Chapter 60

Ava

The village square was alive with the sounds of excited chatter and lively music, the scent of fresh fruit, vegetables, and grilled meats floating through the air. I surveyed the scene from my vantage point beside Chris, watching as the newly arrived contestants mingled and conversed animatedly with Moonstone’s residents.

“They seem to be having fun,” Chris murmured, clinking his cup of wine with mine as he leaned closer and nodded his head toward a group of visitors who were dancing by the stage.

As Chris leaned toward me, a warm, rosy flush spread across my skin. I quickly nodded and sipped my wine, looking away.

Overhead, the full moon hung heavily in the night sky. Our pack’s signature Moonstone tattoos glowed brightly beneath the round white orb, as did mine. My gaze slid sideways to catch a glimpse of the Moonstone hanging around Chris’s neck; it, too, glowed.

Then, I let my gaze linger momentarily on the sharp planes of Chris’s face, his eyes sparkling with mirth as he listened to Elder Degas telling him some story or another. Deep below the pit of my stomach, I felt something warm start to stir. Desire.

Goddess, he looked insufferably handsome tonight.

Clearing my throat, I politely excused myself and crossed over to the wine barrels to refill my glass, taking a moment to catch my breath and compose myself. Chris and I may have had good feelings toward each other in private, but here, beneath the watchful gazes of the Elders and his sister…

We couldn’t let anyone know. Not yet. It was still too early for me to admit it even to myself, let alone others.

“Honored guests and esteemed challengers,” Chris’s voice suddenly boomed over the din, effortlessly commanding the square’s attention as he stood with his glass held high. “On behalf of Moonstone pack, I welcome you all warmly.”

A smattering of polite applause rippled through the crowd as he paused, his emerald gaze sweeping over the party.

“In the coming days, each and every one of you will be tested—your strength, your wits, your convictions and character laid bare for judgment by myself and the esteemed council.” His piercing stare found mine from across the way, holding it for the briefest of moments, but long enough to deepen the flush in my cheeks—and long enough for Olivia to notice. “Only the worthiest will prevail and claim the title of Moonstone’s Alpha.”

At length, he smiled—that devastating, roguish smile that made my pulse kick up a notch—and lifted his glass a little higher, causing the light of his moonstone shard to glint off the glass and refract across the table in front of him.

“So raise a cup to the challenges yet to come! And may the moon cast her light favorably upon you all!”

The distant clink of glasses echoed through the square as the crowd erupted into cheers and raucous toasting. Ignoring the flush creeping up my throat, I determinedly swept forward to mingle with the new arrivals now that the formalities had concluded.

Several firm, eager handshakes later, and I couldn’t help the unimpressed frown tugging at my lips.

So many clammy, uncertain grips. So much arrogant posturing and puffed chests from those clearly accustomed to being the top dogs in their own circles, but their egos would only hold them back.

Maybe opening the selection process to those from the human continent had been a bad idea; I could tell that many of the participants had long since lost their natural werewolf senses, being dulled by the pollution and bad diet of the human world.

My gaze slid sideways to meet Chris’s from across the crowd, and he smirked knowingly. He could always tell what I was thinking, somehow. And maybe it was the wine or the full moon, but the look on his face almost made me smile like a lovesick teenager.

“Having doubts about our would-be Alphas already, Ava?” he asked, sidling up to me as the party continued.

I huffed a soft laugh, swirling the wine in my glass pensively. “I’d be lying if I said no. But we’ll see how this first round of trials goes. If I’m being honest, I have a feeling most of them will be weeded out fairly quickly.”

A snort escaped him then. “You were the one who decided to support this. Don’t go pulling out now.”

I smirked in response. “I wasn’t planning on it.”

With that, Chris gave my hand the slightest squeeze, hidden behind the fold of my skirt. It came and went so quickly it almost made me wonder if it had happened at all, and as I watched him make his way back through the crowd, I couldn’t help but glance over at the Elders and Olivia to see if they had noticed.

They hadn’t. Hopefully.

Suddenly, the sounds of a lively song played by the band pierced the clamor, drawing my attention to the dancefloor where Moonstone pack members were already flocking. Before I knew it, couples were pairing off to take their places on the central floor, joining in the traditional dance passed down through generations in our pack.

Once again, maybe it was the wine or the full moon. Either way, I found myself getting swept up in the dance, smiling and laughing and secretly hoping for a good excuse to dance with Chris.

At some point during the dance, I found myself partnered up with a tall, willowy stranger with eyes like liquid onyx. His grip was firm but not overly forceful as he deftly led our steps, our bodies swaying in sync with the lively music.

This close, I could pick up the tangy scent of cedar and rolling off of him, faintly underlaid with… something else. Something almost metallic and acrid, like—

“You seem to be appraising me quite intently,” the man remarked in a low, vaguely amused rumble. His gaze glittered with something shrewd and knowing, although the smile on his lips was as charming as ever. “Is there something on my face?”

I instantly blushed and shook my head. “No. I’m sorry. I just don’t believe we’ve met.”

His lips curved into a wry half-smile. “I doubt it.” He quickly rolled up his sleeve to reveal that he had no Moonstone tattoo; he was one of the visitors. Likely a competitor.

I paused, unsure of what to say next. “You know the steps of this dance well, though,” I said as we moved together. “Are you from Moonstone?”

The man shook his head, but didn’t skip a beat. “I am not,” he said simply.”

“What’s your name?” I asked rather abruptly.

The handsome man arched one dark eyebrow. “Dedrick,” he answered vaguely.”

“And your pack?”

This time, he didn’t answer. Without another word, but also without once breaking that charming smile, he released his grip on me and disappeared into the crowd just as the music came to its end. I watched him go, my brow furrowed.

Dedrick. No Moonstone tattoo, and certainly not much to say. Maybe he was keeping to himself before the competition began, I supposed.

I was still lost in deep contemplation, staring at the spot where Dedrick had been before, when a familiar presence materialized at my elbow. Blinking, I glanced up to find Chris regarding me with a curious furrow in his brow.

“Everything alright?” he asked, looping his arm through mine and leading me away.

I shook my head, although I couldn’t entirely deny the way that it took a fair amount of effort to tear my gaze away from where the strange man had just been dancing with me.

“It’s nothing.”