Chapter 241

Chris

And so, there we were, huddled around a small television in Ava’s wine cellar on the night of our dear friend’s funeral.

“Look at that,” Ava whispered, pointing at the screen. “Even Elise looks heartbroken as you light the pyre.”

“She’s a mighty good actor,” Leonard growled.

News headlines flashed across the bottom of the screen: “Moonstone loses its Beta” and “Moonstone blight takes first victim”. Despite the somber atmosphere earlier that day, I couldn’t help but grin. Our plan was working perfectly.

I had, of course, ensured that the funeral would be televised and streamed on all major channels. It was the only way to ensure that both Olivia and Winston saw it and, hopefully, fell for it.

Leonard, sitting beside us and looking healthier by the day, chuckled. “It’s surreal, watching your own funeral. I never thought I would see the day.”

Ophelia smirked. “I almost laughed out loud a few times, you know.”

“I figured that was what you were doing when you kept hiding your face between your handkerchief,” Ava replied, smacking Ophelia on the arm.

Shaking my head good-naturedly, I turned to Leonard. “How are you feeling?”

He took a deep breath, and I was relieved to hear it come easily, without the rattling, wet cough that had plagued him for weeks. “Feeling better every day. That medicine Dr. Foster prescribed is working wonders. I haven’t felt this good in months.”

Patrick, lounging on his bed in the corner, smirked. “Well, at least I have company down here now. It was getting lonely being the cellar dweller. Though I must say, Leonard, you snore something fierce.”

We all laughed, the tension of the past few weeks finally starting to ease, even if only a little. As I looked around at our ragtag little group—Ava, Leonard, Ophelia, and even our new ally, Patrick—I felt a small surge of hope. There was still so much to be done, but we were in this together, and we would see it through.

Over the next week, reports finally started coming in from our scouts. Winston’s forces were on the move, just as we had hoped.

“They’re taking the bait,” I told Ava as we pored over a map in her kitchen. “Our scouts say they’re advancing faster than expected. Look here,” I pointed to a spot on the map, “they’ve already crossed into Moonshine’s outer territory.”

Ava nodded, her eyes scanning the map. “And Moonshine’s forces? How are they holding up?”

“Retreating strategically, drawing them closer to Moonstone with each skirmish. It’s working exactly as planned. Few casualties as well. If we can just draw them toward Moonstone with as little bloodshed as possible, we can surround them with everyone’s forces combined and force Winston into a parley.”

Meanwhile, our human world contacts had located Olivia’s fake identity. It was just as Patrick had said; she was living under the name Amy Angston, working as a marketing executive in a small firm in the city.

But our scouts reported that she seemed to be winding down her affairs, preparing for a return to Moonstone.

“She’s falling for it too,” I told Leonard during one of our secret meetings in the cellar. “Both she and Winston think we’re weak and vulnerable now. They have no idea what’s waiting for them.”

Leonard grinned, looking more like his old self every day. “Little do they know, we’re stronger than ever. I can’t wait to see the looks on their faces when they realize they’ve been played.”

Even Elise remained oblivious to our plan. I watched her carefully during council meetings, looking for any sign that she suspected the truth. But she continued to play the role of the grieving Elder perfectly, often speaking about how much Leonard would be missed.

“I almost feel bad for her,” Ava said one night as we lay in bed. “She thinks she’s won, but she has no idea what’s coming. It must be exhausting, living a lie like that.”

I pulled her closer, kissing the top of her head. “That’s the point. The element of surprise is our greatest weapon right now. And as for Elise, well... she made her choice. She’ll have to live with the consequences.”

Ava sneered. “I’d rather dole out the consequences myself.”

Smirking, I lifted my head and shot her a look of mock surprise. “You’ve gotten more feisty after our tour of the packs. I didn’t know you had it in you, but I like it.”

“I’ve always had it in me. I just happen to be dating a man who lets me bring it out once in a while.”

“Well, my dear,” I huffed, peppering kisses along her neck and shoulder, “bring it out all you want. I like my fiery women.”

Ava giggled, nuzzling against me. My eyes flicked over her shoulder, toward my work bag, which was sitting under her window. That little velvet box seemed to call to me. Do it, I could feel it urging me. Propose. Now.

But I didn’t. Not yet. Not until all of this mess was behind us.

As the days passed, our plan continued to unfold exactly as we hoped. Winston’s forces drew closer with few casualties thanks to strategic retreats, and our scouts reported that Olivia was making final preparations to return to the werewolf world.

“Looks like she’s booked a ferry ticket,” Patrick informed us during one of our cellar meetings. “Under her fake name, of course. But we know it’s her. She’ll be here within a couple of weeks.”

“Perfect,” I nodded. “Everything’s falling into place. We just need to hold out a little longer.”

One afternoon, I found myself surveying the aftermath of a recent skirmish on the border of Moonshine with Alpha Fabian. The forest clearing showed signs of battle—broken branches, churned earth—but thankfully, no casualties. Not on our side, at least.

“Your pack fights well,” Fabian said, clapping me on the shoulder. “Even in retreat, they were formidable. I’ve never seen such a disciplined withdrawal.”

I nodded. “They’re following my orders perfectly. Drawing Winston’s forces in without giving away our true strength. It’s not easy for them, pretending to be weaker than they are.”

“I almost feel sorry for Winston,” Fabian sighed. “He has no idea what he’s walking into. And should he refuse our offer to parley…”

“He won’t refuse,” I muttered, my eyes scanning the horizon. “Not if he knows what’s good for himself, for his pack, for his daughter.”

We continued our inspection of the battlefield, discussing strategies for the coming days. Fabian’s support had been invaluable and he was a formidable warrior, and I made a mental note to properly thank him once this was all over.

“How are your forces holding up?” I asked him as we walked.

Fabian shrugged. “They’re ready. Eager, even. Your plan has given them hope, Chris. Hope that we can finally put an end to all of this nonsense and finally, for the first time in history, unite the packs.”

“That’s the dream,” I nodded. “A united werewolf world. It seems almost within reach now. Not so much like a fever dream.”

As we were about to head back to the nearby camp where Fabian’s warriors were lodged, my phone buzzed in my pocket. The number was unfamiliar, and a sense of unease settled in my stomach.

“Excuse me,” I said to Fabian, stepping away to answer the call.

As soon as I put the phone to my ear, I heard a voice that I hadn’t heard in months.

“Brother,” Olivia’s voice said. “Let’s talk.”