There was a long silence as Degas gathered his thoughts; not even Chris, for all of his bravado, dared to interrupt the wizened Elder. “You have seen the blight at the old warehouse, yes?” Degas finally asked, leaning back in his chair. Chris nodded without turning. “I have.” “So you have, the
Ava The gentle chirping of crickets outside my bedroom window filled the silence, the soft breeze floating in through the open window as I lazily traced shapes across Chris’s bare chest. The room was dimly lit solely by the single lamp on my bedside table, casting our skin in a warm amber hue. H
“Chris, the omen would bring blight and decay—rotting crops, diseased livestock, poisoned water sources... Our people would starve, or grow sick and die off. You have to think of the pack first.” Chris’s expression hardened as he crossed the room. He reached for me, pulling me close, his fingers f
Chris The sleek black SUV rumbled steadily as we navigated the winding dirt roads that formed the outer perimeter of the Moonstone pack territory. I kept my eyes trained on the densely wooded areas flashing by, searching for any sign of movement, any hint of a disturbance that could lead us closer
Ava I hurriedly pushed through the heavy double doors of the clinic, my boots clicking rapidly against the pristine white tile floors as I hurried down the dimly lit hallway toward the research wing. A sense of urgency propelled me forward, my heart hammering against my ribs. Just minutes ago, I
“My team is already coordinating with the botany department to quarantine that area and begin treatment with distillations of purified moongrass. We should be able to contain and eradicate the growth rather swiftly, before it has a chance to spread.” I let out a breath I didn’t realize I had been
Ava I lingered just outside in the hallway, peering through the cracked door into Chris’s study with a pained expression on my face. He was seated at his large oak desk, his brow furrowed in concentration as he pored over a stack of papers and photographs scattered in front of him. The list. I
“Which is why…” Degas stopped walking, turning to me then, “painful though it may be, we must take every measure to restore order and uphold our obligations to the old ways. No matter how... uncomfortable the personal costs.” I stiffened at his words, a cold knot forming in the pit of my stomach a