Chapter 72

Ava

Chris stared at me for a long moment after my question, his brow furrowing slightly as the words seemed to sink in.

“You’re still asking if I want to stay in the pack?” he asked slowly, as though trying to make sure he had heard me correctly. “Ava, you know we’ve talked about this already…”

I held up a hand to stop him before he could fully launch into his usual argument.

“I know, I know,” I said with a weary sigh. “You’ve said you want to try splitting your time between the human world and here. But I think we both know that’s easier said than done.”

Chris nodded, his expression guarded but not entirely closed off as he waited for me to continue. I could see the wheels turning in his head, no doubt anticipating some sort of ploy or scheme to try and convince him to stay for good.

But that wasn’t my intention at all; I only wanted him to hear me.

Pursing my lips, I gazed at him for a long moment before speaking again.

“Look, Chris... whatever you decide to do from here, that’s your choice,” I said, aiming for a casual tone of voice despite the slight tightness lingering in my chest. “I’m not going to try and force you down one path or the other. You have to do what’s best for you.”

A flicker of surprise flashed across his features at my words, clearly not having expected me to be so acquiescent on the matter. I couldn’t exactly blame him—I had, at one point, tried to coerce him into staying.

“That being said…” I paused, carefully considering my next words. “If you are genuinely thinking about initiating another Alpha selection process to find someone to take over fully... well, I just think you should take the needs of the pack into serious consideration this time around.”

Chris opened his mouth, the hint of a protest already forming on his lips, but I swiftly cut him off with a pointed look.

“I’m not telling you what to do, one way or the other,” I clarified. “Just hear me out for a second, okay?”

After a momentary hesitation, Chris gave a small nod, silently signaling for me to continue. We began to walk away from the koi pond together and toward the town’s center.

“You have a unique perspective, Chris,” I said slowly as we walked. “One that blends the best of both the human and werewolf worlds in a way that not many others here do. You understand our traditions and the weight they carry, but you also have an outsider’s view from having lived amongst humans for so long.”

“I mean, you’ve already made positive changes since taking over that have benefited the pack immensely,” I went on, referring to his abolishment of the Omega slave system and restructuring of our community. “The people love you, and they trust your judgment.”

“My point is,” I finished, “the pack could use someone like you at the helm. Permanently.”

There was a long stretch of silence after I spoke. Chris’s mouth worked silently; words were clearly evading him. I wished I knew what was going through his head during those moments, but something told me that he didn’t even really know.

Eventually, Chris let out a soft exhale, his shoulders sagging almost imperceptibly.

“You know that would... complicate things,” he murmured. “Between us, I mean.”

I felt my chest tighten incrementally at the implication. Of course, he was right—if he took the mantle of Alpha permanently, any potential for us to have an intimate relationship would be thrown to the wayside.

Historically, the Luna was regarded as a sacred counterpart to the Alpha—essentially an extension of our Goddess Luna herself. Trying to change traditions so deeply entrenched in our faith would be unprecedented, far more so than the issue of the Omegas.

But despite the flicker of longing that stirred inside of me at the thought of having to give up what I had with Chris, I simply shrugged in a carefully nonchalant gesture.

“Maybe,” I conceded. “Or maybe not. The point is, it would be your choice to make, one way or the other. I’m not going to try and strong-arm you into anything. But you know how I feel about it.”

A beat passed, and then the corner of Chris’s lips quirked upwards into that faint smirk of his.

“You’re really not going to even mention that prophecy again?” he teased, clearly aiming to diffuse the situation. “About how I need to stay here? How that koi fish recognized its true Alpha, and that it was a sign?”

I arched an eyebrow at him, fighting back a smile of my own.

“Would it make any difference if I did?” I shot back dryly.

Chris let out a snort of laughter. “Only if the Moon Goddess sent me a miracle or something first. Maybe then I would be inclined to listen to prophecies and magic koi fish.”

Slapping him lightly on the arm, I couldn’t quite stifle my own chuckle at his sarcasm.

Eventually, our laughter trailed off into comfortable silence once more as we meandered our way through the village streets, following the soft sound of music drifting from one of the taverns up ahead.

“One drink?” Chris suggested, casting me a sidelong glance as we approached the warm glow spilling out from the tavern’s windows. “Just to end the night on a high note, then we can head back and deal with Olivia in the morning.”

I nodded in agreement; my stomach rumbled in agreement, too, especially at the smell of fresh bread wafting out into the street.

Pushing through the wooden door, we were immediately enveloped in the lively atmosphere of the tavern. Chatter and laughter filled the air, mingling with the melodic strumming of a single guitarist as he serenaded the small crowd of patrons from a raised wooden platform in the corner.

Without prompting, Chris gestured for me to lead the way, and I threaded us through the clusters of occupied tables until I found a small, unobtrusive one pressed against the far wall, slightly removed from the noise. Claiming the seats, we quickly placed our orders with a passing server before turning our attention to the musician.

“He’s rather good,” I remarked, leaning back in my chair.

The musician, seemingly hearing this, shot me a smirk from over his guitar. “Ah, if it isn’t our Alpha and Acting Luna!” he cried out, still strumming. “What brings you two to Willow Wood?”

Chris shrugged, taking his beer from the waiter with a smile. “Just surveying the territory,” he said. “Say…” He sipped at his foam and eyed me, and instantly I knew from the mischievous look in his gaze that he was up to something. “You know, Luna Ava is an amazing singer.”

Before I could retort, the guitarist hopped down off of his makeshift stage and strode over to our table, still gently strumming his guitar. “Is that so?” he asked. “Won’t you sing for us, then, Luna?”

I instantly felt my ears turn red. I hadn’t sung in years. At least, not in front of others.

“I couldn’t,” I said with a wave of my hand. “I’m not a singer.”

“She’s just being humble,” Chris said with a laugh. “She used to sing to me all of the time when we were younger. Why, her voice was often the only thing that could lull me to sleep.”

A ripple of swooning gasps and murmurs made their way through the pub, and I felt my heart leap into my throat. The guitarist, his grin widening, held his hand out to me.

“Please, sing for us, Luna!” he called out.

“I-I couldn’t—”

“Come on, Ava,” Chris said gently, his green-eyed gaze meeting mine from across the table. “Sing.”