the hard knot in my throat. “Would you… like to come inside for a nightcap?”

His green eyes seemed to flicker with excitement, and he nodded without skipping a beat. “If it means having another taste of that delicious homemade wine, then yes.”

Struggling to contain my grin—and my shame—I climbed out of the car. Together, Chris and I made our way up the path to the front door. The cottage was dark, but I knew it would only be a matter of time before it was glowing with a warm fire and the sound of laughter and the scent of fresh-baked bread filled the walls.

But before we reached the front steps, a familiar voice rang out.

“There you two are!”

I whirled at the sound, abruptly sobered as Elder Elise hurried across the lawn to intercept us with a deep furrow between her eyebrows. Her presence instantly made my heart race. We hadn’t been found out, had we?

“Elise,” I said, pulling my shoulders back and instinctively taking a step away from Chris. “What brings you here?”

“We’ve been searching for you all day,” she said, glancing pointedly between the two of us. “Where have you been?”

A sinking feeling settled in the pit of my stomach, but I kept my expression neutral. “We were just inspecting the pack border,” Chris answered for me. “It took longer than expected.”

Elise pursed her lips, her gaze darting between me and Chris. For a moment, I feared she might call us out on our lie—but then her features smoothed out into an exasperated sigh.

“Well, you’ll need to change quickly and join us in the Packhouse,” she said. “It was meant to be a surprise, but… we have some visitors who have arrived ahead of schedule, and you’re expected to welcome them.”

I frowned. Surprises? Visitors? This was unprecedented.

“What’s all this for?” Chris asked, taking a step forward. “You never mentioned any visitors.”

Elise let out a sigh. “Like I said, it was meant to be a surprise. We were planning on greeting them tomorrow afternoon, and we had a luncheon prepared for all of you. But they’ve arrived tonight, and it would be rather… uncouth if we were not to at least provide a cocktail hour.”

Chris shook his head and glanced at me, his green eyes lowering with disappointment. I was disappointed, too. But maybe this was fate, I told myself; maybe this was the universe getting in the way of another mistake.

“Alright,” I said, lifting my chin to meet Elise’s gaze. “We’ll be there soon.”

…

It wasn’t long before we were striding side by side through the corridor of the Packhouse, my hand resting stiffly in the crook of Chris’s elbow per custom. I had cleaned myself up and picked out a simple black cocktail dress, something classy but not too over the top.

“This is ridiculous,” Chris muttered as we made our way down the hall, the sounds of the dinner party growing louder.

I gave his arm the lightest squeeze. “It’s part of being an Alpha.”

“Well, I don’t like surprises,” he said.

As we stopped in front of the doors leading to the banquet hall, I turned to Chris and adjusted his tie. “It’s only a formality,” I assured him. “And it’ll make the Elders happy. Besides, maybe you’ll see an old friend.”

Chris let out a derisive snort. “I don’t remember anyone here, really.”

“You seem to have not stopped thinking about me all this time.” I looked up at him through my lashes, my lips still burning for another kiss.

“You’re the only one,” he muttered.

Without another word, Chris stepped forward to pull the massive double doors open, and I followed behind him, a polite smile on my face to greet our guests—whoever they may be. Inside, the hall was a flurry of warm light and movement—servants scurrying around with trays of drinks and hors d’oeuvres, pockets of attendees chatting amongst themselves.

And at the head of it all stood the Elders, almost in a line, various drinks clasped in their hands. As we approached, they all lifted their heads. Elise nodded to us, a broad smile gracing her lips as she turned to the side to reveal someone else.

There was a girl standing there. Young, extraordinarily beautiful, and dressed to the nines.

Slender and willowy, the young woman stood with her shoulders back and her sharp chin tilted upward, snowy white hair falling in artful waves and pale blue eyes radiating a piercing sort of intelligence far too old for her youthful features.

Chris and I stepped forward, a bit hesitantly at the presence of this stranger. It was clear that Chris didn’t recognize her, or if he did, he certainly didn’t know from where. But that wasn’t all that was clear to me.

I knew it right away. I supposed I had known it from the start, the moment that I had seen the twinkle in Elise’s eyes outside my cottage. This was no mere social gathering.

“Ah, Alpha Chris,” Elise said, bowing her head respectfully first at him, then at me. “Acting Luna Ava. I’d like to introduce you to our esteemed guest: Lily, daughter of the Alpha of Moonrise Pack.”

The young woman stepped forward and extended her gloved hand. Her bright blue eyes twinkled in the light of the chandelier, and a delicate smile graced her lips. In that moment, I felt my heart sink into a pit in my stomach that I didn’t even know existed.

And her voice. She only spoke three words, but they were the sweetest three words I had ever heard. Instantly, I knew I had lost what I had only had for the shortest time.

“Charmed, Alpha Chris.”