AvaChris tightened his grip around my waist and began leading me over to the food table. “All this socializing is making me hungry,” he said, leaning in close so I could hear. “Let’s get something to eat.”I nodded, still a bit dazed after my dance with the man known as Dedrick. Something about him
“Elder Bradley,” I said with a polite incline of my head, quickly smoothing down my skirt. “Yes, we are.”Bradley’s eyes caught mine, and I swore I saw a knowing glint in them. Had he seen everything? Heard everything? Bradley was typically one of the more jovial Elders, but he was also the most anx
ChrisI stepped back from the mirror, straightening the starched collar of my crisp white dress shirt. The ceremonial attire of the Alpha of Moonstone pack always felt a bit stifling compared to the casual human clothing I had become accustomed to wearing in recent years.“Dammit…”With a frown, I t
AvaAva“Let the first trial begin.”The village square had been converted overnight into a makeshift arena, with barriers all around the center area and crowds gathered in all corners. The large metal braziers had been lit at all four corners, and lines had been painted in the dirt in preparation f
AvaThe council chamber felt stifling, the heavy oak table and dim lighting only serving to amplify the tension simmering between us all. For hours now, the eight of us had been locked in heated debate over the three finalists, our tempers slowly fraying the longer we failed to reach a consensus.“I
I grinned and pulled one of the loaves out, placing it on a cutting board and slicing a few pieces off. Next, I pulled the wheel of brie that I had been baking out of the oven, and prepared a board for us along with jam and some apple slices.“Are these from Leonard’s orchard?” Chris asked, inspecti
AvaSteam wafted through the council chamber as I carefully poured steaming coffee into the waiting ceramic mugs. One by one, I arranged them on the long oak table alongside a platter of fresh pastries I had picked up from the village bakery that morning.It had been my idea to provide some small re
Chris cleared his throat. “Shall we get started, then? Let’s bring in Allen first.”A few minutes later, Allen stepped into the room and warily approached the table. Chris gestured to the seat at the other end. “Please, take a seat.”Allen did as he was told, and Chris explained the test. A map of t