The Luna’s Choice by Kat Silver

Chapter 56: Ayla
Luna Grace looped her arm in mine and started to lead me away. I had seen her before the afternoon Luná meeting, and we had talked for a short time. She had said how disappointed she and Alpha Torin were to hear that I had left the pack, but she was glad I had found a place with Kingston and the Sablemane pack. From our conversation, I didn’ t think she knew what had happened between me and Theo.
“I was very impressed with you at the meeting today,” Luna Grace said when we were away from the others
“Thank you, but I didn’t have much to offer,” I said graciously. “It was just the one idea.”
“It is a great idea,” she said. “I hope to help you make it a reality someday soon.”
“I would like that,” I replied honestly.
e said. ”
“There’s something else I want to talk to you about,” sure you know about Alpha Torin’s condition.”
“Yes,” I confirmed. “I was sorry to hear the diagnosis. Alpha Torin has been good to me and my family.
”
“He would be glad to hear you say that,” Luna Grace said sincerely. “Anyway, his condition has progressed faster than we had hoped. I’ve been thinking about what it will be like when he’s gone.”
I hated the pain in her voice. She was trying to mask it, but I could still hear it. I’m not sure anyone could fully hide the pain of losing their mate. Especially when they have been together for so long. I still had
Chapter 56 Ayla
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trouble hiding my own, and I was never with Theo.
“I can’t imagine how hard that must be,” I said quietly.
She squeezed my arm gently.
“I’ve been trying to come up with something that would keep him with us,” she continued. “I initially thought about a monument, but that seemed a little surface-level. I want to do something that shows who he is, who he was, and everything he did throughout his life. That’s when I thought of you.”
“Me. Lunca Grace?” I was confused. “What can I do for him?”
“I want to hire you to write his memoir,” she said.
I froze. “Luna Grace,” I said. “I’d be honored, but I don’t write non-
fiction.”
“Perhaps, but we both know you can. Besides, I don’t think Torin would talk to anyone else.”
I was touched by the statement, but it was likely an exaggeration. Alpha Torin had been kind to me in the past, but I didn’t think he had any sentimental attachment to me. I couldn’t think of any reason he would be more receptive to me specifically. Either way, I wasn’t a Greytooth anymore and didn’t live in their territory. This was a job for a pack member, and the information needed to accomplish it should be gathered in person and take time. I wouldn’t want to do it any other
way.
“I’m sorry, Luna Grace,” I said. “It truly would be an honor, but I live with the Sablemane pack now. This project is too personal for an outsider to take on over video chats and emails.”
“Ayla,” she said, lifting her hand to my cheek, “ties or not, you will
Chapter 56: Ayla
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never be an outsider. Come stay with us. I know Mina asked you to come help plan her and Briggs’ mating ceremony. You can work with Torin while you’re there.”
Helping Mina only meant coming out for a few weekends. Getting the material I would need for a biography could take weeks. It wasn’t the same thing. With one, I could safely avoid Theo. With the other, that would be nearly impossible.
Mina hadn’t pushed for more from me. I hated that she was hesitant. about even asking me to be a part of the ceremony. Of course I wanted to be a part of it. I didn’t care if Theo would be there. I wouldn’t miss this for the world.
Mating ceremonies were the equivalent of a human wedding. It was where a couple would commit to each other in front of their friends and family before marking each other. The ritual originally became popular with chosen mates when fated mates became a rarer occurrence than they had been a few hundred years ago. Ranking pack members eventually picked up the tradition to show unity with the rest of the pack. It was an important part of their relationship and often helped strengthen the mate bond and the bond with the pack. This was especially important when one of them was coming from another pack.
Nothing would stop me from being there for Mina on that day.
But to spend weeks in Greytooth territory? I don’t know if I could do that. Kingston wouldn’t like it. I knew that much. Besides, I needed to stay close to him. If there was anything to his theory, our bond would get stronger the longer we were together. And there was my job and Emma and the other pack members that had become my friends. I didn’ t want to jeopardize that right now.
Still, I couldn’t deny the pull of her request. It really was an honor to be asked to do this. And she was right. I could do it. I would love to be able to do this for Alpha Torin and Luna Grace.
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