Chapter 43

Chris

I watched through the window of my office as Ava stepped out into the courtyard, her arm looped through Leonard’s in that familiar, casual way. A pang of something sharp and unpleasant twisted in my gut as I observed the two of them together, their heads bent close in what seemed to be an intimate conversation.

It was jealousy that I was feeling, plain and simple. I wanted to go after them, to tell Ava the truth about tonight—but I had no time. The Elders had called me here for a meeting, and I couldn’t refuse. Not right now, at least.

Turning, I tore my gaze away from the window to meet those of all five Elders, who were standing in a line opposite my desk.

“Why did you call me here?” I asked, glancing at my watch. “It’s late. I’ve got an early start tomorrow.”

Elder Elise lifted her chin. “We felt it was important to convene with you before you turned in for the night, Alpha,” she said. “To discuss a matter of importance regarding tonight’s dinner guest.”

I felt the hairs on the back of my neck prickle. I knew why Lily had come tonight—I had guessed it within a matter of twenty minutes earlier. But I had kept my thoughts to myself out of politeness.

Slowly, I settled down into my chair and steepled my fingers, regarding the Elders evenly. “Go on.”

Elise’s expression remained inscrutable, although her eyes glinted with something like eagerness. “You are aware of the potential benefits a marital alliance between yourself and Lily could provide, are you not?” she asked. “For both Moonrise and Moonstone packs?”

I held back a sigh. “So it’s as I guessed,” I said. “You intend to arrange a marriage. How long have you all been scheming?”

“Scheming?” Elder Claire scoffed. “That’s a rather negative way to look at it, young Alpha.”

“Easy, Claire,” Elise said softly before turning to me once more. “Chris, you’re no fool. You understand how advantageous this union would be for everyone involved. And you need a Luna.”

“I don’t need a Luna. I’m not intending to stay here in Moonrise; I thought you already knew that.”

The Elders exchanged looks before Degas stepped forward, his knuckles white around the handle of his cane. “What did you think of her, at least?” he asked. “You two did seem to hit it off; there’s no denying that.”

Finally, I let out the sigh I had been holding in. “Lily is beautiful,” I began carefully, “and I enjoyed her company greatly this evening. However…” I let my pause linger, studying each of their expressions in turn before continuing. “I’m afraid I must respectfully decline any suggestion of a marital arrangement between myself and her.”

A tense silence fell over the gathered Elders. Elise’s mouth pressed into a taut line, but it was Elder Bradley who spoke first, his bushy red eyebrows drawing low over his eyes in a way that was rare for the jovial Elder.

“You understand this would be an incredible opportunity, Alpha,” he said. “A chance to unite two of the oldest, most influential territories across all five packs. Surely you can see the benefits—”

“I do see them,” I interjected, holding up a hand to halt his diatribe. “Believe me, I’m not blind to the potential strategic advantages such a union could provide. But I still reserve the right to refuse a marital arrangement that I don’t consent to.”

My declaration was met with a chorus of disapproving harrumphs and sidelong glances between the Elders. Elise, however, remained steadfastly unmoved, her penetrating stare fixed squarely on me.

“Your path may be your own, Alpha,” she said at last. “But sometimes, an Alpha must do things that may deviate from his own personal desires for the good of all.”

“You will learn to love Lily, if only you’d give yourself time,” Fatima added. “You would not be forced to marry her, of course, but if you’d just give yourself a chance to get to know her…”

“With all due respect,” I cut in, “while I’m flattered by the ordeal, and do hold Lily in high regard, I’m simply uninterested in her—romantically. There is not a single part of me that finds an interest in getting to know her in that way.”

Elder Claire tutted loudly, shaking her head. “To refuse even one date from such a beautiful girl is foolish,” she said. “Surely you must know that.”

I felt a bitter taste flood my mouth at her words. Foolish. I wasn’t foolish. Was it really so wrong of me to reserve my right to choose my own love? I wanted to tell them that I would happily find a Luna, Ava, but I knew it was no use bringing her up now.

“Well, my stance remains unchanged,” I said through my clenched jaw. “Perhaps a formal trade agreement or something of the sort between our two territories would be more suitable, if unity between the two packs is what we’re after.”

Elise’s eyes flashed. “Chris—”

But Degas was already holding up a withered hand, his expression grave as he surveyed me with an expression I couldn’t quite read.

“Let us take the Alpha’s wishes into consideration,” he said, glancing at the other Elders before turning to me once more. “All we ask, Alpha, is for you to consider a date with Lily—nothing more. Should you get to know her and still feel the same, no one will force you into a marriage you do not want.”

I paused, checking the expressions of the other Elders first—aside from Elise, they all seemed to be in agreement with Degas’s statement.

Finally, I nodded. “Very well. I’ll consider it. But no promises.”

“Excellent. Goodnight, Alpha.”

“Goodnight.”

With that, the Elders filed out of my study, leaving me alone to stew in my own juices. No sooner were they gone than I had slammed my hand down on my desk and cursed under my breath.

I didn’t want to be with anyone but Ava—hells, I would have stayed here in Moonrise, if that was what everyone seemed to want so much. But here, we couldn’t be together. Here, our archaic traditions—the same traditions that allowed the Elders to try and force people into arranged marriages, apparently—prevented us from being together.

And why? Because Ava had been married before? Ridiculous.

Suddenly, the sound of the door creaking open caused me to jerk my head up.

“Ruffling feathers, are you?”

My sister stood in the open doorway, her lips curved into half smile as she regarded me through her lashes. I felt my jaw tighten instinctively at the sight of her—the mere sound of her voice instantly set me on edge after all she had done.

“Do you need something, Olivia?” I asked tersely. The very last thing I needed now was another late-night meeting. I needed to sleep, think, and most importantly, see Ava.

Olivia’s smile only broadened as she stepped into the room, shutting the door behind herself. “Can’t a sister check on her brother?” she asked.

I shot her a withering look and shook my head. “Don’t play coy,” I said flatly. “It doesn’t suit you. If you have something to say, then out with it.”

“Very well,” she purred. “We both know where your interests truly lie these days. And it certainly isn’t with that perfectly lovely, well-bred young woman who would make an exquisite Luna.”

“Of course you’d say that,” I scoffed. “Trust me, I picked up the undertones in your little toast earlier, Olivia. Have you been working with the Elders to set this up, too?”

“No,” she replied, folding her arms across her chest. “But I support their decision. You should listen to them.”

“Well, I’m not interested.” I stood and crossed over to the window, peering out where I had last seen Ava with Leonard; she was likely at home by now. I hoped she wasn’t with him. “Lily and I are not going to work. I told the Elders I would consider one date, and perhaps I will to make them happy, but nothing more.”

Olivia groaned. “Just like that? Lily would be perfect for you, Chris. She’s young, well-bred, beautiful—far better than that old hag you’re obsessed with.”

At the mention of Ava in such a disgusted tone, I whirled around to face Olivia. She seemed to shrink underneath my gaze, although I knew she was trying to put on a brave face.

“It’s unbecoming of you to refer to anyone as a ‘hag’,” I growled, taking a step forward with my hands curled up into fists at my sides. “And if you speak of her in such a way again, you’ll be sorry.”

Olivia tossed a lock of blonde hair over her shoulder and tilted her chin up at me. “What will you do?” she asked. “Banish me? Lock me in my chambers again?”

“I locked you in your chambers because you nearly killed two women,” I snarled. “And for what it’s worth, your cloying tone means nothing to me, Olivia. I know what you really are: jealous.”

“Jealous?” Olivia scoffed. “Of Ava, you mean? How could I ever be—”

“You know precisely why.” I took another step forward, and this time, Olivia seemed to shrink even more. She even took a step back to put a little more distance between us as I spoke. “You know you could never hold a candle to everything that Ava is. You’re cruel to her because you’ll never be her. She’s poised, graceful, kind and intelligent, and so much more—things you’ll never be, not in a million years.”

A thick silence fell over the room at that. Olivia blinked up at me, clearly at a loss as to what to say. But it didn’t matter; I wouldn’t give her a chance to speak.

“Get out of my sight,” I growled.

I didn’t need to tell her twice. With a hmph, Olivia turned on her heel and stormed out, finally leaving me alone with my thoughts.