Chapter 262

Ava

I found Chris on a balcony overlooking the golden sunset of New Moon mountain. The sky was ablaze with vibrant oranges and pinks, casting a warm glow over the snow-capped peaks. The crisp mountain air carried the scent of pine and distant earth from far below, the scent of autumn.

Back in Moonstone, the humid summer heat had shifted into heavy rains and cool evenings. That was our version of autumn—unlike here, where the air was cold and snowy year round. But New Moon had the advantage of looking out over the surrounding lands, thus watching as the seasons shifted. Assuming the landscape wasn’t hidden beneath the clouds.

Today, though, it was particularly clear.

My heart clenched as I approached my mate, worried that I had upset him with my unexpected proposal. I didn’t dare prod at our mate bond to sense his emotions; it was something we only did sparingly, when it was wanted or necessary. I preferred to hear it from his mouth rather than rake my nails through his mind.

So, I quietly walked up to him and leaned against the ornate stone railing, looking out at the breathtaking view. For a long moment, we both stood in silence, the only sound the distant cry of an eagle soaring through the valley below.

Finally, unable to bear the tension any longer, I turned to him. “I’ve upset you.”

Chris turned to me, his green eyes wide with surprise. “Upset me? Of course not,” he said, reaching out to take my hand. His touch was warm and reassuring, instantly calming my nerves. “I just needed some time to think about your proposal, that’s all. It’s... a lot to process.”

I nodded, understanding. “I should have discussed it with you first. I’m sorry for springing it on you like that.”

Chris shook his head, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “No, don’t apologize. If anything, I admire your level head, your fair and just approach. Although,” he paused, his brow furrowing slightly, “I don’t know how you do it. How you remain fair and just even when other people can often be anything but that.”

I took a deep breath, the memory of that fateful day in the burning Packhouse washing over me like a tidal wave. It had been three months, but the memory was still fresh in my mind. It even plagued me—keeping me up at night, roiling into my dreams. Sometimes, in those dreams, I didn’t make it out of the Packhouse alive.

“Back in the Packhouse,” I said softly, “I saw the Moon Goddess’s face. I felt her presence, heard her voice. And Chris, she was... kind. Just. Gentle. Not the cruel, vengeful deity we had imagined her to be.”

I turned back to face him, my free hand resting on my swollen belly. “Even though I once cursed her, even though we blamed her for the blight, she still loved and protected us when we needed it the most. That day in the Packhouse, when Olivia was about to kill me, I borrowed the Moon Goddess’s power. But I used it to create destruction by starting the fire.”

“Ava, you didn’t—”

“I did do it,” I murmured. We had had this conversation too many times before. “I was careless. Lives were almost lost because of that brazier. No matter what, I’ll always blame myself, to a certain extent.”

Chris listened intently, his eyes never leaving my face. I could see his jaw working, aching to tell me that I was wrong, but he knew I wouldn’t listen.

“I know now that I could borrow her power any time I want,” I said softly, turning back to take in the view. “It’s my fate as the True Luna. But I don’t want to create destruction, Chris. I don’t want to become the brutal and harsh deity that we all once thought the Moon Goddess was.”

I leaned a little closer to him, our shoulders now brushing. “I want to be gentle and kind, willing to give chances, even when people might not deserve them. I want to use this power for good and beauty, not for destruction. Even if it means giving chances to people who don’t deserve them.”

Chris let out a small sigh, his arm wrapping around my waist. “And that’s why you want to give Olivia another chance.”

I nodded. “I want to give her one last opportunity to do what’s right, to turn her life around. But more than that, I want to build a new Moonstone. A peaceful, loving Moonstone that rises from the ashes of all that has happened. Not a version built on hatred and revenge. Maybe it’ll come back to bite me in the ass—I don’t know. But I have to try.”

For a moment, Chris was silent, his gaze intense as he searched my face. Then, without warning, he dropped to his knees, burying his face in my skirt. His arms wrapped around my waist, holding me close.

“Goddess, I can’t wait to marry you,” he murmured, his voice muffled by the fabric.

I smiled, running my fingers through his hair as my engagement ring caught the light of the setting sun. The tiny moonstone at its center seemed to glow with an inner light, a constant reminder of the power and responsibility I now carried.

“I can’t wait either,” I whispered.

Chris stood, pulling me into a tight embrace. His fingers dug into my hips, tugging me closer, my swollen belly pressing against him.

We stood like that for a long moment, basking in each other’s warmth and the beauty of the sunset. Finally, Chris pulled away, a mischievous glint in his eye.

“Come on,” he said, tugging me toward the edge of the balcony. “Sit.”

He sat down, swinging his legs over the ledge. For a moment, I hesitated, my eyes widening at the sheer drop below us.

Chris chuckled. “Don’t worry, I won’t let you fall. Trust me.”

Taking a deep breath, I lowered myself down next to him, my heart racing as I looked out over the valley. But as Chris’s arm wrapped securely around my waist, I felt my fear melt away. I could never feel fear, not when I was in his arms.

“It’s really beautiful up here,” I murmured as I took in the panoramic view of the mountains bathed in the golden light of the setting sun.

“It is,” Chris agreed, but when I turned to look at him, I found his green eyes fixed on me instead of the view. “But not as beautiful as you.”

I felt a blush creep up my cheeks, and I playfully swatted at his arm. “Smooth talker.”

He laughed, the sound echoing across the mountaintops. “Only for you, my love.”

We sat in comfortable silence for a while, watching as the sun slowly dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in ever-changing hues of purple and gold. As the first stars began to wink into existence in the darkening sky, I found myself reflecting on the journey that had brought us to this moment.

“Do you ever wonder,” I asked softly, “what would have happened if we hadn’t run into each other in the bar that night? Or if you never came back to Moonstone?”

Chris was quiet for a moment, his thumb tracing slow circles on my hip. “Sometimes,” he admitted, hooking his chin over my shoulder. “But then I look at you, and I know that no matter what path I took, I would have found my way to you eventually.”

“You really believe that?”

He nodded. “I do. You’re my mate, Ava. Not just the True Luna, but my True Luna. We were always meant to find each other.”

I leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. As I pulled away, I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of our future together. “So, what do you think? Boy or girl?” I asked, placing his hand on my belly.

Chris grinned. “I don’t care, as long as they’re healthy. But,” he added with a wink, “I wouldn’t mind a little girl with your curly hair and your smile.”

“Well, I wouldn’t mind a little boy with your green eyes and wit,” I countered.

“I guess we’ll just have to wait and see,” Chris chuckled. “Either way, they’re going to be loved beyond measure.”

As the last rays of sunlight began to slip below the horizon, leaving us in the soft purplish glow of twilight, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. Despite all the challenges we had faced and all the obstacles still ahead, I knew that with Chris by my side, we could overcome anything.

Anything.

“We should head back,” Chris said softly, although he made no move to get up. “The others will be wondering where we’ve gone off to.”

I nodded, but didn’t move either.

“Just a few more minutes,” I murmured, resting my head on his shoulder.