#Chapter 44: For the Best

Ava “That was quite the dinner party,” Leonard said, breaking the silence between us. “I can’t remember the last time the Elders surprised the pack in such a way.” I hummed in agreement, watching my feet as we walked to avoid meeting his warm gray eyes. “Yes, it was rather unprecedented,” I said in an unintentionally-absentminded tone. There was another silence that fell between us, punctuated only by the sounds of the crickets chirping and our shoes crunching on the pathway. I kept my gaze averted, partially to avoid Leonard’s knowing stare but also because I was stuck in my own head. I kept thinking about Chris and Lily together. Of course I knew that it was a suitable arrangement—and the Elders were wise to consider something like this. But it didn’t make it hurt any less, especially so soon after a date that had made us both temporarily forget the reality of the world. “I couldn’t help but notice that you seemed a bit upset there, at the end,” Leonard suddenly said.